Chapter 36: Night Talk with Liao, Conspiracy

Lin Chong on horseback, Wu Song on foot!
The shadow of a person's reputation should not be underestimated.

Among the Five Tiger Generals of Liangshan, Guan Sheng, the master of broadsword, is obviously stronger than Lin Chong. He can quickly defeat the "vanguard" Suo Chao within ten rounds.

Guan Sheng is a weakened version of Guan Yu, and Lin Chong is a beggar version of Zhang Fei.

Overall, Guan Sheng is braver than Lin Chong.

But Lin Chong was the instructor of the 800,000 imperial guards. His fighting skills were professional, but his strength was relatively weak, so he seldom defeated his opponents quickly within twenty rounds, always giving people a feeling of a 50-50 chance.

Although the three Ruan brothers are very powerful, they are still far behind Lin Chong.

On land, it's impossible to beat him.

It is also written in the original book that Ruan Xiaoer said in person: Now a new hero has come, he is the instructor of the Tokyo Imperial Army, Leopard Head Lin Chong, who is very good at martial arts.

With this person in charge of Liangshan, the brothers completely gave up the idea of ​​fishing in Liangshan Lake.

The only way to defeat Lin Chong in foot combat is probably to wait until Wu Song grows up, or to subdue Master Lu.

After this short episode, everyone's perception of Lin Chong has changed again. Although he is gentle and timid, and can't even protect his wife, he is not a hero, but he is really strong!

Cao Jie, holding Lin Chong's letter from home, raised his glass to toast him.

As long as I get Madam Lin, what else is there to be afraid of!

Lin Chong's martial arts will be of use to me sooner or later!

After everyone had drunk their fill and had their accommodations arranged for Lin Chong and his brothers, Chai Jin solemnly invited Cao Jie into his study.

"Second Brother Cao, it was hard to say much just now because there were so many people talking. Now you can speak freely here."

Cao Jie had intentionally not drunk too much, and was only slightly tipsy now. He cupped his hands and said, "The great master has invited me so many times, so there must be something important going on."

"Haha, it's not a big deal, it's just a matter of money. When I first heard your name, I just wanted to make friends with you.

Later, my brother made a great name for himself in Yuncheng, and helped Wang Lun a lot. I came up with a plan to make a fortune. Are you willing to join me?"

Chai Jin looked at him with burning eyes. Cao Jie was as steady as a rock. He said slowly, "Infinite wealth? Your Excellency is already extremely rich. Do you still lack gold and silver?"

Chai Jin sighed slightly, pointed to the luxurious study, and shook his head, saying, "Don't be fooled by my extravagant lifestyle and grand display. I am actually living off my wealth. Although I have some connections in Cangzhou, I am not an official myself. I don't know when this huge family business will collapse."

Sure enough, within a few years, Gao Lian, the prefect of Gaotang Prefecture, destroyed his family and imprisoned him.

The county magistrate who ruined the family and the prefect who wiped out the entire clan.

The old saying is true!

"Nowadays, titles and official positions are being sold in the court. I also want to get an official position, but my money is so tight that I can't even feed those parasites!"

Cao Jie didn't expect Chai Jin to have such an idea. He nodded and said, "Master, it's much harder for you to buy an official position than other people!"

"Yes! They all want to have a full stomach at my place! So, why don't we invite brothers to discuss this."

Cao Jie didn't understand what he was thinking, so he spread his hands and said, "Although I made some money from the medicine, the production volume is limited, so I can't sell much!"

"Brother, Wang Lun and I have communicated a lot, and I know that you are ambitious and not a mediocre person who will stay under others for a long time."

Chai Jin came closer and lowered his voice and asked, "Brother, are you willing to do business with Liao?"

"Um?!"

Cao Jie raised his eyelids and stared at Chai Jin, then narrowed his eyes: "The master's family has taken root in Cangzhou, and they are really capable. They have done such a business."

"I have been doing business in the market for nearly a hundred years, so I have naturally accumulated some connections and channels. Brothers, you don't have to regard the Liao Kingdom as a scourge. It is no longer the Liao Dynasty during the time of Taizu."

Chai Jin sneered: "The former Liao warriors are now mostly as fat as pigs. They can no longer ride horses or shoot arrows. They pose no threat to our Song Dynasty."

The Liao Dynasty is about to perish, why should I be afraid of him!

But it was not easy to tell others about this, so Cao Jie approached Chai Jin and asked in a low voice: "I am not afraid of supporting the Liao Kingdom, but I just want to ask, what kind of business do you want to do, sir?"

"Of course, we import horses, furs, old mountain ginseng, cattle and sheep, etc., and export tea, cloth and porcelain."

This is the regular trade of the Song Dynasty's customs, and I have no use for it at all!

"Then how can I help you, sir?"

"Second brother, you can help me a lot! That Chunyang Yanzong Pill will definitely help me open up the channel to the nobles of the Liao Kingdom." "Chunyang Yanzong Pill? Oh!"

Cao Jie suddenly realized that it must be Wang Lun who told him. After all, he was pregnant, so it was natural for him to say yes.

"Brother, you have the people you need, and you have this precious medicine. If we work together to open up the channel to Liao, wouldn't that be a world-shattering fortune? You know there are many people in my manor, most of them are just here to make a living, and they are not my confidants. As for my brothers, I heard from Wang Lun that they are all heroes... How about you and I make five?"

Divide into two, each taking half.

Although they need to use their precious medicine to expand the market, the brothers also need to go to the Liao Kingdom.

But if you really think about it, it's a business with no capital.

Simply put, Cao Jie has invested in technology.

"Master Shezha, I'll do this business."

"Great! With my second brother joining us, we can accomplish great things."

After saying that, Chai Jin took a jar of wine from the shelf.

"Second brother, this is Lihuabai, a famous wine from the northern frontier. It is a tribute wine from the Liao royal family. It is known as 'the wine that is famous for three thousand miles outside the frontier, and its taste is the best in Shanxi'. It is strong and mellow, and only rich people can drink it. Today, you and I will drink a big bowl of it. I wish us success in taking on this overwhelming wealth."

"Sir, it's taboo to open the wine in the middle of the game. I think it's better to wait until we successfully earn the first pot of gold before celebrating."

Seeing Cao Jie's refusal, Chai Jin did not insist and nodded, "Okay. I know that my second brother's brothers are all very capable, but the Liao Kingdom is not peaceful either. Should we send some more heroes over?"

"Don't worry about the abilities of my five brothers, sir. But here, sir, the people are quite mixed, so you need to be careful."

"Of course I am extremely careful. I will not use those outsiders. I will only use the elderly in my family. It's just that their strength is slightly insufficient..."

"My people will be in charge of security, and the official's people will be in charge of business..."

The Liao Dynasty was really too big, with a small population, and it was rich in territory and resources.

In fact, in ancient times, the larger the territory of a country, the better.

For example, the Former Tang Dynasty is an example. During the heyday of the Tang Dynasty, we successfully pushed the border to the Pamir Mountains.

But the long distance completely weakened the empire's rule there.

After Gao Xianzhi was defeated in Talas, the empire's territory immediately retreated 1,300 miles and never returned.

The territory of the Khitan Liao Kingdom was very large, even very large. It stretched from the Sea of ​​Japan in the east to the Altai Mountains in the west, from the Ergun River in the north to the Baigou River bordering the Song Dynasty in the south.

If the Khitans were evenly dispersed throughout the land, there wouldn't be a single person to be seen within ten miles.

Such a rule can no longer be considered a rule. In this era, in addition to the Chinese people's strong hunger for land, even the Khitans themselves did not understand where the border of their country was.

As long as there is no one living there, a dog can declare sovereignty by just peeing.

The Liao Dynasty was no longer the Liao Dynasty a hundred years ago when only 9,000 cavalrymen could challenge Emperor Taizong's army of 100,000.

The previous emperor, Yelü Hongji, had been in power for forty years. First there was the Chongyuan Rebellion, and then there was Yelü Yixin's abuse of power and disorderly politics. He was unable to distinguish between loyalty and treachery. He ordered the death of Empress Xiao Guanyin and placed Crown Prince Yelü Jun under house arrest, and the Liao Dynasty's politics became further corrupt.

At the same time, he worshipped Buddhism, wasted national strength and further intensified social contradictions.

Moreover, Yelu Hongji insisted on maintaining friendly relations with the Song Dynasty, and before his death he did not forget to instruct his descendants, "We have been at peace with the Southern Dynasty for a long time, and you have a strong character, so do not cause trouble."

By the time of the current Emperor Zuo, the situation in the court was even worse, and the Jurchens were rising in the northeast.

The country’s destruction is imminent.

After careful planning with Chai Jin, Cao Jie also felt that this business would bring him enormous wealth.

The country was full of people selling official positions and titles, and the administration was in chaos. The same was true for the Liao Dynasty. As long as you successfully bribed the Liao nobles, it would be difficult not to become rich.

As long as you have money, you can recruit soldiers and start a bigger business.

Moreover, the Liao Dynasty's horses will be a powerful weapon for the future fight for the world.

It is generally acknowledged that the Song Dynasty lacks horses.

With people, money, horses and food...he will be crowned as an emperor in the near future!

(End of this chapter)