"I heard that you are going to Qiang land to do business. Can you tell me why?" The prefect Wen Dang and other officials were all sitting there. Su Ren felt like he was being interviewed. Wen Dang put down his teacup and said: "Young people love to do things, and they are motivated.
It's a good thing, but it's not an adventure. Do you know how difficult it is to go from Chengdu to the Qiang region?"
"It is said that you have to climb two mountains and cross several rivers. There are as many wolves, insects, tigers and leopards as cattle hair, and bandits are rampant. There is no way. If you are not careful, you will die without a burial place. Even if you survive by chance, you will shed a layer of skin.
.”
"So you know? Then you still want to send people? Don't you know that these merchants all have wives and children? If one of them dies, my whole family will be finished!"
"My subordinates must go there in person and open up a path through the forest to lay a solid foundation for future trade routes!"
"What? You want to go in person?" Wen Dang and everyone were surprised.
Chang Shi and Chang Shi on the side had their eyes widened. Hawking and Huang Shisan both found it incredible.
"My subordinates have already thought about it. If they don't go there themselves, they won't be sure about this trade route. Although there are also private traders who have gone there, firstly, the number of people is too small, and secondly, the places these people pass are all secrets.
I will never give it out willingly. This time, my subordinates will not only open up this trade route, but also build the road while walking, and must connect the Qiang land with my big man."
"My subordinates have made a plan to build a temporary resting place every ten miles wherever they go, and store some food and firewood, just like our post station. In this way, we can ensure the safety of merchants entering the Qiang region in the future. This
Only when a trade route is truly opened up."
"Hiss..." Wen Dang took a breath: "It seems that you have been tempted by the Qiang land trade route for a long time?"
"To tell you the truth, I had a plan when the water was warm, and all the land in the world was opened up. For thousands of years, China has only lived near the Weishui River. After generations of hard work, by the time of the Han Dynasty,
Only those who dare to open up the world are the thirteen states in the world. Only those who dare to open up are the heroes of China! As a Han people, how can we stick to our homeland? Only by opening up territories and expanding our territory is the foundation for our survival, and can our country of Han Dynasty last forever!"
Wen Dang nodded: "I have lived in vain for more than seventy years, but I didn't expect that I am not as good as your teenage boy. In that case, tell me, what can I help you with?"
Hearing this, Su Ren realized that his goal had been achieved. He quickly saluted Wen Dang: "The prefect's righteousness is admired by the world. There is really something that we need the prefect's help for!"
Wen Dang laughed and said to everyone: "You see, this is the true face of the boy. With your ambition, even if you want me to be the governor, what's the harm if I give up?"
"The prefect is joking. I am currently recruiting merchants and gathering guards. We will have everything ready in a few months. There is only one thing that is more difficult to handle! As you all know, I will have a narrow escape from death. Without a good guide, I can't guarantee that I will survive."
return."
Everyone nodded. Su Ren continued: "I heard that there are Bo people in southern Sichuan. The women are good at farming and the men are good at fishing and hunting. These people live in the barren mountains all year round and are more familiar with the mountains than we are. I ask the prefect to give way."
The Bo people became our Han nationality and recruited guides from them, firstly to give these slash-and-burn people a way out, and secondly, to prepare us to open up the Qiang land and prepare for future trade routes throughout South Vietnam. Even if the imperial court wants to send an army to the west and south, these people will
Very useful!"
"No! Never!" Chang Shi suddenly objected loudly, attracting everyone's attention.
"Ahem!" Chang Shi cleared his throat: "The Bo people are barbaric and extremely difficult to tame. We have sent people to contact them before. These Bo people not only killed the envoys but also attacked the surrounding villages of our Shu County. Such barbaric and stubborn people
, how can you become a citizen of my great Han Dynasty?"
Wen Dang said nothing, lowered his head and pondered.
Chang Shi sighed and suddenly changed the topic to another matter: "I wonder if there is any news about Captain Tang?"
The soldier stood up quickly: "According to the military reports from the past few days, our army has been victorious and the rebellions in many places have been subsided. I believe that the captain of the Tang Dynasty will be back before the end of the year."
"Oh!" Chang Shi nodded and said nothing.
Su Ren had also heard about the Bo people's rebellion, murder and arson, and Shu County sending troops to suppress it, but he didn't know what the situation was like. This time Chang Shi took the initiative to talk about it, just to give Su Ren a warning.
Chang Shi snorted coldly: "These Bo people should be killed. The men have enough to eat all day long, but the women work hard. Their savings over the years are only used to build their coffins on the cliffs, giving their place a ghostly atmosphere."
Sensen is indeed an ominous person. If you use these people, it may be detrimental to our Han people, so please think twice."
Chang Shi’s surname is Meng, and his name is Ji. It is said that he is a descendant of Qin general Meng Tian. But I don’t know how the Meng family who was stationed in the north ended up living in Shu. Over the years, the Meng family has become a large family in Shu, with many of their children serving as officials.
There are also many people who are engaged in business. 30% of the shops in Shu are owned by the Meng family.
Su Ren smiled coldly: "Meng Changshi is afraid that the opening of my Qiang trade route will affect the Meng family's business, right?"
"You! Humph!" Meng Ji flicked his sleeves and sat back in his seat angrily.
Wen Dang shook his head: "These Bo people are indeed ferocious and difficult to control, and they have repeatedly invaded our borders. The imperial court has issued strict orders to eradicate them. However, they have lived in the mountains for a long time, and when the soldiers arrive, they hide in the mountains, and the soldiers leave. If they come back, it will be a disaster. If someone
It would be a good thing to be able to persuade them to submit to my great Han Dynasty, but it is a pity that our people were either driven away or massacred, so we sent Tang Duwei to eliminate them."
"My subordinate is not talented, but I am willing to go to the Bo people's territory to convince him!" Su Ren looked calm, but what he said surprised everyone again.
Especially for Chang Shi, his eyes widened with an expression of disbelief: "Su Shipu, these Bo people like to kill and are cunning and suspicious. You have to think about it. They are young and have great talents. If...
"
Meng Ji smiled slightly: "Su Shifu, this is the prefect's yamen. Don't talk nonsense when facing the prefect. They are all Han officials, so you must be responsible for what you say!"
Su Ren nodded and bowed to everyone: "Thank you, Chang Shi. Please don't remind me. I would like to issue a military order!"
"Su Shipu!" Chang Shi stood up in a hurry and stopped Su Ren: "This is not a joke!"
Su Ren smiled at Chang Shi and saluted Wen Dang: "When I go here, I will definitely persuade the Bo people to submit to the Han. If not, come and see me!"
"Okay! Here comes the person, I will serve you with pen and ink!" Without waiting for Wen Dang to speak, Meng Ji smiled and asked people to prepare things.
Someone brought a pen and ink and a bamboo slip and placed it on Su Ren's case.
Chang Shi wanted to say something else, but Wen Dang stopped him with his eyes. There was dead silence in the hall, and everyone looked at Su Ren. Su Ren picked up the pen, thought for a moment, then suddenly raised his head and looked at Meng Ji: "Meng Changshi, if this is the case
If things are successful, what can you say?"
Meng Ji was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "If the Su Shibu can persuade those Bo people to surrender to the Han, I would like to dedicate all the Meng family's business to the court to open up trade routes for the Su County governor, what about it?"
"Okay!" Su Ren no longer hesitated, picked up his brush and started writing quickly on the slips.
Over a cup of tea, Su Ren finished writing the last stroke and came to Meng Ji with the slip in his hands: "Please take a look at it, Chief Meng. If you have no doubts, please sign it. The prefect will be the guarantor of this matter, and the two of us will do it."
The bet is settled!"
Wen Dang was almost overjoyed. Originally, Meng Ji forced Su Ren into a corner and asked Su Ren to write a military order. Unexpectedly, what he wrote was a bet. Although the bet was a bit big, looking at Su Ren's confidence, Wen Dang
Feeling sad for Meng Ji instead.
After Meng Ji signed, Wen Dang signed his name without looking at it and handed it back to Chang Shi: "Chang Biejia, please keep this book properly. It will be of great use when Su Shilu returns home in triumph!"
After leaving the prefect's mansion, Su Ren got on his horse and walked home.
Huo Jin glanced back and asked Su Ren: "Brother, are we really going to the Bo land? Although I have never been there, I heard that the Bo people live in caves, eat raw meat, kill living people, and look disgusting.
Being able to communicate with ghosts and using the power of ghosts and gods to hang their coffins on the cliff is said to be a ghost!"
Huang Shisan laughed: "We, the little overlord of Wenshui, actually have times when we are afraid. It is to surrender, not to fight. With my brother here, I will definitely protect you!"
"Who's scared? I'm just talking to my eldest brother."
Su Rendao: "Those things about the Bo people are just their customs. In fact, they are just like us. They eat when they are hungry and sleep when they are sleepy. Hanging coffins is just to bring the soul closer to their gods. It is not a big deal.
.”
"Moreover, the Bo people like to farm. There are only a few people in the middle of Sichuan. It is a good thing to absorb the Bo people. It not only solves their livelihood, but also helps us do business. It kills two birds with one stone and benefits everyone."
"Hahaha...!" Huang Shisan laughed loudly: "It's ridiculous that Meng Changshi was teased by his husband once and took away his family's property without knowing it. It's really ridiculous!"
Su Ren glanced at Huang Shisan with interest: "I didn't expect you to see it. It seems that I didn't do well."
"Ah! So the elder brother was talking about Bo people, but he was talking about the Meng family's property?"
"Hey!" Su Ren sighed and said to Huo Jin: "You have been following me for almost a year, and you still don't make progress. What will you do in the future?"
Back home, Cui Jiuming had not left yet and was waiting for the news Su Ren brought back from the prefect's mansion. Seeing Su Ren enter the door, Cui Jiuming and Sima Xiangru hurriedly came to greet him, with anxious expressions on their faces.
"What does the prefect want from you?"
"It's still a matter of our Qiang land trade route. The prefect is not very optimistic about it and asked me some questions."
"I'm right! This matter must be considered in the long term and cannot be rushed!"
The two let Su Ren into the room, and Huo Jin served tea to everyone again, and they sat down.
Su Rendao: "The prefect is indeed not very optimistic about it. I also think this matter needs to be slowed down. Although our chamber of commerce has grown a lot, it actually doesn't even have half of the merchants in Chengdu. So I went to the prefect's house to fight with Meng Changshi.
We made a bet. If it succeeds, all the business of the Meng family will be returned to the imperial court, and by then our chamber of commerce will be able to grow."
"Ah! Are you talking about Meng Ji?" Cui Jiuming's heart almost jumped out of his chest: "This is the largest merchant in Shu, accounting for more than 30% of the business in Shu. What bet did you make with him?" (To be completed)
