Guo Ying returned to the Dusi Yamen after a long absence and ordered a banquet to be held in honor of eight major Shanxi merchants. More than thirty Shanxi merchants attended the banquet.
All officials from the Datong Dusi Yamen Office were present except for those who were on guard duty. Gu Yun and others from the Security Bureau were also present.
The dishes are all ready and piping hot.
Smelling the fragrant dishes, Chang Qianli and others' mouths were already watering.
After traveling for more than three months, most of the time was spent on the road. The wind and sand were raging, and the bumps were unstable. Eating was a problem. At the beginning, I could eat some vegetables I brought myself, but later on, I could only eat bacon and rice noodles. .
Eating meat every day is a torture for many people.
Now that I am back in Daming, I can finally eat vegetables for a change of taste.
Guo Ying arranged for someone to take out a jar of fine wine from his collection, and smiled at Chang Qianli and others: "This jar of Qiu Lu Bai was given by the emperor when I came to Da Da. Normally I would not bear to drink it. Today you are returning from the Yuan Dynasty." , what you have gained is countless, you should drink it and get drunk, someone will come and pour the wine."
Chang Qianli and others stood up one after another, holding wine glasses, feeling deeply honored.
This is the royal wine.
Chang Qianli thanked Guo Ying on behalf of everyone. After drinking for three times, Guo Ying said: "How is the Yuan Dynasty currently? I would like to ask the Chang Dong family to tell you carefully. Datong would like to report to the capital as soon as possible. Your contributions will be appreciated by the imperial court." You will never be stingy."
Chewing a mouthful of cabbage, which tasted like a delicacy in the world, Chang Qianli's Adam's apple twitched slightly, put down his chopsticks, and said: "Lord Dusi, everyone, the Yuan Dynasty has undergone drastic changes."
"oh?"
Guo Ying looked at Chang Qianli eagerly.
Chang Qianli didn't sell anything, from the time he bought Li Bala with the intention of getting involved with his daughter-in-law Yan Ji, to the murder of Harguchuk Hongtaiji, to the time when Yan Ji was snatched away by the bought Li Bala, Haohai Dayu's death, Harsh Ha raised his troops and killed the Great Khan... all the events were explained clearly.
Guo Ying opened his mouth in shock, and the big bone in Gu Yun's hand fell on the table. Yuan Ting was in such chaos, it was really jaw-dropping and unimaginable.
He messed up Lun and got it on his daughter-in-law, and was tricked to death by her daughter-in-law. This is Yuan Ting Khan!
Hash ha!
Guo Ying had heard of this man, the real King of Wala. Although he supported Boljijin Kun Timur as Khan, his reputation for killing the Great Khan was definitely ruined.
Such a person may not last long.
The Oara people don't obey the Tatars, so how can the Tatars obey the Oara people?
"On our way back, there has been a small-scale confrontation between the Oara tribe and the Tatar tribe. Some of the weapons and crossbows carried in the car were picked up from the corpses. It seems that the Oara tribe is migrating westward to plunder the population."
Hou Xiyu added.
Guo Ying nodded solemnly, and it made sense.
The Tatar cavalry that appeared outside Datong a few days ago were small in number and lacked the will to fight. They were probably either Oara people migrating westward or Tatars fleeing for their lives.
"You have brought important information, which is extremely important to the Ming Dynasty's military strategy. Come on, let me toast you!"
Guo Ying stood up and looked at these vicissitudes of businessmen.
The emperor's arrangement was right. Businessmen were more effective than scouts in gathering information about Yuan Ting.
After the Yuan Dynasty incident, Ha Shiha came to power, but the rift between Oara and Tatar was irreparable. I believe that it won't be long before the war between Oara and Tatar will begin.
Should the imperial court choose to sit back and watch the tigers fight, waiting for both of them to lose, and then eliminate them in one fell swoop, or choose to rush thousands of miles to attack Yuan Ting when they are unprepared.
Guo Ying thought for a moment and finally shook his head. It was not something he could decide on.
"Chang Dongjia, everyone, you have gained quite a lot from your trip north. I will not care about other goods for now, but please leave the war horses to Datong."
Guo Ying said seriously.
Who would have thought that there are less than five thousand war horses in such an important city of Datong! Every time we face the Tatar threat, we can only fight to defend the city!
There is no way, the Ming Dynasty lacks war horses, very badly.
The only war horses were supplied first to the capital, followed by Beiping, Kaiping, Daning, Jizhou, Liaodong and other places.
Although Datong is considered the front line, there are only very few war horses available.
Guo Ying is eager to recreate the glory of the Ming Dynasty cavalry, just like during the periods of Xu Da and Chang Yuchun, when thousands of horses neighed and bugles sounded loudly, hitting the vast sea!
But now that he is old, the Ming Dynasty's cavalry is still so few.
At present, these Shanxi merchants have brought 500 war horses and 300 colts. In the future, they will bring 800 fine cavalry!
After Chang Qianli heard Guo Ying's words, he suddenly sobered up and said quickly: "Sir, these war horses were presented to the imperial court by us Shanxi merchants in exchange for the imperial court's forgiveness for Shanxi merchants' past illegal acts. Please have mercy on us Shanxi merchants." A way to survive.”
Chang Qianli and others planned to exchange war horses for a pardon order.
Not to mention that Shanxi merchants plotted against Liu Changge, the former commander of the Security Bureau, for the purpose of smuggling. In order to get rich over the years, who has not done smuggling?
If the court really pursues the case, regardless of whether there is evidence or not, and directly confiscates the house and exterminates the family, then this life will be in vain.
Guo Ying shook his head and said: "The wool is enough to exchange for your pardon, and the war horse will stay in Datong."
Chang Qianli disagreed, Guo Ying, you bad old man, who are you kidding? No matter how much wool you have, you can't run away. Even if the emperor has the ability to turn wool into gold, it will be of no use.
Shanxi merchants had to convince not only the emperor, but also the entire court.
The best thing can only be a war horse. This is a hard product that must be recognized by civil servants, military attaches, the emperor, and the people. Only then can Shanxi merchants win status.
When I went to the capital with only wool, the people shook their heads, the court officials shook their heads, and the emperor nodded again, but Shanxi merchants still had no status.
"Sir, the war horses must be sent to the capital by Shanxi merchants. Please be accommodating."
Chang Qianli never gave in.
Guo Ying was not happy. If the war horses were allowed to go to the capital, with the character of Xu Huizu and Ru Yu, they would never let a single horse hair return to Datong. He shouted with a straight face: "I will personally submit a memorial to ask for credit for Shanxi merchants." , tell me about the war horse, and the imperial court will reward and pardon you, and the war horse does not need to leave Datong."
Chang Qianli was so depressed that he wanted to vomit blood.
How could a memorial asking for merit be effective? How many people in the court could see the memorial?
Just as Chang Qianli was preparing his words, Hou Xiyu stood up and said to Guo Ying: "Sir, the Shanxi merchants went northward because of the emperor's secret order. It was easy to hide the news when we went out, but it was just a blockade of Datong. But now that we are back, the goods are so large, It cannot be limited to Datong City, once we leave Datong, the news will spread."
"If the officials of the imperial court hear the news and use it to attack the emperor, how will the emperor explain it to them? This war horse is the best explanation and can also be used to share the emperor's worries."
Guo Ying lowered his head and thought deeply. What Hou Xiyu said was not unreasonable.
The emperor was willful and allowed Shanxi merchants to escape, and he was an accomplice. If he only handed over a piece of information to the court, a pile of wool, but nothing else, the officials would be unconvinced.
All the officials were unconvinced. It was not the emperor who was unlucky, but himself. Who told the Shanxi merchants to leave from Datong...
But Datong is in dire need of war horses.
Guo Ying turned her attention to Gu Yun of the Security Bureau, and Gu Yun knew
Knowing the meaning of this look, he lowered his head and continued to deal with the bones in his hands. When did the Security Bureau get involved in official matters?
I just came here to have a meal and listen to stories. If I wanted to wade through the muddy water, there was no way.
No matter what you say at this time, you will make a mistake.
Guo Ying, a short-sighted guy, actually called his own name and made himself drunk before he was full. It was really not fun.
Looking at Gu Yun who was lying on the table pretending to be drunk, Guo Ying's beard trembled and he stared at Chang Qianli and said: "Those three hundred ponies are staying in Datong. If you object again, I will arrest you all!"
"No, up to a hundred!"
Chang Qianli shouted bravely.
"three hundred!"
"Two hundred! Sir, this is the last bottom line for Shanxi merchants. If you insist, Shanxi merchants will not dare to take this job again in the future."
Chang Qianli took a step back and said.
Guo Ying let out a long sigh, raised his glass with a sad face and said: "Two hundred is enough. You all know that Datong is short of war horses. Don't blame Guo. Come on, let's win!"
Chang Qianli and other Shanxi merchants finally felt relieved. If Guo Ying acted forcefully, no one could stop him. Fortunately, this guy was still reasonable.
At night, Chang Qianli, Hou Xiyu and other Shanxi merchants were drunk and were sent to an inn to rest.
Guo Ying looked at Gu Yun who was drinking tea and scolded: "If you help me, Datong's war horses will increase by five hundred!"
Gu Yun smiled at Guo Ying and said: "Sir, if I say anything, it will be the Security Bureau interfering in state affairs and overstepping its authority. The Security Bureau is only responsible for things that endanger the court and the Ming Dynasty. It will never be above officials, nor There will be no involvement of officials.”
Guo Ying calmed down his anger, walked to Gu Yun, and asked, "Are all the people in the Security Bureau as sober as you?"
Gu Yun poured a cup of tea for Guo Ying and handed it over: "Anyone who is not sober will be kicked out."
After Guo Ying took it, he walked to the table and sat down, spread out the rice paper, picked up a pen and said to Gu Yun: "Do you think what the Shanxi merchants said about the changes in the Yuan Dynasty is true?"
Gu Yun nodded and said: "There is no doubt about this. The Security Bureau has investigated nearly a hundred people, and what Chang Qianli said is credible. If it is a lie, there is no way that a collective lie can be made without any flaws."
Guo Ying felt relieved and started writing the memorial. After half an hour, he stopped writing, sealed it properly and handed it to Gu Yun, saying: "This matter is very important and should not be delayed. Let's go through the channels of the Security Bureau, the sooner the better. "
Gu Yun took it and promised: "Don't worry, sir."
Soon after, the two men and four rode out of Datong City, covered in starlight, all the way southeast.
Chang Baiye, who was lying on the bed, couldn't sleep no matter what. He seemed to feel that the earth was shaking. This was the sequelae of long-term jolts on horses. It would take a few days to get rid of it.
"The future of Shanxi merchants!"
Chang Baiye got out of bed and sat on the floor, leaning on the bed and thinking.
How can businessmen gain a foothold in Ming Dynasty?
During the Hongwu period, killing businessmen to seize wealth was like killing chickens and dogs, which made people panic. Businessmen did not even have a household registration and could only rely on other household registrations. Although Emperor Jianwen changed all this and implemented the new business strategy, but The shackles that restrain businessmen still exist.
Scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, this saying that has not changed for thousands of years, has broken the backbone of businessmen, obliterated their status, and trampled on their dignity.
If you want to change all this, you have to go to war with the deep-rooted ideas that have been recognized by everyone for thousands of years!
There is no retreat, only by winning can Shanxi merchants have a future, and only merchants can have a future!
