It is the annual peak season for the Ministry of Internal Affairs to embrace gold.

In the Changxia Trading Company, the goods transported by the Yellow River before the frozen closure were sold at an extremely fast speed, so they had to urgently transport goods from two warehouses in Wudi and Penglai, transport them by horse-drawn carriages, and replenish inventory.

As for the costs incurred, it is impossible to completely spread to the price of goods, so you can only eat a part of it yourself. Fortunately, the overall profit is sufficient, and this transportation cost is really nothing.

Zhao Zaiqing has never been able to buy things in Changxia Trading. In his opinion, the products provided here can be found carefully in Nanshi. If it really doesn't work, go to Xintan unloading site to see it, and it may be cheaper. The only difference is that the Office of the Internal Affairs monopolizes many commodities in Liaodong, which can be supplied in large quantities and stable supply. But is it really only produced in Liaodong for things like mink skin? Obviously not, at least there is one in Goryeo.

Therefore, when he saw Gao Lun lead some of the leader into Changxia Shangshang, he shook his head secretly, and the Yanei was wrong. Sure enough, after a while, a group of people came out again with dejected expression.

Zhao Zaiqing smiled secretly, these poor people.

After leaving Changxia Trading Company in a hurry, Zhao Zaiqing returned home first, took a bath, changed his clothes, and looked at the sun, then went out and headed to Shangyang Palace. Perhaps because of his great fortune, he sent someone to the palace to offer a batch of gifts to Concubine Zhao, and the saint summoned him.

The place for the interview was at Shangyang Miyamotojoen. After experiencing, searching, waiting, and finally walking in under the guidance of the guards. "Meet Your Majesty." Zhao Zaiqing worshipped.

"Sit down." Shao Shude said.

After Zhao Zaiqing sat down, he took a sneak glance.

Time is unforgiving. The saint is older than before. His temples have a lot more white hair, and his eyes are no longer as bright as before, as if they can see directly in people's hearts.

"I won't go around with you." Shao Shude said: "You have made a lot of money in recent years, and your strength is different now. I just ask one question, how many camels and horses are there and how many vehicles are there?"

"There are more than 4,000 camels and horses and 700 cars." Zhao Zaiqing replied. "The capital is not small." Shao Shude smiled.

In the early years, when Zhao Cheng was still alive, he specialized in the Western Regions commodity trade and distributed dividends to Zhao Yu every year. When he was too young, he had more than 10,000 yuan, and when he was too young, he had more than 30,000 yuan.

After Shao Shude became emperor, Zhao Cheng did not have to pay dividends anymore. After all, after so many years of sharing, he contributed no less than 300,000 yuan in total, which was very amazing and provided considerable help to his great cause of war.

After hearing this, Zhao Cheng did not dare to neglect his money, and continued to distribute dividends for three years and contributed 80,000 yuan. It was not until Shao Shude repeatedly asked to stop that he gave up.

"This is all the kindness of Your Majesty." Zhao Zaiqing said.

Shao Shude pondered for a moment and said, "If you transport grain from Lingzhou to Shazhou, do you have any solutions?" Zhao Zaiqing was shocked and said, "Your Majesty, the journey is long, and a stone of millet may cost thousands."

"Of course I know that it costs a lot, so I asked if you can do it?" Shao Shude asked.

Zhao Zaiqing thought for a while and said, "Under some idea, warehouses can be set up in Lingzhou, Liangzhou, Ganzhou, Suzhou, Guazhou and Shazhou, and transported in sections. A group of people is only responsible for one section, and hiring locals who are familiar with the environment and roads as much as possible can save expenses to a minimum."

"Your Western Regions business is also done, right?" Shao Shude asked. "That's it." Zhao Zaiqing replied.

Shao Shude stood up from the dragon throne with his hands behind his back. In fact, he really couldn't underestimate these businessmen.

To put it bluntly, their familiarity with the situation along the way is much better than that of the government. Where is the suitable warehouse building, where there is water source, which road is easy to walk on, what weather is local, which guides are better, etc., those who have been walking this road for many years, the government really cannot compete with them. "I want to attack the Western Regions." Shao Shude suddenly said.

Zhao Zaiqing lowered his head and listened quietly.

He was not surprised. As a famous businessman on the Silk Road, all those who could reach his level were well-informed people. Just last month, he received news that Guzang County, Liangzhou bought 70,000 sheep and sent them to the pasture to breed and raise animals.

Most people may just skip this news, but Zhao Zaiqing keenly smelled a trace of it.

Unusual meaning: the imperial court raised very few sheep in the pastures in Hexi, most of which were horses, followed by camels.

What does it take to raise sheep in the official business? It makes no sense.

Well, it’s not that I can’t raise sheep, but it’s usually a pasture close to the capital. When the palace gives banquets, a batch is sent over. For example, the Shayuanjian in Tongzhou, where livestock sent from various places were fostered in the former Tang Dynasty, and they were collected as they were used in Chang'an.

But the ranches in Liangzhou and Ganzhou will never be like this.

After thinking about it, Zhao Zaiqing only had one possibility: the court wanted to use troops to the Western Regions, and a large number of warriors would come in a certain period of time in the future, so he bought sheep in advance and changed the livestock structure of the ranch. By the time the army arrived, 70,000 sheep had already been fattened, and even a large number of new sheep were reproduced, just as the military supplies.

Another thing that made him feel strange was that the inventory of grain warehouses and arsenals was checking everywhere, and even renovating and expanding warehouses was very disturbing.

Zhao Zaiqing has actually guessed something after comparing the two in one, but he is not sure. Until today, he has been confirmed by the saint.

"Although the foreign tribes can rely on the support of cattle and sheep in the west, it is not enough and you have to transport some of the millet and wheat by yourself." Shao Shude said again: "The big head will naturally be transferred from the court, but it needs to be supplemented. Are you interested?"

In Shao Shude's impression, the logistics system of the Qing Dynasty's Western Expedition actually coexisted with multiple methods: First, find places that are conducive to reclamation at key nodes, plant grain in advance, and harvest on the spot; Second, send a small number of troops to garrison in places with abundant water and grass to grazle livestock; Third, the Mongolian tribes provide cattle and sheep, which is unconditional. The Western Expedition army even robbed Mongolian tribes to obtain supplies; Fourth, the official organized a huge transportation team to transport grain and grass supplies for long distances; Fifth, the private caravans transport grain and grass supplies for official procurement.

The coexistence of multiple methods ultimately ensures the military logistics of the frontline.

Of course, the logistics demand in the era of cold weapons is much smaller than that in the era of muskets and cannons, and it is easier to replenish. But no matter what, the idea of ​​coexisting multiple methods is not good, and the fault tolerance is greater.

When Zhao Zaiqing heard this, he felt a little bitter, but he did not dare to refuse, so he could only respond: "Abide by Your Majesty's order."

Although he is rich and famous, he is not an exaggeration to lose all his money once he is involved in the matter of transporting food and grass for the court. The wealth he possesses is not worth mentioning in the face of the consumption of more than 100,000 troops.

"I won't let you do it in vain." Shao Shude said, "I have also found Kang, Zhuge, Tuoba and others. You will collect a thousand camels and five hundred carriages to transport them in sections. As for the money you need -"

Shao Shude walked in the hall for a while and said, "After I conquer the Western Regions, the products such as Khotan Jade Group, Anxi Bun, Tulip, Red Salt, Billow, Dapeng Sand, Yak Horn, etc. will be specially sold by you. How about it? The specialization period is ten years, twenty years, and this can be discussed."

The profit of the Jade Tuan is very high, and everyone knows this.

Cloth is cotton cloth, an Anxi specialty. The top brocade in the Central Plains is awesome, a piece of brocade, but the current price of Cloth is more than 2,000 yuan, and it is the wholesale price of Dunhuang. If sold to the mainland, the price will still rise.

Tulip can be used as medicine or as yellow dye, which is of great value. Breath and Dapeng sand are both medicinal materials and gold and silver fluxes.

Yak horns are an important material for making high-quality crossbow machines. They consume a lot of money and are not cheap. "Your Majesty has his order, and you all respect them." Zhao Zaiqing expressed his joy and responded.

Of course, he pretended.

Once a product like jade group and cloth is monopolized for monopoly, it will of course be huge profits. Even if it only lasts ten years of franchise, it is almost enough to make a profit.

But things are not calculated like this, the risk is actually very high. The most important thing is that if the war is not long, can he persist before getting the franchise and starting to make a profit?

If he fights for a few years, Zhao Zaiqing is 100% sure that he will not be able to sustain even if he sells his property. But he has no room for refusal.

This matter is very profitable and risky, and the court's military supplies cannot be completely entrusted to them. The sage made it clear that they are supplementing and only occupying a part of the supply of food and grass. Therefore, he cannot bargain with the success or failure of the military as a starting point. The risk can only be used by himself.

Digested.

If you get through it, the front will suddenly become clear. If you can't get through it, you will go back to more than 20 years ago overnight. "I remember you have two sons studying in Qinzhou Classics?" Shao Shude sat back on the dragon throne and asked. "Yes."

"Let's do that." Shao Shude said, "I just received the news that the two prefectures in Chen and Yong in Hunan have many real shortcomings. The sons are quite talented in studying, and they can be the Yizhang Order and the other is the Lingling Order, and they will take office next year."

Zhao Zaiqing then felt relieved and said sincerely: "Thank you for your kindness." Although Hunan is still fighting, the saint said that he would take office in the year, so there would be no problem.

Ma Yin had only seven states, but now he was taken down by the royal army one after another. Lian, Chen, Yong, and Changsha were probably besieged, and it should be the end of the road. Thinking of Gao Lun's previous statement that Ma Yin had sent envoys to surrender, Zhao Zaiqing was even more relieved.

Those who study in the Confucianism are the third son and fourth son. They will not be able to inherit the family business in the future. It is probably excellent to have a way out for an official career. Although they are unlikely to be promoted, they can at least spread their roots and retain two incense for the Zhao family. Even if he fails and loses everything, he will die. Can the creditors still chase them to Hunan? Most of the saints will not allow such a thing to happen.

Since that’s the case, there’s nothing to say, just try it!

After talking about this, Shao Shude was in a good mood. He asked the Zhongguan to take Zhao Zaiqing to Lichun Palace and let Concubine Zhao meet his relatives too. After he returned to the imperial case, he looked at the map.

Today is the 16th day of the 12th lunar month. Three trenches have been dug outside Changsha City and have been completely besieged. The troops of Tielin, Hengye and Guangjie attacked day and night, regardless of casualties.

Ma Yin did leave the city and put forward the conditions for surrender: Please be granted the title of Duke of Xiang. When Shao Shude first saw it, he felt that Ma Yin was crazy about gaining and losing his heart.

Looking back at the time when he was enthroned, he was dissatisfied with not getting the title of king and refused to be a Xia minister, which was unsatisfactory.

In fact, if he was honest and accepted the enthronement, he would surrender with Hunan and Guizhou towns. The Duke of the State was not unconsidered, but the Duke of the County was a foregone conclusion.

But he was trying to die by himself, so no one could blame him.

Thinking of this, Shao Shude called the palace official Jie and ordered: "Issue the order to enthrone Ma Yin as the vassal of Huating County. If he is willing to accept it, he will order tens of thousands of soldiers from Tan, Heng and Shao to lay down their weapons, accept the court's inspection, and reorganize them. If he is unwilling, Wang Rong and Lu Yanwei's insight is not far away."

"As for the order." Jie responded.

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Chapter completed!