Fenghou

Chapter 1135 Pingjiang
In mid-October, the rice in the south of the Yangtze River began to be harvested. There was sufficient light, heat and water, which was suitable for the growth of rice. Especially after the promotion of double-cropping rice during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, the Jiangnan area became the most important grain-producing area in the Song Dynasty.

The abundance of food greatly improved the social structure of the Song Dynasty. Since the Han and Tang Dynasties, the habit of eating only two meals a day gradually changed to three meals a day.

The increase in food production also brought about population growth. By the time of Xuanhe, the population of Song Dynasty had exceeded [-] million, the highest in history.

At noon that day, a scholar riding an old horse came from outside Wu County, Pingjiang Prefecture. He was wearing a flat scarf and a scholar's uniform. With a book box, he looks like a typical scholar rushing for an exam.

This scholar was Zhong Huan. He traveled eastward by boat from Xiangyang, and it took him a month to arrive at Pingjiang Mansion.

The old butler and the servants are both members of the inner guard. The old butler's surname is Jiang. Everyone calls him Uncle Jiang. He has a sharp mind and rich experience. He is a native of Kunshan County, Pingjiang Prefecture. He can speak the local dialect, so it is very convenient to take him with him.

The young servant looks honest and basically silent, but he is the assassin with the highest martial arts among the inner guards. The official is the deputy commander. His name is Mei Wu. He can kill people dozens of steps away with a flying sword.
He was originally a Taoist priest in Zhongnan Mountain. He had studied martial arts for more than ten years. Because his parents died tragically at the sword of the Jurchen cavalry, he went down the mountain and joined the Western Army five years ago. He participated in the anti-golden cause and avenged his parents. .

His secular surname is Li, and Meiwu is his Taoist name, so he simply used his Taoist name as his name.

A group of three people entered Wuxian County. Wuxian is the seat of Pingjiang Prefecture. It is the second largest city in the south of the Yangtze River after Lin'an. It has a large population and developed commerce and trade. Composed of Wu County and Changzhou County.

"Mr. Zhong, go to Gaosheng Inn to stay overnight! Businessmen like to go to their house, and they can get a lot of news."

"can!"

Not long after, they came to the Gaosheng Inn by the Caohe River. This is an old store. It opened in the Song Zhenzong era and has been rebuilt several times. Uncle Jiang has lived here a few times before, but he has left his hometown for more than ten years. In [-], things have changed and people have changed. The shopkeeper and the clerk have changed. In this case, the owner is usually changed.

"You guys are lucky. There are the last two upper rooms in the shop. They are very clean and they are just right for you."

The shopkeeper is a middle-aged fat man who speaks Bianliang Mandarin. He smiled and asked, "Listen to your son's accent, you must be from Bianliang too!"

Chong Huan smiled and said: "In the past, I fled to the south of the Yangtze River with my family when I was a child, and I couldn't go back."

"Yeah! I'm also from Bianliang. Bianliang was ruined by Jin soldiers and puppet Qi, and my home was taken over by people who don't know where. It doesn't make sense, and there is no evidence in the lawsuit, so I have to forget it."

Zhong Huan nodded and asked again: "The shopkeeper, I want to ask you something."

"Say it!"

"Is there a Taibai Restaurant in Pingjiang Mansion?"

The shopkeeper thought for a while, shook his head and said, "Probably not!"

Chong Huan's heart felt cold, and he quickly asked again: "Is it because the shopkeeper doesn't know, or it doesn't exist!"

The shopkeeper said with a smile: "I have been here for more than ten years. The inn and restaurant itself are one. I know all the famous restaurants in Suzhou City, unless it is a small tavern in an alley. I really don't know much about that kind of tavern. .”

The restaurant that can spend [-] coins to buy a store is certainly not a tavern, Zhong Huan had no choice but to nod, "I see, thank you shopkeeper!"

"Come to me if you need anything!"

The shopkeeper explained a few words and left. Uncle Jiang said with a smile: "Young master, I don't think its main store may be called Taibai Restaurant. Taibai Restaurant is specially suitable for Jingzhao. Jiangnan may have another name."

Chong Huan sighed, "Maybe it is!"

"Why don't I go out and find out. I have a cousin who is in the wine business in the city. I'll look for him."

"Uncle Jiang, let's go! Mei Wu and I will go out for a walk and see if we can find Changxi Commercial Bank."

"Okay, let's meet tonight."

The three soldiers divided into two groups and each went out. Zhong Huan took a folding fan and walked slowly on the street in a leisurely manner. He was born as a Jinshi, with both civil and military skills. He pretended to be a scholar, which is his true nature, not just pretending.

Mei Wu still followed behind him, with an honest and dull face, without saying a word, Zhong Huan hailed a bullock cart and came to West Street. He only knew that the Changxi Commercial Firm he was looking for was located on West Street, but he didn't know where it was. up.

Changxi Commercial Bank is the purchasing firm of the Western Army in the south of the Yangtze River. There are three in total, located in Pingjiang Mansion, Lin'an, and Yangzhou. Among them, the Changxi Commercial Bank in Pingjiang Mansion is the largest.

Zhong Huan came to Pingjiang Mansion to do business, of course he wanted help from his own people. After all, Pingjiang Mansion is the core jurisdiction of the imperial court, and the Western Army has no influence here. This Changxi Commercial Bank is the only institution of the Western Army in Pingjiang Mansion.

In fact, Zhong Huan didn't know that Pingjiang Mansion also had an institution related to the Western Army, and that was the "Beijing News" distribution office. The "Beijing News" was finalized at night, and then typeset and printed.

After the final draft is completed, it will be sent overnight to Pingjiang Prefecture and Yuezhou, where it will be typeset and printed. At present, the sales volume of "Beijing News" in Pingjiang Prefecture is [-] copies a day. This is not because it cannot be sold, but because it cannot print more newspaper.

Chong Huan walked around with his hands behind his back, and finally found Changxi Commercial House. It was a two-storey shop with a small facade and a width of only one foot. It was inconspicuous on the West Street. The firm purchases more than [-] pieces of supplies in Jiangnan every year, and it is even more unexpected that it will be an official organization of the Western Army. Perhaps this effect is what the Western Army wants, low-key, hidden, and unnoticed.

"Excuse me, are you two okay?"

As soon as Zhong Huan entered the store, a clerk greeted him with a vigilant look on his face. They did not welcome strangers.

Zhong Huan laughed and said, "I'm looking for Guan Lu!"

"Guard Lu is here, may I ask you?"

Chong Huan took out the inner guard's silver plate and shook it, and the assistant immediately recognized the inner guard's eagle head plate, and hurriedly said: "Please follow me!"

When Zhong Huan came to the back hall, he saw Lu Fan, the chief steward, who was doing accounts. Lu Fan was the eldest son of Lu Datong, born of a concubine, and he was not treated well by Lu Datong.

"Oh! What a kind of general."

Lu Fan knew Zhong Huan, he was very surprised and rushed to greet him.

"I was ordered to come here to investigate the case!" Zhong Huan said with a slight smile.

"I see, please sit down!"

Lu Fan warmly greeted Zhong Huan and his men to sit down, and asked the waiter to serve tea.

"When did General Zhong arrive?"

Zhong Huan took a sip of hot tea and said with a slight smile, "I just arrived at noon today, and I'm currently staying at the Gaosheng Inn next to Fuxue."

Lu Fan nodded, "I know where it is. In fact, General Zhong can live with me. I have several guest rooms upstairs!"

Chong Huan shook his head with a smile, "It's not necessary, it's convenient to live there, but I'm here to investigate this time, and I need to ask Guanshi Lu for help."

"Just say it and see if I can help."

Chong Huan rationalized his thoughts, and said slowly: "Jingzhao's Taibai Restaurant spent [-] guan to buy Wangfei's Yi'an Teahouse. Who is he? He is now considered one of the biggest businessmen in Jingzhao, but the inner guard doesn’t know anything about his background and identity. Since this transaction involves the princess, the inner guard decided to thoroughly investigate the background of Taibai Restaurant. We only know Its main store is in Pingjiang Mansion, but there is no Taibai Restaurant in Pingjiang Mansion, maybe it has another name."

Lu Fan thought for a while and asked, "What's the last name of their proprietor?"

"The surname is Liu!"

"Surname Liu?"

Lu Fan pondered for a moment, he suddenly thought of someone, and said to himself: "Could it be him?"

(End of this chapter)