Within three days, under thirty-eight types of torture from Beizhen Fusi, the man finally couldn't bear it and revealed the person behind him. Chen Da made a record and presented it to Zhang Xiu.
This person's name is Ling Shan, who was originally from the north of Liangzhou. Later, due to the opening up of Jingguo's trade policy, he began to engage in foreign business, exchanging Liangzhou's grain for Qiang beef, mutton, skins, and various types of milk. Later, he was bribed by a man named Yu Bing. According to Ling Shan's explanation, Yu Bing's accent sounded like he was from the Central Plains or the South, but he was definitely not from the Jingguo people.
Lingshan didn't pay much attention at first, just thinking that other countries were doing business.
The borders between Jingguo and Wei and Chu were open, allowing bilateral trade exchanges. It was normal for people in Jingguo to have people from other countries, so they relaxed their guard. But later, as the business grew, Yu Bing used his connections to start close contacts with the Qiang people. Ling Shan felt that there was something wrong with Yu Bing and did not dare to interact with them anymore. As a result, Yu Bing controlled his family and forced Ling Shan to good.
Lingshan was forced to obey.
"According to Ling Shan's explanation," Chen Da said, "Yu Bing has great skills and is very powerful. He moves not only the Qiang people, but also the countries in the Western Regions. He uses his identity as a businessman to smooth the flow of traffic from the Qiang people to the Western Regions. contacts."
Zhang Xiu nodded.
He carefully read the transcript in his hand, then handed it to the prince next to him, Zhang Biao, took a sip of tea, waited for Zhang Biao to finish reading the transcript, and then asked slowly: "Since it was done in secret, why did the Qiang people Are people causing trouble? Doesn’t this reveal their identities?”
After reading the transcript, Zhang Biao looked at Chen Da with the same confusion.
Chen laughed and said: "Back to the emperor, Prince, Yu Bing and the others don't want the Qiang people to cause trouble? It's an accent problem. The two parties gave the wrong price when delivering the goods. The Qiang people misunderstood one hundred yuan as five hundred yuan." , leading to a conflict between the two parties. Yu Bing did not dare to make a big deal out of the matter, so he prepared to pay to settle the matter. Unexpectedly, the local magistrate happened to bump into him when he was passing by. When Yu Bing saw this, he encouraged the Qiang people to say that the magistrate deliberately lowered the land price. . This aroused the anger of the Qiang people and killed the magistrate by mistake."
Zhang Xiu sneered: "Then this Yu Bing is really sparse. He never expected that he would stumble in this place."
Chen Da nodded: "Because of this matter, the relationship that Yu Bing spent more than two years building with the Qiang tribe was instantly wiped out. Now Jia Qin is specifically investigating this matter in the Qiang tribe. General Pound's troops have all moved into the Qiang tribe. Yu Bing He has already fled to the west."
Zhang Xiu raised his eyebrows: "Did he escape to the Western Regions?"
Chen Da: "It should be. I estimate that this person should be from the Wei State and a hidden guard of the Wei State. I am afraid that he wants to disturb the rear of our country by uniting with foreigners such as the Western Regions and the Qiang people and make Dajing unrest. This has ulterior motives."
Zhang Biao looked at Zhang Xiu and said respectfully: "Father, the Western Regions only have a commercial relationship with Dajing, not a country. If people from the Wei State are sowing discord, I'm afraid there must be cavalry in these thirty-six countries in the Western Regions to plot trouble."
The so-called Western Regions refers to the general name of the area west of Yumen Pass and Yang Pass.
After capturing Liangzhou that year, Zhang Liao led his troops to march westward to Liangzhou, opening up the Silk Road from Jincheng to Yumen Pass and setting up defenses at Yumen Pass. In this way, the entire Liangzhou was firmly under the control of Jingguo. With the development of commerce, Yumen Pass has become the concentration point of trade between the two sides, and Yumen has developed very rapidly. In order to meet the huge trade volume between the two sides and to better protect the border, Zhang Xiu asked the Ministry of Industry to expand Yumen Pass, making the entire Yumen Pass larger and taller.
Because of such large trade support, the thirty-six countries in the Western Regions actively established exchanges with Jingguo, hoping to obtain more trade opportunities. Of course Zhang Xiu agreed to this request, wishing he could send troops to take down the Western Regions himself. Unfortunately, firstly, there were constant wars in the Central Plains and he was unable to do anything. Secondly, there was no legitimate reason.
It's okay now, Yu Bing is helping.
At that time, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent Zhang Qian to the Western Regions for the first time, and Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty established the Protectorate of the Western Regions. According to the "Hanshu·Preface to the Biography of the Western Regions": "The Western Regions began to be connected during the period of Xiaowu. There were originally thirty-six kingdoms, and later they were divided into more than fifty countries, all located to the west of the Xiongnu and south of the Wusun." There are big mountains to the north and south. There is a river in the center, which stretches more than 6,000 miles from east to west and more than 1,000 miles from north to south. It is connected to the Han Dynasty in the east, Yumen and Yangguan in the west, and Congling in the west. 'Among the thirty-six countries, the largest is the Kingdom of Qiuci. According to historical records, the Kingdom of Qiuci has a population of about 80,000. It is one of the largest countries in the Western Region. Among the small countries, there are even smaller countries with only a thousand people.
Zhang Xiu has long coveted the exotic customs and delicious raisins of the Western Regions.
According to the memory of later generations, the Western Regions are not only rich in delicious raisins and fruit wine, but also beautiful women, such as Naza, who will be famous in later generations.
"If the Western Region is not peaceful, it will be a time bomb sooner or later," Zhang Xiu said seriously, "Since Yu Bing wants to cause trouble in the Western Region, let him do it. It is best to cause something."
Chen Da: "The emperor wants to conquer the Western Regions?"
Zhang Xiu nodded: "The Western Regions are our rear area of Jingguo. Although there are not many soldiers and horses in the Western Regions, we must guard against them. The road to the Western Regions is long and difficult, and there is boundless desert. Marching is extremely difficult. It is better to wait for them to arrive. Then he ordered: "Order General Li Tong to lead 20,000 cavalry to Yumen Pass secretly. I will wait and wait for him to deliver goods from the Western Regions."
"Here!" Chen Da responded, and then asked, "What about this Ling Shan?"
Zhang Biao said: "I should deal with it in accordance with the civil laws of Dajing."
Chen Da looked at Zhang Xiu.
Zhang Xiu smiled and said: "Just follow the prince's words and deal with it according to the Dajing civil law."
"Here!" Chen Dade ordered to retreat.
The Western Region is an important area in the rear. If the war in the Central Plains had not been subdued for a long time, Zhang Xiu would have sent troops to conquer it himself. It's good now that Yu Bing from the Wei State is here to take action. As long as he can instigate the countries in the Western Regions to jointly send troops, he can defeat them all in one fell swoop.
After the Western Region is leveled, the fruit and wine will be continuously delivered and can be sent to other places.
Zhang Xiu used the knowledge of later generations to wrap ice cubes in cotton quilts, and then sealed them with sealed carriages to make an ice truck. Storing fresh fruits in the hospital cart can keep them fresh for a month.
In this way, fruits from the Western Regions can be transported to all parts of the world. Of course, the cost of sending them to other countries is not high. Only rich families and high-ranking officials can afford them. Fruits have also become a symbol of the status of wealthy families.
If the Western Region is conquered, the profits will naturally be greater. For today's Jingguo, the most lacking thing is money. As long as he can make money, Zhang Xiu is willing to do it.
