C310 The mantis stalks the cicada and the oriole

Before coming to the Tang Kingdom, Xiao Wen had actually already done a general investigation of the Tang Kingdom.

Although the information between the two nations was cut off, it was very difficult for Xiao Wen to have the chance to obtain this information.

However, Xiao Wen was very clear that in this world, even though the relationship between people often changed, the political situation would frequently change overnight.

But in the feudal age, the changes in productivity, economic structure, and human nature were all usually made in hundreds of years.

As a result, he visited Zhang Cang and obtained some information that he had stored here during the Qin era. He also obtained some information about the country that once belonged to the Tang Kingdom, the Sui Nation.

Although the political and cultural aspects of the Sui and Tang Dynasties had already changed significantly. But in terms of economy and natural environment, Xiao Wen believed that the two were of little difference.

And during the investigation, Xiao Wen also discovered an interesting thing.

This was the mountain range at the central border of the Han Dynasty, which was very difficult to cross. There were countless saline-alkali mines. Its number far surpassed the number of people Xiao Wen found near the clouds.

In fact, the cloud of history belongs to the Shanxi region, where coal mines are the most developed mineral deposits. If Xiao Wen wanted to dig coal in the clouds, as long as he did not care about the lives of others, he could indeed buy a bunch of slaves and make them his coal owners.

However, because people of this era did not seem to be burning coal – after all, compared to coal, the cost of burning trees was much lower.

It could be said that Xiao Wen was already very lucky to be able to find the alkali mine in the clouds and make some of the salt that the Huns lacked.

However, Xiao Wen felt that it was not too realistic to enlarge and expand this industry near the clouds.

Although most of these saline-alkali minerals are accompanied by minerals such as potassium nitrate and copper sulfate, so much that they contain toxins and are inedible.

However, after Xiao Wen ordered people to collect them and did a series of chemical experiments, he finally understood the main chemical composition of the ores.

After mastering the method to detoxify the laboratory, Xiao Wen followed the chemical composition of the base and obtained an industrialised detoxification program from the super library.

If it was an ordinary situation, Xiao Wen would definitely not casually give this information to anyone else.

However, when he investigated the distribution of the saline soil, he found something very interesting.

That was, whether it was in the buffer zones between the two sides or the areas that were under the effective control of the Tang Kingdom, there weren't many alkaline lands.

Most of the saline-alkali lands were actually in the Han Empire.

That was to say, even if these Tang Kingdom people managed to acquire the technology to extract the salt from the alkali ground, with their current production capacity, they wouldn't be able to supply the salt effectively in the country.

And even if they wanted to start a war on these saline-alkali lands, it would be difficult for them to obtain enough benefits from the Han Empire.

After all, the eastern part of the Han Dynasty was just mobilized last year to wage a war. The energy of the people that he had accumulated over the decades of recuperation had been transformed into the potential for war.

If the people of Tang Kingdom wanted to set off from the Luoyang to attack the Coronation Valley, they might not even have the strength to do so.

As for starting from the mountain range in the middle?

That was not something the Han nation should be worried about.

By the time their army had passed through the mountain range, the soldiers probably wouldn't even have one left. As for the rest, they were just a bunch of handicapped veterans.

With this information, Xiao Wen could naturally happily provide the salt processing technique to the Tang Kingdom.

Xiao Wen's idea was very simple. As long as these Tang Kingdom people were to use their processing techniques to obtain the benefits of the saline soil, their salt market would definitely be developed, reaching a certain level of vacancy.

At this time, Xiao Wen could take advantage of the situation and enter the Han Empire to invest in salt and alkali detoxification plants and sell them to the Han, Tang, and even the Qin Kingdom s.

Thinking about this, Xiao Wen got Zhuge Liang to go over there and take out a few bags from the food storage vehicle.

Xiao Wen generously gave the bag to Wang Shi, which contained the four to five jin of salt that had already been detoxified from the concoction in Chang'an.

Wang Shi's eyes were wide open as he grabbed the bag of salt from the bonfire, carefully opening it to look at the greyish white powder inside.

Wang Shi's face was filled with joy. He wanted to speak up, but stopped himself, his face flushed red as he anxiously rubbed his hands together.

He paced back and forth in front of Xiao Wen. The gorilla like burly man was now as funny as a curly haired baboon.

However, he knew that his low status restricted his desire to know the secret recipe.

He could not give Xiao Wen any promises at all, there were too many benefits in turning trash into treasures, and it was definitely not something his small team could participate in.

Xiao Wen was a burly man envoy. In his impression, this man might be very rich (In fact, his impression was that the burly man's impression of him was just like Guan Dong's), that he thought that the burly man was as rich as Guan Dong. Just like the whole of China, it is just like the capital, Demon Capital, Five Sheep City, and Little Fisherman's Village.)

Xiao Wen only revealed a small part of it, it was already shocking enough, if it were to be completely revealed, how much wealth would he have?

Maybe it was a gift from the big man Tian Zi to the Great Tang Dynasty Tian Zi.

Thinking about it this way, Wang Shi didn't dare to casually ask about the related techniques.

He said, "I am only a military man and unworthy of knowing the secret recipe. Sir, please pity us for our troubles. Allow me to report this matter to the commanding officer. Mister will be rewarded by the imperial court and his good deeds will be spread throughout the world."

"Uncle Wang, what kind of salt do you guys eat?" At this moment, Zhuge Liang had an idea …

When Wang Shi heard Zhuge Liang's question, he knew that this child was Xiao Wen's student. Hence, he carefully took out a cloth bag from his bosom and opened it layer by layer, revealing a walnut-sized yellow-brown crystal in front of him.

Zhuge Liang picked it up and tasted it. Aside from the salt, there were also all kinds of strange flavors. It was simply a taste that made him want to die.

Wan-Er who was sitting beside him seemed to notice Zhuge Liang's reaction. She quickly took the water gourd and handed it over to him.

Zhuge Liang hurriedly took the gourd. He didn't even have the time to thank her before he fiercely rinsed his mouth several times. Only then did the weird taste fade away.

"Is this salt? Is this poison?!" Zhuge Liang was flustered and exasperated. He threw it out as soon as he finished speaking.

When he made his move, Wang Shi, who was looking forward to seeing the salt in Zhuge Liang's hand, brought it back in a flash.

He wrapped it in cloth and put it back in his pocket.

Xiao Wen could see that Wang Shi's eyes were a little sad.

He pointed to the people around him who were listening in on their conversation with a bitter smile and said, "Young Master, do you think that everyone is like you? Even if it's just salt, they eat fine well salt. Other than studying, do you not care about anything else?"

Zhuge Liang felt somewhat embarrassed when he heard this. But Xiao Wen had a weird expression on his face.

He took the salt from Wang Shi's hand and took a little to taste it.

This was because this body had previously grown up eating poor quality salt, and Xiao Wen's soul, in his previous life, had already drunk espresso, so it had a strong resistance to bitter and sour flavors.

As a result, even though he felt a bit uncomfortable after taking the medicine, he did not reveal it.

However, he continued, "Speaking of which, because of some special reasons, one year ago, I was actually even poorer than Brother Wang Shi. So I know exactly how hard it is for you to be poor. This way, I will give you the method to detoxify the salt, but you must swear that in the future, you will only be able to use this salt to provide neighbouring countries, and will not be able to sell it far! "

"I swear …" After Wang Shi heard this, he revealed a surprised look. He quickly pointed his finger at the sky and swore before the moon.

Xiao Wen swore as he looked at Wang Shi. From his expression, Xiao Wen knew that the other party was not a person with unlimited self-confidence. This sort of person could be a wealthy person. However, after living without worries for food or clothing, they would lose the heart to go forward.

Therefore, Xiao Wen was not worried that Wang Shi would use this technique to steal his business.

But Xiao Wen knew, no matter what kind of person Wang Shi was, the people beside him were not fools.

As long as they knew that there was such a cheap way to get rid of the poison, the group of Tang Kingdom people would definitely spread the news.

But this was also what Xiao Wen wanted to see.

He was very clear that although Li Shimin was an enlightened ruler, his subordinates had also included many upright and farsighted famous officials.

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, Zhangsun Wuji, these civil officials were all not weak.

However, he could not do anything as he directly provided salt production technology to Li Shimin. This kind of political significance was equivalent to giving out technology to the emperor himself.

This industry would very likely become the royal family's property.

Although Xiao Wen knew that Li Shimin was very powerful and had foresight. But at the same time, he was also clear on what kind of things Li Tang's family branch had.

Li Shimin was not stupid, but his clan members would make him stupid.

After all, it was impossible for this Emperor to fall out with the Imperial Family just for the sake of salt!

But Xiao Wen was not willing to see the Royal Family monopolizing the salt industry. Therefore, he needed a person to deliver the salt production technology to the hands of the court officials in order to open up this country's salt market when the Li Emperor of the Tang Room monopolized the salt production. Let the market be free to compete!

At the very least, he had to make sure that the royal family didn't dare to attack him.

At that time, Xiao Wen would naturally be able to stay behind to hunt cicadas and yellow sparrows!