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Xuanfu Town was not a small town in the ordinary sense in the Ming Dynasty.
Instead, it is one of the nine important border towns that is 1,023 miles long, starting from Juyongguan in the east and ending at Xiyang River in Yanggao County in the northeastern corner of Shanxi Province. The famous Tumu Fort is located in Xuanfu.
Because Xuanfu is located outside Juyongguan, its importance in defending the security of Yanjing is no less than that of Jizhou Town.
In the fourth year of Ming Xuande, Commander Zhang Wenyu built a castle on the edge of the Great Wall northwest of Xuanfu, named Zhangjiabao.
In the eighth year of the Jiajing reign, garrison commander Zhang Zhen built a small gate in the Great Wall to the north of the castle, called "Xiaobei Gate". Because the gate was as small as a mouth and was built by Zhang Zhen, it was called "Zhangjiakou".
Zhangjiakou is located at the southern end of the Mongolian Plateau. The sun is very white and bright in summer, shining like a diamond; but the summer is very short, while the winter is long and deep. The north wind always whistles and rushes through the ancient Great Wall, wrapped in the dust of the plateau, blowing over the sky and causing pain on the face.
Due to the short summers and long winters, there are not many crops that can be grown here except grass. The land is generally bare most of the year and appears somewhat barren.
But if you really think this place is barren, you are wrong.
In the 30th year of Emperor Jiaqing's reign in the Ming Dynasty, the Ming court approved the establishment of a border "horse market" with the Mongols in Zhenggou and Xigou outside the Dajingmen Gate in Zhangjiakou, where they could exchange cloth for horses. This place became the starting point of an 8,000-mile-long Sino-Mongolian-Russian trade route from Zhangjiakou to Kulun and all the way to Kyakhta.
The nomadic people went to Zhangjiakou to exchange livestock products such as horses, cattle, sheep, camels, and hides for daily necessities such as silk, cloth, rice, tea, and pots from the Han people.
The opening of the private "horse market" attracted a large number of mainland merchants. The trading shops of various industries were about four or five miles long, and merchants competed to occupy them.
Walking into Zhangjiakou, you will see signs of "Nanjing Luosa Shop", "Suzhou and Hangzhou Luosa Shop", "Linqing Cloth Shop", "Woolen Shop", "Grocery Shop" and so on lined the bustling streets.
Merchants and herdsmen on the grassland drove horses, cattle and sheep, and brought furs and medicinal herbs.
The merchant caravans from the interior loaded salt, tea, cloth and other supplies onto their horses, preparing to go deep into the grasslands in exchange for greater profits.
Among the Han Chinese doing business in Zhangjiakou, the majority were from Shanxi. They almost monopolized the trade with herders. Among them, the Fan family from Jiexiu, Shanxi, was the leader of the Shanxi merchants.
Fan Yongdou, who was about 40 years old, was standing in front of his own store, wearing a golden jacket and a melon-shaped hat, dressed like a Manchu gentleman.
Watching the huge caravan led by his second son Fan Chunxiao go farther and farther away, Dang Yongdou was very pleased. His son had grown up. He could finally lead the caravan to trade deep into the grasslands.
The main commodities exported by the Fan family were salt, iron and tea, and the commodities brought back were not ordinary horses, cattle and sheep, but precious furs and medicinal materials. These things were not only light, but also a hundred times more profitable than horses, cattle and sheep.
Precious medicinal materials such as ginseng in Ussuri, Suifen and other places in Northeast China are monopolized by the Fan family.
In order to maintain this monopoly, they must go out. The grasslands and deserts are full of dangers and boundless. Nomads live near water. If they are not familiar with the roads and the various forces and their migration routes, the caravans will either not find anyone or be swallowed up by others.
The Fan family was able to maintain its monopoly position precisely because they were familiar with the trade routes and had close relations with various forces on the grassland. Among all the forces, the Qing Dynasty undoubtedly brought the greatest wealth to the Fan family.
"Boss, it's windy outside, let's go back to the house quickly. The second young master has been going to the grassland for many years and is familiar with the routes. You can rest assured, boss." Shopkeeper Wu, who was following behind Fan Yongdou, advised.
As Fan Yongdou walked in, he asked, "Shopkeeper Wu, has the Lu family's tea not arrived yet?"
"Go back to the east, not yet. I heard that the Qin army occupied Huai'an and cut off the Grand Canal. Not only the Lu family, but I'm afraid that tea from Jiangnan will not be able to come for a while."
"Alas, this business is becoming increasingly difficult." Fan Yongdou sighed with a frown.
Before the Qing Dynasty entered the Shanhai Pass, they were at war with the Ming Dynasty. The Ming court prohibited the export of salt, iron, tea, grain and other materials. Fan Yongdou and seven other families in Shanxi smuggled these prohibited materials to the Qing Dynasty.
The Manchu ginseng, furs, and rare treasures seized during the invasion were handed over to them for sale in the interior. From this back and forth exchange, the eight families made huge profits.
But after the Qing army entered the pass, this income was basically cut off. Now even goods from the south cannot be brought in, which gives Fan Yongdou a headache.
Shopkeeper Wu consoled him, "Boss, I have sent people to Shandong to buy tea. There should be news in half a month."
"Tea from the south can't be brought over. There isn't much tea in Shandong to begin with. I'm afraid the price will go up, and our profit will be reduced."
"There's nothing we can do about it, but the boss doesn't have to worry too much. Goods from the south will definitely come through."
As the two were chatting, there was a sudden sound of hurried horse hooves outside the Fan family store. A group of Qing soldiers dismounted in front of the door, exhausted, and rushed straight into the store.
Not long after, Fan Yongdou hurried out with 20 or 30 guards. Shopkeeper Wu followed him out and whispered, "Boss, the road is not peaceful. Why don't we wait for Wang Dengku and the others so that we can take care of them on the way."
As Fan Yongdou climbed onto his horse, he replied, "Didn't the regent's decree state that we should go to the capital immediately upon receiving the decree? How can we delay this? If they come, tell them that I left first."
Shopkeeper Wu then came to his senses. Dorgon was so anxious to recruit the eight families to Beijing. This was a godsend opportunity. Whoever arrived first might be able to seize the advantage.
Fan Yongdou didn't have time to say anything more to him, and he left with his guards...
Four thousand miles to the south, several fast horses galloped into the north gate of Fuzhou and then headed straight for the imperial palace in Longwu.
Longwu was discussing with his empress Zeng how to strengthen control over the southwestern provinces when Jinyiwei commander Lu Kunheng hurried in to report. After hearing Lu Kunheng's report, Longwu couldn't help but exclaimed: "What? Zheng Zhilong also surrendered to the Qing?"
"Your Majesty, Zheng Zhilong did have an inexplicable battle with the Qin army in Jingjiang a few days ago. In addition, Bai Tie, the pseudo-Qin Minister of Justice, captured Hong Chengchou's son and took out a handwritten letter from Zheng Zhilong to Hong Chengchou. This is probably true."
After hearing this, Longwu felt a surge of anger in his head, veins on his forehead throbbing, and he looked like he was ready to kill someone.
Empress Zeng quickly comforted him, "Your Majesty, please be patient."
Long Wu suppressed his anger and said to Lu Kunheng, "You go down first, and report back immediately if there is any new news."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After Lu Kunheng left, Longwu immediately asked, "Queen, what should we do now?"
Empress Zeng thought for a moment and said, "Xiang Zhuang dances with a sword, aiming at Pei Gong. Your Majesty, Qin Mu is targeting Zheng Zhilong on the surface, but in fact he is targeting you, Your Majesty."
"I know this, but the problem is that since it is true that Zheng Zhilong surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, what should we do?"
Empress Zeng sighed and said, "Qin Mu's move of cutting off the source of the trouble is really powerful. If the emperor wants to rely on Zheng Zhilong again, I am afraid that the southwestern provinces will immediately turn to Qin Mu. Now the emperor has no choice but to leave Fujian as soon as possible and get rid of Zheng Zhilong. Besides, Zheng Zhilong has surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, and the emperor may not be safe if he stays in Fujian."
"The Queen wants us to retreat to Guangdong?"
"Besides this, I can't think of any other good solution."
Longwu thought for a moment and said resolutely: "Okay, as the Queen said, I will inform Huang Daozhou and others and retreat to Guangdong as soon as possible." Longwu was a man of action. Zheng Zhilong's surrender to the Qing Dynasty made him worried, and he did not want to delay for a moment.
"Your Majesty, wait a minute. We can't leave like this. The entire city of Fuzhou is now under the control of Zheng Zhibao. It may not be that easy for Your Majesty to leave. We must make other arrangements."
"This is a matter of urgency. Queen, just tell us what you think."
"Your Majesty, the Tartars were approaching Fenshui Pass earlier, and the ministers in the court were in a state of panic. Zheng Zhilong must be the only one who was secretly communicating with the Tartars. Your Majesty, if you don't attend the court early tomorrow, you should cheat him and appease the Zheng family first. Only in this way can Your Majesty's southern tour be possible."
"... ... ... "
At the court meeting the next day, Longwu followed Empress Zeng's advice and ordered the eunuchs to bring out a plate, cover it with a yellow cloth, and place it in front of the emperor.
Then he said to the ministers in the palace: "I have no intention of benefiting the world, and I am supported by the ministers. I wear a cloth robe and eat vegetables, and I work hard day and night. How can I be happy as a monarch
It is just that I am anxious for the sake of my ancestors and the people, fearing that I will disappoint the original intention of the ministers who supported me. Now it seems that the ministers are not in the same mind as they were at the beginning. Some time ago, the officials in Guanshang found more than 200 letters of surrender from the people in Guanzhong, and now they are all here.
I do not want to know their names, and I have ordered the Jinyiwei to check the number of envelopes and bring them to the Meridian Gate to be burned in front of the public. The ministers in the class should also have such information, and I will not ask them. Those who have such information should change their minds and think differently from now on; those who have not should be more determined and work hard, and not waver in their original intentions. Special decree. "
Longwu originally wanted to use this move to appease the Zheng family who had liaisons with the Qing Dynasty, and then find an excuse to "tour the south" to Guangdong. Unexpectedly, it was too late, and Zheng Zhilong led the Zheng family fleet hurriedly returned to Fuzhou.
Zheng Zhilong has now fallen out with Qin Mu and needs to use Longwu as a banner. How could he be willing to let him leave Fuzhou
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P.S.: Thank you to every friend who gave me tips and voted for me. I am so touched. I have been writing books for several years, but rarely have more than ten people given me tips in one day. Today I finally saw them. Every bit of support from you brothers is worth remembering. Thank you. I bow my head again!
.(To be continued..)
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