Linhuang City is located at the junction of several forces. It borders the Kingdom of Jin to the east, the grassland to the west, and is not far from Yanshan Road. The ethnic structure in the city is very complex, including Jurchens, Khitan people, people from various grassland tribes, Han people, Xi people, etc.
Wait, various forces are intertwined, and the situation in the city is strange and complicated.
The Yin brothers had been to Linhuang City many times and were familiar with the situation here. They came to a large inn. The owner was a middle-aged Khitan man who was familiar with the two brothers. He enthusiastically asked the waiter to welcome the group in.
The Yin brothers told Zhang Lu that the shopkeeper's name was Xiao Dan. His parents and brothers were killed in the Jin soldiers' massacre of the city. He was the only one in the family who survived. He buried the bodies of his parents and brothers in the backyard. He did not want to leave and still stayed there.
Along with the inn left by our ancestors for generations, we also accompany the graves of our parents and brothers.
The Yin brothers also told Zhang Lu that if she wanted to establish herself in Linhuang City, she could ask this shopkeeper for help.
Looking for an opportunity, Zhang Lu came to the shopkeeper's room to visit Shopkeeper Xiao, who is also the owner of the shop.
"Are you Dongzhu Zhang, a friend of Yin Balu?"
Zhang Lu was surprised that Xiao Dan could speak fluent Chinese.
"Why do you speak Chinese?"
"My grandmother is Chinese and she raised me. I can speak Chinese since I was a child."
Zhang Lu nodded, "I came from Datong Mansion and wanted to open a medicinal material store here. You also know that the situation in Liaodong is tense, and many precious medicinal materials can only go to Linhuang Mansion."
Xiao Dan sighed and said: "Opening a store here requires a backstage, especially for a Han Chinese like you. Without a backstage, it is easy to be taken away as a spy for the Western Army."
There was a hint of worry in Zhang Lu's eyes, "This is my first time here, how do I know the backstage?"
Xiao Dan smiled bitterly and said: "Proprietor Zhang didn't understand what I meant. The so-called backstage relationship does not mean that there is any friendship, but that if you pay regularly, someone will naturally protect you."
Zhang Lu was silent for a moment and said: "Yin Balu said, Mr. Xiao can help me!"
Xiao Dan nodded, "I can introduce someone to you."
"who?"
"My brother-in-law is a captain and a Khitan like me."
That night, Xiao Dan found his wife and brother Xiao Wanmu.
Both of them have the surname Xiao, but they are not related by blood. There are many people with the surname Xiao in Khitan, and there is no such thing as the Han people who have the same surname and do not marry.
Xiao Wanmu poured two bowls of wine and placed a few dishes of side dishes. After listening to Xiao Dan's words, he sneered and said: "Don't those Yin brothers always brag that they know King Yong? I'm afraid this Han businessman named Zhang is
A spy from the Western Army!"
Xiao Dan nodded, "I think it's a bit similar!"
"How did you tell?" Xiao Wanmu asked quietly.
Xiao Dan thought for a while and said: "I feel that this person is very magnanimous, the magnanimity of a Han official. He is unhurried and calm. He is not at all mercenary like ordinary businessmen. I can give you an example."
"you say!"
"I told him that finding a backend requires money, and he needs to pay protection money every month. Most businessmen will definitely ask, how much does it cost? But he didn't ask at all, so I knew he was not a businessman. Brother, what should we do now?
manage?"
"You don't expect me to report Wanyan Asai!"
Wanyan Asai was the first centurion to attack the city when the Jurchen army attacked Linhuang City. After entering the city, he was named a centurion of thousands and was rewarded with 100,000 sheep. He was very young at the time, only two years old.
In his teens, he is now more than fifty years old. He has been promoted to captain of ten thousand men and is now the chief general of Linhuang Mansion.
It was Wanyan Asai who killed Xiao Dan's parents and two brothers back then, so when this name was mentioned, a trace of deep hatred appeared in Xiao Dan's eyes.
Xiao Wanmu understood what he was thinking and patted his shoulder, "I can be his protector. Let's discuss it in the long term."
"How much does it cost, brother?"
Xiao Wanmu shook his head, "What I want is not money!"
Xiao Dan suddenly understood, and he whispered: "What if he is really a businessman?"
"If he is really a businessman, I will do business with him. I can also get good ginseng, tiger bones and other medicinal materials, which can make me a lot of money."
"Brother, do you want to talk to him?"
Xiao Wanmu smiled, "Of course!"
At the same time, Yinbalu was also introducing Xiao Dan's wife and brother to Zhang Lu. "Manager Zhang didn't know that Xiao Wanmu was not an ordinary person. When Wanyan Nianhan led an army to attack the Mengwu tribe, Linhuang City
It was empty. Only Xiao Wanmu led 2,000 Khitan troops to guard the city, and 30,000 people from Kelie's tribe wanted to attack Linhuang City. As a result, Xiao Wanmu led 2,000 men to defend the city for 20 days, and nearly 6,000 people from Kelie's tribe were killed or injured.
Wanyan Nianhan admired him very much and wanted to promote him to captain of ten thousand men several times, but the court disagreed and said he was a Khitan and was unreliable."
Zhang Lu pondered for a moment and asked: "Is it possible to win over this person?"
"It should be possible. Xiao Dan's parents and brothers were killed by the Jurchens, and he has a deep hatred for the Jurchens. Xiao Wanmu knew that he still married his sister to him. If he was loyal to the Jurchens wholeheartedly, he would not be able to marry his sister to him.
Married to Xiao Dan, but..."
"But what?" Zhang Lu asked.
Yin Balu smiled and said: "I mean, this Xiao Wanmu City Mansion is very deep. The manager should not confess to him for the time being!"
Zhang Lu nodded, of course he would not be so reckless.
Early the next morning, Xiao Wanmu came to the inn. Under Xiao Dan's introduction, Xiao Wanmu met with Zhang Lu. In fact, Xiao Wanmu's eyesight was extremely sharp, and he happened to see several of Zhang Lu's men carrying the goods.
The cargoes all have straight backs, vigorous steps, great strength, and calm and focused eyes. They are not ordinary clerks, but they are clearly extremely elite soldiers. Without repeated training, there is no such temperament.
But when he saw Zhang Lu, Xiao Wanmu knew that he was right. With such a calm gaze and elegant temperament, he was clearly a Han civil servant instead of a businessman.
But Xiao Wanmu didn't say anything. They exchanged a few words and sat down.
Zhang Lu smiled and asked: "General Xiao can also speak Chinese?"
Xiao Wanmu nodded and said with a smile: "I am also from Yanshan Road. The Khitans on Yanshan Road were called Shufan in the Song Dynasty, which are Chinese-style Khitans. Basically, they can speak Chinese."
"I want to start a leather goods and medicinal materials purchasing business in Linhuang City. Can General Xiao give me some advice?"
Xiao Wanmu smiled slightly and said: "I suggest that proprietor Zhang hang it under a local store, so that he doesn't have to go to the government to register. You know, it is impossible for non-local Han people to open a store in Linhuang, and the government will not approve it."
"What if I ask Yinbalu to go to the government to apply for opening a store?"
"Yinbalu is fine, but the new store is easier to be targeted. If someone finds out that the actual operator is a Han Chinese, he will report it to the government and get a reward of ten coins. Can proprietor Zhang withstand the government's investigation?"
?”
Zhang Lu pondered for a moment and said, "Does General Xiao have a better way?"
"There is a way, it depends on whether Boss Zhang is willing to accept it?"
"Please say!"
Xiao Wanmu said calmly: "Proprietor Zhang doesn't need to open a shop, he just lives in my brother-in-law's inn. As for the medicinal materials and leather goods that proprietor Zhang wants, I will come and get them for you."
"General Xiao means that we cooperate?"
Xiao Wanmu nodded and said with a pun: "I have been stationed in Linhuang Mansion for twenty years. I have some connections. I can get whatever goods you want!"
Zhang Lu heard the clue and said with a smile: "If the cooperation is successful, what price does General Xiao want?"
Xiao Wanmu said lightly: "I have a deep affection for Linhuang Mansion. If possible, I would like to continue doing this business with Boss Zhang in Linhuang Mansion."
Zhang Lu nodded, "If General Xiao wants the price of Datong Mansion, that's absolutely fine, I can make the decision!"
“I will have no regrets in my life if I can get Datong’s price!”
………
Xiao Wanmu said goodbye and left. When Xiao Dan saw him off, he asked in a low voice: "What did he mean by the Datong price?"
Xiao Wanmu smiled slightly and said: "The prefect of Datong is Yelu Qiyan, a Khitan. He means to let me be the prefect of Linhuang. He said he can make the decision. It seems that his status in the Jingzhao court is not low."
Xiao Dan was startled and suddenly full of expectation, "Prefect Linhuang, can eldest brother do it?"
"He said that if the cooperation can be successful, that is to say, I will help them seize Linhuang Mansion. I feel that this is really an opportunity given to me by God. The Kingdom of Jin closed the door to promotion to me, but the Kingdom of Yong closed another door