The merchants going in and out of Tongguan were all looking at this group of cavalry. Zhang Yue thought that it was too obvious for Xue Xiang to show his kindness to him.
Because Zhang Yue did not inform Xue Xiang of his itinerary, he just asked Tang Jiu to stop at Qianlu Station before arriving. As soon as he arrived at Tongguan, Xue Xiang immediately sent troops to greet him and explained his whereabouts.
Palm.
The most important thing is that Zhang Yue went to Jingzhao Mansion to negotiate with Xue Xiang. If you do this, I won't be able to cut your price.
Zhang Yue said to the leading general: "I am traveling incognito because I don't want to disturb the local area, and I want to observe the people's sentiments along the way. Therefore, I appreciate the kindness of Ambassador Xue Yun."
When the general saw that Zhang Yue was not using them as guards, he couldn't help but said: "Judge Zhang, if you say that, I'm afraid it will be difficult for the general to explain him when the time comes."
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "What? Do you still want me to explain it to you?"
While he was talking, he heard a loud laugh from the side, and saw a man riding a horse and said with a smile: "Since the bachelor wants to humble himself and observe the people's sentiments, how about asking the lower official to accompany him all the way? I wonder if it is such an honor?"
When Zhang Yue saw the visitor, he couldn't help being surprised and happy. He immediately left his seat at the postal booth and stepped down to greet him.
The other party also jumped off the horse immediately...
The two put their arms around each other, patting each other's shoulders and laughing.
"Senior Brother Cai!"
"Saburo!"
This person is none other than Cai Que.
After not seeing Cai Que for several years, Zhang Yue and the other party had already changed their appearance.
Cai Que is not yet thirty years old, but his temples are already a bit white.
But seeing Cai Chue sighing and saying: "Sanlang, when we parted from Imperial College, I never expected that you and I would be where we are today. You have been rising steadily, but now I can't say anything. When I get to the officialdom one day, I will call myself senior brother."
Resigned."
Zhang Yue sighed that Xue Xiang was very powerful, so he asked Cai Que to greet him, which made him unable to refuse.
At the same time, Zhang Yue and Cai indeed had not seen each other for many years. He said: "Brother Cai, what are you talking about? You and I are acquaintances in the past. Now you and I are officials in the same court. In the future, we will support each other along the way. Today you
Let's have a good chat with each other and get drunk together."
Cai Quechang smiled and said: "Sanlang has really not changed. In fact, I have prepared the strong wine from Guanxi. Today, you and I should have a good drink and talk about our feelings."
Zhang Yue said: "Okay, this reminds me of the days when you and I had a good time drinking together in Taixue. Let's see how you drink today. Can you make any progress after we parted ways?"
Cai Que heard this and laughed loudly: "In terms of drinking capacity, Sanlang, you have never beaten me!"
So Zhang Yue and Cai Que rode into Tongguan together. The two of them had already had a desire to compete with each other when they were in Imperial College. Although Cai Que was not as good as himself in ranking, he was shrewd and capable in doing things, which was really Cai Que's strength.
The two reunited after a long separation, whipping up their whips and riding horses at a time when they were determined and energetic, and they talked about their farewell together.
During the conversation, Cai Que talked about his current situation. He had a son born, and Cai Que's wife was the sister-in-law of his classmate Chang Anmin. Chang Anmin was admitted to the Imperial College at the age of fourteen, and he fell in love with Cai Que at first sight.
The two of them were valued by the Sun family at the same time and became brothers-in-law.
Although the Sun family came from a scholarly family, they lived in poverty. Not only did it not help Cai Que in his career, but he borrowed money from Cai Que because of his family's financial difficulties. Cai Que's life as an official was very difficult.
As the two of them chatted while watching the caravans going by, Zhang Yue asked about the trade between the Song Dynasty and Xixia.
Cai Quedao: "Jingzhao Prefecture is a beautiful place. We were attacking Xixia before. Although we are negotiating for peace now, the Xixia people are afraid of power and have no morals. Sooner or later they will invade eastward."
Zhang Yue said: "There was a discussion in the court, and Sima Junshi proposed to abolish the border and the city. The memorial said that although the Westerners did not receive the annual gifts from the city, they had no shortage of public and private affairs, so they had to do whatever they wanted.
During the years, he seemed respectful but also arrogant, showing that he was not busy with China's affairs and that he would use the resources to make up for them. Cancellation of the peace market will weaken the power of the Xia people, what do you think? "
Heshi is a private trading market in Xixia and Song dynasties other than Queshi. The buying and selling of things is regulated by the imperial court. There are also a large number of private markets.
Sima Guang advocated canceling the He market, severely cracking down on the private market, and returning all northwest trade to the official-led negotiable market.
Cai Que shook his head and said: "This is a matter of course. During the Qingli period, the imperial court banned Xixia green salt from entering the mirror. In the end, the living and familiar households along the border who relied on selling green salt to make a living also turned to Xixia.
For embarrassment."
"If the peace market is cancelled, and the private market is cracked down, the established and mature households will once again turn to Xixia."
Zhang Yue said: "I really realize that this matter needs to be implemented seriously. Scholar Sima's proposal has been approved by many ministers in the court, but it will be troublesome once it is implemented."
While he was talking, Zhang Yue saw a caravan returning from the east with pack horses and camels.
Listening to Cai's words, in addition to green salt, Xixia horses and camels are hard currency in the market. The best ones are Xixia white camels. In addition, there are medicinal materials and minerals, etc.
Xue Xiang used salt banknotes to buy horses from the Xixia people. He also wanted to exchange the salt banknotes for green salt and camels, but the Xixia people refused.
It seems that the Xixia people are not that stupid either.
However, Zhang Yue thought that once the branch office in Jingzhao Prefecture was established and the free redemption of salt banknotes and other goods was realized, the Xixia people would definitely agree to further expand the scope of use of salt banknotes in the next step.
At the same time, there was also inflation in the salt banknotes, so the salt banknotes in the hands of Xixia people and the people of the Song Dynasty generally slowly depreciated in value.
Banknotes can be used as currency, and salt banknotes can be used as credit coins. This is a good practical credit. This is a thousand years ahead of the concept of petrodollars in later generations.
Zhang Yue asked Cai Que again about green salt. Green salt is also called green white salt.
The taste of green salt is better than that of salt.
The price of a pound of salt salt in the market fluctuates around thirty or fifty cents, but the price of green salt in the market is only fifteen cents.
Zhang Yue was greatly surprised when he heard this.
After finishing speaking, there happened to be a salt dealer passing by at the Tongguan Road checkpoint transporting salt.
Cai Que ordered officers and soldiers to interrogate the salt dealers.
The salt seller begged for help, and Cai Que asked, "What kind of salt do you get for selling it?"
The salt dealer said: "I am the salt of Machengchi."
Cai Que sneered when he heard this, took a latch-like thing from the official at the checkpoint, and inserted it into the salt bag on the back of the mule.
After the bolt was pulled out, there were some salt grains in the bucket. Cai did take the powdered salt and tasted it in his mouth.
Cai Que said: "It is indeed Machengchi salt. This salt is mixed with saltpeter and tastes bitter. One pound is only twenty cents. Sanlang, you can try it."
Zhang Yue also took some salt grains and tasted it in his mouth. As expected, there was a strong smell of salt that he wanted to spit out. He didn't know how Cai chewed it with such gusto.
The salt seller looked happy and said: "Then you can pass the test, don't block the merchants who will come later."
But Cai followed the man's gaze for a few seconds and pointed to another mule.
At the salt seller's exclamation, several officers and soldiers unloaded the salt bags. Cai Que fiddled with several salt bags, and immediately took the latch and inserted it into one bag.
The salt dealer couldn't help but turn pale with shock.
Cai Que took out the powdered salt from the bucket, glanced at the salt seller, then took it to Zhang Yue without tasting it and said, "This is the green salt of Xixia."
Zhang Yue carefully identified the green salt-shaped block with square edges. It was bright and clear but green and black. He took the salt and tasted it in his mouth and couldn't help but praise: "It's sweet and has no foreign taste. It's really good salt!"
After hearing this, the officers and soldiers on the left and right captured the salt dealer on the spot. The man lowered his head and looked irrefutable.
Zhang Yue asked Cai Que: "How did Brother Chizheng know that this salt dealer was carrying illegal salt?"
Cai Quedao said: "The salt quality of Machengchi is poor. Most of the people only sell salt in the west of Beijing. It is not worth going to the east of Beijing. It is not worth going to Tongguan."
Zhang Yue really admired Cai Chu very much. He was indeed the shrewd and capable Senior Brother Cai in the Imperial College back then.
But seeing Cai Quedao: "Actually, I'm not making things difficult for him. I just want to talk to Sanlang about the difference between green salt and salt salt, so I think this person is unlucky."
"The imperial law strictly prohibits green salt, but it still can't stop these common people from taking risks. Now Saburo must know how difficult it is to govern!"
Cai Que's words also revealed that although Zhang Yue is good at studying, he doesn't know how serious the accident is, and his political ability is still great.
However, Zhang Yue didn't pay attention. He remembered that during the Song-Xia war, the Song Dynasty strictly prohibited the entry of green salt and used salt to fill the border. However, the smuggling of green salt was still uncontrollable.
Zhang Yue still admires Cai Que. He is indeed not a thing in the pool, and he will come forward sooner or later.
"I heard that Brother Chizheng has a clan bond with Cai Jixiang?"
Cai Que nodded: "My great-grandfather and Cai Jixiang's great-grandfather are brothers. However, they have been estranged for a long time and have not yet joined the family line."
Cai Xiang, Cai Jing, and Cai Bian are all of the same race, as you can tell by looking at the radicals in their names.
In this way, Cai Que, Cai Jing, and Cai Bian did not appear in the fifth server.
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "I mostly relied on Cai Jixiang's clan leader in the capital, but now I have to rely on you, brother Chizheng, when I get to Shaanxi."
Cai Que smiled. He had quite a plan to get to know Cai Xiang through Zhang Yue, but then he thought about it and thought that the relationship between Xue Xiang and Cai Xiang was not good now, so he could only leave it temporarily.
Zhang Yue thought, but he didn't expect that Cai Jing and Cai Que would become his right-hand men. According to the words in the book, he didn't expect that the small exchange could actually harvest Wolong and Fengxia at the same time.
Having one can bring peace to the world, let alone having both.
That day, Zhang Yue stayed at the inn arranged by Xue Xiang. Zhang Yue, Huang Haoyi, and Cai Que had a good time drinking and chatting about things that had happened during their time at Imperial College.
Cai Que was very emotional when he talked about how hard he studied at Taixue. The main idea was, have you ever seen Taixue at four o'clock in the morning?
Zhang Yue and Huang Haoyi have never met.
But Cai did see it.
Later, all three of them got very drunk, and Cai Que couldn't help but talk about a hateful incident in his life.
It turned out that Cai Que's father, Cai Huangshang, was dismissed because he offended the prime minister Chen Zhizhong, which made the Cai family's life suddenly difficult. From then on, Cai Que and his son hated Chen Zhizhong.
Cai Que drank a glass of wine, his eyes were red and he said: "When my father was dying, he took my hand and said that he must avenge this great revenge for my Cai family one day."
"I have always kept these words in my heart and studied hard to prepare for the chance of revenge in the future. However, Chen Zhizhong, an old man, died in the year I became a Jinshi. This hatred is really hard to eliminate!"
"Sanlang, do you think I am extremely unfilial?"
After speaking, Cai Que took several sips of wine.
Seeing that Cai Que kept saying that he was unfilial, Zhang Yue remembered that Cai Que succeeded in revenge in history.
Zhang Yue comforted Cai Que and said, "Zhi Zheng, you have too much hatred in your heart. This will make your life unhappy, forget it."
Cai Que waved his hand.
Everyone got drunk that night.
The next day, Zhang Yue, Cai Que and others should take a carriage to Jingzhao Mansion.
Zhang Yue asked Cai Que and found out that this was the day when the Jingzhao Prefecture held the examination, and both Su Shi and Zhang Dun were serving as examiners in Chang'an.
Zhang Yue thought to himself that it was a coincidence that he came this time and saw everyone at once.