Three Kingdoms

No one expected that the person who brought new clues to Chengdu Ma Heng was not in Chengdu, but in Jiangzhou.

Generally speaking, there are two passages from Jiangdong to Sichuan and Shu.

One is a land route, the end point is Chengdu, the other is a water route, the end point is Jiangzhou.

The land route is slower and is the first choice for small caravans and nearby places, while the water route is an important channel for large caravans or caravan alliances.

Jiangzhou City, or Bajun City.

The current Jiangzhou City of Han Dynasty has just begun to show a little bit of enchanting style.

The rise of Jiangzhou was actually the rise of water transportation.

Now Jiangzhou is expanding its city. As an important garrison point for Xu Huang, it controls the transportation hub in eastern Sichuan, especially water transportation.

Jiangzhou City East Pier is also expanding with the expansion of Jiangzhou City. The newly built wharf is slanted deep into the river, and cargo ships and sailors can load and unload cargo directly from the wharf, and then transport it to other places.

As a hub for cargo transshipment, Jiangzhou's importance gradually emerged. In the future, if it not only connects the east and west, but also opens the north-south channel, it is impossible to say that in this Jiangzhou city, in addition to caravans heading to Jiangdong, you can also see caravans heading to Jiangdong. South Cochin, even the poisoned caravan...

At that time, Sichuan and Shu can have two centers. On the one hand, there is Chengdu as an important farming base and grain production center, which is biased towards cultural and political aspects. On the other hand, there is Jiangzhou, with mountains and rivers, and trade. At the same time, mountain soldiers and navy troops can also be trained.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Shu Han and Soochow had constant exchanges, and they went to Chaisang through Jiangzhou. Historically, the silk of the Shu Han Dynasty in the Three Kingdoms was an indispensable high-end luxury product in Soochow, while the isinglass lacquerware of Soochow, especially copper and iron ore, was also lacking in Sichuan and Shu.

The trade routes of the Three Kingdoms were not established after Zhuge Liang arrived in central Sichuan. Therefore, the current trade routes in Jiangzhou were not established only after Zhuge came to Sichuan and Shu. They existed originally, and now they are just regulated.

After Zhuo Wangsun had a naughty child, he gradually declined.

The naughty child not only cheated his father, but also ruined the family's reputation. When this reputation was ruined, many things were gradually ruined. Zhuo Wenjun felt that he was chasing love, but he didn't expect that he was just moved by himself. Then Zhuo Wangsun finally compromised even though he scolded him fiercely. Zhuo Wenjun felt that he did not compromise and persisted until victory, but became Sichuan. The laughingstock of the business community in Shu. Whenever the Zhuo family is mentioned, everyone will say something like "Oh," indicating that it is the Zhuo family...

Elopement is always the stupidest move.

Zhuo Wenjun paid the price for his elopement, and Zhuo Wangsun also paid the price for his daughter's elopement, and even the entire Zhuo family also paid the price.

And these prices are the price Zhuo Wenjun paid for saying that I don't care, I don't care, I don't care, I want love.

Love brain is terrible.

This is a disease.

Not only Zhuo Wenjun, but even future generations who have more information and knowledge, there are still many people who have this disease. Have you not seen that in many media, multinational CEOs only think about falling in love, and the king of special forces only thinks about falling in love? Even in special professions such as firefighters, forensic doctors, and narcotics police officers, they all think about falling in love after eating every day, and they are still. That kind of pentacle love relationship, because love triangles are so outdated. For the love brain, it is not only necessary to torture, but also to be corrupted. Only through torture and corruption can the G-spot be stimulated.

Perhaps Zhuo Wenjun will still insist that she has no regrets when she dies of old age, but for Zhuo Liang, a descendant of the Zhuo family, if he can see Zhuo Wenjun, regardless of his seniority, he will still want to point at Zhuo Wenjun. nose and cursed loudly.

I don't dare to do anything, after all, I am the elder, but I will definitely scold him, even if I don't scold him in front of me, I will scold him secretly behind his back.

Zhuo Wangsun was one of the richest people in Sichuan and Sichuan, and he was in a first-class position.

And now?

Zhuo's current overall asset size is even second-rate.

If Zhuo Liang hadn't seen the opportunity earlier and went to Chang'an early to worship under the battle skirt of the Hussars General, it's hard to say that the Zhuo family wouldn't even be able to get into the second-rate ranks right now.

What? The best in Sichuan and Sichuan?

There are no more top-notch ones...

Before the arrival of Hussar, the Wu family was top-notch, but now, many aspects of the Wu family have been reduced, just like Zhuo Wangsun in the Western Han Dynasty.

Zhuo Wangsun previously controlled the iron smelting industry in Sichuan and Shu, and was known as "the richest country in the world".

Since it is an "enemy country", what will be the consequences?

Zhuo Wangsun became the "enemy country", and his descendants were corrupted. Obviously, for the Han Dynasty, it was no problem to allow King Zhuo to become rich for one generation, and then for the second generation, but up to three generations. If you want to be rich for more than three generations, then you must attack Zhuo Wangsun's son and daughter without leaving any trace.

Although there is no record in the history books how extravagant Zhuo Wangsun's sons were, flying eagles and lackeys, sensual dogs and horses, Sima Xiangru undoubtedly succeeded in ruining the Zhuo family's heir with a clever move.

Zhuo Wenjun thought she had met love, but she never thought about where her versatility came from, and who provided her fine clothes and food. She enjoyed the Zhuo family's wealth, but in the end she did not complete her life. The mission was to attract the golden phoenix to the Zhuo family, but it ran away with the black crow.

Therefore, it is very difficult for Zhuo Liang of the Zhuo family at the moment. He laughs with everyone, just like a dog wagging its tail twice at everyone. He must find a way to take advantage of the opportunity to grow bigger, and in the process of growing bigger, he must carefully maintain the surrounding relationships, and then try to restore the former glory of the Zhuo family bit by bit.

Even Zhuo Liang has some understanding in his heart, knowing that the Zhuo family will never be able to return to its original appearance after getting rid of the love brain Zhuo Wenjun, because the iron smelting industry in Sichuan and Sichuan no longer belongs to the Zhuo family, and it never will. It may belong to the Zhuo family.

The metallurgical industry no longer belongs to anyone in Sichuan and Shu, nor can it belong to a certain family.

Now, Zhuo Liang can only think about taking advantage of Jiangzhou's becoming a new center to expand water transportation.

The water transport industry is a brand new development space with no rivals.

But the problem is that the initial investment in this industry is not small.

There must be ships, sailors, transshipment tools, point-to-point routes, and a series of customs clearance checkpoints, etc., all need to have a certain relationship. You can't make it big just because you want it.

Fortunately, Zhuo Liang at least had a good start. He did not dare to compete with the Cui family and the Zhen family for any major trade routes. He guarded a trade road from Sichuan to Jiangdong, and no one would rob it now.

There were about twenty or thirty Liang's merchant ships moored at the ferry, and each ship was hung with two flags. One was the flag symbolizing the Husband's command, and the other was the flag of Zhuo's company. The flag representing the hussars is placed high on the top of the mast, while Zhuo's flag is placed diagonally on the side of the hull.

Although the number is not small, the ships are not big.

This is where Zhuo Liang is troubled. Big ships obviously carry more cargo and are more efficient, but they also require more investment and take a long time to build. But if you only use small boats, it is obviously not enough to establish water transportation channels. If your own transportation capacity is insufficient, don't blame others for reaching out.

"Shopkeeper Zhuo!" Is Shopkeeper Zhuo here? 』

someone shouted from the dock.

When Zhuo Liang heard the sound, he responded first, then walked out of the cabin to take a look. He immediately took a few steps forward and jumped onto the pier without using a board. When he came to Zhuge, he bowed respectfully and said, "I've seen you before." Zhuge engaged in it. I didn’t know that I was engaged in this, so I missed my welcome. I apologize! 』

Zhuge Liang returned the salute, then looked around, "Shop Manager Zhuo, this fleet is okay...but it's about to set off?" 』

Although Zhuo Liang didn't know why Zhuge Liang came, he still said honestly: "We are about to set off, but... there is still a batch of spices waiting to enter the cabin... It is scheduled to arrive tonight. If nothing happens, it will be tomorrow. Let’s set off…』

Zhuge Liang nodded and asked, "Did Shopkeeper Zhuo and your people purchase the spices?" 』

Zhuo Liang smiled honestly and said, "Let Zhuge Liang laugh at me. I have little capital...the spices are from Li's Trading Company. They just took my boat to Jiangdong..."

Zhuge Liang waved his hand, "I wonder if I can sit on Shopkeeper Zhuo's boat?" 』

Zhuo Liang quickly extended his hand to invite me, "This is my honor!" Please, please come this way! Be careful...』

As soon as he turned his head, Zhuo Liang hurriedly shouted to the boat: "The boss has stabilized the boat, don't shake it!" 』

An old voice on the boat responded, and then someone walked to the stern of the boat, stretched out bamboo poles from left and right to support the boat, and someone else quickly set up the planks on the bow of the boat on the pier.

Zhuge Liang boarded the boat steadily.

Zhuo Liang followed.

Zhuo Liang's ship is a medium-sized, flat-bottomed merchant ship with three floors including the cabin. The cargo is stored in the cabin, and the first floor can be used for cargo and people, but the accommodation conditions are very average. The upper floor, the top floor, is very small, with only four rooms. Zhuo Liang lives in one room, and the other room is used as a hall to receive guests. The remaining two rooms are usually empty unless there are any important guests.

Zhuge Liang went to the cabin first.

The cabin was dark, and there were few lights inside to prevent fire. In addition, all kinds of cargo were piled inside, and sailors and coolies lived in it, so there was a smell of everything.

Zhuo Liang looked at Zhuge Liang with some worry, but saw that Zhuge Liang looked as usual, as if he didn't smell any stench.

Zhuge Liang looked at the cargo in the cabin, then went to the upper floor and walked around, as if taking a casual look.

When he arrived at the small room on the top floor where Zhuo Liang was entertaining guests, Zhuge Liang asked, "Shopkeeper Zhuo, do all these goods belong to you?" 』

Zhuo Liang replied: "Only a small part of the report belongs to me, and the rest belongs to several other merchants." 』

The Zhuo family is no longer what it used to be. In order to build such a fleet, Zhuo Liang even needs to go to Chengdu to find people in person, and then invite others to purchase and ship goods together to obtain greater benefits.

"Will anyone from Li's Trading Company in Chengdu follow you to Jiangdong?" ” Zhuge Liang asked again.

Zhuo Liang was stunned for a moment, nodded and said, "Yes, we are together." 』

Zhuge Liang's expression remained unchanged, he nodded and said, "How many people are there?" 』

"With the work and the guards, there are usually seven or eight people." Zhuo Liang replied.

Spices don't take up a lot of space, but they are expensive, so not only do you need a job, but you also need a guard.

Zhuge Liang nodded again, and then said, "Today, when the people from Li's Trading Company arrive, you can find an excuse to delay your departure for two or three days... Just say that the official document is not completed..."

"The official document is not complete?" Two or three days of delay? Zhuo Liang took a breath, then nodded and said, "No problem!" 』

From Sichuan and Shu to Jiangdong, the advantage of the waterway is not only that it can transport large quantities of goods and the cost is lower, but more importantly, there are many fewer checkpoints on the waterway than on the land...

If it is the turn of spring and summer, it may rain at any time, causing the river water to surge. Sometimes we have to rush for time, so sometimes we can't delay it. But for now, the river water is basically stable, and there is not much difference between two days earlier and two days later.

Generally speaking, no one would sail at the turn of spring and summer when the water is strong, as the danger is too great.

Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "Good." In this way, Shopkeeper Zhuo will not be disturbed. Remember, this should never be publicized. 』

Zhuo Liang felt a chill in his heart and quickly agreed.

Zhuge Liang bid farewell to Zhuo Liang and returned to Jiangzhou City.

Xu Huang was in the government hall, facing the Jiangzhou sand table, looking down at it, as if thinking about how to arrange it. When he saw Zhuge Liang coming back, he nodded, "How was Kong Ming's investigation?" 』

Zhuge Liang said: "If Liang's prediction is correct, this spice merchant must be mixed with Jiangdong spies..."

Xu Huang extended his hand to invite Zhuge Liang to sit down, and then asked, "I would like to hear the details." 』

"Merchant seeks profit." Zhuge Liang said in a deep voice, "It's his nature to be careless." The spices from the Western Regions are relatively cheap. When transported to Chang'an, they are very expensive, and when transported from Chang'an to Sichuan, they are even more expensive... As for the spices from Jiaozhi in South China, although the price is slightly lower than the spices from the Western Regions, this year in South China The spices haven’t arrived yet..."

Some things may seem complicated, but when you meet smart people, especially people like Zhuge, they seem to be transparent.

Zhuge Liang got on the boat and walked around, looking like he was just watching things, but he actually knew what was going on.

Naturally, the goods in Zhuo Liang's ship basically belong to Zhuo Liang. After all, he is on that ship, so if there is space in his ship for the goods he transports, they will basically be placed under his nose, and I won't put it on another ship.

This is human nature.

Although Zhuge didn't look at the other boats one by one, he could basically tell what kind of goods they were transporting.

Like the goods on the Zhuoliang ship, they are some specialties of Sichuan and Sichuan, such as bamboo paper, books, bamboo utensils, silk, silk fans, tea bricks, etc. They are all ordinary items, some are expensive, but the quantity is not very large.

Especially the bottom warehouse has a mixed smell, which is obviously not suitable for storing a large amount of spices. After all, if the spices have odor, then the price will definitely drop sharply, and you will lose not a little bit. Therefore, it must only be placed on this level of the deck, but there is not much space on this level, so there must not be many spices transported at one time.

It is equally impossible to take expensive spices on other ships.

When sailing on the river, big ships are obviously safer than small ones.

Zhuge Liang had just returned from Nanzhong, so he knew the situation on the Nanzhong line very well.

When he came back this time, Zhuge Liang mainly wanted to discuss with Xu Huang the situation of stationing at the Nanzhong Military Stronghold.

Using military garrison points to control the Nanzhong arteries, and then splitting the original Nanzhong to form smaller counties, controlling the powerful local forces, etc., undoubtedly need to be discussed in detail, and it is definitely not Something that can be done with just a few letters.

As for the matter of identifying spies, Zhuge Liang just did it incidentally after hearing about such a thing.

Just by the way.

Zhuge Liang knew very well that the spices from Nanzhong only traveled once a year, arriving in Sichuan and Shu in late autumn, and then returned to Jiaozhi from Sichuan and Shu. And now it is summer, not late autumn yet. The spices in Sichuan and Shu can only be shipped from Chang'an.

There were caravans from Chang'an directly to Shandong. Starting from Chang'an, after leaving Heluo, the caravan heading to Shandong was quite flat, so the freight was actually not high. However, transporting spices via mountain roads to Sichuan and Sichuan, and then from Sichuan and Shu by water to Jiangdong, not only takes longer, but the price is naturally more expensive.

It is very abnormal to sacrifice the near for the distant, and to sacrifice the honest for the noble.

So what is the purpose of abnormal business behavior?

"Spices are expensive, so they have guards. This guard..." Zhuge Liang smiled, "It can be used as a cover... After all, the people who come forward are all businessmen, and guards generally pay little attention..."

Xu Huang nodded and glanced at Zhuge Liang, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't say anything and just kept silent.

Although Xu Huang felt that what Zhuge Liang said was indeed reasonable, he felt that there seemed to be some problems.

Zhuge Liang seemed to be aware of Xu Huang's intention, and continued to say slowly, "Liang asked the merchant ship at the dock to delay for a while... If Liang tests it a little more, we will see what happens..."

Zhuge Liang was young, but he managed things flawlessly.

If you are an ordinary reckless person, if you have clues and have some doubts, you can just open the door. But Zhuge Liang is different. He has to rule out some special situations, such as Jiangdong is in urgent need of spices and cannot purchase them from Shandong. , so we had to go by water, and under such circumstances, delaying for a few days would inevitably make the spice merchants anxious.

Normally, if an ordinary businessman has no evil intentions, he will definitely scold Zhuo Liang when he hears that some official documents have not been completed, and urge Zhuo Liang to get it done as soon as possible. He may even argue with Zhuo Liang because of this. Loss of money due to delay and so on...

Even if they are brothers, they still have to settle accounts.

So this is normal businessman.

Unusual businessmen, knowing that the official document has not been completed, may wait with a guilty conscience, and may not even say a word or fall out with Zhuo Liang. After all, their important thing is not to sell goods. If they fall out with the caravan, they cannot go by water. Then the land checkpoint will obviously cause them more trouble.

At dusk, when Jiangzhou City was about to close, people from Chengdu Li's Spices Trading Company arrived...