Chapter 512: The Way to Make Money

"You should respond, Zhang Dutong, please sit in the hall. (Niu Wen ~ Net) "Li Yongqi was very respectful, turned sideways and invited Zhang Jun in. Of course, the latter did not have to be humble, pulled his legs and climbed the steps, went straight into the lobby of Zhizhou, and sat down on the main seat.

After all, Zhang Jun came to patrol the border, so he asked: "Can there be progress in what Li Zhizhou is planning?" ”

"Yudutong, since the arrival of the humble post, has sent people and horses from Ningzhou to Qingyang several times to harass. Now the southern part of Qingyang Mansion is no longer the world of the Western Army, and Liu Guangshi's troops have all shrunk to the front line of Fucheng. Li Yongqi replied.

When Zhang Jun heard this, he nodded approvingly: "Yes, Li Zhizhou has worked hard." That Liu Guangshi, although he is also a general, but he only has one mouth and no real skills. Huanqing has to be ours sooner or later. Since you are the commander of this place, this strategy of attack and harassment can be adhered to for a long time, so that the western army will not have a chance to recover calmly. ”

"Yes." Li Yongqi said respectfully.

"Okay, then I will arrange it, in these two days, Ben Shuai will go to the front to have a look, one to visit the soldiers, and the other to get a glimpse of Huanqing." Zhang Jun commanded.

"This is not in a hurry, they are all tired of the road, and the lower officials have prepared the next pavilion post, please take a break from the chief, and it will not be too late to see it two days later. It is also good to let the civil and military of Yanzhou talk about their hearts. Li Yongqi said very decently.

Zhang Jun was happy to hear it, it is said that this Li Yongqi is Zhang Shen's confidant, no wonder he is so trusted, but he is a person who knows things. Don't refuse it at the moment, just make it. I asked about border defense again, but I didn't realize that at lunchtime, Li Yongqi prepared a banquet and picked up the wind for him and his party. During the banquet, Zhang Jun persuaded him diligently, and when Zhang Jun first came, it was not easy to dismiss his heart, so he drank a few more bowls, and by the time the banquet was over, he was already drunk. was helped into the museum by his subordinates to rest and not mention.

However, after the dismissal, the Li family father and son returned to the Zhizhou Yamen, and Li Shifu summoned several generals under his account to plot behind closed doors.

Li Yongqi drank a lot with Zhang Jun, his face was flushed, he sat on the chair holding a teacup, and was silent for a while. Li Shifu stood in front of him and said in a deep voice: "Father, Zhang Jun is defenseless when he first comes. Now that he is drunk and returning to the pavilion, it is the time to do something."

"Yes, Li appeased, and led the first army to surround the pavilion, arrested Zhang Jun, and surrendered to the Song Dynasty together," Li Shifu's subordinate commander suggested.

Li Shifu saw that his father didn't speak, and said: "Huanqing Liu Dashuai has already laid a heavy army in Huachi Zhai to answer her husband, why worry?" ”

Li Yongqi put down the cup, and then expressed the hidden worry in his heart: "Although there are thousands of people in your department, how can everyone be of one heart and one mind?" It is too risky to start things in a hurry without planning and arrangement. For the father's meaning, it is better to wait for a period of time, and when Zhang Jun patrols the border to Ningzhou, he will have a better chance of winning. ”

Li Shifu heard the words and persuaded: "Dad, what if Zhang Jun doesn't go to Ningzhou?" This matter should be resolved quickly and suddenly."

Several generals persuaded him, saying that this matter could not be delayed, and that he should take advantage of Zhang Junchu's arrival and drunkenness to kidnap him, and then ride lightly to Jian Cong, and go straight to Qingyang Mansion along the Huachi River Li Yongqi thought about it again and again, but still thought it was too risky. He suggested that when Zhang Jun wanted to inspect the border defense in a few days, he would personally accompany him. Didn't Zhang Jun ask him to arrange the itinerary? In any case, I have to find a way to lead him to Ningzhou, and then I will take him, and after a few steps to the north, I will enter the boundary of Qingyang Mansion.

Li Shifu persuaded his father hard, but he had no choice but to listen, so he could only give up.

For a few days in a row, Li Yongqi tried his best to marry Zhang Jun, set up a banquet every day, set up singing and dancing for entertainment, and gave more gold and silver bribes, so that Zhang Jun felt that Li Yongqi was really good at things, and after returning to Chang'an, he had to speak well for him.

On this day, on the sixth day of the eighth month, Zhang Jun returned from the banquet, and the Li family father and son sent thousands of dollars. When he returned to the pavilion, he said to the accompanying officials: "The father and son of the Li family really understand people, and they treat them so well, I should repay Li with peach." ”

"Wouldn't it be okay to go back to Chang'an, say a few good words for him in front of Liu Xuanfu and Zhang Xuanfu, and praise him for doing things well?" The adjutant smiled.

Zhang Jun nodded frequently: "It should be so." Alas, I came here to patrol the border, but I have been delayed in Dunzhou for a few days, so you go to the Zhizhou Government Office, inform Li Yongqi, and ask him to arrange to go out for a walk tomorrow. ”

The adjutant came out with the order, and Zhang Jun sat at the table, playing with the gold and silver given by Li Yongqi, and couldn't help but feel a little fluttery. Originally, I led the defeated army to surrender, and in the hands of the Jurchens, I must have lived with low eyebrows and pleasing eyes. Unexpectedly, as soon as he came, he got a big Korean and Shaanxi to control all the soldiers and horses in Shaanxi, which was really a bit of a surprise.

Just as he was thinking about it, he suddenly saw the adjutant hurriedly come back and report: "Dutong, there is a person outside, claiming to be an officer of Dunzhou, saying that there is a big matter to meet Dutong." ”

Big deal? What big things can happen in this Yanzhou? But since the other party said such bluffing, there must be a reason, and it doesn't hurt to meet, so he ordered the adjutant to attract a meeting.

After a while, a man entered his room, in his early thirties, dressed in civilian clothes, more than six feet long, and bowed as soon as he came in.

"Who are you?" Zhang Jun pulled up the tablecloth to cover the gold and silver on the table, and asked casually.

"The lowly post is a commander of the garrison in Yanzhou, because he heard a big thing, he didn't dare not come to tell the capital." The man bowed his head.

"Big deal? Let's hear it. Zhang Jun looked a little excited.

"There is an old reason for the lowly position, and he is the commander under Li Shifu, the son of Li Yongqi. A few days ago, he came to the secret meeting of the lowly position, saying that the father and son of the Li family wanted to control the Song Dynasty, and invited the lowly office to jointly raise the matter because of this big relationship, the lowly position did not dare to conceal it, and he came to pay attention to the chief. ”

The officer said that, Zhang Jun's face changed dramatically, and he couldn't say anything for a while, how could it be that the Li family's father and son had come to receive me warmly for several days, and they were flattering, how could they want to arrest me and vote for Song?

The adjutant was also frightened, and hurriedly said, "You can't talk nonsense."

"The commander Rong Yu Li family father and son have been connected with the Western Army, Huanqing Shuai Liu Guangshi arranged a heavy army in Huachi Village to meet that Li Shifu originally planned to do it on the day when the capital arrived in Dunzhou, but his father was afraid of being in a hurry and did not agree. It is difficult to patrol the border to Ningzhou"

Hearing him say that he had a nose and eyes, Zhang Jun was shocked. Suddenly, he got up, slapped the table and said: "It's not good to get out of the city" He had just surrendered, and he didn't have much influence in the Jin army and the Han army in Shaanxi, so as soon as he heard that the Li family's father and son were harmful to him, he immediately wanted to escape.

Unexpectedly, the officer stopped: "Don't panic, although Li Shifu's troops have taken over the city defense, not everyone is willing to get a warrant with him, gather the generals who are unwilling to rebel, and punish these two thieves."

When Zhang Jun heard this, he was silent for a long time, and after a while, he slowly sat down. His eyes became gloomy: "You said that the Li family's father and son colluded with Huanqing Liu Guangshi, and they have deployed heavy troops in Huachi Zhai to respond?" ”

"Exactly."

"Why should Ben Shuai believe you?" Zhang Jun stared at the other party and asked.

The officer was speechless for a while, and after thinking for a moment, he said solemnly: "If you don't believe it, you will immediately give an order to close the four gates." Then the father and son of the Li family will immediately show their feet if they are aware of it."

Zhang Jun didn't say anything for the time being, and the adjutant listened to it next to him, and immediately persuaded: "All are unified, I would rather believe in what I have, don't believe in what I don't have, no matter what, it's better to be careful." ”

After weighing it repeatedly, Zhang Jun finally came to the desk, wrote down an order with a flying pen, stamped his seal, and handed it to the officer: "You take my warrant, close the four doors, and transfer another one to guard the pavilion." ”

"Order," the officer replied loudly, and hurried out.

Zhang Jun's eyes rolled around, and he said to the adjutant: "Later, you go to the Zhizhou Yamen and summon the Li family father and son to come to see him." If he comes, I will confront him, but if he does not come......"

August 15, Mid-Autumn Festival, Qinzhou, Shaanxi Preparation Division.

According to the usual practice, on this day, all the officials of all departments have a holiday, except for those on duty, who go home for a reunion. Xu Wei couldn't get out because of complicated affairs, and the moon was at night anyway.

These days, he is busy with one thing, that is, he plans to make contact with the party members. Since Liu Ziyu said, Jingyuan, Huanqing and other border areas used to have markets with Xia Guo, and later closed due to war, but after the rampant smuggling of the people. He pondered that since private smuggling is so serious, it means that there is a relationship between supply and demand, and the party needs to import materials from Shaanxi.

If this is indeed the case, then why not reopen the mutual market? The advantage of reopening the market is not only that Shaanxi will have more tax revenue, but especially that military supplies can be imported from Xia. Of course, there is no mention of this matter at present, but he has already reported it to Mianzhou, and Xu Churen has a positive attitude and instructs him to try to contact the party members to see what the other party's reaction is.

Xin Zan entered the second hall and saluted: "The minister has arrived, and the guests have arrived." ”

"Oh? Okay, you lead him to the flower hall for tea, and I'll come later. Xu Wei was talking, but the pen in his hand did not stop. After approving the official document, he got up and moved his muscles and bones, took the black yarn and put it on, and then went to the teahouse.

When he arrived, there was already a man sitting in the room. He is over fifty years old, dressed in brocade clothes, richly decorated, in the border place of Shaanxi, this person is well maintained, and there are few wrinkles on his face, just like a steamed bun that has just come out of the cage.

Xu Wei walked out quickly and said with a loud smile: "Where have you made your fortune in the past two years?" Don't come to see me either? ”

When the people in the hall heard the sound, they hurriedly got up, looked at Xu Wei, and bowed down: "Villain Hu Maochang, kowtow to the minister." ”

Xu Wei stepped forward and stretched out a hand to help: "I've known each other for many years, and you often fund military supplies, so you don't need to be so polite, right?" ”

That person is a well-known wealthy businessman in Shaanxi, Hu Maochang, he became attached to Xu Wei, and it was Zijin Tiger who organized township soldiers in Xiajin County back then. At that time, Xu Wei pulled up a team, but lacked money, food and equipment, so Hu Maochang generously donated money and helped. Since then, an indissoluble bond has been formed.

"Hey, you still have to have rules. Xianggong is now the governor of Shaanxi, and I am a grass people, and I can be called by Xianggong to enjoy a cup of tea to eat, which is already an ancestor who has accumulated virtue. Hu Maochang said with a smile.

"I said you all have a good mouth for trading, sit down and speak." Xu Wei said with a smile. The two sat down next to each other, Zijinhu asked him where he had developed in the past two years, and learned that the other party had recently put all his efforts on Sichuan, and Shaanxi also had some business, but it was not as good as before.

"Well, wars are frequent, not only the people suffer, but you businessmen have also lost their money." Xu Wei sighed.

"I look forward to the prince leading the king as soon as possible, restoring his homeland, and waiting for me to be happy and peaceful." Hu Maochang said.

Xu Wei waved his hand and said with a straight face: "Seriously, I invite you to come this time, Ben Shuai wants to ask about something." ”

Hu Maochang knew that the other party was the highest military governor in Shaanxi, and he would not look for you as a flat-headed ordinary person to do business if he had nothing to do. At the moment, he said: "The prince asks the question, the villain knows everything, and the words are endless." ”

"In Jingyuan Huanqing Road, the market with the party people at the beginning, do you know?"

When Xu Wei said this, Hu Maochang's expression became a little ambiguous. He asked with a smile, "What does Xianggong want to ask?" ”

"If you know, you will say you know." Xu Wei glanced at him.

Hu Maochang put away his smile and nodded: "The villain has been operating in Shaanxi for many years, so he naturally knows it. ”

"I've heard people say that although those markets are closed, private smuggling is extremely rampant, is there such a thing?" Xu Wei asked again.

Hu Maochang stared at the land for a while, and finally replied: "This is indeed the case." The party members have always needed us to import tea, silk, salt, and charcoal from the interior. These things are inexhaustible and inexhaustible. Helplessly, the imperial court closed the market, there was nowhere to sell the goods, and the people smuggled it, which was born. ”

Xu Wei heard it in his ears, and said, "What did the party sell us?" ”

"It's mainly fur herbs, but of course, there are also a small number of horses, a small number of horses."

Zijin Hu suddenly smiled and said, "Hu Daguan, do you have a share?" ”

"If the villain says yes, will the prince immediately arrest the villain and put him in prison?" Hu Maochang asked.

"The law doesn't blame the public, besides, this commander is in charge of the army, and he doesn't care about your trivial things." Xu Wei said with a smile.

When Hu Maochang heard him say this, he admitted: "When several markets were still open, villains often dealt with party members. He also helped Yan Yanshuai Si buy 800 war horses at one time, and for this reason, Zhang Dashuai at that time, who is now Zhang Rebellion, also invited the villain to have a meal. ”

When Xu Wei heard this, he nodded slowly, and said to himself: "That's easy to do." ”

The shrewdness and sensitivity of the businessman made Hu Maochang smell an unusual smell from Xu Wei's words, so he asked tentatively: "Xianggong, what's the matter, the policy has changed?" ”

Xu Wei shook his head: "That's not true, it's just that some people have already said that since private smuggling is rampant and cannot be stopped, and in recent years, the relationship between Song and Xia has generally stabilized, and the specific conditions for reopening the mutual market are not as good as reopening the border market." ”

Hu Maochang's eyes lit up: "This is a good thing, one thing is that the government can collect taxes, and the other is ......" At this point, he remembered one thing, and suddenly closed his mouth.

"How's that?" Xu Wei asked suspiciously.

Hu Maochang wanted to speak and stopped, and finally said with a wry smile: "The reopening of this mutual market, I'm afraid, there are difficulties." It's just that this shouldn't be said by a villain. ”

Xu Wei sighed: "You know that Ben Shuai was born as a soldier and likes to go straight, if you have something to say, there are no outsiders here." ”

"Speaking of which, it should be a family affair of the father-in-law, and the villain ......" Hu Maochang made a decision.

As soon as he heard the word "family affairs", Xu Wei guessed a few points, and said casually: "You mean, if the government reopens the mutual market, it will encounter the pain points of some people?" ”

Hu Maochang's heart moved, and he nodded subconsciously: "Xianggong is discerning." ”

"It's not a secret, no matter how rampant private smuggling is, if the government wants to ban it, there will always be a way. Since the ban has been repeated, it means that there are people who support it, which is not surprising. Xu Wei waved his hand. Liu Ziyu said at the time that Xu Yuan of Jingyuan definitely did not benefit from smuggling, and if he wanted to reopen the mutual market, he had to pass Xu Yuan first.

"That's right." Hu Maochang nodded frequently.

"Don't mention that." Xu Wei changed his words. "I invite you to come this time, firstly, to inquire about the situation of the mutual market, and secondly, to ask Hu Daguan for help."

Hu Maochang's originally straight waist suddenly bent, and he looked at Xu Wei, his attitude flickered a little: "Xianggong, please give me?" ”

"Since you still have business dealings with the party members, is it inconvenient for you to go north?" Xu Wei asked.

Hu Maochang did not speak.

"That's right, although we intend to reopen the mutual market, but after all, it is wishful thinking, and we have to nod the party members. But since the Xuanhe period, there has been no official connection between Song and Xia. If it is not appropriate to rush to send officials there now, you are familiar with the situation and go to the government first. Xu Wei explained.

Hu Maochang's nature as a businessman was immediately revealed: "The villain is very willing to go on this trip for the prime minister, but, to be honest, the business in Sichuan is really unavoidable......"

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Wei had already interrupted: "Okay, I understand the rules, the emperor is not short of hungry soldiers, let's make a price." ”

"Xianggong, handsome, villains are for trading, and what the trader wants is wealth, not a bunch of yellow and white things." Hu Maochang said with a smile.

Xu Wei thought for a while and promised: "That's it, if the mutual market is reopened, Ben Shuai will help you run and see if there is any way." ”

Hu Maochang was willing to listen to this ambiguous and vague sentence, and reminded from the side: "That villain has thanked Xianggong first, if it is convenient, it would be great if there is something for the villain to monopolize it." ”

Hey, you have a lot of appetite, and you still want to monopolize it? Tea, silk, salt, and charcoal, but there is one thing that you can sell alone, and the profit will probably be a staggering figure. Although I, Xu Wei, have never done anything, I have dealt with rich businessmen in the past, so don't treat me as a layman.

"Well, take it to heart, you and I have known each other for many years, so I will naturally carry you." Xu Wei nodded.

Hu Maochang was overjoyed, thanked him one after another, and then thought for a moment, and said: "Xianggong, that's it." Now in Jingyuan, there are people with me who are doing business with party members. In fact, almost all of the party members involved in smuggling have official backgrounds, and some are purely organized by the Xia State government. The villain knows a few businessmen who have close ties with the Xia State government, otherwise, the villain will set off to the north to connect with them? Probe the wind? ”

Xu Wei bowed his head and said, "Well, it's okay." But remember, it's a matter of secrecy and don't alarm you, you know? ”

There is a division, that is, the relevant department, which relevant department? Of course, it's Jingyuan Jinglu Pacification Division.