I studied in modern times

Chapter 932 Supporting compradors (4)

After discussing state affairs, Zhao Xu began to chat about family matters.

"I just heard you say that you are from Shuzhou, Goryeo?"

"Yes!"

"How far is Shuzhou from Kaijing?"

"Your Majesty, it's not far. Just head southeast out of Kaijing and you'll reach Shuzhou!"

"Oh!" Zhao Xu picked up a booklet he had prepared, looked at it and asked, "I heard that there is a Licheng River in Kaifeng, and there is a Bilan Ferry on the Licheng River. And Bilan Ferry is a must-go place for Song merchant ships to enter and leave Goryeo?"

"Your Majesty knows all about the mountains and rivers of Goryeo?" Li Ziyi was immediately surprised.

Zhao Xu chuckled and shook his head: "How could I know so much?"

He raised the booklet in his hand and said, "It's just that ministers An Tao, Chen Mu and others introduced it in their reports on their experiences after their diplomatic mission to Goryeo last year!"

"So that's how it is!" Li Ziyi recalled the appearance of the two Song Dynasty envoys who went to Goryeo that year.

To be honest, Li Ziyi didn't have a good impression of them.

Because those two Song officials were taking bribes in Goryeo and took a lot of advantage of Goryeo before leaving - at that time, the price of silver in Goryeo was much lower than that in Song Dynasty. After they discovered this loophole, they took advantage of it to make a lot of money.

Especially the one named An Tao, Goryeo was deeply impressed by his greed.

Therefore, even the Goryeo national history could not help but record the greedy behavior of these two Song envoys in Goryeo: (The Song envoys) were greedy by nature, reducing the food supply of billions every day and greatly discounting the trade silver.

Fortunately, the previous emperor of the Song Dynasty was very generous.

He gave Goryeo many rewards, allowing it to gain many advantages in subsequent trade and exchanges.

Zhao Xu held the booklet in his hand and continued, "The reason why I asked you about Bilan Ferry is because I want to ask you..."

"Is there anyone in your clan whom you can trust?"

"If there is, you can ask him to seek the assignment of Bilan Ferry!"

Li Ziyi was stunned when he heard this. He raised his head, looked at Zhao Xu, and asked, "Please forgive me for being stupid. I don't understand your majesty's deep meaning..."

Zhao Xu smiled and said, "Of course it's for your own good!"

"As long as the Qing family occupies Bilan Ferry, then the passage for Song Dynasty merchants to enter and exit Goryeo will be in the hands of the Qing family!"

"In addition, to be honest with you, my dear, when the Song Dynasty uses the pawnshop to buy salt, iron, wine and other goods from Goryeo, they will probably cooperate with prominent families from all over Goryeo to jointly run the industry..."

Li Ziyi's heart suddenly started beating violently.

He naturally understood what Zhao Xu meant - in the future, when the Song Dynasty buys business from Goryeo, will it share the profits with the local tyrants?

And, he and his family are the first powerful family to be chosen!
This……

However, Li Ziyi was not optimistic about the prospect of the Song Dynasty purchasing salt, iron, wine and other commodities from Goryeo.

However, Li Ziyi knew in his heart that this was a fast track to the powerful and wealthy in Bianliang, the capital of the Song Dynasty.

even……

You can get on the good side of the Emperor of Song Dynasty!
Being a relative of the King of Goryeo is very prestigious.

But, how can it compare to the pleasure of being a dog for the Emperor of Song Dynasty?
In particular, after experiencing this invasion by the northern barbarians, Li Ziyi and his family had developed a sense of crisis.

They knew in their hearts that the Goryeo ship seemed to be about to sink.

Before the ship sank, they naturally had to think carefully about how to escape.

Therefore, the Li family secretly sent a branch to test the Northern Tartar.

I have indeed thought about this: if the Goryeo Kingdom were to perish, how would the Lee family protect their own interests in Goryeo?
However, before they could figure out this problem, the Northern Barbarian leader in the south issued an order to "move all the direct descendants of the Goryeo nobles to the Taihe Palace."

Got it!
Forget it!
To move all the legitimate descendants means to allow the illegitimate descendants to seize the legitimate descendants' land, population and wealth.

Reverse the relationship between legitimate and illegitimate children!
In Goryeo, this was tantamount to reversing human ethics and was like digging up the ancestral graves of all the wealthy families!

Therefore, the Li family had no choice but to make up their minds and follow Wang Yun.

no way!
The Liao Lord didn't give them a chance to kneel!
And now, the monarch of another powerful country in the world has extended an olive branch.

Li Ziyi suddenly woke up.

Yes!

In addition to surrendering to Liao, we can also support Song!
The noble families of Goryeo had no psychological burden about coming to the Song Dynasty.

Because most of them, according to their family tree, came from the Central Plains and adopted Goryeo clothing to avoid war since the Wei and Jin Dynasties.

Now, Goryeo is about to surrender, and they are returning to their homeland in the Song Dynasty, which is a return to their roots and their hometown.

Thinking of this, Li Ziyi knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your kindness. I will repay you with my life!"

...When Li Ziyi returned to Kaibao Temple, it was already noon.

He had just returned to the villa he rented when he saw Monk Yi Tian and other members of the delegation packing their luggage.

There were also several officials from the Ministry of Rites of the Song Dynasty present.

"What's going on?" Li Ziyi walked to Yitian and asked in a low voice in Korean.

"An hour ago, the Ministry of Rites issued a document saying that the imperial examination is approaching and Kaibao Temple has been requisitioned by the Ministry of Rites as an imperial examination hall...so we have to move to Tongwenguan!" Yitian explained.

"Oh!" Li Ziyi nodded.

He didn't think much about it. His mind now was all on how to communicate with other powerful people in the family after returning home, so as to get in touch with the powerful people in Bian Jing.

When it comes to climbing up the social ladder, the Li family has extensive experience.

Otherwise, it would not have taken only two or three generations for the Goryeo clan to replace the Gyeongju Kim clan, which had been married to the Goryeo king for generations.

Now he has become a de facto in-law of Goryeo!
Yi Tian asked in a low voice: "How is the situation when the Shangshu enters the palace this time?"

Li Ziyi was just about to discuss with his cousin Yitian in detail the various conditions and graces bestowed on Goryeo by the Emperor of the Song Dynasty.

A strange voice came from outside the door.

"Excuse me, where is the Goryeo envoy, Lord Lee?"

Li Ziyi raised his head and saw a man in his fifties, wearing silk and satin, slightly plump, and wearing a cotton hat on his head.

Looks like he's just a wealthy businessman?
However, Li Ziyi knew that the "merchant" who could appear in front of him at this time must be of great importance.

So he stepped forward and bowed, "I am the Goryeo envoy Li Ziyi!"

"I don't know who you are?"

The other party chuckled and said, "I am entrusted by Lord Wen, the owner of the East Wing Pawnshop in the New City of Bianjing, to come and deliver a visiting card to Lord Li. Please spare some time for me to make a contribution!"

Both Li Ziyi and Yi Tian were shocked after hearing the other party's self-admitted origins and purposes!

Last name Wen?

The Grand Tutor of the Song Dynasty, the Minister of Military and National Affairs, and the Duke of Lu seem to have the surname Wen!

This is the top figure in Central Plains!
As the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, the imperial decree approved the elders who were above the prime ministers!
He is the top civil official who truly shares the empire with the Song Dynasty government!

Legend has it that the Grand Master even has a granddaughter in the palace who will hopefully become the empress in the future.

This is really incredible!
Li Ziyi could not help but ask, "Duke Wen is here to see me. Do you have any advice for me?"

The other party bowed and said, "My host, I heard that Mr. Li is an elegant person in Haidong. I have admired him for a long time and wanted to drink with him and talk about poetry for a long time!"

"Please, Lord Li, please show me your kindness!"

As he spoke, he took out a lacquered wooden prayer box from his arms, bowed solemnly, and handed it to Li Ziyi.

Li Ziyi swallowed his saliva, solemnly took the gift box, took a deep breath, and opened the box. Inside was a gift card made of high-quality paper and decorated with gold thread patterns.

Li Ziyi carefully took it out of the worship box, held it in his hand and began to read.

Yitian also leaned over and looked at the visiting card in Li Ziyi's hand.

On the right side of the cover of the visiting card, it was written in the official regular script: Sincerely addressed to His Excellency Mr. Li, the envoy of Goryeo and the Minister of Revenue.

There is a seal on the lower left corner.

The inscription on the seal is: Seal of Zhou Han.

Zhou Han should be his owner's courtesy name or pseudonym.

As Yitian was thinking, Li Ziyi had already opened the cover of the visiting card, revealing the contents inside.

It is still written in vertical lines in the official script starting from the right: I bow my head and pay my respects to the Minister Li of Goryeo at the east wing of the new city of Bianjing.

I believe that Mr. Li’s poetic talent is unrivaled in the east, his conduct is noble and his virtue is excellent. I, Wen, am not talented, so I would like to invite you to meet me so that we can establish the friendship like Taibai and Chao Heng!

Therefore, on the afternoon of October 29th (the nd year of Yuanyou), I have sent people to welcome you. I hope Lord Li will agree.

I feel ashamed as I am writing this, and I am sorry for the trouble. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you again.

Having seen this, there is no need to look any further.

It must be Master Wen’s family!

Because all the details have shown that the person who came to invite Li Ziyi can only be a top figure in the city of Bianliang.

And in this city of Bianjing, there is only one top dignitary named Wen!

Grand Master, Wen Yanbo!

(End of this chapter)