Three Kingdoms

When Pang Shanmin and Huang Zhong took action, the first thing they noticed was not the spies from various places, but the businessmen in Wancheng.

For example, Zhang Shiping.

The three-character name, in the current customs of the Han Dynasty, represents the origin of an untouchable.

Unlike Pang Shanmin, Huang Chengyan and other nobles who could use one-character names but didn't use them, Zhang Shiping wanted to use one-character names, but it didn't work.

Just like many children in later generations also want to use one word as their name when they are born, but they are basically not allowed. Although there is no law that clearly says it’s not allowed, when registering for registration, it’s “in principle” not allowed.

Untouchables are untouchables, nobles are nobles, and parents are officials.

The hierarchy is strict and does not tolerate any transgression.

Are you still thinking about fish and water?

Want to eat peaches?

Businessmen themselves are lowly in the eyes of the Han people.

It goes just right with the two-letter name.

The status of merchants in the Han Dynasty has never been very high. Businessmen, sons-in-law, and prisoners were on the same level. If cannon fodder was needed at any time, those of this level would be captured first and sent to death. Not only in the Han Dynasty, but also in the subsequent feudal dynasties that attached great importance to the small-scale peasant economy, the concept that everyone is equal and that there is no distinction between high and low occupations is simply a dream.

Zhang Shiping was born into an ordinary farmer's family. His brother inherited a few acres of thin farmland from his father, so he inherited nothing. If a piece of land is divided into two parts, no one will survive.

Zhang Shiping could only start his journey as a merchant with a little money that his parents had saved for more than ten years.

From selling needles, thread, brains, rags and wooden basins, to lacquer boxes, bronze mirrors and jewelry, to grain, cloth and war horses...

Along the way, he had seen many businessmen like him die in obscurity.

Like Zhang Shiping, most of these businessmen traveled far and wide because their families were poor.

Because he was poor, he had no inheritance to inherit and no way to earn a living at home, so he had no choice but to go out and fight for his life.

The children of a noble clan with a big surname have declined, but they can still hang out in the clan, receive a share of money and food, and when they grow up, they will become the lackeys of a certain master, or they may be followers, waving flags, shouting, and kneeling, always licking them. It can be mixed with a bowl of rice.

Ordinary families do not have such good treatment. The eldest son is left to inherit the land, and the second son often takes the copper coins that the family has saved for several years or even more than ten years, kowtows in front of his parents, and then goes away. A foreign country.

Most of these people died. I don’t know if he died in the mountains and was eaten by wild beasts, or maybe he was arrested in a certain town by a government official who couldn’t catch the murderer and took the blame. Anyway, the level is the same, and the county magistrate doesn’t care what the truth is, as long as Just smooth the surface.

Therefore, from a certain point of view, if you can survive in business in the Han Dynasty, and become bigger and bigger, and eventually become a good businessman, you have a lot of luck and means.

Zhang Shiping felt that he was lucky. At least when he came out to drink soup and breakfast, he smelled some ominous smell.

Wancheng is almost a city outside the traditional territory of the Han Dynasty.

It is more like a city formed by commerce and merchants, rather than a town formed by agriculture and handicrafts in the traditional sense.

This resulted in the majority of people in Wancheng being businessmen.

Cities in a region always have their own eating habits.

For example, in cities around Yunnan and Guizhou, people like to eat all kinds of white umbrellas and then lie down on them, while in Guangdong and Guangxi, they like to eat Hu Jianren, marinated raw and crispy...

The current living habits in Wancheng begin with a bowl of soup. Get up every morning, drink a bowl of haggis soup, and then eat a pancake to start your day. This is almost the life pattern of most businessmen in Wancheng, but on this day, something different seems to be spreading.

Every morning after Zhang Shiping gets up early, he first drinks a bowl of mutton soup to warm his stomach, and then eats a piece of bread. It is a small satisfaction every day, and then he starts a busy day, but today's soup is... Make him unable to drink...

Because Pang Shanmin and Huang Zhong locked up the four gates of Wancheng, they began a large-scale search for "rats" in the city. All those who had no identity or were suspected were arrested. If anyone resisted, they were killed on the spot.

Of course, there were not many people who really had the guts to resist, so the smell of blood was not too strong at the beginning, but I didn’t know whether it was because Zhang Shiping’s nose was too easy to use, or because a gust of wind just happened to hit Zhang Shiping.

He smelled blood.

The smell of human blood.

Wancheng can be said to be an exception among the large Han towns.

Because of Wancheng's unique geographical location and the background of its creation, Wancheng has become the most tolerant place for merchants among all the cities in the Han Dynasty.

However, this kind of tolerance did not win the "loyalty" of the businessmen.

Although businessmen themselves have no concept of loyalty and only have a relationship of interest, for most businessmen, being able to enjoy the same treatment as ordinary people in Wancheng is enough for these people to praise them.

That's right, it's just a "word-of-mouth compliment".

After all, in the minds of many businessmen, Wancheng is a good person, while other places are evil people, so the attitude towards good people and evil people is of course different. Isn't it the most appropriate way to survive to give false praise to good people and actual benefits to evil people? And sometimes, there is a lot of profit from selling news or some special products, which makes these merchants not as observant of Wancheng's rules as they seem to be.

Now these merchants who feel no need to abide by the rules are beginning to be unlucky...

The smell of death everywhere made many people uneasy. Especially for merchants with low status in the Han Dynasty, once a war breaks out, these merchants, who are equivalent to the status of prisoners of the son-in-law, may have their property confiscated at any time, even if they have not made any mistakes, and then stuff a piece of money into their hands. Take a knife or a stick and go to the first row of the battle formation to die.

Not to mention that there are businessmen who are doing something secretly. Being caught is basically the end of the game.

Zhang Shiping was silent for a long time after learning that Pang Shanmin and Huang Zhong had started taking action.

It's true that Pang Shanmin and Huang Zhong have cleaned up "rats" before, but they haven't done so in such a big way as now. In other words, before, it was like a rat running into the street in broad daylight and being beaten to death, but now it is like opening up the cover of the gutter and then cleaning it section by section.

These are two completely different concepts.

Zhang Shiping wandered around for a few times. Before Pang Shanmin and Huang Zhong found him, he arrived at the Wancheng Mansion Office first and knelt down in front of Pang Shanmin with a thud. "I am willing to make you obey me. I only want a way to survive!" 』

Pangshan people were unconvinced.

Zhang Shiping kowtowed repeatedly and continued: "The common people are still willing to advise the envoy to establish Wancheng's business regulations and prevent the current disadvantages from happening again in the future!" 』

Pang Shanmin was slightly interested and focused his attention on Zhang Shiping. He pondered for a while and ordered people to watch.

"What have you committed?" Pang Shanmin asked.

Zhang Shiping lowered his head and said respectfully, "The common people have not done anything illegal." 』

"Um? Pang Shanmin frowned slightly.

Zhang Shiping took out a piece of slightly old silk cloth from his arms, handed it to the guard, and forwarded it to Pang Shanmin.

Pang Shanmin's eyes condensed slightly and his waist straightened a little. He knew the thing Zhang Shiping took out.

In order to commend some people who have done good deeds, this is a piece of silk cloth that is similar to the certificate of later generations specially issued by Hussar. It is woven into the cloth with colorful silk threads, and then uses lacquer as ink, red and black, to describe the people who have been commended. And the example was named "Zilubu".

"this is yours? Pang Shanmin glanced at Zhang Shiping.

Although "Zi Lu Bu" has not been officially recognized and has not been specifically promoted, ordinary people who can produce such certificates will receive certain preferential treatment under the Hussar, but they can only be used once. Just like the military merits of ordinary soldiers and generals, they can be exchanged for money, land, or accumulated to seek greater benefits. However, once the exchange is completed, the merits will be calculated from scratch.

So some people jokingly call it a life-saving cloth for the common people...

Therefore, some Pangshan people asked him with a straight face.

"This is not owned by the grassroots people..." Zhang Shiping's voice was a little low, "It was left by a friend of the grassroots people, Su's name..."

"Su Shuang..." Pang Shanmin unfolded the Zilu cloth and saw the name on the silk cloth, "There are more than a thousand living refugees...ah, it's not easy..."

The silk cloth roughly tells the story of Su Shuang's time in the turbulent times of Heluo and Chang'an. When many nobles and powerful families in those areas were fleeing or becoming cowards, Su Shuang stood up as a businessman and took in the refugees. , organized production to help themselves, and distributed money to these refugees, until they met Ma Chao...

Then his friend Su Shuang died.

He died in the hands of Ma Chao.

Because at that time, Ma Chao heard that there were refugees on Su Shuang's side, and more importantly, Su Shuang actually had some horses.

Ma Chao was about to start a big business at that time, and both refugees and horses were fine. So I found Su Shuang and asked Su Shuang to be an angel investor.

In history, Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang met the three brothers Liu Bei. It is difficult to say whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. But at least one thing is certain, angel investors in Dahan must have the consciousness to really go to "heaven".

In troubled times, there are many people who have no rice to cook with, and they gather together. There are also a few leaders with high martial arts skills. But those who have rice to cook with just next to them can pretend that nothing is wrong and there is no problem. Won't it happen? Only by obediently giving away all the rice, showing that one's sleeves are empty, will one be able to say "Sir, you are so righteous, don't give it away" and barely survive.

And you still have to take the initiative to give money first without the other party taking action. This is what angel investors can do safely. Otherwise, they are not angel investors, but give away money thousands of miles away.

Su Shuang was almost like giving up his life thousands of miles away. Ma Chao smiled and accepted Su Shuang's horses, and also took Su Shuang's head.

Later, Fei Qian defeated Ma Chao and comforted the people in the Sanfu area of ​​Chang'an, not only to comfort the soldiers who died in the battle, but also to commend ordinary people.

Although Fei Qian said that this move was also used to win people's hearts, after all, Fei Qian was commending and paying tribute to these strangers. Including Su Shuang, everyone who built a stable place to house refugees in the Heluo area of ​​Chang'an at that time had such a Zilu cloth. Su Shuang obviously did not leave any family behind when he died. It was only because Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang was a business partner, and Zhang Shiping also had a share of the war horse, so Su Shuang often said that he would send it to Zhang Shiping, so Su Shuang's son Lubu also came into Zhang Shiping's hands.

After hearing the news of Su Shuang's death, Zhang Shiping sat alone in silence for a long time. He was very sad. He thought he would cry bitterly, but he found that he could not shed a single tear. It seems that he has long realized that people like him and Su Shuang will eventually die in an inexplicable chaos, so after hearing such news, he only felt sad but not tears.

Su Shuang was a better man than Zhang Shiping, so he died earlier than Zhang Shiping.

Historically, Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang became the angel investors of the three Liu Bei brothers, and this is still recorded in history to some extent. However, in the current historical torrent, Fei Qian, a big stone that suddenly appeared in the river, , causing many subsequent water flows to quietly change.

"Your Majesty, the common people are bold enough to ask for permission with this cloth, for no other reason than to be like your Majesty," Zhang Shiping lowered his head and said, "There are good and bad people in this world. This is common sense, and businessmen are also people in this world." , so there are good and bad... However, it is the same as the world, good people often die first, because good people rarely guard against bad people... It is a good thing for you to close the four doors and track down spies, but... it is slightly inappropriate... …』

Pang Shanmin frowned, looked at Zhang Shiping, was silent for a while and then said, "What's wrong?" 』

"There are rewards and punishments, that's the rule. Zhang Shiping still lowered his head and said, "The common people are walking in the wilderness and through the grass. They know that most people in this world seek advantages and avoid disadvantages... It is understandable for you to use thunderous means, but ...It is better to imitate the method of hussar, and also use the method of spring breeze and rain, with rewards and punishments as the rules. 』

"It means..." Pang Shanmin couldn't help but think.

In the feudal dynasty, those in power rarely reward those at the lower level, because in the minds of many people in power, the authority given is already the biggest reward. But the question is, how many people can authority be given to? And is authority really something given by a superior? If there are no lower-class people in a city, how can it be that with just one authority, the left pocket can be changed into the right pocket out of thin air, and then a large amount of supplies can appear inexplicably and cannot be used up?

All wealth is created by the lower class people, and the upper class officials are all tax eaters. But because upper-level officials have vested interests, they will naturally use various means to protect their status and interests.

It is a characteristic of the feudal dynasty that there are many penalties and few rewards. It seems that giving more rewards to the lower class people is like taking away a piece of flesh from the upper class officials. In the mouths of these officials, the lower class people seem to always be untouchables and untouchables, and the most common principle of human nature, no matter what class they are, there will be good and bad, seems to be able to turn a blind eye in the eyes of these officials.

Pang Shanmin looked at Zhang Shiping, then looked down at Zhang Zilubu. After pondering for a long time, Fang nodded and said, "You are right, but...there are many people in this world who are just trying to gain fame..."

Zhang Shiping raised his hands and said, "Even if you are seeking fame, at least on the surface you have done something good and got a good result... Just like Zilu's cattle... If more cattle are sent, won't it save more effort in farming?" 』

Pang Shanmin pondered and remained silent for a while. It's not that he doesn't understand the truth, but as the prefect of Wancheng, his butt is naturally in a different position from Zhang Shiping's. Although Pang Shanmin had farmed at the foot of Lushan Mountain before, at that time, his farming was more of a pastime. Just like the hermit on Zhongnan Mountain, he did not really make a living from farming, so Pang Shanmin cannot be considered a real farmer. Grassroots people.

Zhang Shiping looked at Pang Shanmin and continued: "Your Majesty, this Wancheng... is located in the north, south, east and west of the Han Dynasty. It is naturally equipped with all kinds of conveniences for merchants to come and go... This merchant business is most profitable..."

"Well..." Pang Shanmin's eyes fell on the zilu cloth on the table. He thought for a long time, and finally nodded and said, "That makes sense." Since you are proposing this strategy, you must have some thoughts, so it is better to speak out. 』

Zhang Shiping bowed again, and then said: "We can follow the example of the Chang'an Chamber of Commerce and form the Wancheng Chamber of Commerce. The chamber of commerce can control merchants and formulate industry rules so that good people will be rewarded and evil people will be punished. Naturally, everyone will do their own thing without knowing the rules." Better..."

In chambers of commerce, there are those who do real things under their real names, and there are also those who are trying to sell things like sheep. Is it the Wancheng Chamber of Commerce? I can’t say it’s the latter, but it hasn’t done much.

Pang Shanmin stared at Zhang Shiping and suddenly smiled, "Do you have a spy under you?" 』

Zhang Shiping left the table and knelt down, "I dare not hide anything from the envoy... It is true." The ordinary people have a humble status and cannot refuse... Most of the merchants in the city are like this, so the ordinary people know the importance of this rule. If you can establish the business rules of Wancheng, you can naturally gather the merchants who are now wandering everywhere... 』

Zhang Shiping lowered his head deeply, "Grassmen are wandering in all directions, and they know that merchants walking in the wild are no better than dogs... If Wancheng is lost, the emperor will not be the only one who will be hurt. It is also like the grassroots. I hope that I can be there again." Wancheng settled down and was no longer a wandering merchant..."

The big man has no shortage of people.

In other words, under the small-scale peasant economic system, the population will always be surplus. After all, there are only so many acres of land at home. How many people can be fed?

Therefore, China's feudal society will inevitably maintain a certain number of unemployed people, and this will form an invisible involution, forcing lower-class workers to accept lower returns, and they will have no extra strength and time to look up and look into the distance.

Merchants are an unstable factor in the small-scale peasant economy, so they are not recognized by the powerful Shandong traditional gentry. In the eyes of these Shandong gentry, merchants are like their dogs. When things go well, they will be rewarded with food, and when things go wrong, they will be killed directly. Just get another dog.

Therefore, Zhang Shiping's words can be said to be full of blood and tears.

When government officials only take money but do not work, do not formulate regulations that should be enacted by the government, or do not even abide by the rules themselves, naturally other underground parties will supplement the rules, and this supplement is often Chaotic, disordered, and even hindering normal development.

Pang Shanmin pondered for a long time and finally nodded in agreement. He may just feel that Zhang Shiping's suggestion can better manage the businessmen in Wancheng, but what he doesn't know is that Wancheng has also started to move from an agricultural city to an urban route that emphasizes business... …