The glass pavilion in the back garden looks like a crystal house in a call from a distance, dignified and beautiful, and shining with gorgeous light. Cai Boqi was a little proud. This was a gift he brought from Yunnan and gave to the official family.

Each piece of glass is carefully crafted by craftsmen, so that there is no bubble, so that such a high degree of transparency can be achieved.

However, what disappointed Cai Boyi a little was that the official was not surprised by the crystal in front of him, but only praised his intentions and lamented the superb skills of the craftsmen of the Song Dynasty. To be honest, Cai Boyi was a little jealous of those craftsmen...

How could he know that Zhao Zhen had seen a building hundreds of meters high, with huge glass outside. This kind of glass building is simply a pediatrician compared to them, but it is already an extremely impressive achievement to be able to make such a glass house in this era.

Cai Boqi tried hard to compete with the lamb legs in front of him. While gnawing on the lamb legs carefully, he carefully used his light to make a large number of officials opposite him. He felt that the most important thing at the moment was to try not to let the officials lead the topic to sensitive places.

But obviously this was a dream. Even if he gnawed the lamb leg to only one bone, it would be useless. Zhao Zhen looked at Cai Boqi and the big stick in his hand and curled his lips slightly, "Can you gnaw this lamb leg out of flowers? Then gnaw it, see if your teeth are good or the big stick is hard!"

Cai Boqi smiled and put down the sheep leg in his hand, and said helplessly: "The official summoned the Wei ministers late at night, but I don't know what happened?"

Zhao Zhen snorted and said, "Don't pretend to be confused with me. Among the merchants of the Song Dynasty, all the well-known merchants went to the courtyard of Qingfeng Building. Not to mention the private merchants, there is no shortage of mortal enemies like the royal family and the generals. Do you think I have no news at all?!"

"How can it be!" Cai Boqi shouted, then smiled bitterly: "The officials naturally know everything..."

"I don't know what these merchants are thinking? How dare they be so arrogant!"

Zhao Zhen almost made a sound from his teeth. Cai Boqi knew that if the officials were not angry, they would never be so angry. Obviously, the resolutions of these merchants made the officials feel uneasy and made the officials feel that the imperial power was threatened.

Cai Boqi said almost cryingly: "Officials, fight! The Northern Expedition cannot be delayed anymore, and the merchants can no longer hold it!"

Zhao Zhen sneered: "Can't hold it anymore? Do I want to calculate how much they earn after their goods did not enter the Liao Dynasty and changed to the Western Regions during this period? How much did they earn from the Seljuks, from the Byzantines, from the hands of the European countries?!"

Cai Boqi's face changed and he sighed helplessly: "The government has made a lot of money, but the government has never calculated how long it takes to recover such risks and profits... It is good to go to the Western Regions, and it is indeed profitable, but this way it greatly increases the risks of merchants. Our court still stipulates that we cannot sell scrutiny and external goods, and cannot sell a large amount of iron and external goods, which limits their interests."

Zhao Zhen touched his chin: "This... I didn't expect that selling it to the Liao Dynasty is the same as selling it to the Western Regions. It's just that one money comes back faster and the other is slower. I didn't expect it to have such a big blow to these merchants?"

Cai Boqi smiled and said, "It's not big, but the waiting time is too long. Although the journey is long, time can make up for these losses. In fact, what you earn is similar to before. Only one is that the profit is large and the time is long, and the other is that the profit is small and short."

Zhao Zhen asked strangely: "What else is there to be dissatisfaction?! Is it because he is reluctant to give up the immediate benefits? Or risk?"

Cai Boqi nodded: "There are both."

Zhao Zhen smiled, it was no surprise now. Merchants were pursuing profits, and the immediate interests were naturally the most important. From the Song Dynasty selling goods to the Liao Dynasty, they could quickly benefit and accelerate their capital recovery, which was the same in that era.

But there is a little difference. Now, I have the final say!

These merchants began to form a group. Of course, this was created by themselves. To improve the status of merchants, this would inevitably happen, but they could not prevent progress because of concerns. Zhao Zhen felt it necessary to form a professional and centralized merchant system to adapt to the interests of the court, the national interests, and the interests between merchants.

Now these merchants have no way to appeal, and the people from the Guangmao Department will not accept this proposal and can only express their wishes to Cai Boyi. Zhao Zhen thinks this is great, and at least he can know the problems.

The Song Dynasty's economy now relies on merchants, and it is because of them that the market will flourish and the business will flourish, but everything is in the hands of Zhao Zhen, because this is a feudal era, an era where imperial power overrides any power.

Looking at Cai Boyi who was a little embarrassed, Zhao Zhen pointed at him and said, "I have an idea. Since you are the deputy envoy of the Third Division and the person trusted by these merchants, I have an idea. It is better to form a brand new yamen in the name of you and the Third Division, and be in charge of merchants like the Guangmao Department, but you can communicate with me. The merchants' demands can also appear on my desk through the situation of submitting memorials, called Xingshangsi. These merchants elect highly respected people as the presidents in order to communicate with you."

Cai Boyi looked at Zhao Zhen blankly, obviously this was something he had never expected. Merchants were a cheap business. Even if the officials raised their status to the point where they could enter the official position, they would not be able to change the status of merchants in the eyes of officials.

But now the official family wants to open another yamen for these merchants. The Guangmao Department manages merchants all over the world. It was changed from the commercial tax case in the original three departments to control the tax collection of industrial and commercial taxes. The current Shangshang Department is a bridge between merchants and the emperor, which shows the interests.

"If the official family has this yamen, then... what the merchants think in the future can know. This is a wise act! Your Majesty..."

Zhao Zhen waved his hand and interrupted Cai Boqi's flattery: "I have something to say first. Merchants must obey my management. Otherwise, I can seal it up and copy it according to the law. Don't think you are relaxed. You must display the articles in detail, otherwise I will be the first to ask you!"

Cai Boqi swallowed his saliva dryly. Obviously, the official had trapped himself in again!

"There are my husbands who follow the order..."

Just when Zhao Zhen and Cai Boqi made plans, an invisible storm was brewing on the border of the Song Dynasty. Zhao Zhen still underestimated the power of capital. He no longer influenced the Song Dynasty at all times. The capital now is huge enough to trigger a war...

On the border between Song and Liao, a team of Song army's border guards were patrolling. This is a common practice. Their mission is very simple. They have not yet built a Great Wall to patrol. Any merchants are prohibited from leaving the Song Dynasty, and also prohibited Liao merchants from entering the Song Dynasty.

Since Zhao Zhen’s decree was issued, the border army has been consistently implemented. After all, the army is in the hands of the emperor.

The hooves on the horse's hooves hit the ground, making crisp sounds. This was a cement road built by the border troops themselves. Although the road was not very wide, it was very long, and even reached the territory of the Liao Dynasty...
Chapter completed!