"I can't be more explicit, Your Excellency, but as you know, such things always have benefactors behind them, so the pricing power isn't entirely with me…"
Shao Bowen spoke, putting on a show of being troubled.
With the hundred pills he had promised to give away as a foundation, Zhang Jing found himself in no position to press further at this point.
"If that's the case, then I wonder if you can make the decision regarding the quantity…"
After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Jing spoke again.
As the City Lord, he had some understanding of the situation in Songmao City. Although it was a small city, and a border town at that.
However, because it was a bottleneck for trade with the Great Song, various prominent families had stationed many of their descendants here.
While most of these individuals did not hold particularly high status within their families, the influence of their backers was not to be underestimated.
If it were only five hundred pills, it would likely not be enough for them to consume internally.
After all, the current malaria outbreak had thrown the entire Jiaozhi region into a state of panic. If there truly was a miraculous medicine that could cure it, even for the sake of their own families, they wouldn't let such a thing slip through their fingers.
At the very least, Zhang Jing himself had such intentions. If it weren't for considerations of maintaining the balance of power between the various prominent families, he would have wanted to swallow it all himself.
Even if they didn't need so much now, sending it back to Shenglong Mansion would undoubtedly be a great service.
If, by chance, they could save the lives of one or two important figures, the matter would transcend mere monetary value.
"Your Excellency means…?"
Upon hearing this, a hint of a smile flashed in Shao Bowen's eyes, but it quickly returned to normal.
"Sir, you must also know that the consumption of such items by our prominent families is naturally much greater than that of ordinary people! In this small Songmao City, there are as many as six families of the Zhang clan alone…"
As Zhang Jing spoke, he trailed off. However, with Shao Bowen's astute understanding, he naturally grasped the young man's intentions. It seemed this fellow was trying to get him to help him swindle others.
"May I ask how much Your Excellency intends to acquire?"
After taking a deep breath, Shao Bowen suddenly spoke.
"The Zhang clan has many descendants; even one pill per person would require this amount!"
As he spoke, Zhang Jing held up four fingers.
At this, even Shao Bowen felt like rolling his eyes. This fellow's appetite was too enormous.
He had originally intended to sell only five hundred pills in Songmao City, but this brat wanted to gobble up four hundred himself. Was this some kind of joke?
However, Shao Bowen also understood that if he didn't agree, this fellow might cause trouble for him in secret.
Although he had brought many guards on this trip, Shao Bowen himself knew that they were merely scouting ahead.
Unless absolutely necessary, they preferred to avoid significant conflict with these locals.
"Since Your Excellency has said so, it would be impolite of me to refuse further. However, my mission this time is indeed somewhat troublesome. How about this: within my authority, and including the hundred pills I've promised to Your Excellency, I can deliver a total of three hundred pills to you!"
"Sir, this is likely not enough!"
Such a valuable item was an unparalleled life-saving medicine for Jiaozhi, where malaria was frequent.
No matter what Shao Bowen said, Zhang Jing was unwilling to let such a good opportunity pass by.
After all, with so much stock in hand this time, who knew if they would be able to obtain it in the future.
Shao Bowen himself had said that this medicine originated from noble figures in the Song Dynasty.
The Great Song Dynasty was vast and prosperous, with a massive population.
If the news were to leak out, it was possible that such items would never again flow to the Southern Oceans.
Whether they could obtain it in the future was a matter for the future; only what was truly in hand was real benefit.
"Please let me finish, Your Excellency. These three hundred pills were originally intended for Menzhou, so I'll simply forgo going to Menzhou. Besides the hundred pills I'm giving to Your Excellency, the remaining two hundred pills will be sold to Your Excellency at twenty-five stone per pill. As for the pills I sell to others, they will have to bid for them; the highest bidder gets them. What does Your Excellency think?"
Shao Bowen's words were delivered with genuine sincerity. At this moment, even Zhang Jing found it difficult to say anything more.
After all, the man was giving him a hundred pills for free, and selling him the remaining two hundred at half the price others would pay. This was already an enormous gesture of goodwill.
Moreover, according to Shao Bowen's proposal, he could also participate in the bidding for the remaining five hundred pills. In that case, by spending the same amount of grain, he might acquire more than originally expected.
"Sir is truly magnanimous. Since you are so generous, I can't say anything further. We shall proceed as you say! However, I wonder when you plan to begin selling?"
Having calculated everything, Zhang Jing smiled and said to Shao Bowen.
"There are many cities along this route, and we must make haste. My intention is to arrange it for two days from now. Does Your Excellency agree?"
"That is no problem at all. However, how do you plan to transport the grain you ultimately exchange? I see you only brought packhorses, right?"
Upon hearing his question, Shao Bowen couldn't help but feel a flicker of something. This fellow didn't seem as straightforward as he appeared on the surface.
"Your Excellency jests. If it were merely a few dozen packhorses, how could I dare to conduct such business? My fleet is currently at sea, but because there were too many escorts accompanying me, and I feared causing unnecessary misunderstandings, I decided to forgo the sea route and entered through Qinzhou!"
"So that's how it is!"
After hearing Shao Bowen's explanation, a clear look of disappointment appeared on Zhang Jing's face.
Although he quickly regained his composure, Shao Bowen perfectly captured his subtle expression.
"In that case, I shall not disturb you any longer. We shall meet again in two days!"
The moment Zhang Jing left, the news that he had obtained the miraculous medicine for malaria spread like wildfire.
Even before nightfall, the price of grain in Songmao City had already begun to quietly rise…