Chapter 23: City Reward

  The invasion of Chaahar has passed for more than half a month, and during these days Zhangjiakou was like drifting in the wind and rain.

  Many people chose to temporarily leave the place, and Lin Dan's brutal and unreasonable massacre had a much greater psychological impact on the villagers than the actual loss. Neighboring such a barbaric Chahar tribe made many businessmen completely lose hope. Harmony is the foundation of business, if even lives cannot be guaranteed, how can the interests of businessmen be ensured?

  Fan Yongdou, Lu Fuyou and others were active in Xuanfu, inquiring about the imperial court's attitude towards Lin Danhan. If the Ming Dynasty refused to transfer the rewards of the Tumet people to the Chahar people, they might not dare to stay here either.

  In early March, the news finally arrived that the Ming court ordered Wang Kun, the eunuch in charge of Xuanfu, to take care of trade and reward matters with the Chahar people.

  Wang Kun immediately summoned the owners of various shops in Zhangjiakou.

  The day before yesterday, Di Tang received a summons and went out, only returning from Xuan Town to Zhangjiakou the next day.

  Di Zhe stayed at home and found that his brother returned with a serious expression, gathering with Fan Yongdou and others for several days in a row, but he didn't know what they were discussing.

  After three or four days, the news finally came out that Lu Fuyou secretly spent a lot of money to get the operating rights of the Chahar tribe's market from Wang Kun.

  The government does not engage in commerce, and the city's rewards have always been entrusted to Zhangjiakou merchants. The quantity of goods for the city's rewards is large, but the profit is low, and it is necessary to bribe officials, so the merchant's actual gain is very small. However, being in charge of the city's rewards allows one to come into contact with the Mongolian tribes'大小台吉 (small and big Taiji), which is quite beneficial for business operations. In the past, trade with the Tumet people was always controlled by Lu Fuyou, but this time he relied on his old connections to seize the opportunity.

  Di Zhe heard the news and knew that the trouble of the business had grown. The Jurchen people were still far away in Liaodong, nearly a thousand miles away, but once Lu Fuyou colluded with the Chahar people, the situation at Zhangjiakou would be reversed.

  Because of concerns that Lin Danhan would make another crazy move, the envoy from the Ming Dynasty quickly left the border and headed to the Chahar tribe, with Lu Fu bringing his most trusted companions along.

  Almost simultaneously, Lu Fuyou and others had just entered the grassland. The winter caravan of the eight business houses returning from Liaodong to Zhangjiakou was only half the number of people when they set out, and even Ke Zhuangguan was nowhere to be seen. Fan Yongdou had already informed E Ruzhuo about the changes in the collection, and the return of the caravan was very low-key, quietly entering the collection at night.

  Last winter, eight business owners agreed to send a team of accountants to Liaodong, leaving half of the people in Shengjing to set up a branch office. However, the sudden change in situation left Fan Yongdou at a loss. For now, he could only temporarily observe and follow the will of heaven.

  Every day, messengers on horseback galloped back and forth between Xuan Town and the grasslands, stirring the hearts of countless people.

  Gong Chen no longer had time to find Di Zhe for a drink, as the commander of Xuanfu Garrison ordered the cavalry at Zhangjiakou Fortress to set up patrol routes along the edge of Zhangba Grassland, so that they could notify early if Chahar people came to offend. Inside Xuantown, the border army was frequently mobilized, and Ming was also prepared for both hands.

  Di Zhe spent his days idly, but on this day he was summoned by his elder brother early in the morning to go to Da Sheng Kui.

  When they arrived at the gate of Dashi's residence, Zhai Tang stopped and said: "You wait outside for now, and come in when Fan Dongshi calls you."

  Di Zhe had no choice but to stop in his tracks.

  The streets were sparse with pedestrians, and when he saw his brother walk into the entrance of the store, Di Zhe looked up carefully at the three large characters "Da Sheng Kui" on the top of the gate, which was written in a powerful and vigorous style. He had heard that Fan Yongdou had spent a lot of money to invite Mao Yuansheng, a jinshi (a successful candidate in the imperial examination) from Shanxi who had served as the Minister of Rites, to write these characters. Fan Yongdou himself was frugal and rarely wore even silk clothes on normal days, but this signboard was the most majestic one in all of Zhangjiakou.

  Di Zhe had heard his elder brother mention that two years ago, Wang Shun Ge also wanted to find a famous person to write a plaque for himself. However, in recent years, there have been few jinshi from Shanxi Province, and it would cost at least 2,000 taels of silver to ask someone with connections to write a plaque. Di Tang thought about it carefully and decided to save the money instead.

  Di Zhezheng saw into the room and heard a clear female voice: "Brother-in-law! What are you standing outside for? Come in and sit down!"

  Di Zhe lowered his head and saw a woman in a green skirt waving at him from inside the door, who was the same maid he had seen beside Fan Yi last time.

  "Oh, look at this sign, what great characters!"

  Green sleeves fluttering, she said: "Our master loves calligraphy the most, miss, please come in and sit!" Only then did she feel that she had let slip a sentence behind her back, and secretly stuck out her tongue.

  Di Zhe smiled and stepped across the threshold, walking into the great hall of Da Sheng Kui. He saw Fan Yi sitting in the cashier's position, head down, fingers flying as he rapidly calculated on his abacus.

  The shop was very large and empty, with only two or three customers looking at various goods under the guidance of the clerk. After Chahar people gathered, Zhangjiakou's business became much more deserted.

  Di Zhe walked over to Fan Yi's place, and Lü Ying brought a chair over.

  Fan Yi raised her head as if she had just discovered he was coming in, stretched out the green jade-like fingertips to tidy up the hair that had fallen down and scattered when she lowered her head, saying: "How did you manage to come over today?"

  "You're busy first, it's Big Brother who called me over, maybe there's something to discuss!"

  Fan Yi stole a glance at Di Zhe's expression and explained: "These are usually Master Ke's affairs, when he is not around, I just help out!"

  Di Zhe smiled and said: "I think you're very impressive." While stretching out both hands, imitating the way Fan Yi was counting money earlier.

  "I've been following my brother in business since I was a child, so I learned it!" Fan Yi saw Zhai Zhe's action and also burst out laughing, her long eyelashes flashing under her big eyes.

  "The other day, when the Mongolian soldiers came, I saw you being whipped once. Are you okay?" Fan Yi said this with a very fast speed and a very low voice.

  "Ah, it's nothing!" Zhai Zhe reacted after a moment and understood. That day he saw Fan Yongdou, but didn't see Fan Yi, and didn't expect that in such a chaotic situation she could still see herself being whipped once.

  "It's just a flesh wound, it doesn't count for anything!"

  Fan Yi looked up and asked with bright eyes staring at Di Zhe: "Were you scared at that time?"

  "Afraid? No!" Zhai Zhe recalled that at the time, he also found it strange that he didn't have a bit of fear. He always felt that heaven had brought him to this world and wouldn't let him die so easily.

  Fan Yiru's right hand was propped up on the counter, supporting his chin, and he was about to speak when he heard someone calling from the doorway of the inner room: "Second Master, Grandfather is asking you to come in."

  Di Zhe turned his head and saw that it was indeed Hao Yangyou. He stood up and gave Fan Yi an apologetic smile.

  "Go ahead!" Fan Yi's posture didn't change, still watching as Zhai Zhe limped into the backyard.

  Di Zhe followed Hao Yangyou into the inner mansion, but Hao Yangyou stayed at the door and didn't enter. He was led by another guard of Da Shengkui instead.

  As they walked, the six major business owners came out and were whispering to each other. Di Zhe hastily stood at attention by the side of the road, greeted the six owners, and then followed the guards into Fan Yongdou's study.

  Compared to last time, there were a few more chairs in the house. At first glance, it was clear that those people had been discussing something here just now. Fan Yongdou and Di Tang were sitting facing the door, and when they saw Di Zhe come in, they hastily invited him to sit down.

  Without much small talk, Fan Yongdou said: "The situation in the village, I suppose you're also aware of it!"

  Di Zhe nodded.

  "If Lu's family and Chahar people collude, we have discussed that for the time being, we will temporarily retreat to Xuan Town!"

  "Ah!" Zhai Zhe showed slight surprise.

  Dai Tang said directly: "First hand over the horse thieves you controlled on Duo Yan grassland to E Ruo Zhuo!" His voice was very stiff.

  Fan Yongdou smiled and said, "Soon we will come back again. You can choose to stay on the grassland or return with us to Sai. I mentioned you to Yue Tobele, if you stay on the grassland he will be very happy!"

  It came suddenly, Di Zhe was silent for a moment, then said: "Let me think again!"

  "Alright, things haven't gotten to that point yet, this is just the worst-case scenario!"

  When he left Dashenggui, Zhai Zhe's mind was a mess, and he didn't even notice when Fan Yi secretly greeted him.

  This is to surrender to the Jurchen people! Di Zhe thought of this day, but didn't think it would come so soon. He absolutely couldn't hand over Xiao Zhiyan and Meng Kang to Erye Zhuo, but when that day really came, what would these people do without any support on Duo Yan grassland?

  All eight business houses are secretly preparing for withdrawal, and Di Zhe has been passing through entanglements these days.

  Inside and outside Xuanfu, in Zhangjiakou, messengers are coming and going more frequently. Lu Fuyou has returned from the grasslands, but he doesn't seem as happy as expected. All sorts of rumors are flying around, and not a single business partner can do business peacefully.

  Di Zhe leaned against the sun in his own courtyard, holding a book "Yan Tie Lun", which was a record of the debate on state affairs during the Western Han Dynasty by Emperor Wu, but he couldn't read a single word!

  A guard knocked on the door and came in, saying: "The master is calling for you!"

  Di Zhe put down his book and entered another courtyard, pushed open the door of the study, and closed it behind him.

  Dai Tang suddenly stood up from his chair, unable to contain his excitement, and said: "The Lu family is finished!"

  After all these years, Di Zhe had never seen his brother lose his composure like this before.

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