No one expected that the person who brought new clues to Chengdu Ma Heng was not in Chengdu, but in Jiangzhou.
Generally speaking, there are two passages from Jiangdong to Sichuan and Shu.
One is a land route, the end point is Chengdu, the other is a water route, the end point is Jiangzhou.
The land route is slower and is the first choice for small caravans and nearby places, while the water route is an important channel for large caravans or caravan alliances.
Jiangzhou City, also known as Bajun City.
The current Jiangzhou City of Han Dynasty has just begun to show a little bit of its enchanting style.
The rise of Jiangzhou was actually the rise of water transportation.
Now Jiangzhou is expanding its city. As an important garrison point for Xu Huang, it controls the transportation hub in eastern Sichuan, especially water transportation.
Jiangzhou City East Wharf is also expanding with the expansion of Jiangzhou City. The newly built wharf is slanted deep into the river, and cargo ships and sailors can load and unload cargo directly from the wharf, and then transport it to other places.
As a hub for cargo transshipment, Jiangzhou's importance gradually emerged. In the future, if it not only connects the east and west, but also opens the north-south channel, it is impossible to say that in addition to caravans heading to Jiangdong, Jiangzhou city will also see caravans heading to Jiangdong.
South Cochin, even the poisoned caravan...
At that time, Sichuan and Shu can have two centers. On the one hand, there is Chengdu as an important farming base and grain production center, which is biased towards cultural and political aspects. On the other hand, there is Jiangzhou, which has mountains and rivers and is a place for trade.
At the same time, mountain troops and naval troops can also be trained.
During the Three Kingdoms period, Shu Han and Soochow had constant exchanges, and they went to Chaisang through Jiangzhou. Historically, the silk of the Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms was an indispensable high-end luxury product in Soochow, and the isinglass lacquerware of Soochow, especially copper
Iron ore and the like are also lacking in Sichuan and Shu.
The trade routes of the Three Kingdoms were not established after Zhuge Liang arrived in central Sichuan, so the current trade routes in Jiangzhou were not created only after Zhuge came to Sichuan and Shu. They existed originally, and now they are just regulated.
After Zhuo Wangsun had a naughty child, he gradually declined.
The naughty child not only cheated his father, but also ruined the family's reputation. When the reputation was ruined, many things were gradually ruined. Zhuo Wenjun thought that he was chasing love, but he didn't expect that he was just moved by himself, and then
No matter how fiercely he scolded Zhuo Wangsun, he still compromised in the end. However, Zhuo Wenjun felt that he did not compromise and persisted until victory, but became the laughing stock of the Sichuan and Sichuan business circles. Whenever the Zhuo family is mentioned, everyone will say "Oh"
, means it’s that Zhuo family...
Elopement is always the stupidest move.
Zhuo Wenjun paid the price for his elopement, and Zhuo Wangsun also paid the price for his daughter's elopement, and even the entire Zhuo family also paid the price.
And these prices are the price Zhuo Wenjun paid for saying that I don't care, I don't care, I don't care, I want love.
Love brain is terrible.
This is a disease.
Not only Zhuo Wenjun, but even future generations who have more information and knowledge, there are still many people who have this disease. In many media, multinational CEOs only want to fall in love, and the king of special forces also only wants to fall in love.
, even in special professions such as firefighters, forensic scientists, and narcotics police, they all think about falling in love every day after eating, and it is still the kind of five-pointed love relationship, because the love triangle is outdated. For the love brain, not only
It requires torture and rot, and torture and rot can stimulate the G-spot.
Maybe Zhuo Wenjun will still insist that she has no regrets when she dies of old age, but for Zhuo Liang, a descendant of the Zhuo family, if he can see Zhuo Wenjun, regardless of his seniority, he will still want to point at Zhuo Wenjun.
He cursed loudly through his nose.
I don't dare to do anything, after all, I am the elder, but I will definitely scold, even if I don't scold in front of me, I will scold secretly behind my back.
Zhuo Wangsun was one of the richest men in Sichuan and Sichuan in those days, occupying a first-rate position.
And now?
Zhuo's current overall asset size is even second-rate.
If Zhuo Liang hadn't seen the opportunity earlier and went to Chang'an early to worship under the hussar general's skirt, it's hard to say that the Zhuo family wouldn't even be able to get into the second-rate ranks right now.
What? First-class in Sichuan and Sichuan?
There are no more top-notch ones...
Before the arrival of the Hussar, the Wu family was top-notch, but now, many aspects of the Wu family have been reduced, just like Zhuo Wangsun in the Western Han Dynasty.
Zhuo Wangsun previously controlled the iron smelting industry in Sichuan and Shu, and was known as "the richest country in the world".
Since it is an "enemy country", what will be the consequences?
Zhuo Wangsun became an "enemy country", and his descendants were corrupted. Obviously, for the Han Dynasty, it was no problem to allow Zhuo Wangsun to become rich for one generation, and then for the second generation, but at most three generations. If you want to be rich,
After three generations, we must attack Zhuo Wangsun's sons and daughters without leaving any trace.
Although there is no record in the history books how extravagant Zhuo Wangsun's sons were, flying eagles and lackeys, sensual dogs and horses, Sima Xiangru undoubtedly succeeded in ruining the Zhuo family's heir with a clever move.
Zhuo Wenjun thought she had met love, but she never thought about where her versatility came from, and who provided her fine clothes and food. She enjoyed the Zhuo family's wealth, but in the end she did not complete her life.
His mission was to attract the golden phoenix to the Zhuo family, but he ran away with the black crow.
Therefore, it is very difficult for Zhuo Liang of the Zhuo family at the moment. He laughs with everyone, just like a dog wagging its tail twice at everyone. He must find a way to take advantage of the opportunity to become bigger.
And in the process of growing bigger, we must carefully maintain the surrounding relationships, and then try to restore the former glory of the Zhuo family bit by bit.
Even Zhuo Liang has some understanding in his heart, knowing that the Zhuo family will never be able to return to its original appearance after getting rid of the love brain Zhuo Wenjun, because the iron smelting industry in Sichuan and Sichuan no longer belongs to the Zhuo family, and it never will.
It may belong to the Zhuo family.
The metallurgical industry no longer belongs to anyone in Sichuan and Shu, nor can it belong to a certain family.
Now, Zhuo Liang can only think about taking advantage of Jiangzhou becoming a new center to expand water transportation.
The water transport industry is a brand new development space with no rivals.
But the problem is that the initial investment in this industry is not small.
There must be ships, sailors, transshipment tools, point-to-point routes, and a series of customs clearance checkpoints, etc., all need to have a certain relationship. You can't make it big just by wanting to make it big.
Fortunately, Zhuo Liang at least had a good start. He did not dare to compete with the Cui family and the Zhen family for any major trade routes. He guarded a trade road from Sichuan to Jiangdong, and no one would rob it now.
There were about twenty or thirty Liang merchant ships moored at the ferry, and each ship was hung with two flags. One was the flag symbolizing the Hussar's subordinates, and the other was the flag of Zhuo's company. The flag representing the Hussar's affiliation was high.
Located at the top of the mast, Zhuo's flag is inserted diagonally on the side of the hull.
Although the number is not small, the ships are not big.
This is where Zhuo Liang's troubles lie. Large ships obviously carry more cargo and are more efficient, but the investment is naturally more and the construction takes a long time. However, if only small ships are used, it is obviously not enough to establish water transportation channels. Their own transportation capacity
If it's not enough, don't blame others for reaching out.
"Shopkeeper Zhuo! Is shopkeeper Zhuo here?"
Someone shouted from the dock.
When Zhuo Liang heard the sound, he responded first, then walked out of the cabin to take a look. He immediately took a few steps forward and jumped onto the pier without using a board. When he came to Zhuge, he bowed respectfully and said, "I've seen you before."
Zhuge was engaged in this. I didn’t realize that I was engaged in this, so I’ve missed my welcome. Please forgive me!”
Zhuge Liang returned the favor, then looked around, "Shop Manager Zhuo, this fleet is okay...but it's about to set off?"
Although Zhuo Liang didn't know why Zhuge Liang came, he still said honestly: "We are about to set off, but... there is still a batch of spices waiting to enter the cabin... It is scheduled to arrive tonight. If there is no accident, it will be tomorrow.
Let’s set off…』
Zhuge Liang nodded and asked, "Did Shopkeeper Zhuo and your people purchase the spices?"
Zhuo Liang smiled honestly, "It makes Zhuge Zhizhang laugh, I have little capital... the spices are from Li's Trading Company, they just took my boat to Jiangdong..."
Zhuge Liang waved his hand, "I wonder if I can sit on Shopkeeper Zhuo's boat?"
Zhuo Liang quickly extended his hand to invite, "It's my honor! Please, please come this way! Be careful when doing this..."
As soon as he turned his head, Zhuo Liang hurriedly shouted to the boat: "The boss has stabilized the boat, don't rock it!"
An old voice on the boat responded, and then someone walked to the stern of the boat and stretched out bamboo poles to support the boat. Others quickly set up the planks on the bow of the boat on the pier.
Zhuge Liang boarded the boat steadily.
Zhuo Liang followed behind.
Zhuo Liang's ship is a medium-sized, flat-bottomed merchant ship. If you include the cabin, it has three floors. The cargo is stored in the cabin, and the first floor can be used to store cargo and accommodate people, but the accommodation conditions are very average. On the upper floor,
It is the top floor, which is very small. There are only four rooms. Zhuo Liang lives in one room, and the other room is used as a hall to meet guests. The remaining two rooms are usually empty unless there are any important guests.
Zhuge Liang went to the cabin first.
The cabin was dark, and there were very few lights inside to prevent fire. In addition, all kinds of cargo were piled inside, and sailors and coolies lived in it, so there was a smell of everything.
Zhuo Liang looked at Zhuge Liang with some worry, but saw that Zhuge Liang looked as usual, as if he didn't smell any stench.
Zhuge Liang looked at the cargo inside the cabin, then went to the upper floor and walked around, as if taking a casual look.
When he arrived at the small room on the top floor where Zhuo Liang was entertaining guests, Zhuge Liang asked, "Shopkeeper Zhuo, do all these goods belong to you?"
Zhuo Liang replied: "Only a small part of the report belongs to me, and the rest belongs to several other merchants."
The Zhuo family is no longer what it used to be. In order to build such a fleet, Zhuo Liang even needs to go to Chengdu to find people in person, and then invite others to purchase and ship goods together to obtain greater benefits.
"Will anyone from Li's Trading Company in Chengdu follow you to Jiangdong?" Zhuge Liang asked again.
Zhuo Liang was stunned for a moment, nodded and said, "Yes, we are together."
Zhuge Liang's expression remained unchanged, he nodded and said, "How many people are there?"
"There are usually seven or eight people working together with guards." Zhuo Liang replied.
Spices don't take up a lot of space, but they are expensive, so not only do you need work, but you also need guards.
Zhuge Liang nodded again, and then said, "Today, when the people from Li's Trading Company arrive, you can find an excuse to delay your departure for two or three days... Just say that the official document is not completed..."
"The official document is not ready? Delayed for two or three days?" Zhuo Liang took a breath, then nodded and said, "No problem!"
From Sichuan and Shu to Jiangdong, the advantage of the waterway is not only that it can transport large quantities of goods and the cost is lower, but more importantly, there are many fewer checkpoints on the waterway than on the land...
If it is the turn of spring and summer, it may rain at any time, causing the river water to surge. Sometimes we have to rush for time, so sometimes we cannot delay it. But for now, the river water is basically stable, and there is not much difference between two days earlier and two days later.
Generally speaking, no one would sail at the turn of spring and summer when the water is strong, as the danger is too great.
Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "Good. Then I won't disturb Shopkeeper Zhuo. Remember, this matter must not be publicized."
Zhuo Liang felt a chill in his heart and quickly agreed.
Zhuge Liang bid farewell to Zhuo Liang and returned to Jiangzhou City.
Xu Huang was in the government hall, facing the Jiangzhou sand table, looking down, as if he was thinking about how to arrange something. When he saw Zhuge Liang coming back, he nodded, "How was Kong Ming's investigation?"
Zhuge Liang said: "If Liang's prediction is correct, this spice merchant must be mixed with Jiangdong spies..."
Xu Huang extended his hand to invite Zhuge Liang to sit down, and then asked, "I would like to hear the details."
"Businessmen are after profit." Zhuge Liang said in a deep voice, "It is their nature to care about money and money. The spices from the Western Regions are relatively cheap, and when they are transported to Chang'an, they become more expensive, and when they are transported to Sichuan and Shu from Chang'an, they become even more expensive.
Expensive... As for the spices from Nanzhong and Cochin, although the price is slightly lower than the spices from the Western Regions, the spices from Nanzhong have not arrived this year..."
Some things may seem complicated, but when you meet smart people, especially people like Zhuge, they seem to be transparent.
Zhuge Liang got on the boat and walked around, looking like he was just watching things, but he actually knew what he was doing.
Naturally, the goods in Zhuo Liang's ship basically belong to Zhuo Liang. After all, he is on that ship, so if there is space in his ship for the goods he transports, they will basically be placed under his nose, and
I won't put it on another ship.
This is human nature.
Although Zhuge didn't look at the other boats one by one, he could basically tell what kind of goods they were transporting.
Like the goods on the Zhuoliang ship, they are some specialties of Sichuan and Sichuan, such as bamboo paper, books, bamboo utensils, silk, silk fans, tea bricks, etc. They are all ordinary items, some are expensive, but the quantity is not very large.
Especially the bottom warehouse has a mixed smell, which is obviously not suitable for storing a large amount of spices. After all, if the spices have odor, then the price will inevitably drop sharply, and the loss will not be a little bit. So it must be placed on the deck.
However, there is not much space on this floor, so there must not be many spices transported at one time.
It is equally impossible to take expensive spices on other ships.
When sailing on the river, big ships are obviously safer than small ones.
Zhuge Liang had just returned from Nanzhong, so he knew the situation of the Nanzhong line very well.
When he came back this time, Zhuge Liang mainly wanted to discuss with Xu Huang the situation of stationing at the Nanzhong Military Stronghold.
Using military garrison points to control the Nanzhong arterial road, and then splitting the original Nanzhong to form smaller counties, controlling the powerful local forces, etc., undoubtedly need to be discussed in detail.
It can be done with just a few letters.
As for the matter of identifying spies, Zhuge Liang just did it incidentally after hearing about it.
Just by the way.
Zhuge Liang knew very well that the spices from Nanzhong only traveled once a year, that is, they arrived in Sichuan and Shu in late autumn, and then returned to Jiaozhi from Sichuan and Shu. But now it is summer, not late autumn yet. At this moment
The spices from Sichuan and Sichuan can only be transported from Chang'an.
There are caravans from Chang'an directly to Shandong. Starting from Chang'an, after leaving Heluo, the caravans heading to Shandong can be said to be flat, so the freight is actually not high. To transport spices, take the mountain road to Sichuan and Shu, and then take the waterway from Sichuan.
Going to Jiangdong will not only take longer, but the price will naturally be more expensive.
It is very abnormal to sacrifice the near for the distant, and to sacrifice the honest for the noble.
So what is the purpose of abnormal business behavior?
"Spices are valuable, so they have guards. This guard..." Zhuge Liang smiled, "It can be used as a cover... After all, the people who come forward are all businessmen, and guards generally pay little attention..."
Xu Huang nodded and glanced at Zhuge Liang, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't and just kept silent.
Although Xu Huang felt that what Zhuge Liang said was indeed reasonable, he felt that there seemed to be some problems.
Zhuge Liang seemed to be aware of Xu Huang's intention, and continued to say slowly, "Liang asked the merchant ship at the dock to delay for a while... Liang will test it a little more, and you will know..."
Zhuge Liang was young, but he managed things flawlessly.
If you are an ordinary reckless person, if you have clues and have some doubts, you can just open the door. But Zhuge Liang is different. He has to rule out some special situations, such as Jiangdong is in urgent need of spices and cannot purchase them from Shandong.
, so we had to take the water route, and under such circumstances, delaying for a few days would inevitably make the spice merchants anxious.
Normally, if an ordinary businessman has no evil intentions, he will definitely scold Zhuo Liang when he hears that some official document has not been completed, and urge Zhuo Liang to finish it as soon as possible. He may even argue with Zhuo Liang because of this.
Loss of money due to delay and so on...
Even if they are brothers, do they still have to settle accounts openly?
So this is a normal businessman.
Unusual businessmen, if they know that the official document has not been completed, may wait with a guilty conscience, and may not even say a word or fall out with Zhuo Liang. After all, their important thing is not to sell goods. If they fall out with the caravan, they cannot go by water.
Then the land checkpoints will obviously cause them more trouble.
At dusk, when Jiangzhou City was about to close, people from Chengdu Li's Spices Trading Company arrived...