Xijiang Province, west of Urumqi. The clerk Shi Shousu took two steps and stepped onto a high slope. He looked at the city of Urumqi in the distance. He turned around and shouted to the caravan behind him: "Shopkeeper, you can see the city!" Shopkeeper Zha Lanwu handed the camel rope aside. The man stepped forward and took a look, and he saw a big city in the distance, like a tiger entrenched, which was shocking.
"That's that?" Zalanwu pointed at the tall buildings in the city. Shi Shousu picked up a brochure, unfolded it, read it, and said to Zalanwu, "Look, shopkeeper, the city in front must be Urumqi marked in the Ming Dynasty Silk Road Book, and that towering building must be the Tianshan Martyrs Monument." Zalanwu said. The house belongs to the Golden Horde, and the thirty camels, two hundred horses, and caravan of 250 people behind him are all from the Golden Horde, specifically, Wulong Gechi.
Last year, some merchants who entered the Golden Horde made huge fortunes by relying on the goods brought by the Ming Dynasty, which caused a sensation.
Many businessmen saw opportunities, followed the businessmen's footsteps, and finally found a relatively safe road to make a fortune in the Ming Dynasty.
This road starts from Wulonggechi and turns towards the middle of the river. It can go to Bukhara and Samarkand, and through Samarkand to the western frontier of the Ming Dynasty.
Of course, in addition to this road, there are also businessmen who take the grassland, take the Naodala and Alimari, pass through the Oara and Tatar grasslands, and go to the Ming Dynasty. However, this road seems to be blocked.
Zha Lanwu was very happy. After a long four-month journey, he finally arrived in the center of Xijiang Province of the Ming Dynasty!
"Get ready to enter the city!" Zalan Wu screamed. The caravan became lively, chatting and laughing and continued to set off.
What seems close is actually far away. After walking for half an hour, Zalanwu's caravan finally arrived in the west of Urumqi. Before they reached the city gate a hundred steps, a middle-aged man in official uniform came to greet them.
"Dear businessmen, I am Lin Xian, an official from the Taxation Department of Urumqi City in Western Xinjiang of the Ming Dynasty. I see that you are carrying a lot of goods. Do you need help?" Lin Xian spoke fluent Chagatai.
Zhalanwu said politely: "We are new here and don't know much about the transaction. Please give us a brief introduction." Lin Xian looked at the goods Zhalanwu carried and said with a smile: "I dare to ask the businessman, are you planning to go to Urumqi?" Do you want to sell the goods, or do you want to go to the customs?"
"What's the difference?" Zalanwu asked with interest. Lin Xian patiently introduced: "If you want to sell goods here, the horses can go to the east city, where there is a special horse market. Other goods can be transported to the city and rented stalls for sale. If you want to go to the pass, stay here to rest for a few days. On the day, to sell some goods, you can use the warehouses and stables specially built by Ming Dynasty. The warehouses are free to use for seven days. After seven days, you can collect a certain fee. The stables are free to use, but you need to be responsible for the care expenses..." Zha Lanwu listened carefully.
Officials of the Ming Dynasty introduced it carefully, including the approximate profit from selling goods in Urumqi, the approximate profit from going to the customs, tax status in various places, which city can buy which type of high-quality goods, etc.
Zha Lanwu looked back at his caravan. This group of people was already very tired. In addition, it was their first time to do business in the Ming Dynasty. They all wanted to make a sum of money and go back early to continue to the more distant Hexi and even the Ming Dynasty. The capital is really a bit difficult.
"We want to sell goods here." Zalanwu planned to complete this deal first, just to pave the way, and then go back to the Ming Dynasty.
Lin Xian happily greeted a sergeant and arranged: "They want to sell horses here. You are responsible for leading the way and guiding them. Don't neglect them." The sergeant agreed.
Zhalanwu arranged for Shi Shousu to sell horses. He picked up a brochure and said to Lin Xian: "I saw in this brochure that no matter where merchants arrive in Urumqi, they need to go to the Tianshan Martyrs' Monument Square. Is that true?" Lin Xian suppressed his smile and said solemnly: "The peace and prosperity of this land were bought by them with their lives, and all heroes should be remembered. Although it is not mandatory for businessmen to go to Tianshan Martyrs' Monument Square, it is not mandatory for businessmen to go to Tianshan Martyrs' Monument Square, but the city of Urumqi Welcome all businessmen who respect heroes and martyrs." Zha Lanwu nodded solemnly: "Heroes should not be forgotten, Ming Dynasty is a great country. Let's go to Tianshan Martyrs Monument Square!" Lin Xian watched Zha Lanwu and others leave.
Zhou Chen came over and said to Lin Xian who was rubbing his face: "There are more and more large-scale caravans, and the Silk Road is finally taking shape." Lin Xian picked up the teapot and moistened his throat: "During the Han and Tang Dynasties , the camel bells are constantly ringing, and the caravans are continuous. But if you look in the distance, the camel bells are still ringing, and the caravans are not continuous. If you ask me, we are still far from the real prosperity of the Silk Road." Zhou Chen haha Laughing, he patted Lin Xian on the shoulder: "It seems that your ambition is big enough. Why, you don't want to go back to the capital?" Lin Xian shook his head: "When we first came here, we wanted to make contributions. I returned to the imperial court and stayed there for ten years, working as a minister, minister, etc. But after staying here for a long time, I realized that it was better to stay here than in the capital. From desolation, to vitality, to prosperity, it was all us Built with one hand, this city and this road have become our lives and cannot be separated from us." Zhou Chen looked into the distance with his hands behind his back.
Why not? At the end of last year, the imperial court sent commendation documents and transferred 72 officials including Lin Xian and Huang Bengu back to Beijing with other appointments.
But these people don't want to leave, including themselves. Although life here is not as prosperous as the capital, there is the magnificence of the Tianshan Mountains, the desolation of the desert, the splendor of the karez, galloping eagles and horses, camel caravans, and all kinds of people, bringing good or bad things from afar. The news…can’t live without it.
Zhou Chen knew that his destiny was closely connected with Western Xinjiang and the Silk Road. Returning to the capital would destroy him, but staying here would make him successful.
"Then let us stay together and let the Silk Road become a channel connecting the East and the West." Zhou Chen said firmly.
Lin Xian straightened his chest and said, "This way we will live up to this life." Nowadays, Xijiang Province is generally peaceful. There were only two incidents of trouble last year. He also wanted to go to the mountains to fight guerrillas, but was chased into the mountains by the guards' sergeants, and they all jumped off the cliff.
Now no one is making trouble. The Huihui people and all kinds of people here have clearly seen that they will obey the Ming Dynasty and everyone is good. If they have to make trouble, the Ming Dynasty will kill people without blinking an eye.
"You've heard, right? There seems to be a conflict between Shanxi merchants and Huizhou merchants." Zhou Chen said to Lin Xian. Lin Xian put up a pergola and looked into the distance, and said calmly: "The Shanxi merchants are really greedy in this matter. They know clearly that wool can only be purchased from Wala, but because they have to travel a lot, they cannot leave Shanxi. I just wanted to suppress the wool price in Wala, so I broke the rules and let Hui merchants steal the business. Shanxi merchants suffered heavy losses, and they deserved it." Zhou Chen also felt a little regretful.
Chang Baiye is indeed an outstanding businessman, but his shopkeeper is not as outstanding as him. For a small profit, he ruined the wool business in Wala. This is a big loss for the Chang family.
On the other hand, Shen Yiyuan, in order to facilitate this deal, went directly to the Wala base camp at the risk of risk and chatted and laughed with Mahamu and others.
Now that all the Wala wool has entered the hands of Hui merchants, Shanxi merchants have completely retreated, and the fierce competition between Shanxi merchants and Hui merchants will come to the fore.
"If Chang Baiye really values the interests of the grasslands, he should go to Xijiang Province in person. This is the only way for him to repair his relationship with Oara." Zhou Chen said.
Lin Xian shrugged: "It would be a good thing if he really comes. Commercial monopoly also means profit monopoly. It is not in the interest of the court whether Shanxi merchants or Hui merchants become too powerful."
"The caravan is coming. I'll go greet it. You can go back to the Chief Envoy's Office." Zhou Chen saw a caravan coming in the distance and straightened his clothes.
"Why go to the Chief Envoy's Office?" Lin Xian was a little confused. Zhou Chen smiled and said, "You also know that the production of medical gauze has increased significantly. Whether these items should be transferred from military use to civilian use needs to be carefully discussed. What Ru Bu means is to send someone back to the capital in person to talk with him. The emperor explained the situation, you are lucky..."
"Me!" Lin Xian wanted to cry. Returning to the capital to explain the situation and then reporting back would mean being on the road for at least half a year, or even longer.
Isn't it murder to waste one's life on the road? Don't do it, definitely don't do it! Now go to Rujun and ask him to send Huang Bengu. He is a person who obeys orders thoroughly and will definitely go back without any complaints...
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Huang Bengu had already gone to the Chief Envoy's Office before I came. You'd better hurry up." Zhou Chen added.
"God damn it, you didn't tell me earlier!" Lin Xian turned around and ran away. Zhou Chen was a little helpless. The distance was too far. Returning to Beijing to report on his work was a chore. In addition, the development of the Silk Road was at a critical period. How could he go on with the initial results?
But the court had to explain the situation and send documents or something. It was always difficult to answer all the questions, and it would be impossible to go back without anyone who knew the situation.
"Let nature take its course." Zhou Chen calmed down, smiled, and stepped forward to greet another caravan.
After years of hard work, especially with the help of Sogdian merchants, the Silk Road finally took shape and formed three routes.
The northern route enters Daming from Alashankou, passes through Bole, Wusu, and Changji to Urumqi. The middle line runs from Samarkand to Tashkent, passes through Taraz, Almaty, Ili, and ends at Bole, continuing the northern line.
For the southern route, take Congling and pass through the plateau to Stone City, Yecheng or Kashgar, or go north along the Tianshan Mountains, all the way to Turpan, Hami, and pass through Dunhuang and Jiayuguan.
Either go south along the Kunlun Mountains, take Hotan, Ruoqiang, etc., and arrive at Dunhuang and Jiayuguan. Among the three routes, the middle route is currently the busiest.
The reason has a lot to do with the internal stability of Timurid State, Harry's actions, etc. In addition, its vast territory still has a large influence on the surrounding areas. Businessmen can travel far and wide, and the huge profits also stimulate businessmen from all over the world. .
Timurid also began to use commercial taxes to gradually restore its strength and heal its wounds. With the help of the Ming Dynasty, it began to reorganize its elite cavalry...
