YM778.TV Chapter 288: 288: Military Supplies
We won’t discuss the difference between money before goods and goods before money here, nor will we debate their respective pros and cons.
We’ll just say that in the era of small-scale peasant economies, where agriculture was the main economic activity, there weren’t many who would leave their hometowns to make a living. Most people would live out their lives tending to a piece of land, surrounded by familiar faces.
In such a situation, paying after receiving goods wasn’t just a trading method, but also a matter of personal credit. As long as you didn’t have a bad reputation within a hundred li, no one would think that you would run away after accumulating debt.
The Prefectural Governor was not a local of Fushan County, but he was an official who valued his reputation. Moreover, he was the top authority of Fushan County.
Therefore, the request for money before goods that Feng Jun made, in the Clerk’s view, was a great disrespect to the Prefectural Governor.
Although he knew the other party might be a formidable existence, at that moment, he couldn’t help but speak with a stern face, “Mr. Feng, do you distrust the Governor that much?”
I hate these kinds of sweeping statements the most! Feng Jun’s brow furrowed slightly.
However, he also took into account that this might be a cognitive conflict caused by different cultural backgrounds.
After all, he came from the information age, while the present setting was nothing more than a small peasant economy.
Such cultural and cognitive conflicts couldn’t be clarified in just a sentence or two, and might even provoke fierce debate.
So he didn’t respond to the other party’s question but chose instead to cut the Gordian knot, “This is my rule for doing business.”
The Clerk was still indignant, “Mr. Feng, this is Fushan County, where the Governor represents the rules of the Imperial Court.”
This statement… wasn’t entirely wrong, but Feng Jun didn’t want to waste words with him, and was even more straightforward in his response, “Since we can’t agree on the rules and can’t reach a common understanding, then let’s not trade for the time being.”
The Clerk was stunned once more by this “take-it-or-leave-it” attitude.
In his time representing the Prefectural Governor’s office in negotiations, he’d dealt with hundreds of people and situations, yet he’d never encountered someone so audacious.
But then again, upon further thought, he realized that the other party was not human, but an Immortal. He could only suppress his dissatisfaction knowing that he couldn’t afford to turn hostile if the other party wasn’t selling.
After a brief silence, he spoke up again, “It’s said that a set of generators and lamps is worth two hundred taels of gold?”
By this point, Feng Jun didn’t even want to sell anymore—selling to the Prefectural Governor’s office might be more trouble than it was worth.
But since the other party was the one asking, he couldn’t respond rudely. He just replied with an expressionless face, “That’s for the most basic configuration. The actual price depends on the size of the courtyard you want to light and how many lamps you need. If you need a lot, the price could go up several times over.”
The Clerk was at a loss for words again… he initially wanted to negotiate and demonstrate his own abilities to the Prefectural Governor.
In the end, he had no choice but to tough it out and say, “This matter is of great importance. It’s not for me to decide. I must report to the Governor and then come to a decision. However, I will certainly relay Mr. Feng’s words.”
“Hmm,” Feng Jun nodded. After all, he was a potential customer. It didn’t matter that they couldn’t come to an agreement for now. He wasn’t going to fault the other for not being the one in charge, “Alright, let’s leave your initial concerns there for now… What else?”
The Clerk was pondering how to broach the subject when Feng Jun brought it up, saving him quite a bit of trouble.
Knowing that the other party disliked beating around the bush, the Clerk bluntly asked, “I heard Mr. Feng also has a device that allows people to converse through the air over a distance of seven or eight li?”
“Hmm?” Feng Jun frowned upon hearing this, then after a moment of reflection, he nodded, “I do have such a device. Its range isn’t limited to seven or eight li but can reach up to seventeen or eighteen li or even further. I call this a two-way radio.”
It’s good that you admit it! The Clerk was elated internally, “The Governor is extremely interested in this two-way radio. He sent me to inquire… can it be used in the military?”
The real purpose of his visit was the two-way radio. While the Prefectural Governor was also interested in the generator and lighting system, it was, after all, just a household item. Having it was good, but not having it wasn’t the end of the world.
For the Prefectural Governor, a mere two hundred taels of gold truly wasn’t much. Even if it were two thousand taels of gold, as long as he could swallow his pride and ask, a few wealthy families could easily pool together that much money.
The price of the lighting system and the means of trading weren’t really the point.
What the Prefectural Governor was most interested in was the two-way radio. Although he was a civil servant, he had risen through military ranks and understood very well what a device capable of long-distance communication meant for the army.
Feng Jun, hearing this explanation, couldn’t help but inwardly scoff at the notion that indeed, war is the driving force behind technological advancement.
He’d simply made some two-way radios available for convenience in coordination, and yet some saw them and their first reaction was: can they be used for military purposes?
I may have unleashed something significant! Feng Jun began to take this issue seriously.
However, since he had admitted to having it, he certainly wouldn’t go back on his word, so he smiled and nodded, “I’m not versed in military matters, but I can let you experience the two-way radio for yourself… Lang Zhen!”
He called over Lang Zhen and delegated the task of showing the Prefectural Governor’s men how to use the two-way radio to Lone Wolf.
But he took the precaution of having Lone Wolf take only two units, concealing the two-way radio’s group call feature.
Of course, the ability of this group call function was bound to be uncovered sooner or later, but since it could be delayed for a while, why not do so?
After Lang Zhen left with his men, Feng Jun went on to handle other matters, such as the news from Lord Beiyuan stating that during the destruction of the Hall of Heroes, an officer from the Zhao Family’s stronghold realizing the bad turn of events had fled the barracks.
Fortunately, Lord Beiyuan had made arrangements in advance, and now had trapped the foe in a cave. It was only a matter of time before this person would be captured; the only concern was that they couldn’t guarantee taking him alive.
Feng Jun’s attitude was: Regardless of life or death, be mindful of minimizing unnecessary casualties.
Then there was the case where Liu Feifei’s two uncles hurried over, hoping to take in their pitiable niece and nephew. However, Liu Feifei decisively refused them—where were you when we siblings were suffering the most?
The two uncles wept bitterly, saying their own homes weren’t well-off either, and it was only because they had heard the Divine Doctor had awarded you quite a bit of land. Considering you are short of people to cultivate it, they thought instead of hiring strangers, why not keep it within the family.
After hearing this, Liu Feifei hesitated. Although she deeply resented her uncles’ callousness, she also understood the plight of the poor; adding another mouth to feed in a family that could barely make ends meet was truly a terrifying prospect.
Nevertheless, she couldn’t agree to her uncles’ request. She had resolved to follow the Divine Doctor; as for the land granted by him, it was not for her uncles to meddle with.
The two uncles were not discouraged and suggested, why not do us a favor by speaking well of us before the Divine Doctor, and ask him to grant us some kind of job?
Liu Feifei was lost on such matters, so she went to consult with Feng Jun.
After Feng Jun casually asked a few questions, he realized that the two were purely after their own advantage. He summoned Big Head Zheng to chase the two men away, “… They clearly have plenty of land at home yet insist on spouting nonsense. Tell them that if they don’t leave, we’ll have to inform Magistrate Han.”
Upon hearing this, the two had no choice but to leave hastily… Those who are in a broken household know that such words are not to be taken lightly.
Ever since Feng Jun returned, he had been caught up in all sorts of busyness. When he finally had a moment to breathe, the young master Yu Changqing came over to ask for the key to the agricultural vehicle, eager to go out and try driving it.
Feng Jun saw his enthusiasm and did not refuse. To him at this point, a small agricultural vehicle really wasn’t a big deal.
But… it seemed there wasn’t much diesel left?
After young master Yu took the keys, he ran off proudly. Yu Changqing heard and hurried over to apologize on behalf of his little sister, saying the family had spoiled her.
Of course, Feng Jun would indicate it was no big deal, engaging in lively conversation with Yu Changqing, when Lang Zhen returned with the Clerk.
The Clerk was ecstatic; this device called the walkie-talkie was truly miraculous. Just now, he not only had a conversation with Lang Zhen but also with two bodyguards. They communicated over a distance of about ten miles, and the sound was crystal clear.
As for further distances, they had yet to try, but given the current quality of communication, a longer range shouldn’t be a problem.
Unable to contain his joy, he inquired, “Divine Doctor, how much for a pair of walkie-talkies?”
In the military, long-distance communication often relied on the Sound Transmission Conch which could reach up to seventeen or eighteen miles. However, that device could only transmit a single sound, using the duration of the sound according to pre-arranged signals to convey simple messages.
Moreover, Sound Transmission Conchs came in male and female pairs; the male sounded, the female received. For two-way communication, at least two pairs of conchs were needed.
The walkie-talkie was much simpler to use; a single pair could solve the problem, and it could facilitate detailed discussions about various plans.
Feng Jun looked at him but did not speak.
“The price is negotiable,” the Clerk was serious this time, “I have no problem with payment first and delivery later; just give me a price.”
What was Feng Jun considering? He wasn’t deliberating over the price. His concern was the impact of such a device on the technological level of this world—a military game-changer. If he were to start trading these devices, what would be the consequences?
In any world, one is best advised not to touch anything related to the military which is the ultimate machine of national violence.
It’s not easy to be an arms dealer, let alone with a military weapon of unheard potency.
In the face of such important ethical decisions, even the identity of the Immortal might not suffice—was it truly believed that Donghua Country had no support from Immortals behind it?
After deep contemplation, he glanced at Lang Zhen, “Old Lang, take a pair of walkie-talkies… consider it a gift from me to the Prefectural Governor.”
Lang Zhen frowned slightly but ultimately nodded and left.
“I must thank the Divine Doctor,” the Clerk said with joyful gratitude, having planned to buy at a high price. Since the other party was willing to give a pair first, I have certainly made a great contribution.
Wait? Hold on, why do I feel… as if something isn’t quite right?
Then it dawned on him—Feng Jun hadn’t said he’d “first” give a pair; that was just his own assumption.
So he straightened his expression and asked with a smile, “How much is a pair of these devices?”
(Update complete, calling for monthly tickets.)