Chapter Seventy-Six: The Iron Ore Trade

Early the next morning, the people from Hengtong Trading Company went to the major distilleries to inquire whether any strong spirits were for sale. Yet, even the most potent liquor they managed to purchase could not be ignited. Without distillation technology, the strongest spirits produced by the distilleries of Great Yan were perhaps only a little over twenty percent alcohol, while the distilled spirits made by Zhao Hengyi frequently exceeded fifty percent—there was simply no comparison.

In fact, the high-proof liquor that Zhang Danian secretly used in the blacksmith's shop was a product of multiple distillations. Zhao Hengyi estimated it was at least seventy or eighty percent alcohol; that stuff was no longer drinkable, it was industrial ethanol.

Manager Liu and Steward Wang, who had not slept all night, stood in silence before the array of wine jars scattered across the floor.

"None of them work. Even with added sugar, it's useless. The root of the matter lies in the strong liquor brewed by Master Zhao," Steward Wang said, though he had already reached this conclusion the previous night; still, he couldn't help but feel a touch of dismay.

Manager Liu took the hot towel handed to him by a servant, pressed it gently to his eyes, and suddenly had an idea. "Send someone to fetch a bottle of Nine-Flower Jade Dew!"

Steward Wang was instantly awake, astonished.

When the chrysanthemum-flavored Nine-Flower Jade Dew, which was now selling for ten silver taels per bottle in Jiangling City, truly ignited before him, Steward Wang was left with nothing but admiration.

"So what if we know the reason?" Manager Liu smiled wryly. "Using Nine-Flower Jade Dew to light a fire would ruin us—our family's wealth can't withstand such waste!"

Indeed, a porcelain bottle no thicker than a thumb could only hold so much of the precious spirit; the cheapest chrysanthemum-flavored variety cost ten silver taels at market, and even then, it was hard to find…

Manager Liu thought to try Nine-Flower Jade Dew only because of the couplet inscribed on the porcelain bottle.

"Who pities fragrance for lasting long, Spring dew to autumn wind." In Jiangling City now, these lines were well-known among the upper circles.

Along with them, Zhao Hengyi, the proprietor who developed the new water-based powders, had become a figure of considerable renown—hardly a secret.

"The fact that Nine-Flower Jade Dew can be ignited must not be spoken of," Manager Liu warned, even though knowing the spirit was distilled high-proof liquor was of little use without the formula. "Freshen up—we'll pay a visit to Master Zhao at the inn."

Before Manager Liu could leave, Zhao Hengyi arrived of his own accord.

"I had planned to invite Master Zhao to tour Jiangling City, and before I could even step out, here you are—what a coincidence!" Manager Liu, his eyes still red from sleeplessness, was even more enthusiastic than the night before. "Please, come in. Our caravan recently brought back some excellent tea—you must try it!"

Zhao Hengyi smiled, unhurried yet without airs, for Hengtong Trading Company was important to him as well.

"Manager Liu, the spirits brewed at home yield a surplus each month. I wonder if you could help find a market for them?"

Business was always a matter of reciprocity; in Great Yan, commerce often mixed in relationships unimaginable in modern society.

Much as he cooperated with Song San, Zhao Hengyi had no way to build a traveling iron-mineral firm himself, nor even the credentials to enter that trade. Maintaining a good relationship with Hengtong was critical.

"Is it the same strong liquor as last night? This old man is quite fond of it; from now on, Hengtong will take all your surplus spirits. We'll collect them ourselves, never troubling you."

"Manager Liu is indeed thoughtful! But the spirits I wish to sell are even stronger than last night’s—not drinkable, mind you. Drinking them could blind you—do make sure to warn your staff."

To supply the perfume workshop with raw material, Zhao Hengyi had established a distillery, repeatedly distilling batches not meant for drinking, using no grain in fermentation.

Such industrial-like ethanol needed clear warnings—lest some greedy soul drink it and disaster ensue.

Business between clever people was easily done. The deal for high-proof spirits, vital to Hengtong, was struck in what seemed almost a jest.

But it was the small warehouse Hengtong used to display mineral products that truly opened Zhao Hengyi’s eyes.

He had never imagined that merchants in Great Yan classified minerals with such detail and abundance.

This owed much to the craze for alchemy among certain wealthy circles—those who sought to concoct immortal pills were as bold as modern chemists, adding anything and everything, with the most bizarre demands!

Previously, Zhao Hengyi had been able to purchase suitable mineral powders in the county town because wealthy people there also favored mercury-laced alchemy.

Even when the bandits of Cliff Mountain disappeared, rumors spread that hundreds of bandits around the county were caught by Song Ying’an to be used in making immortal pills…

Zhao Hengyi placed orders for his usual mineral powders and a large quantity of pig iron. As he prepared to leave, he unexpectedly discovered tungsten ore!

With this, even though Great Yan’s smelting technology lagged behind, Zhao Hengyi could attempt to manufacture crude tungsten steel.

Tungsten steel, famed for its hardness and resistance to wear, was used in modern times for drill bits, machine tools, and various equipment. With tungsten steel, Zhao Hengyi could try making precision tools himself, which would be invaluable to his plans.

Even if he couldn’t yet craft complex tools, forging swords and knives from tungsten steel would surpass all weapons in Great Yan.

However, even Hengtong Trading Company had limited stocks of tungsten ore and certain mineral powders. To meet Zhao Hengyi’s needs, their caravans would have to bring more from elsewhere.

Manager Liu patted his chest and promised: a month at the shortest, forty days at the longest, and all the goods Master Zhao required would be delivered in full.

This was already exceptional efficiency; no merchant but one as prominent as Hengtong in Jiangling City could make such a claim.

Even without the County Princess’s recommendation, Manager Liu would have prioritized Zhao Hengyi’s order—offering high-proof spirits was reason enough.

Yet, upon seeing the vast quantity of pig iron Zhao Hengyi ordered, Manager Liu cautioned him not to sell ironware privately. Should there be need, Hengtong Trading Company could handle it on his behalf.

Great Yan enforced a monopoly on salt and iron; only Hengtong, under Wei Linglan’s proprietorship, could trade in ironware and minerals. Zhao Hengyi was prohibited.

As for salt, not even Wei Linglan dared to touch it.

This was why Zhao Hengyi did not dare act rashly with the mineral salt from Great Green Mountain—there were too many profitable trades to make, no need to risk his life for a capital offense.

With the iron orders settled, Zhao Hengyi did not rush to the slave market but instead spent time exploring Jinling City at leisure.

Slaves were not mere objects—they were living people who needed proper arrangements once purchased. Zhao Hengyi decided to visit the market only just before departing.

But, with a local expert like Manager Liu, he could use connections to have the market prepare blacksmiths for sale in advance.

In Jiangling City's slave market, even strong men were in high demand, let alone skilled blacksmiths; previously even Song San had said he could not help.

In the days that followed, Zhao Hengyi did not merely wander for pleasure—he made many inquiries about the Liang family of cloth merchants, whose schemes had ruined Miao Xiaoyu’s household.