Chapter 367： (4000) Baicao Chamber of Commerce

Chapter 367 (4000) Baicao Chamber of Commerce

Badaoji is located in the north of Yanzhou, more than 80 miles south of Juehou Pass. It is the largest medicinal material distribution center in the northern part of the Central Plains.

The Central Plains is dominated by plains, which are suitable for human beings to live and reproduce. Civilization has lasted for thousands of years. Nowadays, it is densely populated. Both the mountains, rivers and land have been basically developed. Not to mention genius treasures, even ordinary crops are not good. grow.

Therefore, most of the precious medicinal materials in the Central Plains come from surrounding areas. Among them, the two most famous medicinal material producing areas are the Shiwanda Mountains in southern Xinjiang and the primitive jungles in Guandong.

As the name suggests, there are eight roads passing through this eight roads. It is similar to Tongda Town in the Zhongzhou Mountains. It is also an important transportation thoroughfare. In addition, it is not far from Guandong. It is the only way for merchants who collect medicines from outside the customs to return to the Central Plains. , over time, it became a prosperous medicinal market.

Luo Jun followed Tong Qiye as he walked down the street of Badaoji. There were medicinal herb shops everywhere. Except for the large drug stores with their doors open, most of them were vendors setting up stalls along the street. Judging from their clothes, they should have just returned from outside the customs. Returned soon.

Like Mr. Tong Qi, who has his own bodyguards and caravans, there are still only a few merchants who directly go out to buy medicinal materials. Most of the medicine merchants in the Central Plains still come to Badaoji to purchase goods. Therefore, there is also a group dedicated to supplying Badaoji. Some of the herbal collectors are people from the Central Plains who live in the customs and travel out of the customs regularly, and some are simply ethnic minorities outside the customs.

Of course, these individual medicinal collectors are also limited in the medicinal materials they can bring out at one time. Most of them are sold directly to local merchants in Badaoji, who then resell them to southern pharmacists who come here to collect medicines. These relatively cheap medicinal materials are not in large quantities, so it would really waste their energy to have them take them out little by little. But when they occasionally dug up precious medicinal materials, they didn't want to let middlemen make the difference, so they set up stalls on the spot, hoping to sell them at a good price.

"In the early years, these stalls did have a lot of good things..." As they walked, Tong Qiye introduced to Luo Jun: "But in recent years, local businessmen in Badaoji established chambers of commerce, and the scale became larger. By hiring a specialized team of herb collectors to go out of customs, the market for individual herb collectors has been squeezed a lot... After all, it is indeed dangerous to enter the deep mountains and forests of Kanto with only a team of three or two people..."

Luo Jun nodded. He couldn't understand the quality of medicinal materials. Only those treasures rich in spiritual energy could shine under his vision. After going around in a big circle, there are only sporadic spots of light among the medicinal materials set up at these stalls...

"Then should I also find a place to set up a stall?" Luo Jun suggested.

Tong Qiye waved his hand: "No, no, brother, you have these treasures in your hands. Selling them on the street is too shameful. Let's keep moving forward."

Soon, the two came to the central area of ​​Badaoji, and saw a large courtyard in the distance with a plaque hanging on it that read "Baicao Chamber of Commerce".

"This is the local chamber of commerce in Badaoji. Basically, the more influential local drug dealers are registered here. Those who purchase goods from Zhongyuan will also come directly to the chamber of commerce to negotiate if they involve bulk sales."

"Local merchants are united. It's not going to be easy for you foreign drug dealers."

Although Luo Jun has never done business, he also knows the principle of distance and distance. If this kind of medicinal material wholesale place operates independently, the merchants who come to purchase can still shop around and try to lower the price. If the local merchants set up a chamber of commerce, they can monopolize the same standard. In the market, the locals have the final say on how much they sell.

Tong Qiye sighed, shook his head and said, "Otherwise, why do you think I would lead a team to collect medicinal materials outside the customs?"

"The Chamber of Commerce here in Badaoji has indeed increased the purchasing costs of Zhongyuan medicine merchants a lot. Those with some strength like me will choose to form their own caravans. Except for some large quantities of cheap medicinal materials, they will basically not purchase goods here."

"But the Chamber of Commerce also has some advantages." Tong Qiye changed the subject: "In the past, when someone dug up treasures, they could only shout along the street and find buyers. It often happened that the pearls were covered with dust."

"But it's different now. The Baicao Chamber of Commerce provides an auction channel. If you have treasures, you can hang them in the Chamber of Commerce and advertise them widely. Merchants compete to bid, and the one with the highest price wins."

Luo Jun nodded: "Does this auction happen every day?"

"Auction?" Tong Qiye was stunned, "Is there still a meeting for the auction?"

Luo Jun blinked: "Isn't it? A bunch of people sit in the hall, bring up the auction items one by one, everyone raises a sign to bid, and the final decision is made?"

Tong Qiye blinked, then shook his head and smiled: "No, no... there is no such process... The so-called auction is to store your treasure in the chamber of commerce, publicize the information, and interested drug dealers can apply to see the goods, and then bid, etc. When the time comes, whoever pays the highest price will get the goods... Of course, the chamber of commerce will take a cut of the final transaction price. "

Isn't this just like having an auction house in the game?

Luo Jun blinked: "Is this chamber of commerce reliable? It won't swallow my treasure, or change the contract, right?"

Tong Qiye waved his hand: "Don't worry, Baicao Chamber of Commerce still attaches great importance to credibility... In addition, they will give you a preliminary valuation of the treasure you hand over. When the time comes to put the items there, the Chamber of Commerce will give you a voucher. At the end of the day, if there is something wrong with your items, you can choose to use this voucher to ask for money directly from the chamber of commerce based on the valuation. "

"The medicinal materials that can be auctioned are definitely not the kind that are sold by the pound, with transparent and uniform prices. Every piece is a treasure, and there is no reference to the market price. Although the price given by the chamber of commerce is not too high, it is reasonable. It’s not a loss if you can take action.”

"And I'm here, don't worry, I can help you get a fair appraisal price!"

While talking, the two of them had already walked into the Baicao Chamber of Commerce.

Master Tong Qi is obviously well-known in the industry. As soon as he entered the chamber of commerce, someone took the initiative to greet him, greeting him with smiles on his face.

"I heard that Master Qi just came back from outside the customs and brought several large carts of medicinal materials. Is this a worthwhile trip?" The person who received him was a chubby man with narrow eyes. Judging from his dress, he was not an ordinary staff member.

"It's indeed a worthwhile trip. It's a narrow escape..." Tong Qiye shook his head: "Thanks to Brother Lin for helping me, otherwise, those trucks and I would have been found outside the customs."

Brother Lin refers to Luo Jun. He did not report his real name to the public and called himself Lin Feng. Lin is his mother's surname and Feng is his father's name.

"Oh, so I have long said that there are all kinds of monsters and monsters in the deep mountains and forests outside the pass. If you have to go through all the trouble yourself, why not cooperate with our chamber of commerce... For big customers like you, we will give you a preferential price. of!"

"Let's talk about this when we have a chance." Tong Qiye waved his hand: "I'm not here this time for my own business. Brother Lin has a few treasures that he wants to sell, and he also asked Brother Chen to take care of them. "Hey, Master Qi thinks it's a treasure, it must be extraordinary." Fatty Chen took out a pair of crystal glasses and put them on, looking at Luo Jun: "I wonder where they are?"

"It's not a big deal." Luo Jun took out a long wooden box from his bag and said with a smile: "I got it accidentally in a deep mountain forest. I don't know much, but Master Qi said this thing is worth it. I have some money to try my luck."

He said it in an understatement, but it was equivalent to telling Fatty Chen that although he was a layman, the value of this thing was entirely up to Master Qi.

Fatty Chen nodded, took the box and opened it. He was suddenly surprised, and his narrow eyes widened!

"This is... ginseng?"

The main body of the thing in the box is longer than an ordinary person's forearm, white and fat, and the slender roots are coiled, combed and stuffed beside it. Fatty Chen can imagine that if they are all stretched out, it will be like a table of the Eight Immortals. Not enough space...

There is a saying in the main world that seven taels is a ginseng and eight taels is a treasure. According to the past measurement unit, ginseng grew to half a catty, which is about three hundred grams now, so it is considered a rare treasure. This [Martial Arts] world is full of spiritual energy, and the potency of medicinal materials is much stronger than that of the main world. However, it is rare to find pure wild ginseng that can weigh one kilogram. However, Luo Jun's one may not be able to hold three to four kilograms...

If Tong Qiye hadn't foreshadowed this treasure in advance, his first reaction would have been that it was a big carrot!

But looking at the texture, shape, and various characteristics show that this thing is indeed a pure Kanto wild ginseng!

This is no longer the baby’s problem, it’s simply a miracle…

"This... this... this..." Fatty Chen said "this" more than a dozen times in a row, and finally swallowed: "No, I have to show this to the senior experts from the Chamber of Commerce... Will you two go with me?"

"No need." Tong Qiye waved his hand: "I can trust your character, Old Chen, and the credibility of the Chamber of Commerce. But you must also know that this kind of treasure must have been born in a secret place in the mountains that ordinary people cannot reach. Brother Lin brought it out single-handedly! And Brother Lin has more than one of these things!"

Fatty Chen glanced at Luo Jun and nodded hurriedly: "Of course I know how powerful it is! You two will wait in the reception room... Guys, go get the good tea!" After saying that, he ran into the chamber of commerce holding the box.

Tong Qiye’s words are very clear. The treasure is a real treasure, but Luo Jun who can get it is definitely a real master! This is [Martial Arts]. From the perspective of real masters, not to mention a small chamber of commerce, even the imperial court will not look down upon it!

If you work honestly and rely on these treasures, both the Chamber of Commerce and Fatty Chen who deal with them can make a lot of money safely. But if you become greedy, you may not even be able to save your life!

Luo Jun and Tong Qiye drank tea for a while. After a while, there was a rush of footsteps outside, and then the door of the reception room opened and three people came in.

Fatty Chen followed at the end. The two people in front of him were a bald man in his fifties with a mole on his face, and the other was an old man with white hair and beard. Which wooden box.

"This thing belongs to this young hero Lin!" Fatty Chen introduced.

The bald man's eyes lit up and he took a step forward: "Young Master Lin, it's a pleasure to meet you. I have wealth in the lower land. The current president of the Baicao Chamber of Commerce. This is Uncle Xu, the chief medicinal expert enshrined by the chamber of commerce..."

Before he finished speaking, Uncle Xu came up with something in his hands: "Young man, where did you get this treasure?"

Looking at Uncle Xu's old and eager eyes, Luo Jun recalled: "It was a valley near the Heihe River. It was full of spiritual energy and full of rare and exotic animals!"

"Is it near the snow-capped mountains at the northern source of Heihe River?" Xu Bo immediately reported a more precise location.

Luo Jun nodded: "Almost..."

"It's there! It's there!" Uncle Xu opened the wooden box again, holding the large ginseng inside and looking at it: "Thirty years later, I know that I saw it right back then. It was not an illusion. This precious ginseng really existed! "

As soon as these words came out, several others were surprised. Master Tong Qi asked: "Uncle Xu, did you say you have seen this ginseng before?"

Uncle Xu nodded: "I remember that in order to find treasures of heaven and earth, I once led a team deep into the Heihe River Basin. I saw this ginseng from a distance right where he said it was!"

"I have been digging ginseng for decades. You can tell the quality just by looking at the leaves. That ginseng is the only one I have ever seen in my life. It is a treasure that can shock the entire medicinal market!"

"But when we tried to get close to the ginseng, a big snake suddenly emerged from the valley. It was more than ten feet long and as thick as several people could hug each other. It opened its mouth and swallowed one of us..."

"It's not surprising that this kind of exotic treasure is guarded by a strange beast. We immediately took out our weapons to fight with it, but the scales of the big snake were harder than steel. It could not leave any trace even if it was slashed with a knife or an axe. Instead, it was our people who were bitten by it. All of them were swallowed up, and in the end I was the only one who escaped by chance..."

"Unexpectedly, this past event still exists?" Lu Youcai touched his bald head: "Then Uncle Xu, you didn't find a chance to go back and see it again?"

Uncle Xu sighed: "I told others about this experience, but few people believed it. They all thought I was crazy and wrong. There can't be such a big ginseng or such a powerful snake... Later, I finally gathered it together. I formed a team to go back to explore, but as soon as I arrived at that area, I fell into the fog. Finally, everyone disappeared in the fog one by one, and I was the only one left to escape... Sigh... After that, no one wanted to Believe me, I will never have the chance to go back to explore the secret realm outside the pass."

Having said this, Uncle Xu looked at Luo Jun expectantly: "By the way, have you seen that big snake? No, if you see that big snake, it will not be easy for you to come back alive, let alone dig ginseng... It’s snowing time in the Heihe River Basin, so it must be hibernating..."

"I saw it." Luo Jun nodded, then opened his leather pocket and took out a large oil paper bag. After opening it, there was a dark, dry, bag-like thing inside. Hell, it’s about the same size as a wok and weighs more than ten kilograms…

"This is..." Several drug dealers looked familiar, but they couldn't remember what it was.

Luo Jun carried this thing, smiled, and said two words that shocked several people:

"Snake gall!"

…

(End of chapter)