Chapter 26: An Eighty-Twenty Split

"Young Master, are these... salt and sugar?"

Liu Feng finally gave his reply: "Indeed, they are snow salt and rock sugar."

"Snow salt... rock sugar..."

Mi Zhu murmured the two names, his eyes growing brighter by the moment. "A magnificent name! The items truly live up to the name. Crystalline like snow, pure and untainted. Excellent! An excellent name."

Liu Feng then added, "Does the Assistant Governor know how these two are made?"

Mi Zhu’s body stiffened slightly, and he couldn't help but look at Liu Feng. Although he knew it was impossible, he couldn't stop a sliver of hope from rising—could Liu Feng actually be willing to share this with him?

To his surprise, in the next moment, Liu Feng made his dream a reality and continued to speak. With a simple explanation, he laid out the techniques for producing snow salt and rock sugar right there in front of Mi Zhu.

Finally, under Mi Zhu’s disbelieving gaze, Liu Feng smiled and said, "I am but a youth, but I wonder if I might have the honor of partnering with your honorable family to distribute this snow salt and rock sugar across the land?"

Mi Zhu could no longer remain calm. Who would have thought that Liu Feng would present him with such a grand gift? The Mi family had been wealthy merchants for generations. While Mi Zhu was an outsider to government affairs, he was a master of commerce, navigating the world of trade with ease.

In Mi Zhu’s eyes, whether it was the snow salt or the rock sugar, these were treasures comparable to a cornucopia—the kind that could establish a family's legacy for generations to come. Perhaps the Mi family of Donghai would soon be known as the "Snow Salt Mi" or "Rock Sugar Mi"!

There were plenty of wealthy noble clans in the world. They were never short of money or people; what they lacked was enjoyment. Such pure, salty, and savory snow salt, and such crystal-clear, sweet rock sugar—either one was enough to completely conquer those nobles, making them willingly open their vaults and offer their wealth just for the chance to buy.

And now, Liu Feng was handing over the production techniques without reservation. Was he truly planning to cooperate?

*Hiss...*

After calming down, Mi Zhu was struck by another wave of shock. He finally realized why Liu Feng was so generous: in the current state of Xuzhou, only the Mi family possessed stable trade routes and channels that spanned the entire land. Though the world was in chaos and these routes were becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, they were still the best available. If Liu Feng were to try selling these himself, it would take him a year or two just to saturate the local Donghai Commandery.

Looking at it this way, ceding a portion of the profits in exchange for the Mi family's distribution network was actually a brilliant maneuver.

His mind settled, and Mi Zhu began to calculate. This was a deal worth making. No, it wasn't just a deal; it was like tripping over a gold ingot while walking. It was as if the God of Wealth himself had fed him.

"Thanks to your great kindness, Young Master, the Mi family would be fools not to recognize it." Mi Zhu’s expression was sincere and earnest. "My family is willing to bear all costs; I only ask for thirty percent... no, twenty percent of the profits will suffice."

Mi Zhu had calculated that Xuzhou already produced salt and sugar, so the raw materials were not rare, and the trade channels were already in place. The Mi family’s additional expenses would be minimal. Furthermore, the cost of production was low. Take salt, for example: a *shi* of salt cost about 800 coins, and since Xuzhou produced it locally, the price was even lower. If they used their own salt fields, the cost could be pressed down to 500 coins per *shi*. Sugar was more expensive, but the southern part of Guangling Commandery grew sugarcane, which the Mi family could easily procure. Even if the cost of a pound of sugar reached 100 coins, rock sugar could easily sell for ten times that.

Initially, Mi Zhu had thought of asking for thirty percent, but felt it was too high once he said it, so he voluntarily lowered it by ten percent.

Liu Feng was momentarily stunned. He had originally expected a fifty-fifty split—he would provide the technology, and the Mi family would cover the costs. He hadn't expected Mi Zhu to be so generous as to cover all costs for a mere twenty percent share. It made him realize he had underestimated the value of these two treasures.

Indeed, Liu Feng did not realize that at the time, refined sugar and high-quality salt were as expensive as gold. One ounce of either was worth an ounce of gold. Moreover, the supply on the market was not only scarce but vastly inferior in color, texture, and taste compared to Liu Feng's products, and the supply was incredibly unstable. This scarcity not only boosted their value but elevated them from mere commodities to rare luxury goods. Much like the famous Moutai of later generations, were they still just simple liquor?

Liu Feng hesitated for a moment before deciding to fully accept Mi Zhu’s proposal. Since Mi Zhu was already satisfied with twenty percent, Liu Feng saw no need to offer more.

For one, Liu Feng truly needed the funds. This was not out of greed, but because money was needed everywhere. The five thousand *qing* of farmland was only the beginning; he intended to continue expanding, at least until he occupied all the commanderies and counties emptied by Cao Cao’s campaigns. These were rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. With the local noble clans swept away, the tax revenue from these counties could be several times higher than elsewhere. Most importantly, these lands would eventually become the foundation of the Liu family’s power.

Secondly, Liu Feng needed vast resources to cultivate talent. The expansion of the "Liu Children’s Battalion" was imperative. These orphans were his most loyal subordinates, the core force he would rely on for both political and military power in the future.

Thirdly, Liu Bei had already authorized him a force of one thousand men. These were his personal guards, and improving their treatment, equipment, and combat effectiveness required significant funds and supplies.

Fourthly, Liu Feng had many other plans to implement—from papermaking to iron smelting—all of which required massive long-term investment. They would not yield returns quickly, so the snow salt and rock sugar had to serve as the lifeline.

Finally, Liu Feng was also concerned that giving too much might breed greed in Mi Zhu. Although history showed Mi Zhu to be a man of clear judgment—he had spurned Cao Cao’s offer of high office and noble titles—it was precisely because of this that Liu Feng wanted to treat him well and ensure their partnership ended on a high note.

Thus, under Mi Zhu’s expectant and nervous gaze, Liu Feng nodded. "Very well! Let it be as you say."

"Young Master, it is a deal!"

Mi Zhu was overjoyed. He took the initiative to ask about the location of the farmland and offered to send grain and supplies directly to Cheng County and Lanling County whenever Liu Feng wished.

After the agreement was settled, Liu Feng spoke again: "Assistant Governor, I have one more favor to ask."