Qin Official

"Chen Changshi, look, that's Lao Tieshan. When you see this mountain, you've arrived in Liaodong."

The crew kindly reminded Chen Ping that the deck was shaking and asked Chen Ping to go to the cabin. However, Chen Ping, who was standing on the bow of the ship, shook his head and only put on a bamboo hat and a raincoat to prevent the sea water from getting wet all over his body.

One day after leaving Salmon Island, their fleet rushed out of a brief period of rain. When the clouds cleared and the fog cleared, they could see the land in the distance.

It was a neat and clear tip, a dark brown steep cliff, like the tip of an unedged sword, which stretched between the sea and the sky, and also divided the sea into two halves - one half with bluer water, and the other half with yellowish water. This is the dividing line between the Shaohai Sea and the East China Sea (Yellow Sea). The waves of two colors come from both sides of the cape and meet here, which is quite like the wonder of Guanzhong with "clear distinctions between Jing and Wei".

But the sailors didn't bother to enjoy the scenery. This area was also the most dangerous and turbulent waterway on the route. Chen Ping could even see the wreckage of some sunken ships washed up on the narrow white beach below the cliff of Laotieshan. They all died in the rapids and sharp reefs!

Fortunately, the captain of this flagship ship was experienced and carefully avoided the rapids at the foot of Laoties Mountain. On the mast of the big ship, the hard sail slightly adjusted its direction, leading more than ten deep-draft grain ships behind him, driven by the south wind, against the direction. Following the invisible ocean current, it passed by the Liaodong coast and continued to sail north.

After bypassing the rapids of Laotieshan, it was already evening. Before nightfall, the fleet accelerated and arrived at a wonderful calm bay. The beacon tower acted as a lighthouse and flickered, guiding the fleet to dock...

This is one of the few cities in southern Liaoning. Da's name was changed to "Lushun" by Heifu, because the ships passing through this place had a smooth journey.

This is also the first stop of Chen Ping's journey in Liaodong.

"Chen Changshi, slow down."

In the eyes of the 500 Lords who were ordered to garrison here, Sheriff Shi was already a great official. After learning the news, he personally brought Chen Ping to greet him and wanted to help Chen Ping off the ship. After all, he looked very weak.

Chen Ping refused, jumped off the boat nimbly and stood on solid land.

"Don't look at me like this."

Chen Ping didn't show any airs, raised his wide sleeves, and smiled at the boat people: "When I was young and invisible, I took off my shirt and helped people row boats on the river in my hometown to have a meal and have fun with them. Just like the second and third sons, they can be considered as making a living on the water."

This statement made all the soldiers laugh. Although Chen Ping looked like a scribe, he spoke in a down-to-earth manner, making the atmosphere less awkward.

The grain ship was not only to welcome Fusu, but also brought supplies, food, vegetables, and clothes to the ports and pavilions along the way. Therefore, the garrison welcomed the fleet very much. The five hundred people at Lushunkou also enthusiastically arranged for meals and chatted with Chen Ping shared the fish and game they caught.

The meal was a bit crude, but after the meal, the Five Hundred Lord lit the torch again and took Chen Ping to open the small warehouse.

As soon as he opened the door, a strong smell of fur came out, causing Chen Ping to cover his mouth and nose.

The Five Hundred Masters were accustomed to it, so they picked up a hastily treated mink tail and said: "According to the order of the governor, while we were stationed in the local area, we also sent people to collect mink skins from the surrounding island barbarians and Haifang. Please take a look at it. inventory."

Chen Ping went in and walked around, and saw that there were hundreds of mink tails and mink skins piled together in the warehouse, as well as bundles of beaver skins, and several damaged fox skins, even rare ones. The ermine skin is one of the few specialties found in the land hundreds of miles below Lushunkou. Most of it is provided by local fishing and hunting tribes.

"But the price of these common local products can increase a hundred times when shipped to the Central Plains!" Chen Ping looked at it, his eyes shining.

Xiangping, the county seat of Liaodong, is thousands of miles away, and there is no possibility of controlling the coast of southern Liaoning by land. Heifu manages Liaonan across the sea and turns it into a county in Jiaodong. It is a certainty that Chen Ping, as an aide, has the responsibility Understand the situation here.

Through a few words in the classics and what merchants had seen, Chen Ping noticed a specialty of Liaodong:

"mink!"

Chen Ping knew that mink fur and mink tail were symbols of status in the Central Plains!

According to the official Qin Dynasty, military attachés wore the "Wubian crown", which was worn on the heads of Gong Ao, Cao Shen and others. This kind of crown was said to have been introduced from Zhao State, with cicadas as inscriptions and mink tails as decorations. Qin established a country with military merit. How many military attaches were there in the government and the public, and how many Diao Wei were needed?

The main source of tribute for Diao Wei is Liaodong, and even the more peripheral areas of Liaodong, including Korea, Fuyu, and Sushen.

Among the people, although it is expressly stipulated that merchants are not allowed to wear silk, silk and embroidery, there is no rule not to wear fur! Therefore, whether one can afford mink or fox fur has become a sign of wealth. In the past, when Su Qin was not yet prosperous, his family was wealthy. In order to show that he was not a poor man, he specially bought a "sable fur" and traveled to various countries. In the end, the mink fur was worn out and he couldn't survive, so he returned home in despair, hanging on the beam. Thorns.

Right now, an ordinary mink coat is worth dozens of gold in Xianyang! The best sable fur is worth more than a hundred gold!

Although minks are also common in the mountains and forests of the northern Central Plains, they are far less famous than Liaodong sables, both in terms of quantity and the quality of their fur.

What's more, the native barbarians in Liaodong are simple and easy to coax. Just a few pieces of cloth and iron from the Central Plains can be exchanged for a large bundle of mink skins...

This is an extremely profitable business. Chen Ping can imagine that the future of this industry is unlimited.

When Chen Ping came this time, in addition to supervising the transportation of grain and grass, he was also assigned by Heifu to conduct an on-the-spot investigation to see what benefits there were to be gained from operating overseas based in Jiaodong.

"Not only is it beneficial, but it is huge profit!"

We have just arrived at the first stop, Lushun, but Chen Ping is already so sure.

The Yi tribes near Lushun alone can exchange for so many furs. If Jiaodong can establish a stronghold city in southern Liaoning, how much can it get? Not to mention that Korea, Canghai and other places across the sea are also rich in this product.

…

On the second day of June, after leaving Lushun, the fleet moved along the sparsely populated Liaonan coast. Chen Ping saw that the shore on the left front was covered with a forest of intertwined pines and cypresses. There were many green round ridges, many mounds with lush flowers, and many pointed peaks popping up in the forest. Occasionally, he saw elk and deer walking in the forest. Jump between.

In front of them to the right is a series of small islands. There are large groups of seals and "big sea fish" playing in the sea. The big fish are whales, which are huge. You can see them spraying water from several miles away. High water column.

Sure enough, as Xu Fu said, there are ocean currents here, which is like sailing against the current. The boat can't go very fast. , when they were resting on an island called "Changshan Island", they saw white seabirds flying in the wind, and a large group of round harbor seals lying on the beach, which was a favorite delicacy of the crew.

This group of seals had not seen many people. The heavily armed soldiers walked past and did not run away. They just stared blankly. As a result, they were pierced by spears and the blood stained the coast red.

Chen Ping witnessed the process of the crew picking up the seal. This soft sea animal was covered with meat. It was cut into strips, salted with salt, and grilled on the fire. It was a delicacy. The captain asked Chen Ping to eat some. It felt like a rabbit. Meat.

The fat seal oil also has wonderful uses. After being slightly refined, it can be used directly to light lamps.

"The oil of big fish in the sea is better." Someone said to Chen Ping, but the whale is too big and difficult to catch, and its oil is also more precious, and can only be used in the palace.

By the time they arrived in Xi'an, with what they had seen along the way, Chen Ping had a thorough understanding of Liaodong.

It is cold here, even worse than in Beidi County. The winter is particularly terrible. It is unbearable without furs and sweaters, and wheat cannot survive the winter. It is not suitable for living and farming, so the population is sparse.

This bitter cold land is a paradise for animals. There are three local products: East Huma are abundant in the north; minks and foxes are found in the mountains and forests in the east and south; and there are a large number of fish, seals, and whales along the coast.

Chen Ping immediately thought about it: "Horses, cattle and sheep from the northern part of Liaodong can be transported across the sea to Jiaodong to supplement the shortage of livestock in Jiaodong. Mink and fox skins from the east and south can also be used as cargo and transported to the Central Plains by sea. , is of great value. There are more fish, shrimps and sea animals along the coast than in Jiaodong. If fishermen are allowed to drive big boats to catch them here and return with a full load, everyone in Jiaodong will be able to eat fish..."

"Thinking about it this way, if Liaonan can be brought under the rule of Jiaodong and open up overseas benefits, this battle will not be in vain."

As a long-time historian, Chen Ping acted as a black man and planned everything for Jiaodong. The results of the two years of Heifu's rule in Jiaodong were all spent on this battle. We must not get anything out of it after the battle!

He picked up his pen and said secretly: "I must write down what I have seen, heard and thought carefully, and report it to the Lord after I return to Jiaodong..."

But then, Chen Ping stopped writing in his hand and shook his head helplessly: "But even if you benefit a lot, what's the use? These benefits will be taken away by the court. The mink skins sent are only to keep the princes and nobles warm. , the wealth created also went into the pocket of the young master, and was used for the mausoleum in Lishan Mountain, the palace in Guanzhong, and the endless desires."

It's very unsatisfactory, as if I spent all my energy on sewing and mending it to make a wedding dress for someone else.

"In the final analysis, no matter how well your master and I do in Jiaodong, in the end we are just filling holes for the imperial court?"

And can this hole still be repaired? Heifu had just finished filling in the holes caused by the chaos in Zhutian, and he immediately dug a big one in the south and north. Jiaodong had to bear the cost of the Eastern Expedition.

In Chen Ping's view, although Hei Fu is a capable official and seems to be able to turn stones into gold wherever he goes, this is like holding firewood to put out a fire. The fire will never be extinguished if the fuel is not exhausted!

Sometimes Chen Ping thinks, maybe letting the fire go out is the right choice?

"A big rat, a big rat, can't eat my millet! I'm not willing to take care of a three-year-old girl!"

Standing up and reading the poem that he had mentioned to Xiao He again, Chen Ping showed a self-deprecating smile.

"My lord, you said that officials are where the people's lives depend. Qin officials are like raccoon slaves, catching rats for the people. Qin officials are like heavenly dogs, doing harm to the world!"

"But isn't the biggest rat in the world, the biggest scourge to the people of Kyushu, the insatiable Qin Shi Huangdi?"