One of the clan leaders spoke first: "When talking about the future, it is better to think about the present... Apart from anything else, we should first let the clansmen have enough to eat and wear new clothes."
Another person echoed: "Last year during the winter, the shacks built by the clan were overwhelmed by heavy snow, and seven households were lost. This spring, there is no food, and about ten people starved to death."
Someone continued: "Although the tribesmen in my tribe have received a lot of expenses from the Luo Tu Long tribe, after careful calculation, they can only support it for a few dozen days... I originally wrote a letter asking us to move here, but this sand
The prefecture is vast and there is no land, and there is no fishing or hunting. The only traffic is small caravans, and I can’t make much money as a guide, which is not enough for the family’s expenses.”
After hearing this, Long Maoyuan looked a little embarrassed.
He originally wanted to take advantage of this alliance meeting to discuss with other dragon tribes about supporting the prince, but he did not expect that the other people would talk about their hardships in life, but in fact they were asking for money and food.
Long Maoyuan thought for a moment and said to the others: "The Luo Tu Dragon Division found the descendants of Prince Yanqi, got his protection, and asked for food and silk from Zhou Jian, but it always goes on like this, and it is not
It is a long-term solution. Firstly, the money in other people's hands is not blown by the strong wind, so the other party is willing to help the tribe, and it is also for the sake of the ancestors; secondly, the money in other people's hands is always used like this, and the people in the tribe are
Help me, if I become lazy, what will I do in the future?"
Hearing this, the other clan leaders in the tent thought it was reasonable, and all of them had sad faces.
Long Maoyuan added: "In the past, the Han people had a saying that instead of looking for fish in the river, it is better to go home and weave nets. The Twelve Dragons of Yanqi, rather than waiting for others to send money and food, it is right to make a living on their own.
"
Someone complained: "In Shazhou, Guazhou, Yizhou and other areas, whether it is fertile land or shops, they are all occupied by officials and dignitaries. How can we make a living?"
Zhou Jun on the side finally said: "A certain person received the order from the imperial court to reopen the Dunhuang trade route and repair the stations and roads along the way. Do you all know about it?"
Everyone in the tent nodded together.
Zhou Jun: "The main function of the so-called post stations is to convey messages and transport items for the Tang Dynasty court. As for the post stations on the Dunhuang trade route, in addition to those stations under the jurisdiction of the state capital, there are also many located in the Shazhou desert. Due to
It has fallen into disrepair and has become a ruin.”
The clan leaders were all confused after hearing Zhou Jun's words. They were originally talking about the livelihood of the people of the Dragon tribe, so why did they suddenly talk about the inn?
Zhou Jun: "Even if the post station in the desert of Shazhou is repaired, it will not be easy to recruit the post director, post soldiers and post men."
Long Maoyuan nodded. The desert environment in Shazhou is harsh, with quicksand, dust storms, and evil miasma all over the place. Anyone who doesn't know how to enter is bound to escape death, let alone stay at the post station for a long time, serving as post commander, post soldier and post husband.
Thinking of this, Long Maoyuan's heart brightened, and he quickly asked Zhou Jun: "What Zhou Jian means is that he wants people from the Long tribe to serve as post commanders, post soldiers and post husbands?"
Zhou Jun nodded lightly.
Everyone in the tent nodded when they heard this.
In the post station in the sandbank desert, ordinary people are simply not qualified to serve as post commander, post soldier, and post husband. Only the ancestors of the Long tribe who are familiar with the desert can take on this job.
A clan leader thanked Zhou Jun and said: "If Supervisor Zhou can recommend the Dragon tribe to be post leaders, post soldiers and post men, that would be a great thing. First of all, this is an official status, and it will be a bit embarrassing to say it out.
, Secondly, this can help hundreds of tribesmen solve their career problems, and at least allow them to have food and clothing. We are here to thank Supervisor Zhou for his kindness..."
Zhou Jun interrupted him: "Who said that this move can only help a few hundred tribesmen? My intention is to use the Desert Station to allow thousands of tribesmen in the Twelve Dragon Tribes to live a life without worries about food and clothing.
."
As soon as this statement came out, everyone was shocked.
Zhou Jun of the Longmao Yuan Dynasty hesitated and said: "Usually, a post station can be staffed with at most ten people. According to the practice of the Tang Dynasty, if a post station is built thirty miles away, then the entire Shazhou desert can have at most twenty posts. Calculating like this
Down here, we can only find a living for two hundred tribesmen. Why does Zhou Jian say that all the Twelve Dragon Tribes will have enough food and clothing?" Zhou Jun looked at the crowd and asked: "The post station in the desert of Shazhou is used for making food and clothing.
What?"
Long Maoyuan replied: "To convey messages or transport items for the imperial court."
Zhou Jun: "That's wrong. The inn can also provide accommodation, food and water for travelers and caravans."
Long Maoyuan thought about it carefully. In order to make some extra money, many inns in the Tang Dynasty would indeed occasionally serve as wine shops and inns without telling Shangguan. But in the final analysis, these were side businesses that were not worthy of publicity.
The competitiveness is far inferior to those of full-time merchants, so the main business is still serving the imperial court.
Zhou Jun: "The environment of the Shazhou desert is harsh, and no merchants would open stores there. Therefore, the post station provides food and accommodation to travelers. It can be said that it is a unique business without any competitors."
Long Maoyuan was startled when he heard this. Then he recalled what Zhou Jun had said, and he felt vaguely enlightened.
Zhou Jun picked up a pot bag from the table and asked everyone: "How much can you buy such a pot of water in this camp?"
Someone replied: "It's not far from Cangfeng River. It only takes half an hour to go back and forth. A bag of water is not worth anything."
Zhou Jun: "What if it's in the Shazhou Desert?"
Everyone was speechless.
Long Maoyuan thought for a long time before saying to Zhou Jun: "Since fresh water occupies the carriage and is not light, ordinary caravans usually only carry three days' worth of fresh water. But the Shazhou desert is dry and hot, and these three days' worth of
On the road, half of the water will be evaporated. Therefore, if a bag of water is sold in the desert, it can be sold for about fifteen cents."
Zhou Jun asked again: "What if it is a bag of fine wine?"
Long Maoyuan shook his head when he heard this and said: "Supervisor Zhou, please don't joke. Wine is most likely to spoil and turn sour when exposed to heat. How can it be sold in the desert?"
Zhou Jun: "The station has a cellar for storing food, and a water storage cellar for connecting to underground water. In addition, although the surface temperature difference is huge in the desert, the underground temperature is cold all year round, so fresh food and wine are stored in it.
Able to maintain quality for a long time.”
When Long Maoyuan heard this, he finally understood.
He stammered and asked Zhou Jun: "What Zhou Jian means is... the inns in the desert mainly make money by selling food and lodging at high prices to travelers. As for... sending letters and objects to the imperial court, it is just a side job?"
"
Zhou Jun smiled and said to Long Maoyuan: "Not only food and accommodation, the station can provide a lot of conveniences, but I'm afraid you don't understand it now."
Long Maoyuan and the other clan leaders of the Dragon Tribe looked at each other for a while, and everyone's faces were filled with joy.
According to Zhou Jun, the people of the Dragon tribe run a post station in the desert of Shazhou. Due to the lack of competitors and frequent caravans, it is indeed a good business. Such a lucrative job cannot be found even with a lantern.
Moreover, only people from the Dragon tribe are capable of doing this job. Anyone else would have no way of doing it.
From now on, the Twelve Dragons tribe can be said to have got rid of the harsh days of lack of food and clothing, and the whole clan will soon be rich.
After thinking about this, Long Maoyuan and other clan leaders stood up one after another, walked to Zhou Jun again, and saluted according to Yanqi's court etiquette.
Long Maoyuan was excited, his eyes were red, and he shouted loudly: "Supervisor Zhou is so kind and kind, and the Dragon Department will be grateful for it! From now on, if there is any difference, the whole clan must obey!"