Chapter 64: Vested Interests

It is not that this yields less profit; rather, doing so would likely unleash a truly ravenous demon of wealth and greed.

Hu Xiaoxia pondered for a moment, her eyes flashing with excitement.

Splendid! This was precisely what she wanted to see!

Ordinary Floral Cleanser could certainly be sold, but this Four-Seasons Floral Cleanser could command an even greater market!

She needed to seize the opportunity before the Fortune Chamber of Commerce realized the true value of this lucrative venture, and quickly secure the exclusive wholesale rights for Floral Cleanser around the imperial capital.

Otherwise, if this plan were genuinely put into motion first, it would spell utter ruin for her!

"Your Highness, I shall seek out the Fortune Chamber of Commerce right away. From now on, all the Floral Cleanser in the entire imperial capital will be sold exclusively by me, Hu Xiaoxia!"

With that, Hu Xiaoxia did not even bother to offer a proper bow, hurriedly rushing out like a gust of wind.

What she feared most was lingering complications, and Hu Xiaoxia was certainly not one to make such a rookie mistake.

Upon hearing these tales, Bi Ruxue was left utterly dumbfounded, her eyes filled with absolute astonishment.

Could such words really be spoken by a sane person?

Could this endeavor possibly succeed?

"Master Zhou..."

Before Bi Ruxue could voice her doubts, Zhou Hao chuckled softly.

"Have no fear. Since I have proposed this plan, it is naturally destined to succeed."

"If it were bound to fail, Hu Xiaoxia would not be nearly so ecstatic. She understands very well that if she were to take this story straight to the Fortune Chamber of Commerce, they could offer me far more than she ever could."

However, Zhou Hao did not entirely trust the Fortune Chamber of Commerce either.

Who knew who truly lurked behind them, or just how grand a scheme they were plotting?

Collaborating with Hu Xiaoxia was not only beneficial to her, but it also opened up an additional commercial route for Zhou Hao himself.

Her original intention was to purchase Floral Cleanser solely in Chishan.

Yet, would one travel empty-faced from the imperial capital back to Chishan?

Impossible!

Naturally, the wagons would be packed to the brim with goods desperately needed in Chishan. Through such a round trip, the profits would multiply manifold, a prospect Zhou Hao was more than happy to witness.

Chishan relied exclusively on the Fortune Chamber of Commerce for its trade route, which inevitably resulted in a monopoly over the region, regardless of how one phrased it.

It would be entirely possible for the Fortune Chamber of Commerce to arbitrarily jack up prices.

However, introducing Hu Xiaoxia would change everything.

This was precisely why Zhou Hao intended to have Hu Xiaoxia help operate a new trading route.

Although Bi Ruxue harbored deep concerns, she understood that she could offer no assistance in this matter.

She knew nothing of these worldly affairs; she only vaguely sensed that the undertaking Zhou Hao wished to pursue was immense.

"My worry is not merely this, but rather what your next step shall be."

"Can the cleaning efficacy of the Floral Cleanser truly be enhanced? Or is that merely a front?"

Bi Ruxue felt a trace of anxiety regarding this point.

If those aristocratic ladies were to gradually unravel the truth and discover the entire tale was a fabrication, how would Zhou Hao handle the fallout?

"Rest assured, the cleaning power of the Floral Cleanser can indeed be improved, though... not quite yet."

To those noble ladies, Floral Cleanser was a peerless treasure beyond imagination.

Yet to Zhou Hao, what floral cleanser was there to speak of?

These products were nothing more than defective batches of soap!

Simply due to technological limitations, these defective batches could not be turned into proper soap, which was why a separate production line for Floral Cleanser had been hastily set up.

As for upgrading and refinement, that was certainly achievable.

Even intensifying the floral fragrance was well within reach. The paramount obstacle at present, however, was the raw materials.

The steel available in the imperial capital was decent, but it remained merely decent.

Let alone the fact that authentic distillation equipment required glass.

Where on earth would the Great Zhou Dynasty find glass for Zhou Hao?

Not only would he need to manufacture glass, but he would also have to cultivate a specialized guild of glassblowers.

In time, glass production would undoubtedly become another bulging purse of wealth for him.

Yet... it all circled back to the initial dilemma: the current steel quality in Great Zhou fell short of the requirements.

He would simply have to wait until they reached Chishan to devise a solution.

Whether it was steel smelting, Floral Cleanser production, or glass manufacturing—

Every single one of these paths paved the way with gleaming silver taels.

"Very well, I shall trust you. Later, I will have carriages transport these batches of Floral Cleanser directly to Hu Xiaoxia's residence."

Gazing at the piles of Floral Cleanser on the ground, Bi Ruxue wore a look of lingering regret.

Initially, ignorant of the Four-Seasons Floral Cleanser, Hu Xiaoxia had treated these items like rare jewels. But upon learning of the Four-Seasons variant, her spirits had soared so high that she had instantly forgotten the primary purpose of her visit.

Zhou Hao smiled and gently looped his arm through Bi Ruxue's.

"How could I possibly trouble you with such a task? I shall have Li Tie and Zhang Li escort the shipment over shortly."

"However, custom-tailored Floral Cleanser is not entirely out of the question, but if anyone wishes to commission a bespoke batch, the price will no longer be what it is today."

Individual blossoms could not simply be transported here; even with horses whipped to their absolute limits, ferrying them back and forth between the imperial capital and Chishan was virtually impossible.

What if they brought the soil along with them?

As long as a carriage was cleared exclusively to carry fully blooming floral bundles, custom production was not entirely beyond Zhou Hao's capabilities.

However, there was no need to mention this detail to Hu Xiaoxia.

What if the excitement caused her to faint all over again?

Zhou Hao was only ever looking out for her health.

Bi Ruxue chuckled softly, following closely by Zhou Hao's side.

Hu Xiaoxia's arrival today had been an unexpected detour.

Their original itinerary for the day was supposed to be a visit to the Grand General.

Persuading General Li to surrender peacefully would certainly be ideal, but if persuasion failed, they would inevitably have to rely on the Grand General's troops to carve out a bloody path.

Naturally, before their departure, they needed to confer with the Grand General once more to finalize the subsequent travel arrangements.

As well as the command structure for deployed troops.

All these matters required prior discussion.

"Come, let us pay a visit to the Grand General's estate."

Zhou Hao led Bi Ruxue out the door, making his swift way toward the Grand General's mansion.

"My dear son-in-law, have you already concluded your discussions from last night?"

Zhou Hao nodded, taking a seat beside the Grand General with a natural expression.

"Everything has been settled. That party wishes to spare General Li's life and intends to slip out from the courtyard alongside my men tonight."

"As for what comes after their escape, we shall discuss it once we are safely away."

Zhou Hao understood that since the Grand General dared to make such a claim, he must have already had his trusted retainers verify the condition of General Li's family.

The guards had not been reinforced; instead, they had been bribed with silver to turn a blind eye.

That alone spoke volumes.

Still, the Grand General wished to hear Zhou Hao's perspective.

"Discussing it only after escaping is a trifle too late. The protocol must be established right now so that we can plan accordingly for the future."

The Grand General tapped his fingers against the table, his expression quite solemn.

Only by planning thoroughly could one adequately respond to unforeseen emergencies.

Zhou Hao readily perceived that the Grand General intended to map out a clear strategy for him.

"And what thoughts does my esteemed elder have on the matter?"

"It is quite simple. You shall depart tomorrow at the very moment the city gates open, taking everyone with you. As for troops, I have already assembled a force for you outside the city; you need only send Zhang Chuan and Zhang Zhen with the tiger tally to take command."

With those words, the Grand General slid a bronze tiger tally across the table toward him.

"Even should the Third Prince discover that people are missing, your tracks will already be lost beyond recovery."