Chapter 154 The Chinese Chamber of Commerce Monopolizing Korea
After returning to Nansu City, Wu Chengsi and Pei Xingjian entered the camp outside the north gate together. Pei Xingjian suddenly said: "General, do you remember that when we attacked Nansu City, someone sent you news about Nansu City?
"
Wu Chengsi thought for a moment and nodded: "Of course I remember."
Pei Xingjian smiled and said: "General, would you like to meet the person who sent you the message?"
"Oh? Who is that person?"
"This man's name is Chen Tianzhu. He is a member of the Chen family in Yangzhou and the largest miner in Goryeo. When our army marched into Southern Suzhou, he and another businessman named Wang Shi were secretly helping us.
military."
"Businessman?" Wu Chengsi was slightly surprised.
"Yes, there are many Chinese businessmen in Goryeo. Chen Tianju is a miner and Wang Shi is a salt merchant."
Wu Chengsi's heart moved. Liaodong has many minerals, especially iron ore. This is one of the advantages of Liaodong. The later Liao Dynasty was called the country of iron and steel because of the iron ore in Liaodong.
Listening to Pei Xingjian mentioning mines and salt, Wu Chengsi suddenly thought of something. Before the Tang Dynasty, the salt and iron monopoly was abolished several times and re-implemented several times.
By the early Tang Dynasty, the salt and iron monopoly was still in a state of abolition, allowing merchants to collect it themselves. It was around the middle of the Tang Dynasty that the state took over again.
Wu Chengsi was well aware of the benefits of salt and iron. After the battle, he might be able to mention this matter to Wu Mei.
Pei Xingjian continued: "They and other Tang merchants formed a Tang Chamber of Commerce and monopolized Goryeo's mining and salt industries..."
Wu Chengsi asked curiously: "You said they have a monopoly on the Korean salt mines? Doesn't it mean that the Korean Kingdom doesn't care?"
"You don't know that the Tang Dynasty Chamber of Commerce has a very special status in Goryeo. Many silks, tea, ceramics and other items used by the Goryeo people are sold by them, and they have dealings with many Goryeo officials, so the Goryeo government does not dare to go too far.
Offend them."
Wu Chengsi sighed in his heart, this must be the multinational company of this period. He was quite interested in these two people, and immediately entered South Sioux City with Pei Xingjian.
The general's residence of monk Xincheng in the city has now been changed into the general's residence of Wu Chengsi.
On the way to the General's Mansion, Pei Xingjian suddenly said: "General, I would like to hear about Chen Tianzhu's deeds."
"All ears."
Pei Xingjian said slowly: "Chen Tianzhi was originally from the Chen clan in Yangzhou. Because he failed in the imperial examination for twelve consecutive years, he gave up his studies and became a businessman. It took him twenty years to become a giant businessman in Yangzhou."
"This person is different from ordinary businessmen. He stays abroad for many years. In the past ten years, he has been staying in Korea for a long time. He single-handedly established the Tang Dynasty Chamber of Commerce and monopolized the Korean salt mines. Moreover, he has been secretly promoting our government in Korea by doing good deeds.
The image in people's minds is that every time our army goes to war, they will help us from behind."
Wu Chengsi was surprised and said, "Would the Goryeo government not care about what he did?"
Pei Xingjian smiled and said: "This man not only has the backing of the Tang Dynasty Chamber of Commerce, but also bribed many officials of the Goryeo Kingdom, so he has always stood firm. When Su Gong was in Yingzhou, he was asked to donate two thousand sets of armor. His business is
Mr. Su told me."
Wu Chengsi sighed: "I didn't expect there to be such businessmen among the people."
Pei Xingjian smiled and said: "Even though this man was educated before, he is now a real businessman. He does these things not for righteousness."
"Oh? What's that for?"
"In order to feel proud!" Pei Xingjian said slowly: "This person lacks talent in reading, so he studied hard for decades in a humble household, but still failed to pass the exam and was ridiculed by his peers. After starting business, although he became the richest in the world, he was not the best in the world.
Most people would just call him a member, but he still wouldn't get respect from others."
Having said this, Pei Xingjian raised his eyes and said, "General, do you know what is the most glorious thing for a businessman?"
Wu Chengsi thought for a while and shook his head.
"More than ten years ago, Peng Zhiyun, a giant businessman from Anzhou, donated 30,000 pieces of cloth when the imperial court was fighting against Goryeo. His majesty favored him to participate in the royal banquet and the coming of all nations. He has since become a model businessman and has been praised by people all over the world."
The Royal Night Banquet is a palace night banquet held by the Li and Tang royal families on the last day of the year. Only princes, clans, court ministers, and those who have made great contributions to the country during the year are eligible to participate.
The coming of all nations to the Tang Dynasty is a grand event where the Tang Dynasty's tributary countries and the countries that have contacts with the Tang Dynasty pay homage to the Tang Dynasty. According to the practice over the years, the envoys of various countries will stay from the first day to the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, which is equivalent to an international event.
Peng Zhiyun is the owner of Liyuan. He became famous because he participated in the royal banquet and the coming of all nations, and now he is the richest businessman in the south of the Yangtze River.
Wu Chengsi understood immediately.
All these things Chen Tianju did were to imitate Peng Zhiyun back then, hoping to attend the royal banquet and the coming of all nations to the court, so that he could feel proud and vent his resentment for many years.
Pei Xingjian continued: "Back then, Gong Su told Her Majesty the Queen about his donation of armor, but it was a pity that Her Majesty only praised him a few words and did not express much."
Wu Chengsi said: "So he came to see me because he wanted me to speak for him so that he could attend the royal banquet?"
Pei Xingjian nodded and said, "Yes."
Su Dingfang had betrayed Chen Tianju in this matter. As a disciple of Su Dingfang, Pei Xingjian felt the need to make amends for his teacher, so he explained so much.
Wu Chengsi pondered for a while, then smiled and said: "Let me meet this big businessman first.
The two rode back to the General's Mansion and sent someone to invite Chen and Wang.
Soon, Chen Tianzhu and Wang Shi came to the hall.
Chen Tianju is a short, middle-aged man, dressed as a Confucian scholar, with bright and penetrating eyes. Wang Shi is a tall, thin man with a somewhat sinister gaze.
"Caomin Chen Tianzhu (Wang Shi) pays homage to the general."
"You two don't have to be polite, please sit down." Wu Chengsi raised his hand and said.
The two people cupped their hands and sat down carefully.
Wu Chengsi smiled and said: "Some time ago, when our army was fighting the Koreans, Chen Yuanwai provided military information to our army. I am very grateful to this general."
Chen Tianju hurriedly stood up from his chair, cupped his hands and said, "I am from the Tang Dynasty. It is only natural to do such a thing. The general must not say that."
After a pause, he said sincerely: "The common people are willing to donate another five thousand armors, hoping to contribute some modest effort to our army of the Tang Dynasty."
Wu Chengsi nodded and said: "Mr. Chen has good intentions, so I will not refuse. I also understand your wish. I will help you with this matter, but I can't guarantee whether it will be successful."
Chen Tianju was overjoyed and said: "Thank you so much, General."
Wang Shi stood up in a hurry and said: "The common people are also willing to offer 20,000 pieces of cloth to ask for the general's grace!"
Pei Xingjian advised: "Except the king, the quota for the palace night banquet is fixed every year. Even if the general wants to get one, it will not be easy. You should wait until next year."
Wang Shi glanced at Chen Tianzhu and saw that he was silent. He was secretly angry and whispered: "It's the common people who have overstepped their bounds."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the two of them said goodbye and left.
Wu Chengsi left the lobby and was about to return to the backyard study when he suddenly saw two of his personal guards, Wang Wenjie and Wei Heng, arguing not far away.
"What are you arguing about?" Wu Chengsi walked over.
The two men hurriedly greeted each other, and Wang Wenjie said: "My lord, I am not quarreling with the school captain because of my humble position. I am just urging him to capture a thief in the city."
"What thief?" Wu Chengsi asked curiously.
"He is a Goryeo thief. He specializes in robbing Tang merchants in the city. Every time he commits a crime, he leaves behind some treacherous words." Wang Wenjie replied.
Wu Chengsi frowned and said, "What are you talking about?"
Wei Heng took out a piece of folded white paper from his sleeve, spread it out and said, "This was cut from the wall."
On the paper were several large scarlet characters: Tang people, get out of Goryeo!
Wang Wenjie said unceremoniously: "My lord, the public security in the city is temporarily in charge of the Wei Xiaowei, but two days have passed and he still hasn't caught the thief."
Wei Heng said with a bitter face: "My lord, I have sent people to search the whole city, but I can't find the whereabouts of the thief. I suspect that the man is hiding in a private house, but General Pei has an order not to allow us to go to Goryeo."
Searching people’s homes…”
Before Wu Chengsi returned to Nansu, Nansu City was managed by Pei Xingjian. He advocated appeasing the Korean people, so he did not allow the army to disturb the people.
Wu Chengsi thought for a while and said: "I'm going to pass on the order and all the methods of handling cases in Nansu City will be in accordance with the standards of the Tang Dynasty. The Koreans should not be deliberately oppressed, but there is no need to give special treatment. Just treat them as citizens of the Tang Dynasty, and everything will be dealt with in accordance with the law."
!”
Wei Heng hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "I accept my order from my humble position."