I'm watching the gate in the jail

Early in the morning of the second day, everyone had breakfast and set off for the famous Liaodong Horse Market.

An old man with a limp walked ahead of them, leading them.

Although he was lame, the old man walked very neatly. He walked in front of him, and he was many times faster than Wanda, who was dragged down by Alan.

Wanda followed behind him almost doubting whether this Uncle Liu would be able to throw them ten blocks away if he had a healthy body.

This one is the one they are waiting for.

Uncle Liu, a famous figure in Liaoyang City.

It is said that the leg he lost was injured by accidentally stepping on a mechanism set up by an unknown party during the "Battle of Ding Hai" ten years ago.But it didn't seem to have any effect on his life.

Before the injury, he was an idiot, and after the injury he was still doing his old business.Even because the war was over, his life was richer than before.

This Uncle Liu saw that his beard and hair were all white, his face was covered with dimples, and his complexion was dark.

It looks unattractive, but if you squat in the corner, you will be a bad old man basking in the sun.But he is a well-known figure in the Liaoyang horse market.

He is proficient in Tatar, Oirat, Uyghur, Jurchen, and even Korean, and he is simply a walking "Liaodong Living Dictionary".

He is both a translator and a broker, shuttling between Mashi and Liaodong Town every day, no matter what ethnicity they see, they respectfully address him as "Master Liu".

It is said that such a person has a good income. According to the customs here in Liaodong, he should wear a mink and a big gold chain, and lead a group of brothers across the river and across the sea.

But this Master Liu is an interesting character. He is clearly not short of money, but every day he wears a worn-out big padded jacket and a half-new leather hat, squatting at the door of the "Dengyun Inn" to do work.

It is said that in the early years, he would go to several nearby horse markets, but now that he is getting older, he basically stays in Liaoyang and does not move around.

Before noon, if someone asked him to go to the horse market to be an intermediary and negotiate a price, he would gladly go there.When I came back from the horse market at noon, I ordered a mutton pot to eat at the Dengyun Inn.

If no one strikes up a conversation all morning, he won't wait too long. At noon, he will go to the Hubing stall at the entrance of the inn to buy some biscuits, stroll around while eating the biscuits, and go home to sleep after shopping.

Some people didn't understand his rules and met him on the street in the afternoon and wanted to drag him to work.Master Liu simply waved his hand smartly, regardless of the price, he just refused to go.No matter who it is, no one can break his rules.

In the eyes of others, he has no children, no wife and no concubine, and he is a "strange person" and "weird person" who has tens of millions of wealth but does not know how to enjoy it.

Only Wanda and others know that Master Liu is the best hidden and longest-running "horse explorer" in their yamen in Liaodong. He has been lurking here for 30 years.

"Masters, the horse market is ahead. Let's have fun."

Master Liu stopped, pointed at the bustling market in front of him and said with a smile.

"Those that fly in the sky, those that run on the ground, those that grow in the soil, and those that swim in the sea. Those from Ming Dynasty, North Korea, Mongolia, Jurchen, even Wusi, Hami, as long as you can imagine, our Liaodong Horse City has There is nothing that cannot be traded!"

Wanda took two steps forward and looked at the majestic and tall stone archway outside the horse market. The four golden characters of "Liaodong Horse Market" reflected almost dazzling light under the sunlight of the morning sun.

Compared with this tall archway, the ones I saw in She County in the south of the Yangtze River more than ten years ago are like a comparison between a tall man and a slender girl.

There are five pillars in this archway. There are no complicated carvings, but very simple stone pillars.There are two mighty stone lions squatting on the left and right under the archway, which are simple in shape, majestic and powerful.

Standing outside this archway and going inside, I saw countless people crowded together.

There are people with crowns, shaved hair, braids, and mink fur hats. You don't need to go near to know that there are all kinds of people inside.

Not only that, but the stench and stench of cattle, horses and sheep in the market can be smelled from far away.

A Lan pinched her nose and made strange remarks at Wanda.

All his "private money" was confiscated by Wanda, and he was angrily rolling around in the inn yesterday.

Wanda was so entangled by him that he had no choice but to coax him that the denominations of the gold and jewels were too large to be spent, and gave him a few pieces of silver, and asked Mei Qianzhang to follow him with several copper coins and pay for him at any time. Only then did the kid stop.

As for the bag of gold leaves—of course, Daddy saved it for you, and will take it out later when you marry a wife.

Could it be that the baron's mansion is short of something and you need to go to the streets to buy it yourself?

A group of people walked into the memorial archway. Master Liu took Wanda and others to register at the horse market office at the entrance of the market.

As for Ah Lan, she couldn't wait to take Mei Qianzhang and Wang Zhi to the market.

There were too many people bartering in the horse market early in the morning, and there was a long queue at the gate of the yamen, and there were special soldiers to maintain order.

People who come here are seeking money, as the saying goes, "harmony makes money", so the order is not bad.

Wanda stood for a while, and found that people of all ethnic groups lined up consciously.Occasionally, a few people who tried to jump in line, or even tried to enter the market without registration, were immediately driven out by soldiers, and they were prohibited from entering the Liaodong Horse Market.

If they refuse to mend their ways after repeated admonitions, all the mutual markets on the nine sides will be notified and they will be prohibited from entering.Unless you go to the black market to trade, you can only go back home.

"Black market? There is a black market, but not many people go there."

Master Liu shook his head when he heard Wanda's question.

"The black market's head is too high, it's not as good as the government-run one."

In any market in Daming, there is a tax to do business.Generally, it is borne by the seller. After the transaction is over, the tax is paid at the government office. The tax on the horse market is called "horse market draw".

"What's the tax rate here?"

Wanda followed Master Liu and asked.

"tax rate?"

Master Liu was stunned for a moment when he heard this new vocabulary, but he quickly realized, "One out of thirty."

In other words, no matter what it sells, the imperial court draws only [-]%.Sure enough, it is not for the purpose of making money, and the discount is very good.No wonder there is no market for the black market.

"Not only that, when Han people come here to do business, they only need a guidebook. But for these foreign tribes, they need an edict issued by the Ming court. Without an edict, no matter how good or complete the goods are, they cannot enter the market."

After registering the guide, Master Liu took the voucher from the city official and carefully handed it over to Wanda, "You have to get this, and you need to check the voucher every day when you enter the venue. If you lose it, it will be troublesome." But it's big."

Wanda looked at the wooden sign in his hand and touched it.

"Then, how did those foreign merchants get the approval of the Ming court and issue them imperial edicts?"

Whoever pays the most?

Or go through the back door, depending on the relationship?

"Hey, it depends on what their local leaders mean and how much benefits the guards can receive."

As Master Liu said, he stretched out his right hand and rubbed his thumb and forefinger, "Most of the commanders and thousands of households in the 'Nine Borders' guards are from Fanbang. A lot of effort. This is a lucrative business. Moreover, the number of edicts issued by the Ming Dynasty is limited every year. How to distribute it is a question for the university.”

"I see... the person who came up with this idea is really smart, a genius."

Wanda turned her head and said in amazement.

This is tantamount to transferring the conflict to Fanbang, and Daming can't offend anyone, and can still watch from the sidelines as they fight for the distribution of interests among themselves.

It's okay to kill without seeing blood, but people still beg to be killed...

On this side, A Lan imitated the adults in the market, holding his hands behind his back, looking at this stall and wandering about that stall.

Mei Qianzhang and Wang Zhi were afraid that he would get lost, so they followed one from the left and the other from the right.

"Young master, do you want to buy furs? The best lynx and sea otter skins, let's take a look."

"Children, ginseng? Take it home and make soup for your mother. And honey, don't you Han women like to eat this most?"

Although this horse market was set up for sales, there are now everything sold in it, like a huge farmers' small commodity trading market.

Seeing Wan Lan, who was dressed in a luxurious manner and accompanied by two "servants", the vendors all greeted him in proficient or unfamiliar Chinese.

Wan Lan stepped on her feet curiously, and when she turned her head, she saw a large iron basin that looked like a bathtub, with a fire burning underneath it.

He "da da" ran over to look, only to find that there were fish in the big iron basin, live fish!

"Stew it directly, don't you kill it?"

Wan Lan stood beside the iron basin, watching more than a dozen big fish swimming in the iron basin, each of which was longer than his entire arm, and asked curiously.

"Hahaha! This kid."

Hearing his childish words, the uncle who sold the fish laughed boldly twice, and then quickly grabbed Wan Lan's hand and plunged it into the water.

"what are you doing!"

With sharp eyes and quick hands, Mei Qian hurriedly pulled Wan Lan's arm out.

Wang Zhi stepped forward and stopped Wan Lan behind him.

"Wait, it doesn't seem hot..."

Seeing that Wang Zhi was about to overthrow the fish stall, Wan Lan hurriedly reached out to stop him.

Under Wang Zhi's disapproving gaze, he cautiously put his fingers into the water...

"Not hot, warm..."

Wan Lan blinked, "Oh, I understand, it's not about stewing the fish, it's about preventing the water from freezing and freezing the fish."

It's freezing cold, and this is the only way to keep the fish alive.

"How about it? Young master, would you like to have one? Don't look at the size of this fish, the meat is delicate, and there is no earthy smell. It is very delicious."

The fish seller said in fairly fluent Chinese.

"Then I... just buy a pot."

Wan Lan nodded her head.

"How many?"

The fish seller uncle picked out his ears, suspecting that he heard it wrong.

"Sell me this iron basin and the lower shelf."

Wan Lan pointed to the iron basin, the iron clip, and the firewood piled beside the uncle and said.

"Yes, of course! Where do you live, I will send you there."

The fish seller hasn't opened yet today, so he has free time to amuse the children.Unexpectedly, the child would complete his business as soon as he opened his mouth.Hastily stood up respectfully, and said politely to him.

"That's so embarrassing. My father said that you must be honest when doing business, and you can't take advantage of others."

Wan Lan put her finger into the water again, dipped some "fish soup", put it on the tip of her nose and smelled it...

Evil, so fishy.

When I got back to the inn, I asked someone to clean the jar and put more firewood underneath, wouldn't I be able to take a bath in it? !

That is much more convenient than constantly adding water.

Thinking of this, Wan Lan covered her mouth excitedly and laughed.

Mei Qianzhang and Wang Zhi glanced at each other, they couldn't figure out what was going on in the kid's mind, so they obediently handed over the money.

On the side of the market, Wan Lan was studying "Stewing himself in an iron pot", while Wanda and his team had already wandered to the place where the real horses were traded.

Rows of cows and horses are arranged in different categories according to top grade, top grade, middle grade, low grade and low grade horses.

Both the low-grade and the pony are used to pull goods, and the price is cheap.

High-end and top-grade BMWs, all dressed up in Fengshen Junyi.Wearing an expensive saddle, the mane is braided with colorful ropes. It is taller and more handsome than Yang Xiuxian's "Blizzard" before, and Yang Xiuxian and Gao Hui, two horse lovers, are extremely excited to see it.

"Han friends, how are you? My horse is not bad."

A bear-like man who was a full head and a half taller than Wanda and as wide as both of them walked over.

This Jurchen named "Ajiga" could not speak Chinese, but he knew Uncle Liu, and Uncle Liu also knew him, and the two had cooperated more than once before.

Today he also deliberately brought Wanda and others to Ajiga's side.

After saying hello to Master Liu, the man saluted Wanda, and then began to introduce his horse.

Naturally, they were all translated by Uncle Liu.

Although Wanda doesn't know horses, but seeing Yang Xiuxian like it, the pride of "swiping a credit card casually" suddenly rose in his heart.

Compared to himself who loves food and owns restaurants, Yang Xiuxian has no hobbies except martial arts and horse riding.

Since "Blizzard" died of old age, the family has never been able to find such a fine horse.

Wanda thought that he would come all the time, so why not "fake the public to help his own interests", and after investigating the case, it would be good to get a few good horses to go back.

"How about it, do you like it?"

Wanda touched the forehead of a big bay red horse beside him, turned around and asked Yang Xiuxian.

"Uncle Liu, ask this one for me, is there anything better than this one?"

Yang Xiuxian said.

Uncle Liu nodded, whispered to the man, and then turned to them and said, "My friend said that there are good horses, but I don't know how many of them can afford the price."

"money is not a problem."

Wanda waved her hand generously.

Don't say that this trip is for "official business", Jin Yiwei approved a lot of "public expenses".

Let’s talk about the “little vault” seized from Alan yesterday. The gold leaves and melon seeds inside, not to mention a horse, are more than enough to buy all the cows, horses, and donkeys in the entire market.

"Ajiga said, since you came from the pass, you must have brought a lot of good things. In his tribe, many people like all kinds of things from the Han people. He wants to see if there are any in your convoy. What. If you are satisfied with each other, you can barter."

Uncle Liu said.

"That's okay. We are also here to do business, but when we saw the horses, we got carried away for a while."

Wanda nodded.

After completing the formalities just now, Wanda's "folks" have already set up a booth at the designated place.

Because they are new faces who came here for the first time, they attracted many people to watch.

Before and after seeing Wanda bringing the "celebrities" Uncle Liu and Ajiga to the booth, more people flocked to watch the excitement.

"Yes, they are all good things."

Ajiga looked at the cloth, tea and salt in the shed, and nodded with satisfaction.

Then he asked the same question as Yang Xiuxian just now.

Is there a better one?money is not a problem.

Wanda laughed "haha".

"Go, bring those boxes at the back."

Different from the "big road goods" placed in the shed, the ones placed in the camphor wood boxes at the back are all "high-quality goods", which are specially used to "shock" these wealthy people in foreign countries.

"Please see."

Wanda signaled that Gao would open the box.

The lid of the first box was opened, and this box contained high-quality Nanjing silk satin, shining brightly like clouds.

For the Jiangnan people who love simplicity and elegance, it is too fancy. Maybe they only buy such floral satin when they have weddings at home.

But it is very much to the taste of these northern foreigners.

Especially after seeing Wanda taking out a golden satin with five blessings holding longevity makeup and a dark pattern satin with gold clusters and flowers, they gave out admiration and applause.

"These are all woven in Nanjing. The best materials and the most fashionable clothes in the Ming Dynasty were first popular from Gusu to Nanjing, and then to Beijing. Uncle Liu, please translate for me."

When it comes to business, Wanda has one thing in common.Let's explain the popular trend of Ming Dynasty first, so as not to make them believe that only the capital has good things.

After speaking, he asked Gao Hui to open the next box.

"This is... this is ceramics from Jingdezhen!"

After seeing the exquisite porcelain vases and porcelain plates in the second box, the admiration was even stronger.

Most of the people who come here to trade are northern Han people. Even if there are ceramics, they are usually crude products of average quality.

Such exquisite southern porcelain is also extremely rare in this frontier horse market, and may not be seen several times a year.

Ajiga held the satin in one hand and the porcelain vase in the other, his plump face covered with beards radiated happiness.

"Good! Good! Good things, all good things."

As he said that, he even turned around excitedly, comparing the satin to his body, as if he had already begun to imagine how beautiful the satin would be if it were made into clothes.

"I have a lot of good things. I just brought some of them here today. Let's see the market first."

Wanda proudly looked behind her, "It depends on whether you have any good products to exchange."

Everyone gasped in admiration - this strange face is actually a big businessman!They came to the morning market today at the right time.

"By the way, do you want tea?"

"What tea?"

Ajiga's eyes lit up.

"Fuliang tea, tribute level."

Wanda started to close her eyes and brag.

Anyway, he was sure that these people had never tasted what tribute tea tasted like.

"There is also Jasmine. People in the capital like to drink tea smoked with jasmine flowers. Come, let me smell it."

Wanda opened a delicate little jar, put it under Ajiga's nose and shook it.

"How is it, is it fragrant?"

"Sweet! It's so fragrant!"

Most of the tea cakes traded in the northern market are black tea cakes. Teas that are common in the south, such as jasmine tea, are rare here.

"How about it? Are these good things of mine enough to exchange for your horse?"

Wanda said proudly.

"Enough... No, the horses I brought today are not worthy of Boss Wan's goods."

This Ajiga is an honest man. He rubbed his hands and translated with Master Liu, "Today, I didn't bring my best horse. If Master Wan can trust me, I will bring the best horse in the horse farm by this time tomorrow." Bring the ten horses from my house and exchange them with Master Wan. Ajiga begs you not to sell these exquisite things to others."

"Why? We also want things from this Han Chinese."

"Boss Han, I also have a good horse, I can bring it to you now, it's no worse than Ajiga's."

These rare "top-notch goods" mobilized the nerves of merchants from all tribes in the market. When they heard that Ajiga wanted to monopolize these good goods, Tatars, Jurchens, and people from unknown foreign countries surrounded them one after another. come over.

"Ajiga, step aside and let us do business with him."

"Master Liu, tell this Han friend that I also have good horses in Akton, and I also have good furs that can be made into robes."

"Master Liu, we have cooperated before. You can't just think of Ajiga when you have good things."

Seeing that this group of people were about to fight for the purchase, Wanda took two steps back in fright, and asked Gao Hui and the guys to drag the box back quickly, so as not to be implicated and damage their capital.

"Come on, it's not a big deal to watch the excitement, let them fight it first and then talk about it."

Wanda sat on a small stool, beckoning Qiu Zijin to sit down and watch the play together.

Qiu Zijin shook his head disapprovingly, and pointed forward.

A group of servants from the Mashi Government Office shouted loudly and rushed over, pulling away the crowd who were about to start a scuffle.

"What are you arguing about? Don't want to do business properly?"

"If you want to fight outside, fights are prohibited in the horse market. Those who dare to fight and make trouble in the horse market will not be allowed to enter the horse market for one month. Those who refuse to mend their ways will be disqualified from entering the market. Do you want to be kicked out?"

Although these guards were wearing the official uniforms of Ming Dynasty, they were obviously not Han Chinese. After seeing the guards coming, the crowd who wanted to do something dispersed one after another—just kidding, it took them a lot of effort to get it. How could it be possible to throw away the imperial edict because of such a trivial matter.

Only Ajiga stubbornly stood still.

Not only that, but one of the guards even saluted him.

Ajiga raised his head arrogantly, as a gesture of acceptance.

"What is the background of this person, why are officials afraid of him?"

Wanda patted Uncle Liu on the shoulder and asked curiously.

"He is the largest horse merchant in Haixi Jurchen and the leader of the Ula tribe."

Master Liu pointed to the official who was talking to Ajiga, "This official is also a Haixi Jurchen. In terms of status in the clan, he still needs to call Ajiga uncle."

"Okay, Master Liu, you actually introduced me such an amazing character. You are indeed worthy of it!"

As Wanda said, she gave Master Liu a thumbs up.

Haixi Jurchen, Jianzhou Jurchen, aren't they the targets of their investigation.

Today's morning market is not in vain!