National color raw owl

What Chu Huan knew about the barbarians was not very specific, but as a nomadic people in the northern part of the empire, Chu Huan had heard about them and even met them.

Although the barbarians and Xiliang people are both clans and tribes, they are quite different.

Although the Xiliang people are divided into various tribes, each tribe has a kingship controlled by the central yang, and there is a very strict hierarchy from top to bottom. Although its system is not exactly the same as the Central Plains Dynasty, it also imitates the Central Plains system in all aspects .

Moreover, although the Xiliang people are regarded as foreigners by the Central Plains people, there is not much difference in appearance.

Barbarians are different.

According to legend, the barbarians came from the far north. They migrated from the northern part of the sky many, many years ago and settled in the Gobi grassland in northern Xinjiang. They also have dozens of tribes, large and small, but they do not have centralized kingship. Form an alliance with each other, today is an enemy, tomorrow is a friend, and they compete for the rich grassland. Although they have the same root and species, they attack each other and never show mercy.

Fortunately, the barbarians have the habit of fighting among themselves, killing each other year after year, so internal friction, the threat to the Great Qin is far less than that of Xiliang, unless there is no other way, some barbarian tribes ruthlessly harass the Qin territory, the purpose is really not Attacking the city and conquering the land, just thinking about grabbing something to go back, a group of ragtag robbers.

The barbarians are ignorant of etiquette, brutal and vicious, and invisible in words, but they like the products of Daqin very much. If the merchants of Daqin enter the northern border, not only will they not be made things difficult, but all the tribes of the barbarians will treat them like guests and strictly protect them. Although they are barbaric, they are not stupid, and they all know that if the merchants from the Central Plains have an accident in the northern border, then the merchants from the Central Plains will not dare to enter the northern border in the future, and the barbarians will no longer get good things from the Central Plains.

In the eyes of the barbarians, the porcelain, tea, silk, and fine wine of the Central Plains are all good things.

In fact, the two sides had already started trading in the previous dynasty, but at that time the Great Hua Dynasty was very disdainful of the barbarians. Although merchants from the Central Plains could enter the northern border, the Great Hua Dynasty rarely allowed the barbarians to enter the Central Plains for trade. After the founding of the country, several tribes in northern Xinjiang brought gifts and now pay tribute, and proposed the request of the Great Qin to open the pass and allow the barbarians to enter and do business. His Majesty the emperor was enlightened and allowed the request of the barbarians. The trade in the Central Plains was in full swing. Although some barbarian tribes still occasionally invaded the territory of the Qin State, the folk trade between the two sides was not affected. Caravans continued day and night at the Hukou Pass in Hexi, and the trade between the two sides was very prosperous.

The appearance of the barbarians is very different from that of the Central Plains people. Chu Huan has seen them before, but they look like Europeans of later generations, with pale skin, mostly curly hair, burly bodies, and muscular development. barbaric.

Jing Zhonghou Feng Yuanpo proposed to open a northern Xinjiang trading field at the Hexi Border Pass, and Chu Huan immediately realized that this would indeed bring together a large amount of wealth.

He doesn't know how Feng Yuanpo will amass wealth once the Northern Border Trade Field is opened up, but one thing is certain, if the Northern Border Trade Field is opened, then a prosperous business district will appear in the northern part of the empire. , the Beijiang Trading Field on Hexi Road will surely be a big golden group glowing with golden light all over.

The emperor didn't seem to think deeply about this, or he believed too much in Feng Yuanpo, and said with a smile: "Northern Xinjiang Trading Field? Can this really raise money for the construction of the Tiangong?"

"It can relieve some pressure." Feng Yuanpo immediately said: "If the Holy Majesty agrees, I will start preparing for this matter after I go back this time."

The emperor said: "That's fine. But I can discuss this matter with the Ministry of Households later...!" Looking at Chu Huan, pointing to Chu Huan and saying: "Jing Zhonghou, this is the Ministry of Households that I just rewarded today. Chief Zhicao, we need to communicate more with Chu Huan about future wealth matters!"

At this time, someone replaced Chu Huan to hold the scroll.

Feng Yuanpo looked at Chu Huan, with a look of surprise on his face, and said: "Your Majesty Chu is so young, he must be a young talent with outstanding talents. His Majesty always employs people to the best of their abilities. Master Chu I really admire you for being a young talent." He saluted Chu Huan deeply with a sincere look on his face, but Chu Huan could only return the salute.

The emperor smiled and said: "You are all my loyal ministers, if you do your best, I will have no worries." Speaking of this, he seemed to think of something, his face sank slightly, and he asked: "Jing Zhonghou, you just said, Except for a few people, most officials are willing to donate generously to Xiuxian Palace... Who are you referring to by this other person?"

Feng Yuanpo's simple and honest face was stunned for a moment, as if he hadn't reacted, he asked in a daze: "My lord, my minister... I don't speak ill of others." He seemed to wake up suddenly, and immediately fell to his knees, repeatedly Said: "Your Majesty, I have made a slip of the tongue, I have made a slip of the tongue, please forgive me!"

The emperor said indifferently: "I ask you, who is unwilling to give generously?"

Feng Yuanpo buried his head on the ground, and said: "Your Majesty, my minister is just talking nonsense, most of the officials of Hexi Road are dedicated to their work and loyal...!"

"Jing Zhonghou, get up." The emperor shook his long sleeves, went back to sit down on the big golden chair, and said with a sneer, "Today, I want to know who is so stingy, I am rich all over the world, and all the people in the world are rich They are my people, and all the wealth in the world is my wealth, so is there anyone who wants to compete with me for wealth?"

Feng Yuanpo didn't dare to raise his head, and said: "My lord, my minister... I said something wrong, my minister deserves to die, my minister deserves to die...!" There was a "dong dong" sound, but after a few blows, Feng Yuanpo's head was smashed, and blood spilled out.

All the ministers were surprised when they saw it, and the emperor had already shouted: "Marquis Jing Zhong, stand up!"

Feng Yuanpo stood up, bowed his body, his forehead was bleeding, and ignored it.

The emperor asked with a sullen face, "You are an honest man, come and tell me, who is it?"

Feng Yuanpo said helplessly: "I dare not lie to my sage, Wu Shitong, the magistrate of Liangzhou, Hexi Road... Hey, Wu Shitong seems to have some objections to the construction of the fairy palace. At that time, all the officials were willing to donate generously, but Wu Shitong said...!" Speaking of Here, he stole a glance at the emperor, but didn't dare to continue.

"what did he say?"

"Returning to the Holy Father, Wu Shitong said that even if he donated his own family wealth, it would be nothing but a drop in the bucket. The project of millions of taels of silver is too huge, so why...why waste money." Feng Yuanpo said cautiously: "He He also said that building a palace is better than letting the common people eat a few more bowls of rice...!"

"Bastard!" The emperor slapped the arm of the chair with one hand, furious, "What is Wu Shitong's heart for the common people? Others don't know, but I don't know? He just uses this as an excuse and doesn't want to donate money. Jing Zhonghou, I Let me ask you, is the Woodstone family rich?"

Feng Yuanpo hesitated for a moment, then said: "Wu Shitong has lived in Hexi for generations, he is a rich family in Hexi, with deep roots, and the accumulation of several generations, it is... a rich family...!"

"Family rich?" Murderous intent loomed in the emperor's eyes: "I want him to understand that his family wealth is bestowed by me. I can make his family rich or penniless!"

"Your Majesty, Wu Shitong may not be stingy and don't donate." Feng Yuanpo respectfully said: "Wu Shitong has a good reputation in Liangzhou, and the common people call him Wu Qingtian. His prestige is extremely high, and his family is also the largest family in Liangzhou. As far as I know, when encountering natural disasters, the Wu family often donates generously to rescue the people. The people have always been grateful to the Wu family. Wu Shitong opposed the construction of the palace. Maybe... maybe it was really a misunderstanding that the minister wanted to waste money, so... !"

Chu Huan was shocked when he heard this.

These few words of Feng Yuanpo are really more powerful than knives.

If Feng Yuanpo said here that Wu Shitong was wrong, it would seem that he deliberately slandered Wu Shitong in front of the emperor, which would inevitably arouse people's suspicion. .

Is it the king's land in the whole world, is it the king's ministers on the shore of the land, and the supreme god in the hearts of the people can only be the emperor.

In Feng Yuanpo's words, he described Wu Shitong as the aspiration of Liangzhou's people, and in his words, he mentioned twice and three times that Wu Shitong was a Liangzhou aristocratic family with deep roots and won the hearts of the people.

The emperor was not afraid of his courtiers being greedy for money or arrogant, but he cared a lot about his courtiers winning the hearts of the people.

Wu Shitong was originally a wealthy family in Liangzhou, and he won the hearts of the people. The Wu family could contribute money to the relief of the victims, but they did nothing to build the emperor's palace, and even opposed it. Where does this put the emperor's majesty?

Chu Huan knew that after Feng Yuanpo said these few words, the prefect of Liangzhou was already in danger.

Sure enough, the emperor sternly said: "He can give money for the people, but he is extremely stingy in building the palace. What is he thinking? Is he trying to buy people's hearts and become my enemy?"

Seeing the emperor's murderous intent, the queen hurriedly said: "My lord, take care of the dragon's body, Wu Shitong may...!"

"You don't have to say good things about such rebellious ministers and thieves." The emperor said coldly: "I have passed on my will. Wu Shitong has mischievous intentions and violated his will. Daqin cannot tolerate such a traitorous minister. ...!" Before he finished speaking, the queen said again: "My sage is merciful. Back then, my sage pacified the world, and the Wu family made contributions to the country. Even if Wu Shitong was guilty, I would like to ask you to forgive me!"

The emperor frowned, paused, and finally said: "If you cut him down for the people, none of the children of the Wu family will be hired as officials."

Feng Yuanpo hurriedly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, although Wu Shitong is guilty, please remember that he has served the court for many years, and he will be given a lighter punishment. He has a good reputation in Liangzhou. After I am willing to go back, I will persuade you...!" He seemed to be trying his best to please Wu Shitong, but under the rage, the emperor had already sternly said: "Don't talk too much. Please be loyal, I will send someone to follow you to Hexi, and dismiss him from office...!"

Feng Yuanpo had no choice but to say: "My minister complies with the order. It's just that the position of governor of Liangzhou is vacant. Liangzhou is a heavy state in Hexi, and the position of governor must not be vacant...!"

"Who do you choose?"

Feng Yuanpo hurriedly said: "I dare not. Everything depends on the Holy One."

"I'm not asking you to make a decision." The emperor said, "Tell me what suitable candidate you have!"

Feng Yuanpo thought for a while, and then said: "Du Shen, the head of the Liangzhou Ministry of Industry, is an honest official, very talented, and is very familiar with Liangzhou, so he is a suitable candidate, but please show me all this!"

"Du Shen?" The emperor thought for a while, and finally said: "Pass down my will, make Du Shen the magistrate of Liangzhou!" He stood up, his anger still lingering, and said, "I'm tired, I'm all gone!" Po said to Feng Yuan: "Jing Zhonghou, you discuss with the Ministry of Households about the Northern Xinjiang Trading Field and the Hexi affairs, I will entrust them all to you!"

Feng Yuanpo bowed his head and said: "I swear to serve my sage with my death, long live my emperor!" Ignoring the blood on his forehead, he kowtowed again and again, really extremely loyal.