big song poppi

Chapter 604 0601 [The Slow-Step Yang Family]

The theory of giving priority to pawns does not apply to every place.

In some places, human lives are worthless, weapons are scarce, and people don't care about these things at all.

But Zhao Ke deeply agreed with this, because the population of the Bintonglong tribe was only 100,000, and it was really not easy to gather 5,000 soldiers.

If one person dies, there is one less person, and it is extremely difficult to replenish the troops.

Yang Yizhong struck while the iron was hot: "Datuk Zhao, don't underestimate this distance of thirty steps. It took the efforts of countless craftsmen of Daqi, and the manufacturing cost is also very high. Twelve strings of coins are worth it."

Zhao Ke smiled bitterly and said, "I understand what Yang Xianggong said, but the price of twelve strings of cash is really too expensive. If it were six strings of cash, it would be more appropriate."

"Six guan is impossible. Considering Dato Zhao's sincerity, I'll give him eleven guan."

"Seven strings of cash."

"Eleven strings of cash is the minimum, it can't be any less."

The price of the weapons was not set by Yang Yizhong. In his opinion, being able to sell these junk was already good enough.

But after it was sent to the palace, Han Zhen waved his hand and the price instantly tripled.

The military equipment of the Central Plains was a dimensionality reduction attack on the small country in Jiaozhi, even if it was outdated and obsolete junk.

This is the only critical arms business.

Except Zhongyuan, no one will sell, and no one is willing to sell.

The Jin Dynasty and the Western Xia Dynasty did not have enough military equipment for their own use, so how could they sell it?

Once a business forms a monopoly, the price is entirely determined by the seller.

Zhao Ke also understood this point and knew that if he missed this opportunity, he would never find it again, so he bargained patiently.

After some bargaining, the deal was finally sold for nine strings of coins, and each crossbow came with an extra hundred arrows.

After the crossbow was agreed upon, the two began to negotiate the price of the next item of weaponry.

After Zhu Da sat for a while, he saw that the two men were talking happily, so he stood up and left.

After watching Zhu Da leave, Zhao Ke took out a brocade bag from his arms, handed it over with a smile, and said, "Mr. Yang, this is a specialty of Champa. It's just a small token of my respect."

"No reward for no merit."

Yang Yizhong glanced at the brocade bag and refused.

"This is a little gift from me, and Mr. Zhu and Mr. Yang also have it."

Giving gifts is also a science. Zhao Ke specifically brought up Zhu Da and Yang Shu to give Yang Yi Zhong a way out.

"So, thank you very much."

Yang Yizhong hesitated for a moment, but finally took the brocade bag.

As soon as I picked up the brocade bag, I felt it was heavy. It was either gold, silver or jewels, and it was very valuable.

Seeing Yang Yizhong accept the gift, Zhao Ke's face immediately showed joy.

Sure enough, in the subsequent bargaining, Yang Yizhong was not as difficult as before and sold it to him at almost half the price.

This made Zhao Ke so happy that he couldn't help but buy a lot more military equipment.

But on second thought, who would complain about having too much weaponry?
Even if it is not useful now, you may not know in the future.

The two men talked until sunset before they finalized the types and quantities of weapons to be purchased.

Seeing the sun setting, Zhao Ke invited, "It's getting late now. I heard that Fanlou is the best building in the country. Why don't I host you? I hope Mr. Yang will do me the honor."

Yang Yizhong said apologetically, "I appreciate Dato Zhao's kindness. It's not that I am being overconfident, but I have to return to the palace to report later."

"I see."

Zhao Ke looked suddenly enlightened.

Yang Yizhong said, "Why not tomorrow? I will take Dato Zhao for a walk and have some fun tomorrow."

Zhao Ke chuckled and said, "It's a deal."

……

As the sun set, Yang Yizhong rode his horse towards the palace.

Arriving at Chuigong Hall, Yang Yizhong reported: "Your Majesty, the sale of military equipment has been settled. Here are the number and price of military equipment sold. Please review it."

Taking the booklet from Liu Chang, Han Zhen flipped through it and said with a smile, "You did a good job on this matter."

The total price of the military equipment purchased by Zhao Ke this time was as high as more than 400,000 strings of cash.

"Your Majesty, Zhao Ke also gave me a gift."

As Yang Yizhong spoke, he took out a brocade bag from his arms.

Although the Yang family was not as wealthy as the Gao family and the Cao family, they were not short of money. It was just a bag of jewels, so he did not take it seriously.

Winning the favor of His Majesty by doing this is a sure win.

Besides, Your Majesty will never accept it.

Sure enough, Han Zhen smiled and said, "Since it's a gift to you, just keep it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Yang Yizhong bowed to express his gratitude.

Han Zhen waved his hand and ordered them to leave: "It's getting late, go back early."

"Wei Chen retire."

When we left the palace, the sun had already set and night had fallen.

Winter evenings are like this, fleeting.

Lanterns were hung in shops along the streets and alleys. Hawkers lined up on both sides of the street. The sounds of hawking, laughing and talking were endless. The atmosphere of worldly life filled every corner of the capital.

Yang Yizhong was leading the horse and walking among the crowd.

It has been four months since he returned to Beijing, and he has to admit that under the current emperor's governance, the capital is more prosperous than before.

He also went to watch the Cuju competition a while ago.

Such a grand event has never happened before.

The people of Tokyo City are absurd, but also realistic.

Good or bad, it’s all written on your face.

When times were tough in the previous dynasty, there were people who complained about the Zhao family in the streets.

Today, the people are obviously smiling more than in the previous dynasties.

Before he knew it, Yang Yizhong had arrived in front of his own residence.

After Han Zhen came to Beijing, he tried and liquidated many high-ranking officials and nobles. Anyone who committed a crime was beheaded for serious crimes or exiled for minor crimes.

The Yang family had a relatively upright family tradition. Although they exploited the soldiers and drew empty salaries, they had never committed any crime. In addition, considering that three generations of the Yang family had been leading troops and guarding a certain area, the Yang family was spared in this purge for political reasons.

There were many generals in the Northern Song Dynasty, including the Zhe Family Generals, the Yang Family Generals, the Hu Family Generals, the Zhong Family Generals, the Di Family Generals, etc. Among them, the Yang Family had the best reputation among the people.

The novel "The Yang Family Generals" is the best proof.

Although "The Yang Family Generals" was written in the Ming Dynasty, we should know that the vernacular novels of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties have been passed down.

For example, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Journey to the West" had many versions circulating among the people during the Tang and Song dynasties. In the Ming Dynasty, Wu Cheng'en and Luo Guanzhong borrowed from these previous dynasties' vernacular novels, added their own ideological core, and finally compiled these masterpieces.

Including "Water Margin", many of the characters have prototypes in the Song Dynasty.

The same goes for "Generals of the Yang Family". Otherwise, why would they choose to write about the Yang family when there were so many generals in the Northern Song Dynasty?
In terms of brutality, the Zhe family fought hundreds of battles with the Western Xia, large and small, and no less than a hundred Zhe family members died on the battlefield.

Read more latest popular novels at 6.9*shuba!

In terms of achievements and status, Di Qing's position as Privy Councilor was the pinnacle that a military man could achieve.

In addition to various factors, the Yang family tradition also added a lot of points to it.

Seeing him coming back, the concierge immediately came forward and said, "Alang is back."

"Ah."

Handing the reins to the doorman, Yang Yizhong stepped into the gate.

In the front hall, a large family gathered in front of the table. The old man sitting in the main seat had white hair and beard, his eyes were wide open, and he had an aura of majesty without being angry.

This person is none other than the current head of the Yang family, Yang Zongmin.

As the grandson of Yang Ye and the cousin of Yang Wenguang, although Yang Zongmin was not as brave and famous as his father, he was also considered a fierce general. He fought against Western Xia and defeated the Liao generals. He was promoted all the way with his military exploits and finally became the chief administrator of Yongxing Army Road.

Logically speaking, Yang Zongmin was just a concubine of the Yang family.

The main branch of the Yang family, starting from Yang Ye, should be Yang Yanlang (Yang Yanzhao) and Yang Wenguang.

Yang Zongmin's father was Yang Yanbin, the youngest brother of Yang Yanlang.

However, since Yang Wenguang, the Yang family has had no successor, and the main wife has mediocre qualifications and can only get an idle and honorary position by relying on the influence of her ancestors.

Instead, Yang Zongmin emerged as a rising star and climbed up step by step with his military achievements and held a high position.

It was naturally impossible to split the family, so Yang Zongmin gradually became the head of the family and took on the burden of the Yang family.

"Grandpa, father."

As he walked into the lobby, Yang Yizhong greeted him.

Yang Zongmin asked, "Have you completed the task assigned by the government?"

"It's done."

Yang Yizhong nodded.

"Let's eat."

Yang Zongmin didn't ask any more questions, but just called for dinner.

Soon after Yang Yizhong sat down, the maid brought him steaming hot meals.

The whole family ate their meal in silence, without talking or sleeping.

After finishing the meal, Yang Zongmin took a handkerchief to wipe the corners of his mouth and beard, then stood up and said, "Zhengfu, come with me to the study, and Zhen'er should come too."

Hearing this, Yang Yizhong and his father Yang Zhen followed silently behind and walked towards the study.

As soon as he entered the study, Yang Zongmin took off his shoes and climbed onto a low kang.

Feeling the warmth coming from the heated kang and covering his legs with a thick fur coat, Yang Zongmin groaned in comfort and said with emotion, "The Director of Works has finally done a good job. This heated kang is really wonderful. Otherwise, I don't know how my old bones would survive this cold winter."

After all, he is old, now sixty-seven years old. He was left with hidden injuries from fighting on the battlefield when he was young. Now that his energy and blood are exhausted, all the hidden injuries have come to him.

In the past winters, even if I covered myself with several layers of quilts, I still felt the bed was cold.

But since he had a kang, he slept especially soundly this winter.

The nobles and officials in the capital had extremely keen senses of smell. As soon as Han Zhen issued the decree, they immediately responded and summoned craftsmen to build kangs in their homes.

No matter whether it is used or not, just show your attitude first.

Seeing his children and grandchildren standing there, Yang Zongmin greeted them, "Why are you standing there? There's no one else here, let's just chat."

Yang Zhen and Yang Yizhong then took off their shoes and sat cross-legged on the kang.

Yang Zongmin asked, "When I complete my mission, will the government give me any reward?"

"Nothing."

Yang Yizhong shook his head and told the emperor exactly what he had said when he returned to the palace to report.

Yang Zhen looked worried and asked, "Father, the government didn't give any reward, but is it dissatisfied with Zhengfu's work?"

Yang Zongmin chuckled and said, "On the contrary, the emperor is going to appoint Zhengfu."

"I don't know what assignment I will be given."

Yang Zhen sighed slightly.

Although the Yang family has not been tried and liquidated today, their situation is not good.

He and his father are now idle at home, with no official position or assignment, and the same is true for Yang Yi Zhong.

Yang Zongmin scolded, "It's good enough to have an assignment. My Yang family is a military family. We have been able to maintain our wealth for generations because of fighting on the battlefield with every sword and spear."

"Don't worry, Grandpa. Your grandson will never bring shame to the Yang family."

Yang Yizhong said with a serious expression and in a loud voice.

"This is the good man of my Yang family!"

Yang Zongmin smiled, then sighed, "After all, I surrendered too late, and I didn't win the emperor's favor. Liu Zhongwu did give birth to a good son. Although he is dead, his son's meritorious service to the emperor can ensure that the Liu family will have no worries for generations."

The Yang family’s political sense is indeed not very good.

Since Taigong Yang Ye, people have always been one step behind in changing dynasties.

As a result, although three generations of the family had made great military achievements, they were always outside the core circle of nobles and were not as good as the nobles such as the Gao family and the Cao family.

But fortune and misfortune are interdependent, and it is precisely because of this that he was spared from being tried and liquidated during the change of dynasties.

Now the Yang family is still here, but where are the Gao family and the Cao family?
(End of this chapter)