There were already people standing at the gate of Qingcheng, this time Zhang Han had been out for too long, more than three months to run around, and when he returned, there was continuous bad weather on the grassland, and there was knee-deep snow everywhere.

Except for a few major official roads that are maintained, only the postal system is still operating normally in other places on the grassland, and the rest of the military and political affairs and commercial activities have basically stopped.

Qingcheng to Xinpingbao and Zhangjiakou, as well as to Shangyi Fort, Xiaoheihe Fort, the old Zhongdu, Angu Linao and Kulun, the trading city has large official roads connected, and there are some small roads like fine pipes, of course, these official roads will also be covered by snow, but there are soldiers along the avenue maintenance, constantly drying salt and melting snow, or using a long push rod to push away the snow that is too deep, under the maintenance of more than 10,000 soldiers, in order to barely keep the main official road and the secondary official road smooth.

Otherwise, those merchants of Yongping Mansion wanted to rush back before the year, and it was a complete dream.

Even after a few hundred years, it is not uncommon for heavy snow to close the road, and in later generations, the situation of the entire highway and national highway will be covered with snow, not to mention that it is still a colder and more humble condition in the late Ming Dynasty.

What Hutchison did on these roads alone was, in the eyes of many, an out-and-out miracle, which was amazing and amazing.

Due to the long time and arduousness of this trip, almost all the people in Qingcheng who were qualified to come out to greet them came out.

The two highest-ranking political officials, plus a large group of officer heads, Wang Yikui, the commander of the First Guards Division of the garrison, plus the regimental commander Duo'er and others had silver stars shining on their shoulders.

"You guys are working hard, why bother to engage in this set of false texts." Zhang Han is still full of smiles as before, and his speech is quite modest and gentle, but his hoarse voice and thin figure, as well as his overly pale face, all show the hard work of this long-distance journey.

This is very moving, and even some heartfelt touching.

"The entrepreneurs of all dynasties," Li Shenming said, "I'm afraid there is nothing harder than Wenlan." ”

"Because I'm not an ordinary pioneer." Zhang Han said with a smile: "My ideal and aspiration is to create a new era that is different from the previous dynasties, and it can even be said to be the era of merchants, at least, a new era with the connotation of merchants." In other words, in the new era of law, efficiency, contract, mercantile spirit and pioneering spirit, filial piety, righteousness and benevolence are the foundation of our Chinese country, and it should still be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, but it cannot be used as the cornerstone of governing the country. Morality can be used to restrain people's hearts, it is a kind of self-power, and relying on self-moral restraint to govern the country can only be a matter of seeking fish from a tree, and it must be changed. ”

Li Shenming, Sun Jingting, and Kong Minxing glanced at each other, all a little shocked.

Li Shenming said with a smile: "It seems that Wenlan has really worked hard this time, is this time the result of feelings, or is it the result of careful consideration?" ”

"It's the result of deep thought, of course." Zhang Han said as a matter of course: "Thousands of miles back and forth, thousands of miles away, when I walk during the day, I will look at the unchanged snow scene, and my mind will begin to think about a lot of things. I have been thinking about why the current Ming Dynasty is not good, and according to the ancient arguments of those Confucian scholars, it is pushed to the excuse that the emperor does not show benevolence in order to meet the mandate of heaven. It is as if in today's world, when a holy monarch like Emperor Xiaozong is in power, there will be no famine and border troubles, and there will be no disasters and natural changes. Times have changed, and the old way certainly won't work. Continuing to wallow in the old doctrines will never end well. All along, Hutchison has actually done what I say, but there is no complete theory to support it. From then on, I think we should gather a group of people and sort out a complete set of theories based on what I just thought. ”

"Wen Lan, Wen Lan." There was an uncontrollable look of shock in Kong Minxing's eyes, and he said: "Your determination is not only to establish a kingdom of your own, but also to have a completely new 'Dao', if the Ming Dynasty dies, it will not be a country, but a world." ”

Surrounded by accompanying guards, separating people who are not strong enough, it is natural for everyone to say such a big rebellion, and there is nothing to worry about.

Not even the slightest resistance is gone.

These Confucian students who came out of the Ming system received the purest Confucian education. If someone said such a thing to face five years ago, Kong Minxing was afraid that he would turn around and leave, and he would never say half a word.

And after a few years of practice, everyone understands that the Ming Dynasty and the pure Confucianists are not working, the Ming Dynasty is getting weaker and weaker, and there are obvious signs of the country's demise, but when today's way of governing the country is still quite sophisticated, it has not made the national situation worse, and has maintained a fragile balance.

In contrast, Hutchison is thriving here, with a firm capable of both financial and military prowess, and its administrative capabilities are far from being comparable to those of a serious imperial court, surpassing the Ming court in every aspect and in every detail.

This kind of fact is in front of us, and people like Kong Minxing and Sun Jingting, who have made great achievements, are pondering the reason for this.

What Zhang Han said is probably some of the most basic and core things.

"I won't talk about this beforehand." Zhang Han looked tired and said a little weakly: "Let me go home and take a hot bath first." ”

……

"Hutchison really dares to say it."

Although they were far away, the Yongping merchants still heard some of them, and then the guards came and drove them away, so they didn't listen to what they were saying.

Even so, it is enough for these people to reminisce for a long time.

A businessman shook his head and commented, his head shaking, not knowing what he was thinking.

Merchants were not illiterate, and whether they were from merchant families or from their apprenticeships to self-made merchants, they generally learned to count and write first, and then as they grew older, they would always read more books in order to get along with the gentry.

In middle age, the general Confucian classics have been involved, so that it is not difficult to do even the most basic conversations.

Hearing Zhang Han's words, these businessmen were in conflicted moods, not only feeling very novel and encouraging for Zhang Han's way of governing the country, but also feeling that Zhang Han's words had completely overturned the cornerstone of governing the country for more than 2,000 years, which made people feel heavy in their hearts, and also had a sense of adventure dancing on the tip of a knife.

"Master Zhang is really a natural saint." In the end, a businessman sighed: "Only he can handle these things, let's do our own business with peace of mind, everything else is fake, and it is true that we make money." ”

"It's true, let's do our own thing."

"I'm going to take the post to ask for a meeting with Director Liu of the Department of Industry and Commerce, what do you think?"

"Very well, let's do it."

After returning to the apartment in Qingcheng, a group of merchants put on their best clothes, most of which were square scarves and five-blessing robes, and each of them hired a small four-wheeled carriage in the city, which could seat seven or eight people, and it was quite convenient to go out to do errands.

A businessman surnamed Wu looked back when he went out and said to a middle-aged man: "Lao Zhao, didn't you say that you have relatives here in Qingcheng, go find out." ”

The Chang Sui surnamed Zhao was hired by a merchant surnamed Wu before he set off from Yongping Mansion, and the reason was also because the surnamed Zhao said that he had relatives on the grassland, which was rare, so he brought this person over.

This person's background is also innocent, he is indeed from Yongping Mansion, and the merchant surnamed Wu is relieved after interrogation.

Zhao Gui hugged his fist, with an embarrassed smile on his face, he said: "It's a shame to say, there is no way, the Han family will give up a girl, and the old people in the family are still there, and I really think about it." ”

The businessman surnamed Wu nodded very understandingly and said, "What method do we ordinary people have?" If you meet it, you will admit that you are unlucky, you go, no matter what, it is a family, it is also a fluke, Lord Zhang is now in charge of Mongolia, and it is much easier for us to come and go. Five or six years ago, do you want to come and visit your family? Before he could walk halfway, he was taken captive. ”

"Not really." Zhao Gui said sincerely: "Lord Zhang is really amazing. ”

The businessman surnamed Wu smiled and nodded, and got into the carriage with his companions and went to the Department of Industry and Commerce.

Zhao Gui watched them leave, and after taking a few deep breaths, he relieved his overly nervous emotions...... He looked calm when he spoke just now, but in fact, his mouth was trembling, and his hands had to pretend to clench their fists and squeeze them tightly, otherwise he was afraid that his hands would shake too much and be noticed abnormal.

Zhao Gui was picked by Li Yongfang...... Every Han person can be picked, and it is not unusual for him to be picked.

The Jurchens have always attached importance to espionage work, and they don't know how many people they sent to the Ming side long before they raised the banner against the Ming Dynasty. Including Nurhachi himself, he went to Beijing several times to pay tribute, and along the way, he would carefully observe the customs and customs of various places, manpower and material resources, and the garrison and training of the garrison.

After several years of stagnation in the intelligence work of the Ming State, Nurhachi finally ordered Li Yongfang to send a large-scale dispatch to all parts of the Ming State again to collect all kinds of information in all aspects, at the beginning of the sixth year of the Apocalypse, Hou Jin decided to use troops against the Ming State again, before that, Nurhachi hoped to get as detailed information as possible.

For the Houjin side, it doesn't matter whether the detailed work sent out is dead or alive, and the success of one out of a hundred people is a very cost-effective investment.

All the people sent out were Han Chinese, and some of them were sent to the Mongolian steppe, which was very little investment and had no risk.

In the Mongolian tribes, you can only inquire about the news that is quite distorted after many times, and the news of the Mongolian tribes does not need to be deliberately inquired, the Jurchens often have envoys to the Mongolian tribes, and there are permanent representatives in the Horqin tribes, and there will be any news as soon as possible, and there is no need to send detailed works.

More people were sent to Liaoxi and infiltrated the customs through various means.

Some people go to Denglai, and then detour back to Shandong to the capital and Jizhen and other places.

As for the farther Nanzhili, Shanxi, and Shaanxi, there is no way to send fine works in these places, after all, Liaodong people go to Jingshi and Jizhen at most, and Xuanfu may also have a few fine works, but not much, Datong Shanxi Yulin and other towns will not be able to send fine works, water and soil are not adaptable, customs and customs are not understood, and there is no excuse to say it, and it is impossible to make up a convincing origin, in that case, it is not to send fine works, but to send people out to die.

Although the Later Jin regime regarded the lives of the Han people less than cattle and sheep, it did not mean that they were willing to make themselves look stupid.