The sun has just risen and the morning fog in the mountain stream has not yet dispersed.
Dimly, a small rammed earth courtyard at the foot of the mountain was revealed in the morning mist.
Wang Daqiang squatted in the yard, taking good care of his Huanshou knife and bow and arrows seriously.
At this time, the courtyard door was pushed open.
A sturdy figure walked in carrying a basket of peat.
Seeing Wang Daqiang, the other party weakly shouted in Mandarin that he was not very proficient in: "Lang Jun."
Wang Daqiang nodded and looked at the other party.
She was a little girl of only seventeen or eighteen years old, with a strong figure and slightly dark skin. Wang Daqiang bought her in Guangyuan City for ten thousand dollars two months ago.
Because she was originally a maidservant in the family of the traitor Yang Jingtong, her surname was Yang and her given name was "Xiaoying".
Xiaoying put down the basket on her back, and then piled the peat she carried back in a corner of the yard.
Then, she was ready to cook.
But at this moment, Wang Daqiang stopped her and said, "Xiaoying, come here, I have something to tell you."
Yang Xiaoying came to Wang Daqiang obediently and lowered her head: "What do you want to say?"
Wang Daqiang said: "I'm going out for a trip."
Yang Xiaoying raised her head and saw Wang Daqiang grabbing a handful of money in her trousers and stuffing it into her hand.
"This trip will take as little as half a month and as much as a month."
"You stay at home and take care of yourself."
"If something happens, go to the town to find Pan Guanren's family... I told the official about it."
Pan Guanren is Pan Sui, the person close to Uncle Gao Guo who bought Xiaoying in Guangyuan City with Wang Daqiang.
Because of the great victory in the southern expedition, the chickens and dogs ascended to heaven.
Now, Pan Sui, a low-ranking scholar who couldn't even pass the imperial examination.
He was awarded an official position because of his meritorious service in following Gao Zunhui and liaising with all parties.
Although, he only selected the lowest-ranking Yongzhou Sihu to join the army.
Moreover, you have to go back to Bianjing, go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, pass the official examination, get a petition, and submit the role of three generations of the family before you can truly take up the post.
But no matter what, this is official.
Therefore, Pan Sui was immediately recruited by Youjiang's pacification department and used to engage in Qiangu activities in Youjiang, Guangyuan and other states.
On the surface, this seems to be a very leisurely job.
It is nothing more than tribute paid to Bianjing by the local officials in charge of the area according to the system.
But in fact, it’s because of the sugar cane fields and ‘customers’ like Wang Daqiang who went south.
This so-called activity was carried out by Qiangu of Youjiang, Guangyuan and other states, and it had great power and responsibility.
It is not only a mouthpiece that connects chieftains from all over the country, but also a key to controlling the ‘customers’ going south.
Wang Daqiang had heard someone say that the so-called "Youjiang Appeasement Division" was somewhat like the Zhe Chong Mansion of the Tang Dynasty.
He didn't understand much of this either, and couldn't understand it at all.
But one thing is very intuitive - the seal stamped on the ground he circled is the official seal of Youjiang Appeasement Department.
The money he owed was repaid at the Youjiang Appeasement Department.
Moreover, he has to respond to the orders of the Pacification Department at any time, bring his own weapons and dry food, and participate in the military operations of the Pacification Department.
"Ah!" Yang Xiaoying was startled: "Official, are we going to fight again?"
"Didn't you say that Shenglong Mansion has already sent envoys to sue for peace?"
Women who have experienced the chaos of war are the group who most intuitively feel the horror of war.
The wolf-like soldiers tore into pieces the gorgeous dresses of the once-high-ranking hostesses.
The grinning general hugged the formerly beautiful boudoir lady.
Blood is flowing.
There is nowhere to hide in such a huge mansion.
Finally, everyone was strung up by ropes and pulled to the market.
Many people disappeared for no reason during this process.
It is precisely because of this that she enjoys the current peace extremely.
I'm afraid that such a quiet and peaceful day will be broken again.
Wang Daqiang laughed loudly: "How dare you hit Jiaozhi's rotten sheep head?"
They were already hurt last time.
The severed heads were piled up in the capital, and they are still standing at the foot of Beizhang City, causing envoys coming and going from Jiaozhi to change their expressions.
"That……"
"I'm here to protect the grain!" Wang Daqiang said, "Jiaozhi has agreed to deliver the first batch of rice starting this month."
"This time it is said that there are two hundred thousand dan!"
Wang Daqiang sighed and said: "Two hundred thousand stones of rice, if piled up, would probably fill the valleys where we live."
Yang Xiaoying also covered her mouth and exclaimed: "Two hundred thousand stones of rice..."
"Well!" Wang Daqiang said: "The official document from the Appeasement Department has been sent out. One of the five 'clients' will be drawn. I was lucky enough to be drawn. This time I go to protect food and I can earn a hundred dollars a day.
tips!"
"If you're lucky, you can get a piece of silk cloth after completing this errand. Then I will make clothes for Xiaoying!"
Yang Xiaoying listened and was dumbfounded: "You still have money to get?"
Wang Daqiang listened and asked in disbelief: "How can anyone be willing to sacrifice their life without giving them money?"
In Bianjing City, even Zhao Guan's family would not be able to command the imperial army without giving them money.
In Wang Daqiang's memory, he had seen several times the grand spectacle of his uncles from the Forbidden Army enjoying rewards.
Therefore, in Wang Daqiang's heart, it is only natural and right to give money to do things.
"Besides, the government is not short of money now." Wang Daqun clicked his tongue: "In these days, the gold found in various places, at least three to five thousand taels, has been melted by the government and made into gold.
I'll send it back to Bianjing..."
Wang Daqiang circled the ground at the end of April.
At that time, he wore leggings and carried dry food, gritted his teeth and walked for a full day within the specified time, and finally secured this huge property for him and his descendants - thousands of people including three barren mountains.
acres of mountainous land.
There are also two streams and a river channel that flows through the valley.
He has also been working hard to find gold.
After more than a month, relying on the gold pan, he took Yang Xiaoying to wash the sediment in streams and rivers, and he actually found some gold.
But he owes too much debt!
The official family in Bianjing alone has at least two hundred strings.
The gold found can only be sold immediately and sold to the Appeasement Department at the market price.
Most of it has to be used to repay the government's interest.
The annual interest rate is 20%!
With the remaining money, he still had to buy rice, oil and salt.
To be honest, Wang Daqiang feels like he has been fooled now.
"If I had known earlier, I should have gone to Xihe like Guo Gui..."
He sighed as he thought of the co-worker with whom he once gambled and drank wine on the construction site.
"If that were the case, I wouldn't owe so much money."
At the construction site in Hebei, he only owed more than twenty dollars in gambling debts.
However, on the way south, all kinds of expenses, expenditures, training, weapons purchases and other expenses added up, making his debts pile up.
Adding in interest, it was a figure that almost made him despair.
Fortunately, he now has an estate.
There are thousands of acres of mountainous land!
The wild beasts, birds, and trees in the mountains and forests all belong to him.
The gold, coal, iron ore, and copper ore underground are also his (if there is any).
Wang Daqiang heard about it. Over there in Sumaozhou, a lucky man discovered iron ore in the area below the circle. Now that man has made a fortune.
It is said that even the local chieftain wanted to marry his daughter to him.
"Why don't I have such good luck?"
Thinking like this, Wang Daqiang said to Yang Xiaoying: "Xiaoying, I've been thinking about it for a long time. I plan to save a few more months of money and go to the comfort department to redeem all your brothers..."
Yang Xiaoying is the son of Yang Jingtong, and so are her father, brother and sisters.
When the Yang family fell, they were uprooted.
Everything that belongs to the Yang family naturally becomes the target of division among everyone.
The women sold it, while the men worked directly in the sugar cane fields.
I have to work under the scorching sun every day, and my life is extremely hard.
After Wang Daqiang bought Yang Xiaoying, he also relied on Pan Sui's relationship to inquire about the place where Yang Xiaoying's father and brother were imprisoned - the sugar cane garden of the Nong family in Shun'an Prefecture.
Wang Daqiang also visited it - the conditions were very difficult.
When Yang Xiaoying heard Wang Daqiang's words, she immediately shed tears: "Lang Jun... Lang Jun... I really don't know how to thank Lang Jun."
Wang Daqiang chuckled: "Give me more fat boys."
In fact, it was Pan Sui who gave Wang Daqiang the idea of redeeming Yang Xiaoying's brother.
In this Jiaozhi place, the number of customers who migrated south is finally a bit thin.
There still needs to be someone!
When there are more people, even if you are panning for gold, you will get a few more taels of gold than others!
As for the issue of raising people?
It's no longer a problem now.
Because Jiaozhi pays millions of shi for rice every year, and then sells it at the market price of millions of shi in the Song Dynasty.
The influx of these cheap grains will drive down grain prices in northern states.
After Wang Daqiang heard this, he felt it made perfect sense.
As the saying goes, father and son go into battle, and brothers fight tigers.
He has no relatives in Jiaozhou, and the only one he can trust right now is Yang Xiaoying.
If he doesn't redeem her family and work together to find gold, who else can he expect?
…
Lu Jia asked if he was in a particularly good mood recently.
Especially when he saw more and more gold collars piled up in the warehouse, he felt particularly bright.
Fifty taels of gold collars can quickly make up a hundred.
One hundred gold collars!
Lu Jiawen was stroking his beard, his face full of spring breeze.
Beside him, Gao Zunhui was also smiling from ear to ear.
"Fu Ni is indeed a great talent!" Gao Zunhui praised: "With Fu Fu sitting here, there will be no worries in Youjiang."
If Gao Zunhui had seen all this gold in the past, he might not even be able to walk.
He tried his best to swallow some of it.
But now...
He no longer values this benefit.
Because the sugar cane planted in various places in Cochin is growing increasingly well.
The sugarcane farmers invited from Mingzhou and Suzhou all said that there will definitely be a bumper harvest by the end of this year.
Gao Zunhui also tasted the crisp and crisp taste of tender sugar cane.
The taste is very sweet, and when it matures, there will definitely be a lot of sucrose squeezed out!
This is an inheritance that can be passed down to future generations.
Therefore, Gao Zunhui is full of energy.
His concern for Jiaozhou's cause has reached an unprecedented level.
It's not just him.
The same is true for other people with interests in Jiaozhou.
The local officials in Jiaozhou, the generals of the imperial army who went south, the civil servants in the Guangxi Economic Strategy and Appeasement Department...
Everyone is quietly waiting for the results at the end of this year.
They are all eager to try.
Ambition is like expanding dough, quietly growing!
Everyone knows very well how precious and valuable sugar is.
And a stable production area that can supply a large amount of sucrose.
It means that Guangxi will become the sugar capital of the world.
Therefore, in this matter, there is no intrigue and no struggle for power.
Everyone is working hard for a better future as much as possible.
Whether they are doing it for fame, profit, or wealth.
Lu Jiawen listened to Gao Zunhui's praise, smiled, and said: "With official matters at hand, how can a subordinate dare to express his kindness?"
"A true wise minister should do official business."
"Whether it's officials and maids from all over Cochin, wives and daughters, and clients from the south..."
"Still presiding over and supervising the 'customer' enclosure."
"Alternatively, you can be friendly to the local officials of the state and communicate with them in the way of benevolence and forgiveness of Confucius and Mencius..."
"Everything done in official affairs in Jiaozhou and Zhuzhou must be a virtuous deed that will leave a name in history."
Yes, Wang Daqiang thought that he bought Yang Xiaoying by accident.
But it was actually intentional.
That day, Pan Sui found dozens of people, all of whom were young and strong like Wang Daqiang and had no family fortune.
And the maids who appeared in front of them all had fathers, brothers and sisters.
If you marry one, you can marry a large family.
This is equivalent to accelerating the local development of Nanxia Qingzhuang in disguise.
Gao Zunhui smiled and shook his head: "What I did was just to share the country's worries. I can't say that I am a virtuous person."
He did those things purely for himself.
Planting sugar cane is just the beginning.
Squeezing sugar, extracting sugar, and making sugar are all processes.
The real trouble lies in how to safely and effectively transport the sugar to the Central Plains.
Rather than being robbed halfway.
At this time, the young man who had moved south came into his sight.
Binding these people is equivalent to gaining a powerful bodyguard force.
At least among the northern states of Jiaozhou, there is such an armed immigrant team, which is enough to ensure the safety of the sugar transportation team every year.
Therefore, strengthening these people is equivalent to buying insurance for your own money.
Gao Zunhui was a little greedy.
But his mind is still very clear.
He calculated this account clearly - not to mention, it didn't require him to pay, it was just a matter of convenience.
Besides, he was doing things according to orders.
"By the way..." Lu Jiawen suddenly said: "On official business, have you met Marquis Chongxian of Jiaozhi?"
Gao Zunhui nodded.
"What do you think?"
Gao Zunhui grinned: "That's a smart man!"
The brother of the King of Cochin, Chongxian Hou Li Taide, entered the country last month.
Now, under the escort of Yan Yuan, together with Yu Longzhi and the first batch of soldiers and horses of Yulong's first general who returned to Beijing, he set foot on the road to Bianjing. Counting the time, he should have entered Jinghunan by now.
The jurisdiction of the road.
During Li Taide's stay in Guangxi, he met people from all walks of life.
He behaved very respectfully and showed a very humble attitude.
"Then do you think this Chongxian can be forgiven while he is waiting in front of the emperor?"
Gao Zunhui smiled deeply and said, "How do you know so much about me?"
"Everything is decided by the two palaces of Cisheng and the official family."
"but……"
Gao Zunhui licked his tongue and said, "I think that the Cisheng of the Two Palaces and the officials will agree to his request."
Jiaozhi is facing a lot of pressure right now.
In the north, Chen Bing of the Song Dynasty fought against the Fuliang River. Although peace had been negotiated, the local officials in the states north of the Yangtze River were afraid that Shenglong Mansion would come back and destroy their stable and peaceful life.
Therefore, these local officials are busy building troops and horses, and there are still some people who want to "capture Sheng Long Mansion once and for all".
In the south, Champa and Chenla continued to harass, and it was said that they had defeated the Cochin army in succession.
If the current situation in Jiaozhi continues, the country may be destroyed at any time.
This is also the reason why the Cochin man took the initiative to deliver the first batch of rice so quickly - he really couldn't hold on any longer.
I hope that the Song Dynasty will come out to mediate its war with Champa and Zhenla.
If it were in the past, the Song Dynasty would actually have no say in such matters.
Zhenla and Champa would not even look at Song Dynasty.
But now, the situation is different.
Because the Song Dynasty and Jiaozhi were facing each other across the Fuliang River, Jiaozhi's main force was contained.
Therefore, the Song Dynasty can actually affect the relationship between them.
Once the Song Dynasty relaxed the pressure, the Jiaozhi people could mobilize their main force to march south.
Zhenla may not be able to defeat Champa.
Lu Jia asked and nodded.
"Actually..." Lu Jia asked Youyou and said, "It might be better to let the three countries conquer each other."
"In just a few months, hundreds of people have died from exhaustion in sugar cane plantations everywhere..."
"Maybe we'll end up relying on the Cochin people to recruit workers for the sugar cane plantations."
There is a bug in the northern states of Jiaozhou.
This is all Jizhou.
Jisi Prefecture does not use the laws of the Song Dynasty.
In these places, everything is said by the local officials themselves.
In other words, everything that happened in these places had nothing to do with the Song Dynasty or Confucius and Mencius.
At the same time, they were also in the territory of the Song Dynasty.
Therefore, the local products produced here can be sold directly to markets throughout the Song Dynasty.
