Section 14 The Two Major Merchants (Revised)

In the days that followed, I stayed in Gongsun Mansion to arrange for the relocation of the displaced people, and at the same time practiced my fighting skills in a frenzy, and I had to strengthen myself first to fight for a position in this troubled world.

With my madness, Wang Yue often shouted that he couldn't stand it, because no matter day or night, as long as I thought of a good move, I would rush into his room, pull him up and try his tricks with him, without any regard for his identity as a master, if he didn't keep receiving small gifts from me, I guess he would have quit a long time ago.

In this way, after a month, we received gifts, returned to Zuofeng in Luoyang, and conveyed the edict of the imperial court, allowing Youzhou to set up its own vassal state, establish a homeless village, and settle the homeless, and I, a member of the Han family, were also appointed as the temporary ruler of the country.

In the Eastern Han Dynasty, the concept of "country" was different from today, and the so-called "country" was just an area equivalent to a small county. The lord of the country is only a fictitious title, and has neither the right to appoint and dismiss officials, nor the right to govern, but can only collect taxes in the country. But because Zuo harvested my great gifts, the holy decree allowed me, the lord of the country, to choose his own officials and govern the country.

Perhaps, in their opinion, in Liaoxi County, where the soldiers were in danger, all the county officials were killed in battle, and the Liu Hun tribe I sent was harassed and blocked the road. Officials are unable to take office, and no one is still willing to serve as the Taishou of Liaoxi County, and the establishment of the country in this dangerous place is just a matter of sooner or later the country will be ruined. But being able to push out tens of thousands of displaced people without spending a penny is really a good deal. Of course, if we finally stand on our feet, then there will be a lot of people who will grab this piece of fat.

Strangely, Liu Yu did not remove my soldier from his position. This has become a strange phenomenon, I serve as a small official in Youzhou as the lord of the country, a small official of more than 200 stones. But I think this may be Zuo Feng's credit, or the credit of the crystal glass cup.

However, I can't intervene in all the political affairs of Youzhou, and the soldiers can't lead it. Looking at my military flag planted at the head of the city, I often think that maybe all you need in Youzhou is my military flag.

After receiving the edict of the founding of the country, I was in a cheerful mood and immediately invited Wang Yue to the restaurant to celebrate. I was going to call Liu Yu by the way, but he was busy appeasing the alien race and was not in Youzhou City. I had to take Gongsun Zhan's son Gongsun Xu to the largest restaurant in Youzhou, "Wangyuan Pavilion". The owner of the restaurant also knew how to find us and arranged us in the wing room on the second floor.

After three rounds of wine, Wang Yue Gongsun continued to be a little excited, and frequently toasted to me to congratulate, but unfortunately I didn't dare to compliment this wine, the Three Kingdoms era, the wine was not well filtered, this is what people often say, "a glass of turbid wine is happy to meet". When this wine is drunk, it needs to be filtered with a maogu, which is the white core inside the sunflower stem. Imagine waiting for half a day for each drink, and the filtered wine needs to blow open the white core on the glass before you can drink it, and then there is no interest.

I had a whim that by building a winery, I would definitely be able to make money and build a century-old wine brand.

Just as I was drinking the fourth glass of wine like a pill, the shopkeeper slammed the door outside the room, and then, without waiting for us to say hello, two faces came in.

"Xuande, sure enough, it's you, we heard from the shopkeeper that you are here, and you take the liberty to visit, you won't blame us, right?" Before I could answer, the two men crowded into the wing.

Who? Do I know him well?

Suddenly, I thought of the reason, and I suddenly broke out in a cold sweat - it seems that it is not that I am very familiar with him, but that Liu Bei is very familiar with him. I actually forgot that I am not Liu Bei, I am just an actor of Liu Bei.

This is the biggest challenge after I came to the Three Kingdoms, when I first met Gongsun Chan in Liaodong, because Gongsun Chan was a person with great ambitions and talents, and because of the relationship between Gongsun Chan and Liu Bei, he didn't have time to think about it, so he gave me a bear hug, which saved me from introducing myself.

But this person obviously has a lot to do with Liu Bei, who could it be? My heart thundered like lightning, and I thought about how to solve this problem.

Wang Yue was already drunk at this time, and when he saw that I didn't say anything, relying on his identity as a master, he glared drunken and shouted: "Who are you and why did you break into the banquet."

The two people who broke in saw that it was the person sitting in the upper seat who asked, and immediately replied respectfully: "The two of us are Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang, merchants from Zhuo County, who are the strong men who are here to do business in Youzhou?" ”

At that moment, I was suddenly ecstatic, and I didn't even have time to listen to Wang Yue's conversation with them, Zhang Shiping and Su Shuangke were famous merchants in Zhuo County, in history, Liu Bei recruited troops after the Yellow Turban Uprising, and it was this Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang who sponsored horses and iron, Liu Bei's double-strand sword, Guan Yu's Qinglong Yanyue knife, and Zhang Fei's Zhangba snake spear were all made of iron sponsored by them. It is said that these two often sponsored Liu Bei's mother and son when they were lonely.

Such a good businessman is exactly what I need, and all the work of Izumo City is on the right track, but all along, we have not dared to sell a large number of goods to the country, for fear of attracting the attention of others, but let the eunuchs think that this is a treasure land, and flock here to be officials, then we are making wedding clothes for others.

However, with Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang, all this has changed. Our direct export trade has become a resale trade, and these two people have a cordial relationship with Liu Bei, as long as they add confidentiality requirements when making transactions, I believe that with public and private, they will hide the big source of Izumo City for us. In this way, Izumo Castle will not open up the domestic market.

I respectfully left the table and bowed deeply to the two businessmen: "When I was in Zhuo County, thanks to the care of the two of them, during the preparation of the study tour, the widow also took two blessings, so that she would not freeze and starve on the street. ”

This is my first kowtow in the Three Kingdoms, even if I apprentice to Wang Yue, I have never kowtowed, on the one hand, Wang Yue received my gift, on the other hand, as a modern person, I am still not used to kowtowing, but these two I have to bow no matter what, for Liu Bei, for the future way out of Cloud City, but also for the benevolence of the two, I sincerely bow.

Maybe everyone felt my sincerity, everyone left the table and got up, and Zhang Shiping immediately grabbed two steps and helped me up.

"It is not necessary for a virtuous nephew," he said, "and we have been traveling from place to place to take care of your widowed mother, and we have no choice but to look at it when we return home." However, when Gongsun County Cheng was in office, he rebuilt the house for your family and purchased a good piece of land, and your widowed mother now lives without worry. ”

I was moved in my heart, all along, I always avoided seeing Liu Bei's widowed mother, I knew that Liu Bei, who I played, could hide from anyone, but not from Liu Bei's flesh-and-blood mother. I know that in history, Liu Bei's widowed mother passed away in Guanghe for six years, and it seems that it will only take one year. When I think of this mother who is looking at her son, I can't help but think of my parents in this world, Mother, are you okay in another country, and are you also looking at your son.

"Virtuous nephew, don't cry, don't cry", Su Shuang immediately took my hand and comforted me and said, it seems that I have made Liu Bei's mistake again, but his warm hands remind me of my father. Tears immediately flowed down my eyes.

I don't know how long it took, I calmed down, pulled Wang Yue and introduced to Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang: "This is the hero of the world, Wang Yue of Liaodong, I am studying martial arts under Wang Shimen." ”

Su and Zhang immediately bowed to each other, "Even if you are Teacher Xuande, we will also thank Xuande on behalf of you."

Wang Yue looked at me and said dissatisfiedly: "Don't be polite, such a crying apprentice really makes me embarrassed, if I see you like this that day, I will not accept you as an apprentice." ”

After a pause, he said again: "If the Wuheng thief sees you like this, he will not believe that you are a tiger in Youzhou." ”

Wang Yue's statement made me a little embarrassed, in order to cover it up, I pulled Gongsun Xu to introduce Su and Zhang: "This son is the eldest son of Gongsun County Cheng in the past, Gongsun County Cheng is now moving to the governor of Youzhou, and he is on a journey." ”

Speaking of this, I suddenly felt a thrill in my heart, and hurriedly asked Gongsun Xu: "How long has Bogui been on the expedition?" ”

"It's May, and it's been four months since my father went out." Gongsun replied.

"Is there any news coming back in between?" I'll ask again.

In February, the news of the encounter between my father and Uncle Liu was sent back, and a batch of trophies was sent back, and in March, the news was sent back that my father pursued Zhang Chun and the Wuheng thief Kou Qiu Liju, fought in Shimen, a subordinate country in western Liao, and defeated the enemy army, Qiu Liju abandoned his wife and fled over the Great Wall. Since then, there has been no news. Gongsun replied, and then asked me, "Uncle, what is the matter?"

I thought silently for a while, and then replied, "Your father is more courageous than me, and it will be fine, maybe I think too much, and we will inquire later, and now we will drink well." ”

During the banquet, Su and Zhang heard that it was for me to set up a wine to celebrate the appointment, and immediately laughed, in their opinion, this child has finally come out, and it is time to celebrate.

But I was absent-minded at the table, history records, Gongsun Zhan pursued the enemy Kou deep into the non-continuous, but was surrounded by Qiu Liju and others, trapped in Guanzi City in Liaoxi for more than 200 days, the grain was exhausted to eat the horses, the horses were all cooked leather crossbows, and finally the battle was defeated, Gongsun Zhan and the soldiers said goodbye, let the soldiers scatter and flee back. Fortunately, there was a lot of rain and snow at that time, and the enemy was hungry and unbearable, so he left Liucheng. And Gongsun Zhan's soldiers fled in the rain and snow, freezing to death on the road all the way, and in the end, less than half of them successfully escaped. And I was so successful for a while that I actually forgot about this history.

Although Gongsun Chan's life will not be in danger, Gongsun Chan has some of my children by his side, what if they are also half of the people who died on the road? I panicked.

At this time, I heard Gongsun Xu mention my name, "What? I asked.

Gongsun Xu immediately explained to me: "The two merchants mentioned that they wanted to come to Youzhou to buy salt and iron, however, although Youzhou is known for the benefits of salt and iron, after Zhang Chun, the counties were ruined, and now bandits are rampant, and the road is impassable, so they are stranded in Jixian for many days and cannot buy goods. I said that it is better to ask your uncle to be the master, although there are bandits rampant in Youzhou, and the road is impassable, but my uncle migrates the displaced people, as long as he puts on the uncle's military flag, he will pass unimpeded. A bandit once rushed close to the camp of the homeless people, and when he saw his uncle's banner, he turned and retreated. If the uncle is willing to give them a flag, they will be able to come and go freely when they come and go to Youzhou to buy goods. ”

Oh, the Liu Hun tribe actually did this kind of thing, I let them rob everywhere and block the road, but I didn't let them do it so obviously. However, they have been robbing everywhere, and they have not been wiped out by officers and soldiers until now, and their combat effectiveness is okay.

I immediately pulled my thoughts back, since Gongsun Chan's life was not in danger, I didn't have to worry too much, and now there are still 5 months before the snow, even if it is too late to prepare for rescue. Now, I want to get rid of Su and Zhang's two merchants.

"The two uncles came to Youzhou, what else do they want to purchase besides salt and iron?" I looked around at the table and took in everyone's expressions.

Although Wang Yue did not have any official position, but he did not talk much to the two merchants, if it were not for the two merchants to his apprentices, it is estimated that he would be ashamed to sit with them, only Gongsun Xu was young and ignorant, and the two merchants were warm. At the same time, with Wang Yue present, the two businessmen were also uncomfortable.

"I waited to come to Youzhou, I originally hoped to buy some goods, but now the road is not passable, and it is difficult to even return to Zhuo County, if the virtuous nephew can help us return to Zhuo County, it would be good if the virtuous nephew could help us return to Zhuo County, however, it would be a violation of military discipline to fight the military flag privately, and the virtuous nephew should not be too embarrassed." Su Shuang said.

"What's so difficult about this, it's better for the two uncles to leave their addresses, and I will visit tonight to arrange the affairs of the two." Su Zhang and the two were overjoyed, immediately left their addresses, chatted for a few words and left.

That night, I visited Su and Zhang to ask about their mother's condition, and I told them that after I finished learning from Master Wang Yue, I expected to go home after the snow next year. At the same time, I asked them to bring back money and food to take care of my mother. I also informed them of the news that he had recently been granted the status of filial piety and was ordered to organize the displaced people to establish a country in the wilderness. After doing all this foreshadowing, I continued:

"After the homeless people are settled, they produce some goods and want to sell them outside in exchange for food and daily necessities, but the homeless people are worried that if they let the government know, they will come to raise taxes and send officials to supervise production. What should I do? ”

"Xuande doesn't have to worry when he arrives, we come and go here, the government and merchants know it, and we will bring your goods on the way back, even if someone checks it, we won't tell them." Su Shuang said generously.

"A little bit of goods, then I don't have to worry, I'm afraid that the amount of goods is too large," I said.

"How much money do you have with you?" I inquired further.

"Originally, I brought a thousand gold on the road, but I stayed here for a long time, we brought 300 guards, and there was a lot of money, and there are only 500 gold left, and the people of Xuande were displaced, and I bought all the things that could be produced." Zhang Shiping also accosted.

Five hundred gold is not enough to buy my unicorn armor, what can I do. But fortunately, both of them are benevolent people, and they are my fellow villagers, so I am still relieved to sell the goods to them on credit.

"Well," I said, "you can buy whatever you want here, and tomorrow I will send a guard to take you to a place with my letter, and they will sell you some of your goods on credit, and you may sell them and pay us." But you must ensure that you do not tell the outside world what you see, and that you do not tell anyone the origin of the goods you buy. At the same time, we can send 200 escorts to escort you all the way back and forth. Their salaries are paid by us, but you are in charge. You can say to the outside that this is your guard. Of course, I don't mean anything else by doing this, just to ensure your safety and the safety of our payment. If you accept this condition, you can leave tomorrow with 200 escorts. ”

Su Zhang and the two exchanged glances and asked, "Can Xuande tell us what the goods that the people want to sell are, and we can also arrange the purchase plan here." ”

I immediately lifted my jacket and revealed the unicorn armor inside the clothes: "This kind of armor, the people of the tun produce ten pieces a day, as well as other iron products, as well as glass products, paper, books, porcelain, ceramic tiles, etc., among them, there is a kind of glass products called glass, bright as crystal, can be installed on the window, so that the house is self-evident without lights." It's just that these goods are expensive, not easy to transport, and not produced at high volumes. The two uncles could leave one here to preside over the purchases, and the other could go here and the people here would arrange the transportation. And sent two hundred guards to escort all the way. What do the two uncles think? ”

Su and Zhang were overjoyed and quickly arranged the matter, and then Su Shuang went to Luanyang City and brought back a large number of goods. Although he was also puzzled about how a newly established cantonment center could produce so many things, he was smart not to say or ask.

Since then, our goods have continued to enter the Central Plains market with the help of Su and Zhang. During this period, although many merchants also wanted to follow in the footsteps of Su and Zhang and enter Luanyang City. But Liu Hun's army drove them all out of Liaoxi, and Su and Zhang, who discovered this phenomenon, remained even more silent.

However, these two also have some moves, let me admire, every time they sell goods, they always give us free of charge, used to transport goods of the four-wheeled carriage dismantling, on the chassis of the gorgeous carriage after selling at a high price, it is really unprofitable, it seems that China has never lacked business talents, nor lack of business minds, what is lacking is suitable for the development of commercial policies, what is lacking is respect for the cultural concept of businessmen.

Our business opportunities are limitless!