This traveler only wants to choose the lowest difficulty

Chapter 280 Unexpected News
In the eighth month of the lunar calendar, Longxi entered the hot underground street, and when the dignitaries and dignitaries began to find ways to quench their thirst, the summer training of the army was about to begin.

Niu Jichang was sitting in his house, drinking tea with several businessmen opposite.

The fat businessman who visited Niu Jichang at the beginning of the year seemed to have gained weight again after a few months. At this time, he already showed the appearance of a doughty rich man, and Niu Jichang, who was opposite him, had also faded after half a year of recuperation. When he just returned from the war in Tuyuhun, his dark skin was tanned by the scorching sun on the plateau. At this time, he looked like a white, fat and strong military officer of the Tang Dynasty.

The fat rich man took a few sips of tea, then cupped his hands to Niu Jichang and said with a smile: "My lord heard that we have already started to purchase the supplies needed for the autumn training. I wonder how much wine we will need in the Zhechong mansions in Longxi this time? Go back and get ready."

Niu Jichang laughed and said, "Does Master Li have any instructions from Chang'an?"

The fat businessman and other businessmen looked at each other, and a skinny businessman smiled mischievously and said to Niu Jichang: "Master Li said before coming that the business here in Longxi is only determined by the Niu Tongjun. In a few days, the sixteen guards in Chang'an will be reorganized According to Master Li, Niu Tongjun will still operate in Longxi in the future, but in the future, the wine business will be supervised by Master Niu more and more."

Niu Jichang couldn't help his eyes light up when he heard the words. According to Li Junxian's words, if he can handle the purchase of Longxi wine well this year, after the reorganization of the sixteen guards in Chang'an, he will be in Zhechong Mansion, Shanzhou I'm afraid the position is about to be upgraded.
Niu Jichang couldn't help being overjoyed, he put down his teacup and showed a little smile, and said to several merchants: "The deployment of troops in Longxi has not yet come out. If I need a lot of drinks after I come out, I will make a list right away."I trouble everyone to pay attention to this matter, and hurry up to go back to the customs to purchase. Of course, all the ingredients for drinks must be prepared in advance, and the transportation of wine jars, straws, etc. must also be prepared. I am afraid that by this year's autumn training, people will be added. I'm afraid it's also a big business worth tens of thousands of taels! "

All the businessmen nodded when they heard the words. Every autumn, the preparatory training of the government army is the most important business moment of the year for these businessmen who are engaged in the supply of military supplies. Their main income in a year comes from these months. At this time, they will naturally be more careful.But the amount of tens of thousands of taels is too scary.

The fat businessman looked happy, and couldn't help asking Niu Jichang, "Is the amount required this year so large?"

Niu Jichang also stroked his cup to calculate, and said, "I've been watching the wind direction in Longxi for the past few days, and Hou Junji and Lord Hou are making frequent moves. I'm afraid there will be some actions against the Western Regions within a year. This year's autumn training will also be the same. The scale is larger, the soldiers train hard all day long, and when they are disbanded, they will inevitably need a lot of drinks to refresh themselves, and the supply of drinks needed will not be a small amount. It is probably [-] to [-]% higher than in previous years."

The land of Longxi is now the most important place for the Great Tang to use its troops. Now a large number of soldiers have gathered, and many soldiers will continue to be transferred from various places in the Tang Dynasty to Longxi in the coming year. With the population of Longxi It is impossible to support so many soldiers. The transfer of money and food, and the transportation of drinks all require the participation of a large number of merchants. Anyone can know that there will be a lot of benefits in it.

All the merchants were overjoyed when they heard the words. Li Junxian stayed in Longxi for a year, and the plate he left behind was the wine supply channel for the entire Longxi army. In addition to the income from military ration transfers, etc., in previous years, this plate always had two or three If the scale of 3 taels is increased by 4 to [-]% according to Niu Jichang's intention, it will be [-] taels.That's an amount that would tempt any faction of interest.

The fat businessman thought about this number and the benefits he could get from everyone, and couldn't help being elated. He couldn't help clapping his hands and praised: "It's all the foundation laid by Mr. Li back then."

The rest of the businessmen also nodded in agreement when they heard the words, and even Niu Jichang couldn't help nodding and smiling.

Li Junxian was able to master the wine trade in Longxi, apart from his own status in the court to protect him, he also had some other confidence.

When Li Junxian was the governor in Lanzhou, he deliberately found the supply of alcohol in the army. This way of making money was focused on management. In more than a year, these merchants who recruited under his command opened up all the channels for wine trafficking from Longxi in the Guan. .

The upstream and downstream of this entire industrial chain include a large number of winery and wine owners in the preparations in the customs, and a group of closely connected transport camel teams and protection personnel in the middle, and more importantly, all the way from the customs to Longxi. The officials have already spent enough funds, so they will not be made things difficult.

Even if Li Junxian was the governor of Lanzhou back then, it was still not easy to establish such a business route with his ability at that time. All tax card officials and even robbers along the way needed to be managed. Li Junxian also spent a lot of money back then. It took a lot of effort to cultivate it.

Just the sense of trust between the various interest groups along the way and these military supplies merchants under Li Junxian does not mean that whoever has a high official position can build such trust. The main confidence for the munitions trading business to become an exclusive business.And as long as they become kings on this business road, the continued military supplies trade in the future will only deepen the closeness between the two parties, making this business road more and more smooth, and it will also increase a lot for other competitors. Big barrier to entry.Even if Hou Junji came here in person to snatch the business from them, it would be very difficult.This is also the source of self-confidence of Niu Jichang and others.

Just as Niu Jichang and the others were thinking about how much wine and benefits the Tang Army, which had increased its number of troops this year, would order and how much benefits it would bring after its training in Longxi, a sudden shout came from afar.

"My lord..."

Niu Jichang raised his head in astonishment, and saw Cen Bingqian hurriedly running into the flower hall, Niu Jichang looked at him with some displeasure.

"Come in to send a message, why don't you even say a report?"

Cen Bingqian didn't care about Niu Jichang's challenge, but hurried to Niu Jichang's side and said, "Master Commander, I have something important to report."

Niu Jichang was a little puzzled, took a package of things wrapped in leaves from Cen Bingqian, and asked Cen Bingqian, "What is this?"

Cen Bingqian looked at all the businessmen present, Niu Jichang frowned and waved his hands: "You go down first."

The businessmen didn't know what was going on, but they got up full of enthusiasm, bowed their hands to Cen Bingqian and Niu Jichang, and then turned and left.

Only then did Cen Bingqian say: "Master Commander, this is a batch of supplies that the general manager of the army sent to Zhechong Mansion just now. It is said that they are called cigarettes, and they are used for smoking after being lit. The general manager also specially sent someone to teach us how to Smoke this cigarette."

Niu Jichang frowned when he heard the words, opened the leaf package with the yellow note of Xining incense printed on it, took out a cigarette from it, put it on his nose and smelled it, and then rolled the rough leaf into it according to the method taught by Cen Bingqian. Putting the cigarette in the cigarette holder in Cen Bingqian's hand, he took a puff.The quality of the broken cigarette was extremely poor. Niu Jichang smoked it for a long time before he lit it. Niu Jichang tried to take a sharp puff, and then he coughed and choked up tears.

He couldn't help frowning and said to Cen Bingqian: "What kind of weird thing is this? Why did the military chief yamen send us this? Is it to treat some disease? Those medical officers are used to doing these random things. How can this be taken?"

Cen Bingqian whispered to Niu Jichang: "My lord, this thing is not made by officials to cure diseases, but for the sergeants to relieve their fatigue."

Niu Jichang frowned and looked at Cen Bingqian.

Cen Bingqian opened his mouth and said: "The first batch from the Yamen sent more than 100 packs. It is said that each of our army in Zhechong Mansion can receive ten packs. Let everyone get used to smoking first."

Amidst Niu Jichang's doubts, Cen Bingqian went on to say: "The Yamen Yamen also said..."

"say what?"

Cen Bingqian took a look at Niu Jichang, and said hesitantly: "The yamen said that this thing is used to relieve fatigue and improve morale during the march. The effect is better than strong alcohol, and it will not make people drowsy and lose military discipline. In the future, when we march, we will buy less alcohol and only use this tobacco instead..."

(End of this chapter)