The traders were anxious to see Shen Zechuan because they were worried about their own business.
There was a lot of noise in the hall, all kinds of accents were mixed together, and they all spoke in chicken and duck. Yan Heru started this "small market" in Dunzhou. They did business with bandits and various ministries in Biansha, and they were in the business of tea, salt, copper and iron. Now that Yan Heru is being detained, they were afraid that Shen Zechuan would be held accountable, so they made an appointment to visit the door together, wanting to make a situation where the law does not blame the public.
Chen Yang greeted the maid to watch the tea. Not only was the hall full of people, but even the porch was full of people, all of them were businessmen who had heard the news. They come from all over the world, crowding in chaos, making the courtyard noisy like a downtown.
Shen Zechuan sat here, no matter what he heard, he would answer "That's right". It was almost night in the hall, and there was no progress. Shen Zechuan seemed to answer everything, but he didn't answer anything, leaving the merchants hungry and furious.
Xiao Chiye went to the next door to talk with Tantai Hu about military affairs, and came out to see that the sky was dark, and the lights were lit in the hall. Outside, there were all kinds of merchants sitting on the floor and leaning against each other, and inside Shen Zechuan was still spending time with the merchants.
Fei Sheng picked up the curtain and went to Xiao Chiye's side and said softly, "Master asks the Marquis, whether the military affairs have been settled. If it is settled, let's have dinner."
Xiao Chiye said, "Are these people dismissed?"
Fei Sheng replied, "The master said he wouldn't let them go, so let them keep it, and invite them to stay here at night."
Xiao Chiye nodded and said, "Let's have dinner in the yard next door."
* * *
The merchants all made up their minds to ask Shen Zechuan for an accurate word, at least to see how he looked. Their goods were accumulated in Yan's other courtyard, and now the Biansha cavalry and bandits have retreated, what should I do with these goods? But Yan Heru had guaranteed the ticket with them, whether to stay or leave, we have to talk again.
But Shen Zechuan played Tai Chi beautifully, but it didn't mean it was accurate. The merchants were afraid that Dunzhou was a soldier, and did not dare to turn against Shen Zechuan. They could only endure their anger and continue to sit here.
Shen Zechuan finished reading all the important matters in Dunzhou, and calculated that the time was almost there. When Fei Sheng came back, he got up and smiled at the merchant: "Everyone has been sitting here for a day, we can talk about things later. I specially sent someone to prepare. Banquet, let's talk at the banquet later."
Without explaining, Yu Fei Sheng picked up the curtain and leaned out.
The merchants sitting inside waited for a long time, but neither Shen Zechuan came back, nor did the maid come in to serve food. When they came out of the curtain, they found that there were only familiar faces left in the courtyard, not even a guard.
The man who had smoked a few pipes was anxious, patted his thigh, and said, "Did you run away?"
The merchants were suddenly startled, crowded together like sparrows, and rushed to the gate of the courtyard. When they got there, they found that the gate was blocked.
Someone said in horror: "Do you want to kill people? That's not possible! Fujun, Fujun! We are all serious businessmen with official documents!"
Fei Sheng outside listened to the slamming of the door, carrying a knife, and said, "What are you talking about? The lord of the government asks you to rest in the courtyard. You are reluctant to leave, so sleep here!"
The merchants shouted: "We want to see Fujun!"
Fei Sheng sneered and said, "Didn't we all see you today? My master stayed there for a long time with all of you." , we have checked, and copper and iron are strictly forbidden by the government, and it is not that easy to find out."
"Everywhere is messed up now!" The man who had smoked before leaned on tiptoe against the crack of the door, quibbling, "It's still easy to make a few batches of goods, and the business just goes away once, we are all responsible!"
Fei Sheng didn't go around with them, raised his hand to take the booklet, turned the page, and said, "Do you know what I'm holding in my hand? It's the registration booklet of Yan's pawnshop, which records in detail what you bring to Dunzhou every month. What kind of goods. Black and white, can't be fake."
The businessmen inside were chatting with each other, wiping sweat and huddling together again, so arguing that Fei Sheng couldn't hear what they were talking about. Finally, the man stretched his neck again and shouted across the door: "I can't help but take tea, oh, I'm taking tea! Open the door, don't affect the innocent!"
"Zhongbo has been ruined like this in the past two years. Who do you take tea to Dunzhou for? The Yan family is the largest tea merchant in the south." Board, "Stop arguing! Hurry up and tell the truth!"
"What do you explain?" the man said stubbornly. "The goods are clearly written in the booklet, so you can understand it when you hold it, right?"
Fei Sheng shook the pamphlet in his hand and said, "This thing was delivered to Qidu and given to the yamen, none of you can escape. Let me tell you that my master is kind-hearted and has left you a chance to make up for your faults. Write down on the paper truthfully who you are going to Dunzhou with and who you will exchange for silver, and I will immediately open the door and let you out, and the past account will be written off."
Tea, salt, copper and iron, in addition to tea, the latter three are all under the control of the imperial court. The Xi family can open a copper mine in Juexi, which is licensed by the emperor. They have to check accounts with the household and labor ministries on a monthly basis, and they also send special supervisors. It's just that this errand is too much oil and water, and the stewards sent are selected by the Ministry of Households, often in tandem with the Xi family, working together to make false accounts against the court, hiding copper and iron for the Xi family. All the outflow of copper and iron other than the Xi family can be seen as collusion between local officials and businessmen. These copper and iron, like military rations, were stolen from Da Zhou in exchange for huge profits.
Yan Heru opened a pawnshop and a court in Dunzhou, not only to provide a trading venue for local traders, but also to sell stolen goods for local officials, and convert things into silver here. When Liu Er led Shen Zechuan's team into Dunzhou, he didn't say everything completely, that is, if he wanted to enter Dunzhou, he needed a specific code not only for "playing the rules".
After Fei Sheng finished speaking, the inside of the door suddenly felt like a boiled soup, and the various accents quarreled, making the door clatter. Fei Sheng closed the booklet, took the freshly brewed tea in his hand, and blew hot air into it.
* * *
Before dinner, Chen Yang instructed the kitchen to make fish, so Shen Zechuan ate half a bowl of rice, and the remaining half of the fish went into Xiao Chiye's stomach. As long as the second son doesn't pick on his own thorns, eating fish is still quite enjoyable.
After dinner, the two stood under the eaves and listened to the businessman next door scolding their ancestors. Xiao Chiye rinsed his mouth and said, "Isn't there a scorpion? Call him here while I have something to ask."
Chen Yang stepped back and called for someone.
Xiao Chiye turned to Shen Zechuan and asked, "Why didn't Ding Tao follow me recently?"
Shen Zechuan looked at Xiao Chiye and said, "Lei Jingzhe is in Dunzhou. If no one is watching Lixiong, he might run out to find Lei Jingzhe. Ding Tao played well with him, and it's good for the two children to stay together."
Xiao Chiye raised the tea cup in his hand and took a sip, as if he believed it.
When Shen Zechuan tilted his head, he showed a little of his neck, and there were traces of Xiao Chiye on it, which made the jade beads even whiter. He didn't continue with Ding Tao, but said: "The armband was broken last time, this time I will go back to Cizhou to fight another one."
Xiao Chiye thought of Hassan when he thought of the arm binding. He looked at the night and said, "Xiu Xiu can still be used."
Xiao Chiye didn't mention Hassan to Shen Zechuan. The defeat made him quiet quickly, hiding all those lofty words and ambitions. It's really tiring to send luggage, but there is no one in Libei who is not tired, and even Lu Yizhi sews old jackets all day long for the winter clothes to keep out the cold in the war zone. Xiao Chiye was put into the sheath by Xiao Fangxu, but he was willing to wait for the opportunity like this.
"I'll call you two," Shen Zechuan said earnestly, "and engrave my name as well."
Xiao Chiye raised his arm, pinched Shen Zechuan's chin, paused for a moment, and said, "Don't engrave your name when your arm is tied."
Swords have no eyes on the battlefield, Xiao Chiye was not happy that Shen Zechuan would follow him to his death, and his name was not good either. He wants a good omen, he wants Shen Zechuan to live a hundred years.
* * *
Hai Rigu and Yan Heru were locked together and had been hungry for two days. He was still injured, and when he was dragged under the eaves, his lips were dry and he was holding his spirits.
Xiao Chiye crouched down and shrouded Hai Rigu in the shadows. Gujin immediately lowered Hai Rigu's head, and pushed away his hair to reveal the scorpion tattoo on the side of his neck.
"Gedal's scorpion," Xiao Chiye said in a deep voice, "what are you doing in Zhongbolai?"
Hai Rigu's arms were tied tightly, he rubbed against the ground and refused to answer. Gu Jin squeezed his Adam's apple, stuck his head up, moved towards Xiao Chiye, and said coldly, "Answer."
Hai Rigu was breathing heavily, and he quickly glanced at Shen Zechuan who was standing by the door, but this look angered Xiao Chiye, and his head was knocked to the ground almost immediately. He leaned against the cold wooden board and made a struggling sound.
"I'm not an enemy!" Hai Rigu couldn't break free, feeling like he was crushed by an iron arm. He looked up desperately, but could only see Xiao Chiye's boots, he said, "Help me, Shen—"
Xiao Chiye was expressionless.
Hai Rigu gradually lost his breath, rubbed his cheeks on the ground, and shouted when he was on the verge of death: "I still have a lot to say!" He gasped hard, "You don't want to know about Bai Cha? ?!"
Xiao Chiye said, "We don't want to know anything until you learn to 'answer'."
Hai Rigu felt the force on his neck, he pressed his head with difficulty, sweat dripping from his temples, and choked, "I, Zhongbo cough, cough! I'm running for my life!"
Shen Zechuan's right hand and fingers were faintly painful, he stepped closer, stopped beside Hai Rigu, and said, "You told me three days ago that you called me Gedal's son because white tea divided you two. ."
Hai Rigu swallowed his saliva with difficulty and panted, "That's right, because the white tea split us... and we have you!"
Shen Zechuan frowned slightly.
Xiao Chiye let go abruptly, and Hai Rigu gasped for breath. Gujin picked him up, he slowed down for a moment with a sullen face, and said quickly: "Gedal means 'bright' in Biansha dialect, which is the name of Baicha. Your mother's story is very long, if If you don't mind, give me a drink first. I swear to you, everything I say is true."