Gongsun Yan's trip was not ostentatious, and even the knights escorting him specifically asked him to change from their black military uniforms and put on ordinary military uniforms.
Compared with Gongsun Yan's custom-made black outfit, ordinary military uniforms come in various colors and look less imposing.
But for the people and merchants waiting at the gate of Lulong County to enter the city, this team still has a strong deterrent effect.
There are no real fools in the world. Even the old farmers in this era who have faced the loess and turned their backs to the sky all their lives have their own ideas and calculations.
Seeing such a well-equipped team approaching from a distance, armed with bows and knives, the alert merchants drove the ox carts carrying goods to the roadside.
It doesn't matter if you enter the city later, but if you accidentally offend these wealthy families, it will be troublesome.
The team in front of me has fat horses, and the knights on top are wearing military uniforms and fine armor, and all of them have ruddy complexions.
If it were just like this, it wouldn't be a big deal. The soldiers carefully raised by the rich families were not without such elites.
What's more important is that this group of people all walked straight, their beards and hair were not messy, and their clothes and armor were neat and tidy.
Ordinary wealthy families, even those with intensively trained soldiers, would not take such meticulous care to rectify the health conditions of the soldiers.
The unique qualities of this team's spirit and spirit are enough for smart people to make some associations.
Guan Yang is such a smart person.
With his white face and long beard, and his simple robes, one would almost mistake him for a scribe if he didn't know the details.
He is a merchant in Lulong County, and he is not worthy of taking a share from the powerful families in horses, salt and iron, wine, and Hunu business.
But he was born with the cunning and courage unique to a merchant. With his own vision, he sold some lacquerware and pottery outside the Great Wall for many years, and also earned a considerable fortune.
Guan Yang grew up in the northern border fortress, and also suffered greatly from the Huru invaders.
But the bitter cold, poverty, and hunger in the northern frontier are as terrifying as the locust-like Hulu.
Guan Yang has been thinking about how to prevent his family and future generations from suffering from hunger, cold, and barbarians in this turbulent northern land.
So after Abdul moved to Qian'an in a grand manner, he became the first group of people to do business with Aduna.
Although the aristocratic family controlled lucrative transactions, he also found some deals in lacquerware, low-grade fabrics, and the like.
With this trade route, the Hu people would not invade Lulong privately. Those Hu people were also human beings and they also liked to enjoy themselves. They liked the fine lacquerware and soft and thin fabrics and brocades of the Han region.
Because of this tacit understanding, no Hu people from Lulongsai went south from this direction for several years to invade the border area.
Only Abdul's group wandered around here, looting, burning, killing and having fun.
However, those who died and were looted were civilians or some small clans in Wubao. The Guan family cooperated with Aduna. Apart from occasionally asking for some property, Aduna's tribe would not invade, burn or kill the Guan family.
Wubao.
As long as the Guan family can be saved, it doesn't matter whether the rest of the people die in Guan Yang.
Even if I occasionally hear about the tragedy of annihilating a family or destroying a village, I feel guilty and secretly resentful, but I still have to continue doing the business of helping the tyrants do evil.
Don't do it.
What will be burned down will be his Guan family's Wubao.
Hanging on the side of the barbarian's saddle will be the head of a male of his Guan family.
Those who were ravaged by the barbarians were his wife, sisters and daughters of Guan Yang.
He originally wanted to accumulate more family capital in this way, send his young grandson to a wealthy family to study and listen to scriptures, and after several generations, slowly change his status as a lowly Jiaren.
When he moved to the Central Plains, he heard that the climate in the Central Plains was pleasant and would not be as harsh as in the North.
But his long-term and grand plan did not develop as he expected.
Aduna, defeated!
Aduna, who was so domineering in the Lulong Qian'an area and used his share of trade routes to hijack the tribes outside the Great Wall, was actually defeated in one battle, and all the young and elite tribesmen were wiped out.
Gongsun Zan was defeated and burned himself.
Aduna was defeated by a white horse Yi Cong that broke out from Yijing.
When these two pieces of news came one after another, Guan Yang felt a little dazed.
What followed was deep anxiety.
Without Aduna, I am afraid that barbarians will go south to the Lulong Kou border this year.
The armaments of Lulongsai have been depleted for many years. How can the greedy jackals of the Lulong County Magistrate resist the locust-like Hulu?
By then, these people will become the fattest lambs under the fangs of the barbarians.
When Guan Yang hurriedly started organizing his family's move, another news came out from Lingzhi.
The Gongsun family in western Liaoning has taken action.
The captain surnamed Zhao who defeated Aduna will become the chief officer of Lulong County and lead the captain of the barrier.
This is almost telling everyone that Lulong County has not been abandoned by the Gongsun family.
This situation is both a good thing and a bad thing.
The new captain of the border fortress should be a very brave man, and with the support of the giant Gongsun family, he should be stronger than the original county magistrate in guarding the border fortress.
While the common people cheered, people like Guan Yang who were doing business were not so at ease in their hearts.
The new captain of the barrier was a subordinate of Gongsun Zan, and his attitude towards the barbarians would certainly not be too friendly. How would he treat this trade route leading outside the barrier?
It is difficult to leave one's homeland, and those who, like Guan Yang, have left their homeland behind will lose a large amount of wealth even if they move away.
But if the captain blocked the trade route and cut off most of his livelihood, it would be a loss that Guan Yang could not bear.
So people from Qian'an, Lulong, Liaodong, and almost all those involved in the trading of Hu people became active, and they wanted to find a compromise method that would benefit everyone.
It is hoped that this barrier captain can defend Lulong and prevent Lulong County from falling to the iron hoof of the barbarians.
They also hope that the trade routes can be preserved so that the salt and iron they produce can continue to be sent outside the Great Wall in exchange for a large number of fine horses, cattle and sheep.
Such an idea may seem ridiculous and shameless to future generations.
But for the powerful nobles who were bent on self-interest at this time, it was a very reasonable operation.
Everyone was waiting for the Zhansai Captain to arrive, but he stayed at Guzhu Manor for several days.
When everyone, including the former Lulong County Magistrate who was waiting to take over, saw through it, the Zhansai Captain finally arrived at Lulong with hundreds of cavalry before the deadline.
The former Lulong County Magistrate returned to Lingzhi with his staff on the same day with the wealth he had collected over the years.
Everyone handed in greeting cards one after another, trying to visit him and get acquainted with him, and at the same time try to talk to him.
Some people felt that it was more honorable and wrote directly to ask Grandmaster Gongsun.
Everyone is guessing what attitude the Zhansai Captain will take towards Shang Dao.
However, Cao Yeyao, the governor of the Ye family in Liaodong, came to Lulong and visited the major surnames in the county one by one.
It was stated that Lulong would open a large market and redefine trade rules. At the same time, he hoped that various companies would lend laborers to rebuild Lulong fort to resist the barbarians.
As for the report, no news has been released, but Guan Yang knew that it must be related to the big market.
The Guan family's family status was not worthy of Ye Yao as a lobbyist. This news was spread by Guan Yang's secret agents.
Guan Yang is keenly aware that the establishment of the big market will be a re-division of interests.
He didn't expect to steal food from wealthy families, even if he did, he wouldn't be able to live with it, but it would be enough if he could pick up some from between his fingers.
Guan Yang acted quickly and visited his house for several days.
I heard that Captain Zhao wanted to check the household registration and measure the fields.
With his keen observation, Guan Yang discovered that Captain Zhao did not have many available clerks at hand.
He will not let go of such a good opportunity.
The Guan family is just a merchant, with no tax exemption, and his family does not have too many households and acres of land. An inventory of the acres will not affect his interests.
Therefore, Guan Yang specially brought his accountant and others to help.
When Gongsun Yan's motorcade arrived, Guan Yang was lazily taking a nap on the mule cart. Behind him were the ranger guards, a dozen accounting clerks, and several carts of gifts.
Even though Guan Yang is already considered a wealthy merchant in Lulong County, he does not have any privileges due to his class.
You still have to queue up honestly with the people, you still can't ride in an ox cart, and the carriage can't have curtains.
Guan Yang put a thin blanket on his knees and was enjoying the sun.
When he went on a business trip outside the Great Wall, he had to lead the team himself, unlike the wealthy families who had special managers. In recent years, the weather had become colder and colder, and his legs were frozen. He liked heat and was afraid of cold, and was most afraid of extremely cold winter days.
While enjoying the heat brought by the sun's heat on his knees, Guan Yang thought about and recalled his impression of Zhao Yun when he met Zhao Yun twice.
While thinking about what words to use to persuade Captain Zhao to accept his kindness and gifts.
Suddenly, there was a commotion around him, and the guard Guan Yang had always relied on came forward: "Master, there is a team approaching from behind. I don't know which family it is. Do you want to get out of the way?"
The guard's method of identifying aristocratic families is very simple. Although there is no flag to identify one's identity, the fifty cavalry accompanying them appear to be high-end goods that ordinary families with a small surname cannot afford.
Hearing this, Guan Yang was stunned for a moment and squinted his eyes.
After seeing the leading knight clearly, Guan Yang stood up and said: "Get out of the way, get out of the way."
At his call, his team hurriedly moved out of the way.
Guan Yang didn't recognize the knight at the head of this team, but he was very familiar with the aura of the person coming.
He had only seen such a clean and straight team in Baima Yicong, a subordinate of Captain Zhao.
If it is a white horse Yi Cong, then the person who uses the white horse Yi Cong as a guard will most likely be a member of the Gongsun family.
Guan Yang squinted his eyes and observed carefully.
Although the carriages in the procession are low-key and simple, they are pulled by two oxen. The curtains are plain and elegant, and when they occasionally shake, the red silk ribbons and jingling jade that tie up the curtains are faintly revealed.
There are women in the car, and there are two oxen pulling the cart. The father and brother of the women in the car should have titles, otherwise they would not dare to use such a frame.
The guards on the white horse, the female family members in the car, the Gongsun family...
The identity of the person in the car is almost revealed, and she should be the daughter of the late Jihou Gongsun Zan.
Guan Yang's mind kept spinning. During the battle in Yangqiuli, everyone saw Zhao Yun, Baima Yicong, and Aduna. However, some people who were interested saw the orphan Gongsun Zan hidden in the corner of the scroll.
It doesn’t take an idiot to see that the bond between Gongsun and Captain Zhao is the Gongsun siblings.
Perhaps to be more precise, it is this little lady.
Otherwise, why would the Gongsun family dare to hand over such a remote and important place to an unrelated warrior with a foreign surname?
As soon as the filial piety period is over, there should be results.
A funeral was held in Lone Bamboo Manor a few days ago, and the beautiful girl who knelt in the hall to thank the guests became famous in a few days.
Some people praise filial piety, and some lament her fate, but there are many lay people in the world, and what is more popular is the beauty of the girl.
It is said that many of the children who went to express their condolences on behalf of the family asked their fathers and brothers to hire a matchmaker when they returned.
If you can clearly see the connection between them, you will not cause trouble and do useless work.
There were also those who couldn't figure it out and sent letters to the door, but they were all declined by the head of the Gongsun family on the grounds of filial piety.
Thinking of this, Guan Yang suddenly remembered something and called the guards.
"You go back to Wubao quickly and ask the lady to bring the twenty pieces of Shu brocade that were put into storage years ago, as well as a cart of furs. I have my own use, and I must catch up with the Dragon Boat Festival tomorrow."
Guan Yang met Zhao Yun several times from a distance. Captain Zhao was young, humble, and seemed gentle and good-tempered.
In fact, he is not as calm as a person of his age.
All merchants who visit are treated as the same.
He is not corrupt and honest, and accepts all the gifts brought by people who come to visit.
But he is not as greedy as the previous county magistrate.
So far, the gifts have been received, but no one can find out the new regulations of the city from Captain Zhao and Lord Zhao.
No matter how tight you are, there will eventually be a flaw.
Guan Yang felt that he was lucky enough to have found a flaw today.
There are few men in the world who can withstand the love of pillows, and there are few girls in the world who don’t love the lustrous and beautiful Shu Brocade?
I originally promised that these Shu brocades would be a dowry for my eldest daughter, but now I have to break my promise.
The eldest daughter has been doing business with him since she was a child, so she probably understands the pros and cons and the willingness to give up.
Guan Yang looked at the motorcade passing by slowly, thinking in his mind.
When the leading knight that Guan Yang saw earlier passed by, he bowed his hands in greeting because of their behavior of giving way.
It's just that his expression was a little too serious.
Guan Yang also hurriedly returned the gift. He has always upheld the principle of being kind to others, and even a street vendor would not easily humiliate him and form a bad relationship.
What's more, the leader of the bodyguard and his like.
The oxen's hooves stepped on the loess soil outside the city, pulling the carriage forward slowly.
Gongsun Yan in the car did not expect that his low-key arrangement would be seen through at a glance.
The bamboo curtain hanging in the car was lowered, and she didn't know that she had just passed by a very observant person and that she was about to be bribed.
She carefully stood next to the car window on the other side and watched Lulong County and its civilians through the gaps in the bamboo curtains.
The civilians waiting to enter the city here are generally about the same cleanliness and quality of clothing as the villagers in Guzhu Village.
This shows Aduna’s previous influence and destruction on the county’s economy, as well as the incompetence and mediocrity of the previous Lulong County King.
I'm afraid that all my thoughts are spent on how to eat, get cards, and accept bribes.
Although I have not seen the pass account books, no matter whether it is prohibited items such as salt and iron or goods such as cloth and silk, all the big families in Lulong are selling them out and bringing back leather and horses.
Lulong County should be considered prosperous in trade.
Even if only part of the collected tariffs were used for water conservancy, road and city construction, Lulong should not be in such a dilapidated state.
The ox carts were passing by, the carriages were shaking and bumping, and the loess road in front of the city gate was in such bad condition that one can imagine the state of Lulong as a whole.
The rich are extremely rich, while the common people are extremely poor.
In the future, in addition to building city gates, she should also try to find some rare luxuries and find ways to get as much money out of the pockets of these wealthy households as possible.
Thinking about it, the team had already walked directly to the city gate checkpoint where the talisman was checked, with the crowds of pedestrians avoiding them.
