In the tea room of the small building in the backyard of the brothel, a charcoal fire bakes the whole room warmly. Ma Shumou and his entourage of more than a dozen people were sitting in a circle, drinking tea with the unique taste of the Western Regions. Shangguan Ling'er, as the host, was personally holding a wood-carved curved neck pipa at this time, playing cheerful Western Regions music for the guests from afar under the percussion accompaniment of the tabla drum of the old musician of the Western Regions on the side.

After playing the song, the audience applauded. Tang Niu and the others also shouted for another song, Ma Shumou rarely attended this kind of occasion, and he had long been fascinated by this exotic dance music, especially his eyes were reluctant to blink at the extremely sexy and enchanting Western Regions beauty Shangguan Ling'er who was playing.

Just as everyone applauded, the gate was pushed open horizontally from the outside, and a maid from the Western Regions walked straight to Shangguan Ling'er, leaned over and whispered a few words in her ear before turning to leave.

I saw this Shangguan Ling'er smile and said to He Yong: "He Jian, a few adults, the fish has taken the bait." ”

"Oh? Not long after this news was released, did it attract high-ranking officials from Shanshan? Dong Ke asked with some disbelief.

"Hmph~ Dong Vice Jian still doesn't know the value of the black coal transported by your large camel caravan here, and the last wave of Sui State caravans came here a month ago. This polder city lacks nothing, except this black coal. This year, in order to meet the needs of making glass bottles, several caravans were sent to Sui to buy black coal despite the snow congestion. But there are few people who come back, and your tens of thousands of catties of black coal are hoarded here, which is the best bait, and it is strange that the fish do not take the bait. ”

"Hehe~ Okay! Originally, the purpose of trafficking in black coal was to disguise our identities, not to make a profit, and we didn't want to be of such a big use. Dong Ke shouted repeatedly.

"If this thing is done, our military intelligence department will owe Wuwei Marshal Yu Zhongwen a great favor. This batch of black coal and camel caravans are all military supplies for the soldiers guarding the border at Yumen Pass this winter. If not, we would have to come empty-handed. He Yong said softly with deep feelings. Originally, He Yong wanted only him, Ma Shumou, and Dong Ke to sneak into Shanshan Kingdom lightly to see the opportunity. When passing by Wuwei City, He Yong, who was holding the post of military envoy of the Western Theater of Operations, was bound to go to the Grand Marshal's Mansion to pay a courtesy visit to Yu Zhongwen, the Grand Marshal of the Western Theater. In the end, under Yu Zhongwen's strong suggestion, he personally allocated more than a dozen military academy companions from Yumen Pass to accompany him, and used the Yumen Pass military logistics camel team and tens of thousands of catties of black coal stored in the Guannei warehouse, which enabled the three of them to easily escort the black coal into the Western Regions. If they had transported these supplies from the capital through the Hexi Corridor for a long time, they would not have been able to do it.

"It's just that how to quietly use this batch of black coal to enter its glass bottle workshop still needs to be thought through?" Shangguan Ling'er came to Ma Shumou, who had been watching her, and poured tea for him with her own hands, and reminded him by the way.

"What's so difficult about this, just trouble the Shangguan girl to introduce Shanshan high-ranking officials to Ma, how to do this business, Ma knows it." Uncle Ma responded with a smile on his face. I can't help myself with other things, this business is a matter of fooling people, but it is my own strength, and I just showed my hand in front of Miss Shangguan.

When everyone saw Uncle Ma say this, they didn't say anything anymore. Since the emperor appointed Minister Ma to come to the Western Regions to speak, even He Yong did not dare to refute it, and senior officials of the Military Intelligence Department at the level of him and Dong Ke knew that this Uncle Ma's ability and his position in the court were beyond their imagination. If there is danger in their line of work and they can only live one, it must be his uncle's plan.

"Minister Ma might as well say the means, let's consider one or two first, if it is~" Shangguan Ling'er didn't know the weight of this Uncle Ma in the army and above the court, and saw that some obscene Uncle Ma was trying to curry favor with her, and he was a little worried, so he proposed again.

"Shangguan Baihu, don't question Minister Ma, just do what Minister Ma says." He Yong hurriedly stopped Shangguan Ling'er from continuing, and ordered directly.

Shangguan Ling'er saw that He Yong's face was resolute and could not be said again, so he nodded knowingly and hurriedly went out. Before going out, he glanced at Uncle Ma meaningfully.

"Niu'er, you and the others go back to their respective rooms, and the three of us are enough here." He Yong said to the military academies behind him.

"Yes." Tang Niu responded, then got up and beckoned everyone to come out. The Western Regions with the accompaniment of the drums had already left when the song was over.

After a while, under the guidance of Shangguan Ling'er, Gro, Master Ma and his staff came to this spacious and warm tea room.

He Yong and the three of them also hurriedly got up and saluted this high-ranking official of Shanshan State, Ge Luo.

"This is Gro, the governor of Shanshan Province." Shangguan Ling'er introduced Ma Shumou and others.

"In the Lower Sui merchant Ma Jian, I have met the governor." Uncle Ma hurriedly stepped forward and introduced himself under a pseudonym, then turned his head and said, "These two are a certain entourage." He Yong and Dong Ke also hurriedly greeted the three of them. Later, under the greeting of Shangguan Ling'er, everyone sat down again, and their own maids from the Western Regions came in to serve tea.

"Governor Ben originally came here to invite Miss Shangguan to drink, but when he learned that she was receiving guests from Shangguo, he took the liberty to come to meet her, which disturbed him a lot." Gro politely said the opening remarks, so that he didn't seem so abrupt.

"Huh! Every time we come here to sell goods, we will entrust Miss Shangguan to find a buyer for us, and this is the same when we come. Since Lord Gro is a friend of Miss Shangguan, that is, a friend of me, there is no need for my lord to see outside. "Ma Shumou is not even afraid of the famous Yu Culture of the Great Sui Dynasty and such characters now, let alone showing timidity in front of the prime minister of a small country in the Western Regions like Shanshan, and he is comfortable talking and laughing.

"I don't know what the goods that the hemp shopkeeper sold to my country this time? How much? If it is something that the inner government needs, there is no need for the Shangguan girl to bother, and the governor will receive it at a good price. Of course, the benefits of the Shangguan girl are indispensable. Gro asked unhurriedly.

"Oh~ It is said that your country lacks black coal for the winter in winter, so we will work tirelessly to sell tens of thousands of catties of anthracite black coal. Originally, I wanted Miss Shangguan to contact buyers in the city for us, but if the governor is useful, I will sell it to you as soon as it is useful. Uncle Ma said happily, and he didn't break it.

"Huh! Black coal is a good thing for the people of Shanshan to winter! In this way, the official is willing to eat the batch of black coal at twice the price. After Gro finished speaking, he looked directly at Ma Shumou.

"Good! Governor Gro is refreshing. It's just~" Uncle Ma changed his words and hesitated.

"What's the difficulty of the hemp shopkeeper, I only have to come here, and this official can still talk in this polder city." Seeing that Uncle Ma was hesitant, Ge Luo hurriedly answered for fear of repeatedly.

"Huh! In fact, it's nothing, in fact, I waited thousands of miles to come without sheltering from the wind and snow, but I wanted to get a few glass bottles here and return to China. As for the gold and silver, it is too heavy to carry. ”

"Oh? Does the hemp shopkeeper want to exchange coal for glass bottles? This~" Gro was a little embarrassed, because every qualified glass bottle had to be recorded, and the price was high.

"If the adults feel embarrassed, we will exchange a few pieces of rough glass in your country, and when I come, I will respond to a few rich people in my Sui capital, it is not good to return empty-handed, I hope Governor Luo understands!"

"Well~ Actually, it's not difficult." Hearing that it is okay to say that it is coarse, Gro's mind suddenly became active. There are always some unqualified defective products in each furnace of glazed products, and these defective products with quality defects are called crude products, which are inconvenient for circulation in the upper class, so they are sold in the private sector. Even such defective products are extremely sought-after among the people.

"This official will make the decision, and exchange 8 pieces of crude glass for you and other tens of thousands of catties of black coal." Gro continued.

"At least 10 pieces." Uncle Ma made a counteroffer.

"That's it! For the sake of the Shangguan girl, the official gave two more pieces of coarse glass to the hemp shopkeeper. Tomorrow morning, the official will send someone to the workshop treasury to fetch it, and it will be delivered here in the afternoon at the latest. ”

"Hehe~ Governor Gro, this can't be done. Although I got a crude product, I asked the adults to let me wait to choose one, I am a businessman, and I am careful when I walk the rivers and lakes. It is necessary to know that the crude product is not a defective product! ”

"Oh?" As soon as Ge Luo heard Uncle Ma's words, he couldn't refute it for a while, but if he didn't refute, he would agree to take the three of him to the glass workshop to buy, which seemed a little inappropriate, and he couldn't help but hesitate.

"Master, I have been to the Zehu Lake workshop many times, and the glazed products are calcined in the blast furnace, and people can't get close, so what are you afraid of him? Could it be that he can still go into the furnace to see it? Just take him into the rough warehouse and choose one of them. Master Ma saw that Gro was a little hesitant, so he whispered.

"Well~ too! It doesn't hurt to take him with you. Gro thought about it, it is true that as the master said, he has long been a frequent visitor to the workshop, Mo said that he didn't know how to fire in the blast furnace, that is, he asked Mr. Mu face-to-face about the production method, and the strange Mr. Mu was very tight-mouthed, and it should be fine to take a few people to the warehouse to choose.

"Since several shopkeepers have this request, I will go to the Sizawa workshop with this official tomorrow. Just don't stay too long, and don't talk to the people in the workshop. ”

"It's natural, I'll wait for the selection of 10 and I'll be back, thank you Governor Gro for making it happen!" The broken bottle is fake, but the person is real. Uncle Ma saw that his goal was achieved, and he was happy in his heart, and he was busy responding.

"That being the case, tomorrow I will borrow the noble camel team to send the black coal to the Sizawa workshop, and the official will take his leave. Tomorrow evening, when the matter is over, and still here, the official will invite the three shopkeepers to the banquet, and it is advisable not to shirk. ”

"Thank you, Governor, for your kindness! Please~" Uncle Ma sent the three of them out of the door of the brothel together.

Seeing that the three of them had gone far, Dong Ke laughed first: "Hehe~ I originally thought it was extremely difficult, but I didn't want it to be in the hands of your Minister Ma, but it was so easy, and the officials admired it very much." ”

"Yes! Minister Ma acted on the spot, and his methods were extremely clever, which made us admire. He Yong also echoed and said.

"Gao Ming is Gao Ming, but tomorrow you are only allowed to see and not ask, how can you get a glimpse of the secrets of bottle making?" Shangguan Ling'er didn't have the rhetoric of sycophants at all, and directly threw out her concerns, as if she gently slapped the faces of the three men.

"Yes! Minister Ma, what Miss Shangguan said is very true. He Yong suddenly reacted, and immediately responded worriedly.

"Huh! As long as you let go, it's half the battle, and tomorrow you will go to the workshop to see the opportunity to act. Uncle Ma said with a disapproving smile, he was thinking, who cares about the glass bottle! I just want to meet the mysterious man who made the bottle.

Near noon the next day, Master Ma, a henchman of Gro, led Ma Shumou's caravan to finally arrive at the camp of the Loulan remnants on the shore of Size Lake, which is also the location of the workshop for making glassware.

Looking at the camels full of black coal that entered the workshop one after another, the bearded Mr. Mu couldn't help but sigh and said secretly: "It seems that there is no respite anymore, and the lives of the people of Lou Lanzi should be like this!" With that, he shook his head and went back into a nest that belonged to him, sat down at the wooden table, poured himself a glass of water, and then took out a pamphlet from his bosom, and looked at it carefully, not with a soft sigh. This is his living room as the head of the glazed ware workshop, and the conditions are much better than the nests of other remnants of Loulan Kingdom.

"Mr. Mu, the black coal merchants of the Great Sui Kingdom want to choose 10 pieces of crude colored glass, please go to the warehouse to accompany you." Outside the door, there was the familiar voice of Master Ma, a henchman of Gro's confidant. Usually, this Master Ma spends the most time in the workshop, and the two are of the same age, and they can talk to him and have a good relationship.

"Master Ma, do you mean the merchant from the Sui Dynasty in the East?" Mr. Mu walked out of his room as he asked, and he could clearly feel his spirits perked up, and his eyes lit up.

Seeing that Mr. Mu came out, Master Ma took two steps forward and bowed: "Yes!" Mr. Mu. Coincidentally, this Sui merchant just transported 50,000 catties of black coal yesterday, and it was transported early in the morning. Don't give him gold and silver, you have to exchange it for 10 pieces of broken rough glass, and Mr. can let him choose the unsightly ones. Master Ma gestured as he spoke, leading Mr. Mu to the nest that was used as a warehouse. Ma Shumou was already waiting in front of the door alone.

"Ma shopkeeper, this is Mr. Mu, the head of the workshop here, he will lead the hemp shopkeeper into the house to choose, please~" Master Ma introduced this Mr. Mu to Ma Shumou, and Mr. Mu also looked up and down at the same time this Han from a big country in the East.

"Oh~ You are the head of this glazed ware workshop, fortunately, fortunately~" Uncle Ma naturally stretched out his right hand as he spoke, and made a handshake that had never been seen in this era.

"Ma ~ Ma shopkeeper, fortunately ~ " Mr. Mu felt abrupt and was slightly stunned, but then he habitually stretched out his right hand to Ma Shumou and held Ma Shumou's hand quite naturally. The moment the two shook hands, they looked at each other and seemed to be sensitive.

After letting go of his hand, when he followed Mr. Mu to the warehouse, Ma Shumou asked casually: "I don't hear Mr. Mu's accent is like that of the northwest area, Mr. is a southerner?" ”

Hearing Ma Shumou's question, Mr. Mu's footsteps suddenly stopped, and after hesitating for two seconds, he turned his head and carefully looked at the young Han man beside him again, and then replied softly: "The old slave is originally from Lingnan, and I don't know if it belongs to the Sui Dynasty now." It's been a long time since the old slave has seen the Han people from the original from it. With that, he walked on again, and soon entered a spacious, dry den.

There are several shelves made of wood, on which are many glass bottles, but there are only two shapes, one is a cup for drinking water, and the other is a goblet for drinking. Ma Shumou could basically judge that the middle-aged man in front of him was undoubtedly a time-traveler based on the two cups with almost the same shape as the later generations, and his own handshake as a temptation, but he still couldn't be sure that he was a figure of that era in the later generations. His brother Yang Er said that glassware appeared in the Ming Dynasty in China. Judging from the appearance of this person, he looks like a person from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is more inclined to people from the middle of the Ming Dynasty, because when he said that he was from the country, he used the term Lingnan. Lingnan, what Ma Shumou knew when he was working in Guangdong in his later life, so as soon as he opened his mouth, Ma Shumou heard his Cantonese accent. But what puzzled Uncle Ma was that the moment he shook hands with himself, he felt like a modern person. So why didn't he say that he was Cantonese?