The road back was peaceful, and Zhao Rang basically dozed off on the carriage. If your back hurts while lying down, change your position.
Apart from eating, he had no interaction with anyone else.
Even Jin Sanliang, who was very enthusiastic about him before, looked a little dodgy after seeing him kill three robbers like he was chopping melons and vegetables.
Zhao Rang didn't explain anything and was just enjoying himself.
But the further west you go, the emptier the Gobi Desert becomes.
Zhao Rang looked at the desolate horizon, with skylight, cloud shadows, and earth atmosphere.
Just after noon on the third day, Jin Sanliang signaled the team to slow down.
A large shadow casts an ancient city in the distance.
Four dilapidated beacon towers stand at the four corners of the ancient city. Like this ancient city, they stand alone in the Gobi.
After getting closer, Zhao Rang saw the low city gate wide open, with the word "Business Alliance" written in pale handwriting on the mottled door panel.
I wonder what business alliance has such great ability to build a city in this deserted Gobi Desert.
"Western Region Business Alliance!"
Jin Sanliang explained from the side.
Zhao Rang asked back:
"This city was built by the Western Region Merchant Alliance?"
Jin Sanliang nodded:
"You also know that there are thirty-six countries in the Western Region, right?"
The Thirty-six Kingdoms divided up the huge land in the Western Regions and attacked each other constantly. Ever since the events of the Western Region were recorded and spread to the Northern and Southern Lands, this land has never been unified. Everyone has always gone their own way and recognized their own gates.
Zhao Rang was a little surprised when he suddenly saw a business alliance named "Western Regions".
"Although the thirty-six countries in the Western Regions are fighting openly and secretly among themselves all the time, what they fear most is the mighty power moving westward."
After Jin Sanliang explained this, Zhao Rang understood immediately.
Before Dawei used the Taishang River as the boundary to divide the northern and southern territories, the country was rich and the people were strong, so he had ambitions to conquer.
However, the Eastern Expedition requires going to sea, and westward expansion is the best way to expand. The famous horses, spices, and beauties produced in the Western Regions have always been favored by the royal family and wealthy families.
In order to protect themselves, the thirty-six countries in the Western Regions had no choice but to temporarily put aside their grudges. Under the leadership of the most powerful "Shanghai Four Kingdoms", they jointly established the "Western Regions Business Alliance" and built a city specifically for this purpose. Used to do business with Dawei.
Nowadays, Dawei's northern and southern territories are too busy to take care of themselves. Of course, they have no spare energy to march westwards. Therefore, the status of the "Western Regions Merchant Alliance" has increased, and its role has become more significant.
"The Western Region Business Alliance is a mixed bag of fish and dragons, and the various forces are deeply entangled. Each has its own territory and each has its own industry."
Jin Sanliang added.
Zhao Rang asked:
"The Admiralty Escort Agency also has property in the city, right?"
Jin Sanliang replied very proudly:
"It's nature! It's in the best location in the city!"
If you have property in the city, you will have something to rely on. No matter how bad it is, it still has a place to stay.
Regardless of whether it is the thirty-six countries in the Western Region or the forces in the Northern and Southern Regions, if they want to settle here, they must obtain the approval of the Merchant Alliance.
Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, and where there are interests, there are fights.
Although the Western Region Merchant Alliance is the undisputed leader in this area, it has not exerted strong restraint on the various forces that are disturbing it.
This is intentional on their part.
The Merchant Alliance does not want any party to become stronger and disrupt the overall balance, so it ignores some chaos and fights.
What they want is balance.
Only balance can achieve stability.
Only stability can make a business alliance last long.
Of course this is all based on profit. When the benefits are not enough, the business alliance will take action decisively without any hesitation.
Ever since Dawei Etai went up the river to divide and rule, the status of its forces within the Western Region Merchant Alliance can be said to have plummeted.
Originally, there were more than 120 kinds of goods that were tax-free during trade. Now, not only has the special edict been cancelled, but it actually costs 20% more than the forces of the thirty-six countries in the Western Region.
Even silk and porcelain, the favorites of nobles in the Western Regions, are no exception.
"People have to bow their heads when they are under the eaves!"
Zhao Rang sighed.
As a northerner, he naturally hopes that Dawei will be strong and Xiaoxiao will bow his head. However, the general trend of the world will never develop according to personal wishes.
After entering the city, we walked along the main street and soon arrived at the courtyard of the Admiralty Escort Agency.
The brand new door had just been painted not long ago and was a bit dazzling in the sunlight.
As soon as the carriage stopped, several people came out of the courtyard to salute Jin Sanliang and greet him.
"Mr. Escort Jin, Dongkuaoyuan has been tidied up! All the utensils have been replaced with new ones. In addition, everything that should be equipped is arranged according to Taoist custom."
After hearing this, Jin Sanliang did not answer immediately. Instead, he went in and took a look around. He felt that there was no problem, and then came out to invite the Taoist priests from Baihe Mountain to stay.
The majestic middle-aged Taoist priest left two people behind to arrange the items with Jin Sanliang, while he led the rest of the people into the courtyard first.
When passing by the door, he took a deep look at Zhao Rang standing aside.
The wooden box filled with silver was extremely heavy. Fortunately, the bodyguards were all practitioners. Who didn't have the strength to carry hundreds of kilograms? After a while, everything was loaded and unloaded, transported into the courtyard, and placed under the patio.
At this point, Zhao Rang's mission is completed and he can be free.
But he's not ready to leave now.
I am not familiar with the people and places in this city, and the Western Region Business Alliance has no good impression of the people from the north. If something happens, I won't be polite to him.
So Zhao Rang decided to stay in the courtyard of the Admiralty Escort Bureau for two days now and leave after learning more about the things in the city. At least he would not be like a headless fly and cause unnecessary trouble.
Jin Sanliang asked his bodyguard and the two mentors to check the silver again to make complete preparations for the transaction.
As the courtyard door closed, he breathed a deep sigh of relief.
Although the journey was not entirely peaceful, it was still fairly safe.
Now that the character is both complete and complete, the pressure on him has suddenly been reduced a lot.
When he turned around, he saw Zhao Rang leaning against the wall. He walked over, bowed his hands and said in a very formal manner:
"No matter what, I still want to thank you for your generous help on the way!"
Zhao Rang shook his head, waved his hands and said:
"We're all paid, there's nothing to be honest about."
Jin Sanliang's Adam's apple twitched and he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Zhao Rang saw through his thoughts and continued:
"I have never had a disciple at this age. They must have mistaken me! As for this sword without a scabbard... When you return to Yangguan, ask Ye Sanniang. She has seen this sword with her own eyes. How did it come about?"
Jin Sanliang frowned upon hearing this, saluted Zhao Rang again, and said:
"I have a merciless request!"
"What's up?"
Jin Sanliang did not answer, but led Zhao Rang through the patio and to the backyard.
There are two Elaeagnus angustifolia trees planted in the backyard, which are unique tree species in the Western Regions.
The fruits produced by the Elaeagnus jujuba tree are sandy and astringent, with a fishy sweetness. Each one seems to be the epitome of the sand and blood in the Western Regions, which makes people have endless aftertaste.
Between two Elaeagnus trees, there is a flat open space.
Jin Sanliang leaned down, knocked on the ground, and opened a secret door from inside.
Zhao Rang stretched his neck and glanced down, only seeing dim light and deep steps.
Worried about Zhao Rang's concerns, Jin Sanliang left first.
The steps are winding and winding, like a giant snake coiling underground.
Zhao Rang counted and found that the two of them had walked a total of 317 steps before suddenly seeing the light in front of them.
In the spacious underground hall, the lights were brilliant and unusually bright, as bright as the day at noon. There was a deafening sound of "ding-dong-dang-dang".
There are many blacksmith furnaces built in the hall, and there are dozens of master blacksmiths working sweatily. There are also nearly a hundred people wearing the vests of the Admiralty Escort Bureau working on the desks next to them.
Zhao Rang took a closer look and found that these people were actually assembling arrows.
The blacksmith masters make sharp three-sided arrowheads, and then they install the shaft and tail feathers, and a complete arrow is completed.
Everyone was in an orderly manner and performed their duties. They didn't even raise their heads when Zhao Rang and Jin arrived in twos and threes.
Jin Sanliang stood in the middle of the hall with his hands behind his hands. After Zhao Rang could see clearly, he called him to a quieter place aside and asked:
"Brother, do you know what happened?"
Zhao Rang shook his head and said he didn't know.
How could he not know? It’s just that I have to play dumb right now.
Compared with the porcelain and silk in the north and south of Dawei, what the thirty-six countries in the Western Regions need most is ironware!
It is a well-known fact that the Western Regions are short of iron, and even more lacking of iron-smelting masters and craftsmanship.
It can even be said that the Western Regions have not yet been able to be unified, largely because of these reasons.
If a worker wants to do his job well, he must first sharpen his tools.
In addition to the commander's decision-making and the sergeant's bravery, weapons are also a very important aspect if you want to win the battle.
There are many cavalry in the Western Region, and the demand for arrows when attacking cities and seizing territory is extremely huge.
Many large-scale wars in the Western Regions where the history books are located ended in failure due to insufficient arrows on both sides.
There are so many iron smelting furnaces and blacksmith masters in this underground hall, and there are also dedicated people to assemble them. Of course, Zhao Rang knows exactly what the Admiralty Escort Bureau wants to do.
However, selling iron to the Western Regions is prohibited by the Great Majesty Order.
Without approval, even if you only sell two iron bowls, you will lose your head.
As for ordnance, not to mention that private manufacturing is not allowed anywhere.
"Hey, brother, wealth can be found in danger! Since Dawei was divided into the northern and southern territories, the escort business has become more and more difficult. There are more than 50,000 brothers in the Admiralty Escort Agency, which means more than 50,000 mouths to eat! If it were you, it would probably be the same."
If you think about it, the truth in this statement is correct. They are all forced by survival. But Zhao Rang also had to admire the courage of the Admiralty Escort Agency.
A fletching factory of this scale can be ranked among the best in both the Northern and Southern Territories. Once discovered, it will be irreversible!
But he only thought of someone in his Admiralty Escort Agency opening his mouth to eat, but he didn't even mention what kind of purgatory scene the northern border area of Dawei would be like if these arrows were sent to the Western Regions.
People from the Western Regions have always been fond of robbery and whoring, and it will definitely lead to chaos in the Northern Territory!
