At the beginning of October in the third year of the Apocalypse, Guazhou ushered in the first snowfall, and the northwest has since entered a severe winter, and the prisoners of war and the people who were working for relief were also forced to stop work and return to nearby towns to take refuge.

However, for some people, everything has just begun, whether it is Zhao Si, who is on the other side of the sandbank and separates the relationship between Li Yichang and Cao Rengui step by step, or Tuoba Siji, who is in Guazhou waiting for the last news and preparing for action, they all have this heavy snow in their eyes at all, and heavy snow days are sometimes the best time to act.

However, unlike the scene when everything was quiet at this time, the residence of Yeluqi, the head of the Yelu family, who had just come to Guazhou, was brilliantly lit at this time, and the Yingge Yan Dance was placed in the hall like a flowing water mat, and the charcoal was placed in the fireplace, so that the entire banquet hall was as warm as spring even in the cold winter in the northwest.

"Yelu Gongzi, it's better to see it after hearing it for a long time, I didn't expect the helmsman of the Yelu family in the northwest to be so young, and I admire it." Yeluqi kept beckoning the audience to drink, and the wine from Turpan flowed like bright red blood in the amber glass, reflecting Yeluqi's face and flushing.

"I remember that before I came, my father said that the Qu family has been in the northwest for a hundred years, and there must be someone to teach me, a junior, on this trip. I wonder what Uncle Qu thinks about the current situation? Yeluqi's words made dozens of wealthy merchants from Guazhou put down their wine glasses in their hands, among them there were more than a dozen local people, and the others were basically based in other places, and they were inextricably linked with each other, and there were even several Uighur merchants from Gaochang among them. In this regard, Yeluqi knows that the decisive battle on the battlefield sometimes has little to do with these businessmen, as long as they are profitable, then they will never be stingy with a counterattack. And the purpose of Yeluqi coming to them didn't care that after they went back, he leaked everything he said today, and even according to Yeluqi's idea, he wished that they would spread it. The leading level of the Tang Empire in commerce is destined to lose even if there is a commercial war, but in the face of the booming industry and commerce in China, the resumption of the Silk Road can sell many industrial products produced in the mainland and obtain a stable market to help prosper the economy.

"I think it doesn't matter where everyone in this room belongs, one thing is the most important, and that is whoever can open up the Silk Road and give me the lowest tax rate, I will support whomever I want." Yeluqi didn't care about the eyes of others, and Shi Shiran said in a tone: "Everyone, Datang has been unified, do you know what this means?" This means that the silk, porcelain, tea and the latest industrial products from the mainland of Datang will be continuously transported from Guanzhong to the northwest and transported to your hands. Do you know why the mainland's industrial and commercial code was implemented so quickly? That's because the latest industrial and commercial code can bring more profits, more money, and less constraints to businessmen. Yeluqi knew that these people must have studied the industrial and commercial code published by the Assassin's Mansion, so he smiled and said: "Everyone, the army of the Tang Dynasty is stationed here now, so it may be where it will be stationed next year, and some things are better decided as soon as possible." ”

"Dare to ask Yelu Gongzi, I don't know what the Tang Dynasty court wants me to pay for businessmen?" As soon as Yeluqi's words were finished, everyone was silent, and everyone understood the meaning of his words, this guy spoke really badly, and directly singled out that Datang was using the army to promote reform, that is to say, where the army fought, this kind of reform similar to Guazhou will be promoted. Although there are many benefits in the industrial and commercial code of the Tang Dynasty, and many people want to get them, there is one problem that is the same as that of the Central Plains, that is, how to define the political status of these wealthy businessmen. The status of merchants in the northwest is much better than in the interior, especially in those areas ruled by a few tribes, and the merchants are basically on an equal footing with other industries, and can even be superior to others. But the mainland is different, businessmen are called cheap mouthfuls, and they are not even allowed to participate in the imperial examinations.

"Give what? What do you need to give? What can you have? After a series of rhetorical questions, Yeluqi sneered: "What do you still need to pay for the Tang Dynasty's thousands of miles?" Shinong industry and commerce have long been equal and consistent in the Central Plains. You only need to do business in accordance with the law and pay taxes according to the regulations, and don't ask about the rest. Businessmen should concentrate on making money, and don't ask those who shouldn't ask, and don't touch them, otherwise those big-headed soldiers won't ask whose interests you represent or which backer you are. Yeluqi waved his hand and said: "Everyone, now that the reform of Guazhou has reached the last moment, I don't want all of us here to gather together today, and we will be tied up when we go out when we turn around." ”

"Although the Tiance Army is powerful, it can't solve everything by force, right? Could it be that they hope that Guazhou will never have peace from now on? As soon as Yeluqi's words were finished, someone came up, but Yeluqi glanced at the other party and was immediately happy, "Could it be that Your Excellency Asgui is still planning to fight with the Tiance Army?" If you want to fight, I'm in favor of it, and I can still do it if you get some food or grass or something, but you have to remember that if you die, don't drag us into the water. My Yelu family's business in Datang is now doing all over the world, and the money I earn every year is estimated to drown you, don't hurt me. ”

Yeluqi's appearance looked funny to everyone, but it was revealing a hint of threat, which made everyone silent again, but it was quickly broken, and Dou Wei of the Dou family stood up and said: "Yelu Gongzi, I have something I want to consult, if I and other northwest businessmen return to the Tang Dynasty, can they get the same treatment as your Yelu family?" ”

"The head of the Dou family asked this question well, I like it." Yeluqi said with a smile: "The head of the Dou family remembers to go to Chang'an more in the future, I heard that the Long family in Suzhou has opened a good situation in Liangzhou and Chang'an, and it is very good to return to the old business. Yeluqi didn't answer directly, but talked about the affairs of the Long family, nodded and said: "Speaking of which, I am a little envious, the Long family was originally a rebellious family, and the family property was confiscated, but as long as you can follow the laws of the Tang Dynasty and do what a Tang citizen should do, then not only the laws of the Tang Empire but also the Tiance Army outside will become the strongest guardian saint for us." ”

"Okay, that's the end of today's banquet, the recent movement in Guazhou has been a bit big, Yeluqi hereby warns you, do business with peace of mind, do your duty, so that no matter how turbulent it is, it will not affect you." Yeluqi clapped his hands and stood up and said with a smile: "By the way, Datang Qianzhuang is about to open a branch in Guazhou, a friendly reminder, it is beneficial to exchange Tang coins as soon as possible." After finishing speaking, he didn't say anything, and stood up directly to see off the guests.

In fact, for Yeluqi, he invited these people to send a signal that those wavering middlemen can take a reassurance, as for whether there is no good banquet, he is lazy to care, although the business Yelu family in the northwest is dominant, but sooner or later the northwest will return to Middle-earth, after the empire gains a firm foothold in the northwest, those big and small merchants in the mainland who are red-eyed on the Silk Road will inevitably come bravely, and it is not yet known whether the Yelu family can achieve the current dominant position, not to mention these ignorant snakes. Looking at the people in front of him, Yelu Qi whispered to Yelu Mingning beside him: "Go and report to the deputy prime minister, just say that I have completed the task, except for the four local merchants in Guazhou who have cooperated with my Yelu family, only the Dou family has already turned to our side, and the others are all outsiders without exception, not as good as the three Uighur merchants." As for the gang in Samarkand, please ask the deputy prime minister to punish them severely, but not to kill them all, leaving a tail for the future. ”

Although Yelu Mingning didn't understand what Yelu Qi meant, he still turned around and quickly walked towards the courtyard of the Thorn History Mansion where Tuoba was thinking. Tuoba Siji, who got the news, no longer hesitated at this time, and sorted these large and small merchants into categories overnight, and then handed them over to Sima Daoxin for emergency disposal. From the very beginning, Tuoba Sijian did not intend to use formal methods to solve the troubles caused by the business circles in Guazhou, and Tuoba Sijian wanted to take the opportunity of rectifying the business circles to cover another action against the Northwest Religions.

So early the next morning, Sima Daoxin personally commanded all the manpower of the security bureau of the Assassin's Mansion to dispatch urgently, and began to seal up the large merchants in Guazhou, and the main cadres of the merchants were almost all taken away. This mighty encirclement and suppression made those wealthy clans who were still hesitant before flock to Yeluqi's place almost immediately, begging for his rescue. But at this time, Yelu Qi did not show up, but asked Yelu Mingning to bring a message to the more than 20 people who came to find him, all beings are equal, and the world will return to Tang.

To be honest, even Yelu Mingning, who was in charge of delivering the words, didn't understand this sentence, but at this time, the people who came to seek help were like a rope suddenly looking for by a desperate person who was drowning to survive, and after thinking about it for a while, they went to Sima Daoxin one after another to explain the backer behind him. The merchants in Guazhou basically have such and such backers behind them, or the industries of religious forces or the industries of the generals at all levels of the former Guiyi Army, and even more so the eyeliner planted by external forces in Guazhou, compared to the Central Plains, there are other industries as a cover, and only commerce is the most suitable for the use of eyeliner in the northwest region, all kinds of caravan trading houses, taverns and teahouses, and vendors selling all kinds of items. It's just that these people in front of me are all very big ones and dominate in a certain industry.

These people came to the Assassin's Mansion and were all taken down by Sima Daoxin's men who had been waiting for a long time, but the people who got Yeluqi's guidance did not panic this time, but followed those officials to their secret rooms to explain the things behind their backs, only to see that soon after, the people of the Assassin's Mansion began to rush everywhere according to the explanations of these people, and for a while, Guazhou was in turmoil again, and countless people were taken away by the people of the wolf-like guard bureau, during which some people tried to resist but were bloodily suppressed by the army that had been waiting for a long time.

For the time being, Sima Daoxin did not let them out, and was detained in the Assassin's Mansion. However, Sima Daoxin did not embarrass them, and after personally appeasing them, he began to deal with those merchants who did not come to explain. At this time, the big and small merchants in Guazhou City were almost wiped out, and the Assassin Mansion was even overcrowded, but there was nothing to say about these people Sima Daoxin, and it didn't matter if they handed over or not, Tuoba Siji's action had already begun, and a large number of troops began to be dispatched to raid the religious strongholds and arrest the important people among them. There is not so much politeness to these people, and they have ironclad evidence that these people are trying to assassinate Tuoba Siji, and even several killers collected by the Tianfang Sect from all over the northwest have also been captured alive at the Tianfang Sect's main altar, and almost all of them are dejected and taken away by the Tiance Army in front of such evidence.

It's just that Tuoba Sijian may not know that although he quickly wiped out the leaders of the local religions in Guazhou, he planted a time bomb in the back, which is also the origin of the later Guazhou Rebellion. However, although Tuoba Siji did not know that he had brought an earth-shattering turmoil to Guazhou later, he would do so even if he knew that the religious congregation tried to resist the government, which would not end well at any time, and the northwest needed a blood and fire to baptize this century-old blank.

This three-day raid and arrest made the entire upper echelons of Guazhou empty, but after the arrest of the major religious leaders, the Assassin Mansion began to release the previously arrested businessmen one after another, especially the first batch of merchants who surrendered, Sima Daoxin even sent these people out of the gate of the Assassin's Mansion, and the people of Guazhou also saw the people of the official mansion for the first time, especially the Lord Assassin sent these merchants.

With the turmoil of these people returning to Guazhou one after another, they are also returning to calm one after another, but Sima Daoxin is staying up all night and trying those religious leaders in the law court, and Tuoba Sizhi originally planned to participate, after all, military management does not mean that there is no law, but the news sent by Xuan Yingwei made him stop urgently, and sure enough, he made such a big move in Guazhou, how could the other side not participate? However, according to Tuoba Si's thinking, the other side is one step behind after all.