Looking at the salt stack that Du Zhongxiao pointed to, Feng Yuan couldn't help but be stunned and asked, "What do you mean by the official?" Can salt be used to tann skins? ”

Du Zhongxiao smiled: "Salt is naturally not good, but this is soil salt, and there is nitrate in it." As long as it is refined, there must be nitrate coming out, just right for tanning. ”

Feng Yuan had never heard of such a thing, and muttered, "It turns out that nitrate is produced from salt? ”

Du Zhongxiao actually couldn't tell what by-products were when purifying salt, or before coming to Yongli Prison, he made up for his knowledge and asked skilled craftsmen before he figured it out. When soil salt is purified, the earliest debris that comes out is all kinds of nitrate and alkali. The first is alkali, then miscanthus nitrate, and then purified to get fire nitrate. Gunpowder is a raw material for gunpowder, and Du Zhongxiao paid special attention to it.

Many places on Hedong Road are the hardest hit areas of land salinization, and the production of soil salt is very common. In this era, nitrate, which was a by-product, was of little use and was discarded as waste. Du Zhongxiao imagined that he would collect the fire nitrate used to make gunpowder for making salt. But that was for the future, and far water couldn't quench the thirst of the near, so I didn't think much about it. Feng Yuanyi said that there was a lack of leather tanning technology in the north, and Du Zhongxiao suddenly remembered that there was miscanthus in the by-products.

Feng Yuan felt strange and asked Du Zhongxiao in detail how the nitrate was made from salt. Du Zhongxiao just skipped and told him that he could filter out the soil salt, and there was no need to elaborate on the rest.

Feng Yuan thought for a while, and slapped his thigh suddenly: "Since the official said that this property is nitrate, and there are leather craftsmen, why not open a workshop?" We buy furs from the Northlands, tan them here, and sell them back? The Hu people in the north are not like our Han people in the Central Plains, where the winter is not only cold, but also windy, and people like fur the most. Although they raised cattle and sheep widely and produced a lot of furs, there were very few craftsmen who knew how to cook. ”

Du Zhongxiao was a little skeptical when he heard this: "Does this business have to be done?" The Khitan is also a big country, how can there be a lack of leather craftsmen? ”

Feng Yuan spread his hands: "That's the way it is, what's the solution?" Once the border is crossed, except for Yunzhou, there is no big city in the north. ”

Du Zhongxiao thought about it, this is not only related to production habits, but also related to living habits. Even if there were craftsmen in the Khitan, most of them were Han Chinese, and there were not many of them. The Hu people live in pursuit of water and grass, nomadic habits, and have always been extensive, and the lack of craftsmen is a common thing.

To the north of the state is the border state army, because of the ban on farming on the border, there are fewer households, and commerce is even less developed. If what Feng Yuan said is true, this business is really done. Soil salt is already destined to be difficult to sell, so it is better to use the brains of by-products. If it can really be made into an industry, the salt stored in the salt field can be used to make nitrate, but as for the refined salt, it is not important, refined salt is always better than coarse salt.

Looking at Feng Yuan and the three of them, and then at the boat in the river, Du Zhongxiao said, "You three, how much business can you have?" If the business of cooked fur is started, it is a big business, and it is not something that a few people can do. ”

Feng Yuan laughed when he heard this: "Do the officials look down on our brothers? Although rest assured, we merchants also have guilds, and we all know each other. If it is really profitable, I can recruit a wide range of companions and sell furs here. After cooking, it is transported north from here to make money twice. ”

Du Zhongxiao heard that he had some ways, and after asking in detail, he found out that these people really had guilds. At this time, the main trafficking route was to collect furs from the north, go south through Bingzhou, and then follow the main road to Xijing Luoyang, and then distribute them to various places. The two largest gathering places of the guilds mentioned by Feng Yuan are Bingzhou and Luoyang.

Seeing that everyone was drinking, Du Zhongxiao said to Feng Yuan: "Since you have this way, you can stay here for a few days for the time being, and we will discuss it carefully, but this method is not feasible." If it works, I'll make you a lot of money! ”

At this time, Feng Yuan remembered to ask Du Zhongxiao's identity, and arched his hand: "The official uniform is extraordinary, I don't know what it is-"

Du Zhongxiao said with a smile: "I am a judge in this state, and I came here to do some things." As long as you are in the state, you don't break the law, just look for me! ”

Feng Yuan and the others hurriedly stood up and saluted: "It turned out to be the judge who signed it, disrespectful, disrespectful!" ”

Du Zhongxiao was full of wine and food, stood up and stretched his waist, and said to Tao Seventeen: "Let's get here today, go to the town to find an inn, and we will stay for the time being." Wait for a few days to be here, and then go back to the state city. ”

Fu Rui and the others were not interested in the business that Du Zhongxiao and Feng Yuan had discussed, but they had not imported wine and meat for many days, and they had eaten and drunk to their heart's content today, and they were all satisfied. Although I don't know what Du Zhongxiao is going to do with the stored soil salt, it's good to get over it.

Fu Rui and other officials sent each other, Du Zhongxiao came out of the Wynn prison, went to a nearby town with Feng Yuan, and found an inn to stay.

In the evening, Du Zhongxiao washed up and read a book in the room, and Feng Yuan came over.

When I opened the door, I saw Feng Yuan standing there mysteriously, holding a huge fur in his hand, and when he saw Du Zhongxiao coming out, he hurriedly said, "I'm disturbing the officials." Small people have something to discuss, but do you have time? ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "There is nothing to do at night, come in and speak." ”

When they arrived in the room, Feng Yuan handed over the fur in his hand and said, "The little one received a good tiger skin in the north, and only the identity of an official is worthy of it." Officials don't have to be disgusted, it's cold weather, it's good to take the mat. ”

Only then did Du Zhongxiao notice that Feng Yuan was holding a tiger skin in his hand, which was extremely bright and complete. Du Zhongxiao has been a human being for two lives, this is the first time he has seen tiger skin, and he is curious, so he can't help but touch it with his hands, only feeling smooth and soft.

Feng Yuan remained silent, handed the tiger skin to Du Zhongxiao, and did not speak.

Du Zhongxiao played with the tiger skin in his hand for a while, and handed it back to Feng Yuan: "How can I accept such a valuable thing?" Take it back. ”

Where is Feng Yuan willing to take it? The mouth is worthless, so Du Zhongxiao can accept it, his own thoughts.

Seeing that Feng Yuan was determined to give it to himself, Du Zhongxiao also liked it in his heart, but he was afraid that the price would be too high, so he asked: "It looks like this tiger skin, I don't know the price?" It's too precious, I don't dare to take it, and you don't want to give it away. ”

Feng Yuan said: "I really don't hide it from the officials, this tiger skin, if it is in Bingzhou City, is worth about ten copper coins." ”

Hearing this price, Du Zhongxiao breathed a sigh of relief, said no more, and accepted it. Whether it is for himself or for Feng Yuan, Shiguan is not a big money.

Seeing that Du Zhongxiao put away the tiger skin, Feng Yuan smiled all over his face: "The little one has had dinner, and he has nothing to do in the room, so he came over to gossip with the officials." Today's cooked leather business in the salt field is a way to make a fortune. It's just that there is one thing that I don't have a stable heart, so I came to ask the official, is it really reliable to make nitrate from soil salt? Khitan Yunzhou also produces soil salt, but I haven't heard that they produce nitrate. ”

Du Zhongxiao said with a smile: "It's not soil salt that produces nitrate, but nitrate that is produced when soil salt is made." Those who know the law can naturally collect it, and the Hu people don't know the law, only know salt, and don't know nitrate, which is also a common thing. ”

Feng Yuan's eyes flashed, and after thinking for a while, he said categorically: "Don't hide from officials, the small one has been doing this business for many years, and he has some reputation in the fur industry." If, as the officials say, you can tann leather here, then you will make a big deal! If the officials did not dislike it, they would make some nitrate in the salt works in the past two days, and then find craftsmen to tann the leather. If it is done, the small one will greet his peers and do this business together! ”

Seeing Feng Yuan's serious expression, Du Zhongxiao knew that what he said might be a big deal, so he couldn't help but pay attention to it, and said, "This matter is not difficult!" You wait here for a few more days, and I'll call for someone to make some nitrate. ”

Speaking of this, seeing Feng Yuan nodding again and again, Du Zhongxiao's heart moved, and said: "Bingzhou is the largest city in Hedong, if there is a place to concentrate on fur business, it should also be here." Outside Feng Yuan, if you really have a way, you can call your companions to come, and the government will also make it convenient for you. ”

Feng Yuan was overjoyed when he heard this: "Is this official's words serious? ”

Du Guoxiao said with a smile: "I'm a judge in Benzhou, don't you count when I say it?" Just rest assured! ”