For a merchant like Da Shengchang, they can often make ten times more profit from trading with the Qiang people, and for a merchant like Lao Wang, their trade can sometimes reach a hundred times more profitable.

However, Da Shengchang does not envy Lao Wang and them, because they have a small quantity, and a large number of businesses, and another one, Lao Wang, they have a long time to run and a slow turnover, which is not comparable to their efficiency.

These big merchants continue to push the trading point forward along the river, and after acquiring the goods, they can go down the valley and river, which is very convenient.

Single-gang merchants like Lao Wang had to follow the small tributaries of those rivers into the depths of the mountains where transportation was inconvenient, and small wooden boats and bantam horses were their means of trafficking.

After buying the goods, Lao Wang went to the restaurant, although it was located in a distant frontier, surrounded by some indigenous Qiang people, but as long as there was money to be made, there were adventurers to come.

The firm came, established a trading point, repaired the fort, and then there were apprentices from the shopkeepers, and some of the shopkeepers even brought their families over.

At the same time, there will also be restaurants, green buildings, branch girls, cooks, and even a medical hall.

Lao Wang walked around and was surprised to find that there was a new Taoist temple and a temple here, and even a academy, although the Taoist priest was just a toothless old Taoist, with two young thin Taoist priests, and there were only three or five monks.

But these changes only came after he left, and now I always feel a little surprised when I see these.

More and more, it seemed to him that it was becoming more and more like a city.

When he was eating, there was even an official errand who reported his identity, he was a city official sent by the Taoyuan County Municipal Bureau of Lintao County, responsible for the transactions and taxes here, and he also had an assistant, a very young man, who looked like he was still underage.

These unfamiliar fresh faces made Lao Wang feel uncomfortable.

After revealing his identity, the city official told him about the current situation and potential dangers, and then told him that even if he went to the Qiang people to do business, he must not do anything wrong and ruin the reputation of the court.

At the same time, he told him that in case of danger, he could call for help from the nearest military station.

Eventually, the city magistrate summoned him aside and gave him the task of taking a man with him when he left.

"Bring someone?"

"He'll be your guy on the fly, but you won't need to pay him."

Lao Wang was puzzled, the government sent a guy to him for free?

"That's a person from the imperial court, but his apparent identity will be your buddy, walking with you, exploring the terrain along the way, and inspecting the Qiang people in various departments, you don't have to worry about anything else."

Lao Wang thought to himself, isn't this just a spy? Thinking about it, I was still a little excited, and I felt that it would not hinder me, so I agreed immediately.

After a while, the city order brought a man.

It looks like a guy, not at all mighty.

When the man saw him, he said that he was also surnamed Wang, and he would act as Lao Wang's nephew on the road and let Lao Wang take care of him.

After having a meal together, this little king did not smile.

Lao Wang always wanted to know more tentatively, but Xiao Wang didn't leak, and after a while, Lao Wang felt a little bored.

After the meal, after a brief break, Lao Wang went to check his goods, and the shops had already helped him pack them, and after he counted them, the two sides handed them over, and then went to the stable area over there and rented six ponies.

Originally, he only rented four horses per person, but because of the addition of people, Lao Wang felt that he could bring more goods, so he temporarily purchased another batch of goods and rented two horses.

This kind of horse is short in stature, especially in foot, although it is not as tall and majestic as the Turkic horse and the Tuyuhun horse, but it is good at crossing mountains and mountains, which is very suitable for merchants like them.

After all, the places they want to go are often those bird paths and animal paths, and they have to go over mountains and mountains.

Make all the preparations, rest in the village for a night, the next day the sky is slightly bright, Lao Wang took the goods, and Xiao Wang walked out of the village together.

After leaving the village, it is a long journey.

I have been walking for several days, and it is estimated that I have walked more than 200 miles in twists and turns. On the way, Lao Wang didn't go to the Qiang people to trade, "We who run the single gang, there are also rules, you see that after the trading point, these hundreds of miles of places, in fact, are also divided into spheres of influence, each of the single gang has its own territory, other people can not cross the line at will, otherwise it is to cross the line, the consequences are very serious." ”

It's the same as hunters, each hunter has his own hunting area, and hunters can only trap and hunt in that area, otherwise it will lead to conflict.

The big merchants divided the trading points, and the single merchants divided the mountains and valleys.

In this way, everyone is safe.

If there is a newcomer, then you have to worship the mountain first, and only after getting permission can you do it.

"The state has its own laws, and there are rules!"

Xiao Wang just nodded, but didn't say much.

Lao Wang's territory is far away from the trading point, three hundred miles away. Fortunately, although it was hard to sleep in the open on this road, I did not encounter the Qiang people robbing goods or anything like that.

"In the past, these Qiang people were very fierce, but later the county lieutenant of Lintao came with the county soldiers to suppress the bandits a few times, killed some people, and sent the heads to the tribes to see, and those people became much more honest."

The little Wang listened quietly all the way, every night when he camped, he began to write and paint, Lao Wang saw it, he didn't stop it, the paintings are all the routes that come here, where there are rivers, where there are ferries, where there are springs, where there are valleys and river beaches, etc., the paintings are very detailed, and even where there are Qiangluo on this road, how many people in Qiangluo, who the leader is, etc., there are also records, and these are what Lao Wang told Xiao Wang.

At noon that day, they had just crossed a mountain when they heard a whistling sound in front of them.

Then suddenly a few Qiang people in leather robes jumped out, these people saw Lao Wang, shouted happily, and even ran directly over to help Lao Wang lead the horse.

Xiao Wang was startled, and his hand reached on the handle of the knife at his waist.

But Lao Wang stepped forward with a smile and hugged a Qiang man happily.

"Lao Wang, you haven't been here for a long time, and I thought you weren't coming."

"Go back to your hometown in the Central Plains and marry your son's daughter-in-law."

Xiao Wang looked at their happy appearance, as if they were relatives reunited after a long absence, and was very surprised.

The Qiang people excitedly greeted Lao Wang and walked back, and even were very kind to Lao Wang's nephew.

"Lao Wang, we have accumulated a lot of fur, if you don't come again, we will sell it to other Han people." The Qiang man who was holding Lao Wang's arm said with a smile.

And Lao Wang pointed to the six pack horses, "See, I have specially prepared a lot of good things for you this trip, so that you are satisfied!" ”