In the small town of Shazhou, in the lobby of the government office, one table after another is lined up together, and the whole presents a "back" shape.

Seasonal fruits provided by local Han families are cut and arranged. There are so many varieties that it looks delicious.

The high-quality grapes produced in Ganzhou were sent to the white wine brewed by the Liangzhou winery, and they were bottled in emerald green glass bottles produced in the Persian region and put on the table.

Not to mention the wine, this bottle alone is worth a lot of money, all because the building near the water can only appear here after the moon, and ordinary Chang'an magnates may not have a set at home. Well, this kind of thing is calculated according to the "set", and it is not uncommon to take it out individually.

The glaze (glass) technology in the Persian region of the Tang Dynasty has been quite perfect, and the glazed bottles have been mass-produced.

Although this banquet was Fang Chongyong's invitation, he borrowed the place of the Shazhou Mansion. But the people who provide dishes and drinks are all local Hu merchants and Han families in Shazhou.

The orchids who were in charge of dancing during the banquet and the musicians who performed and sang were also paid for by these people.

All in all, Fang Jieshuai can have a treat, but "Fang Gongzi" will never pay.

Before it got dark, the guests were already there. Fang Chongyong, who was sitting on the main seat, slapped his face, and seven graceful figures, wearing colorful floral skirts and veiled orchids, entered the room.

At the same time, there is also a strong Western style of Hu Ji and Hu Qin playing.

The eyes of everyone present moved back and forth on Fang Chongyong and the dancing orchid, and the tense atmosphere slowly relaxed.

The servants first brought up cold dishes such as five sheng plates, steamed pears, and cabbage, and prepared to serve hot dishes after the orchid dance and dance, and after three rounds of wine.

When the time comes, a sheep will be roasted in the lobby on the spot, and the chef will roast it until it is half-cooked, cut it and serve it directly to the table. After a sheep is eaten, it is immediately roasted with a new one, ensuring that every bite of the diner is charred on the outside and tender on the inside, and the delicacy explodes in the mouth.

"Fang Jieshuai, you are from Shazhou and born and raised here. However, Wang is an outsider, but he is a herdscopist here on behalf of the imperial court.

At today's night banquet, the mouth of the lower officials is left to eat and drink. All official and private affairs, as far as you are concerned, the lower official is a rough man who comes to pay tribute to the temple of the five internal organs.

Hahahahaha! ”

Seeing that the atmosphere was a little awkward and no one spoke, Wang Huailiang, the assassin of Shazhou, laughed and laughed.

When Fang Chongyong came to Shazhou as a assassin, he had just changed from Shazhou assassin to a prisoner. Later, when Fang Chongyong left his post and returned to Chang'an, he served as an assassin in Ganzhou. Now that Fang Chongyong has returned to Hexi, Wang Huailiang has once again served as the assassin of Shazhou because he is "familiar with Hexi affairs"!

Sometimes this "veteran assassin history" also has to sigh that in the officialdom of Datang, it is really important to have a good father. is as diligent and hard-working as he is, he can't rise without a backstage, and he is pressed to the position of assassin.

is constantly moving places, but still holding the same official position.

"The king is polite, this section is just passing by Shazhou to see his hometown."

Fang Chongyong touched the short beard on his chin and said disapprovingly.

He picked up the emerald green translucent bottle, poured the amber white wine into his glass, then picked it up and poured it on the floor.

"The army is about to set out, although the big husband is crisscrossing the field, and the horse leather shroud is also fast, but it is inevitable that there is still some nostalgia.

Grape wine luminous glass, want to drink pipa immediately urge.

Drunk and lying on the battlefield, Jun Mo smiled, and a few people came back to fight in ancient times.

Come, this cup first salutes those good men of the Tang Dynasty who are blood-stained on the battlefield and buried their bones in the Western Regions. ”

As he said this, the atmosphere in the lobby suddenly became solemn. Everyone else did the same, spilling a glass of wine on the ground, and suddenly the thick aroma of wine filled the air and lingered for a long time.

"Fang Jieshuai, why did you convene a night banquet for the local good family in Shazhou this time?"

Yan Chao attended on behalf of the Yan family and asked quietly. The Zhang family, the largest family in the local area, was silent, so he had to stand up.

In the past, Zhang Yi, the patriarch of the Zhang family, was a strong supporter of Fang Chongyong, but unfortunately a few years ago, because of the "immediate wind" when he accepted the fourteenth concubine, he hung up, and now his son Zhang Mi is in charge of the overall situation.

This person has no friendship with Fang Chongyong, whether he still continues his father's political line, it is worth observing.

Or that Zhang Mi must make a statement tonight.

"Today, this section commander took the liberty to gather the villagers in Shazhou to have a meal, first, the expedition is imminent, and then I don't know what year it is when I go back to Shazhou.

Second, there is something I want to say, let's study it together.

Actually, it's not a research, it's a favor from everyone. To put it bluntly, this section shuai went to the Western Regions this time and wanted to do something unprecedented before. However, due to the limited soldiers, supplies and support given by the imperial court, it is difficult to play well.

Therefore, in the form of Jiaozi bonds, in the name of the Tang Dynasty government, I want to borrow some grain, grass, baggage, and mules, horses, and livestock from you. When the army returns victoriously, it will be returned with interest. Certificates of merit and letters of appointment from the Imperial Court will also be issued.

As for these debts, half of them will be directly given to Jiaozi, and half will be pledged by bonds.

When I finish speaking, who is for and who is against? ”

Fang Chongyong looked around at the people in the lobby and asked, his eyes as sharp as knives.

Borrow food...... This game has been played too many times before!

Everyone present muttered in their hearts, even Yan Chao couldn't help but smile bitterly.

There's really nothing new under the sun!

Before the Tang Dynasty was established, there was a branch of the Zhang family in Liangzhou settled in Shazhou, which was still called Dunhuang at that time. The Tang Dynasty has experienced a series of emperors such as Gaozu, Taizong, Gaozong, etc., until today's Li Longji.

Raising grain from large local households in Hexi has almost become the standard operation of successive emperors to open up the Western Regions.

However, Fang Chongyong is still good, what he said is "borrowing", and he is willing to issue bonds to Jiaozi.

In the past, it was all coercion and inducement, directly asking the big households to pay for food, and not even giving an IOU!

What, someone doesn't give?

Or take a look at the knife in Tang Jun's hand before deciding, right?

In recent years, the Western Regions have been in chaos, and it is not good that the pond fish bandits have come to Shazhou, and it will make people sigh if they have some accidents.

As for the grain and livestock that were loaned, they were basically meat bags and dogs, and there was no return.

The local big family took advantage of this to form a good relationship with the imperial court.

That's all.

Take 10,000 steps back, even if Fang Chongyong returns victorious in the future, he will return to Shazhou with a large number of treasures from the Western Regions, and then reward these treasures to those present.

Fang Zhong bravely sent it, did they dare to accept it?

Receiving it is a transaction, and not collecting this account is a favor, who is more stupid than whom? Otherwise, don't borrow, and since you borrowed, don't expect the other party to repay the money.

"A certain yes! Smashing pots and selling iron also supports Fang Jieshuai's expedition to the Western Regions!

No matter what Fang Jieshuai wants, whether it is soldiers, grain, or livestock, we have people in the Yan clan who can contribute and make a strong contribution! ”

Yan Chao patted his chest with excitement and reassured.

In fact, there is nothing incomprehensible that he is so active, because Yan Dynasty himself also has to go out with the army, and he doesn't make much effort at this time, so will he not think of the sentence that money is something outside his body when he dies in the Western Regions?

The Yan family paid for it, but it was just to bring their own dog food, so it was cheap for their own people!

"A certain person also agrees, and the words of others are old and unbelievable. But Fang Jieshuai has been in politics in Shazhou for many years, and his character and ability are trustworthy. ”

The speaker is from the Song clan in Dunhuang and has been deeply involved in Dunhuang for more than 200 years.

When King Zhou Cheng Feng Weizi was born in Shangqiu, the birthplace of the Shang Dynasty, the establishment of the Song State, in order to worship the Shang, after the Song State was destroyed by the Qi State, the descendants of the Song State took the country as the clan, and the source of this branch was the Song surname Zhengzong. The Dunhuang Song clan migrated from the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and finally settled in the Hexi Corridor.

Everything is difficult at the beginning, and there are people who cheer for it, so naturally there is no shortage of people to follow. For a time, the representatives sent by the major households in Shazhou in the lobby expressed their support for the Anxi Expeditionary Force and were willing to contribute money and efforts.

In fact, Fang Chongyong asked them for three melons and two dates, just to be prepared, not that without this bit of grain, they would not be able to play in the Western Regions.

It's just that I'm worried that these people won't be able to do enough, and the failures will definitely be more than enough.

If these people don't join the gang, what if they can't think about it, and they are instigated to make trouble in the rear?

Of course, they can't be bought by the Tibetans, but what if they are political enemies of the court?

Fang Chongyong didn't want to guess people's hearts, nor did he want to "test loyalty". He just wants to be able to worry about the back when he is fighting in front of him. Only the bond of interest can guarantee that no one will be backstabbed until the greater good breaks it!

However, it has reached this juncture, and Zhang Mi of the Dunhuang Zhang family has not yet expressed his position, as if he is thinking about something.

Many representatives of large local households present looked at him thoughtfully, as if they wanted to see what flowers came from this calm face.

"Zhang Mi, you didn't express your position, is it because you have accepted the benefits of the Tubo people, and you are deliberately embarrassed by this section handsome?"

Fang Chongyong asked coldly, his tone was extremely unkind, vaguely angry.

His words, like thunder, exploded in the hall of the government office!

"Fang Jieshuai laughed, if he regards the Tibetan people as enemies, how can he accept the benefits of Tibet."

Zhang Miqiang smiled, but his smile was very reluctant.

"Oh? Zhang's family is the largest household in Shazhou and the first good family.

Your father Zhang Yi is an old friend of this handsome.

Now everyone here has taken a stand, but you have not taken a stand.

Isn't it dissatisfied with this section of the handsome? ”

Fang Chongyong asked with a smile.

Of course, it is impossible for the Zhang family to cooperate with Tubo, and Fang Chongyong knows this.

But looking at the problem from another angle, it seems to make sense.

Because in Hexi, not everyone supports Fang Chongyong's expedition to the Western Regions, and not everyone will benefit from it.

For example, some people in Liangzhou felt that Fang Chongyong should not be the commander of this expeditionary force, but should be the commander of their family!

"Don't dare, don't dare, the other party is very respectful, and there is no dissatisfaction.

It's just that supporting such a thing as an expedition is a big deal, and a certain young man is not sensible, so he has to go back and discuss it with the elders of the family. ”

Zhang Mi tried hard to justify, but how to depict how dark, the fool could see that there was a problem.

Fang Chongyong also guessed a rough idea, so the board was raised high and gently put down. He waved his hand very casually and said:

"Zhang Mi, although you are young, you are also old and serious, this section admires you very much!

Then you go back and wait for the notice first, and you and the people of the Zhang family don't need to know about the next thing to discuss.

Come on, send off guests. ”

Under the complicated gaze of a crowd, Zhang Mi couldn't wait to find a hole to get into, and had to leave the Shazhou Mansion in a huff.

"Jieshuai, is it a ghost over there in Liangzhou An's side? Didn't they always propose that An Chongzhang be the commander of the Anxi Expeditionary Force? ”

He Changqi leaned into Fang Chongyong's ear and asked quietly.

"Shut up!"

Fang Chongyong scolded in a low voice angrily, how could he not know that it was An's side who was dissatisfied with his command!

An's people believe that they are from the Western Regions and have a close relationship with that side, so they are naturally easy to do, and they are also interested in retreating.

In the eyes of those people, Fang Chongyong is the "Ambassador of the Western Regions Economic Strategy", just take the overall situation into account, and there is no need to be the commander in the military.

In fact, An's idea can't be wrong, after all, Fang Chongyong is too young, and the situation in the Western Regions is also very complicated, and it is not simply black and white.

It is still necessary to find someone who can fight and is familiar with the affairs of the Western Regions, and it will not delay the big thing anyway.

What's more, the Chishui Army still has so many soldiers!

Their ideas represent the thoughts of a large part of the big families in Liangzhou, which naturally includes the Zhang family in Liangzhou.

The people of the Zhang family in Dunhuang were affected by the attitude of the Zhang family in Liangzhou and were unwilling to support Fang Chongyong, which seemed unexpected, but in fact it was reasonable. Only those who know how to do can understand how beneficial Fang Chongyong's trip is.

The Liangzhou An family comes from the nine surnames of Zhaowu, and they naturally understand.

After Zhang Mi left, Fang Chongyong smiled and said:

"Now that the superfluous people are gone, let's get down to business.

Just now this section is talking about what you have paid, and now this section commander will talk to you about benefits. Obligation and power are two sides of the same copper plate, and this section commander asked you for food, so naturally he will not give you benefits.

Farther west of the Green Ridge, the former Persian Protectorate, and farther away, I heard that there was gold everywhere, and the price of goods in Chang'an would increase more than ten times.

Didn't there be a caravan in Hexi before, but after the Tang army opened up the Green Ridge and conquered Xiaobolu, this trade route was completely opened, and we controlled the overall situation, so we didn't have to look at the faces of some Hu merchants. They can no longer monopolize the pricing power of goods in the Western Regions!

This section commander will issue a license to you to operate, and you will collectively invest in the shares, and the risk is controllable.

In the future, as long as the commander of this section is there, it will be a combination of military and civilian. If Tang Jun has a bite to eat, it is naturally indispensable for you to eat in one bite. ”

Fang Chongyong talked eloquently, turned into a big fool, preaching "business license" and "share ownership". The Tang army was limited in number, and if it went and came back, economic benefits could not be guaranteed. Only by mobilizing the big households in Hexi to go on adventures with the merchants can they use the "invisible hand" to pass through the Western Regions.

One hand for business, one hand for swords, two hands to grasp, both hands to be hard!

Everyone present breathed a little heavier, no one was a fool, after all, they had all played smuggling together before.

And now, Fang Chongyong wants to turn the previous smuggling into a "license trade" that is now on the table, and by the way, promote Jiaozi in the Western Regions.

This also means that if the traditional Hu merchants of the Western Regions do not enter the game, then they will become the target of the Tang Army! The end is predictable!

Will those people get in?

The answer is obvious!

So the earlier you get in, the more benefits you can get! With the Tang army opening the way in front, they, the big families in Hexi, can follow behind to absorb their own interests, and they can also get the protection of the Tang army.

How much is at stake here, and do we need to think about it more?

"Fang Jieshuai, contemptible Kang Juting, I want to support you wholeheartedly! I want to take a stake! All your net worth is at your disposal! ”

Sitting by the door, a Hu merchant wearing a turban shouted, his tone was excited, and he spoke upside down.

In his opinion, to support the Tang army's food and salary, this matter is just the meaning, and he will give as much as others want. But now Fang Chongyong is talking about this matter, not only to do it, but also to do it!

As long as Tang Jun can win on the side of Green Ridge, he will earn blood, and he will earn so much that he doesn't even know his mother!

"Fang Jieshuai, don't sell it, what kind of charter are you, tell us quickly!"

Yan Chao shouted.

He didn't really care about this, he wanted to use his military skills to climb up, and now he was just shouting for Fang Chongyong.

The scene suddenly became hot!

Fang Chongyong saw the representatives of local households in Shazhou in the lobby, and he was as agitated as a shark smelling blood. He smiled slightly, waved his hands and signaled everyone to be calm.

"Don't worry, when the time comes, someone will be sent to your house to explain in detail.

Now I don't talk about business, I want to eat well, drink well, and have fun!

What about orchids? What about musicians?

Then the music, the dance! If you don't get drunk today, you won't return! ”

Fang Chongyong's heart was already happy, but his face still had a breezy expression.

(End of chapter)