Chapter 1,136 Old Friend

Last month, a Liao businessman died of illness on the island. The Song people took care of the businessman's funeral, continued to take care of his business, helped him find buyers for his goods, exchanged goods that were difficult to preserve for money, and then put the property properly.

Seal.

When the merchant's son came to the island to pick up his father's coffin and return home, what he didn't expect was that the Song people returned all the property left by the merchant to the merchant's son.

The money was placed in Huangsong Bank and actually accrued interest! After deducting the custody fees, the merchant's son also made a lot of money from his father's goods.

Such incidents were unimaginable in any country other than the Song Dynasty. For a time, Zhangzi Island and Ludao had a reputation among merchants from various countries, and they were simply a hot land full of gold.

Therefore, when Cai Bian and Shao Bowen came to Zhangzi Island, they were shocked and dumbfounded by the bustling trade market, the wide and clean roads, the luxurious residences and shops on both sides of the streets, and the rich merchants dressed in silk and satin and covered with jewels.

.

The seaport and customs of Zhangzi Island are huge stone castles, and the tall lighthouse is thicker than the iron tower in Kaifeng.

The hillside of the island is a restricted area. There is a military fortress there. The windows on the low fortress face the bay. In the bay, there are also several armed schooners of different sizes parked.

"This is simply a small Bianjing city!" Cai Bian exclaimed sincerely: "Are Meizhou, Yunzhou, Yezhou and Jiaozhou on Nanhai Road the same?"

Shao Bowen smiled and said, "I heard it's even more prosperous than here."

Cai Bian handed over to Zhang San: "The Jiedu Envoy opened up several sources of profit for the Song Dynasty, which increased the Song Dynasty's annual income by at least 30%. This contribution is no less than that of the Duke of China's exploration of the South China Sea."

Zhang San scratched his forehead: "I don't dare to compete with the young master. I did this because I was actually following his instructions. At the beginning, it was just for business profit, but I don't know what happened. I kept doing it.

That’s what it looks like now!”

Everyone laughed.

Jin Ti got three thousand armors and weapons, and this time the court would definitely give him a big reward. He was already satisfied, and he cupped his hands to Zhang San and said: "The two islands are really changing every year. How about everyone come to my house to sit there?"

?”

Cai Bian was surprised: "Hey? Ambassador Jin still has property on Zhangzi Island?"

Jin Ti smiled apologetically and said: "My family is a maritime merchant and has been traveling to Mingzhou in the Song Dynasty for a long time. When the king was looking for people from the country who could go to the Song Dynasty to deliver tribute forms, he found my family, and this is how he met his fate."

"Zhangzi Island is easy to access, and it is not far from my hometown, Xijing, the second largest city in Goryeo, so I simply bought an industry on the island. At that time, it only cost 50 yuan of imported money. Now, thanks to the Song Dynasty,

Fu, the value has almost doubled!"

Upon hearing this, Shao Bowen joked to Jin Ti: "Then I have to let the ambassador do a good job today. This is simply a good fortune!"

Just when he said this, the head of the Customs of the Song Dynasty came over and bowed to everyone: "I pay my respects to Mr. Shao, Academician Cai."

Several people had seen Li, and Cai Bian asked, "You look familiar. Are you Zhang Zhongguan, the Dongmen Secretary in the original territory?"

"Oh, bachelor, you still remember me." The middle-aged lieutenant hurriedly handed over his hand: "This official is Zhang Shiliang. I have conveyed several orders to the Imperial Academy for His Majesty. I can't help but remember me, bachelor."

Cai Bian asked: "Why don't you serve the Queen Mother anymore?"

Zhang Shiliang said with a smile: "After handing over the duties at Neidongmen, I have been helping the Queen Mother manage the charity fund and other internal treasury matters. Didn't His Majesty say that I barely knew some economics and sent him to take charge of customs affairs?"

Until now in the Northern Song Dynasty, the suppression of eunuchs has been unprecedented.

During the Xining period, Zhao Xu once said to the ministers: "There are already many eunuchs now, and former provincial officials have become servants. In a world of extraordinary people, benevolent government cannot take advantage of it. And it cannot be replaced by three groups of envoys."

What a job!”

The third class of envoys were low-level military attachés in charge of the capital's treasury, palace gates, and imperial city. The prime minister at that time was Wu Chong, who immediately said: "This is a sincere and virtuous thing, and I dare not not follow it!"

And how many eunuchs did Zhao Xu say? It means that during the Renzong Dynasty, there were 180 eunuchs.

And how many eunuchs have there been in the past dynasties in history? Those who are familiar with the Three Kingdoms should know that at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Yuan Shao led his army into the palace and "killed all the eunuchs, no matter how young or old, except for the remaining two cadres."

As for the "dead people", the number of eunuchs was at least a thousand.

The number of eunuchs in the Tang Dynasty, according to the "Old Book of Tang: Biography of Eunuchs," records that at the time of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty, there were more than 3,000 eunuchs, of which more than 1,000 were foreign officials above the conferred rank.

By the time of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, there were "three thousand eunuchs in yellow robes", and the number of eunuchs with official rank alone was about three times that of the Emperor Zhongzong.

During the reign of Emperor Mu Zong, "the number of high-grade white bodies was 4,618." If we estimate based on the ratio during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty, the number of eunuchs in the late Tang Dynasty would probably exceed 10,000.

The Ming Dynasty was even more exaggerated. During the Chongzhen period, there were always between 70,000 and 100,000 people.

Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty kept saying that he wanted to learn from the lessons of the Ming Dynasty, and even used this as a negative teaching material to educate his ministers. Later, Qianlong followed his grandfather's teachings and ordered that the number of eunuchs should not exceed three thousand. He also set an example and controlled the number of eunuchs to - two

One thousand six hundred and five people.

Wu Chong saw that Zhao Xu's 180 people were too many, so he reduced the number of eunuchs to about 100.

Therefore, Cai Bian was basically very polite to Zhang Shiliang and said with a smile: "The envoy just picked up a good job."

Zhang Shiliang repeatedly said that he did not dare: "We are all working for His Majesty."

Shao Bowen was very interested in the construction of Zhangzi Port and the fortress on the mountain. Feng shui was also his strong point. He nodded repeatedly: "Looking at this pattern, Ambassador Zhang is still an expert in construction..."

Zhang Shiliang waved his hands repeatedly: "How can a lower official have such ability? This is Sitong's creation of Li Daizhi."

Shao Bowen was stunned by these words: "When did Sitong Construction have a pending system?"

Zhang Shiliang said in surprise: "Master Li Qingli, Mr. Shao has a close relationship with Sitong, so we should know each other, right?"

"Huh? I really haven't heard of it..."

Zhang Shiliang suddenly reacted: "By the way, some of you have just come from Japan, no wonder you don't know. A few months ago, the Sitong Mining Exploration Department helped the Emperor of Liao to drill the Wuquan Well, and they were treated appropriately in front of the Emperor of Liao. In addition, the Bohai Sea

His Majesty was very pleased with the achievements in the county oil field, so he gave Li Langzhong the title of Qing, and he was promoted to Baowen Pavilion, Minister of Industry!"

"Ha?" Shao Bowen couldn't help but be overjoyed: "It turns out to be Uncle Shuanzhao! He is also on the island now?"

Zhang Shiliang said with a smile: "That's right! Because Zhangzi Island is going to be built a lot, His Majesty ordered him to keep the Queen of Liao from returning to the country for the time being and come to the island first to plan the layout."

Shao Bowen asked: "Where is he now?"

Zhang Shiliang said: "Now the city has been built to a large scale, and canals are being built to divert water. In the future, it will not only meet the needs of the fortress, but also lead springs down, which will be used by the whole city."

"No, I'm still busy working on the mountain."

Shao Bowen smiled and said: "Fortunately, I was delayed for some time by helping Taira Masamori conquer Ezo, so this happened just in time."

Zhang Shiliang said: "Let's go to the Customs Yamen first and sit down. Tonight, I will give you some help. Then we can relax on the island."

"This is the first time that our envoys have visited Goryeo. The Goryeo royal family will send escorts to welcome them."

Cai Bian said: "Actually, there is no need. Master Yitian is also on board this time. Isn't he the highest-level companion?"

Yi Tianhe Shidao said: "The young monk is from outside the country. His biggest wish now is to promote Buddhism, righteousness and culture in our country. But I dare not get involved in other things."

Cai Bian also said: "The master is knowledgeable and well-known. He is the master of the sect. Along the way, Cai Bian has gained a lot."

Yitian said: "My third brother from the secular family is currently guarding Xijing. If my father wants to send a companion, he will probably be the one."
Chapter completed!