mtlumby2d Chapter 1566: Selling Goods Across the Snowy Mountains
Chapter 1566: Selling Goods Across the Snowy Mountains
Fat Tiger bowed politely to the man and asked, "And who is this, sir?"
"This humble official is the mayor of Linbian Town in Mobei City. Please show your identification badges."
It turns out that Chu Chen redefined the administrative boundaries of Mobei City to make it easier to manage the city, which is why the term "town mayor" came into being.
Each person had to have a waist tag made, which was equivalent to an ID card in later times.
As he spoke, the town mayor asked for a badge that would display his identity as mayor.
Fat Tiger didn't stand on ceremony and directly pulled out a waist token: "May I ask your name, Mayor? I am Wang Hu, a minor official from the Ministry of Commerce in the capital. I am here on the orders of General Chu to open up the trade route."
The mayor looked at the waist token that Fat Tiger took out, and the next moment he was about to kneel down and bow to Fat Tiger.
What a joke! The official in front of me is many ranks higher than me.
Seeing this, Fat Tiger quickly pulled him up: "Sir, General Chu said that the kneeling ceremony has been abolished, you don't need to do that."
"Oh dear... Zhang Tian, the mayor of Linbian Town, pays his respects to Lord Wang."
"No need for formalities. We are just staying here for the night and will set off for the snow mountain tomorrow!"
"Your Excellency is going to cross the snow-capped mountains?" Zhang Tian was taken aback when he heard this, thinking that Mobei was finally going to develop in foreign lands!
This is a tremendous good thing! Zhang Tian knew in his heart that if this trade route were opened up, the benefits to the border region would be enormous!
This is an opportunity for rapid development.
Fat Tiger nodded and replied, "That's right, we'll set off tomorrow. Tonight, I'll have to trouble you, Lord Zhang."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Tian was overjoyed: "My lords, please rest in town. The carriage must be tiring for you all. Let me prepare a meal to welcome you back."
Fat Tiger immediately shook his head after hearing this: "Lord Zhang, there is no need to trouble yourself. My master does not wish to be disturbed. Please just prepare an open space for us."
Zhang Tian was somewhat disappointed after hearing this. It seemed that these adults from the capital still looked down on their small place.
But as the official in charge of the border region, how could he pass up the opportunity? "Sir, since we've come to the border, let's give the people there a chance to express their gratitude to you all!"
Seeing Zhang Tianyi's insistence, Fatty Tiger was at a loss and turned his gaze to Chu Chen inside the carriage.
Seeing this, Chu Chen stepped forward and said, "Fat Tiger, since the mayor is so hospitable, how can we refuse him?"
However, as soon as Chu Chen finished speaking, Zhang Tian and his men knelt down: "This humble official pays respects to the general!"
Zhang Tian was both excited and scared. He never expected that Chu Chen would come in person!
Previously, under Dong Shilan's instructions, Tang Yun had covered the entire Xiongnu region with portraits of Chu Chen, originally intending to incite hatred. Unexpectedly, it made the entire Xiongnu people recognize General Chu Chen.
Chu Chen wasn't surprised that Zhang Tian recognized him; he understood that as well.
Then he said, "Lord Zhang, there is no need to kneel. I once said that I want everyone in the world to stand up straight and not have to kneel. So, everyone, please stand up straight. We are all human beings. This is a one-time exception."
"I know I was wrong. Please come with me, General, and I will immediately prepare a welcoming feast for you."
After saying that, Zhang Tian led everyone to stand up obediently, then straightened his back and personally steered the carriage for Chu Chen, heading towards the center of the town.
Chu Chen accepted Zhang Tian's respect without complaint; the servility he had cultivated over a long period of time could not be changed overnight.
Soon after, the group arrived at the center of the town, where there was a large open space.
Under Pang Hu's arrangement, everyone set up camp using the horse-drawn carriages, while Zhang Tian, along with a group of officials and villagers, began to arrange food.
Chu Chen was arranged by Zhang Tian to go inside the house and have a table set up for him alone.
Looking at the food in the room, Chu Chen had the illusion of returning to the capital. However, in his memory, the border areas, which did not trade with foreign countries, should have been very poor.
So he went outside, looked at the soldiers' food, and sighed deeply.
"General, my country is poor and remote, please don't mind!"
Upon seeing this, Zhang Tian immediately stepped forward and spoke up, fearing that Chu Chen would blame him.
"There's nothing to mind. Let's share all the food on that table with everyone. We'll eat with everyone and won't treat anyone differently."
"Ah... General, you are of inestimable worth... How can you eat this..."
Zhang Tian looked at Chu Chen in disbelief, his eyes filled with astonishment. He knew that while Chu Chen addressed him as "General," it was because of his connection to the Song Dynasty. In reality, Chu Chen was the emperor of the Northern Desert.
How could the emperor possibly eat the food of these lowly people when he came to the border?
"Lord Zhang, I told you long ago that my ideal is for everyone in the world to stand tall and live an equal life. So-called generals and emperors are just people, so I am no different from you. Go!"
After hearing Chu Chen's words, not only Zhang Tian, but everyone around looked at Chu Chen as if he were a god, so tall and majestic.
Seeing these people's reactions, Chu Chen sighed inwardly. Equality for all is easier said than done; people are inevitably divided into different classes.
I'm just putting in the effort myself!
Zhang Tian, with tears in his eyes, said, "General, you've been wronged!"
“Lord Zhang, you are not wronged. We officials serve the people like oxen and horses. How can you say you are wronged?”
After saying that, Chu Chen looked at Fatty Tiger and said, "Go and bring me my wine. Let Lord Zhang have a taste today. Lord Zhang has worked hard managing the frontier."
Looking at Chu Chen, who was completely unpretentious, Zhang Tian secretly vowed to be loyal to Mobei, to the general, and to the people.
The meal was simple. After having a few drinks with Zhang Tian, Chu Chen went to sleep in his carriage.
The next morning, Zhang Tian arrived early at Chu Chen's carriage to wait.
As soon as Chu Chen got up, he saw the thin town mayor.
He knew all too well the importance of these grassroots officials; their decisions directly impacted the lives of ordinary people.
So he jumped off the carriage and shook his hand: "Lord Zhang, you have worked hard. Today we will set off. After the trade route is opened, we will strive to ensure that the people of the border area have white rice, wine and meat every day."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Tian immediately bowed and said, "General, you've worked hard!"
Chu Chen glanced at the soldiers, who were fully equipped and ready to go, and shouted, "Let's go..."
Upon hearing the sound, the convoy sped off, heading directly towards the narrow pass of the snow-capped mountain.
They disappeared into the vast white snow-capped mountains before Zhang Tian and the others' eyes.
Half a day later, a gust of cold wind made Chu Chen shiver inside the carriage. He opened the carriage door and found that the caravan had already arrived at the snow mountain pass.
"Everyone, put on your cotton-padded coats and try to pass on the first try."