In late October, the stretching Taihang Mountains are already a patch of yellow and green color, and the breeze blows, as if the entire mountain range is undulating in people's sight. The leaves swayed and rattled as the yellow and green arose and the winding caravans followed the long mountain trail into the boundaries of Kamiya-gun.

Caravans of dozens or even hundreds of people dominated the main stream, and some smaller groups had almost been eliminated from the long journey, and many merchants from the same state and county met each other on the way, and occasionally the two sides would talk about the exchange of grain in the north.

“…… I heard that some businessmen dare to bring grain in one or two carts? I'm afraid I don't know if this road will be smooth? If the grain is not sold, even his life will be taken. ”

"When I came over, I saw a small convoy, six people and a woman, probably a family all went out, on the way to be robbed and killed by gangsters, when I took people over, I saw that the woman was stabbed in the stomach, covered in blood, already dead, the car, the horse is gone, the corpse in one place, tsk....."

"That's bad luck, I saw that there are already people who have returned, and they have gained a lot, and it seems that they will be able to live a comfortable life for a few years in the future...... How much do you think we can earn this time? ”

"......It's hard to say."

During the conversation, the two were questioned by the soldiers and then entered the barn area. There is a long queue waiting for the investigation behind them, after entering October, there are more and more people who come to Shanggu County to do business, and the road is easy to walk, but it is a small door to take a shortcut, and it is considered a bad fate to meet the robbers who rob the road, of course, some things cannot be all thanks to the bandits, close to Shanggu County, or the local snake in Shanggu County, is also greedy for such a good thing, tangled in a group of scoundrels, or dare to kill, specifically pick up fat sheep who work alone on the mountain path, and basically catch one and kill one in the deep mountains and old forests, The looted grain goods can be collected in hidden places at the bottom of the mountain, or sold to large caravans, or organized by themselves to go into the city to trade, and can also make a lot of money.

From September to October, this kind of thing happened more or less, but once it was discovered by the patrol of Shanggu County, these grain robbers were basically arrested and killed, or fled to the mountains and did not dare to come out.

For a period of time after that, the Zhen family and the big families of the Beidi goodwill Gongsun Zhi used a huge network of contacts to attract a large amount of grain from You, Hebei, and the three prefectures, and rushed into it like a river entering the sea, and then, many people began to gradually have doubts.

The caravan that entered the barn area began to deliver the grain goods, and received the certificate of the government from the steward, which recorded the amount of grain transported, and how often and how often to receive the corresponding animal skins and bones in another designated area, and after getting late, the caravan that delivered the goods left a group of people to guard the vehicles, and then entered the city and sat in a specially opened resting inn, ask about the price of rice and grain, after all, who doesn't want to make a lot of money back when you come to the north.

Then, there was a voice in the wine shop that quarreled with people with the strength of wine.

"...... the Fuyang official didn't think about letting you make money, and they ran this way, there is really something to eat, those families in the north have already eaten it, and you have to come all the way here, stupid!!"

"It's as if you're here to do a good deed, but your accent isn't from Bingzhou, what's the matter? The food on the road was robbed by people and dogs, and they ran to the city to spread rumors so that others could not leave? ! ”

“…… Say....you don't understand ......"

On the second floor of the intermittent and noisy liquor store, two eyes looked at a group of merchants who were drinking from behind the wooden railing of the aisle.

Gongsun Zhi was dressed in a luxurious satin robe, looking no different from the merchant below, and there was a young man next to him, whose height was not yet the height of his shoulders, and his demeanor revealed a rare maturity, turning his head to look down from time to time, and his delicate face frowned slightly.

"...... I met your father-in-law in Weimo, and I came out of the dead hand in hand, and the relationship is not comparable to ordinary people, and you are his righteous son, you have to take care of this place, and you can never let it mess up, you look at those people below, what will you get in the end if you pursue profits here?"

"If you don't get anything, you'll be in a mess....."

Gongsun Zhi twisted and looked at the young man, with a smile on the corner of his mouth: "You are smart, but you can't always hold books, come and walk around outside..... just now you said, they will be chaotic if they don't get anything, it is impossible to put it under the command of any prince, unless you don't die, the northland is prosperous in commerce, but you can't let any trader come here to do business, if you have more, you will rely on them to drive the prosperity of a city, and if you don't have it, you can't do it......"

In the hall below, the argument continued.

Someone slammed the table and got up: "The Governor has always defended the merchants who come and go to the Northland, you dare to spread wild here, believe it or not, and kill you......"

"Let's fight! The animal tax has not been announced, and he has been collecting grain, he is not trying to trap us, what is it? ”

"Hugh wants to make noise here, announce that in the past few days, it is a good thing for the governor to collect grain, but when he arrives in this guy's mouth, it will become vicious, and everyone will beat this man out with me!"

The drunk man overturned several cases with a bang, and staggered to several northland businessmen who were approaching: "Who dares!" I can't kill him....."

Outside the liquor store, a patrol of officers passed by and looked inside.

…….

On the second floor, Gongsun Zhi looked at the group of people who were arguing and almost fighting with his hands behind his back, frowning and laughing: "The prosperity of a place is still to be balanced, merchants cannot rely on it, they can only be used as crops in the field, when it is time to harvest, don't worry, people always have to eat." ”

Dongfang Yu tilted his head, and watched a team of people dressed as officials below walk in, lock up the drunk and troublemakers, and take them directly outside, he seemed to understand something in his mind, but it was a little vague.

"There is only the difference between wolves and sheep in this world, and it is difficult to have a choice between the three, but the sheep can't eat it all in one go, and there is no meal after eating, so it should be gentle when it should be gentle, give the sheep some grass, and raise meat, so that it is delicious and has oil and water. Therefore, whether they make trouble or not, whether they will be dissatisfied or not, for the shepherd wolf, it does not matter at all. ”

When Gongsun Zhi said this, he gently patted Dongfang Yu's shoulder, "In the future, you will also grow up, whether you want to be eaten or eaten meat, you must choose well." ”

He looked down, after the person was taken away, the wine shop returned to the bustle, and soon after, he led Dongfang Yu, who was still a little ignorant, to go down together, went out and left in a carriage, lifted half of the curtain to Li Ke outside, and whispered a command.

"Cut the meat."

It stands to reason that a large amount of grain will hit the north, causing the price of grain to fall is inevitable, and the people of the Su family, a large local household, occasionally let out the wind and lobby for stability between all parties, explaining that the government's grain hoarding is not much directly related to the daily needs of the people, and some small households from other states cannot afford to take the risk of withdrawing, so they can only wait patiently.

On the first night of the livestock tax, the air was stuffy, and a large number of horsemen rushed from the north to Fuyang, and their tired faces seemed to bring bad news—the betrayal of the Xianbei slaves had greatly affected the livestock of the grasslands of western Liaoning, and the number of cattle, sheep, and horses that were originally going to be sold here might be halved.

When the news spread on the second day, the announcement of the tax adjustment on the official side was also revealed at this moment - the tax price rose.

"It's over...... Ahh

Some of the small households involved in this gambling saw the handwriting on the bulletin board, and their hearts collapsed, knelt down, and they threw all their belongings into it, thus getting almost serious losses.

Almost in half a day, thousands of merchants in the city were boiling, and that night, someone suddenly set fire to the barn, took advantage of the chaos to drive the cattle and sheep, and wanted to take them away, but was chased and killed by the cavalry, and in the second half of the night the entire pastoral area was blocked and taken over by the army, and some people shook their hands and scolded: "Even if they are carried back again, they will not come!" In the voice, reload their goods and transport them back, more or choose to stay, come to the north for a month, plus sometimes it rains for several days on the way, the humid environment is extremely unfavorable to the grain, and then transport it back, if you can't go back before the winter snow comes, it is undoubtedly worse.

After finally weighing, I couldn't withstand the huge pressure, but still sold the grain, this trend is still expanding, of course, the official government also explained: "The Xianbei rebellion led to such a situation, and now the rebellion has been quelled, but it will eventually have an impact..... Of course, Li Ru and the others will not let them suffer too much, but they will be given the biggest discount next year, which can be regarded as handing over a picture cake.

For a sudden turn in this trade, the most serious loss is the caravan of the big foreign households, to the road, or already in Shanggu County, hearing such news, the whole person is stunned, the cattle and sheep that were originally sold cheaply have become more expensive than usual in the joints, which is naturally unacceptable, but it is not easy to confront the government and find something to say, plus it is the end of the season, and it is impossible to hold on.

The grain still has to be sold, and there is always something to be exchanged.

Pull it back again, that is really bloodless....... the whole situation of entanglement, hesitation, and scolding continued until November after the winter slowly disintegrated, and it was irreparable.