As one of the largest Chehous in the country, Cao Cheng still felt a little guilty when he saw Liu Jing.
Because the guy in front of him is not just targeting powerful merchants, he doesn't even let go of meritorious deeds. He has suggested the issue of the princes several times before. Over the years, he has been adhering to the principle of vigorously attacking the Che princes.
He made some mistakes and eliminated the country. In three years, there were more than 20 marquises missing. It cannot but be said that Liu Jing played an important role.
Liu Jing has always paid great attention to local issues. He has always felt that allowing any force to become bigger and stronger in the local area and have absolute land advantages will become a disaster for the Han Dynasty. During the period of Emperor Gao, he only dared to deal with some weak
The old aristocrats started to attack, and a mausoleum protector caused a lot of confusion. During the Liu Chang period, he became unscrupulous. It was nothing, but there was someone on his head, and he was very hard.
Liu Chang also hated these guys who gathered most of the wealth in their own hands but could not play any role. If someone like Lu Lu or Cao Cheng had a lot of wealth or land, they could bring benefits to the Han Dynasty.
He wouldn't say much, but he would always kill anyone who collected a large amount of wealth, exploited the people crazily, and wasted these resources for personal enjoyment.
Liu Jing is the best sharp knife in his hand. Over the years, Liu Gong has made great contributions to the manpower problem of Hexi. Today, Hexi has more than 800,000 people, all because of Liu Jing's contribution. He worked tirelessly
He worked hard for the cause of the powerful people in the Central Plains, constantly solved their accommodation problems, food problems, work problems, provided distribution, and cared about their physical health, which became the gospel of the powerful people in the world.
Even these businessmen were so excited that tears filled their eyes when they heard his name, they danced and couldn't help themselves.
"Mr. Liu...I am following the emperor's order..."
Cao Cheng lowered his head. Although he was a Da Chehou, the man in front of him was the founding minister and was a good friend of his father. In private, he even had to call him Zhongfu, and Liu Jing was indeed very old.
He has passed his sixtieth year and is very old. Almost every year, merchants and powerful people from all over the country hear the news of Liu Gong's death. But before they have time to celebrate, the soldiers sent by Liu Gong to help them have already arrived.
I don’t know what’s going on, but this old man is getting more and more energetic as he gets older. He’s almost 70 years old. He can still mount a horse and chase people. He speaks with great energy and has sharp eyes. Why doesn’t he die?
Is it really a disaster that will last for thousands of years??
Liu Jing said with a serious face: "Marquis Pingyang, don't worry too much. I came here this time to ask if the merchants from Hexi Kingdom can follow you to the Western Regions?"
"Ah? There are still merchants in your Hexi country??"
Cao Cheng asked subconsciously, but then he felt something was wrong, and his expression was a little tangled. He said: "Your Majesty asked me to be in charge of business this time. I don't know if I can bring merchants from the vassal states with me. I'm afraid I have to talk to Your Majesty about this matter."
Write a letter and ask him what he thinks. If His Majesty allows it, then naturally I will not..."
Liu Jing, who had asked politely just now, suddenly changed his expression.
"What, you want me to send someone to Chang'an and come back? Do you want to wait here for the emperor's answer?! As the chief officer this time, can't you even make the decision on this matter?! Then what are you doing?
Food, did the emperor send you here just to let you follow them all the way to the Western Regions?!"
Liu Jing's continuous questioning left Cao Cheng speechless and hesitantly said: "I'm afraid that it will ruin your majesty's plan. If something happens..."
Seeing Cao Cheng's timid expression, Liu Jing was furious.
"Marquis Pingyang, Marquis Pingyang, are you really worthy of your title?!
"
The original Marquis of Pingyang was decisive in killing, vigorous and resolute, invincible in battles, and invincible in all attacks. He was the only ruthless man under Emperor Gao who could compare with Han Xin in merit. Later he became the prime minister, fully implemented Xiao He's policies, balanced the situation in the temple, and said it all.
, can be said to be both civil and military, respected by all ministers, even as picky as Han Xin, no one has any bad comments about him, and they even served as generals together many times to fight together.
For example, the time when Feng Jing was captured, it was Han Xin and Cao Shen who led the generals to fight, and the results of both sides were very explosive.
But now, the Marquis of Pingyang has really disappointed these founding ministers.
Hearing Liu Jing's words, Cao Cheng's face suddenly turned red, "I can make the decision... let the merchants follow. If His Majesty holds him to account..."
"If His Majesty holds me to account, let him chop off my head! Wait here for me for a day!
"
Liu Jing didn't give him a chance to finish his words, turned around and left on horseback.
Cao Cheng was sitting in the carriage, his face sometimes flushed, sometimes livid, and he didn't know where to put his hands. Wei Ying just lowered his head and didn't dare to say anything at this time. Cao Cheng lowered his head and took a deep breath.
After a long time, he gritted his teeth and ordered the merchants to rest on the spot.
Just as he said, it only took one day for Liu Jing to drive the big merchants here. After handing the people over to Cao Cheng, he hurried away again without saying a word, still riding his horse.
.
Cao Cheng watched him go away, gritted his teeth, and said to Wei Ying beside him: "Bring me a horse, I want to ride forward!"
Wei Ying was shocked, "Master, how can you endure this at your age..."
"How dare you, a slave, to despise me?!"
Cao Cheng asked angrily.
Wei Ying frowned and said nothing. He led the horse. With his support, Cao Cheng got on the horse with difficulty, and then walked forward calmly. Compared with sitting on Shang Fang, it was already improved.
Riding on a car is even more painful. Riding in a car only shakes, but because of the interior, it can also provide some protection. However, riding a horse is different. Only people who have ridden horses for a long time know how tortured it is.
People's things.
The pampered Cao Cheng was obviously not a horse rider. After just half an hour of progress, Cao Cheng's forehead was already covered with sweat, his legs were sore, and he was trembling. His face was pale, and he gritted his teeth and continued.
Moving forward... He would look at Wei Ying from time to time, with a certain urgency in his eyes. However, this always loyal retainer lowered his head and drove peacefully, as if he had not seen the master of the family.
"infant...."
"Master!"
"I...it's better to dismount and take the carriage."
Wei Ying hurriedly stepped forward and helped him off the horse. He stroked his legs and grimaced in pain. After Wei Ying helped him up, Cao Cheng sat in the car with a bitter look on his face, just shaking feebly.
He stretched out his hand and touched the fat on his waist. His expression was blank and he didn't know what he was thinking.
"Baby..."
"You were so angry just now, don't blame me."
"Master, I am your servant. You are not offending me by saying this. It's just that the master of the family should not be so angry. The former princes are amazingly talented and good at military affairs. Although the master of the family is not as good as him, he can still accomplish a lot, even if it is...
A slave like me,
You can also achieve things by assisting the good master of the Zuo family, let alone a Chehou like you? He obviously has a lot of potential, but he laments that his talents are not as good as those of his ancestors all day long, and uses unnecessary actions to prove himself and does not do serious things. This is
This is unbearable!"
Cao Cheng was stunned, lowered his head in shame and said, "You are right."
In the following days, the merchants were surprised to find that Pingyang Hou became a little different. He no longer sat alone in the car and ignored the merchants around him. He would come down and talk to the merchants.
, ask them if they have encountered any difficulties, if they have any suggestions, and consult them on some trading methods.
When the merchants faced the Da Chehou, they showed special respect and were extremely excited to receive his courtesy. They talked about everything, and they actually gave Cao Cheng a lot of suggestions.
“You said, let me build a post house along the road??”
"After leaving Longxi, the number of post houses became very small, which was not enough for us to rest. On weekdays, we met some merchants who were out and they had no place to live. Some even starved to death on the way and were killed by thieves.
The temple has no strength here
We have built enough inns along the way, but we still have the capital, but we are unable to communicate with these vassal states. As the prince of Che, if you can take the lead, we can build them along the road, which can not only make money but also facilitate travel.
person..."
Cao Cheng frowned, "But for such a big thing...can I do it?"
The merchant who made the suggestion looked at him in surprise. As a relative of the Han Dynasty, Pingyang Hou, if you can't do it, who else can do it?
When the caravan entered the Beiting Kingdom, Cao Cheng no longer avoided "trouble" as before. Instead, he led a few people to the royal city to meet Liu Xun, the king of Beiting.
Cao Cheng stood uneasily outside the palace, but soon, the disheveled Liu Xuan walked out of the gate in panic. The three princes followed behind him, all of them acted very restrained. Logically speaking, the princes and kings should not be afraid.
What kind of minister, unless this minister has two sisters who are queens, two brothers-in-law who have been emperors, a nephew who is a prince, and more than 10,000 households...
"Meet the King of Beiting!"
"Father Zhong, Father Zhong, please get up, please get up..."
Liu Xian hurriedly helped him up, his face was full of fear. He was really worried. This person came to beat him according to His Majesty's order. The other three princes also respected him very much and were greeted by them.
After arriving at the palace, Liu Xun even hosted a banquet. The banquet was really sumptuous, and Liu Xun carefully sat on the upper seat with a smile on his face.
Liu She, the Prime Minister of the State, said cautiously: "I heard that the Marquis of Pingyang was going to Xiting Kingdom, and I was about to go to see him. I didn't expect that you would come first. It's really embarrassing... You have to travel and travel hard.
Let’s rest in the country for a few days and let us do our best as landlords..."
Cao Cheng hesitated for a moment and then said: "It's not enough to rest. I have to go to Xiting Kingdom. This is how it is... When I passed by Hexi Kingdom, Liu Gong asked me to take their merchants to Xiting Kingdom.
Go...I think, why don't you send merchants here as well, I want to trade with the poisonous people, and I can make big profits."
What Cao Cheng said was really not very neat. After all, this was the first time that he had made his own decisions, jumped out of the circle drawn for him by his superiors, and acted according to his own wishes. He was a person who was afraid of bearing the consequences.
Upon hearing his words, Liu She's eyes lit up and he hurriedly bowed before him.
"O Duke Cao!
You are the benefactor of Beiting Kingdom, but you don’t know something. The King of Xiting does not allow our merchants to go there, saying that our merchants will affect their market there. If you are willing to take them there, that is really a good thing!"
Cao Cheng was stunned, "What, he doesn't want you to come?"
Liu She hadn't spoken yet, but Liu Xun couldn't help but said: "It's not because Qi that Shuzi is petty-minded. When Chai Qi went to Xiting Kingdom as an envoy, he told Qi some of our comments about Qi, Captain Chai, but this Shuzi is petty-minded."
, Since then, they have been wary of us in various ways, and even built fortresses. They want to meet me with swords! Humph, I have Taiwei Chaiwu under my command, with ten thousand soldiers. How can he be my opponent?
!”
Cao Cheng was dumbfounded. He didn't know anything about these things. If he had known about it, he would never have offered to bring their merchants with him. The war between vassal states was such a big trouble. How could he get involved? Cao Cheng subconsciously
He wanted to run away, but Liu She had already grabbed his hand and looked at him gratefully, "If you take me with you, they won't dare to object. Of course, if you can say a few kind words for us...
It would be best if the two countries put aside their conflicts."
"I..."
"I know Mr. Cao can definitely succeed!"
Looking at the expectant faces of everyone, Cao Cheng failed to escape directly in the end. He nodded bitterly. He simply gave up and directly told the story about building the post house, "The merchants I brought with me are quite good.
The family property is very powerful in the local area. If you are willing, they can build a post house along the road to provide a resting place for pedestrians..."
Liu Xun didn't feel much about this. He didn't know much about running a country, but the three princes couldn't sit still. Under the leadership of Liu She, they paid homage again and again.
"Thank you, Mr. Cao!
"
With the strength of these countries in the Western Region, it would be a fool's dream to improve their own infrastructure, but no one is willing to invest in their poor place. Now that Cao Cheng has sent such a big gift, they are very touched.
Cao Cheng received an unprecedented welcome here, and all the eyes that looked at him were so sincere. This was the first time that Cao Cheng experienced this. He had obviously been constantly complimented by others for most of his life, but he didn't know why.
The respect he received this time made him feel so different.
Cao Cheng assured everyone that he would definitely solve the problems between the two countries.
When he went back and told the merchants what could be built, the merchants were also excited. As big merchants, they knew the significance of this road very well. In the future, trade will become more and more frequent. Who can establish a stronghold here first?
The harvest is not ordinary. It will become more and more powerful with the prosperity of the trade route, and it will also have huge benefits for our own commodity trade.
Everyone once again offered various strategies to Cao Cheng. Cao Cheng suddenly felt no longer anxious or bored about the next road. Every day, there were people around him advising him, and he discussed with these people from time to time.
, time passed very quickly, and there were many new and different ideas every day. Cao Cheng got along with the merchants more and more friendly.
[To be honest, I have been using Yeguo to read and catch up on books recently. I can switch sources and read aloud with many sounds. www. Android and Apple are available.]
In Beiting, Liu She and others were also sighing.
"I have heard a lot before that Marquis Pingyang is a mediocre person, but now it seems that the rumors really cannot be believed!"
When this group of people arrived at the Xiting Kingdom, they saw a huge crowd as soon as they entered their territory. Cao Cheng calmed the merchants and stepped forward on horseback. A long way away, he saw a young man
He led everyone towards him.
"I dare to ask, but in front of Marquis Pingyang?"
Cao Cheng looked at the dark-skinned young man in front of him and didn't recognize him for a moment.
"Who are you?"
"I am Liu Qi."
Cao Cheng was shocked and hurriedly dismounted, but Liu Qi hurriedly stepped forward and personally helped him dismount. His words and deeds were extremely respectful. Cao Cheng felt much relieved and walked deeper with his company.
"Father Zhong, I have long heard that you are coming. I have been waiting here for several days."
"I'm really bothered by the King of West Court..."
"Don't dare, don't dare."
Liu Qi asked with a smile: "I heard that you brought all the merchants from Hexi and Beiting countries here?"
Cao Cheng said seriously: "You and King Beiting are brothers. There should not be such conflicts. How can we not let their merchants in? Although I am a courtier, I still feel that there is something wrong with this kind of thing.
....”
"You are right, that's what it is. I will give the order right now so that nothing like this will happen again!"
It’s not without reason that Liu Qi is so polite to Cao Cheng now. Liu Qi has already heard about Cao Cheng’s stay in Beiting Kingdom. He actually mobilized merchants to build a post house along the road in Beiting Kingdom. This is what Liu Qi has always wanted.
He didn't know what he was doing. How could this Marquis of Pingyang, who had never been fond of doing things, become so stubborn after leaving Chang'an? He brought businessmen from the two countries with him and strongly intervened in the affairs of the vassal states. This was completely wrong.
ah.
Although Liu Qi couldn't figure out why, for the sake of the future of Xiting Kingdom, he could only go to greet him in person, hoping that he could do more things in Xiting Kingdom.
The hospitality of the Xiting Kingdom was even higher than that of the Beiting Kingdom. At the banquet, Liu Qi personally ordered the ministers to play music and dance for Cao Cheng. He wished he could dance for him. As long as it was beneficial to the Xiting Kingdom, he would do anything.
Do... Cao Cheng calmly talked about the post house at this time. How could Liu Qi not agree? He took his hand in person, his eyes were filled with gratitude, and he immediately toasted to him.
.
"Isn't the poisonous king in Xiting Kingdom? Where are the people?"
"Already gone, Feng Gong also left with him... Everything has been settled. They will become the Peacock Kingdom of the Han Dynasty. Your Majesty will crown the other party as the Peacock King, and grant honors to the princes, with Feng Gong as the prime minister.
They have to pay taxes every year and obey the orders of the Han. In addition, they have to be completely open to the Han, build roads, and trade with the Han..."
"Their merchants have arrived in Xiting Kingdom one after another. You can arrange the trade now!"
"However, the road over there is still under construction. There are not many merchants, so they still have to wait..."
"Peacock King? Why is it called such a name?"
"Hahaha, his son's name is even weirder. His prince has been sent to Chang'an. At this moment, he may have met His Majesty!"