It was the salt and horse trade that made Shanxi merchants and neighboring Qin merchants quickly become rich, and they soon extended their tentacles to the south of the Yangtze River and began to rob the profits of the salt merchants in the south of the Yangtze River.
Start to show off.
However, the imperial examinations in the Qin and Jin Dynasties were backward, while the imperial examinations in Jiangnan were developed. This resulted in that most of the officials in the court were from Jiangnan.
The Jiangnan Group advocated "the best in learning will lead to officialdom" and firmly maintained the Ming Dynasty through well-developed imperial examinations, while Shanxi merchants were also different.
Shanxi merchants believe that "being an official and doing well leads to business."
Therefore, the Shanxi merchants who became high-ranking officials focused on making money, and eventually developed the famous Shanxi Guild Hall and the ticket office business all over the world.
nature.
There are also many adults who hang out with Shanxi merchants.
thus.
The conflict between Qin merchants, Shanxi merchants and Jiangnan Group was inevitable.
What is a ticket number.
Shen Lie's eyes were filled with confusion. Aren't bank accounts just banks? Speaking of which, the entire Ming Dynasty's banks, currency issuance, and lending businesses were all controlled by a group of businessmen.
Shanxi Bank actually plays the role of the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States.
Is it possible to do this without causing any trouble?
How could the finances of the Ming Dynasty, which did not have the right to issue currency, avoid going bankrupt?
And party fighting.
Shen Lie's goal became more murky. Naturally, the Jiangzhe Group did not dare to be controlled by others, so it cultivated thugs like the Donglin Party to compete with Shanxi and Qin merchants for benefits.
There was chaos.
It came to mind.
So, does the imperial court want to take back the financial power? Does the emperor want to touch the Shanxi merchants?
think.
But I can't move.
Shen Lie suddenly thought of Zhang Siwei, the current Acting Chief Assistant of the Cabinet, and murmured to himself: "Old Zhang Ge."
The father of Mr. Zhang Ge, who was about to be promoted to chief minister, was Zhang Yunling, who happened to be a wealthy businessman in Shanxi. Zhang Siwei's biological mother was the second sister of Wang Chonggu, the governor of Xuan Dynasty during the Jiajing period.
Wang Chonggu presided over the famous Longqing peace talks. This governor-general happened to be a son of a wealthy family in Puzhou, Shanxi.
It's so intricate.
I thought of the time when my enthusiasm waned.
Shen Lie carefully hid his thoughts, paid the bill, and then got up and left with his two men.
The next day.
early morning.
When Shen Lie opened the door, there was a brilliant glow outside. He took a few breaths of fresh air, and a dozen of his subordinates who lived in Datongbu downstairs had already gotten up.
After filling up the water bag, tying up the carriage, the escort carriage and horse team slowly walked out of the inn.
Next stop.
Datong Mansion.
But the cavalry team had just walked out of the inn.
What a coincidence.
A horse team also drove out from the inn opposite. The escort carriages escorted by the two horse teams were stuck on the street, and no one could get through for a while.
Shen Lie reined in his horse.
look up.
Then I saw the red escort flag mounted on the escort car opposite, as well as a few large golden characters.
Pingyao Escort Agency.
Taking a closer look at these four big characters, Shen Lie narrowed his eyes and suddenly realized that he had met a colleague. Everyone said that colleagues are enemies.
It's true.
Isn't this a coincidence?
The Pingyao Escort Bureau seems to be the most famous escort bureau in Shanxi. Don't underestimate the escort bureaus in this world. Such escort agencies not only escort private escorts, but even official escorts.
The power cannot be underestimated.
Judging from the equipment of this group of people, they all rode strong horses, wore all red clothes, carried bows and quivers on their backs, and everyone also carried a short-handled machete.
The leader was a young and heroic young man with a handsome appearance, sharp eyebrows and starry eyes. He was followed by a handsome and heroic woman with a strong figure.
The two of them seemed like a brother and sister, which reminded Shen Lie of the martial arts novels he had read in those years, such as the Book of Swords and Enmity, and the Red Flower Society, and other images emerged in his mind.
Of course.
These bodyguards are very different from the heroes in martial arts novels. They are clearly a team of elite light cavalry, and everyone is a master of horse combat who is proficient in riding and archery.
This posture.
Shen Lie was thoughtful, knowing that he had met a legendary pacesetter.
When speaking.
The people from the Pingyao Escort Bureau opposite were looking at Shen Lie's cavalry, and their eyes fell on the Dongchang flag that was moving with the wind.
The people in the escort agency were surprised.
Unconsciously, I felt a little guilty.
As the heroic young man waved his hand, the escort car of the Pingyao Escort Bureau began to retreat slowly, and then retreated into the inn yard, clearing the road.
Shen Lie smiled slightly and said loudly: "Thank you."
Even though people traveling together are enemies, etiquette is indispensable when going out.
The young man said hurriedly: "I don't dare, sir, please."
After a few words of humility.
Shen Lie then led his elite cavalry and escorted the three carriages back on the road, heading towards the northwest gate of Zhangjiakou Fort.
At this time, the clear voice of the young man came from behind: "My lord, wait a minute!"
Hear the words.
Shen Lie reined in his horse.
Look back.
Looking at the young escort leader, he hurried over on horseback.
The young man walked to the side of the cavalry, bowed to Shen Lie, and said humbly: "A courtesy to your lord."
Shen Lie was suspicious and asked tentatively: "May I ask what you are doing for me?"
The young man smiled and said kindly: "To Datong, the road ahead is very difficult and unstable. If you don't mind, how about we go together?"
Shen Lie thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay."
Away from home.
Many friends, many paths.
Shen Lie naturally had a good impression of this handsome young man from the escort agency. However, the woman in white not far away curled her lips and looked away from Shen Lie.
The look of disgust could not be concealed between his brows.
Shen Lie ignored him and smiled at the young man. The two cavalry teams left Zhangjiakou one after another and walked slowly towards Datong.
Out of the city.
On the official road.
Dongchang's cavalry was in front, while Pingyao Escort's cavalry was lagging behind. They were following at a distance of less than 100 meters, but they looked after each other.
Traveling is difficult.
The carriage creaked and creaked.
At this time, an old soldier from the Zhejiang Army at the rear of the team caught up and whispered beside Shen Lie: "Sir, this Pingyao Escort Bureau is not simple."
Shen Lie nodded and asked curiously: "How do you say that?"
The old soldier came over and said softly: "This Pingyao Escort Agency has been around for a long time. Its ancestor's surname is Li. Since the establishment of the Escort Agency, Li has been chivalrous and righteous, eliminating violence and peace, and often helping the people around him. He is deeply loved by the people. Sir, you have something to say." I don’t know, during the reign of Emperor Wuzong...His Majesty Emperor Wuzong once commended his ancestors for their loyalty and righteousness, including a double archway and an archway."
Shen Lie was surprised, so he nodded and said, "Oh, I understand."
Put it this way.
The escort agencies of this era are really a bit chivalrous and righteous.
certainly.
This is related to the unrest in the Nine Borders of the Ming Dynasty. These pacesetters usually make a living as escorts, but once wartime comes, they are a new force for the local resistance to the Mongolian invasion.
Look around.
The road gradually became deserted.
Shen Lie was thoughtful.
The road from Zhangjiakou to Datong is naturally not very stable. This place has not been peaceful since Tumubao.
Don't talk about it.
Just over ten years ago, during the Longqing period of the Ming Dynasty, the Mongolian Tatar tribe mobilized 100,000 troops to invade the Ming Dynasty and almost reached the foot of the capital.