Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 182 Chi Xiao, Han Guang, Dragons and Snakes Rise to Land
Zhang Yuan has never been to the Great Wall in the north.

But he knew the Wall.

Fairies and demons came to the world, evil spirits descended from the sky, 30 million Qin soldiers fought to the death, and nine Qin kings died outside the Great Wall in the north.

The last King Wu of the Qin Dynasty died in battle on the top of the Northern Great Wall. All 300 million brave soldiers were killed and the Northern Great Wall was lost. From then on, only one of the nine continents of the Qin Dynasty remained.

"Didn't they say that the Great Wall in the North has fallen?"

Zhang Yuan spoke softly.

Every Qin soldier was unwilling to believe that the Great Wall in the north would be lost and collapse.

"Haha, do you know what the Great Wall in the North looks like?" Ji Yuntang chuckled.

"Do you think it's really just a wall?"

"That is the barrier between heaven and earth that exists in the void and isolates all realms."

Ji Yuntang did not mention the matter of the Great Wall in the North anymore, but smiled and told Zhang Yuan that Gong Yuzheng, the sacrificial scholar of the county school, had invited Zhang Yuan to a banquet tomorrow night and asked him to go with him.

"Gong Yuzheng is also lucky. He actually achieved great success in one trip to Liangyuan Territory."

"He won't be studying at Zhengyang County for long. I heard he'll be promoted, either to the Imperial City Academy or the Ministry of Rites."

In Liangyuan, a place where no one had ever been, Gong Yuzheng brought back an army and a contract.

In the memorial submitted to the imperial city, Zhengyang Commandery's sacrificial scholar Gong Yuzheng was credited with the first merit of defeating 20,000 with only 800 men and slaying the Grandmaster in battle.

"Gong Yuzheng is an average person, but he still has some backbone and is worth making friends with."

"By the way, he's obsessed with Wang Mengxi's paintings. If that Spring Mountain painting you have is useless—"

"Ahem, the painting has been given away." Zhang Yuan said.

The Spring Mountain Picture was really of no use to him. After all, it was a gift from the Guo family. He couldn't really exchange it for money. He would give it to Zhao Yu, the money-grubber, so he would definitely get something in return.

Hearing Zhang Yuan say that the scroll had been given away, Ji Yuntang said nothing more. He found a few scrolls introducing Taoist soldiers and a few battle formation diagrams and gave them to Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan left the Jiyuntang courtyard and when he arrived at the entrance of the martial arts school, he was stopped by the guards at the gate.

"Second Master, many people sent invitations this morning, hoping to see you in person."

The two soldiers handed a thick stack of invitations to Zhang Yuan, their faces full of respect.

"Thank you, brothers." Zhang Yuan took the invitation and took out a small silver ingot and handed it over. "Take it and have some tea."

The two of them accepted it with great trepidation and bowed repeatedly.

Seeing Zhang Yuan striding away, the two looked at each other.

"Master Zhang, who is so righteous and upright, always behaves differently."

"That's right. Those families and merchants who invited him only gave us a few copper coins. They were nowhere near as generous as Mr. Zhang."

"Indeed, even these young masters from aristocratic families cannot compare to Second Master in terms of martial arts."

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Zhao's Villa.

When Zhao Yu came out of Princess Fengming's courtyard and wanted to go out to see Zhang Yuan, he was stopped by two guards.

The guard said that the prince would not allow the princess to leave the house at will.

This made Zhao Yu angry.

"Yuruo, you go by yourself. I'll go talk to Big Brother." A voice sounded from not far away.

Ying Chong strode over and waved his hand, asking the two guards to bow and step back.

Only when Zhao Yu walked out of the house did Ying Chong turn around and go straight to the lobby where the prince Ying Liang was.

Seeing Ying Chong, Ying Liangzhan raised his head and said, "Second brother, you've come at the perfect time. The outstanding people invited by Prince Zhao's Palace will arrive in Zhengyang County soon. You need to help with the reception."

"Live in a few manors outside the city, hire the best chefs, and explore the various scenic spots around the county town."

After a pause, Ying Liang lowered his voice and said, "Those famous painted boats and brothels should also be arranged."

"Prince Gu brought many talented people with him to the Imperial City. This time, our Zhao Palace must strive to attract even more elites. They all have powerful forces behind them and can bring attention to our Zhao Palace."

In the struggle for power, when there can't be a head-on clash, it all comes down to who can gather more talent.

Famous generals on the battlefield, famous warriors on the Dragon and Tiger List, and young heroes who are famous in the area, such people can all be the subject of conversation among the people.

In the simple concept of the common people, the heroes of the world respect each other, and the person who can make these people serve him must be extraordinary, and this is reputation.

If you have reputation, you may be remembered by important officials in the court and the emperor.

A royal family member who is not favored by the emperor will only end up in ruin.

"Okay, I'll take care of these things." Ying Chong nodded.

He has been in the county town for a long time and has many connections.

On the contrary, Crown Prince Ying Liang rarely came to the county town, and mostly went to the imperial city and other county prefectures.

"By the way, Yuruo is in the county town. You have to protect her and prevent her from making friends with irrelevant people." Ying Liang looked at Ying Chong and frowned slightly. "She is no longer a child. A girl's reputation is important."

Ying Chong raised his head, his face calm: "Brother, I was just about to talk about this."

"Let Yuruo go out more often these days."

"Have you seen what my aunt looks like now?"

Ying Liang's expression changed, and he finally clenched his fists and lowered his head. The Zhao Palace was in decline, and he, the prince, was incompetent.

If there were other ways, would he be willing to use his relatives as bargaining chips?
Ying Chong sighed softly, turned around and walked out of the lobby.

The royal family enjoys wealth and glory that outsiders can only imagine, but how much do they have to pay to maintain this power and wealth?
Outsiders envy them, but don’t they envy others as well?

……

When Zhao Yu arrived at Zhang Yuan's residence on Tangwai Street, Mr. Yao happened to be there.

Mr. Yao did not recognize Zhao Yu, but he knew Zhao Yu's name when he was in Zhengyang County.

Although this "Zhao Zhubu" had not been in the Wuwei Yamen of Luyang Prefecture for a long time, he had considerable talent and reputation. When he worked with Zhang Yuan, he established the Wuwei Yamen's structure.

Since Zhao Yu had met Mr. Yao, Zhang Yuan did not hide anything from her and let Mr. Yao talk directly about the business of the company.

Zhao Yu didn't expect that Zhang Yuan actually had such a big business, and his eyes lit up.

"The Guo family? Their trade routes can be taken over, but it's just a matter of managing how many useful people you have. Don't make wedding dresses for others."

"The Jiang family is quite something in the county town, right? I didn't realize you guys are really capable of bringing the Jiang family along. That's how business works, let's all make money together."

"For treasures like the Jade Buddha and Bodhi, the best way is to send them to the Imperial City for sale. That way, we can earn at least 40% more than in Zhengyang County. Don't underestimate 40%, it's worth at least several thousand taels of gold."

Although Mr. Yao was well versed in the ways of business, his vision was limited and he did not recognize the wealth of the Qin Dynasty.

Zhao Yu is the princess of Prince Zhao's mansion, and her knowledge is simply not comparable to that of the local rich man Yao Dashanren.

Just a few words at this time made Mr. Yao look respectful.

"There are many Buddhist treasures in Liangyuan Territory. Can you really find them?" Zhao Yu stared at Mr. Yao.

Mr. Yao nodded quickly.

Zhao Yu turned to look at Zhang Yuan: "When he finds it, I will help you sell it in the Imperial City."

"Twenty-eight, let's split it twenty-eight."

Zhao Yu stretched out two of Yubai's hands and waved them in front of Zhang Yuan. He then said, "I guarantee that the price will be more than 80% higher than in Zhengyang County."

Eighty percent, this is almost doubled.

Before Zhang Yuan could speak, Zhao Yu continued, "There's more to the Imperial City than just money, there's also connections."

"Those noble ladies, even the emperor's concubines, as long as this business is done, if one day..."

Zhao Yu winked at Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan was in the government office, and what he lacked more than money was military merit.

Liang Yuanyu, wouldn’t that mean he could have military merits?
"In that case, it's not impossible." Zhang Yuan nodded.

Seeing Zhang Yuan nod, Zhao Yu raised his hand in front of Zhang Yuan and said, "Come, high-five and swear an oath. From now on, I will be the head shopkeeper of your family."

Zhang Yuan chuckled and raised his hand, clapping it with Zhao Yu's.

Zhao Yu chuckled, spread out his hands, and looked at Zhang Yuan: "First, bring me a jade Buddha Bodhi, and I will sell it to you."

"At least, twenty thousand taels of gold."

"Let this thing be known to everyone in the county."

Zhao Yu's words made Mr. Yao open his mouth.

He was worried that he couldn't make the Jade Buddha Bodhi more famous.

Even the Jiang family can only sell Jade Buddha Bodhi seeds within a limited circle.

"If I guess correctly, you want to use this as a bargaining chip for this gathering at Prince Zhao's Mansion?" Zhang Yuan's voice sounded, causing Zhao Yu's mouth to droop.

"You, how do you know?"

Zhang Yuan shook his head and pulled out an invitation from a stack of invitations.

Isn’t it an invitation to the elite gathering at Prince Zhao’s Palace?

Seeing the invitation, Zhao Yu smiled: "Okay, I was planning to take you in for a good meal, but I didn't expect you to get the invitation..."

"Do you know that this invitation is now being sold for two hundred taels of silver in the city?"

Mr. Yao wanted to interrupt, but in the end he didn't say anything.

He thought, where can I buy this invitation for two hundred taels, so he bought it.

After finalizing some business matters, Mr. Yao left.

Since he could use the party at Prince Zhao's Mansion to make the Jade Buddha Bodhi seed famous, he asked Master Jiang not to sell the Bodhi seed for the time being.

Zhang Yuan handed a jade Buddha bodhi seed to Zhao Yu, and then said, "Do you know where in the city there is a place to refine weapons? I want to forge another long sword."

Zhao Yu looked at the Bodhi seed in his hand while thinking.

"Forging weapons, in the city..."

"I see. Outside the city, my aunt knows a reclusive weaponsmith. So, I'll go back to see my aunt and ask her to take us there."

Holding the Jade Buddha Bodhi seed tightly, Zhao Yu tilted his head and spoke thoughtfully, "That master forged a sword. It seems to be called Han Guang."

"Han Guang?"

Zhang Yuan's eyes shone brightly as he whispered, "Chixiao, Hanguang, dragons and snakes rising from the land, is that the Hanguang sword in Grandmaster Du Chongjiu's hands?"

(End of this chapter)