After the birthday banquet at the Li Mansion, Yang Fan only went to the Dugu Mansion occasionally. The rest of the time, he stayed at the Gongsun Mansion with Xiaoman and A Nu.
Ever since Yang Fan returned to Xiao Man's side, the child in Xiao Man's stomach was not as noisy as it was a few days ago. It was probably because his father was back and his mother was happy. Her mood was calm, and he was comfortable in her stomach. Occasionally, when he was happy, he would punch and kick to show off his existence. That was the happiest time for Yang Fan and his wife. They could feel the baby's every move and couldn't stop smiling.
Although Xiao Man's due date was approaching, the specific time was still uncertain. The young couple was muddle-headed at the beginning. At first, Xiao Man didn't even know that she was pregnant. How could they be sure of the specific date of delivery now? The baby stayed firmly in his mother's belly and didn't look like he was about to be born. His mother, on the other hand, wanted to move. She was bored staying with her Langjun in the back garden of the Gongsun Mansion, so she pestered Yang Fan to take her out for a walk.
Although she had a big belly, Yang Fan saw that it was easy for her to walk. He couldn't resist her repeated requests, so he took her to tour around Chang 'an City these days. Sometimes, they went to the Great Mercy Temple and the Green Dragon Temple to watch the barbarians in the Western Region swallowing swords and spitting fire. Sometimes, they went to the East and West markets to buy things.
When they went out, A Nu and Xiaoman would also wear a "Fengli" to cover their whole body like the noble women of Chang 'an. Because Miss Gongsun also went with them, it only took a few days for the Hu people who performed illusions in front of the Great Mercy Temple and the peddlers who sold strange trinkets in the east and west markets to grasp a rule:
When a young and handsome man accompanied three women wearing "Bi Li" headgear to them, the man would generously tip them and casually buy a pile of junk. If the man was reluctant to spend money, the tallest of the three "Bi Li" women would yell at him. Therefore, Yang Fan soon became their most popular guest.
While Yang Fan was wandering around with the three bored women, Young Master Jiang had been staying in the Lu Family's mansion, not going out at all.
Under the setting sun, Young Master Jiang carried a pot of Toad Hill's "Lang Guanqing" and slowly walked on the red leaves on the ground.
The red leaves on the ground were as red as snow, and his white robe fluttered in the wind. Occasionally, he would also take a sip of wine from the pot. His slender back seemed rather lonely.
Because the original owner of the manor had retreated back to Fan Yang with his family, the manor appeared very desolate. Young Master Jiang, who was slowly walking through it, appeared especially lonely. Although there was someone next to him, there was still a boundless loneliness that seeped out from his bones.
The man following behind him was softly reporting, "We didn't get a single Arabian horse this year because all the horse traders from the river region were captured by the Turkic tribes. The Khitan and Huihe horse traders who provided us with ordinary horses are getting closer and closer to Zhang Yi. This year, the number of ordinary horses they provided us is sixty percent less than last year. Next year … I'm afraid it will be even less … "
The more the man spoke, the more fearful he became. He stealthily raised his head to glance at Young Master Jiang's face. From behind, Young Master Jiang's face was as calm as still water, without the slightest hint of anger. But Young Master Jiang was like this when he was calm, and the same was true when he was angry. The man did not know if Young Master Jiang had already flown into a rage and his heart was filled with apprehension.
Young Master Jiang calmly said, "Arabian horses are able to understand human speech, and they are loved by officials and generals. This isn't just a matter of income, it's also a link between us and the generals in the army. We can't let it go! As for ordinary horses … those Turkic and Huihe horse traders only care about profit. No matter how much Shen Mu pays, as long as we pay ten percent more than him, we might be able to snatch them back! "
"Yes!"
Seeing that Young Master Jiang was not angry, the man inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, but he still felt a little bitter in his mouth.
The Four Garrisons of Anxi were important routes to the east, and Shen Mu had long ago established a relationship with the Ten Western Turkic Tribes. Even Great Chief Uzhile of the Turkic Tribes had been able to replace Ashina Husero as the true Khagan of the Ten Western Turkic Tribes because of Shen Mu's financial support.
Now that the Four Garrisons of Anxi were in their hands, the Ten Western Turkic Tribes had returned to their homeland and were finally beginning to report back.
And this report was the precious horses.
Arabian horses were tall and mighty, and they were beloved by the generals of the great clans and clans. A precious horse was extremely difficult to buy, but the precious horses from the kingdoms of the Western Regions had all been monopolized by the Western Turks and ended up in Shen Mu's hands.
Not just horses, but camels as well.
Camels were boats in the desert, and Shen Mu's investment in the Ten Western Turkic Tribes had allowed him to monopolize eighty percent of the camel business in the Western Regions. Camels were not only the fastest and safest means of transportation for caravans traversing the deserts and plateaus, but the Imperial Court's army had also expanded to the Four Garrisons of Anxi, spreading its influence to the river regions, and the demand for camels was only increasing by the day.
Arabian horses were excellent, but they were far too expensive. The Tang Dynasty could not afford to equip them in large numbers, so the ordinary warhorses for the army were still primarily Mongolian ponies. The Tang Dynasty also raised horses, but they were far from enough to satisfy the demands of the army. Every year, they had to purchase large numbers of warhorses from the Western Turks and Huihe.
And in the years that Zhang Yi had spent roaming the Western Regions as a bandit, Xiao Fei had unwittingly established a relationship with the largest horse suppliers of the Western Turks and Huihe. Ever since Young Master Jiang had lost the duel in Chang 'an and been forced to abandon Chang' an and flee to Luoyang, these horse merchants who had worked with him for many years had switched sides to Shen Mu's side.
Just as Young Master Jiang had said, this was not just a matter of massive income. Rather, it was the close relationship he could establish with the military and the major factions of the Western Regions through the horse business. With these things, he was the uncrowned king who could summon the wind and summon the rain. Without these things, who could he influence?
Young Master Jiang seemed to understand that this matter was easier said than done. After slowly walking for a few moments, he said, "The urgent task at hand is to establish a new source of horses. Shen Mu has been working hard in the Western Regions for many years, and now that he's in the limelight, we can't overshadow him for the time being. Let's establish a partnership with the Suanni, Shiwei, and Xi tribes …"
At this point, Young Master Jiang suddenly stopped and stared at the sky. After a long while, his face suddenly paled. "Shen Mu has gone to Goryeo!"
The two had fought in Chang 'an for power, but to the great clans, it was no different from internal strife. After the duel, the great clans had acknowledged Shen Mu's strength and Young Master Jiang's defeat, but they had also punished Shen Mu, 'banishing' him to Goryeo to open up a trade route.
But Young Master Jiang suddenly thought of a frightening question: would Yang Fan be content to stay in Goryeo? Did he go to Goryeo because he had no choice, or did he take the initiative?
Thinking back to the various means he had used when he was in the Western Regions, if his investment in Uzhile, the great leader of the Turks was still traceable, then his sending Zhang Yi to be a horse bandit was completely unrestrained. Who would have thought that his real purpose was not only to train a private army through war, but also to establish a relationship with the Turks and Huihe Horse Merchants?
Given his habit of hiding his true intentions, he was probably going to Goryeo for the powerful forces in the Northeast such as the Suanni, Shiwei, and Xi tribes. The more Young Master Jiang thought about it, the more frightened he became. His heart was burning, and his palms were sweating.
Seeing his extremely ugly expression, the person beside him said carefully, "I will immediately arrange for someone to contact the Suanni, Shiwei, and Xi chiefs. Perhaps … Shen Mu may not have thought so far ahead."
Young Master Jiang's neck seemed to be rusty. After a long while, he shook his head with difficulty and said, "Oxen and horses are an important business for us. If we abandon this business and find another way to make money, it is easy, but the connections we have built over the years will be wasted. All the powerful forces that we have connected because of this business will be cut off."
Not only did his neck seem to be rusty, but his voice also seemed to be rusty, very rough and unpleasant to hear. "You can try. If it is impossible, then turn to the Southern Border. Although the Sichuan and Yunnan horses are shorter, they have long legs. They are not as good as the Great Wan horses for short distances, but they are better for long distances. Based on our past friendship, they may not refuse. If Shen Mu wants to trap me and completely destroy my business, it is impossible! "
Before he finished speaking, a person came from afar. Although he was not running, his strides were very large, and his speed was extremely fast, even faster than a normal person's running. Along the way, the scarlet maple leaves under his feet kept flying, as if there was a pair of wind and fire wheels under his feet. Along the way, there were raging flames.
"Young Master, Luojing sent an urgent report from 800 miles on horseback!" The person arrived in front of Young Master Jiang and did not even have the time to salute, but hurriedly handed over a secret letter. Young Master Jiang hurriedly opened the secret letter and could not help but gasp. His hands began to tremble slightly.
Empress Wu Zetian transferred Yang Fan to the Heavenly Official Yamen. He was appointed as the Heavenly Official Yamen and had the authority to know the Heavenly Official Assistant Minister. Since Wu Zetian ascended the throne, she changed the six departments of officials, household, rites, military, punishment, and works to the six departments of heaven, earth, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The Heavenly Official Yamen was the Ministry of Appointments. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Ministry of Appointments was the head of the six departments of the Shangshu Province. Yang Fan had been promoted!
Young Master Jiang did not care about Yang Fan's promotion, nor did he care that he was transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Appointments. The problem was why he was promoted at this time. Why was he appointed as the Heavenly Official Assistant Minister? The Heavenly Official Assistant Minister was the acting Heavenly Official Assistant Minister. That meant that the Ministry of Appointments, the Seal Department, the Merit Department, and the Examination Department of the Ministry of Appointments were all under his control. He had the right to decide the appointment and dismissal, examination, promotion, conferment, and transfer of all the civil officials in the world!
At this moment, Wu Zetian suddenly transferred Yang Fan to the Ministry of Appointments and gave him almost all the power in the Ministry of Appointments. What was her purpose?
Young Master Jiang immediately thought of the imperial court, aristocratic families, and other forces that were in high spirits and were carrying out a great purge in the southern border. He immediately thought of the fat piece of meat that everyone was staring at with red eyes. The empress … was going to give this fat piece of meat to Yang Fan to divide?
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