Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 573 In Danger
"Anyway, you should try your best." Amin said with a sigh, "Get more salt, tea and cotton cloth. If it is really difficult to sell the goods, just get less sugar." Sugar is a real luxury. If it is replaced with an equal amount of table salt, then one thousand kilograms of sugar can be exchanged for about five thousand kilograms of salt.

"Yes," Zhou Sen nodded and took the initiative to ask Amin: "Do you need food?"

"Food." Amin was startled, then alert. "Do you have any food to sell me? How much?"

"I don't have any food on hand," Zhou Sen said, "but if you need it, I can contact the grain merchant to buy it."

"Didn't you say you had no money? How come you have money to buy food now?" Amin looked interested.

"I can directly exchange leather and ginseng for grain from grain merchants," Zhou Sen explained. "After all, grain is readily available. Unlike salt and tea, which need to be transported through three checkpoints and five border crossings, it's less heavily controlled. It's easy to send people to different markets throughout Liao to exchange one or two pounds of ginseng and three or four leathers for two or three dan of rice or flour. While it's a bit troublesome and the losses are considerable, it's a relatively safe way to trade goods. At least it's better than just buying salt, tea, and cloth."

"Where are the beads? You didn't mention beads." Amin asked.

"Beads really aren't an option," Zhou Sen said, shaking his head. "Business is business. There are only a few places where Dongzhu is produced, and they're all controlled by the Jin dynasty. There's no way to get away with it. Once it's on the market, people will question it, and even if I pawn it, I can't get a price. It's almost like there's no market for it. The only way to sell it is to ship it thousands of miles back to the border, or even if I sell it, it'll be at a very low price. But these checkpoints are tough to pass. If even one pearl is found, I'll end up like Li Quezi. So I'd better find a way to use these pearls to curry favor with the new eunuchs. The government won't dare investigate them."

"Well, if we can get in touch with those people. Just tell us how many beads you want." Amin frowned and nodded.

"Then I would like to thank Prince Amin first." Zhou Sen bowed with a wry smile.

"Let's continue talking about rice," Amin said. "How are you going to transport the rice you've exchanged for? Even if you carry all the food with your six mules and three horses, it won't last you more than a few days, right?"

"I can hide the grain near Magendan Fort. We have dug a storage cellar there, which should be able to hold three or four hundred dan of rice. You can send someone to get it yourself." Zhou Sen said.

"Yanwei," Amin rolled his eyes at Zhou Sen. "Are you really stupid or just pretending to be stupid?"

"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?" Zhou Sen swallowed his saliva.

Amin nodded emphatically at the table in front of him. "This is Kuandian. It's over 300 miles to Magen and back, and we have to avoid Ming scouts as much as possible. Half the food would be used up on the horses and men. I'd be hysterical to buy food like this. Besides, I won't be short of food anytime soon. Kuandian is fertile and self-sufficient. You'd better ship the salt, tea, and cloth I need as soon as possible."

"Yes, yes, yes. I'll get it delivered as soon as possible." Zhou Sen lowered his head hastily. "I'll try to send you another shipment within a month."

"Didn't you just say you couldn't give me a definite answer?" Amin interrupted. "How come it's already been another month?"

"Strive for it, that's what I mean." Zhou Sen raised his hand to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

"You come here in ten days, and you go back in ten days," Amin continued to ask, "Does that mean you can have the goods ready in ten days? Wouldn't that be a pretty easy turnover?"

"No. While we're talking about business, my associates who didn't come are busy dealing in the inventory." Zhou Sen seemed to be trying to make amends and added, "And what I mean by striving for it is that I will order my people to sell the goods at a low price after I go back, and then quickly restock them. Although doing so will require me to bear more risks, it's for my Dajin..."

"Alright!" Amin stopped Zhou Sen. "If you keep talking, we'll have to talk about price increases again. You really know how to run a business."

"I'm telling the truth," Zhou Sen said with a sincere face. "If you don't believe me and think I'm a profiteer, I'll give you this batch of goods. We still have some in stock over there. I can go back faster with an empty truck."

"Come on, I won't take advantage of you," Amin said, his expression softening as he handed over another sweet date. "If you can really make another run within a month, I'll raise the price by another 10%."

"No, I really am not." Zhou Sen bowed to Amin again.

"Stop, stop nagging!" Amin said, clearly feigning anger. "Do you still want me to apologize?"

"Don't dare."

Amin thought about it. "Well, I don't want you to hurry up either. Just keep yourself safe first. Only when you're alive can you make money. Whenever you can deliver the goods to me smoothly, I'll give you a 10% raise."

"Thank you, Prince Amin, for your kindness." Zhou Sen was delighted.

"Just bring it here first," Amin took a deep breath, then reached out and picked up the fine porcelain cup. "Before you leave, I have one last thing to ask you."

"Beile Amin, please feel free to ask." Zhou Sen tried to look relaxed, but his body became even more tense.

"Do you have any connections in Guangning?" Amin went straight to the point.

"Yes, but not much. And as you know, Guangning has been experiencing a lot of turmoil recently." Zhou Sen added in advance, "I probably can't be of much help."

"I just want to know something. I don't need your help." Amin asked, "Have you heard of Wang Shizhong?"

"Are you talking about the guerrilla general who claims to be a direct descendant of Hada Beile?" Zhou Sen asked back.

"You know quite a bit about it," Amin said as he brought the porcelain cup to his lips. Only then did he realize that the milk tea he had just brought was already cold. "Do you know him?"

Zhou Sen waved his hands. "Guangning is in such a mess, and that bastard Yang is stationed there. How dare I get close to him now? I can't even hide."

"Then how do you know so clearly?" Amin asked.

"Wang Shizhong is a well-known figure in Guangning. And a big event related to him has been circulating in the market recently." Zhou Sen said.

"What's the matter?" Amin didn't like cold milk tea, but he didn't ask anyone to change it for him.

"It is said that the imperial court intends to match Wang Shizhong with Lindan Batur of the Chahan tribe." Zhou Sen said.

"There's also this." Amin was startled and choked on his milk tea. "Ahem!"

"Slow down!" Zhou Sen said hurriedly.

Jirgalang also stepped forward and patted him on the back.

Amin put down the teacup and raised his hand to push Jirgalang away. After breathing a little slower, he immediately asked Zhou Sen: "Didn't you just say that it was nothing serious?"

Zhou Sen explained: "It's just such a legend. As to whether it is true or not, I don't know. This kind of hearsay is often nine out of ten true. If I talk nonsense and mislead the national policy of the Great Jin, how can I bear the blame?" "Then where did you hear it from?" Amin's expression eased a little.

"A fellow specially sent to Guangning to gather information. When doing business, you have to keep your eyes and ears open in order to accumulate wealth and avoid disaster, right?" Zhou Sen smiled, his cheeks twitching.

"Has that guy arrived?" Amin asked.

"No," Zhou Sen shook his head. "I've always relied on his regular letters to learn about Guangning's affairs. The last time I saw him in person was last winter."

"Do you have the letter with you?" Amin narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I'm a fool, and I didn't expect you to ask in detail, so I only had the gift list with me." Zhou Sen still shook his head. "If I had known you were so interested, I would have summoned that boy to Kuandian."

"Do you know any more detailed information?" Amin asked again.

"The letter only said two sentences about this matter. But I have asked that guy to find out in detail in my reply. The next time I come, I will tell you the truth of the news and the details I have found out." Zhou Sen said.

"Then thank you for your help." Amin nodded with a smile.

"I dare not, I dare not." Zhou Sen immediately put on a flattering and submissive attitude.

"Let's go and take a look at the warehouse. If there is anything broken or moldy, replace it now." Amin stood up.

Jirgalang, who had remained silent after being scolded by his brother, also stood up.

"How could that be possible?" Zhou Sen bowed and nodded as he walked to Amin's table. He waited like a servant for Amin to pass by and then immediately followed him. "Your goods here are all excellent and have a good reputation."

"Hahahaha," Amin came to Zhou Sen, laughed and put his arm around his shoulders. "Whose goods are defective?"

"This..." Zhou Sen was stunned for a moment, then smiled awkwardly. "Of course, no one owns it. Instead, those Han Chinese merchants often sell me inferior goods. I have to be careful to distinguish them, so as not to let the Jin Dynasty suffer losses."

"You old rascal, you say this to everyone, right?" Amin hugged Zhou Sen and walked out of the tent.

"I do business based on my conscience!" Zhou Sen pretended to be serious.

"Haha, haha." Amin patted Zhou Sen's shoulder heavily, then turned to look at Donkey Egg who followed with a small box. "By the way, what's your nephew's name?"

"Just call him Donkey Egg." Zhou Sen's nerves tensed up.

"I'm talking about your real name." Amin smiled and nodded towards Donkey Egg. "There's no point in always calling someone by their nickname. I won't call you Crooked Dog, will I?"

"Amin Beile, my name is Huang Gongde," Donkey Egg smiled innocently, revealing a row of neat but heavily worn yellow teeth. "The word 'Gongde' means immeasurable merit."

Zhou Sen half-jumped in to speak. "This kid was born with a difficult labor. The family prayed to the gods and Buddhas for protection, ensuring the safety of both mother and child. That's why they gave him this name."

"You have a good name," Amin asked with a smile, "Are you married now?"

"This kid is already married!" Zhou Sen said sternly.

"I'm just asking, Yanwei, why are you so nervous?" Amin turned back and stared into Zhou Sen's eyes. "Are you afraid that I might matchmake you?"

"How can that be possible! I'm really eager to marry into your royal family." Zhou Sen said.

"Then I will find another concubine for this child?" Amin said.

"How can we lowly merchants ask Prince Amin to mediate between us?" Zhou Sen's hairs on the back stood up.

"You see, you're still scared." Amin smiled tolerantly.

"This" Zhou Sen couldn't laugh or cry.

"Haha. I was just kidding," Amin patted Zhou Sen's shoulder again. "You were supposed to be helping me in Han territory, and suddenly bringing a 'barbarian woman' back with you would reveal your true identity. How could I bear to put you in danger and let the Ming army capture you for no reason?"

"Haha." Zhou Sen's two dry laughs were uglier than crying.

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Leaving Kuandian and returning to the interior, Zhou Sen and Lu Dan'er sat side by side in the front seat of a mule-drawn cart. One of them held the reins, while the other sat with his hands folded, relaxed like a master. If Le Dutai had been there, he would have been surprised to find that it was Zhou Sen holding the reins.

"Uncle," Donkey Egg slowly opened the small box containing a hundred pearls in the afternoon sun. The smooth pearls reflected the sunlight, revealing the box full of jewels and precious stones. "Your box of pearls is really good." Donkey Egg gently scratched in the box twice, quickly finding the largest one. "Wow, this one might be embedded in the emperor's crown." Donkey Egg picked up the pearl and marveled.

"If Master Huang likes them," Zhou Sen smiled, a bean-sized bead of sweat silently sliding down the ravines of his face. "Just pick a few and keep them."

"It's too hot. Don't hold it." Donkey Egg tossed the fine pearl gently, returning it to the glittering jewels. "I remember everything you said to that Jurchen Tartar. This pearl can't be sold or given away. Holding it in your hand will only make you uncomfortable."

"Then give it to a woman. No woman doesn't like this thing." Zhou Sen's eyelids jumped.

"Uncle. Your lovely wife and concubine have no use for these beads, and my wife is even less worthy of such a good thing." Lu Daner closed the box and pushed it next to Zhou Sen. "Compared to these beads, I like this deer antler knife more." As he said that, Lu Daner took out the deer antler dagger that Amin gave him from his arms.

Donkey Egg pulled out the deerskin scabbard. The blade, worn back halfway, gleamed in the sunlight.

The warm reflection of the oily light made Zhou Sen's heart and eyes turn cold. "What are you doing? This is still the territory of the Tartars. And there are so many guys in front and behind."

"What are you talking about? I'm just looking at this knife," Donkey Egg pressed his thumb against his middle finger. The nail made a short, crisp sound on the blade. "This knife is really the one he uses. It still smells like hot oil. It must have been used to cut meat recently. It seems that the young chief really likes me, or rather, he really likes you, uncle. In order to tie you down, he even wants to help me find a marriage. In fact, I don't mind getting another Tartar woman as a concubine. If I bring her back to the Han people, I might be able to pry out some useful information. Uncle, why didn't you agree just now? You are obviously not afraid of being in danger anymore, right?"

(End of this chapter)