Chapter 23: Military Reward List

While Zheng Wei and Zhang Mai were drinking tea in the study, the 64 wealthy merchants in the city of Julan City were all frightened by the invitation of Liu Heihu and others. Zheng Wei was given the convenience given by Zhang Mai and sent his subordinates to invite merchants of all sizes in the city. However, he was too young. Now the Zheng family's industry in the city of Julan City is no longer the leader. More than a dozen large merchants refused to respond. There were less than ten merchants, and they were all small merchants who usually had business dealings with the Zheng family.

Zheng Hao said: "Third Master, these people are both snobbish and short-sighted. I Lao Nu can't see how he can help."

Zheng Wei said, "It is precisely because they are short-sighted that I have to help them. If they can handle the things in front of me, why should I worry about this again? These people are either our relatives, our neighbors, or our business partners, and are closely related to us. If something happens to them, we are also very kind."

Zheng Hao said: "San Young Master, have you ever thought about joining the Tang Army? The Tang Army is very good to us, and I can see that these people are kind and kind. The old slave has never read any books, but he has eaten more rice for decades and has experienced many things. He always feels that this is the same as the two ends, and I am afraid that both ends will not be pleased in the future."

Zheng Wei was stunned for a moment, and felt that Zheng Hao's words were not unreasonable. But he thought that he had thought about it, but he couldn't get over the concern in his heart when he made a decision. He quickly shook his head: "No, no, it's too risky. Just follow my thoughts. I have already touched the personality of this Special Envoy Zhang, and I should be able to deal with it."

Because he was thinking about how to promote this matter, Ma Xiaochun said that some of the prisoners of the Tang army seemed to be from the Zheng family, and one of them was named Meng You. He asked Zheng Wei if he knew him. Zheng Wei hurriedly said, "Know and know, these are all from our family. Meng You are still us... The housekeeper of our Zheng family. Xiaochun, can you tell Special Envoy Zhang and ask him to let me go?"

Ma Xiaochun smiled and said, "It should be no problem." After he went to run errands, he received a reply soon. Zhang Mai didn't say anything and immediately released him when he heard the news. Zheng Wei was happy and had a solution. Most of the merchants in Julan City had children and their friends were captured, but they did not join the private army. When he heard that the "Aqimu family" had climbed into the army entering the city, everyone rushed to hear the news. Some asked for the news, and some hoped to rescue their relatives and friends through Zheng Wei's path. Not long after, more than 200 people gathered. Although the Aqimu Mansion occupied a large area, it was noisy when more than 200 people gathered.

Murong Chunhua heard that there were so many people gathered here, and he was afraid of chaos, so he quickly sent troops to guard. Hundreds of people in the mansion were panicked when they heard about it. He grabbed Zheng Wei's collar irritably and said angrily: "Kailimu, why did you collude with this group of robbers to deceive us? Are you trying to lead us here to catch all the things?"

Zheng Wei broke free from him and frowned at Ma Xiaochun and said, "Didn't Special Envoy Zhang say that martial law is not targeted at us? Why didn't he keep his word? He sent someone to block the front and back doors of me? What does this mean?"

Seeing that Zhang Mai was quite polite to Zheng Wei, Ma Xiaochun didn't dare to contradict him, and said, "The villain doesn't know, so the villain will ask now."

When Murong Chunhua heard that the merchants in the house were suspicious and were scolded by Zheng Wei, he ordered to retreat and sent people to come in and said that they had no other intentions. At the same time, he reported the news to Zhang Mai. Yang Yi said: "Brother Mai, although Zheng Wei is a descendant of the Zheng family and is a family friend of us, he has not yet clearly expressed his surrender to us. At this time, he got together with so many people. If the matter discussed is beneficial to us, it is nothing, but if the plot is ill, you have to be careful. Should you send someone to sneak in and monitor them?"

Zhang Mai pondered for a moment, but said, "No, I have already touched the temperament of Zheng Wei. Although I am not happy enough, I am not a person who will rebel publicly like this. We should give them some time and also some time. There are too many people who are not afraid. Hundreds of people hold meetings together and cannot make any powerful decisions. If a few people have secret conversations, it will be terrible."

Yang Yi said: "But when I went to inspect before, I saw several businesses, but I really don't look like our Tangren."

Zhang Mai said: "Didn't Zheng Wei say that many of them are mixed with locals, probably because of this." He paused and said: "In fact, even if he is not a descendant of the Farming House, it doesn't matter. As long as Zheng Wei can let them truly support us. People like this have become more and more fake for a long time."

The merchants there saw Zheng Wei retreating the surrounding soldiers outside the mansion with one word, and then they slapped their underestimation and had a little respect on their faces. The person who came forward to pull his collar was even more frightened and quickly apologized.

Zheng Wei then invited Samur and Kaladin, two major merchants in the city, to sit down. He was the master himself and said, "Everyone must know about the Tang army entering the city."

Many merchants said, "Of course I know, Kailimu, what kind of Tang army is this group, and who is it?"

Zheng Wei said: "According to them, it was an army from the Tang Dynasty."

Zheng Hao stood aside and sighed relieved when he heard this: "The Third Young Master is a person who has been rolling in the business world. He speaks with a proper attitude and does not reveal the truth and reality of Xin Ruiye City."

However, the merchants in the hall were very surprised and talked a lot. Samur, Kaladin and others had experienced so many ups and downs. At this time, they couldn't help but exclaim: "Dang Dynasty? Is the Tang Dynasty still there?"

Kaladin said: "Even if the Tang Dynasty is still there, how could they suddenly come to Julan City? Did Shule or Balashaguon fall? Is there no news before?"

Zheng Wei raised his hand and shouted, "Everyone, please be quiet. Where and how this Tang army came from, to be honest, I was also confused, but probably because of my father and brother's kindness. They didn't know where to hear that my Aqimu family was the richest man in Julan City - of course, this was the past. The Tang army probably had a wrong news, but they came to me for this and asked me to inform you to go to the banquet together tonight."

After he said this, hundreds of people started to discuss it again, and they were unwilling to go, but they did not dare not to go. Someone said, "Kailimu, look at this group of robbers..." Several people swear at the same time, and the man hurriedly covered his mouth and continued, "What is this group of Tang soldiers asking us to the banquet for?"

Zheng Wei said: "According to my judgment, since they have occupied this place, they must have a good relationship with the locals to maintain their rule. Didn't they send people to invite us to the banquet early this morning? At that time, it was fierce, because it was under the Tang Dynasty. I have told them that this Julan City was under the Tang Dynasty before, and many of the merchants here have the blood of the Tang Dynasty. When they heard that their faces were much calmer, they changed the banquet to night and invited us to the next day. It should be a good intention."

When he said this, someone asked: "Julan City was under the rule of the Tang Dynasty? Is this happening?"

A few well-informed old businessmen said, "Of course there is this. Do you young people think that this place has been ruled by the Uighurs since ancient times?"

The person who had the socket said, "No, I thought it was a Samman before."

"What about before Samman?"

Samur suddenly spoke and said loudly: "Don't make noise, listen to Kailimu continue."

Since Zheng Wei's father Zheng Wanda left Julan City, Samur has become the business leader of the city. This sentence is so majestic that everyone shut up.

Samur said: "Kelimu, what should I do if I follow you?"

Zheng Wei said: "I have already thought about it before you come. We will all claim to be descendants of Tang Min tonight and go to the banquet."

Many people shouted, "This is a good idea."

But some people were worried: "But we are not, what if they expose it?"

Zheng Wei said: "In fact, whether the same tribe is false, whether he has the intention, that is true. Since the Tang army entered this Julan City and intends to show goodwill to us, it depends on whether we truly support them. As long as we show that we truly support the Tang army, even if we do not have the blood of the Tang people, we can still pass this level."

"Have you the intention?" Kaladin smiled and said, "Do you mean... money?"

Zheng Wei nodded: "Yes."

Kaladin smiled and said, "If they want money, it's easier. Let's bring them a generous gift."

More than 200 people said, "Yes, yes. If you just call yourself Tang Min and give them some gifts to show your kindness, that would be nothing."

Zheng Wei said, "My idea is that what we want to give is not a gift to please the leaders of the Tang army, but a military asset that is beneficial to them. Gift gatherings appear heavy, while gifts appear lighter. Our 64 businesses each gave gifts, and the gifts seemed small and thin. It is better to put them together and give them a thick and real gift. There is a saying in the Han Dynasty: Don't hit people with smiley faces. As soon as they entered my city, we rewarded the army with a big gift, which shows our sincerity. Since we opened a good show with kindness, they would not be able to treat us ruthlessly next."

Everyone said, "That's right, that's right. Whether it's big food or Uighurs, aren't those officials just talking about the word "money"?

Kaladin said: "Kelim, as you say, what big gift should we give?"

Zheng Wei said: "Before you all, Kailimu had already thought about it. If you give such a big gift to reward the army, then no matter whether you are descendants of Tang Min, you should be able to keep my whole city safe."

Then he took out the gift list he had prepared. Samur took it and his face changed a little. Kaladin saw it and his face twitched. It would take half a day to read it. Zheng Wei asked Samur Kaladin to read it, and then Zheng Han read it out-

"Nine thousand bags of wheat, two thousand bags of rice, one thousand pieces of cloth, eight hundred horses, three hundred peaks of camels, eight thousand heads of sheep, five hundred taels of gold, five thousand taels of silver..." Here are all kinds of goods, such as clothes, shoes and hats, and all kinds of goods that can be taken away, which are also sold by merchants in Kulan City.

Before Zheng Han finished reading, the atmosphere in the hall had changed drastically. Kaladin said with a dark face: "Kelimu, how about giving gifts? If you ask everyone to raise money to buy a treasure, and the baby will give it to their boss, it would be fine, but now... I think you want to empty our pockets! Nine thousand bags of wheat? I tell you that all the rice jars here have been emptied, and you can't make up so much!"

Zheng Wei said: "Uncle Kaladin, you said too much. Although this money is a lot, in my opinion, it is only 30% of the amount of wheat, cloth, rice, sheep, horses and camels, but if we work together, we should still raise it - and these happen to be urgently needed by the Tang army. If we take out this material as a meeting gift, we will definitely gain their trust. It is said that we will lose money and eliminate disasters. Our big households will have more burdens, while small households will have less burdens. Sixty-five merchants of all sizes will have to raise all the money and grain. Although it is a cut of flesh, it will not be damaged, but a disaster can be done..."

"Okay!" Samur said: "Kelimu, you are not giving advice. You are snatching our hearts and souls."

"Then Uncle Samur, what should you do as you say?"

Samur pondered: "Actually, you have done a good job before. Didn't you say we are all descendants of Tang Min? Then let's take the attitude of descendants of Tang Min tonight to go to the banquet. I know that the people of the Tang Dynasty in the Middle Earth are the best face. At that time, as long as each of our families prepares a gift, and when they get there, they will flatter them a few more times, and they will be able to fool them."

Kaladin smiled and said, "Boss Samur is right, I think that's what I can do."

Zheng Wei was shocked: "This...this...no! I have seen their Special Envoy Zhang, who is not such a fool."

However, more than 200 people were talking about it, but they didn't listen to him. They all felt that Zheng Wei gave too many gifts. If he really said that, every household would lose money, and the big households would suffer a lot. Kaladin said: "I think it's as Boss Samur said, everyone should adapt to the situation at that time. If it doesn't work, then think of a solution."

Zheng Wei shouted, "No, if we gave Tang Jun a bad impression for the first time, he would not believe us next. In my opinion, if a person like him doesn't believe us, he will not be polite if he doesn't believe us." But no one listened to him.

Seeing that Zheng Wei was still persuading, Kaladin sneered, "Kelimu, you can do it, you, do you really want to be friends with this group of thieves?" When he said the word "thieves", his voice was very low, and he sneered again, saying, "Actually, everyone just try their best to delay, drag the troops to Talas and drive the thieves away."

Zheng Wei was still going to debate with him. Suddenly, he saw Zheng Hao shook his head at him, sighed a long time, and then fell silent, and stopped talking. Samur said, "That's it. Let's go home and prepare. Let's go with me tonight. Remember to smile more, have a sweet mouth, say a few more good words, anyway, you don't have to spend money."
Chapter completed!