Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 1454 Yin Jian
It is the annual peak season for the Ministry of Internal Affairs to raise gold.

In Changxia Commercial Bank, the goods brought in before the Yellow River was frozen were sold at an extremely fast speed, so that they had to urgently transfer the goods from Wudi and Penglai two warehouses, and transport them by horse-drawn carriage to replenish the inventory.

As for the cost incurred, it is impossible to fully share it in the price of the goods, and you can only eat part of it yourself.Fortunately, the overall profit is sufficient, and the transportation cost is really nothing.

Zhao Zaiqing never went to Changxia Commercial Bank to buy things.In his opinion, the products provided here can basically be found in Nanshi if you search carefully.If it doesn't work, go to Xintan unloading place to see, it may be cheaper.The only difference is that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has a monopoly on many commodities in Liaodong, and it can supply them in large quantities and stably.But is mink fur really only produced in Liaodong?Obviously not, at least in Korea.

Therefore, when he saw Gao Lun abducting some of the Mohe heads into the Changxia Commercial House, he shook his head secretly, thinking that the yamen was absurd.

Sure enough, after a while, a group of people came out again dejectedly.

Zhao Zaiqing secretly smiled, these poor ghosts.

After hastily leaving Changxia Commercial Firm, Zhao Zaiqing went home first, took a shower and changed clothes before looking at the sun, then went out and went to Shangyang Palace.

Perhaps it was because of his good luck that the sage summoned him after sending people to the palace to present a batch of gifts to Concubine Zhao.

The meeting place was at the Hongzhiyuan of Shangyang Palace. After inspection, body search, and waiting, he finally walked in under the guidance of the guards.

"Meet Your Majesty." Zhao Zaiqing paid his respects.

"Sit down." Shao Shude said.

After Zhao Zaiqing sat down, he took a sneak peek.

Time is not forgiving, the saint is older than before, with a lot more gray hair on his temples, his eyes are no longer as piercing as before, as if he can directly see into the heart of people.

"I won't play around with you anymore." Shao Shude said: "You have also made a lot of money in the past few years, and your strength is not what it used to be. I just want to ask, how many camels and vehicles are there under your flag now?"

"There are more than [-] camels and horses, and [-] carts." Zhao Zaiqing replied.

"The capital is not small." Shao Shude said with a smile.

In the early years when Zhao Cheng was still there, he specialized in commodity trade in the Western Regions, and distributed dividends to Zhao Yu every year. When it was less, it was more than 1 yuan, and when it was more, it was [-] to [-] yuan.

After Shao Shude proclaimed himself emperor, Zhao Cheng no longer had to pay dividends.After all, after so many years of sharing, he has contributed no less than 30 yuan, which is amazing and has provided a lot of help for his great cause of war.

After Zhao Cheng heard about it, he didn't dare to be negligent, and continued to pay dividends for three years, contributing [-] yuan, until Shao Shude repeatedly asked to stop, and then he gave up.

"It's all the kindness of His Majesty." Zhao Zaiqing said.

Shao Shude pondered for a while, and said, "If you want to transport grain from Lingzhou to Shazhou, do you have a solution?"

Zhao Zaiqing was startled when he heard this, and said, "Your Majesty, the journey is so long that a grain of corn may cost thousands of dollars."

"Of course I know it will cost a lot, so I asked you if you can do it?" Shao Shude asked.

Zhao Zaiqing thought for a while and said: "Under a certain idea, warehouses can be set up in Lingzhou, Liangzhou, Ganzhou, Suzhou, Guazhou, and Shazhou, and transported in sections. A group of people is only responsible for one section, and as much as possible Hiring locals who are familiar with the environment and the roads can minimize expenses.”

"Is this the same way you did your business in the Western Regions?" Shao Shude asked.

"Exactly." Zhao Zaiqing replied.

Shao Shude got up from the dragon chair with his hands behind his back.

In fact, these businessmen should not be underestimated.

To put it bluntly, they are much more familiar with the situation along the way than the government.Where is it suitable to build a warehouse, where is the water source, which road is easy to walk, what is the local weather, which guides are better, etc., the government really can't compare with them who have been walking this road for many years.

"I want to attack the Western Regions." Shao Shude said suddenly.

Zhao Zaiqing lowered his head and listened quietly.

He is not surprised.As a famous businessman on the Silk Road, all those who can reach his level are well-informed.

Just last month, he got news that Guzang County, Liangzhou bought [-] sheep and sent them to the pasture for breeding and raising.

Ordinary people might skip it when they heard the news, but Zhao Zaiqing keenly sensed something unusual: the imperial court's ranch in Hexi had very few sheep, most of them were horses, followed by camels.

What is the purpose of raising sheep for the official pastoral supervisor?It doesn't make sense.

Well, it's not that they don't know how to raise sheep, but they are usually pastures close to the capital, and a batch is sent there when the palace gives a banquet.For example, the Shayuan Supervisor in Tongzhou, where the livestock sent from various places in the former Tang Dynasty were fostered there, and Chang'an took them as they needed.

But the pastures in Liangzhou and Ganzhou will never be like this.

Zhao Zaiqing thought about it, and there was only one possibility: the imperial court would use troops against the Western Regions, and a large number of warriors would come over in a certain period of time, so they bought sheep in advance and changed the livestock structure of the pasture. By the time the army arrived, the [-] sheep had already They were fattened up, and even bred a large number of new sheep, which happened to be used as military supplies.

Another thing that surprised him was that grain depots and weapon depots were being inspected everywhere, and even warehouses were being renovated and expanded, making a lot of noise.

In such a comparison, Zhao Zaiqing had already guessed, but he was not sure, until today he got the confirmation from the saint himself.

"Zhengxi can rely on the Fan Ministry to supply cattle and sheep, but it is not enough. You have to transfer part of the millet and wheat yourself." Shao Shude said again: "The big head will naturally be transferred by the imperial court, but it needs to be supplemented. Are you interested?"

In Shao Shude's impression, the logistics system of the Manchu Qing expedition to the west actually consisted of a variety of methods: first, finding places conducive to cultivation at key nodes, planting grain in advance, and harvesting on the spot; A small number of troops were stationed in the local area to graze livestock; thirdly, the Mongolian tribes provided cattle and sheep, which was unconditional, and the Western Expeditionary Army even robbed the Mongolian tribes to obtain supplies; fourthly, the government organized a huge transport team to transport grain and grass materials over long distances; Fifth, private caravans transfer grain and grass materials for official procurement.

A variety of methods coexist, and finally effectively guarantee the front-line military logistics.

Of course, the logistics demand in the era of cold weapons is much smaller than that in the era of muskets and cannons, and it is easier to supply.But in any case, the idea of ​​coexistence of multiple methods is not bad, and the fault tolerance is also greater.

Hearing this, Zhao Zaiqing felt bitter, but he didn't dare to refuse, so he could only respond: "I would like to obey Your Majesty's order."

Regardless of his wealth and power, he is famous far and near, but once he gets involved in this kind of thing of transporting grain and grass for the court, it is not an exaggeration to lose his family and property.The wealth owned by an individual is not worth mentioning in front of the consumption of more than [-] troops.

"I won't let you do it in vain." Shao Shude said: "I also found the Kang family, the Zhuge family, the Tuoba family and others. You each collect a thousand camels and five hundred horse-drawn carriages and transport them in sections. As for the money needed Is it—”

Shao Shude walked around the hall for half a circle, and said: "After I conquer the Western Regions, you can monopolize Khotan Jade Group, Anxi Cloth, Curcuma, Red Salt, Naosha, Mipengsha, Yak Horn and other commodities, how about that? The franchise period can be 20 years or [-] years, this is negotiable."

Yutuan's profit is very high, everyone knows that.

Shubu is cotton cloth, a specialty of Anxi.The top-quality brocade in the Central Plains is worth a thousand dollars a piece, but the current price of the cloth is more than two thousand yuan, and it is still the wholesale price in Dunhuang. If it is sold to the mainland, the price will have to rise a lot.

Turmeric can be used as medicine and yellow dye, which is very valuable.

Naosha and Dapengsha are both medicinal materials and fluxes for gold and silver.

Yak horn is an important material for making high-quality crossbows. It consumes a lot and is not cheap.

"Your Majesty has orders, and I respect them all." Zhao Zaiqing responded with a happy face.

Of course, he was pretending.

Commodities such as jade balls and cloth, once monopolized and monopolized, are of course huge profits.Even if there is only a ten-year franchise period, it is actually almost enough to pay back.

But things don't work that way, and the risks are actually great.The most important thing is how long the war will last. Can he persist before he gets the franchise and starts to pay back?

In case of fighting for a few years, Zhao Zaiqing is 100% sure that even if he sells his property, it will be difficult to survive.

But he has no room to refuse.

This matter is very profitable and risky, and it is impossible for the court's military supplies to be completely entrusted to them.The sage made it very clear that they are supplements and only account for part of the food supply.Therefore, he can't use military success or failure as a starting point to bargain. Risks can only be digested by himself.

If you get through it, the future will suddenly become clear.I couldn't make it through, and went back to more than 20 years ago overnight.

"I remember you have two sons studying in Qinzhou Confucianism?" Shao Shude sat back on the dragon chair and asked.

"Yes."

"Let's do this." Shao Shude said: "I just received the news that Hunan's Chenzhou and Yonger prefectures have been restored, and there are many real deficiencies. Your son is quite talented in reading, but one is the Yizhangling and the other is the Linglingling. He will go to office next year. .”

Only then did Zhao Zaiqing feel relieved, and said sincerely, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."

Although Hunan is still at war, the sage said that if he takes up his post next year, then there will be no problem.

Ma Yin originally only had seven prefectures, but now Master Wang has captured the four prefectures of Dao, Lian, Chen, and Yong one after another. Changsha is probably besieged, and it should be the end of the road.Reminiscent of Gao Lun saying that Ma Yin had sent envoys to approach him to surrender, Zhao Zaiqing felt more at ease.

It is the third and fourth sons who are studying Confucian classics, and it is impossible for them to inherit the family business in the future. It must be excellent to have a way out of being an official.Although they are unlikely to be promoted, at least they can keep two incense sticks for the Zhao family. Even if his side fails and the family goes bankrupt, at worst he dies, can the creditor chase him to Hunan?Most saints would not allow this to happen.

That being the case, there is nothing to say, just fight!
After talking about this matter, Shao Shude was also in a good mood, and ordered Zhong Guan to take Zhao Zaiqing to Lichun Hall, so that Concubine Zhao could also meet her relatives.

He returned to the case and looked at the map.

Today is the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, and three layers of trenches have been dug outside the city of Changsha, completely besieged.The armies of Tielin, Hengye, and Guangjie attacked day and night without hesitating casualties.

Ma Yin did indeed send envoys out of the city and put forward the conditions of surrender: please make Xiang Guogong.

When Shao Shude saw it for the first time, he thought that Ma Yinde had lost his mind.

Thinking back to the time when he was canonized, he was dissatisfied that he didn't get the prince, and he refused to be Xiachen, it can be said that his desire is hard to fill.

In fact, if he had been honest and accepted the canonization at the beginning, and now he would surrender with Hunan and Guiguan towns, the Duke of the State would not be out of consideration, but the Duke of the County would be sure.

But he killed himself, so no one can blame him.

Thinking of this, Shao Shude summoned the palace official Xie Shi, and ordered: "Draft the decree, canonize Ma Yin as Huating county uncle, if he is willing to accept, order the tens of thousands of soldiers in Tan, Heng, and Shao prefectures to lay down their weapons and accept the inspection by the court." , reorganization. If you don’t want to, Wang Rong and Lu Yanwei will not be far behind.”

"Of order." Mrs. Xie replied.

(End of this chapter)