Early in the morning, Dongfang Jian woke up early. After stretching his body, he felt extremely comfortable. That was true. No one would be able to stand being in bed for more than a month. If it was Dongfang Jian's wish, he would have gotten out of bed long ago. However, Lyu and Zhen were adamant about it. Dongfang Jian had no choice but to lie on the bed to avoid the two girls 'sadness and to spend more time with them. The reason why he was lying on his stomach was because his butt was injured. He could not sit or lie down, so he could only lie on the bed. Although he had Hua Tuo's elixir, Dongfang Jian was not trained in martial arts. His body was not as strong as Zhang Fei and other martial artists. It was said that Zang Ba could walk in only ten days.
After Dongfang Jian got up, he performed a set of Taiji Fist to slowly restore his body to its previous state. After Dongfang Jian finished practicing Taiji Fist, he took a deep breath and took a deep breath of fresh air. The air now was much better than the air in his previous life. There was no pollution at all. Dongfang Jian felt that his body had gained some warmth and sensation after the fight, and he was less stiff.
After Dongfang Jian finished practicing Taiji Fist, he went back to his room to wash up and had breakfast with Zhen and Lu. After more than a month of contact, the relationship between the three of them could be described as advancing by leaps and bounds. Now, apart from the last thing that they did not do, Dongfang Jian had done everything that should be done. In fact, it was not that Dongfang Jian did not want to do it. Firstly, it was because of his injuries that did not allow him to do any extreme actions. Secondly, it was because girls nowadays were conservative and must save the best for their wedding night. Dongfang Jian knew that if he really wanted them, the two girls would agree. However, Dongfang Jian was unwilling to force them. To him, forcing them would not be sincere. That would be boring.
After the meal, Dongfang Jian suggested that the two girls accompany him for a walk. He had been lying in bed for a month and still did not know what was happening outside. Although they would report to him every day, he still believed that he had seen it with his own eyes. The children were also very happy when they heard that. At that time, girls were not allowed to go out casually. The two girls had long wanted to go out, but they were afraid that others would gossip. Now that he heard that he could go out, and that he was going out with his sweetheart, how could he not be happy? Then, he nodded in agreement.
"Brother Su, it's only been half a year since I last came to Youzhou Province. I didn't expect Youzhou Province to be so prosperous. Look at this fine wine. If those Xianbei nobles on the grassland drink it, what will their expressions be?”A middle-aged man was watching his old friend with a profound look while drinking wine. The other middle-aged man sighed with emotion too. He remembered that Youzhou Province was very depressed when he passed by Youzhou Province last year. He had not imagined that it had changed so much only after half a year. At the sight of the confident smiles on the faces of the commoners, he could feel that Youzhou Province was a paradise in their eyes.
"Sir, you're right. Ever since our Eastern Provincial Governor took over Youzhou, he first killed the former Zhuo Prefecture Governor, Luo Ming, that corrupt official in public. Then, he cleaned up the administration of officials and settled the refugees. Especially the Bejewelled Nectar that the Provincial Governor of the East has developed. It's a good thing, much better than the inferior product you're drinking now.”The hotel manager said sincerely.
"Oh, is there really a better wine than the one in my hand?”The middle-aged man asked in disbelief.
"Indeed, what you are drinking now is only the fourth type of wine produced by the Wine Bureau. There are three other types that are better than this, especially the Bejewelled Nectar brewed by the Provincial Governor. It is not something that ordinary people can drink. It is a top-grade wine, and a bottle costs thousands of gold.”Looking at the young man who answered them, the two middle-aged men praised him in their hearts. What an imposing and refined young man.
When the shopkeeper saw that it was Dongfang Jian, he panicked and hurriedly bowed."This commoner is here to see the provincial governor." Dongfang Jian hurriedly helped the shopkeeper up, but his eyes were fixed on the two middle-aged men.
After hearing that the young man in front of him was the Provincial Governor of Youzhou Province, he hurriedly stood up from his seat and bowed to Xun Dongfang Jian as a form of respect.
How did Dongfang Jian get to this tavern? He had to start from the beginning. After Dongfang Jian and the other two finished their meal, they brought Dian Wei and a few Brocade Guards to go on a private visit.
Dongfang Jian and the others wandered around Ji County to check on the people's livelihood under their rule. Ji County had already begun to expand according to Dongfang Jian's instructions. Dongfang Jian arrived at the construction site first and could not help but feel proud when he saw the busy figures of the people. Dongfang Jian did not come forward to disturb their work. He only observed the scene and found that the atmosphere was not bad. There was no sign of forced labor like what he had seen in books or on television, nor did he see any signs of the supervisors whipping the workers whenever they were slow. Dongfang Jian knew that his benevolent policy in Youzhou Province had been a preliminary success. Judging from the atmosphere at the scene, his benevolent policy had been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
After visiting the construction site, the three people left for another place. On the way, Dongfang Jian was very happy when he saw the happy faces of the commoners of Ji County. Because he felt that they were happy from the bottom of their hearts, he could see that his policy was very good for the commoners of Youzhou Province. How could Dongfang Jian, who came from the later generation, not be happy? The few of them spent half a day walking around Ji County. Everywhere they went, they could see the sincere smiles of the people.
At noon, Dian Wei reminded Dongfang Jian to go back. Dongfang Jian wanted to agree to go back, but he suddenly saw a restaurant in front of him and thought," Wineries and restaurants were the distribution centers for all kinds of news. In such places, it was possible to hear any news. Why not go in and listen to it? He would see if he had done anything wrong. Thinking of this, he ignored Dian Wei's advice and brought the two girls into the restaurant. After entering the restaurant, Zhang Tie found that most of the customers were businessmen. Because of the extremely low tax policy in Youzhou Province, many businessmen were attracted to do business in Youzhou Province. For some reason, Dongfang Jian looked at the people at the table not far away from him. After hearing what they said about Youzhou Province, he felt happy for no reason. When Dongfang Jian heard him mention whether he really had the best wine in his hand, he opened his mouth and took it.
When Dongfang Jian saw the two of them bow to him, he hurriedly stopped them and said,""Jian is only speaking to you two brothers with the identity of an ordinary citizen. Please don't be too polite. I haven't asked for your names.”
The middle-aged man who spoke earlier said,""I am Zhang Shiping."
"I'm Su Shuang," another person said.
Dongfang Jian immediately knew the name of the two people. In history, after Liu, Guan, and Zhang became sworn brothers in the Peach Garden, weren't the two people in front of him the ones who gave them the horses?
Although Dongfang Jian already knew what they were doing, he still asked just in case,""I wonder what the two of you do for a living.”
"We two brothers trade horses," Zhang Shiping said."We transport horses from the frontier to the Central Plains, and then we transport things from the Central Plains to the grasslands."”
Dongfang Jian smiled." I wonder how many horses you've brought back this time. I'd like to purchase them."”
"The two of us brothers brought back 1000 good horses and 300 bad horses.”
Dongfang Jian stood up and said to the two of them,""I wonder if the two of you are willing to go to the Provincial Governor's Estate with the sword to discuss.”
"That's why I don't dare to invite you." the two said.
"Please."
"Envoy, please."
After returning to the Provincial Governor's Office, Dongfang Jian called Tian Yu, Zhong Yao, Jia Xu, and Zhou Yi over. As Tian Feng, Xi Zhicai, and Xun You had already been sent out, he could only call the four people from the Liu family over. When the four of them arrived, Dongfang Jian introduced Su and Zhang to them and said,""Today, Mr. Su and Mr. Zhang brought 1000 good horses and 300 bad horses from the grassland. I wish to buy them.”
When the four of them heard this, they felt that something was not right. Why would their lord need to ask us if he wanted to buy horses? Can I make the decision? Why did he ask? Is there something wrong? The other three looked at Jia Xu, because usually, Jia Xu was the one who could guess Dongfang Jian's thoughts. Jia Xu understood when he saw the three of them looking at him. He could not help but smile bitterly in his heart. I'm not a god, so I can't guess everything. Jia Xu looked at Dongfang Jian's gaze as he looked at Su and Zhang, and he suddenly understood.
Jia Xu asked Su and Zhang," I heard that there are two very famous merchants in Youzhou. They often go to the grassland tribes and treat them like distinguished guests. I wonder if they are the two of you."”
" I won't hide it from you, sir," Zhang Shiping said." It's the two of us. When we were young, we traveled back and forth between the grasslands and the Central Plains. It's been 20 years now."”
When Tian Yu heard Jia Xu's question, he understood Dongfang Jian's thoughts and immediately asked,""I wonder if the two of you can tell us about the situation of the grassland tribes.”
Su and Zhang looked at each other. Su Shuang said,"Currently, the Xianbei are still the most respected people in the grasslands. However, the current king of the Xianbei, He Lian, is an incompetent person. He only knows how to eat, drink, and play and never cares about political affairs. This has caused many people in the Xianbei to be dissatisfied. The Xianbei now has the possibility of splitting up. The eastern Xianbei led by Mi Jia have long refused to accept He Lian's rule. If it weren't for the suppression of the Xianbei Grand Marshal Murong Feng and the high prestige of the Xianbei King Tan Shihuai, they would have long rebelled. However, even though they said that they did not rebel now, they did not listen to the orders of the Royal Court. It was not a matter of time before he rebelled. In addition, the Nanlou, Wuhuan, Wuyan and other tribes in Liaodong were also independent. If it wasn't for Murong Feng, they would have rebelled long ago.”
Dongfang Jian nodded." It seems that the two of you have a very high status in the grasslands. I wonder if the two of you are interested in becoming officials."”
Dongfang Jian's words stunned the two of them. They did not expect such a good thing to happen. Everyone knew that merchants were the least favored. They did not expect Dongfang Jian, the provincial governor of Youzhou and the imperial court's northern general, to personally invite them. This was something they had never thought of.
Jia Xu, who was standing at the side, naturally knew what Dongfang Jian meant. As merchants, the two of them had their own way of doing business. Moreover, they had been walking on the grasslands all year round, so they were very familiar with everything in the grasslands. "Why, don't the two of you disdain to be officials?"”
While the two of them were still at a loss, they heard the unhappiness in Jia Xu's words. The two of them were at a loss. Dongfang Jian looked at the flustered expressions of the two of them and found it a little funny. He said to Jia Xu,"Wenhe, you're also talented. Even if you don't become an official, you could still make a name for yourself. I'm afraid that the temple of Youzhou Province can't accommodate you.”
When Su and Zhang heard Dongfang Jian's words, they realized that he was sincere in wanting them to stay. If they still did not agree, they would really become fools. "Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang greet the lord."”
" Good, good." Dongfang Jian looked at the two of them and said," With the two of you joining us, our Youzhou Province will advance a step further."”
"Lord Miao Zan, we don't dare to accept it?”Zhang Shiping said.
Dongfang Jian introduced the two of them to the four of them.
" I heard from Shiping just now," Dongfang Jian said to Su and Zhang." Is it true that the wine of Youzhou can be sold at a good price on the prairie?"”
Zhang Shiping said," Replying to my lord, it's true. The people on the grasslands are very forthright. When they drink wine, they also drink in large bowls. This subordinate once drank the wine on the grasslands. It's very strong, but it's still a little inferior to the wine brewed by my lord."”
Dongfang Jian said," So that means our wine has been sold at a good price on the grassland. Can I use it to exchange for horses?"
" That's totally possible," Su Shuang said." The grasslands lack everything except horses, cows, and sheep."”
Dongfang Jian was very happy when he heard that. He stood up from his seat and paced back and forth. Suddenly, he stopped and said to Zhang Shiping,""Shiping, are you willing to go back to the grasslands and bring a large batch of our wine back to exchange for some good horses?”
"Shiping did not disappoint the lord."”
Dongfang Jian said," Other than buying wine, there's another reason for Shiping to go. He wants to find out more about the grassland. I want to know everything about the grassland."”
Zhang Shiping looked very troubled at the side. Dongfang Jian also noticed it and said to Zhang Shiping,""Is there a problem?"
"It's not a big problem, but I might not be able to do so much by myself," said Zhang Shiping.”
Dongfang Jian laughed loudly." Hahaha, it's my fault. I didn't make myself clear." I'll get someone to go with you. In addition, I'll send 500 Embroidered Uniform Guards to protect you."
Then he said to Jia Xu,"Wenhe, let your people go with Shiping."”
Jia Xu replied.
"I'm afraid I'll have to trouble Mister Su to stay behind and help me manage the various businesses.”
"I'm here to serve my lord."”
In order to completely make the two of them work for him, Dongfang Jian made them the head and deputy head of the Ministry of Commerce and told them all about his businesses. The two of them were shocked when they heard that. They did not expect Dongfang Jian to have so many businesses and so much money. Moreover, they were all things that he had never seen before. It was not an exaggeration to call them rare treasures.
——
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