ps: The second update is in the afternoon

Taoqiu's market was as bustling as ever. There were many shops, cars crashed and people rubbed their shoulders. With sweet smiles, Chinese clothing merchants from all over the world put their hands in their wide sleeves and bargained with silent gestures. [..] And in the central hall of the store, the black-clothed city clerk held a simple abacus and calculated the tax amount that the merchants needed to pay. Under the influence of Zigong, a merchant of Xilu, this tool has replaced the It is very popular in Taoqiu, the commercial capital.

Chen Bo, the head of the merchants in the state of Qi, looked like an angry fighter, glaring at Master Chu of the state of Cao and asked, "The taxes of the merchants of Zheng, Wei, Song, Lu, and Jin are all the same as before, only the merchants of Qi have to pay. What does it mean to be taxed three times as much? What does it mean!"

Master Chu felt a little guilty. Qi Shang and Zheng Shang were the two major forces in Taoqiu City, except for the nobles of Cao Kingdom. Because the state of Qi is strong and strong, and the state of Cao has to look up to the state of Qi's sea salt, Taoqiu used to be very gracious to Qi Shang, not to mention Master Chu, and even Da Sicheng did not dare to offend them too much, and developed their arrogant and arrogant attitude.

But Master Chu also thought that behind this move, the emperor was issuing orders, and it was the newly emerging Xilu merchant Duanmuci who was planning everything, and his courage became a little stronger.

Master Chu supported his own black crown, and with it, he was almost as tall as Chen Bo, he tried hard to make himself neither humble nor arrogant: "Chen Bo is joking? Above the shopping mall, there is a reward, and Qi Guo abuses it. Yan policy, cut off the sea salt shipped to Taoqiu, this is inhumane first. We are helpless, we can only have injustice next, the emperor has an order, from now on, all merchants in Taoqiu will be subject to 'anti-monopoly tax' '!"

Uncle Chen felt a toothache, but he didn't expect, really didn't expect, he thought that Cao Ren's timid and fearful temperament would definitely not dare to disobey the big country, but the counterattack came so quickly!

Didn't Qi state monopolize Haiyan and threaten Cao and Xilu? Well, the loss of transporting salt has also been removed from Qi Shang.

Taoqiu Chu introduced measures specifically aimed at Qi Shang. It was stated that before the ban on salt in the state of Qi was stopped, all business activities of Qi merchants in Taoqiu had to pay high "anti-monopoly taxes".

Uncle Chen knew that this idea must have been given by Duanmu!

from the previous year. Duanmuci gradually gained a firm foothold in Taoqiu by virtue of Zhao Wushi's personal relationship with Cao Bo, and the profits he had turned over to him, and became an upstart in the market. Young disciples in the Chen Bolian clan couldn't stop them from hanging out in extravagant places, and naturally they couldn't persuade Cao Guo to ban this business. He didn't want to cooperate with Zheng Shang as he was arrogant and respectful, so he could only not communicate with each other, but he also regarded Duanmuci as the most dangerous opponent.

Originally, only extravagant business could not touch the foundation of Qi merchants: they sold fish salt, silk and hemp, bought copper, tin, grain, and gold, and shipped them to Gaotang and Linzi. But after the completion of the last arena, Duanmuci also began to expand into these areas. Xilu's porcelain, paper, silk and linen flooded into the Taoqiu market, which made Chen Bo extremely vigilant.

"If we can't kill this son, in another ten years, we will have no place to stand in Taoqiu!"

This time, Yan Ce was led by the prince of the Chen clan. Uncle Chen was very excited. This move would combat Duanmuci's arrogance and make it difficult for his supporter, Lu Guoxiao Sikou Zhao Wuxi.

Guessing that the salt policy has not been effective yet, he has been turned against the First Army! Taoqiu was extremely important to the merchants and merchants of Qi.

But Uncle Chen refused to admit defeat. He threatened Master Chu and said, "Since Taoqiu is harsh, we can go to Puyang and Xinzheng to trade. Is there only a market in the state of Cao that can trade goods?"

That Master Chu rolled his eyes: "If you listen to it, you will be honored."

The most important reason why Taoqiu relies on the merchants of Qi is that the trade of sea salt will bring two-tenths of the income here, but now that the salt road has been cut off. Your Majesty also intends to grit your teeth and fight against the Qi people, so why are we still licking our faces and waiting for you?

Uncle Chen was furious. This time the anti-monopoly tax was only aimed at Qi merchants and did not affect merchants in other countries. So his call went unanswered. He withdrew from the market under the gloating eyes of merchants from other countries. When he returned to the pier, his son Chen Pingzhong came running sweaty and told him some bad news.

"Father, something happened to Pu Shui and Ji Shui!"

This is to be expected, even in the age of robbers. Jishui Pushui is still an important communication line from Puyang and Taoqiu to Linzi in Qi State, and you can pay a part of the road money. After Wu Xie took control of Onozawa, the waterway was even more prosperous. It was only slightly interrupted when Zhao Qi fought, but after the war it was restored to its original state.

But now Qi State's salt policy is aimed at Xilu, and if he wants to come to Pushui and Jishui, they have been cut off by Zhao Wuxi.

Chen Pingzhong shook his head and said, "It was not cut off."

"Qi Shang is still passable in Jishui and Pushui? Why is this!" Uncle Chen was shocked. What was Zhao Wuxi and Duanmuci fighting?

"Except for military items such as copper, tin, feathers, and leather, other silk, hemp, ceramics, grains, and medicines can be accessed, but..."

"Just what?"

Chen Pingzhong looked sad: "It's just like Taoqiu, merchant ships entering Qi are subject to heavy anti-monopoly taxes, and a checkpoint has been set up on Jishui and Pushui. Merchant ships have no leaks."

Uncle Chen was stunned for a moment, and suddenly burst out laughing: "Duanmu's millet seller wants to take the opportunity to exploit Qi Shang, we won't let him do so, starting today, all goods will go to the noon route!"

At this moment, Chen Pingzhong suddenly quieted down, and when Uncle Chen turned his head, he saw the Weiguo millet seller standing by the dock, watching the salt stored in the treasury transported to Xilu by water.

He was dressed in clean cloth and had elegant manners. His whole body was as flawless as the white jade on his bun, but his black gem-like eyes shone with the cunning light that belonged to a businessman.

Zigong tilted his head to look here, with a meaningful smile at the corner of his mouth. He also heard a few words just now, and everything was under control.

He seems to be an old friend who has cooperated with Qishang for many years, and his words are full of concern.

"Zhou Dao is like a pillar, and it is as straight as an arrow. A gentleman walks on it, and a villain sees it. Although walking on the Noon Road is slower than Pushui and Jishui, it is also a good choice."

The next sentence was a threat from Tu Qiong Deng Jian: "I just hope that the merchants of Qi state don't care about him, it's good to shed tears!"

...

The Noon Road is located in the east of Jin and west of Qi, because the north-south and east-west passages meet, one vertical and one horizontal is noon, which is called the intersection.

Connecting Bai people, Handan, crossing Jijin, to Puyang, Taoqiu, Shangqiu is a vertical road. The crossroad connecting Linzi, Pingy, Puyang, Xinzheng, and Chengzhou is the most important transportation line from Qi to the Central Plains. Among them, the area of ​​Yangzhou and Yangqiao at the junction of Qi, Wei and Xilu is also known as "The Way of Yang and Jin", and it is a place where military strategists of later generations will fight for it.

On this day, there were several caravans from Puyang, Weiguo, to Pingy and Linzi along the noon road.

The old businessman from Qi sat on the car with his legs crossed, instructing his children and grandchildren to drive, and muttered: "We were blocked by the war, and we stayed in Diqiu for half a year. From the winter of last year to the spring of this year, The plague has ravaged Pingy, and thousands of people have died, and most of them have been buried now, so you don’t have to worry, with the divination bone protection issued by Chuqiu Wuzhu, the epidemic will definitely not invade!”

He patted the robe on his chest proudly, but one of his sons turned his head and said in a nonchalant tone: "It is said that the disease has been cured by the doctors named Ling Que. What the boy is worried about is, after the catastrophe, will there be any disease? A desperate group of thieves looted merchants on the noon road."

The old businessman from Qi waved his hand and said with confidence: "Although Xiao Sikou of Lu State is belligerent and likes to kill our Qi people, at least he has done a good thing. Since last year, the group of thieves who used to loot business trips here have long since disappeared, don't worry..."

At the end of his words, he was severely slapped in the face by reality. A roaring feather arrow fell from the sky and nailed it right in front of the team. get off.

Old Qi Shang's heart also seemed to be hit by the arrow, and his head was buzzing. When he raised his head, he saw that in the hills and woods on both sides of the road ahead, there were already nearly a hundred armed men holding bows, arrows and short spears. By. And on the huge tree across the avenue, a tall and handsome leader of the bandits with arms like apes, holding a long bow, stared at them with a half-smile.

Like a hungry tiger that hasn't eaten meat for a long time, looking at its prey...

The big man's voice was as loud as a yellow bell ringing: "Qi Lu is in trouble, the afternoon road is closed, and Liu Xiazhi has taken over all the goods on his behalf!"

...

At the end of February, the state of Qi was in Linzi.

Because he felt that his salt policy had repaid Zhao with a knife, Qi Hou was in a good mood recently. Not only did he start to manage government affairs again, but some sacrifices also actively participated in it, trying to restore his image of neglecting government in the past few months.

In Qi State, the auspicious day of the second month in the middle of spring is Jiayi, which belongs to the wood in the five elements. So according to the rules, the Marquis of Qi lived in the main room of Dongxiang Mingtang, riding in a car with Yingling, driving a high blue horse in front of the car, with a flag painted with a blue dragon on the car, wearing blue spring clothes, wearing blue The ornamental jade used is rough and accessible. What he eats is no longer Japanese double j, but wheat rice and yokan.

Towards the end of this month, swallows came flying and built their nests under the roof of Linzi of Qi State. On the day when Yousi announced the arrival of swallows, the marquis of Qi had people sacrificed to the "God of High Conspiracy" with cattle and sheep. However, he was accompanied by the much-loved Rui Ji and other wives who gave birth to the son Tu.

The absurdity of the first few months of Qihou was still fruitful. The two concubines in the palace were pregnant. God bless the birth of a boy.

Except for the eldest son who died early, and the youngest son Tu, who was adored in his arms, in Qihou's eyes, the rest of the sons were all the same. If you capture a Yangsheng and regenerate another, you can exchange it with Qi's core interests? He was a little reluctant.

Just as Qi Hou was teasing his beloved son, Bao Mu, who was newly ascended to the throne, hurried over.

He was the son of Bao Guo, the youngest among the four ministers, but the oldest, in his fifties. Although he has just become the head of the family and the minister, because he has been in the position of doctor for many years, Qi Hou is also relieved to entrust him with political affairs. Although he is not as good as Bao Guo, he is stronger than Gao Zhang.

Looking at the pink and cute, and reaching out to grab his bearded son Tu, Bao Mu forced a smile, and then whispered in Qi Hou's ear: "Your Majesty, something is bad!" (To be continued. )

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