Zhang Xu came to Yanzhou to purchase kerosene on the order of Guo Song. Although Anxi also produced a small amount of kerosene, Anxi kerosene was too viscous, thick, and had too many impurities, and its burning effect was far inferior to that of Gaonu oil in Yanzhou.
Zhang Shu followed Gongsun Qing to the Gongsun Mansion. This is a mansion covering an area of fifty acres. It is indeed the most wealthy family in Yanzhou. Even the gate is so grand. Zhang Shu squinted and looked at the tall red lacquer door.
"Dr. Zhang, please come in!"
Gongsun Qing whispered: "My brother is waiting at the door!"
Zhang Xu smiled slightly, the Gongsun family was still very careful.
He walked into the door and saw the head of the family, Gong Sun Liang, waiting inside the door, greeting him with a smile.
"Welcome Zhang Canjun to my mansion, Gongsun Liang!"
"It turns out he is the head of the Gongsun family. I have heard about his name for a long time."
"Zhang Canjun, please come to us!"
"please!"
Zhang Xu followed Gongsun Liang to the distinguished guest hall. The two parties sat down separately, with Gongsun Qing sitting at the bottom.
The maid came in and served them tea. Gongsun Liang smiled and asked, "Did Zhang Canjun come from Xiaoguan?"
"It's not Xiao Guan!"
Zhang Xu smiled slightly and said: "I came from the Yellow River by boat, and the boat was anchored at Qingshui Wharf in Fenglin County."
"I understand, no wonder Zhang Canjun wants to purchase so much Gaonu oil."
Zhang Xun smiled and said: "Our demand this time is relatively large, we want 5,000 barrels. The market price is 5 guan per barrel. We are willing to pay 6 guan. We can pay in silver or gold."
Gongsun Liang pondered for a moment and said: "Unsatisfied, Zhang Canjun said that the total inventory now only has 3,000 barrels, which can all be given to the Hexi Army. The other 2,000 barrels will not be delivered until the end of the year. Is that okay?"
"This... is also ok, we can pay the deposit."
Gongsun Liang shook his head, "If it were anyone else, I wouldn't have dared to sell five thousand barrels. If Zhu Si found out about this, our whole family would be unlucky. But if the Hexi Army can find my Gongsun family, that is the glory of our family. Not only will I
I am willing to hand over 5,000 barrels of kerosene to the Hexi Army without taking any money, even if our family does a little bit for Guo Shijun."
Gongsun Qing's eyes widened, he didn't want any money? Did the elder brother hear it wrong? They asked for five thousand barrels, not five barrels!
Gongsun Qing was so anxious that he rolled his eyes, but Gongsun Liang pretended not to see it.
Zhang Xu was also a little surprised, "This...how is this so embarrassing, thirty thousand dollars!"
Gongsun Liang said categorically: "This is not a matter of money, but our family's support for the Hexi Army."
Zhang Xu was really moved in his heart. He stood up and saluted and said: "The Gongsun family's support for the Hexi Army is engraved in our hearts. I must report it to Guo Shijun and ask for credit for the head of the Gongsun family!"
Gongsun Qing was stunned for a long time, and then he understood what his eldest brother was doing. He was handing over a certificate!
Zhang Xu discussed the details of the delivery again, and then stood up to leave. Brother Gongsun sent him out of the door.
Watching Zhang Xu get on the carriage and drive away, Gongsun Qing sighed and said, "Brother, five thousand barrels of oil!"
Gongsun Liang said calmly: "This kind of oil is inexhaustible and we don't have much capital. What's wrong with using it as a token of trust? Does my Gongsun family still care about 20,000 yuan?"
"Brother is right, I'm just afraid that the matter will be leaked!"
Gongsun Liang pondered for a moment and said: "It is right to go from Fenglin County, it is relatively hidden, but we moved 5,000 barrels of kerosene there, which is too conspicuous. We should put our warehouse on board the ship at night, and the city gate is closed.
It won’t be a big problem.”
"I know, I'll make arrangements right away!"
.........
At night, the city gate has been closed, and it is very quiet on the dock outside Fushi County. There are many large warehouses on the dock. To the east are the government warehouses and to the west are private warehouses. Among them, the Gongsun family's fire oil depot occupies a large area.
There was a special dock, and more than a hundred cargo ships came quietly and anchored at Gongsun's dock.
The warehouse door opened, and the soldiers on board the ship quickly moved to carry the wooden oil barrels. A barrel of oil weighed fifty kilograms, and a thousand-stone ship could hold forty or fifty barrels. The soldiers pushed the barrels of oil onto the ship and rolled it directly.
Enter the cabin.
A cargo ship was loaded, sailed away from the pier, turned around and parked on the other side, and another empty ship picked up. It was busy until the fifth watch, when all three thousand barrels of kerosene were loaded onto the ship.
Zhang Xu stood on the bow of the boat and said goodbye to Gongsun Liang, "Master Gongsun, take care, we will see you soon!"
"Have a nice journey Zhang Canjun!"
The fleet set off, sailing down the river towards the Yellow River.
........
After entering June, the weather in Zhangye became hotter day by day. In the morning, Guo Song received an eagle letter from Lanzhou. Taiyuan Yuan clan sent people to buy 3,000 war horses and shipped 150,000 horses by ship.
piece of cloth.
Although many officials had objections and suggested that Hexi stop selling war horses, Guo Song never issued an order banning the sale of horses.
Everything has advantages and disadvantages. Although selling horses in Hexi will increase the military strength of each vassal town, even if Hexi does not sell horses, they can still buy war horses from the Uighurs. Rather than letting the Uighurs make the money, they might as well make it themselves.
Secondly, raising cavalry consumes a lot of national resources. If financial resources are limited, raising cavalry will inevitably restrict the development of other military services, and infantry will not be able to obtain better weapons and armor. This is undoubtedly a good thing.
Guo Song stood in front of the map and stared at Hedong. He got the latest news. Zhu Tao had increased his troops in Hengzhou. This meant that Zhu Tao was about to launch an attack on Taiyuan. This was a good opportunity. Should he seize it?
it?
At this time, aide Du Siye said at the door: "Envoy, Cang Cao Zhang joins the army to ask for an audience!"
"Invite him in!"
Zhang Xu walked into the official room and said: "The second batch of two thousand barrels of kerosene has been prepared by the Gongsun family. They sent a pigeon letter to inform the humble officials to transport the oil!"
"It's ready so soon, doesn't it mean it's the end of the year?"
"I guess the Gongsun family transferred goods from other families. There are many small oil wells in Yanzhou. If you accumulate them, two thousand barrels of oil is not too much."
Guo Song nodded and said with a smile: "This Gongsun family is very hardworking!"
"The humble position sent people to investigate. The Gongsun family wanted to embrace Zhu Si a few years ago, but Zhu Si didn't look down on them at all. After the Hexi Army captured Shuofang, their attention turned to the envoy. They probably wanted to
Hug Shijun's thigh."
Guo Song laughed and said: "Are my thighs so easy to hug? Performance once or twice is not enough, they have to work harder."
Zhang Xu also smiled and said: "Your Majesty, the governor of Suizhou seems to be Gongsun Liang's sister-in-law. This delivery will be placed at the Yellow River Wharf in Yanfu County, Suizhou. Our fleet will not have to go to Fushi County."
Guo Song's heart moved and he quickly came to the map and quickly found Yanfu County on the map. On the other side of the Yellow River is Dinghu County in Shizhou, which is a famous Yellow River wharf.
Suizhou belongs to Zhu Si. The armistice agreement was signed only a few months ago. It is not easy for Guo Song to send troops to capture it directly, but Suizhou is a very good logistics center. If Yanfu County can be controlled, it will be the logistics base of the Hexi Army.
There you have it.
Thinking of this, Guo Song said to Zhang Shu: "Please ask the Gongsun family to lead the way. You can have a good talk with the governor of Suizhou and hope that he can be loyal to the Hexi Army."
"Do you want to occupy Suizhou?"
"no!"
Guo Song shook his head and said: "Suizhou is still superficially loyal to Zhu Si. We signed an armistice agreement. I don't want to tear it up yet, but Suizhou's strategic location is very important. I want to use Yanfu County to store grain and grass supplies."
"I understand, I understand. I'll go talk to Gongsun Liang."
Guo Song remembered something and said: "I just remembered something. The Yuan family wants to purchase 3,000 war horses and send a fleet to transport 150,000 pieces of cloth. I have approved this transaction, but the fleet heard that
It does not belong to the Taiyuan government, but is a private fleet temporarily rented by the government. You can stop by Lanzhou to take a look and, if possible, rent this fleet to transport food and supplies for us."
"I humbly obey the order and resign now."
Zhang Xu bowed and hurriedly retreated. He went back to pack his things and set off for Suizhou.
Guo Song picked up a horizontal knife from the table. This knife was a common equipment of the Yuan family army. It was not a standard weapon left by the Tang army in the past. It was made by the Yuan family themselves. It was made of very ordinary pig iron. The iron quality was not good.
.
Guo Song put the knife on the shelf. He took out a Mo Dao from the back room, shouted low, and slashed with the knife. There was a flash of cold light, and there was only a "click!" sound, and the horizontal knife was split into two pieces by the Mo Dao.
At this moment, Guo Song made up his mind to settle the old score with the Yuan family.