The news that the Gao family's caravan was forcibly bought and sold spread to the city within half a day.
Xuanyu Feng smiled slightly when she heard the news. The reason why she so readily agreed to accompany her niece on the expedition to Western Xinjiang was not only because she truly loved Sheng Weiqiao, but also because she had the intention of standing in front of her.
At this moment, it is satisfying to see Rong Suihe fulfill his promise and attack his competitors.
However, he also discussed with his confidants: "Calculating the time, our caravan should be arriving soon?"
Zuo Zuo said: "It's almost time. Because the weather has been good throughout the country in the past two years, and the price of food is generally not high. According to the total price agreed with the county king before, I bought too much at once, and the carriages and horses prepared earlier were not enough. , so we took some time off to hit the road, otherwise we would have reached Yizhou by now."
Thinking of what happened to the Gao family, I couldn't help but feel a little worried, "Old madam, the Gao family will never give up after suffering such a loss! What if General Meng secretly sends the Northern Xinjiang Army to kill us when our caravan comes over? "
"You all can think of this, how can Mi Zhen still be worried about it?" Xuan Yu Feng said An Ran, "We are not as good as Mi Zhen in things like fighting and killing. Let's just wait and see what he does."
It was calm and calm here. Meng Jiagan, who was waiting for support to arrive, received the news, but he almost fainted from anger again.
He simply asked a doctor to give him an injection in time, and Meng Jiagan just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard a report from someone below, saying that it was the person in charge of the Gao family's caravan who wanted to see him.
"It's useless for him to come to see me now. What I have in Mi Zhen's hands, how can I get it in my current situation?" When Meng Jiagan heard the news, he felt depressed again and said, "I had known this, Ni Jidao and the others should have been asked to lead people to welcome him in the first place."
"Ni Jidao and others are as afraid of the Duke of Mi Zhen as a tiger. If they were to protect the caravan, most of the people who met the Duke would be angry and dare not speak out." Zuo Zuo comforted him, "We are short of manpower. What happened this time There was nothing I could do. Fortunately, it was only a small amount of luggage, and my subordinates asked about it. This was the first time that the Gao family caravan took this road, so it didn’t bring much. Even if it was bought by Mi Zhen, the loss would be Not big either.”
He added, "In any case, the Gao family has come a long way, and the general should meet and comfort him now."
Meng Jiaqian calmed down and said, "I will take care of it."
Immediately, he asked his servants to come up and wash himself up. After tidying up, he steeled himself and went to the flower hall. Fang summoned the person in charge of the Gao family's caravan to come in and talk.
Meng Jiagan was surprised as soon as the principal came in. Although he was unable to salute because of his injury, he hurriedly stepped forward, bowed and said, "Uncle, why are you here in person?"
In fact, even Rong Suihe did not expect that the Gao family's caravan would be personally led by the head of the family, Gao Queyi.
This is because Rong Suihe has a shallow foundation after all, and his subordinates know very few powerful people.
As the head of the Gao family in Jiangnan, Gao Qieyi was considered a powerful person in Jiangnan, but in Chang'an he was nothing. Rong Suihe and his party had never stayed in the south of the Yangtze River. Although they had stayed in Chang'an for a while with Gao Queyi, the head of the Gao family was far less domineering than his wife Meng Bichen and his only son Gao Chengxuan, so even the head of the Meng family People around him may not know him.
Like Rong Suihe, Rong Suihe and his wife didn't know the head of the Gao family, and the men sent to force the sale were even less clear. Gao Qieyi casually gave a false name and got away with it.
Speaking of which, Meng Jiaqian, a descendant of the Meng family who was born and raised in the northern territory, was able to recognize his cousin because Gao Qieyi went north in person for some matters two years ago. When he met with Meng Boqin, Meng Jiaqian was there to serve him. Tea, so I know it.
At this moment, he was busy asking people to change the tea for the distinguished guests, and complained to Gao Qieyi, "Now that Mi Zhen is powerful and ambitious in the western border, why does my uncle still put his body in danger?"
When he said this, he murmured in his heart, whether there is any important advice from Chang'an or Northern Xinjiang, it is so important that Gao Qieyi himself should be the messenger
Or, for his failure during this period, the family not only scolded him in a letter, but also sent an elder to announce the punishment
Meng Jiaqian was very upset, but because Gao Queyi's surname was not Meng, he believed that it was impossible for the family to hand over Xijiang to someone with a foreign surname. It was obvious that the family would use Gao Queyi's hand to do something cruel this time. Deal with him severely. The representative of the Meng family in Western Xinjiang is still the Meng family. He still has a chance, so he will not lose his composure on the spot.
"The situation in Western Xinjiang has a bearing on the overall situation. How can I rest assured if I don't go there personally for such a big event?" Gao Qieyi took a sip of the tea handed over by his servant, frowned in disgust, and continued, "I heard that you were seriously injured a few days ago, and then you continued to travel. It was not easy to support you to reach Western Xinjiang. But I don't know how your injury is now?"
Meng Jiagan said ashamedly: "I still need to rest for a while."
Gao Qieyi said: "I brought a five-hundred-year-old ginseng this time. It was originally specially used to replenish your body, but just now I asked Mi Zhen's men outside the city to dig it out from the secret compartment of the carriage. I lost a few pennies and bought it. So you have to wait another three to five days."
"Uncle, this is all because of my nephew's incompetence." Meng Jiaqian thought Gao Qieyi was complaining and said quickly, "After my nephew recovers from his injury, he will definitely avenge his uncle!"
"What's so hateful about this?" But to his surprise, Gao Queyi shook his head when he heard this, and An Ran said, "This caravan, I specially sent to Mi Zhen to buy and sell by force. He sent someone Doing this is exactly what I want! If I don’t do this, I will feel uneasy!”
Meng Jiaqian said in surprise: "Why did uncle say this?"
Not to mention his own injuries, which were waiting for five-hundred-year-old ginseng and other fine medicinal materials to nourish him; just to mention that his subordinates were robbed of most of their luggage by Rong Suihe, and Ni Jidao was still being watched over there. Dare to replenish it easily, but they are all counting on the Gao family's caravan to fill the gap when it arrives.
"Although I am the head of the Gao family, the Gao family has been around for several generations. There are many children and many elders." Gao Queyi explained calmly, "I, the head of the family, cannot be like Sheng Xinzhang, the head of the Nanfeng Sheng family. A word of truth!"
Meng Jiaqian hesitated and said: "What does uncle mean...?"
"Earlier, I proposed that we should not allow others to sleep soundly beside the bed. However, the Gao family and the Luo family are both prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River. Our ancestors have had many marriages. Even now, there are many couples from the two families, and they have a long-term friendship. , one should not fall out easily. Not to mention that the Luo family and the Gao family have been side by side for many years and have deep foundations. It is not easy to deal with them. If a war is started rashly, both sides will suffer." Gao Qieyi said calmly, "So even though the Gao family relies on The Meng family's power overwhelmed the Luo family in Jiangnan, but they did not kill them all."
"But now, due to the marriage between the Luo family and the Sheng family, they will soon come to carve up the trade routes in Western Xinjiang."
"If there is no more movement in the Gao family, will there still be a place for my Gao family in Jiangnan in the future?!"
He smiled slightly when he said this, "With such a reason, not only the Gao family will agree to attack the Luo family. Presumably your grandfather and others will also agree. So don't worry, that five-hundred-year-old Shen, the person who deliberately called Mi Zhen discovered it. After all, you are seriously injured at the moment. The Gao family is your direct cousin’s husband’s family. Since there is a caravan coming, how can we not bring you something specially? "
"I sent another confidant far behind with rare medicinal materials such as old ginseng."
"It will arrive in about three to five days. Then I will ask the doctor here to check the quality and give it to you."
Meng Jiaqian was surprised and happy when he heard this, because although Gao Queyi's move was aimed at targeting the Luo family, it was also of great benefit to his nephew.
After all, the Luo family is now married to the Sheng family. If the Meng family and the Gao family want to deal with the Luo family, they must bring the fire to the Sheng family. So whether the Sheng family in Nanfeng County is targeted, or the Xijiang trade route jointly controlled by the three powerful families in Nanfeng County and the Luo family is targeted, it is always a good thing for the Meng Jiaqian.
"It's just that my uncle is still a little too adventurous." He was overjoyed, but also felt strange, because just in this case, it seemed that there was no need for Gao Queyi to personally take risks
So Meng Jiaqian tried again, "Although Mi Zhen and his wife are young and basically don't know my uncle. However, things are unpredictable. If the news of my uncle's coming to Yizhou comes to them, I'm afraid that Mi Zhen's ruthless heart will... It’s not good for my uncle.”
He gave an example, "The old parents of Yizhou's predecessor died in mysterious circumstances a few days ago when they were about to leave Western Xinjiang."
"I heard that the military and government affairs in Western Xinjiang have been very lax in recent years." Gao Qieyi did not answer the question directly, but said lightly, "But what I have seen along the way is that most places are not very desolate. From Tiannanhai There are quite a few merchants in the north. On the way into the city just now, I even saw someone selling lynx cubs."
The lynx looks like a leopard, but has a gentler temperament than the leopard.
According to records, nobles of the previous dynasty often trained them as hunting assistants. Especially the female relatives think that it is more beautiful and cuter than hounds, and cats are always cleaner than dogs. They can be said to be the best boudoir and the best hunting ground.
Although the atmosphere of this dynasty is open, the martial arts among the female relatives is not as good as that of the previous dynasty, so there are not many noble ladies raising lynxes in their boudoirs. In a place like Western Xinjiang, where the customs of the local people are fierce, the customs of the previous dynasty still remain, so some people will come out to sell lynx cubs... But this also shows that there are many wealthy households in this place.
Otherwise, ordinary hunters would just bring hounds with them, and would not raise lynxes, which are more delicate and difficult to train than hounds.
If this kind of cub is used as a feeder, it would be impossible to raise it without any wealth.
Since there are people selling them in Western Xinjiang, passers-by are accustomed to it. Obviously, although this place is remote, it is not as poor as the Central Plains imagined.
For wealthy businessmen, this means business opportunities.
"I just regret that my serious injury has not healed yet. I am at a disadvantage and cannot seek justice for my uncle." Meng Jiaqian heard this and co-authored Gao Qieyi who not only wanted to deal with the Luo family, but also took a fancy to the Xijiang merchants. road profits. This time I risked my life and came in person, most likely to inspect the trade route and get his promise.
He was not in business, and was in need of all kinds of support, so he immediately said without hesitation, "If I can be the master of the country in Western Xinjiang, I will naturally ask my uncle for advice!"
Gao Queyi nodded with satisfaction and said kindly: "You don't have to be impatient. Mi Zhen is at odds with King Gaomi, and there is his brother and son in front of him, so now he is basically leaving King Gaomi alone, so why not Can he compete with you with Meng's backing? Even if he has the upper hand, it's not difficult for us to regain the advantage. I'm here not only to inspect the merchants in Western Xinjiang, but also to give you a helping hand. Listen to me... "
While their aunt and nephew were muttering, the lynx cub that Gao Qieyi mentioned casually had already been carried into the backyard of the Governor's Mansion.
Xuanyu Feng called Sheng Weiqiao over with a smile on her face: "Look, look, Master Wu gave it to us, is it fun?"
Sheng Weiqiao glanced at it, not very interested: "Aunt, my family also keeps this thing in the house in Nanfeng County. Have you forgotten?"
"That one is just kept as a pet. Just look at it and touch it at most." Xuan Yu Feng said, "This one is a cub. Once it is tamed, it can help with hunting."
She said excitedly, "Didn't we just learn riding skills? Let's go back and practice bows and arrows. Master Wu said that in a few days, when we become more proficient with bows and horses, he will take us out of the city for autumn hunting together!" "
Then he turned to Ni Yanying and said, "Yanying, why don't you learn with us? How boring is it to stay at home all the time?"
"..." Sheng Weiqiao really wanted to say, aunt, you were saying a few days ago that you couldn't stay in Xijiang forever and would leave after a while. Even if lynx grows faster than humans, I'm afraid if you push me as hard as you do, You can't wait until it can help you on your hunting trip, okay
But seeing Xuan Yu Feng's cheerful look, she wisely swallowed these words and said with a dry smile, "It's done!"
Their hunting plan was reported to Rong Suihe the next day, and Rong Suihe complained to his wife: "I am busy all day long, and you are still thinking about hunting."
Sheng Weiqiao was asked to kiss her a few more times to comfort her.
While the two were laughing and joking, a servant came through the door and reported that a team with supplies came from Chang'an and asked to see Rong Suihe.
"Arrived so soon?" At this time, Rong Suihe thought it was the luggage promised by the Yue family, and was a little surprised. He stopped playing with his wife and went to see it in person.
Who knew it was only when he went to see it that he realized he had made a mistake.