Qingcheng after the snow is white with a thick layer of snow falling, a cold wind blowing in the air, and slender ice picks standing upside down on the eaves, transparent and shiny.
The sun shines on it, reflecting colorful colors.
There were not many pedestrians on the street, but one suddenly appeared. He was also wrapped in a thick fur coat and a felt hat on his head. He was breathing heavily, put his hands in the cuffs of each other, and walked quickly with his head buried in his head.
There was a thick layer of snow on the ground that had not been cleared for a long time, and it was covered with muddy footprints and horse hoof prints.
Huziqi opened a shop in Qingcheng. The snow in front of the door was cleared by the store clerk and piled on the roadside in front of the door.
The shop was unusually deserted, with not a single customer. This situation had been going on for almost half a month.
The two waiters were lying on the counter lazily, yawning and glancing outside the door from time to time.
In the back hall connected to the shop, Yang Yuan and Chen Guangyu sat around a charcoal brazier. Opposite them sat a middle-aged man of similar age to them.
"Shopkeeper Wu, all the goods in our store in Banshengdi were robbed by Su Nang Taiji's soldiers. Now the business can no longer be done. Moreover, Su Nang Taiji has said that the store will not think about it again in the future. The goods can only be sold at the price shipped by the Fan family. In this case, everyone will lose money, and Boss Chen and I have too little financial resources to survive."
The speaker was Yang Jing. His hands were hanging above the charcoal brazier to warm up the fire. His face was slightly blue. He didn't know whether it was from the cold or because he was worried because the goods in the shop had been robbed.
Chen Guangyu on the side said with an ugly face, "When we cooperated with Tiger Character Banner, we agreed to make a fortune together. Now that we are here, not to mention making a fortune, we may not even be able to save the lives of the entire family."
From the incident of the shop being robbed, it is not difficult to see that the tiger-character flag offended Su Nang Taiji. That is one of the most powerful Taijis in Tumote. He is the direct grandson of Sanniangzi and is even more powerful than Tumo in Qingcheng. Even sweating profusely is not bad.
Chen Guangyu only felt regret in his heart. If he had known that Huziqi had offended Su Nangtaiji, he would not have cooperated with Huziqi no matter what.
"Don't get excited, Mr. Chen. Drink some tea to warm yourself up." Shopkeeper Wu Jingyan pointed to the tureen at his hand.
"How can you still be in the mood to drink tea now? Shopkeeper Wu, you should first talk about how to solve the problem." Chen Guangyu said with dissatisfaction.
Yang Jing echoed, "If we can't find a solution, if this continues, it will be difficult for the shop to continue opening. We simply can't afford to offend Su Nang Taiji."
"Don't get excited, please." Wu Jingyan said, "I have already reported what happened on the grassland back to Datong, and I believe there will be a reply soon. As for Su Nang Taiji's connivance with his soldiers to rob shops, I will discuss it with the Khan. To put it another way, our Tiger Banner opened shops on the grassland with the permission of the Great Khan and all Taiji. No matter how strong Su Nang Taiji is, we cannot violate the will of the Great Khan."
Chen Guangyu asked, "When will I go to see the Khan?"
"This matter should be taken up sooner rather than later. I will go now." Wu Jingyan said, "There are several other shops with tiger-character flags in Bansheng, all not far from Bansheng City. This time Su Nang Taiji is taking action against you. There’s no guarantee that he won’t take action against several other bansheng lands.”
"Would you like us to go with you?" Yang Jing stood up.
Wu Jingyan waved his hand and said, "It's been a hard journey for the two proprietors. Just stay here and rest. I'll ask the waiter to prepare some food. I can just go to the sweat tent by myself. And this matter is not It works with more people.”
Yang Jing hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Well, I hope the Khan can seek justice for us."
Wu Jingyan picked up a sheepskin jacket, put it on and walked out of the back hall.
When passing by the front counter, I waved to a waiter at the counter.
When the guy saw it, he ran over.
"Arrange a convoy to go to several Bansheng places and bring back all the goods from those shops." Wu Jingyan ordered.
"Yes, I'll do it right away." The guy nodded.
The day after it snowed was much colder than when it snowed, and the wind was as cold as a knife. Walking on the road, the exposed skin was sore from the wind.
Outside the sweat tent, there should have been two teams of armored soldiers guarding the tent. Because it was too cold, only one team of armored soldiers was left, and the rest were hiding under the leeward sun.
"Zamuka, it's great that you are here. I want to see the Great Khan, and I want you to come in and report." Wu Jingyan walked towards a Mongolian general who had just come out of the Khan's tent.
The Mongolian general stopped, looked at Wu Jingyan, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Shopkeeper Wu, please forgive me for not being able to go in and report to the Great Khan. I also know why you came to see the Great Khan, but it's useless. You'd better go back. The Khan won’t see you.”
"So the Great Khan also knows about Banshengdi." Wu Jingyan frowned.
Jamuka nodded and said, "The Great Khan already knows, and Su Nang Taiji is in the Khan's tent now."
"What did the Khan say?" Wu Jingyan asked.
Jamukha hesitated for a moment and said, "We are still discussing, but don't hold out too much hope. The goods of your Tiger Flag are indeed much more expensive than those of the Fan family. Some Taiji are very dissatisfied with your Tiger Flag. I think what you are earning is the herdsmen’s dirty money.”
Wu Jingyan frowned and said, "Zamuka, you should know that the reason why the Fan family sells goods to herders at such a low price is to deal with our Tiger Flag, and they will restore the price in the future."
"I know." Jamukha said, "But those Taiji don't think so. They think that the Fan family can still make a profit at the current price, and the price of your Tiger Flag is too high, and you are defrauding the herdsmen of their cattle and sheep. Now not only The Taijis above are dissatisfied, and the herdsmen below are also beginning to be dissatisfied with your tiger-character flag."
Wu Jingyan said, "The prices of the goods sold by the Fan family on the grassland are lower than those in the Ming Dynasty. Not only do they not make any money, they also have to put money into it themselves."
"This is impossible," Jamukha said hesitantly, "You Han people would be so kind as to sell us things at a loss."
Wu Jingyan solemnly said, "It's true."
"I don't believe it." Wu Jingyan shook his head and said, "If you say that the Fan family makes less money, I believe it, but if you say that the Fan family uses their own money and engages in loss-making business, I don't believe it, and neither does the Khan, nor do the Taijis in the Khan's tent. Will believe it.”
"Zamuka, please believe me, I will not lie to you." Wu Jingyan said, "This is a means of doing business. The purpose of the Fan family is to squeeze our Tiger Flag out of the grassland. Without our Tiger Flag If Qi competes with them on the grassland for business, they will raise the price even higher and earn back the current losses."
Jamukha said, "Even if what you say is true, it's useless. The herdsmen below won't care about this. They only know that they can buy cheaper things from the Fan family, and many Taiji can share it." Good thing, if you tiger-character banners don’t think of a solution, maybe the Great Khan will take back your right to open shops on the grassland.”
Hearing such words, Wu Jingyan felt deeply powerless.
Jamuka, who has always had a good impression of their tiger-character flag, has this attitude. It is not difficult to imagine what the attitude of the Taijis in the Khan tent would be.
