Chapter 6: Roadblock

Zhang Han's thoughts moved quickly, and he immediately recovered from his dazed state. He secretly blamed himself for being so careless, as there had been a rustling sound of footsteps behind him, growing closer and closer. How could he have been so negligent?

Yes, owner

Cloth made from cotton is a specialty of Jiangnan's Songjiang and Shandong's Yanzhou. In Shanxi, there is only a small amount of local fabric, which is insufficient for personal use, let alone for sale. Similar to tea, the profit margins for goods sourced from other regions entirely depend on the whims of others.

In addition to grain, there are also tea leaves and cloth.

By the light of the lantern, it is evident that these four individuals are all quite young, in their twenties, or even under twenty. In this era, it is not fashionable for young men to shave, and those with full beards might very well be just over twenty. Judging by appearances in recent years, they do not seem to be of advanced age.

Certainly, it is not just the Fan family that monopolizes; when they join forces with a few other families, it amounts to a scale of several hundred thousand stones. Such a merchant's owner, with a stamp of their foot, could cause the entire Xuanda region to tremble.

No," Fan Yongdou said, "I am going to the Heavenly City Guard City, where I still need to meet someone.

Since the owner said that the matter with Yusheng is to be concluded, the other two did not inquire further; once the owner has spoken, it is certain to be finalized

As we walked out of North Street and turned into West Alley, many households along the sides had lanterns hanging by the roadside. Although the sky was dark, the path remained quite bright.

Young Master, the situation is not right

Both individuals were extremely respectful; although they were high-ranking shopkeepers, no one ever dared to contradict a single word in front of Fan Yongdou

After finishing a sentence, the young man with a crooked mouth smiled and said: "Er Hu, tell the owner our name."

What Zhang Han aims to do now is to find a gap in the cracks, truly monopolize a certain industry, and accumulate capital, which will naturally enable him to compete with the big players

Zhang Chun's words only provoked a burst of laughter from the crowd. The young man who spoke first, with a crooked smile, stepped forward and said: "Beating the drum is our business, Young Master Zhang, you just need to pay. If you have the ability, let someone come and take us on right now, and we will beat them until their skin is torn and flesh is bruised; that is your skill."

Although Zhang Chun was afraid, he still stepped forward and angrily said: "Isn't this outright robbery? Report it to the Qing military office, sound the alarm, and drive them out of the fortress."

Yet in this gap, even someone as astute and intelligent as Zhang Han, at this moment, still cannot think of it...

The sky is adorned with a waning moon, and the starlight is faintly visible. As the end of the month approaches, the small market will soon reopen.

What is crucial is how to proceed and from which step to begin

The first two men in the front, the last two in the back, four people standing in a row, completely blocking the alley.

A young man with a scruffy beard stepped forward and loudly declared, "I will not change my name, nor will I change my surname; we are members of the Xinping Society"

The host, one of them asked, "It is getting dark today, should we rest here at Xinping Fort?"

Li Yuchun may have other thoughts, and Li Mingda did not inquire further. However, upon reflection, since Master Fan said that he had finished with Yusheng, no matter how capable Li Yuchun is, he cannot last much longer.

Zhang Chun has been following along with the lantern in hand, without disturbing Zhang Han's thoughts. Each day has been the same for the past few days, and Zhang Chun has grown accustomed to Zhang Han's silent contemplation.

The grain business, as understood by Zhang Han, is largely controlled by powerful forces, including government and military levels, as well as major commercial enterprises. The strength of Yu Sheng is far too inadequate in comparison. No matter how Zhang Han tries to maneuver, without a capital of several hundred thousand, he should not even think about this matter.

The carriage continued to move forward as the sky darkened, and no one spoke. The driver urged the horses onward, with several dozen miles still to go to Tianchengwei. Torches were lit on both sides of the carriage, and the driver hoped to arrive at their destination soon

Xinping Fort and the entire Tianzheng County in later generations, including Zhangjiakou in Xuanda, extending west to Shahukou, all of Shanxi's territory is entirely under military control, specifically under the jurisdiction of the actual garrison. This is a border area, distinct from the garrisons in the interior, where local civil administration is also governed by the Qing military office under the garrison, including merchants. The situation in this year is different from previous times; if it were a hundred years ago, it would not be uncommon for the captured and executed by the garrison's deputy general to be numerous.

It is fortunate that I am not dressed as a beggar or a refugee, for that would be truly miserable. To escape such an identity and return to a normal life would require immense effort. Fortunately, I currently have a capital of several tens of thousands of silver, along with a group of over thirty people, providing a solid foundation to start from.

Zhang Han has read some research on the Jin merchants and knows that prominent Jin merchant families like the Kang family, the Qiao family, and the Fan family possess fortunes in the millions, with several hundred thousand taels of silver, and their wealth has lasted for hundreds of years. The Qiao family courtyard, while not as regulated as a royal palace, is indeed not inferior to it in many aspects. Although the Zhang family is a lineage that combines both official and commercial interests, it has not thrived since Zhang Siwei, and by the late Qing dynasty, it was even less known. Having traversed to the Zhang family, he naturally wishes to make his family prosperous in his own hands. There is no family that is invincible in the world, but if he can achieve great wealth and prosperity for hundreds of years, it would be worthwhile.

The grain reserves of the Fan family exceed one hundred thousand shi each year, and it can be said that the grain held by the towns of Datong and Shanxi, as well as the libraries, may not be as much as theirs. The fluctuations in grain prices, whether rising or falling, are all within the control of Fan Yongdou

As for Li Mingda, it is merely a matter of slightly reducing the profit. The Fan family already has quite a few connections, and Li Mingda is the main manager; such a trivial matter is hardly worth concerning the family.

The West Alley is not long, about one and a half li. Zhang Han and his servant have already walked half of it. After taking another hundred steps forward and making a thirty-step turn, they will reach home. Yet, this short distance proves to be difficult to traverse.

Zhang Shaodong, you are indeed a wealthy financier, enjoying lavish meals every day, dressed in fine woolen garments, well-fed and warmly clothed, while we brothers are left to endure the harsh winds and eat ice... The comparison between people is infuriating, but there is no other way; we can only come to you to seek a favor, borrowing a few dozen taels of silver for our brothers to use.

The one who spoke first was a young man with the most youthful appearance, probably not even twenty years old. He was very young, yet his face bore a strong air of mischief. As soon as he opened his mouth, he demanded money.

However, today Zhang Chun interrupted Zhang Han, and his tone was very tense

As for smuggling iron pots and similar iron goods, that is indeed highly profitable; however, the court regulates it strictly, and ordinary people do not dare to engage in such business.

Remove these few big items, the remaining goods can certainly still be profitable, however, ultimately they do not generate money as quickly as large transactions, nor are they abundant

Zhang Han smiled faintly and reached his right hand into his robe

The normal practice of buying low and selling high was the path to wealth for the late Zhang Yun. However, at that time, the Xinping Fortress had only recently opened its market, and the influence of the big players was not strong. Many diligent and astute merchants prospered during that period.

Moreover, Zhang Han and his He Yusheng have not reached the level of competing for benefits in the production area; to put it bluntly, their scale is too small to be involved in such matters.

Only the tiger that could not be managed even when beheaded back then, how could one possibly take to heart the punishment of beating and exile for these individuals

In fact, this is still a wealthy place, Xinpingu, compared to ordinary cities of this era, which are much inferior in terms of city appearance and have fewer strengths. At least these lanterns on both sides are something that ordinary families would not be willing to light. Common folk typically have dinner before dark, and after dark, they would not keep the lights on for more than half an hour, going to bed early to rest. Only families with students preparing for exams would light candles and study until midnight. At least these lanterns on both sides are something that ordinary families would not be willing to light. Common folk typically have dinner before dark, and after dark, they would not keep the lights on for more than half an hour, going to bed early to rest. Only families with students preparing for exams would light candles and study until midnight.

Every day, people come to Xinping Fort to buy grain, which is brought in from the interior. Are these grain buyers transporting it back to the interior? Of course, it is being smuggled away. This is something everyone understands, yet no one speaks of it openly

Having crossed over, Zhang Han has already faced reality

The ground is also paved with bluestone slabs, making it very comfortable to walk on; however, the roadside is somewhat dirty, as people in this era tend to carelessly litter, showing a complete disregard for hygiene

When walking, it is best to think about things; Zhang Han is contemplating the next step in his development

Zhang Han greeted people along the way, wearing a harmless smile on his face, even intentionally exuding a youthful vibe. However, his lifelong shrewdness was subtly evident in his every gesture, which left a deep impression on many, leading them to perceive him as possessing an extraordinary temperament, akin to that of the young owner of Yusheng.

The attire is typical of a northern roughneck, with a fur hat worn askew and a dirty cotton coat cinched at the waist with a leather belt, each person displaying a face full of excess flesh and an unfriendly gaze

"If you want silver, that's fine." Zhang Han still smiled, staring at the young Lahu, and spoke slowly, "They called you here just to intimidate me. If it comes to blows, there will be casualties. Have you really thought through the consequences?"

Unfortunately... The vehicle jolted, and Li Mingda was tossed slightly in his seat. Seizing the moment, he let out a low sigh, unsure whether he was lamenting the sight of Zhang Han he had just seen or his ambitious distant nephew.

Zhang Han walked with his hands behind his back, while Zhang Chun held a lantern beside him to light the way. In fact, it was a path made of blue stone slabs, a straight alley, making it difficult to go astray.

The owner before us is Fan Yongdou, one of the most renowned merchants.

The group of ruffians believed they had intimidated the young moneylender, and as they watched Zhang Han prepare to take out his silver, expressions of smug satisfaction appeared on their faces

The distant nephew Li Yuchun has a relative named Li Mingda. The primary reason Li Yuchun wishes to take over the business and start his own is that he can find Li Mingda, thereby establishing a connection with the Fan family to purchase cheaper grain. In this way, their new business can be profitable, unlike He Yusheng, which has been continuously incurring losses.

With Zhang Han's wrist and vision, even if he were to maneuver in a tight space, he would undoubtedly succeed in the future; however, it might take several decades, which he cannot endure or wait for

And this owner, from Jizhen to Xuanfu, and then all the way to Datong, toured more than a dozen branches of the Fan family. While others were already too exhausted to move, he showed no signs of fatigue or intention to rest. Such energy and self-discipline are certainly far beyond what ordinary people can compare to

The tea in Shanxi mostly comes from Sichuan, with the production not being in our hands, so the majority of the profits naturally go to Sichuan, and the logistics costs are quite high

Unexpectedly, what Zhang Han took out was a gleaming dagger, measuring over 30 centimeters in length. As Zhang Han drew it out, he removed the sheath, revealing its sharp tip.