From Dongshengzhou to Tanglong Town, after crossing the Yellow River, you will enter the mountains, either along the valley or along the ridge, and travel south. This is a road that has existed since ancient times. Where there are springs that should be settled, where there are villages and towns to replenish food and grass, merchants who often come and go know it clearly. But this time, unlike before, the merchants who came from Dongshengzhou brought a large amount of livestock, and the supply on the road was very difficult.

This road cannot pass through large trucks, and the goods are transported by camels and horses. The vast caravans have thousands of livestock, and I don’t know how many stories have happened along the way. It is precisely because of too many livestock that the thousand good horses stuffed in Yelu Buhua and others can make fishing. They are not an army and are unable to recruit food and grass from nearby foreign tribes, and some small merchants complain.

After three days, the team grew longer and longer, and the caravans with insufficient supply were brought behind and grazed most of the day.

On a small hill, a young man dressed in Fanhu was as irritable as thunder and scolded him endlessly. A businessman beside him whispered, his face full of helplessness. It was not until the young man was tired of scolding that the businessman sighed and left.

When he arrived at the resting place, another businessman asked, "Brother, what did that little prince scold just now?"

The previous businessman said: "I just went to the caravan over there to buy some fine materials. I didn't expect that in a few days, their price would triple. We brought more than 200 horses, how could we afford it? After hearing this, the little prince scolded him endlessly. He brought all good horses. If he wanted to sell them for a good price in Tanglong Town, he must feed them. How can he spend the money without pain!"

The two of them sighed as they spoke. They were merchants from the Western Regions, and their ancestors were Han people living there. They had been doing business between the Western Regions and the Xijing Datong Prefecture for many years, and were familiar with the grassland tribes. At this time, the Western Regions trade roads were one south and one north, and the south route went through the Tubo area to enter Qinzhou of the Song Dynasty, and traded with the Central Plains. The northern route followed the north of Yinshan Mountain, went south through the Yinshan Baidao and went south to Fengzhou, and then to Datong Prefecture of Xijing, and traded with the Khitan.

Since the fall of Guiyi Army, the Western Regions were completely isolated from the Central Plains, and the legend of the beautiful Central Plains has always been circulating there. The biggest wish of merchants on the trade route is to be able to trade directly with the Central Plains. Tanglong Town, as a trade place, opened a window to the Western Regions merchants on the North Road. The caravans were of such a large scale this time, and these Western Regions merchants who observed the wind direction made an indelible contribution.

The little prince is the son of the leader of the Dangxiang Tibetan Cultivate near Yinshan. He was inspired by these merchants to bring horses to Tanglong Town. Tanglong Town was originally a settlement center of the Tibetan Cultivate. The little prince thought he was visiting relatives here and was very energetic. However, he did not expect that when he was in Dongshengzhou, he was looked down upon by the Khitans. After finally getting to the mountains, he met these unscrupulous merchants who were on the ground and were extremely depressed.

From north to Long Town, to Yinshan, the Dangxiang tribe accounted for the majority of the population and was divided into many tribes. Then to the north, it was the territory of the Tatars. Because of the taboos in history, the Mongols were called Shubu in later generations. This time, the foreign tribes that came to Long Town were mainly Dangxiang people. Since the Khitan conquered this place, they have been rebellious and have strong independence. Because of historical relations, these Dangxiang tribes were mostly enemies of the Tuoba tribe who established the Xia Kingdom. Although Yuan Hao recruited in every way, not many of them surrendered. However, decades ago, when the envoys of the Song Dynasty passed by them, 70,000 entries returned to the Song Dynasty. These Dangxiang tribes were emotionally close to the Dangxiang people in the three prefectures of Linfeng Prefecture. Tanglong Town was most interested in commerce.

When the caravan at the front entered Tanglong Town, the last one was still a hundred miles away, and he complained because of the lack of food and grass.

The nominal lord of Tang Long Town came to Zhongping and brought his men to the city gate. He wore a Han bun and wore a Dangxiang costume, and frequently bowed his hands.

A big man with hair and hair was wearing a squad, swaggered, and arrived at the city gate, sang a promise with Lai Zhongping, looked at the sky, and said loudly: "Bai Huan, the family of Sa is under the jurisdiction of the food and grass in Dongshengzhou, and is under the jurisdiction of Yelu, who is here to trade. If there is a person in charge of the city, take me to see him."

Come to Zhongping and laughed, "When you come down to Zhongping, the world guards Tanglong Town——"

Bai Huan said impatiently: "So what? Since the Western thief captured Lai Shoushun, is it still your home to take care of it? When he came, the Grand Marshal said that everything here was the commander of Du Zhijun of the Volcanic Army. I want to come to the city and take me to see you quickly!"

He came to Zhongyuan and turned around and looked at a Han official with helpless expression on his face. The man nodded, came to Zhongping to lead the way and took Bai Huan into the city.

Du Zhongxiao and Zhang Ku sat in the official hall. After hearing the soldiers' reports, they were stunned at first, and then smiled at Zhang Ku: "It was originally a negotiation with the Khitan that this is a trade city. When we arrived here, the merchants were the ones who were the ones who were the ones who were the ones who were not involved. How could they listen to the Khitans? Are they officials and businessmen?"

Zhang Ke also laughed: "Now, the biggest owner of goods in the city is the Volcano Army Yamen, and we are different from officials and businessmen."

Du Zhongxiao thought for a while and shook his head: "That's right. But we avoid suspicion and cannot let the government come forward. They hired businessmen and businessmen to deal with those who do business. Why are the Khitans so knowledgeable about things, and they don't even do storefront skills."

The volcanic army opened in Tanglong Town, all of which were in private names, and on the surface it seemed to have nothing to do with the government. If it was still the official business with the official, it was just another venue, so how could we talk about the city of free trade? However, Du Zhongxiao did not expect that no one of the Khitan merchants who came had any relationship with the Khitan official, but it was all private trade. They just borrowed the Khitan official name.

Knowing that he would not be able to deal with it when he came to Zhongping, Du Zhongxiao said goodbye to Zhang Ji and went to the side hall next to him.

When they arrived at the yamen, there were soldiers who reported to him, and brought Bai Huan and others in. When they came to Zhongping, they still went to the city gate to welcome the caravan.

When he arrived at the side hall, Bai Huan saw a young official sitting on the main seat, wearing casual clothes. He thought it was Du Zhongxiao, so he stepped forward and sang a promise.

Du Zhongxiao ordered the seat to be given, and said to Bai Huan: "I have worked hard for the official from afar. I don't know what to call him?"

Bai Huan said: "The little one is named Bai Huan. He is the supervisor of Yelu Taiwei, who is in charge of the army's food and grass in Dongsheng Prefecture. This time, he was ordered by the Taiwei to do some business here in Tanglong Town. The Taiwei attaches great importance to this trade and dares not make any mistakes. He hopes that the army will be successful."

Du Zhongxiao said: "The fair transactions in Tanglong Town are sold, some people sell, some people buy, and they make profits. I wonder what your Grand Marshal wants me to help?"

Bai Huan said: "The younger ones will do the transaction. Only this time the caravan brought a lot of horses, and the Taiwei paid the capital. I hope Zhijun took care of it. The horses must be sold to the southern country. Which one sold, how much it sold, and how much it was, Zhijun wrote down one by one. After returning, the younger ones must report to the Taiwei, and there must be no mistakes. This matter is important, please ask Zhijun."

Du Zhongxiao looked unhappy: "I have already said that Tanglong Town is a city of free trade, and does not charge commercial taxes and trade them separately. How can I record what you said? If you check so carefully, where will the merchants come here in the future?"

Bai Huan said disapprovingly: "Don't deceive me by knowing the army. I have no knowledge. The valuable things of horses must be bought by the army-"

Du Zhongxiao waved his hand: "Even if it is a bribery in the army, it will be sent to come and settle it separately after going back. In the city, merchants will not be able to trade. - Supervisor, this is the first transaction, I will sell the Taiwei for face. You send a few people there, and I will ask the people in the city to help you to see the situation of the horse. What is going on? You record it yourself, and it has nothing to do with me."

Bai Huan refused to give up after hearing this and asked, "Does Zhijun not do business in the city?"

Du Zhongxiao said: "This dynasty law is not allowed, I have no business in the city."

Bai Huan thought about it and asked again: "Zhijun has no business, isn't the government either?"

"The merchants in the city are all businessmen, this is the rule in the city."

After hearing this, Bai Huan was stunned and didn't know what to say for a moment. According to the rules of the Khitan, it is incredible to do such things without participating in them. Just like marching and fighting, it is natural for Khitan nobles to seize spoils or even slaves. There is no benefit, why should I work hard?

This is because of the different national conditions. The salary of officials in the Song Dynasty was higher than that of the Khitan, and there were more corresponding constraints. Do officials want to benefit themselves? Of course, they also thought. However, for officials in the Song Dynasty, they would not be so explicit and had much more hidden methods. Even Du Zhongxiao also thought that after a few months, his father would come and he would make some money from the trade in Tanglong Town. He would not be like Bai Huan.
Chapter completed!