Persian merchants have always played a special and important role in the ancient history of China, and they were the link between Chinese and foreign cultural exchanges and trade. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

As for when the Persian merchants came to the Central Plains, it is impossible to verify, but one thing is certain, since Zhang Qian opened up the Western Regions and opened up the Silk Road, promoting the cultural exchanges between the East and the West, the Persian merchants have become increasingly active on the Silk Road.

They imported Persian blankets, Arabian gems, spices and other goods into the Central Plains through the Silk Road, and then transported silk, porcelain, tea and other goods back to Persia and even further afield to the Roman Empire.

China's silk, porcelain, well-drilling, iron-making, lacquer-making, silk reeling and other crafts were introduced to West Asian countries through Persian merchants, and products from Persia and even the West such as broad beans, alfalfa, grapes, walnuts, pomegranates, etc. were also introduced to China.

If Wei Shuo wanted to obtain the steelmaking technology and craftsmen of Persia and even the Gupta Empire, it was only possible to trade with Persian merchants.

On this day, under the recommendation of Yin E, he personally received five Persian merchants, among whom Yin E also participated in the talks as an introducer and interpreter.

Seeing Wei Shuo come in, they all knew that this was Yin E's behind-the-scenes owner, and the five Persian merchants stood up and saluted one after another.

"Everyone, please take a seat!" Wei Shuo then pulled over a chair and sat down first.

After everyone was seated, Yin E got up and introduced to the Persian merchants: "This is Wei Langjun, the owner of the entire caravan, and he is in charge of the cotton cloth, roasted tea and other commodities that you are eager to buy." ”

As soon as Yin E's words fell, several Persian merchants looked at Wei Shuo with a flattering face, they had repeatedly proposed to Yin E to increase the supply of cotton cloth, but they were all refused. Now that the owner has appeared, in order to get the goods first in the future, how can he not work hard?

After everyone sat down again, Yin E pointed to several Persian merchants and said: "These merchants are Arhan, Muhammad, Russell, Louis, and Curran, all of whom are rich merchants from Persia. He has traveled on the Silk Road for many years, covering Persia and the Central Plains. ”

During Yin E's introduction, Wei Shuo also took the opportunity to carefully observe several Persians, and he found that the fat man named Muhammad was faintly the head of the group.

Muhammad was about fifty years of age, and his most striking feature was not his ornate clothes or fat body, but the beautiful beard that grew on his upper lip. It can be seen that Muhammad was very fond of his beard, which had obviously just been carefully combed.

"Your Excellency is Muhammad?" Wei Shuo asked.

"Respect the Wei family, I am Muhammad." Muhammad behaved humbly.

"I heard that the store under your name in Qiuzi City claims to have the most complete goods, and there are almost no foreign goods that can't be bought?"

Muhammad said proudly: "The Wei Dong family does not know that the few people here today almost include some of the most powerful merchants in Persia's domestic and foreign trade. In our shop, we not only have Post, but even Roman ...... Oh no! It's called Da Qin here...... Even Daqin's specialties are available. ”

The greater Muhammad's power, the more advantageous, Wei Shuo pondered for a moment and said: "If you want to buy some goods through you, I wonder if you can buy them on your behalf?" ”

"Oh? I don't know what Wei Dongjia wants to buy? Muhammad was amazed that he had come into contact with many people from the Central Plains, but few had taken the initiative to buy goods from Persia like Wei Shuo, and that the people of the Central Plains were generally accustomed to selling things.

"I heard that there is a Gupta Empire in the south of Persia, and the country is rich in Uzi steel, and this Uzi steel is the best raw material for making divine weapons, and I want to buy a batch of some self-defense weapons for the guards, I wonder if your Excellency can do it?"

"Uzi steel? This...... Is this a bit tricky? Muhammad was embarrassed.

"Oh? Can't you do it with your ability? ”

Wei Shuo already highly estimated the difficulty of it, but he didn't expect to be ruthless at the beginning, and even a wealthy businessman like Muhammad expressed his embarrassment.

"Wei Dongjia doesn't know that the annual output of Uzi steel is very small, and the outflow to other countries is even less. In the West, almost all of the Uzi steel was owned by nobles and royal children, and was used to make divine weapons, which were almost rare for ordinary people. ”

Wei Shuo was silent for a moment, then suddenly stretched out three fingers and shook it: "I see, but I still hope to buy a batch of Uzi Steel, if you can get a batch, I am willing to pay three times the price to buy it." ”

"Shhh Thrice? ”

The Persian merchants present were shocked by the high price offered by Wei Shuo, and many of them showed greed in their eyes, and even Muhammad couldn't help but say: "If Wei Dong's family is really willing to buy Uzi Steel at a high price, we will meet your requirements even if we sell iron." ”

"Thank you so much, I can make a vow here, as long as you get Uzi Steel, no matter how much, it will be acquired by the next one, and you will never be allowed to suffer."

In fact, the people of Muhammad are not worried about losses, because Uzi steel has always been a straining commodity, even if Wei Shuo regrets it in the future, they will not worry about selling it back to China, even in the Western Regions, there are many people who want Uzi steel but can't get it.

After negotiating the import agreement on Uzi steel, Wei Shuo personally guaranteed the supply of cotton cloth for the coming year, and both the guests and the host were very happy for a while. During this period, Wei Shuo offered to ask Muhammad to send a few Persian or Indian craftsmen, and Muhammad and others agreed to the high commission.

After sending off the Persian merchants, Wei Shuo sighed to Yin E: "Mrs. Yin, I'm afraid we have to rely on ourselves to collect craftsmen and steelmaking technology!" ”

"What's wrong? Wei Langjun was worried about Muhammad, they couldn't do it? Yin E was puzzled.

"It's not! As long as the interests are big enough, Muhammad and others will definitely get some craftsmen, but the heart of defense is indispensable, and it is impossible for me to pin the key points related to the future equipment of the army on a few foreign merchants. ”

Speaking of this, Wei Shuo's eyes were firm and said, "Muhammad and others are in the light, and we are in the dark. Taking advantage of the opportunity of the caravan to open up trade routes to the West, secretly collecting various technical books and talents from the West are the keys to the future development and growth of Gaochang. ”

"The concubine understands!"

……

In the next few days, Wei Shuo helped Yin E with the affairs of the caravan and procured the iron materials of Qiuzi, while patiently teaching the newly recruited bodyguard Kang Long to learn Chinese.

During this period, King Qiuzi sent someone to invite Wei Shuo to the palace for a banquet, but he refused on the grounds that he was buying iron for the governor.

After a period of contact, Wei Shuo gradually figured out Kang Long's temperament, Kang Long is a typical reckless man, although this kind of person is simple-minded, but he has always recognized death.

All the masters they identify with them are generally committed and loyal.

In addition, he doesn't have the complicated thoughts of smart people, so he is most suitable as a personal bodyguard.

Moreover, in history, the reckless man has always been loved by the monarch and has been favored. In addition to their loyalty and bravery, their simple minds and never mix things that should not be mixed are also one of the factors that cannot be ignored.

Treating Kang Long, Wei Shuo first used money to cover his heart, and then showed him kindness. not only personally cared for his daily meals and sleeping routine, but also pointed his fingers at the other party's martial arts.

Especially when the mace was built, it was immediately loved by Kanglong, and even hugged it when he was sleeping.

Considering that the mace had something in common with Wei Shuo's eyebrow iron rod, Wei Shuo simplified the tricks he had learned and taught them to Kang Long.

It's not that Wei Shuo cherishes himself, but it's too complicated tricks that Kang Long can't learn at all.

But even so, when Kang Long brought the mace to his hand, the ordinary military general was not his opponent.

In July, Wei Shuo had been away from Gaochang for more than two months, and just as the first batch of Qiuzi iron purchased by the caravan needed to be transported back to Gaochang, he decided to return to Gaochang with the caravan.

In this way, in Yin E's reluctance, Wei Shuo took Kang Long on the journey back to Gaochang.