Zhao Chen knew that his most important task was to help these merchants and collect tolls from their fleets and caravans.
This is how people make their money back.
If you don't hand it over and I don't hand it over, they will be finished?
Of course, these things have nothing to do with Zhao Chen.
But now, Zhao Chen wants to embarrass those high-ranking officials in Chang'an City.
"Hitting someone? I'm going to see which family has an adult with such a bad temper." Zhao Chen became very interested and walked towards the gate of the opposite city.
…
"If you dare to stop me again, you will risk your life."
"A small businessman dares to stop a driver from Dali Temple and wants to ask for so-called tolls. He is simply looking for death."
"Only one of you was hurt today. Next time, I, Dali Temple, will send all of you to prison. Get out!"
At the gate of the city, a man in fine clothes pointed at a few people dressed as merchants and scolded them.
There was a man huddled on the ground, with shoe prints all over his body and face.
"Sir, the repair of Suzaku Avenue was originally discussed between our employer and His Majesty."
"We helped repair Zhuque Avenue. We will also do the future maintenance. We just charge a small toll every day, which is what we should do."
"Sir, please show your respect and be considerate to us."
Some merchants and those in fine clothes begged.
Some people even knelt on the ground, begging them for the toll.
But even so, he was not forgiven by that person.
"I say it again, if you block our master's way, you are asking for your own death."
"Come here, beat them away. If they refuse to leave, take them all to Dali Temple."
The man in fine clothes waved his hand.
Then someone rushed over, holding sticks, and smashed at a dozen merchants.
No one around me dared to say no.
This is the chariot of the Shaoqing of Dali Temple.
Shaoqing of Dali Temple, a fourth-rank position.
In Dali Temple, he is only under the minister of Dali Temple.
Who dares to offend ordinary people?
If you say even one more word, you may be arrested and taken to Dali Temple for interrogation.
If there is no identity, who can go in and come out clean?
"Stop, don't beat people to death, and keep your eyes open from now on, so you don't die without knowing how!" A cold voice came from the carriage.
The thugs then put away their sticks, and some of them seemed to be unsatisfied, kicking the merchants on the ground hard.
The ground was filled with wailing merchants, and no one had blood on their face.
As the convoy moved forward, the people in the carriage didn't even look outside.
"Alas, Dali Temple is in charge of the law of the Tang Dynasty, but there is no trace of law in our actions."
"The merchants repaired the Suzaku Avenue in Chang'an City and spent a lot of money, but now they haven't recovered even a penny."
"Oh, just save your life. Even the people in Dali Temple are like this, let alone other people!"
"In this world, don't be a merchant in anything you do. Wherever you are a merchant, don't be a merchant in Chang'an."
"When His Majesty the Emperor enacted the Tang Law, the status of merchants was low, but he also said that the interests of merchants should be guaranteed. Why is it like this now!"
Only when the team of the Shaoqing of Dali Temple left did the people dare to whisper.
When Zhao Chen came over, he only saw a group of businessmen with bruises and swollen faces, and not even a hair in the motorcade.
"Your Excellency, if we had not really run out of money, no one would bet their lives here."
"Today is not the first time. Some of us have even been beaten to death here before!"
"My lord, you are someone whom His Majesty values, please help us."
"As long as we can recover our capital, we will leave immediately!"
The leading merchants and Zhao Chen begged, their eyes even showing despair.
The rest of the people remained silent, just looked at it quietly, and saw no color.
Zhao Chen doesn't care at all whether merchants like them can receive money.
But Zhao Chen is still very willing to take advantage of these guys through this method.
"Go and close the city gate at the end. All carriages and caravans are only allowed to pass through here."
"I want to see if that person dares not to pay the toll." Zhao Chen and Fang Yizhi said, and then stood here, looking calmly at the convoy coming in front.
The sudden closing of a city gate naturally caused a commotion among the people.
But soon, calm was restored.
"Your Excellency, a convoy is coming. It seems to be the Cui family's carriage in Qinghe." The leading merchants and Zhao Chen reminded them.
The merchants all had worried looks on their faces.
The Cui family of Qinghe is a wealthy family.
Even if it is not as powerful as before, it only takes one look to kill them.
Zhao Chen opened his eyes and thought that today was really a good day to avenge and complain.
Qinghe Cui's people in the court made things difficult for them yesterday!
Met it so quickly!
"Stop them, ten cents per person, the same price for both men and horses." Zhao Chen waved his hand and said to the merchant.
"Ah?" The merchants all suspected that they had heard wrongly.
Just now, they were still thinking that if that didn't work, they would let Cui's chariots and horses from Qinghe pass by.
But he didn't expect that Zhao Chen would pay ten cents per person for tolls.
And the horses are the same price!
On weekdays, the most they dare to charge is two cents, but even so, no one has ever given it.
Ten articles!
I'm afraid someone who is not the Cui family of Qinghe will come out directly!
"Why, do you need me to repeat it?" Zhao Chen frowned.
"Whatever you are doing in a daze, just do whatever you are told. With Zhao Da here, whoever comes will have to give in to me." Cheng Chumo scolded angrily and kicked the leader of the merchants in the butt.
The leading merchant called out, then reluctantly walked forward, stretched out his hand, and said nervously: "Ma... please... wait a moment, I... we have... His Majesty's decree, here...
Collect… tolls!”
The leading merchant trembled non-stop when he spoke.
The people behind me frowned when they heard this!
"Zhao Da, for people like them, they deserve to be looked down upon!" Cheng Chumo complained to Zhao Chen with his outspoken words.
Zhao Chen didn't answer and looked at the motorcade in front of him expressionlessly.
Sitting in the carriage in the middle of the motorcade was the head of the Cui family of Qinghe. Since Cui Yan's death, the influence of the family has become smaller and smaller.
Even the people who originally took refuge with them seemed to have lost their news overnight.
Although they were not involved in Cui Yan's assassination.
But even so, Zhao Chen may not let them go!
Today, the head of the Cui family in Qinghe wanted to go out of the city to relax and think about his future actions.
Who would have thought that before we even left the city, we would be stopped.
The person who stopped him was a middle-aged man dressed as a businessman.
No matter how bad or in decline the Cui family of Qinghe is, it is not something that a mere merchant can offend.
The head of the Cui family in Qinghe became angry at that time and scolded others: "If you dare to reach out to me, the Cui family in Qinghe, go and chop off his hand!"?