Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 245 Li Chao's Visitor ([-])

"Below is Hanyang businessman Li Shangyi."

"Next is Lee Doo-hwan, a businessman from Hanyang."

"Next is Kong Hyo-won, a student at Sungkyunkwan."

After meeting with Zhao Xin, three guys who came by boat from North Korea introduced their identities.Zhao Xin was surprised to find that the official Chinese of these three people was not bad, but their accents were a bit strange, and they seemed to have a southern accent.

The three Li Chao visitors kept looking at Zhao Xin.Thinking that this is the descendant of the self-proclaimed King Zhu Ming Zhao?The image gap in their minds is too big!Although this person is extremely tall, but his hair is short and he doesn't look like a person from the Central Plains; what's more, he has a pair of panda eyes, which makes him look like he is too drunk.

"It seems that rumors are rumors after all, don't believe them all! The sages have said that when China enters the barbarians, the barbarians will be barbarians. Sincerely don't deceive me." Although Kong Xiaoyuan was contemptuous in his heart, he still kept a calm face, neither humble nor overbearing.He originally thought that when he came to Beihai Town, he could see Ming's clothes all over the place, but who knew that from the moment he disembarked, everyone was wearing short clothes with short hair and hair, and there were strange skills everywhere, and Zhu Ming's banner could not be seen.

Looking at the meeting place here, it is an ordinary wooden room. Although the area inside the room is not small, except for a few unrecognizable things, it is just a desk and a few handles without armrests. Chair.The four of them sat apart from each other, not talking about Chinese etiquette at all.

However, when they arrived at the port, the Thunder God moored by the sea really frightened them, so they were still very respectful in their words.

Zhao Xin is so busy every day that he can't wait to break 1 minute into 2 minutes.He didn't have time to circle around with these three people.So after the politeness, he said straight to the point: "What is the intention of the three of you? Beihai Town welcomes you for business; as for other things, let me hear."

Li Shangyi hurriedly cupped his hands and said: "We heard in Hanyang that your Ministry held the banner of the Ming Dynasty to fight against the Hulu, and we were very impressed. Entrusted by the Lord Zuo Yizheng, I brought five hundred shi of polished rice, three hundred catties of ginseng, and 1000 taels of silver to come to help .”

"Zuo Yizheng? I don't know his last name?"

Kong Xiaoyuan said: "It's Mr. Zuo Yizheng Li Suizhi, originally from the Li family in Yan'an."

Zhao Xin shook his head, saying that he had never heard of it.This made Kong Xiaoyuan feel very hurt. The famous Shuangxi Gong (Li Fuyuan, courtesy name Suizhi, name Shuangxi) in North Korea is known to many people in Daqing next door.In the 48th year of Qianlong, when Qianlong visited the ancestral mausoleum in the east, Li Yu sent Li Fuyuan to Shenyang to greet him in the name of Chengjunguan Da Sicheng (equivalent to Guozijian's sacrificial wine). Even Qianlong had an impression of him.

Zhao Xin picked up a box of cigarettes produced by Beihai Town from the table, opened the lid and asked the three people in front of him, "Do you three smoke?"

"smokes?"

It is said that people eat cigarettes these days. Li Shangyi, who was a businessman, looked curiously at the white paper rolls in the wooden box, hesitated for a moment, and then reached out to take one.Li Douhuan on the side also took it, while Kong Xiaoyuan shook his head slightly.

With a sound of "cha", a match was lit.The three people opposite Zhao Xin were stunned.Until the match was extinguished, the eyes of the three were still fixed on the black match stick in Zhao Xin's hand.

"Excuse me, general, what is the reason for this thing? Why can a fire be lit when you rub it?"

Facing Kong Xiaoyuan's question, Zhao Xin briefly introduced: "I can't explain clearly in a few words, this is a chemical problem."

Zhao Xin lit another match, lit a cigarette first, and took two puffs as a demonstration.It was only then that Li Shangyi understood what "smoking" was, and he hurried over with a cigarette hanging.

And Kong Xiaoyuan was taken aback, chemistry?Which school is this?At this time, the word "chemistry" did not exist in Chinese, and it was not gradually spread until William Williamson, an Englishman, proposed it in his Chinese book "Gewu Tanyuan" in the mid-nineteenth century.

Amidst the smog, Merchant Erli's mentality gradually relaxed, and he began to talk more.

Zhao Xin gradually learned from the conversation that Li Shangyi was a Beijing merchant from Hanyang, engaged in the grain, rice and ginseng business; and Li Douhuan was a Song merchant, engaged in the wholesale business of horses, ginseng and dried seafood.In addition to doing some border trade business with the Qing Dynasty, the two of them also had close business contacts with the island countries.

In the era of the Goryeo Dynasty, Kaesong was also called "Songyak" at that time, and later it was renamed Kaijing; therefore, the merchants in Kaesong were all called Songdo merchants.These people opened "pine houses" all over the peninsula, forming a huge business network.

As for Kong Xiaoyuan, this ostensibly a student from Sungkyunkwan, but his real identity is Zuo Yizheng Li Fuyuan's gold medal little spy.The task of his trip was to carefully investigate the situation in Beihai Town, so as to judge the other party's attitude towards North Korea and whether it was worth supporting.

Kong Xiaoyuan asked again: "I heard that your department defeated the Qing army in the Shuangcheng area last year. I don't know how the general dealt with the prisoners of the Qing court?" Because the three of them set off relatively early, they encountered wind and waves at sea and were delayed for a while. , so the news of the redemption of the Qing Dynasty is unknown now.

Zhao Xin felt that there was nothing he could not say about this matter. The more people who knew about it, the more embarrassing Man Qing would be.So he said, "Oh, after paying the ransom, most of them were returned."

"The ransom?! Put it back?!" Kong Xiaoyuan asked in his heart, are you tying up a meat ticket?They actually engage in the practice of paying money and letting people go!Besides, since it is the enemy of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, it should be paid to tear up the ticket!

Bah bah!I am a scholar, my mind can't be so dirty.Thinking of this, Kong Xiaoyuan clasped his hands and asked: "Since your ministry holds the banner of Ming Dynasty, which clan is it?"

Zhao Xin said: "The former Ming Zhao Wang."

"Forgive me, general, are you the descendant of Queen Zhao?" Kong Xiaoyuan saw Zhao Xin hesitated and nodded before continuing to ask: "In this case, why does the general still use the surname Zhao? Why is this place full of barbarian clothes?"

"This is outside the customs. No one cares whether my surname is Zhu or Zhao. As for the barbarians' clothes you mentioned, they are just for convenience."

Kong Xiaoyuan was somewhat disapproving of Zhao Xin's statement.He shook his head and said: "The general's words are wrong! As the saying goes, if the name is not correct, the words will not go well, and if the words don't go well, things will fail. The general occupies a dangerous place outside the pass, and there are tens of thousands of people under his command; the soldiers are strong and strong, and everyone responds to every call. He should raise the flag of righteousness and attract heroes from all over the world. cast."

Zhao Xinxin said that he was a hero in the world. Is this scholar surnamed Kong stupid?So he just smiled lightly and didn't speak.

Seeing that Zhao Xin didn't respond, Kong Xiaoyuan speculated in his heart: "Is what I said wrong? Yes! This place is very far away from the customs, and all the main roads around are occupied by Manchus. It is estimated that even if there are people with lofty ideals who want to come, they will come because of it." Mountains and rivers make it impossible to travel."

"In this way, our country may help one or two. Although the number of scholars in our country is not as large as that of the Celestial Dynasty, the learned scholars are comparable to those in the Qing Dynasty." Kong Xiaoyuan's implication is that a learned scholar like me is right in front of you, hurry up Come and ask me!I can show what I have learned in my chest and help you make suggestions.

It is said that in ancient times, there were too many scholars who wanted to be Zhuge Liang or Liu Bowen.The scholar class in North Korea felt so humiliated by the "Ding Chou's Going to the City" that year, and they always wanted to find an opportunity to avenge their shame.Now that Zhao Xin was born out of nowhere, and tens of thousands of elite Qing troops were defeated, they naturally had a glimmer of hope.

"Oh? Mr. Kong, can what you say represent North Korea's attitude?"

"Don't dare. The general misunderstood. However, all scholars in our country hope that China will be revived, that the barbarians will be expelled, and that I will be restored to my Ming clothes." Kong Xiaoyuan shook his sleeves, stood up and saluted: "As I expected, the general is currently in the army. There is a shortage of food and cannot feed too many people, so the Hu captives were released in exchange for money. Since the general is the clan of the Ming Dynasty and a descendant of King Zhao, can you please have a look at the genealogy? Although Korea is small, there are three thousand miles of beautiful mountains and rivers. Wait I'll go back and report to Zuo Yizheng and Your Highness, and I will definitely help you!"

Zhao Xin smiled and asked Kong Xiaoyuan: "I don't know which king is in power in your country now?"

Kong Xiaoyuan cupped his hands in the direction of Hanyang and said: "The king of our country is the grandson of King Yingzu. It has been nearly ten years since he ascended the throne, and he is a rare and promising king."

Zhao Xin knocked on the table with his fingers, shook his head and sighed: "Oh, so it is the son of Prince Sidao. I heard that Prince Sidao suffered from mental illness. Is this true?"

As soon as these words came out, the three people on the opposite side looked embarrassed.It has been 23 years since the incident, during which time the truth has long been covered up.According to folklore, it was because of a mental problem, but Kong Xiaoyuan knew it was not at all.

At this time, Zhao Xin probably guessed that the three pieces of information in front of him might be spies sent by Li Chao, who came here in the name of support to find out about Beihai Town and himself.He thought for a while and said to Li Shangyi and Li Douhuan: "Since you two are businessmen, if you want to do business with me in Beihai Town, I will arrange someone to talk to you later."

Er Li was overjoyed when he heard that.Just rush to the thing called "match" that Zhao Xin used to light cigarettes just now, and bring it back to make a fortune.As for whether there are other commercial products in Beihai Town, the local fur and ginseng are also acceptable!
However, what Zhao Xin said next left the three of them dumbfounded.

"Three, my time is precious, and I have things to do in a while. So I hope you will go back and tell the officials of the Li Dynasty what I will say next. Oh, it is the Lord Zuo Yizheng. Conquering the outside of the pass, or even attacking the inside of the pass, is very important for us in Beihai As far as the town is concerned, it is as easy as pie. The reason why I did not enter the customs is that I must first clarify and deal with the territorial disputes in the outer northeast."

Kong Xiaoyuan said: "Is it with Luo Sha?"

Zhao Xin nodded and said slowly: "There is only one Rakshasa, and the other one is your country."

Kong Xiaoyuan's complexion changed, he stood up and asked, "What do you mean by your words?"

Zhao Xindao: "What I mean is very clear. Your court officials knew what was going on with the boundary survey in the Manchu Qing Dynasty. If you want to find out what happened in the Ming Dynasty, count me as bullying you. But in the years from Kangxi to Qianlong It doesn’t matter if the Manchus give in to you, or you fool them, all the territories you have annexed over the past few hundred years have to be handed over to me.”

Since the Yongle Year of the Ming Dynasty, Wang Keren, the leader of the Jurchens, has played a memorial to call Xianzhou Yibei, which has been the land of Liao and Jin since ancient times.At that time, Ming Chengzu recognized this judgment, so he sent an edict to North Korea to demand the ten people (mainly the Jurchens) in this area.As a result, the Korean state sent a special envoy to force the Ming Dynasty to give up the management of this area by comparing the texts in the "History of Liao Dynasty", "History of Jin" and other related materials.

After the Qing Dynasty entered the customs, in the reign of Kangxi, in order to appease North Korea, Kangxi even gave up the land north of Tieling and south of Jizhou.

In the 50th year of Kangxi, because the Korean frontier people crossed the border to kill people, Emperor Kangxi secretly ordered Mu Kedeng, the general manager of Dasang Ula, and others to take advantage of the opportunity to go to Phoenix City to investigate the border and delineate the boundary markers in the source area of ​​the two rivers.

When the two sides surveyed the border in Changbai Mountain, the well-prepared North Korean officials presented the so-called "evidence" from the Yongle era, and used the sophistry method of the Ming Dynasty's land claim to prevaricate Mu Keden's doubts.In the end, when Mukden failed to attract attention, he took the opportunity to complete the last frontier expansion operation in the south of the Tumen River in the form of setting up a delimiting monument without bloodshed, thus completely capturing the source of the river, including the southern foot of Changbai Mountain. the land of the south.

In fact, before Mokden checked the border, the Changjin River, the Gozhan River, the Gozhanling Mountains, the Hamgyong Mountains, and the area surrounded by Seongcheon River were not Korean territories. Korean officials misled Mukden by using the difference in the name of Changbai Mountain. Only then did the results of the subsequent border checks be obtained.

As soon as Zhao Xin said this, Kong Xiaoyuan said angrily: "You are making an unreasonable request, and we have evidence! Since the Goryeo era, these territories have belonged to our country!"

Zhao Xin said bluntly: "I don't think it's hard to use your so-called evidence as a wipe! Go back and tell the king of North Korea that the southern foot of Changbai Mountain will be returned to me! North Hamgyong Province will also be returned, and I can let the past go. Otherwise, wait I took Hunchun again, and the army from Beihai Town will be waiting for you!"

"There are things to talk about, things to talk about. General Zhao, why are you doing this? Beihai Town is invincible, Feng Ming Zhengshuo, even if the Hulu are driven out of the pass, we are still a family of suzerains. Territory matters, this matter , This is not something I dare to interfere with!" Li Shangyi and Li Douhuan hurriedly cupped their hands to persuade them.

"Hehe, since the Li Dynasty sent you to find out my details, I just asked you to pass on the information. If you don't pay attention, you will do three things and four things. The former Ming and Manchu Qings will let me go, I am not that interested! I think it is normal to do business Contacts, we welcome; conspiracies and tricks to occupy the territory, then I will take it back! That’s it! I still have something to do, three please.”

Kong Xiaoyuan was so angry that he trembled all over, and the black gauze and black hat on his head couldn't help shaking.He didn't expect Zhao Xin to be so arrogant and unreasonable. He is a scholar, and he brought food and grass to support him!Not to mention treating each other with courtesy, he even made a request for the territory without saying a word.

To talk about the inside things, Kong Xiaoyuan actually doesn't know, but Li Shangyi and Li Douhuan probably know a little bit.The businesses of these two men were both engaged in the ginseng and fur trade, and many sources of goods came from Hamgyong Road and the southern foot of Changbai Mountain.

At this time, two strong guards with pistols on their waists stepped forward and motioned to take the three of them out.The three of them had nothing to do, because Er Li wanted to do business, so he still remembered to bow to Zhao Xin and leave, while Kong Xiaoyuan bowed lightly, turned and went out.

After the three of them went out, a young man with short hair and short clothes came over.He clasped his fists at the three of them and said, "In Xiabeihai Town, Zhao Pingtai is in charge of trade affairs between North Korea and the island countries. Please come with me and go to the guest house to rest first. Meals will be prepared for you in the big dining hall. What's the matter? We can talk after dinner."

The so-called guest houses are actually several small courtyards newly built on the south side of the square leading to the port road, which are used to arrange accommodation for future trading partners.Each courtyard house has three independent bedrooms, a living room, and a faucet and sink in the corner of the living room, as well as a stove for heating.The toilet is located in the corner of the yard, but the kitchen is not.

Pingtai led the three of them to the gate of a small courtyard, and graciously helped the three of them open the courtyard door, unlocked the door again, and introduced with a smile: "These courtyards are all newly built, so the smell of wood may be relatively strong. , Later, workers will bring hot water and tea for you to wash and make tea. As for other needs, you can just talk to the workers directly. Later, someone will come and take the three of you to eat."

After Kong Xiaoyuan entered the room and took a seat, he slapped the table angrily and said, "It's unreasonable! Your Highness and all the officials in the court sent me here because of their kindness. Many scholars in the Chengjun Hall are also waiting for my news. Come to help. I didn't expect him to treat our country like this! Tomorrow we will leave for our country!"

Li Douhuan persuaded: "Mr. Kong don't need to get angry. I just arrived here, and the situation here is not very clear. I have to play around and find out clearly."

Li Shangyi first got up and opened the door to look outside the house, and then agreed: "Yes, yes. The Zhao man treated us like this, and he was all about oppressing. I guess he is using the territory as a threat on the surface, and secretly hopes that I can do it in the future. Give him a lot of food and grass."

Kong Xiaoyuan said: "How can there be such a thing?"

The three of them were talking when someone knocked on the door outside the house.Kong Xiaoyuan stopped talking, Li Shangyi cleared his throat and said, "Come in."

　In the 10th century, apart from border market trade, the most important thing between Lee's Korea and the Qing Dynasty was the ginseng trade.The ginseng trade is also known as the "eight packs trade", that is, each pack of ginseng is [-] catties, and North Korea allows each mission to Beijing to carry eight packs.

　　Later, because North Korean frontier residents crossed the border to collect ginseng and hurt Chinese local officials, Li Chao stopped the export of ginseng, so the mission was converted at 25 taels of silver per catty of ginseng, and could carry 2000 taels of silver to the Qing Dynasty to buy goods.Later, in order to prevent the excessive outflow of silver, it was converted into goods worth 2000 taels, such as fur, paper, dried seafood and other sundries.Only high-ranking officials can carry one and a half eight bags (3000 taels of silver) of goods.Due to the shortage of low-level officials such as translators in the mission, private businessmen took advantage of the situation and either provided loans to the translators, or directly provided ginseng and silver packages to the mission, and purchased goods from China.They sold ginseng and other North Korean products in exchange for fabrics, daily necessities, metal products, books, medicinal materials, dyes, and luxury goods such as medicinal materials, jewelry, Suzhou and Hangzhou silks and satins used by the Korean royal family, and the purchase volume was quite large.In order to pursue profits, some North Korean giants even acted as grooms and slaves of the mission, and accompanied the mission to Beijing.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)