People cannot forget history and heroes. Living in peace and comfort is not due to good fortune, but because our ancestors made huge sacrifices and used their flesh and blood to carve out peace.
Thanks to the blessing of the heroes, we can live a stable life. We forget the shame of the heroes and deny the unworthiness of the heroes!
Shen Yiyuan knows right and wrong and understands the principles of life.
Three sticks of incense are used to respect heaven, earth, and heroes.
Shen Yiyuan put the incense in the incense burner, looked at Song Sheng's statue, and couldn't help but sigh secretly. Song Sheng spent all his life for the Ming Dynasty, and even after death, he was still protecting the Ming Dynasty.
After all, Song Sheng was buried here, so the old Song family had to detach a group of people to station in Urumqi, visiting Song Sheng's grave and talking to him from time to time.
Shopkeeper Sun walked up to Shen Yiyuan and whispered, "My boss, Ambassador Zhou Chen of the Taxation Department and others are here."
Shen Yiyuan followed Shopkeeper Sun's gaze and saw Zhou Chen, Lin Xian, and Huang Bengu coming together, all dressed in regular clothes. He couldn't help but whisper: "Give the wine and food at home to the man, someone is treating you today." .”
Shopkeeper Sun was a little surprised.
Zhou Chen came closer, bowed and said, "Zhou Chen (Lin Xian, Huang Bengu) from the business school has met Uncle Shen."
Shen Yiyuan smiled.
Zhou Chen and others were both supervisors of the Imperial College and Shen Xiude, and both studied in the business school. Shen Xiude had introduced several of them, and at that time, out of respect, they all called them Uncle Shen.
After not seeing each other for two or three years, they have become more capable, energetic and confident, and they have not lost their courtesy.
Shen Yiyuan was happy in his heart, and after returning the gift, he still said: "You are not prison students now, but officials of the imperial court. I don't dare to call you Uncle Shen. But it is a blessing to meet old friends in a foreign country."
Zhou Chen followed the words and said, "Meeting each other is a blessing, and we can't do without wine. It just so happens that the Taxation Department has nothing to do today, can you invite Uncle Shen to get together?"
Shen Yiyuan did not refuse: "As long as you are not afraid, I will be fine."
Zhou Chen, Lin Xian, and Huang Bengu are all smart people and understand what Shen Yiyuan means. He is reminding several people that the court is now strictly investigating collusion between officials and businessmen, and severely cracks down on businessmen bribing officials, manipulating transactions, monopolizing the market, and officials accepting bribes. , who abuse power for personal gain and condone businessmen's illegal behavior will be severely punished.
It is not suitable for officials and businessmen to eat and drink together. If someone catches them, there will be no trouble.
Zhou Chen didn't mind. By inviting Shen Yiyuan this time, he had already angered the chief envoy Si Tong, and Ru Yu supported it.
After Shen Yiyuan paid his respects, he followed Zhou Chen and others into a restaurant, found a private room, and sat down.
Simple drinks and dishes were put on the table, and glasses were raised again and again.
After Zhou Chen exchanged pleasantries for a few rounds, he said sternly: "Unsatisfied with Uncle Shen, Ru Bu entrusted the important task of restarting the Silk Road to the Taxation Department. However, we tried our best, but we still failed to recreate the silk road of the Han and Tang Dynasties." The road is prosperous. I came here to invite you today because I want to imitate Xuanzang and learn from the scriptures."
Shen Yiyuan laughed heartily and said to shopkeeper Sun on the side: "In their eyes, I have become a bald Buddha."
Shopkeeper Sun laughed.
Shen Yiyuan suppressed his smile and had a glass of wine with Zhou Chen and others: "I am not a Buddha, and I have no scriptures. But the Silk Road has not improved for a long time, and it will also affect the Shen family's business. When it comes to doing business, I am good at it. .”
Zhou Chen's eyes lit up and he asked, "Uncle Shen, do you have any ideas?"
Shen Yiyuan said solemnly: "The imperial court is indeed very careful about the Silk Road. On the way here, a post station was built every sixty miles, or at most ninety miles, specifically for the caravans to rest. This is the caravan It provides great convenience for entry and exit. The post station has been repaired, and merchants from the Ming Dynasty have come. However, the Silk Road is not as popular as expected. In the final analysis, it is still your problem."
Zhou Chen listened carefully and lowered his attitude: "I wonder what the problem Uncle Shen is talking about?"
Shen Yiyuan stared at Zhou Chen, Lin Xian, and Huang Bengu, and couldn't help but secretly approve. If the officials in other places were said to be their problem by the merchants, they would probably have turned over the table and started to fight. However, Zhou Chen and others did not feel that there was anything wrong, and instead sincerely asked for advice.
Just this attitude is much better than those of old officials.
Shen Yiyuan did not beat around the bush. If he wanted to revitalize the Western Regions, it would be impossible without the cooperation of the Taxation Department and the Chief Envoy Department. He pointedly pointed out: "The Taxation Department wants to develop the Silk Road and is focused on how to attract people." Regarding the coming of merchants from the Ming Dynasty and Western merchants. But as far as I know, there are not a few merchants from the Ming Dynasty who came to Western Xinjiang, but not many Western merchants came. Have you ever thought about why?"
Zhou Chen thought for a moment and replied, "Is it because the road is far away and the danger is too great?"
Shen Yiyuan shook his head: "Do you remember Adam and William? I received news on the way here that they brought a caravan. Think about it, it took them nearly two years of sailing to reach Daming. Is it possible? It’s not far enough and the danger isn’t great enough?”
Zhou Chen nodded, obviously this reason was not enough.
Lin Xian analyzed: "Is it because some countries have blocked the road and prevented the Silk Road from flowing smoothly?"
Shen Yiyuan waved his hand: "This reason is also untenable. Not to mention other things, the Timur State has not collapsed. Although it has some internal problems, its vast territory is still stable. Harry encourages caravans to enter Western Xinjiang to do business. To I know that the western end of Timur’s country is connected to many countries, and there is a road that is enough for merchants to enter.”
Zhou Chen was puzzled and stood up to salute Shen Yiyuan: "Uncle Shen, please tell me the reason."
Lin Xian and Huang Bengu saluted together.
Shen Yiyuan stood up, motioned for the three of them to sit down, and then said, "In my opinion, there is only one reason why Western businessmen have always entered Western Xinjiang on a small scale."
"What?"
Zhou Chen and others became nervous. This answer was related to the future of Silk Road.
Shen Yiyuan drank a glass of wine and said calmly: "Because they don't know at all..."
"this……"
Zhou Chen was stunned.
Lin Xian and Huang Bengu were also a little surprised. What is the reason for this?
Shen Yiyuan was not joking. The Shen family invested a lot of money on the Silk Road in order to make a profit. But two years later, there is still no improvement here. Analysis after analysis, it is not that Ming Dynasty goods are unattractive to Western merchants, but also No one dares to urinate into silk like they did to Tatar and Wala, bullying them into not being able to smell it.
The products are attractive and can be resold at huge profits. Why haven’t Western businessmen come yet?
The reason is that simple, because many businessmen don't know that the Silk Road is smooth and they can travel overland, purchase goods smoothly, and then go back smoothly.
As for some current Western businessmen, most of them are from the Timurid Empire and are in Samarkand. Their destination is also Samarkand and they cannot go far.
Zhou Chen finally understood what Shen Yiyuan meant, slapped his thigh, and began to blame himself: "Business school has long taught us that the smell of wine is afraid of the depth of the alley. We only focused on attracting Ming businessmen, neglected to attract Western businessmen, and lacked publicity. There is also a lack of real caravans traveling to and from the West.”
Lin Xian gritted his teeth: "In that case, we must try our best to arrange at least some businessmen to travel to more distant countries to promote the Silk Road and create an impact, so that their businessmen will continue to enter Western Xinjiang."
Huang Bengu asked cautiously: "Where are the caravans who are good at taking risks, and who among them is willing to go to the far west to promote the Silk Road?"
Zhou Chen and Lin Xian looked at Shen Yiyuan.
Shen Yiyuan was drinking and almost choked to death. He coughed and said, "Don't look at me. I will not send my family to take risks in the West."
"But you are willing to go to Nanyang..."
"Going to Nanyang is not an adventure, but following the navy is nothing. Besides, no one in the Nanyang countries dares to offend the Ming Dynasty. A few of the Western countries have heard of the Ming Dynasty..."
Zhou Chen understands Shen Yiyuan.
Shen Yiyuan looked at Zhou Chen and others and said slowly: "For the sake of your treat, I will give you an idea. We ourselves can't go, but others can go."
Zhou Chen frowned: "Who is going?"
Shen Yiyuan: "***."
Zhou Chen's eyes widened: "Uncle Shen, how can you curse others?"
Shen Yiyuan said seriously: "I didn't curse, I said you can let *** go."
Zhou Chen felt uncomfortable at the corners of his mouth. You didn't even curse anyone, but you already told them to fuck...
etc!
***?
Du Fu, who was very busy, seemed to have mentioned it and remembered it, "Hu Chen traveled to Taihang, and the emperor arrived in the capital."
This *** is really not just a curse word.
Huang Bengu also understood, and said to Lin Xian, who was still confused: "The *** Uncle Shen mentioned is a Sogdian, a person with the nine surnames of Zhaowu."
Lin Xian suddenly realized that it was these people.
During the Han Dynasty, some people lived in Zhaowu City in the north of the Qilian Mountains. They were driven away by the Xiongnu and moved west to the Hezhong area in Central Asia. They were divided into kings, with nine surnames: Kang, An, Cao, Shi, Mi, Shi, He and Mu. His surname is Zhaowu, so he is called the Nine Surnames of Zhaowu.
The most famous *** in history, no, they were people from the nine surnames of Zhaowu, probably An Lushan (originally Kang) and Shi Siming.
After historical changes such as the Han, Tang, and Song dynasties, the Sogdians lived together in Central Asia, Xijiang Province, and Hexi.
The Sogdians are very good at doing business. They have smart minds and keen business vision, and they seem to make a living for business. When he was five years old, he began to receive business knowledge and learn various languages. When he became an adult, he had to be independent. He left his parents and family to do business. The brothers settled accounts and each did their own business.
The Sogdians were indispensable on the Silk Road. Although the Sogdians left in Xijiang Province have been Islamicized or Sinicized, their business genes are still there and they still adhere to the tradition of merchants.
This is a group of businessmen who are good at taking risks, good at traveling far, and have the ability to travel far. They master multiple languages and know more about Western customs.
Zhou Chen knew that there were Sogdian businessmen named An and Kang in the city of Urumqi. Perhaps it was time to use their strength to make a move on the Silk Road.
Shen Yiyuan walked out of the restaurant after eating and drinking.
Shopkeeper Sun complained a little: "My boss, if we lobby the Sogdian businessmen, we may not be able to get any profit."
Shen Yiyuan clasped his hands behind his back and was in a good mood: "Shopkeeper Sun, don't always think about the small profits in front of you. We have to think about the long term and recruit more people. In less than two years, this place will become prosperous."
