Delong

Chapter 44

Just when Zhang Xing couldn't wait to seek progress but hit a wall, the Eastern Capital City, which had been closed for many days because of Xia Yu and inspections, quickly came back to life, and even burst out with greater and more vitality because of the short silence before. .

Tianjie is full of people, and people come and go in a hurry.

From the North and South West Market to Luoshui and then to Wenroufang, it has laid out a scene of prosperity.

Just as Zhang Xing thought when he was in Zhengpingfang, this Eastern Capital is destined to digest everything.

The reason for this phenomenon is actually very straightforward. Specifically, this city may be the largest city in the world, and it also has the largest consumption capacity, the most abundant labor force, and the cheapest agricultural products in the world. The world's largest established market for handicrafts and luxury goods.

The royal palace, the dignitaries, the court officials, and the army enjoy the taxation and support of almost the entire world. They have plenty of money, and they need luxury goods and human services; and more than one million urban residents in the eastern capital provide the city with sufficient labor force. At the same time, the Luokou Warehouse not far to the east can also send grain and cloth used as taxation along Luoshui at any time, and then dump them out at the lowest price.

When we get here, we can basically revitalize the city.

But it’s not over yet. Official requirements from the empire and basic consumption traditions have also designated this city as a trading zone for high-end business activities in the entire country.

Then after everything is in place, apart from military turmoil and administrative orders, it seems that there is really nothing that can stop this prosperity from continuing.

"Ten taels?"

Inside the Bronze Camel Workshop, Zhang Xing looked at the picture scroll in front of him, he was out of breath for a moment, but he questioned it seriously. "Why don't you go grab it?"

The shopkeeper looked at the embroidered knife on the other side's waist, so he didn't scold him, but patiently perfunctory: "Officials, you get what you pay for, this is the authentic work of a famous artist at that time, and it has been hanging in the shop before." Come on, everyone knows that it has always been 200 taels, and these days the price of silver has gone up to 140 taels, which is already very fair."

"Don't fool me." Zhang Xing shook his head. "When the world is good, calligraphy and painting are naturally expensive. When the world is bad, only gold and silver count as money... How can there be a saying that only the price of silver goes up, but the price of paintings doesn't drop?"

The shopkeeper was silent for a while, and asked back: "How much do the officials think is appropriate?"

"A 80% discount." Zhang Xing simply quoted. "I only have 70 taels, and I bought this painting for [-] taels, and I have to collect some other things to give Shangguan a gift."

"The officials are joking." The shopkeeper responded helplessly. "70 taels is too little."

"70 taels is not a lot at all." Zhang Xing tried his best to persuade him again. "According to the shopkeeper's own statement, this painting has been on display for many years, and it should be cashed in."

"If it rained a few days ago to arrest people, and the officials said 70 taels, I would have given it." The shopkeeper shook his head, carefully put away the paintings, but smiled slightly. "But now, you might be able to survive again, right? Wait a minute, 100 taels is the reserve price."

Zhang Xing shook his head, turned around and left helplessly, because even he had to admit at this moment that the situation seemed to have improved greatly, even to the point that he couldn't understand—the influence of his Zhongcheng on the saint far exceeded his imagine.

But even so, he still didn't believe that the saint who was so obsessed with personal authority before would survive in peace.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xing had already moved out of the store, but did not try to buy any more calligraphy and paintings, but honestly searched for several bookstores, bringing a few novels, poetry collections, unofficial history, plus enlightenment copybooks, I made a small basket of pens, ink, paper, inkstone, and small books, held them in my arms, and turned out of the workshop.

When I came to Tianjie, I saw a red-headed rope sold in the corridor, and I had a bad taste again, and I pulled two feet of red-headed rope for 'Yue Niang', and then turned back to Chengfufang.

Unexpectedly, when he came to the door of the house, he saw a cart parked in front of the door, and he couldn't help but get nervous.

However, when he came to the front, he saw that it was an old cart loaded with clean and chopped firewood.

"Send firewood?" Zhang Xing asked curiously while holding a basket of things. "Why did you stop in front of my house?"

The old man was originally sitting on the ground, but when he heard the words, he quickly stood up and wanted to explain, but his speech was obviously bad. After talking for a long time, Zhang Xing only came to his senses: "You mean, before it rained, you had been delivering firewood to this house... now Call the door but can't open it?"

The old farmer nodded repeatedly.

"Open the door." Zhang Xing turned his head and shouted towards the courtyard.

And the next moment, Yue Niang, who was wearing a turban, lowered her head and flashed out, reaching out to take the basket.

"Is there any more firewood at home?" Zhang Xingkong asked directly standing on the threshold with his hands empty.

"Yes, they are all in the sun!" Yueniang answered with her head bowed, and directly carried her things in.

On the other side, upon hearing this, the old farmer looked helpless, but had no choice but to stand up and prepare to pull the cart away.

"never mind."

Zhang Xing saw that the old farmer was dusty, exhausted and old, so he felt a little pity for him. "How much is the fuel for this car?"

The old farmer got excited for a while and hurriedly explained, but his eloquence was really bad. He probably said a lot about the difficult roads, being extorted when entering the city, and the fact that the ground was wet and dry, and it was hard to save firewood.

"In the past, it was ten cents a bundle, but now the price has to be increased by eleven cents a bundle?" Zhang Xing probably understood, but seeing that the other party was very nervous, he was afraid that he would not buy it, so he sighed inwardly.

Obviously, he remembered the fact that he couldn't get 70 taels of silver for a painting just now, and the two horses in his backyard seemed to cost one or two hundred taels, so he couldn't bear it after all, so he nodded directly.

The old farmer became more excited, and took the initiative to carry the firewood into the backyard. Finally, eight bundles of dry firewood totaled 88 wen.

Zhang Xing didn't say much, he only asked Yueniang to count out a hundred cash, and told the old farmer to come to deliver firewood every ten days, but he wanted half of the firewood and grass, the firewood for cooking, and the fodder for Huang Puma.

The old farmer left the trailer with his gratitude.

However, Yueniang came out again immediately:

"How much did the red-headed rope cost?"

"Ten words." Zhang Xing was taken aback.

"It's expensive." Yueniang said confidently. "The two-foot-long custom Liuwen, they see you as a man, and they don't know the price, so they deliberately coax you."

Zhang Xing nodded without saying a word, just took a new novel from the table in the main room, and sat in the courtyard to read it.

After a while, Yueniang came out again: "You are pitiful to the old man who gave firewood, and you shouldn't give him a hundred coins... How many years has the market price of ten coins been, and it has risen to eleven coins to see if you are a bad person?" Only those who are short of money will go up."

Zhang Xing couldn't nod his head, but just read the book.

Yueniang was very discouraged, so she had no choice but to turn around and go back. First, she brought out her lunch honestly, and then went to practice calligraphy by herself... It was not until evening, after Qin Bao, who was on duty today, came back, that there was a little resemblance in the courtyard. a little angry.

"By the way, Third Brother Zhang."

In the main room, just as Qin Bao picked up his job, he thought of something again, and couldn't help but dance with joy. "Xiao Wu, who was injured in Zhengpingfang, has returned to the team."

"Oh, good thing." Zhang Xing, who was eating while reading, nodded and told the truth.

"The meaning of the inspection is that everyone worked very hard before, and now that everyone is full, why not go to Ruanroufang to play together tomorrow night." It seems that because of Yueniang's side, Qin Bao was a little embarrassed holding the bowl, but in the end He didn't hide his excitement. "They all said that they should go to Han Duzhi's house this time... because the inspector seems to have a better relationship with Han Duzhi."

"Is there a wide range of friends for our inspections?" Zhang Xing finally showed a little interest, but soon continued to read books.

"Third Brother, don't you want to go?" Qin Bao became more and more ashamed.

"There is Yan Ruyu in the book, and there is a golden house in the book." Zhang Xing sighed slightly. "Recently I'm chasing Wenchai Zhengshutan, and I really don't have much interest in visiting Ruanroufang, but anyway, it's not us spending money, let alone discrediting the boss, isn't it...go, why don't you go?"

Yue Niang, who was tied with a red headband, raised her head, hesitated to speak, and could only eat in silence.

The next day, the sky became brighter and brighter, and the morning mist was swept away by gusts of smoke. Zhang Xing, who was on duty at home, took a new novel to the island early after breakfast, and was ready to start his work since the rain. The boring and happy life that continues to this day.

But somewhat unexpectedly, on this day, Bai Yousi, who was in charge of assigning the task, came out of the black tower too late.

Moreover, when she came to the front and back of the crowd, her complexion was obviously not good.

Several subordinates on duty got nervous early, but Zhang Xing just looked down at the book, pretending not to know... It can only be said that it is fortunate that there is a third shift now, otherwise Qian Tang, Li Qingchen, Qin Bao and those young people would be there. It will appear that Zhang Sanlang is a little out of touch with the masses.

"Zhang Xing."

Bai Yousi glanced at several subordinates on duty, and finally landed on Zhang Xing, but the meaning was strange. "Has your sixth main channel been opened?"

"I got it the day before yesterday." Zhang Xing finally closed the book, then raised his head, calmly. "Are you going on a tour?"

"That's right." Bai Yousi held the long sword in his arms and looked at his subordinate seriously. "Guess where you are going?"

"Xidu, Taiyuan, or Yecheng?" Zhang Xing answered seriously. "Chengdu is less likely."

Bai Yousi finally laughed out: "How did you guess that?"

"Two days ago, after Bai Shilang was sentenced to death, I guess this is inevitable, and I have been waiting for this opportunity." Zhang Xing said sincerely. "But in this way, the inspector can only wait to meet that Han Duzhi when he comes back?"

Bai Yousi took a deep look at the other party, and shook his head: "Zhongcheng has an order, all members go west, and capture the fugitive, former Liangzhou governor Han Shixiong!"

Everyone was excited and got up to salute and say yes.

But Bai Yousi paused for a moment, and still did not look at his subordinates, but continued to look at Zhang Xing: "Zhang Sanlang, there are some things I can't say, please say them for me."

"Yes." Zhang Xing, who threw down the book, first cupped his hands, and then turned around proudly. "All of you! The reason is actually very simple. Han Shixiong is the governor of Liangzhou, Zhu State, and his uncle is still in office in Shangzhu State. Although we don't know how to escape, but we want to go to the west to find him. I'm afraid it will be a gamble. It's only about wealth and life... On the other hand, if we can't get it back, even if we Bai Xunjian can't resist his life, I'm afraid the Bai family will have to pay for a general of the Weifu."

"Everyone." Bai Yousi sighed slightly, leaning on his sword and facing everyone. "I'm the one who hurt you this time... If you have a small family and have scruples, you might as well stay. I'm not demanding." At this point, the female inspector looked at Zhang Xing again. "But if you want to go, you can ask Zhang Xing to make a record...Leave at night!"

"Inspection."

After hesitating for a while, Zhang Xing earnestly called out to the other party. "This time, it's good to wipe the beams on your house. If you dare to go, should you give a few dozen taels of settling money first, as a gesture?"

"How much?" Bai Yousi pondered for a while, then immediately nodded. "I'll let the family prepare."

"How about 30 taels?" Zhang Xing earnestly reported a number. "could not be less."

PS: Thanks to the new leader Xueyuexia, my classmates, happy new year everyone.

(End of this chapter)