Chapter 852 The general trend
The reason why saints are called saints is because most people in the world cannot be saints.
For people of this era, the so-called family and country must come first and then the country.
The more a person comes from a big family, the stronger this mentality is.
For example, Zhang Jiu, although he once suffered a big setback at the hands of King Feng Gui, as long as the family can get long-term benefits, it is not impossible to pretend to forget this person's grudges.
As the head of the Zhang family, a powerful family in Liangzhou, Zhang Gong was able to take into account the overall situation and put public affairs before private affairs.
On the premise of not violating the righteousness, it is rare to provide benefits to yourself or your family compared to other aristocratic families at the same time.
But to say it so bluntly and without shame...
Anyway, Liu Hanzi’s horizons were opened.
He secretly reflected in his heart: My knowledge is still a little shallow. If I had the shameless ability of Zhang Gong, I wouldn't have suffered so much in vain.
At the same time, Liu Liang sorted out his thoughts and said:
“Zhang Gong has a long-standing reputation in the Western Regions, so from now on, we will still have to rely on Zhang Gong for matters in the Western Regions. This wool material is the same as brown sugar, and Zhang Gong can choose whatever he wants.”
“As long as Zhang Gong chooses it, within the next three years, all caravans going to the Western Regions that want to get this goods can only go through the Zhang family.”
To put it bluntly, it means giving Zhangjia Mao Materials or Brown Sugar the exclusive exclusive agency in the Western Region for three years.
“Of course, if Mr. Zhang doesn’t want it, Feng Junhou has a batch of silk every year and can sell it to the Zhang family at a fair price for three consecutive years.”
"But if there is another caravan transporting silk to the Western Regions, the prince will not be able to control it."
As soon as Liu Liang finished speaking, before Zhang Gong could respond, Zhang made a "gudong" sound and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
In fact, these three things are extremely profitable.
However, it should be noted that if these three things are placed in different places, the profits will vary greatly.
Taking the Western Regions as an example, why didn’t Liu Liang mention spirits?
Because the Western Regions originally produced peach wine, and shipping strong wine there was not to say that there was no profit, but that it was far inferior to the three items above.
What's more, from Yumen Pass to the Western Regions, you have to cross the Sea of Death. The longer the journey, the higher the transportation cost, and the more convenience you have to consider for transporting goods.
From this aspect, silk is certainly much more cost-effective than wool.
Because it reaches a certain amount, silk is much lighter than wool.
What's more, silk is more expensive than wool.
But if the Zhang family chooses silk, then there is no way to do exclusive trading.
So in Zhang Ju’s opinion, the best choice for the Zhang family is naturally brown sugar.
Brown sugar is even more convenient than silk in terms of transportation, and the profits are equally crazy.
At the same time, we can maintain the exclusive business in the Western Region for three years. We can sell it as much as we want and as much as we want.
Doubling the family fortune in three years is not a dream at all.
If you can be more ruthless and raise the price, it is possible to double or triple it.
Thinking of this, Zhang looked nervously at his master.
Zhang Gong thought for a moment and made a decision quickly: "The Zhang family wants brown sugar."
Hearing this, Zhang couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief.
Liu Liang on the side also thought: The result is not what I expected.
He was about to answer when Zhang Gong raised his finger again: "One year, our Zhang family only needs one year."
This time, Zhang finally couldn't control himself and blurted out: "Sir?"
Sir, are you old and confused?
Zhang Gong looked at his son who couldn't hold himself back and said angrily: "Shut up, Shuzi!"
Those worthless things are a disgrace!
Then he looked at Liu Liang again, "But I have one more request."
“Mr. Zhang, please speak.”
"Liu Langjun must also know that there are so many barbarians in Liangzhou and they often cause chaos, which is really a headache."
"Although Feng Junhou has always had methods to control the barbarians, Liangzhou is vast, and Feng Junhou may not be familiar with Liangzhou, so it is inevitable that he will not be able to take care of it."
“My Zhang family has some reputation in Liangzhou, and I am willing to help you, as long as you can grant me a place in the Zhang family’s workshop..."
Why is Feng Yong able to control the Hu people into obedience?
Why do the Hu people in Liangzhou who are close to Longyou dream of going to Longyou?
Those workshops in Pingxiang must not be bypassed.
But Liangzhou is so big and there are so many barbarians, so we can’t always transport wool to Pingxiang, right?
This time, the transportation cost alone is too much to bear.
So in Zhang Gong’s opinion, if Feng Yong still governed Liangzhou according to Longyou’s method, he would definitely open another workshop in Liangzhou.
With the workshop, the Zhang family has a source of wool, and it is also wool at cost price.
With the reputation of the Zhang family in the Western Regions, are you afraid of making less money by transporting wool to the Western Regions?
Even if silk is more profitable than wool, it can only last three years.
Although the profit of woolen material is not as good as that of silk, it can last for a long time!
This is a family legacy that is passed down.
Three years of huge profits and more than two generations of long-term dividends, everyone knows how to choose.
Zhang Gong’s idea was very good, but Liu Liang was so shocked that he almost jumped up.
Because he knew that Feng Yong did have plans to sell a few workshop places in Liangzhou.
And among these workshops, the largest one was definitely built by the Xinghan Hui.
Even Liu Liang knew that this largest workshop in the future would have his own share - otherwise, why would Liu Liang work so hard and still sell himself?
“This, Mr. Zhang, this matter is of great importance. Mr. Zhang should think about it carefully.”
"As far as Liang knows, just for this workshop quota, even if it were released a few years ago, the cost would be huge, and even an ordinary wealthy family would not be able to afford it alone."
Not to mention that in the past few years, woolen materials have been selling well in the east, west, north and south. Anyone who has a share in the workshop can make back their capital in two years and make a profit in three years.
Who would not be jealous of this business?
When the quota for the Liangzhou workshop goes on sale, I don’t know how many people are going to fight for it.
“And even if you have a workshop quota, you still have to invest a lot of money and food, textile machines, looms, weavers, handymen, and the barbarian tribes also need to manage..."
Before Liu Liang finished speaking, Zhang Gong interrupted him: "Liu Langjun, what I want is exactly the quota. As for money and food, the Zhang family still has some foundation."
Using two years of brown sugar’s exclusive profits from the Western Regions to exchange for a place in a workshop is a huge profit for the Zhang family.
Moreover, the Zhang family has secured a position in advance and does not have to compete with other families for spots. In the eyes of others, this is how much Feng Guiwang values the Zhang family.
Prestige, although it is intangible, can be accumulated bit by bit.
Liu Liang knew that the old fox in front of him had figured out his bottom line, so he could only grit his teeth and nod: "Okay, I will be bold and accept Zhang Gong for Feng Junhou."
Hearing this, Zhang Gong smiled slightly: "Refreshing! Since Liu Langjun is like this, then our Zhang family can't let others laugh at us."
With that said, he turned to Zhang Jue and ordered, "Go and let your uncle come in."
Zhang Jiu's uncle, Zhang Gong's younger brother, Zhang Hua.
At that time, he was ordered by Zhang Gong to attack the rebels eastward and welcome the governor sent by the imperial court.
At the same time, when we were in Jincheng a few years ago, together with Zhang Zu, the uncle and nephew were deceived by someone and suffered unspeakably.
Zhang Hua quickly opened the door and came in.
Zhang Gong asked: "Where is the prefect?"
"Brother, I have been discussing with everyone in the front hall and have never left."
Zhang Gong nodded, closed his eyes, and said slowly: "Let's do it."
Zhang Hua clasped his fists heavily, turned around and walked out.
After a while, the people guarding outside saw the door of Zhang's mansion closing tightly with a loud bang.
At the same time, more than a hundred servants in the mansion wearing leather armor and holding long knives appeared from every corner and surrounded the front courtyard.
Zhang Hua, wearing armor and sword, led people into the front hall.
The people who were arguing endlessly in the front hall suddenly became quiet, and they all looked at Zhang Hua hesitantly.
Zhang Hua looked around at everyone with his sword in hand and said:
"The matter is urgent! You have been discussing for more than two days, have you reached a conclusion?"
No one knew what Zhang Hua meant, or they didn't react, so no one answered for a while.
"Since you guys are inconclusive, please listen to what I have to say: Over the past few years, Han and Wei have been fighting each other, and most of the time Han won and Wei lost. There was the Battle of Longyou in the front and the Battle of Jincheng in the back."
“Moreover, in the Battle of Xiaoguan, Feng Yong used 20,000 troops to defeat the 100,000-strong army of Wei’s Great Sima Cao Zhen. After this battle, Wei was no longer able to take care of Liangzhou.”
"Now, if Liangzhou can fight against the elite tiger and wolf troops of the Han army, do you think it is okay?"
No one answered this question.
"Well, since you don't want to say it, let me say it. Cao Zhen's army of one hundred thousand was defeated by the Han army of twenty thousand, so how can Liangzhou have one hundred thousand people?"
"Even if there is, how can it compare with the elite Wei army in Guanzhong? Therefore, Liangzhou will definitely not be protected in this battle."
"If you are not protected, I dare to ask you, do you want to fight to the death and destroy both the jade and the stone, or should you follow the general trend and surrender your whole body?"
Yin Feng, the governor of Dunhuang who was sitting on the main seat, suddenly stood up: "Zhang Hua, what do you mean?"
Zhang Hua and Yin Feng looked at each other: "What I mean is to follow the general trend, respond to the Han Dynasty, and protect the people of Dunhuang."
“You want to rebel? Where is Zhang Xiaowei (Zhang Gong)?”
Yin Feng said sharply.
“Prefect Yin, if my Zhang family wants to rebel, and we rebelled more than ten years ago, how can we welcome the prefect to Dunhuang?”
Zhang Hua retorted without any sign of weakness:
"Back then, when the rebels were in rebellion and Dunhuang was guarding a single county, the imperial court had no time to look west. Huang Hua and Zhang Jin, the leaders of the thieves, wanted to join forces with my brother Cong, but brother Cong not only flatly refused, but even after his own son fell into the hands of the thieves, he never gave in. "
"Can this be said that my Zhang family has selfish motives? It is for the sake of the people of Liangzhou. Today I am also planning for the people of Liangzhou. We cannot act according to the situation. We should act according to the trend."
Seeing that Yin Feng was still about to speak, Zhang Hua drew his sword and shouted: "Liangzhou has been cut off from Guan for several years, and the Wei State has long been unable to visit the west. Don't the people of Liangzhou still have the power to decide the affairs of Liangzhou?!"
The last sentence made many people look up immediately.
Since the founding of the Later Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu had intended to abandon the west of Jincheng County and the Huangshui Valley. Fortunately, Ma Fubo (ie Ma Yuan) understood the overall situation and dissuaded him in time.
Unexpectedly, a hundred years later, due to the rebellion of the Hu people, the imperial general Deng Zhi once again proposed to abandon Liangzhou. This time, he almost received the support of the entire imperial court.
Fortunately, Yu Shengqing (Yu Xu), who was a doctor at that time, tried his best to persuade Zhang Yu, the Taiwei, and thus Liangzhou was saved with great difficulty.
More than eighty years later, Situ Cui Lie once again proposed to abandon Liangzhou because of the Qiang chaos.
This time, it was Yilang Fu Xie who shouted loudly, "Behead Situ, and the world will be safe."
Not to mention that the imperial court not only had no intention of quelling the rebellion of the barbarians in Liangzhou, but even sent corrupt and cruel officials to take charge of Liangzhou affairs, which caused widespread complaints among Liangzhou officials.
Abandon Liangzhou, give up Liangzhou, the hearts of Liangzhou people have already become cold.
It was under this circumstance that Zhang Hua's words immediately stimulated the sensitive minds of Liangzhou people.
The lives of people in Liangzhou are not fate?
Knowing that Liangzhou cannot be saved, why do we still want to let us all die together?
Yin Feng saw the dark eyes of many people below, and his heart skipped a beat, and he quickly defended:
"I have been the governor of Dunhuang for more than ten years, and I have long regarded myself as a Liangzhou person? What I just meant is that even if we surrender, we must let the Han people see what we are capable of."
"If not, how can the Han people think highly of us if we surrender easily?"
Zhang Hua smiled slightly when he heard what Yin Feng said: "What the prefect said is true, and I tell the truth. In fact, the Han Dynasty has sent people to discuss it."
“And according to someone’s knowledge, the Liangzhou governor appointed by the Han Dynasty was Feng Yong, who defeated Cao Zhen’s 100,000-strong army at Xiaoguan.”
At this point, Zhang Hua looked around again and found that everyone finally couldn't stop commotion.
The name of a person, the shadow of a tree.
The reputation of King Feng Gui is indeed unparalleled in the Liangzhou area.
“Over the years, everyone should also have heard that the wool, brown sugar, liquor and other products flowing into Liangzhou from Longyou are all controlled by Feng Yong.”
“Think about it, everyone, if Feng Yong really went to Liangzhou to serve as governor, would he still ignore the management of the officials and the people?”
Zhang Hua’s words were coercive, empathic, and tempting, and finally moved the people present.
Seeing the expressions of interest on most people's faces, Zhang Hua looked at Yin Feng again: "Prefect Yin, what do you think?"
Yin Feng's eyes were about to burst. He gritted his teeth for a while and said word by word: "I want to see Captain Zhang."
Zhang Hua knew that he had not yet completely made up his mind, so he responded: "Okay, I will ask my nephew to take the prefect over, please."
Seeing Yin Feng's figure disappear outside the door, most people in the hall breathed a sigh of relief unconsciously.
Zhang Hua looked at them and smiled slightly: "Who is in favor of this matter? Who is against it?"
Everyone looked at each other.
After a long time, someone finally asked in a low voice: "Brother Zhang, Feng Yong, er, Governor Feng, will he really take care of us Liangzhou officials and people as you said?"
I won’t talk about the far side, let’s just say that Xu Miao will definitely not get back the money and food he borrowed from everyone in the past two years.
Zhang Hua said confidently:
“Everyone, please rest assured. If Governor Feng really doesn’t take care of you, our Zhang family can directly provide you with raw materials.”
Who can enter this front hall who is not a human spirit?
Thinking quickly, I immediately heard the implication of Zhang Hua's words.
Zhang Family... This is, it is very likely that they are already online!
The crowd was in commotion again.
Let’s not mention how the people in the front hall tested Zhang Hua. Yin Feng, the prefect of Dunhuang who left the front hall, followed Zhang for a while and suddenly stopped.
“Why doesn’t the prefect leave?”
Zhang asked a little strangely.
Yin Feng’s face was pale and he closed and opened his eyes. It was obvious that he was trying his best to control his emotions:
"Where to go? Is it possible that you really want me to go and talk to Captain Zhang about how to surrender the enemy?"
Zhang's face felt hot and he didn't know how to answer the question.
“Someone just took the opportunity to come out and didn’t want to embarrass himself in there.”
Yin Feng said with a bitter look on his face, "I also ask Zhang Langjun to go and tell Captain Zhang that from today on, I will no longer be the governor of Dunhuang, and I also ask Captain Zhang to calm the people and appease the officials for Yin Feng."
After saying that, Yin Feng turned around and left.
Zhang was shocked: "Prefect Yin, what do you mean?"
“If a person cannot repay the kindness of the king, cannot care for the people, cannot defend the enemy externally, cannot serve the people internally, and is ashamed to stand between heaven and earth, how can he have the dignity to occupy the position of governor?”
Yin Feng did not look back and smiled miserably.
At the beginning of August in the ninth year of Jianxing, the city of Guzang, the governor of Wuwei County, was destroyed, and Xu Miao, the governor of Liangzhou, committed suicide.
At the same time, Yin Feng, who was far away in Dunhuang, committed suicide by hanging a beam from his residence.
The Dunhuang officials decided to respond to the Han Dynasty. Zhang Gong sent Zhang Hua and Zhang Jiu to lead the county troops to attack Jiuquan eastward.
As soon as his military power was lost, Zhang Ye, who was distressed by the bald Khotan, also took advantage of the situation.
Jiuquan County was attacked from the east and west and surrendered without a fight.
The Han Dynasty finally regained Liangzhou completely.
(End of this chapter)