At the beginning of November, the weather was cold and overcast, and everywhere there was a bleak and desolate dry yellow, and perhaps the snowflakes were flying all over the sky. Since the beginning of winter, there have been several snowfalls on the grasslands of Saibei, but it is not large, and it has not even been able to cover the road from Zhangjiakou to Kulun. But today's scene is menacing, and it has the courage to change the color of mountains and rivers.

Duolun City in the wind and rain does not seem to be infected by this sad mood, on the contrary, the market is much more lively than a few days ago, most of the shops that were originally half-open and half-closed have opened their doors to do business, and the flow of people near the main commercial streets, Huizong Temple, and Shanxi Hall has gradually increased. After the news of the total annihilation of the Mongolian bandits' vanguard reached the city, the hearts of the originally turbulent people in the city suddenly settled down, and the menacing Mongolian bandits were not invincible. On the second day after Tang Zhidao led his troops back to Duolun City, the main force of the Second Mixed Regiment of the Army led by Fu Mingyi, Zhou Wenruo, Xiang Qianliang and others also entered Duolun City. For a time, there were more than 3,000 garrisons in Duolun City, which had returned to the level of Xiao Liangchen's era, especially the new troops who had traveled a long distance, but their military appearance and morale were still good, which made the people in the city feel a lot more relieved.

In addition to the bustle of the city, there are also many people outside the city who are busy in the snow, and some simple fortifications have been dug out one after another, but the weather is too cold, the ground is frozen hard, and a shallow trench has to be dug for several hours. The sudden snowstorm increased the difficulty of the project, but except for Regiment Commander Tang, almost all the officers and men of the mixed regiment were fighting, and the original officers and soldiers in the city, the members of the militia regiment, and the coolies requisitioned in the city did not dare to complain too much, and yesterday they had seen the ruthless methods of Regiment Commander Tang.

President Ai of the Chamber of Commerce came to the city head of Duolun City in a black satin cotton robe, and he didn't need to come over in person for such a trivial matter, let alone in this bad weather with wind and snow. However, he still insisted that he send the raised materials over, and by the way, he would observe the young Tang Regiment Leader.

At this time, Tang Zhidao was holding a telescope to check the situation, this new position of Duolun City Defense Commander is not so easy to do. Tan Zongrui, the old fox, is very slippery, and he has picked himself up completely, and the success of the following battle is naturally indispensable to his credit, after all, he is the highest military and political chief of Duolun City, if he loses, this old guy will definitely be smeared with oil on the soles of his feet.

"President Ai, why did you come here in person!" Tang Zhidao hurriedly handed the telescope in his hand to Li Dazhu beside him, and politely clenched his fists and said, "Just send someone here for this little thing!" ”

"I'm afraid of delaying Commander Tang's big event, take a look at it and see what are the shortcomings?" President Ai dusted off the snowflakes on his body, handed over a list and said, "The safety of this Duolun City is up to you." ”

"Thank you, President Ai! That's all for the time being, don't bother you anymore when you need it! Tang Zhidao quickly glanced at it, he asked for more things, and there were a lot more.

"It's really time for this snow to fall, maybe it's time for the bandits to stop this winter!" Ai Qingshan pointed to the fluttering snowflakes and inquired, although he didn't know much about warfare, he also knew that it would be much more difficult to attack the city in this winter, and maybe Babu Zabu would stay in Rehe for the winter.

"I hope so! But we can't hope for the actions of the bandits, we have to prepare! Tang Zhidao shook the snowflakes on his body and said, "Otherwise, it will be too late for the Mongolian bandits to come to the city!" "If you don't want to fight, Commander Tang doesn't want to fight, I'm afraid that the trees want to be quiet and the wind doesn't stop, how can the ambitious Babu Zabu easily slow down the pace of attack!

"Yes! It's still Commander Tang's foresight! Ai Qingshan raised his eyebrows and said, "Ai has a question, I don't know if I should talk about it?" ”

"President Ai, please speak!" Tang Zhidao made a gesture of please and said. …,

"Old man sees that Commander Tang's plan is to prepare to defend the city pass!" Ai Qingshan pointed to the officers and soldiers and coolies who were working in the snow outside the city and said: "Is it cold that the ground is freezing this day, should we put the troops directly in the city, the old city wall of Duolun City is quite strong......

First of all, more than half of the troops in this city were brought by Tang Commander, and secondly, they dared to lead three or four hundred cavalry to raid the bandits who were several times their own and won a complete victory, and the most important thing is that Tan Zhentai is very clear about what kind of people in the city are. However, I don't understand Tang Tuanchang's move to build fortifications outside the city in winter, and in their opinion, it is more convenient to retreat directly in the city!

"Old man, you are an expert in business, but you may not know much about defending the city and fighting!" Tang Zhidao smiled and patiently explained: "This city defense is not just guarding a few sections of the city wall, the troops must be arranged according to echelons, and maintain a certain depth, and all kinds of firepower are equipped ......."

"I see, now the old man understands!" Seeing that the young officer in front of him was not arrogant or impatient and patiently explained to his military blindness, although Ai Qingshan still seemed to understand, he was still very moved and said: "I don't care about others, but the Chamber of Commerce will definitely fully support Commander Tang!" ”

"It's good that the old gentleman understands!" Tang Zhidao also felt a lot closer to this President Ai, and said softly: "Old man, you are a senior, just call me Ruoshui!" ”

"Okay, the old decay will be great!" Ai Qingshan also intended to get a little closer to this promising young officer, and said unceremoniously: "The old man still has a reluctant request, and I also ask Ruoshui Xian's nephew Wanwang to agree!" ”

"Old gentleman, please speak, the juniors who can do it must do their best!" Tang Zhidao pretended to be respectful and said, slandering in his heart, this old guy is too dependent on the old and selling the old, he just gave him a few faces, that's it......

"In order to protect the interests of merchants in the city, the Chamber of Commerce organized a business group a few years ago, although there are not many people, but the firearms are quite sophisticated." Ai Qingshan was very satisfied with Tang Zhidao's performance, and said directly without beating around the bush: "I plan to hand over the business group to Ruoshui Xian's nephew, and I hope to help train one or two!" ”

"Okay!" Tang Tuan said happily: "Don't worry, old man, I will definitely make good use of your team!" "There are a few armed forces in this city, except for the cavalry battalion in Wuyun Geri, the only ones who have entered the eyes of the Tang regiment are the armed forces of the three hundred or so people of the merchant group, especially the brand-new firearms that even Tang Daodao is a little greedy for.

"It's not too early, so I'll take my leave first." Ai Qingshan saw that the purpose of this trip had been achieved, so he did not stay for long.

"Old gentleman, go slowly!" The road was slippery in the snow, and Tang Zhidao sent Ai Qingshan to the carriage before leading his men out of the city.

"Commander, why are you so polite to this old fellow!" Ai Qingshan's carriage disappeared into the wind and snow, and Li Dazhu, Du Shijie and others said puzzledly. Just yesterday, the head of the militia regiment, Liu, who believed that he had seven or eight hundred people's regiments in his hands, did not listen to Tang Zhidao, a freshly baked city defense commander, and refused to requisition his subordinates to build fortifications outside the city.

"Of course, you have to use the way merchants do to deal with merchants." Tang Zhidao didn't explain much, but said lightly: "Let's go out and have a look, it's really not the right time under the snow." ”

It's very simple to deal with the rough man of Regiment Commander Liu, as long as your arms are thicker than his, he will obey you. It's different to deal with these businessmen, these people are polite no matter who they see, so that you don't know where to use your strength, and when it is critical, you will stumble, and you don't know how to die. What's more, this Ai Qingshan is not only the president of the Duolun Chamber of Commerce, but also a well-known wealthy businessman in the entire Saibei and even in North China. …,

Ai Qingshan is the owner of the largest merchant in the city, "Jufengchang". "Jufengchang" industry throughout the whole of Saibei, the business scope covers fur, grain, salt, money, pawnshop, gold, silver and bronze and other aspects, the family is millions, in Zhangjiakou when the head of Tang bought a lot of cotton clothes from their shop.

It is said that in the last years of Xianfeng, Ai Qingshan's grandfather Alan Chang and his brother-in-law Zhao Dong each gave more than ten taels of silver as a share capital to establish the "Jufeng Chang" business, at first the two of them carried goods to the nearby grassland for some livestock products, to the grassland to eat and live without spending money, the goods to the grassland at least three cents of profit, in exchange for the livestock products sold to the Duolun market is two or three cents, or double the profit, a month can run two or three times, so, soon bought an ox cart.

In less than 20 years of the seventeenth year of Guangxu, there were more than 20 men and more than 20 ox carts, and a capital of more than 1,800 taels of silver. With capital, business is better. Purchases from Beijing and Tianjin are not paid first, but only ask for money during the "three festivals" of the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and "Spring Festival". Therefore, at that time, there was a capital of 1,000 taels of silver to buy and sell 7,800,000 or even more than 10,000 taels of silver. In addition, after the Mongolian people have credit, sometimes the Mongolian people hand over their livestock and furs to the merchants in advance to handle the goods, and this kind of business mode of buying and selling short is a characteristic of the Mongolian merchants. Many Mongolian merchants are like this, and they quickly turn from small business to big business.

In this way, in the 28th year of Guangxu, "Jufengchang" developed to five shops, two or three pawnshops, and a money village in Duolun City, with a daily turnover of more than 8,000 taels of silver. In addition to the hundreds of men, there were also more than 200 cashmere fixers who gave them credit. At this time, the "Juxingchang" did not send people to the grassland to do business, but only did the business of buying and selling to small traders and craftsmen on credit, that is to say, it became a businessman, and in the next few years, it expanded its business to the entire Saibei.

In the final analysis, this Duolun City is still a trading city, and merchants are the foundation of this city, so Tang Zhidao will not offend these merchants unless it is absolutely necessary.