madnovel Chapter 1882 The Weight of a Golden Signboard
Chapter 1882 The Weight of a Golden Signboard
Chapter 1882 The Weight of a Golden Signboard
It has never been a secret that private chambers of commerce and caravans were used to transport military supplies. Both the current Beijia and the former Yao Kingdom did this. Official grain transportation was troublesome, inefficient, and had a lot of losses, so the royal court assigned this job to private organizations, which was faster, better, and saved a lot of money.
But the premise is that it is trustworthy.
He Xiao is an enemy, not a friend. If Bai Tan still does this, isn't he secretly opposing her and the gods?
Bai Tan shook his head like a rattle: "It's not a commission, it's just... I borrowed Yangshan's channels, which is really helpless."
"Channel?" Qingyang felt even more uneasy when he heard this word from Bai Tan's mouth for the second time.
"Although we have made some preparations beforehand, since we started the uprising, I first attacked three counties and seven townships, then fought Qu Ruhai, forced General Chongwu to retreat, and defeated Yuwen Yong, Tu Han and others. Now I am besieging Chen Chuihua... The war is non-stop, and military supplies are inevitably tight. Some shortages have to be purchased from outside."
The most realistic difficulties will be faced when fighting a war.
"I only have one of the few grain-producing plains in the south, but I have to feed one-third of the country's soldiers. The consumption is really too high, so some of the food is imported from overseas places such as Xianhe Valley and Taowei. In addition, boots, arrow feathers, hemostatic and anti-parasitic drugs and other consumables are in short supply in the territory, so we have to find ways to purchase them from outside. Just like the Imperata cylindrica oil I mentioned earlier, we don't produce this stuff ourselves."
The land of Yao was in chaos, and many of the supplies that were normally available before were no longer available. War was like a bottomless pit, no matter how much manpower and supplies were invested, it would devour them all, leaving nothing behind.
Even though Bai Tan held a large amount of inheritance from the previous Yao, he was still deeply worried about not being able to make ends meet.
In fact, there are some situations that he is not in a position to tell Qingyang about.
The grain collectors repeatedly told him that it was difficult to collect grain even in the grain-producing areas they occupied. Merchants, wealthy families, and ordinary people would carefully store grain for fear that they would rob us in the name of levying grain. Even if we paid for it, people would not trust us. Who knows if the army would use money to lure us to give them grain and then take the money back later? There are many precedents like this.
Tsk, they are all cunning poor guys.
Bai Tan also knew that, after all, he was just a warlord who controlled a certain area and was the primary reason for the subversion of the Yao Kingdom. The Yao people did not trust him at all, so their efficiency in collecting grain themselves was very low.
But the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce was different. The grain that the Baitan army could not collect could be purchased by Yangshan. Everyone knew that it was a purely commercial organization with an excellent reputation. It would not think of getting something for nothing or using knives and guns to dig into other people's granaries.
When Qingyang heard this, he understood: "You asked Yangshan to buy these supplies?
"Some of these production areas were originally at odds with the former Yao, such as the allied territories; some were originally tribute areas of the Yao Kingdom, such as Shuangxi and Songke, which were previously managed by Xue Zongwu. After the fall of the Yao Kingdom, they cut off ties and refused to pay tribute again; many more had no contact with me in the past, fearing risks and not wanting to trade with war-torn areas."
Bai Tan smiled bitterly: "Whether we like it or not, Yangshan's business covers most of the Golden Plains. All the places I just mentioned have dealings with Yangshan. I can only purchase these supplies by using Yangshan's brand and channels."
There is one more thing he didn’t say:
When King Yao was alive, these places might not dare to offend the powerful country of Shanjin, and they would have to sell them even if they didn't want to;
After the fall of Yao State, people would not buy his honest account and would not sell it if he said so.
At this time, Fang showed the ability of Yangshan Chamber of Commerce. At this time, Bai Tan had to seek truth from facts.
In a war of attrition, isn't logistics the key?
Alas, the closer it gets to the war, the more important the Yangshan brand becomes. He has no choice but to admit it.
Qingyang said slowly: "So, Yang Shan can't do anything even if he's here with you?"
These words were full of hidden dangers, so Bai Tan quickly clarified: "No, no, of course that's not what I meant. I just said that we have already pledged a large amount of money, but the materials and goods have not yet been shipped in. It would be disadvantageous for us to cut off the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce at this time."
"The goods haven't been shipped in yet?" Qingyang raised his eyebrows and asked subconsciously, "Will you pay first?"
As soon as she said this, she felt that she had asked too much. Of course, money comes first!
Bai Tan really complained: "We are in a war-torn area. How can we have credibility outside? We have to pay first and then the goods."
Is there anything more unexpected than war? If someone gives him the goods first, what if he is defeated or annexed tomorrow? Wouldn't that mean he would be dead?
At this time, the reputation of Yangshan Chamber of Commerce would be even more useful, otherwise Bai Tan might pay the money but not receive the goods.
Bai Tan took the opportunity to complain for a long time.
Two days ago, he had just heard the legend that the Nine Nether Emperor was the reincarnation of the Dragon God and was about to sweep across the Golden World. He was shocked at first, but then he thought it might be an opportunity. If the "Dragon God" really wanted to cause trouble, would the gods still allow the chaos to continue?
After fighting for several months, he saw more and more clearly that behind the chaos in Yaodi were all the shadows of the gods. He also found out that the old woman Qingyang was sitting in the Youhu Pavilion and secretly communicating with many other forces.
What does this mean? The gods are not only betting on Bai Tan!
Now, after more than a hundred days of fighting, the situation in Yaodi has become clearer and his advantage has become more obvious. If the gods want to end the war, they will most likely appoint him as king!
The prerequisite is that he has to defeat Chen Chuihua and Qu Ruhai!
Even Bai Tan, who inherited King Yao's legacy, had to fight so hard. The other two opponents must have had a hard time too. Everyone was gritting their teeth and holding on.
Bai Tan is not short of money, but of supplies.
Since the civil unrest in Yaodi, businessmen and wealthy people have fled abroad to avoid disaster, which has led to the decline of all industries, stagnation of logistics, and shortage of materials and goods.
Why are poor countries more likely to go to war? One of the main reasons is that it damages the economy.
Bai Tan knew clearly that he was only one step away from the final victory...well, maybe several steps away, so he must not lose his strength at this time.
Qingyang in front of him seemed a little absent-minded.
Her mind had long since flown away from Yaodi and Bai Tan's current predicament.
Finally, Qingyang asked Bai Tan: "The gods have also ordered the abolition of the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce. How are you going to explain this?"
At the critical moment of the war, if Bai Tan dares to disobey orders, the gods will turn against him.
"If the gods want to ban it, then ban it." Bai Tan had already thought of a plan on the way here, "The Yangshan signboard cannot appear on our territory again. But for those who were arrested, let's release them first, considering that they didn't know He Xiao's true identity in the first place."
Most of those captured by Qingwei were Yao people, local powerful people. Qingyang had no objection to this.
If you want to release them, just release them all together. There is no point in arresting just three or two kind-hearted people or those who are good at making money.
She knew clearly in her heart: "The Yangshan signboard cannot appear, but you still want to keep the Yangshan channels, right?"