Usurpation of Mongolia: My father-in-law is Genghis Khan

Chapter 84: Persian Merchants, Arabian War Horses
There is no need to rush back to the army.

It was not until the autumn of 1207 that Zhao Shuo led his army back to his base camp, the Hulunbuir grassland.

A short separation is better than a new marriage. Zhao Shuo and Hua Zheng were inseparable for several days after he came back.

After giving birth, Hua Zheng's figure not only did not change, but she also gained a bit of young woman's charm and maternal aura, becoming more dignified and beautiful.

Unfortunately, Zhao Shuo's physical condition is too strong now. On the third night, Hua Zheng was really overwhelmed and had to drive Zhao Shuo out of the tent, asking him not to neglect Suna, Alia and Hulan.

On the fourth day after returning, eight-month-old little Zhao He called out an unclear "Abba" (Abba in Mongolian is pronounced as Abu, which is almost the same), which made Zhao Shuo laugh out loud. He immediately announced that everyone in the camp would have an extra meal today, and each person would be given half a pound of mutton.

Zhao Shuo's camp has now been changed to a permanent camp, located on the bank of the Morgele River, known as "the world's most winding river", with beautiful scenery and lush grass.

In the entire camp, apart from Zhao Shuo's family and the servants and maids who served them, there were five hundred black cavalrymen, one thousand soldiers from the Baru camp, eighty elite Tumati warriors, as well as craftsmen and their families.

The workshop, originally staffed with fewer than 200 artisans, has grown over the past two years to over 600. Some artisans, drawn to the beauty of the Hulunbuir grasslands, have brought their families with them. Zhao Shuo has also gifted some single, high-ranking artisans with Xixia female slaves. The combined workforce of artisans and their families now exceeds 1,300.

The camp had a large population, and each person was given half a pound of mutton, which was a considerable expense.

"It's not enough to rely solely on the women herding and the tribesmen providing for us. We still have to farm!"

The day after little Zhao He called out "Dad", when Zhao Shuo went to inspect the workshop, Sun Wei made a suggestion.

Zhao Shuo asked, "What's the matter? Are you having trouble with the food supply?"

"There are no difficulties now, but the population of the workshop is increasing too fast, and the troops of the Prince Consort's headquarters have also increased a lot. It's only a matter of time."

Since Sun Wei was promoted to the general manager of the workshop and was given two beautiful Xixia girls, his loyalty to Zhao Shuo has turned upside down. He regards the Hulunbuir grassland as his second hometown and Zhao Shuo's career as his own.

Zhao Shuo frowned slightly and said, "Farming? Can't we buy some food from Xia and Liao?"

"It's thousands of miles away, and transporting food is more expensive than meat. It's not cost-effective." Sun Wei shook his head.

"However, the Mongols never farmed. The Kerait and Wanggu tribes did grow corn. Can farming be done on the Hulunbuir grassland?" Zhao Shuo asked.

Sun Wei said, "It should be no problem. I've seen that the Morgele River is very full of water, and the nearby grass is also very lush. We can have the soldiers of the Baru Camp open up some farmland. Moreover, we have a lot of livestock. If we can have the Wanggu tribe smuggle some iron farm tools, the women alone can manage the farmland."

"Okay, you'll be responsible for this. However, although the Baru Battalion are slaves, they are still soldiers after all. Don't treat them harshly, and don't humiliate them."

"I understand. Actually, it's just that tilling the fields is too hard, and the women can't handle it. Once the fields are cultivated, they won't be needed anymore."

"Let's do it. By the way, how are the sales of the workshop now?"

"very good."

When talking about this issue, Sun Wei's voice became much louder with pride.

He said, "The Wanggu tribe is responsible for our sales to the Jin and Song kingdoms. Because we have to subsidize the Wanggu tribe, our profits are not high. But last month alone, we made 23,000 taels of silver. The trade routes with the Xia and Liao kingdoms don't require subsidies. Although our sales volume is not as large as with the Song and Jin kingdoms, we still made 20,000 taels of silver last month."

"Oh? You made more than 40,000 taels of silver last month? Not bad!" Zhao Shuo was very satisfied.

Don’t think that 40,000 taels is too little. More than 40,000 taels a month is more than 500,000 taels a year.

Before the Southern Song Dynasty, the annual tribute paid to the Jin Dynasty was only 250,000 taels of silver and 250,000 pieces of silk.

In other words, the profit from Zhao Shuo's workshop exceeded the total income that the Jin Kingdom extorted from the Southern Song Dynasty in one year.

Sun Wei said, "Our goods are unique in the world, so we have no trouble selling them. It's mainly because we have too few craftsmen and the supply of raw materials is not sufficient. Otherwise, we could make even more. I estimate that by the end of the year, our monthly income will exceed 50,000 taels."

"Okay, do a good job!" Zhao Shuo patted Sun Wei on the shoulder and said, "By the end of the year, the monthly income of the workshop will exceed 50,000 taels. In addition to the rewards you deserve, I will give you a female slave." "Thank you, my Lord! Uh..."

Suddenly, Sun Wei seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Zhao Shuo said, "Anything else? Feel free to ask."

Sun Wei looked a little embarrassed and said, "It's like this. A Persian merchant came a month ago and wanted to buy our goods to sell in Persia."

Zhao Shuo said, "Didn't I tell you that? Our goods should only be given to Mongolian merchants. There's no need to give them away cheaply to outsiders."

"But the problem is, he has a handwritten letter from Zhenhai Cheerbi asking us to be flexible."

"Hmm? This Persian merchant has some connection with Zhenhai?"

Zhenhai was a Uighur, born into a wealthy merchant family. Although not among the Eighty-Eight Meritorious Officials, nor a hereditary centurion, he was one of Temujin's first six Cheerbi. His primary responsibility, along with Hunnan, was to advise Temujin on various military and national affairs, making him a true close minister to the emperor.

In history without Zhao Shuo, this man later served as the prime minister of the Mongol Empire, and his position was far above the famous Yelu Chucai in later generations.

And the most important thing is that Zhenhai participated in the Banzhuni River Oath.

As a member of the "Ban Zhunihe School", Zhao Shuo felt that he should give Zhenhai face.

He ordered, "Send the Persian merchant to see me."

Not long after, a Persian man in his thirties, of medium build, with thick curly hair and green eyes came in front of Zhao Shuo.

He bowed deeply and said, "Zardusht Amir, I pay my respects to the great Mongolian prince consort!"

"No need to be polite, please sit down." Zhao Shuo got straight to the point and asked, "What exactly is your relationship with Zhenhai Cheerbi?"

"I dare not lie to you, my Lord, that I have only met Zhenhai Cheerbi once. However, thirty years ago, when Zhenhai's father, Erken, went to Persia on business, he and my father got along very well. This time, I was able to meet Zhenhai Cheerbi with a letter from my father, and he introduced me to you."

It seems that this person's relationship with Zhenhai is not very close.

Originally, if he was someone very close to Zhenhai, Zhenhai would have written a personal letter directly to Zhao Shuo instead of writing a letter to Sun Wei.

Zhenhai's meaning was quite clear: if he did this, he would be indebted to Zhao Shuo for doing him a favor; if he didn't do it, it didn't matter.

Zhao Shuo asked, "The Persian state religion is Islam. Are you a Muslim?"

"No, no, no," Zardusht Amir quickly explained. "Although Islam is the state religion of Persia, I am a devout Zoroastrian and believe in the great Ahura Mazda."

Zoroastrianism? Zoroastrianism? Mingjiao? Which sect does Xiao Zhao belong to?

Zhao Shuo felt a subtle feeling in his heart and said, "In this case, a letter from Zhenhai alone is not enough for me to make an exception for you. However, if you can do two things for me, I will allow you to become my agent in Persia."

"Just tell me, my dear son-in-law. I will do whatever I can." Zardusht said impatiently.

Zhao Shuo said, "One is that Persia's Arabian war horses are very famous. Find a way to get me forty of them, twenty males and twenty females. They must be young and strong, and the males cannot be castrated."

Zhao Shuo had long wanted to use Arabian war horses for breeding and let Zhang Yong breed a new type of war horse.

It is said that after the Mongols went on their westward expedition, they no longer liked to use Mongolian horses themselves, but only used them for transportation. The war horses they rode were mainly Arabian horses.

If Zardusht Amir could get the Arabian warhorse now, it would be a pleasant surprise for Zhao Shuo.

(End of this chapter)