I will not be king in the Spring and Autumn Period

Chapter 355 Fan Li Fulfills His Mission
After the banquet, Marquis Zeng ordered the two sons to continue to accompany him in the front hall, while he and Prince Yue hid in the back hall to discuss the matter with Ji Yi and other ministers.

Ji Yi and the others are cautious, so they still strongly oppose it.Although Zeng Houyu was also a little hesitant, but thinking that the price offered by Fan Li was indeed attractive enough, he couldn't help thinking:

"Actually...if it's just for business...it's not impossible. After all, our country is short of salt, so it's a big deal. And if this matter can be done in his name, it's still risky, but You can also keep me out of the matter as much as possible! It's just that...the only thing I worry about is that if this copper stone is really seized by the people of Chu, wouldn't it make people happy?"

Prince Yue then said:
"Father, although these two people look young, they are both mature and prudent people. If not, Li Ziming would not have sent them to discuss. My son thinks that we just need to agree to help each other. In the end, whether these copper stones can reach Yeyi safely is their own business. Even if there is an eventuality, I think Li Ziming will have to inherit my friendship with Suiguo after all! That Li Ziming Ming has always been famous in the world for his benevolence and righteousness, if he really refuses to order people to return the salt, if this matter is spread, it will be of no benefit to anyone!"

"What's more, a mere copper stone may be a treasure to them, but it is nothing to us Suiguo. This move is of great benefit to our country! I think it is feasible."

Zeng Houyu couldn't help but nodded when he heard the words, and continued:
"Well, what Yue'er said is true. Since that's the case, without delay, Yue'er will take the two of them to the quarry to pick copper and stone!"

Therefore, Prince Yue immediately took Fan Li and Ye Xu to the workshop for collecting copper stones, and saw that some of them had been refined into blocks, and some had not yet been refined, so Fan Li naturally wanted some refined ones. .

Fan Li chose ten carts of bronze stones. Before leaving, Fan Li found that some of the guards of honor on both sides were holding "three-dagger halberds".

However, most of them are single-handed.It is really rare to have three darts on the head like what you see now.

Fan Li felt that this weapon was a novelty, although it looked cumbersome, but seeing its three bright golden heads made people shudder.

Moreover, after thinking about it carefully, Fan Li only felt that if he could really find someone with great strength and wield this thing while standing on a chariot, not to mention how lethal it would be compared to Dan Ge, but in terms of its domineering aura , is enough to bluff people!
Therefore, Fan Li immediately asked Prince Yue for [-] pieces of three-pointed halberds, and Prince Yue agreed without hesitation.

Prince Yue sent them to the pass again.

"Both of you walk slowly, and please don't forget your promise, Mr. Fan!"

"Prince, please be at ease! Because of the urgency of the situation, I will not bid farewell to the prince. As for the matter of Qiyan, Li will definitely keep it in mind, and after Li returns, he will report it to the master without any delay!"

Afterwards, Prince Yue watched them go away. When they came, there were 22 people and 22 horses. Now, two horses ride each other to form eleven carriages. They transport copper and stone, which are heavy and arrive within six days. The return trip will take at least ten days or more.

Ye Xu was sitting in the carriage, seeing the three-armed halberd beside him, he couldn't help but said:
"Although this Sui country has not had wars for a long time, it is really amazing that they can still produce such sophisticated weapons!"

"Hehe, it's probably because they have too much copper and stone here. Moreover, although this country is a country with the surname Ji, it has been isolated from the world for a long time, and many places are not commensurate with Zhou etiquette..."

"Oh? How can you see it?"

"The ten sets of chime bells can be seen!"

If you follow the "Zhou Li", in fact, there are strict regulations on the size and arrangement of the band at each noble level.The scale of the arrangement of the band is: the emperor hangs bells and chimes on four sides, the princes hang on three sides, the Qing and the doctor hang on two sides, and the scholars are only allowed on one side.

Suiguo has been almost isolated from the world for nearly a hundred years, and has almost forgotten about Zhou Rites, and gradually doesn't care about them. Coupled with the developed copper and stone industry, it is even more beautiful.

Just like the three-armed halberd, the original intention was actually to look good, and it should have never considered actual combat at all, but it happened that Fan Li had clearly noticed this point.

(Later generations discovered in the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng that nine tripods and eight gui, chime bells, and pan pan were mainly buried ritual instruments, while nine tripods and eight gui should be used by the emperor, and the princes should have used seven tripods and six gui, reflecting the The ritual and music system is already extremely disproportionate.)
They walked to the sixth day, and sure enough, a team of Chu State patrols found them.Seeing the leader wave his hand, the team immediately surrounded the Tongshi convoy, called Fan Li and Ye Xu to get off the car, and asked to check the situation.

The commander said with a serious face:
"Who are you? Why are you smuggling goods here? What is in this car?"

Since these carriages were covered with a layer of linen after putting copper stones on them, it was completely impossible to see what was inside them from the outside.

Fan Li immediately stepped forward.

"My lord, please take a step to speak!"

The commander looked at Fan Li suspiciously, put one hand on the hilt of his sword, and dismounted to come to Fan Li's side.

Fan Li brought the commander to the side of the carriage, and lifted a corner of the linen cloth, revealing the copper and stone.

"My lord, Liben is a merchant living in the state of Chu. I bought some copper and stones from Sui country this time, and I want to resell them to the Central Plains. I hope that my lord can... make it easy for me!"

While talking, Fan Li took out four "Ying Yuan" coins from his sleeve, that is, printing gold, and took out another five shovel-shaped silver coins.

At that time, although the countries in the Central Plains did not use gold and silver currency, Chu State was also one of the few vassal states that used gold and silver as currency because it had been doing business with Baipu in the southwest for a long time.

And these two kinds of gold and silver coins are almost the original creation of Chu State itself, and they can be said to be very valuable within the territory of Chu State.

When the commander saw this, his eyes couldn't help but brighten up.

It's no wonder, after all, if he hadn't met Fan Li today, he might never have seen what "Ying Yuan" looked like in his entire life.

"My lord, even if my lord pulls this bit of copper and stone to ask for credit, I'm afraid the reward won't be more than this piece of 'Ying'ai', right? This item is extremely rare, and as for the silver coin, there is no need to say too much. These assets , the villain is willing to entrust everything to the lord, and I only hope that the lord will let the villain go, how about it?"

Fan Li's words made the commander hesitate. He looked behind and realized that no one was paying attention, so he put the seal gold and silver coins into the breastplate.

Of course, the leader understands that if he takes back the bronze and stones of this convoy to claim credit, the loan sharks and silver coins will naturally not fall into his hands. .

What's more, the current situation in Chu State is chaotic, even if he turns a blind eye to this matter, others may not take it into consideration.

"My lord, in addition, the villain may need to send people back and forth several times in the future, and I hope that my lord can make it convenient for me in the future. At that time, I will definitely give my lord a richer reward!"

Fan Li hit the iron while it was hot. The commander nodded his head immediately after hearing this, then turned around and said to his subordinates:
"It's been inspected, it's just ordinary goods, let's go!"

The commander gave an order, and the Chu soldiers left with him.Fan Li hurriedly ordered people to continue on their way, Ye Xu also secretly wiped his cold sweat, and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Brother Fan is really brave and careful... It turns out that he has been prepared for a long time, no wonder he is so calm and calm! It's really admirable!"

"Otherwise... In fact, this matter is quite dangerous. Li is not [-]% sure, but because the current situation in Chu State is dark and unclear, and these small officials are scattered, so most of these money will be able to accomplish things! But It's hard not to run into one or two loyal and upright people, and if you do, it's going to be difficult."

So, Fan Li and Ye Xu traveled day and night again, and finally returned to Ye Yi when they left Suiguo Pass No. 13 days.

Li Ran and Sun Wu were overjoyed to see that Fan Li and Ye Xu had fulfilled their mission and brought back so many bronze stones, and Ye Xu narrated Fan Li's performance in Suiguo and meeting the guards of Chu State. In response to the time, Li Ran even thought:
"This kid is so young, he can understand the world so well, it's really amazing!"

And when Li Ran saw the three-handed halberd, he was full of praise for it, but the workmanship is so excellent, it would be difficult to make it without a master caster.

However, since there is a style, it is not particularly difficult, and this time the crusade against Zheng Guo can just try the power of this weapon.

So, Sun Wu ordered people to unload all these bronze stones, and began to step up the production of a set of utensils.

But Li Ran came up with an idea after learning about Suiguo's request for the salt market.

He immediately wrote a secret letter and sent someone to send it to Zhengyi Xiaoyi.Let him think of a way to raise two trustworthy caravans to go back and forth between Zheng, Ye and Sui.

After all, if the trade of copper, stone and Qiyan could be done directly in the name of Zheng Shang, it would obviously save a lot of trouble.

(End of this chapter)