Fan Wencheng pretended to be a high-level lama of Daoheng and entered the Zhangjiakou Exchange Market in a loaded sedan. The officers and soldiers of Xuanfu Town of the Ming Dynasty who guarded the exchange took the money from the Aohan camp caravan and let him go without any inspection. . The mutual market covers a large area, with two intersecting streets and some small alleys connecting the streets. Fan Yongdou's old Fan family name is located in one of the alleys, and the name of the alley is Fanjiaxiang. The entire alley belongs to the Fan family, and the alley is full of people. There are shop fronts everywhere, all with flags identifying the old name of the Fan family. Among them, there is a particularly grand and grand facade. What hangs above the facade is not a recognition flag, but a shining golden signboard "Fan Family's Lao Hao Headquarters".
A nobleman from the Aohan Camp who accompanied Fan Wencheng, whose surname was Bo'er Zijijin, was a direct descendant of Genghis Khan, a grassland man named Batur. At this time, he accompanied Fan Wencheng's carriage with a smiling face. On the way, he respectfully helped "Monk Fan" out of the sedan chair.
Although Fan Wencheng is young, he is very good-looking, with a big face and a solemn appearance. He shaves his head, wears a red monk's robe and a cockscomb-shaped monk's cap. He really looks like a prairie Buddha.
The main door of the Fan family's old headquarters was already wide open at this time, and a group of men dressed like gangsters, surrounded by a richly dressed young man, walked out quickly to greet him. This young man was very familiar with Batur. He smiled and held his hands as he walked: "Manager Ba, I've been waiting for you to come. I've been very quiet during this period. Did you encounter any dangers along the way?"
"What danger can there be? I am also a descendant of the Great Khan. How can Hutuktu Khan's soldiers and horses still touch me? Besides, there is Master Ananda of the Red Sect with me, now on the Monan Grassland , who dares not to give face to the great lama of the Red Sect?"
Batur introduced Fan Wencheng to Fan Yongdou while chatting with a smile.
This was still on the street, so of course he couldn't say that Fan Wencheng was the envoy of Tiancong Khan from the Kingdom of Jin, so he said that Fan Wencheng was a great lama of the Red Sect, and even used the name Ananda Gushi, the famous great lama of the Red Sect on the grassland. Gu Shi is the name of the national teacher).
The Red Sect is a branch of Tibetan Buddhism. In the first half of the 17th century, it included the Nyingma, Sakya and Kagyu sects. Before the Gelug Sect of the Yellow Sect united with the Khoshote Khanate to seize power in Tibet, the Red Sect was the orthodox one. But in Monan Mongolia, the Yellow Sect has long held a dominant position. Hutu Dun Khan received the Dharma and Precepts of the Gelug Sect as early as the beginning of his accession to the throne, so he should be regarded as a follower of the Yellow Sect.
But later he was somehow won over by the Sakya monks and became a supporter of the Red Sect. Perhaps he wanted to use the relationship between the Sakya sect and Kublai Khan to improve his status, but it had the opposite effect, making the believers The Mongolian tribes of the Yellow Sect gradually alienated Hutu Dun Khan, weakening his appeal.
But at present, the world outside Zhangjiakou is dominated by the Han tribe. Of course, no one dares to offend the great lama of the Red Sect... This identity is more reliable than the descendant of the Great Khan.
Of course, Fan Wencheng's Great Lama of the Red Sect is fake. He can fool people here in Zhangjiakou, but he can't fool anyone on the grassland. The ones who really protected the Aohan tribe's caravan were a group of Baya soldiers sent by Huang Taiji. Although there were only a few dozen people, they were a presence that no one dared to mess with on the grassland.
If they hadn't had a special mission, these dozens of people would be able to capture the laxly defended Zhangjiakou Fort in a single raid!
"Master," Batur then clasped his hands respectfully and performed a Buddhist salute. Then he pointed at the young man and said to Fan Wencheng, "This is Fan Yongdou, the oldest member of the Fan family."
It turned out that this young man was Fan Yongdou, who later became the head of the eight imperial merchants and is now the richest man in Xuanfu. His family has been trading with the Mongolians outside the country for seven generations. Not only did he have many friends outside the country, he also had friends all over Xuanfu, Datong, and Jizhen. ...I don’t know how many people up and down are using the Fan family’s money.
Fan Wencheng is a little surprised that such a business is now being managed by a young man named Fan Yongdou.
"Master, manager, this is not the place to talk. Please come inside." Fan Yongdou smiled and bowed to Fan Wencheng and Batur, then made a sign of respecting guests and invited them into the Fan room. Within the family's old number.
After joining the Fan family, Fan Yongdou did not stop. He led the two of them directly into the inner hall. After ordering the servants to serve refreshments and prepare the banquet, he sent away the rest and then looked at Fan Wencheng with a smile. .
Obviously, this Fan Yongdou has seen that Fan Wencheng is not a lama, but a person with considerable background...
"Brother Fan," Fan Wencheng didn't hide himself. He cupped his hands and said with a smile, "I am from the Kingdom of Jin. I have come to the pass to inquire about some news on the orders of the Great Khan."
Fan Yongdou smiled: "How do you call me sir?"
"Just call me Ananda." Of course Fan Wencheng would not tell Fan Yongdou his real name, not because he was afraid of exposing his identity, but because he couldn't afford to embarrass that person - if he didn't say his surname was Fan, people would think he was a nobleman of the Eight Banners. After telling people, they will know that he is Han...
"Master Ananda," Fan Yongdou did not pursue the question, but asked with a smile, "I wonder what information Master wants to know?"
Batur, who was accompanying him, smiled and said: "Master, the Fan family in Zhangjiakou is very well-informed. There is no one who doesn't know the truth about the Southern Dynasty."
Fan Yongdou smiled and said: "How dare you? It's just that in Xuanfu, Datong, and Jizhen, there are no big things that can be hidden from my family."
"What about Beijing City?" Fan Wencheng asked, "Does the Fan family also have connections in Beijing City?"
"There are some connections." Fan Yongdou replied with a smile.
His words were a bit boastful. This was not the Qing Dynasty, and his family was not one of the eight imperial merchants, or even the first-class Shanxi merchants.
Although when later generations mention Shanxi merchants in the Ming Dynasty, they will think of the eight imperial merchants who were traitors to the country. But in fact, the "Eight Imperial Merchants" in the early years of Chongzhen were only profiteers in Zhangjiakou area who traded with the Mongols, and they did not play a big role among Shanxi merchants. The real Shanxi merchants all made their fortunes in the salt industry. How can the business with Mongolia be compared with selling salt?
So Fan Yongdou doesn't have any great connections in Beijing. If he had, he would have been a salt merchant long ago... How can anyone who betrays the country earn more by selling salt?
Of course, there are still ways to send money to Beijing. Wei Zhongxian, who was just defeated, and several lackeys under the Hakka family all took the Fan family's money.
In addition, several civil servants from Shanxi who were still on stage and Wu Xun from Xuan, Da, and Ji also took money from his family.
If the Kingdom of Jin wants Fan Yongdou to help bridge the gap and find a way to make peace, Fan Yongdou also has a way.
"Then let's talk about the new emperor of the Southern Dynasty!" Fan Wencheng asked, "I heard that he beheaded Wei Zhongxian who deceived the emperor. Is he a wise emperor?"
Fan Yongdou sneered when he heard this: "What kind of wise king? He is clearly a faint king like a martial arts temple!"
"What's wrong?" Fan Wencheng asked, "Is there another foolish king in the Southern Dynasties?"
Fan Yongdou smiled and said: "It's just that the fainting emperors are different from generation to generation...but the method of fainting is different. The Emperor Tianqi who just passed liked to play carpentry, and left all national affairs to Wei Zhongxian. But now this one, haha, is similar to the Wumiao Temple, likes Playing war! We are about to start a war with the Han tribe!"
"What?" Fan Wencheng was stunned, "The Southern Dynasty wants to go to war with the Han tribe? Why?"
"Why else?" Fan Yongdou looked scornful, "For the market reward of hundreds of thousands taels... According to the news from Beijing, the Chongzhen Emperor said that the Ming Dynasty would not cede territory or make marriages. No payment! From now on, I won’t give a penny to the Han tribe.”
Fan Wencheng looked surprised, "Is this true?"
"Really!" Fan Yongdou said with a smile, "Emperor Chongzhen recently mobilized 30,000 troops from western Liaoning to aid the three towns of Xuan, Da and Ji, and also replaced the general officers of the three towns. When Mangui arrived in Datong, Zhao He led the teaching to Ji Town, and Hou Shilu arrived at Xuan Mansion. Now the general soldiers of the three towns have arrived, the Liao soldiers are also coming one after another, and the main soldiers of the three towns have also begun to reorganize. It seems that a big fight is about to begin!"
Fan Wencheng's eyes widened, he took a breath and said, "How many people are there in Western Liaoning? If we draw out an army of 30,000 people, wouldn't it be empty and unprepared?"
Fan Yongdou nodded, "Yes, if Tian Cong Khan and Hu Tu Dun Khan join forces...then the little emperor of the Ming Dynasty will probably have to bleed hard!"
