Three thousand miles in exile

Three years later.

Hanzhong.

On the first and fifteenth day of every month, there is a trade outside the Ziwu Pass on the border between Dachu and Xixia. Ten years ago, the war between Dachu and Xixia stopped for several years, and it was not until last year that the trade resumed.

The past few years have not been easy for Xixia. First, the people's livelihood has declined due to successive years of severe drought.

Under repeated blows, the national power of Xixia was not as good as before, and the king of Xixia had to bow his head to Dachu in order to alleviate the domestic food crisis.

In the end, the king of Xixia enshrined Dachu as the upper kingdom, and returned Youzhou City, one of the three cities that he invaded that year, and Dachu gave the king of Xixia hundreds of thousands of stones of grain and countless cattle and sheep. come and go.

Regardless of whether it is a profit or a loss to redeem Youzhou with grain, the re-opening of the mutual market will not do any harm to Chu Baili. The tax income of the mutual market supervisor for one year alone is worth the sum of the taxes of a state.

The sky is bright and bright, and the market outside the Ziwu Pass is already crowded with people, with everything from pigs, horses, cattle, sheep, grain, cloth, pottery and jade.

There is no threshold for the mutual market. Anyone who wants to do business only needs to register with the mutual market supervisor.

First pay ten taxes according to the base price of your own goods, and then take the token and pull the tent in the open space to do business. As for how much you earn, it depends on your personal ability.

Amongst the crowds, two youths with outstanding looks stand out, one has a heroic face, like a strong pine on a rock, and the other is graceful, like a jade spring, which is cold and different.

Seven tall and strong guards separated the flow of people for the two of them, and walked to the depths of the exchange market at a leisurely pace.

"I heard that a group of high-quality swallow horses and a large number of slaves came to the exchange this time. If I came by myself, I would definitely be tricked by the barbarians again. I can't take you with me."

Liu Zhan only bought more than 100 Yanmas last month and knew that he was wrong. He was very attentive and waited on him along the way.

Song Fenglin didn't look sideways, and wasn't interested in what the vendors on both sides were selling. In addition, the barbarians had a strong smell, so Song Fenglin didn't want to stay longer.

When the exchange market first opened last year, he and Liu Zhan came once to personally supervise the transaction in order to allow Liu Ji Trading Co. to gain a foothold in the exchange market as soon as possible.

Now Liu Ji Trading Company is already a well-known large trading firm in the mutual market, and there is a shopkeeper who is always here to preside over the sales.

Liu Zhan was full of praise for the Yanma along the way, talking endlessly about the goodness of the Yanma. I heard that [-] horses came this time. this trip.

Over the past three years, Liu Zhan has spared no effort to build up the cavalry, bought swallows and horses, made equipment, developed weapons, etc., and spent a lot of money. All expenses were supported by the industry run by Song Fenglin.

The prodigal Liu Zhan naturally had to serve Song Fenglin well.

When he arrived at the paddock where the animals were traded in the mutual market, Liu Zhan finally saw the batch of swallow horses.

The horses are indeed high-quality Yan horses. Most of the Yan horses that appeared in the Hanzhong exchange market were looted by the Xianbei Hu people and Yan soldiers at the border.

It is very rare for more than a hundred horses to appear at one time. In the past two years, Liu Zhan sent people to guard the exchange market and only bought no more than two thousand swallow horses.

The person who sold the Yanma was indeed a Xianbei barbarian. The shopkeeper Xie knew a little bit of barbarian language of various ethnic groups, and after several conversations, they finally settled on a price.

The Hu people in Xianbei don't want gold and silver but only food and cloth. It just so happens that Liu Ji Trading Co. received a batch of cloth from the south, plus the grain in the warehouse is enough to exchange for the three hundred horses.

Song Fenglin shook his head when he heard the transaction price. He stretched out his hand and made a digital gesture that Xianbei barbarians could understand. "Thirty percent off."

The face of the Xianbei Hu man changed drastically.

Song Fenglin was still calm, and he said to shopkeeper Xie: "Tell him, only we have the ability to buy all his horses at once in the entire exchange market, and we are the only ones who dare to buy his horses."

Although Da Chu did not expressly prohibit the private trade of horses, if more than a certain amount is found, it is a matter of a second thought whether the government will detain or not.

Song Fenglin didn't talk big, there are [-] swallow horses, who can bring out Hanzhong except Liu Zhan?

Just suppressing [-]% at once, will the barbarian turn his back on it?

But seeing that the Xianbei barbarian was unhappy, he didn't immediately refuse. He turned around and entered the tent not far away. After a while, he came back and said the reserve price.

Shopkeeper Xie respectfully said: "Mr. Song, he said that the price is all for food and not cloth, and he will ask for it soon."

"Yes." Song Fenglin smiled.

Shopkeeper Xie immediately went down to arrange, this price is really too cheap!

One must know that the unit price of a dozen or twenty Yan horses is twice the unit price, and the other party also knew that it would be difficult to sell [-] horses at once, so they released a price lower than the market price at the beginning. Directly pressed another [-]%.

But it's better to sell out earlier and go back to Mobei earlier to compete with the Yan people for another round, rather than spending a month or two here, so the leader of the Xianbei Hu people knew that the price was very low and still agreed.

Liu Zhan put his arms around Song Fenglin's shoulders with a smile and whispered next to his ear: "Madam, my husband's admiration for you is like a torrential river."

Song Fenglin was upset. "You're talking nonsense again."

Liu Zhan was in a good mood and immediately arranged for Li Futian, who was accompanying him, to count the horses. After confirming that they were correct, the shopkeeper Xie asked the staff to bring the grain.

The two sides went to the market in person, and it was inevitable that the night would be full of dreams. Liu Zhan asked Li Futian to take the horse and leave Hanzhong immediately.

It would take ten days and a half months to drive so many horses back to Qiyun Mountain from Hanzhong. Li Futian didn't dare to neglect, and immediately ordered dozens of soldiers to take the horses on the road.

The big stone in his heart finally fell to the ground, and Liu Zhan relaxed his heart and took Song Fenglin for a stroll.

"Come here, let's go see the slaves together." Liu Zhan suggested.

Shopkeeper Xie also said: "I haven't visited the slave paddock today. I heard that there will be Chu people today. I have prepared the goods for market exchange and wait for these people to arrive."

The border of Hanzhong has been in war all year round. There are Xirong Hu people and Xixia Hu people Xianbei Hu people plundered Chu people and returned them as slaves. These slaves are no different from animals in the eyes of Hu people.

Liu Zhan, Song Fenglin and his party left the horse market and went to the paddock where the slaves were exchanged.

From a distance, the paddock was full of slaves, and the slaves were so ragged and dirty that they couldn't be seen, and several of them were strung together like cattle.

Shopkeeper Xie was obviously an old acquaintance in the slave paddock. As soon as those barbarians saw Shopkeeper Xie, they greeted him enthusiastically, and Liu Zhan and Song Fenglin couldn't understand what he said, but it was nothing more than selling slaves.

One of the barbarians who knew a little bit of Central Plains dialect came forward. "The slaves from the Central Plains that we agreed with you last time have arrived, do you want to come and see them?"

Ever since Liuji Trading Company has been buying Chu people in the mutual market, those Central Plains slaves have become the sweet pastry in the eyes of Hu merchants. .

Liu Zhan and his party followed the Hu businessman to the outside of his tent. About dozens of slaves were tied together. Those Chu people were skinny and numb. There were white-haired old men and newborn babies.

The Hu businessman gave the number to shopkeeper Xie, and said complacently: "According to the old rules, slaves over the age of 60 are not considered money. None of the businessmen have integrity like me."

"You also said that according to the old rules, your price is obviously [-]% higher than last time." Shopkeeper Xie was very dissatisfied.

These Hu merchants are accustomed to reneging on their promises and are the most dishonest, but they feel that it is natural to raise prices from the ground.

"This time, there are a lot of young and strong slaves, and I feed them with food and drink according to your wishes. You can see that none of the slaves are injured or sick. I have worked hard."

"I promised you this number before." Shopkeeper Xie compared a number. "Now that you are a lion, don't blame me for breaking the contract."

When Hu Shang heard this, he immediately became a little anxious. "If you don't buy it, what will I do with so many slaves from the Central Plains?"

Central Plains slaves are not as strong and hardworking as Huren slaves or Kunlun slaves. It has always been difficult to sell in the slave market. That is to say, Liu Ji Trading Company began to accept Central Plains slaves, which raised the price.

In the past two years, the price has risen again and again, and it is impossible for Song Fenglin to take back the Chu people regardless of the cost.

Shopkeeper Xie glanced at Song Fenglin's expression and immediately understood, he insisted on the price and would not let go. "It's just that this number can't be more than one point. If you don't sell me, you will leave."

"No, no, no." Hu Shang hurriedly stopped shopkeeper Xie. He really had a cautious mind, seeing that shopkeeper Xie was very straightforward every time, so he wanted to take the opportunity to raise the price. If shopkeeper Xie really didn't buy it, he would lose a lot.

"That's the number, that's the number."

In the end, 78 slaves from the Central Plains were brought back to the residence of Liuji Trading Company.

There is an empty courtyard behind Liuji Commercial Bank, where the rescued Chu people gather here to wash and change their clothes before eating.

The women in the yard were used to it for a long time, and they began to arrange these people very neatly and skillfully.

"Come on, there is water in the well. Get some water and wash yourself first. After washing, come to me to get your clothes. After you get your clothes, go to the other side to eat. There is no need to fight for food!"

"You guys, the good times are coming, don't be afraid. We are here to save you. We bought you back as tenants. You have land and a house to live in, and you will be given household registration. You can live in peace from now on."

"Clean it all up, and wash away all the bad luck."

"When you're full, you can go to the back room to rest. Don't try to run away. You are all black households. What can you do if you run away?"

"Tomorrow, follow the arrangements. Someone will take you to the place where you settled down, and your household registration will be processed together. From then on, you will be a good citizen."

"What, I lied to you? Haha, my aunt Wang has been cleaning here for two years, and I don't know how many slaves like you have been transported in my hands. Am I going to lie to you?"

"Back to Dachu, no matter how hard your life is, can you still live as a slave in Mobei? Is this the reason?"

The slaves were clearly arranged by the aunts, and what should be explained was also explained. After washing and changing clothes, these people finally looked human, and gradually began to believe that they were indeed rescued.

At this time, Song Fenglin was looking over the accounts in the account room, and Liu Zhan sat beside him drinking tea.

The rice medicinal materials produced on Qiyun Mountain are very popular in the mutual market, especially rice. The rice varieties on Qiyun Mountain are different from those in the Central Plains. Rice grains are large and sticky, which is more resistant to hunger.

Liuji Commercial Company has monopolized the purchase of rice in the six counties of Cenzhou, and the price difference in the purchase and sale of rice alone is a huge income every year.

Of course, Song Fenglin's purchase price for the people is very fair, and he will not lower the price casually like those profiteers in the past.

In addition, the cloth and silk transported by Liu Ji Trading Company from the Central Plains also made good profits.

Most of these cloths and silks come from the cloth village under the Lin family in Siyang. The high quality is widely praised by Hu merchants, and even the cloth village under the Lin family is getting bigger and bigger.

Song Fenglin closed the account book. "Yes, you have worked hard these days."

Shopkeeper Xie hurriedly said that he didn't dare to be the top shopkeeper. Those of them who have become top shopkeepers can get some bonuses, and it is for themselves to manage the branch well.

The matter has been settled, and the two of them are also preparing to set off to return to Qiyun Mountain.

At this moment, the ground suddenly shook, Liu Zhan stood up and his face sank. Veterans who have experienced thousands of troops on the battlefield knew that this was not an earthquake, but a large number of horses came one after another.

"General! The Hu people from Xirong have already surrounded the exchange market!" The guard hurriedly said.

Everyone in the business was shocked. The Hu people in Xirong were brutal. Everywhere they went, they burned, killed and looted, and they didn't even leave a single animal alive.

"Don't panic!" Liu Zhan said in a deep voice. "Immediately organize soldiers to guard the yard, young and strong, etc. to stick to the business, set up all the horse-repelling fences to block the gate, and the archers are on standby!"

The Xirong Hu people have surrounded Hushi, and Hushi is in chaos.

If they break out at this time, they will be scattered by the flow of people. It is better to stick to the business and wait for the changes. The mutual market is not far from Ziwu Pass, and the defenders in Guanzhong must have received the news and rushed over.

The branch shop of Liu Ji Commercial Company in the mutual market is a two-story wooden building surrounded by wooden fences and horse fences to form an independent courtyard. There are more than 50 resident guards in the courtyard. There are more than sixty guards, and the combined strength of hundreds of people is enough for a battle.

"You stay on the second floor." Liu Zhan pressed Song Fenglin's shoulder to signal him not to get up.

Liu Zhan came to the gate of the courtyard holding a long knife, and the streets were full of fleeing people.

At this moment, soldiers from the West rushed into the crowd on horseback, raised their scimitars, and slashed the people on the road indiscriminately. Soon, more and more soldiers from the West entered the long street where Liu Ji Trading Co. was located, and soon there were corpses all over the ground.

Those soldiers from the West rushed in to loot every shop they passed, and soon noticed Liu Ji Firm, which had the largest territory.

Arrows flew in the air, and the Xibing soldiers began to hit the door, and the nurse held a simple wooden shield against the door.

The archers stationed on the second floor began to fight back, and some Xirong soldiers fell down one after another. The resistance organized by Liu Ji Commercial Bank further angered the Xi Rong soldiers, and more and more Xi Rong soldiers surrounded and attacked Liu Ji Commercial Firm.

The exchange market outside the customs has just resumed for two years. Most of the shops in the exchange market are tents, and only a few large commercial houses have built temporary wooden buildings as their bases.

The fences around Liuji Commercial House are all simple wooden fences to block Xiaoxiao, which is okay, but it’s useless when it’s reduced to a battlefield to fight the enemy to the death.

The soldiers of the West Army thought that the only ones who rushed in were some helpless Chu people, but they were at a loss. Liu Zhan's personal guards were all selected, and the head of the soldier of the West Army who rushed in first was cut off in an instant.

This move undoubtedly angered more Xibing soldiers, and they shouted angrily, and all the Xibing soldiers on the long street moved closer to this side.

For a moment, there was a fierce battle outside Liuji Commercial Bank, and the slaves temporarily placed in the warehouse huddled together and shivered with fear.

In the past three years, the Yan army has attacked Tongtian Pass several times. Whether it is an ambush on the mountain or a guerrilla attack on the plain, Liu Zhan has strengthened himself through death and battle time and time again.

In terms of the cruelty of the Western Army soldiers, they are famous all over the world, in terms of well-equipped Western Army soldiers are not as good as Yan soldiers, in terms of bravery and skillful Western soldiers are not as good as Yan soldiers, and they can even fight the Yan soldiers.

Liu Zhan committed suicide at the front line, his blood stained the blade and soaked his clothes. Whenever a Western soldier wanted to sneak up on him from behind, he would shoot a cold arrow from upstairs and kill him. Song Fenglin kept guarding behind the window sill.

At this moment, the horn sounded from a distance, which was the signal for the retreat of the Xirong soldiers, and then the sound of horseshoes came from the direction of Ziwu Pass, and the Chu soldiers arrived.

It took no more than an hour before and after Xirong attacked the exchange market, but the entire exchange market was destroyed in sevens and eights, with corpses strewn across the field like a purgatory.

The personal guards counted the scene, and more than [-] enemies were killed in this battle, and the corpses were scattered all over the paddock of Liu Ji Trading Company.

A Chu soldier general passing by was immediately shocked by the scene, and seeing that Liu Zhan and others were not like ordinary people, the leading young general immediately stepped forward to inquire.

"You don't look like people from Hanzhong, where are you from? Are you beheading these Xirong Hu people?" the young general asked on horseback.

Liu Zhan didn't want to cause trouble, so he glanced at the head of the personal guard captain, and the captain immediately showed his seal of a thousand households.

"We are soldiers under the command of General Qi Yun in Cenzhou. We came here to buy horses. We don't want to encounter Xirong invaders. We will kill these Xirong people."

"So that's how it is." The young general didn't ask any more questions when he saw the seal, and led people away after a few polite words.

Shopkeeper Xie hurried downstairs with his people and immediately bowed deeply to Liu Zhan. "Fortunately, the general is here, otherwise I will be doomed."

Liu Zhan sheathed the knife. "If Xirong can come once, there will be a second time. Hire more guards and thugs, and this paddock must be reinforced. As long as we can persist until the Chu soldiers come, it will be fine."

"Little one obeys." Shopkeeper Xie obeyed everything.

In this catastrophe, the large and small merchants in the exchange market suffered heavy losses, and only a few large commercial firms survived by employing nursing homes.

Western soldiers come and go like the wind, the purpose is to plunder, and the market is getting more and more lively every year, such a big piece of fat will naturally attract hungry wolves to compete.

If the guards at Ziwuguan cannot come up with countermeasures, the exchange market will only become increasingly depressed.