Chapter 18: Trade Routes (Part 2)

  The "old friend" brought by Cao Guangyi was Zhao Guan, a subordinate of Zhao Lümin, a wealthy merchant from the Yan Yun area. Zhao Lümin's business was mainly concentrated in the Song-Liao border area, but it covered a large area, stretching east to Goryeo, north to Mongolia and Jurchen, and west to Western Xia. This Zhao Guan was Zhao Lümin's manager on the Da Liao East Road, and after the Han Department's glass beads were sold out, some of them flowed into his hands within a few days. He saw that this was a business opportunity and wondered how the Jurchen people could make such things, so he personally came to investigate, only to encounter Cao Guangyi.

  Cao Guangyi had met Zhao Guan once in Xiong Prefecture. At the beginning of the year, they raided Zhao Lümin's camp, and everyone in the Zhao family was furious. However, after reading the letter left by Cao Guangyi, Zhao Lümin said: "Cao Gongyi is not a mediocre person, and these borrowed things are nothing. He will surely repay them in the future."

  Yang Yingqi thought this was a good way to open up trade routes. After all, their foundation was still shallow, and even if they produced something, they could only ask some nearby Jurchen merchants to sell it to the Khitan people and then resell it to the Central Plains and Goryeo. But if they could establish a fixed sales network through Zhao Lümin, the situation would be greatly different. He said: "Zhao, I'm sorry about the borrowed grain on the Song-Liao border. We remember the amount of goods clearly. Another day we will definitely repay it double."

  Zhao Guandao said, "Commander Yang is being polite. As for that matter, my husband didn't take it to heart and even said that in the future if we meet again, he will treat you all with great hospitality." Although Yang Yingqi was only thirteen years old, his demeanor was already extraordinary, and Zhao Guandao had heard that all of the Han Department's business was under his management, so he didn't dare look down on him because of his young age.

  Yang Yingqi said: "Then Zhao Guanshi came today, is it because he has taken a fancy to some of the goods in our department?"

  Zhao Guandao said: "To be honest, I came because of the Luliu Pearl."

  Yang Yingqi was overjoyed. The crystal beads were inexpensive to make but sold at a high price, with huge profits. He asked, "Is Manager Zhao interested in these crystal beads?"

  Zhao Guan took out two lapis lazuli beads and said, "To be honest, the purity of this batch of lapis lazuli is too low, it's really not good, far inferior to those sold by the Persians. In places like Khitan and Mongolia, they can still be sold, and even in Korea, they're okay, but if they were taken to the Song Dynasty, they would only be considered second-rate goods."

  Yang Yingqi nodded and said, "Not bad. Manager Zhao is right. This is our first batch of glass beads, and we will gradually improve the purity." He was pleased to meet someone who appreciated his goods.

  Zhao Guan listened to Yang Yingqi's words and hummed: "Really? I don't know the craftsmanship of your department, can you make other utensils?"

  Yang Yingqi said: "Of course, it's possible. It's just that this place is so desolate and we've made precious goods but can't find buyers, so we haven't taken action! Zhao the manager, I'm telling you the truth, I come from a big family in Jiangnan, I've seen many Persian glassware brought by sea route, but I think they're ordinary. Now my tools are not yet complete, once everything is ready, I'll be able to make masterpieces that will leave them in awe!"

  Zhao Guan was overjoyed and said: "If it's really like that, I'll truly have to make a reservation with everyone."

  Yang Yingqi said: "Is Zhao Guanshi coming alone?"

  Zhao Guandao said: "I still have a few tricks up my sleeve."

  Yang Yingqi said: "It's best for Zhao Guan to leave one person here, and I'll send a few more people to follow Zhao Guan to Liao State, so that we can have more contact later."

  Zhao Guandao said: "Of course, there is no problem with this."

  Yang Yingqi said: "Besides, there is another question. If we make these things, what will Zhao Guan Shi exchange with us?"

  "It depends on what Captain Yang wants. We have Song currency, silver and gold, as well as silk fabrics."

  "Gold and silver brocades are not what we desire. What we want is tea, medicine, and good books."

  Zhao Guan was taken aback and said, "Books are easy to say, but tea is not. The Song Dynasty has always been very strict with tea, and we also operate tea in Khitan, but the price is not cheap."

  Yang Yingqi said, "As for the tea, let Zhao Guanshi think of a solution again. For good books, we don't need a large quantity either. I'll make a list later and ask Zhao Guanshi to purchase them on our behalf - as for the price, it doesn't matter. Although we are far away in a remote area, over the past half year or so, we have still accumulated quite a bit of wealth."

  Zhao looked at the horse enclosure in the distance and smiled: "This is."

  Yang Yingqi said: "In short, the longer we do business together, the more prosperous we will be. Also, I would like to ask Manager Zhao to help us deliver a letter to Director Zhao, expressing our sincere intentions."

  Zhao Guan stayed for two days before leaving, and Yang Yingqi sent five people to follow him. Among the five people, three had learned painting techniques from Yang Yingqi and were also clever, so Yang Yingqi sent them out to follow Zhao's merchant team with ulterior motives.

  After Zhao Guan left, Yang Yingqi said to Wang Dahui: "Now it's settled, our glass house will start working overnight, and from now on, eating rice and porridge all depend on you."

  Wang Dahui said: "Yang Dangjia, how can the purity of glass be so easily improved?"

  Yang Yingqi hesitated and said: "The 'old method' I mentioned earlier, have you tried it?"

  Wang Dahui said: "You're the boss, what you said is too simplistic, there are many key points that we haven't figured out! If we really want to create the things you mentioned, it'll probably take three to five years."

  Yang Yingqi said: "Don't worry, take your time."

  Wang Dahui said: "What about this business with the Zhao family? You promised them that there would be new goods in half a month, but they seem to look down on our glass beads."

  Yang Yingqi said: "Just selling it like this doesn't make much sense. But if we repackage it, there's a big market for it."

  Wang Dahui said: "What does 'having a big market' mean? What is the meaning of having a market?"

  Yang Yingqi said, "As long as there's a market, it'll sell well. Hmm, I'll think about it later and teach you to make a wooden box, turn these glass beads into a set of bead chess pieces, and 'create' a new game that can be sold for a good price even in the Song Dynasty. You all think about it some more, turn these glass beads into bead curtains and other decorative items and toys - once they're processed, the price will double!"

  Wang Dahui nodded and said after a while: "This idea is good, we can start work immediately, but what we can do, others can also imitate."

  Yang Yingqi said, "Others may imitate us, but that will be a year or two later. Therefore, the matter of improving the purity of glass cannot be put off - that is our long-term plan for a steady stream of wealth."

  As they were talking, Ouyang Shi walked over and pulled Wang Dahui away, saying to Yang Yingqi: "How has our income been for the past few months?"

  Yang Yingqi said, "Selling farm tools has earned a lot. At first, we exchanged horses for pigs, and now we exchange farm tools for horses. The business of glass beads has just started, and it will get better and better in the future. As for books, we haven't printed them out yet, and are still carving the movable type - that's a slow job! Hmm, Zhao Guan said they have over a hundred volumes of Sichuan edition books stored in Ningjiang Prefecture that they haven't gotten rid of, and next month they can bring them to trade with us."

  Ouyang Yi nodded. Yang Yingqi said: "Why did you suddenly ask this? Is it because I'm a kid and you don't trust me, so you want to take over?"

  Ouyang Yi snorted and laughed, saying: "A little kid? You're a little monster! I'm from a humble merchant background...” Yang Yingqi muttered "pirate", Ouyang glared at him and continued: “But over the past few months, look at your skills in making money and accumulating wealth, I really can't compare to you! Abone is worried that we're too poor! In my opinion, as long as you're around, we only need to worry about having too much money."

  Yang Yingqi said: "Alright, let's get down to business, what exactly did you come looking for me for?"

  Ouyang Shidao said: "I came to investigate and see how much money we have in our hands, enough for a lively and festive celebration."

  "Good news?" Yang Yingqi said: "Are you getting married? With whom? It can't be with Gu Dajie, can it?"

  Ouyang Shi glared at him and said: "Don't talk nonsense! It's not me, it's our boss."

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  Note: In the early days of the Jurchen people, there were often two leaders coexisting. For example, Zongbie, the fourth son of Wanyan Aguda, is referred to as "Jin Wuzhu" in the novel. This book does not consistently use either Han Chinese names or original Jurchen names when referring to individuals. Names like Zonghan (Xianhan) and Zongwang (Wolibu) are too unusual and difficult to remember, so their Han Chinese names will be used instead. Aguda and Wuzhu are relatively well-known, whereas Wanyan Xun and Wanyan Zongbie are not as widely recognized, so their original names will continue to be used.

  By the way: if you think this little book is not bad, give Abou a vote or two, so I can have more passion to code ^_^