Chapter 36

Seeing Zhang Han bow on horseback, Yinding’s face turned somewhat unpleasant. The other party was just a commoner, while he was a Taiji, on par with a deputy general. Many Ming countrymen would hurriedly dismount and kowtow upon seeing him. If it weren’t for the very satisfactory painting that Zhang Han had done for him, and Yinding’s plan to have him paint a few more, he would have turned his face now.

Yinding wasn’t very interested in the business matters that Zhang Han mentioned. A young master, what kind of big business could he possibly have to discuss?

"Han Chinese boy, I plan to wear armor, hold the Sulu ding, and ride a white horse while you paint a picture. How does that sound?"

Yinding’s image design was indeed very fitting for the nomadic people’s heroic imagination. Zhang Han remembered that Emperor Qianlong also had similar paintings, but the style was somewhat soft and delicate, not quite matching the image of the fully accomplished and heroic old man that Qianlong was proud of.

"Taiji Yinding, painting is a small matter," Zhang Han smiled. "I’ll paint when I have time, but what’s important is the business."

"Han Chinese boy, you have quite the ambition." Yinding, having received a promise, was very pleased, his long face full of smiles. He looked at Zhang Han and said with a smile, "How much grain and cloth do you have? A few thousand dan of grain is a small matter; I’ll have people come to transport it. The price of grain is also negotiable, as there’s a shortage everywhere now."

"I have 50,000 dan of grain now, and I can supply over 10,000 dan each month in the future. After half a year, it will be even more. Next year, I can supply over a million dan of grain. There’s plenty of grain, can Taiji Yinding handle it?"

Yinding was taken aback, looking at Zhang Han and his companion. After a long pause, Yinding’s face turned serious. After much deliberation, the Mongol Taiji said, "I can handle a few thousand dan. For over 10,000 dan each month, I’ll need to find other Taijis to cooperate. If it’s over a million dan each year, this matter will need the approval of many Taijis, Noyans, Jirons, and even the Great Khans."

"Let’s start with the easier things," Zhang Han said. "You know, there will be many places needing grain in the future, and the Ming will certainly tighten the horse market. Grain, cloth, and medicine are hard to obtain in large quantities at the horse market."

"Han Chinese boy, how did you know this?"

Yinding’s eyes were as big as bull testicles. He looked at Zhang Han and said, "The Jurchen Khan of the Later Jin has already proclaimed himself and established a country, declaring the Seven Grievances and rising in rebellion against the Ming. Few people in the Ming know about this, yet you can know this news?"

Zhang Han was also surprised. It turned out that the news of Nurhaci’s declaration of the Seven Grievances and his rebellion, which he had a vague memory of, had not reached Datong. The civil and military officials here had no knowledge of it, but the Taijis on the grasslands already knew it very well and understood its implications.

"The Ming’s intelligence system and civil and military officials should all be hanged," Zhang Han thought to himself. It was clear that although Nurhaci had risen in rebellion, he had not yet made large-scale moves, and the border was still relatively stable. The officials in Liaodong naturally preferred to avoid trouble. Moreover, the Later Jin was well-organized, with a clear hierarchy in the Eight Banners. Nurhaci also placed great emphasis on intelligence work, sending spies as far as Shandong and Henan. The Ministry of War’s officials were also bought by the Later Jin, and Ming intelligence was continuously flowing to the Later Jin. In contrast, the Ming’s Jinyiwei was old and ineffective, and the Dongchang was useless, unable to monitor officials, let alone engage in intelligence warfare with the Later Jin.

With no one reporting, the court had no way of knowing, and the official gazettes certainly wouldn’t have news of the Later Jin. Datong naturally had no knowledge of this matter.

Zhang Han naturally wouldn’t tell Yinding the reason, and just gave a mysterious smile.

In Yinding’s eyes, this Han Chinese boy had gone from being a painter to a wealthy tycoon, and now had a mysterious aura. After a moment of suspicion, he finally agreed, "Bring 50,000 dan of grain, and I’ll send people to receive it. If the grain increases in the future, you’ll have to solve the transportation problem yourself, or we can trade in Xuangfu or even Jizhen."

Zhang Han laughed and said, "We’ll need to build good relationships on both sides. Otherwise, it’s better to settle the transaction here at Xinping Fort."

Yinding nodded and said, "If you really have this ability, I’ll take you to meet the various tribes and introduce you to everyone, so we can divide the profits in advance."

Zhang Han said, "I only deal with your upper-level Khans and Noyans. They will protect me, and I won’t offend others. Of course, I’ll also appropriately take care of those who need to be taken care of."

If there were really over a million dan of grain, along with cloth, medicine, and even iron, it wouldn’t just involve one or two Mongol tribes. There were dozens of large and small tribes in the Kharachin alone, as well as the Tumet, Inner Kharachin, Ordos, Chahar, Eight Ordos, Khorchin, and Outer Kharachin. There were hundreds of tribes with dozens of Khans, countless Noyans, and Taijis. If the profits were divided layer by layer, there wouldn’t be enough to go around.

Moreover, according to Zhang Han’s memory, the Mongols were not a monolithic entity. Initially, the Mongol tribes generally harbored some hostility towards the Jurchens. Only the Khorchin, due to Nurhaci’s blood ties and marriage, and the fact that the Khorchin couldn’t defeat the Jurchens, had to maintain good relations. The other Mongol tribes disliked the Jurchens, especially Linedan Khan, who was always wary of the Jurchens and firmly opposed them. Smuggling routes to the Jurchens would have to avoid the Chahar, increasing the risks.

Furthermore, there were many people to bribe on the Ming side. It was only because the smuggling profits were high that it was feasible.

Zhang Han’s words were reasonable, and Yinding, knowing his shrewdness, rated him even higher.

The Mongol Taiji nodded and said, "Since that’s the case, it’s settled. But it’s best to leave someone here for communication."

When it came to serious matters, Yinding’s shrewdness was evident. No wonder he was both a market supervisor and a border official; he was indeed capable.

The so-called communication person was a hostage, of course, and couldn’t be just anyone.

Zhang Han thought for a moment and smiled, "I have a concubine whom I have always favored. She is also helpful in the inner chambers. I think I’ll send her."

"Han Chinese boy, you married early," Yinding muttered. A concubine was not as good as a brother or nephew, but since Zhang Han had none, a concubine was also acceptable. For such a big business, Yinding wouldn’t feel at ease without someone in his yurt.

"As for the price of grain," Zhang Han said casually, "eight tael per dan."

Yinding stared at Zhang Han, and after a long pause, said, "I won’t haggle. It’s settled."

It was the time of the year when the grasslands were in a period of scarcity, and the small market wouldn’t open for a while. Moreover, Yinding, at his level, knew that the price of grain had risen on the Han side, and it wouldn’t drop until after May.

After Yinding and his group left, Liang Hong couldn’t hold back his laughter, almost falling off his horse.

"Master, this is really good. The inner chambers will be much quieter, and our Lady will recite fewer prayers."

Since Jinlian entered the household, Zhang’s residence had never been peaceful. Now, Chang’s family had already started reciting prayers, and Zhang Han was worried that his mother would start fasting. This time, he had smoothly sent this hot potato away, and he felt very relieved.

Actually, such cooperation with hostages was common in those days. The last time Ma Cheng’en asked him to join the garrison, it was also a form of control. Zhang Han was a civilian, and Ma Cheng’en, as a general, couldn’t easily take action. If he were to be conscripted into the army, even if he became a commander, Ma Cheng’en could still take him with a word. Zhang Han didn’t agree to this, but over time, as the scale of the Zhang family’s business expanded, it would eventually become a problem.

Zheng Fushi was still okay, as the Zhang family had connections, but it was unclear how long it would last.

Liang Hong laughed again, "This time, selling all the grain, even after deducting some miscellaneous expenses, the profit is more than double. Master, I really admire you."

Stockpiling grain and waiting for the price to rise was something that most grain shops did. They would buy grain when the government collected summer and autumn taxes, and since the government had changed to collecting silver instead of grain, the people had to sell their grain for silver to pay taxes. Grain merchants would then lower the price, and when weighing the grain, they would use a scale that underweighed, further reducing the weight. When paying in silver, they would use inferior or even fake silver, and various other methods. There were also pawnshops that charged high interest, and government officials who further exploited the people. Even in a good year, the common people had a hard time, and self-cultivating farmers hardly made any money. In a bad year or if there were sick family members, selling grain at a low price or even selling their homes and land was the only choice.

This didn’t require much skill, and Zhang Han wasn’t the only one doing it. However, no other shop would take such a risky and aggressive approach... those with substantial capital didn’t need to be so aggressive. Additionally, Zhang Han had opened up the smuggling route to Mongolia, which was ahead of everyone else, and the profits were naturally substantial.

"This is nothing," Zhang Han smiled. "Taking advantage of others’ leftovers is still eating their leftovers. What’s important is having a place to collect grain, a million dan or more each year. Without tens of thousands of acres of land to collect from, it’s not easy. Transporting grain from the south is too far and also adds to the cost."

Zhang Han knew that the rise in grain prices was just the beginning, and the demand for grain from the Mongols and Jurchens was also just the beginning. In the future, with the Ming’s official trade ban, the grain prices and smuggling profits would be even more substantial.

In two or three years, the grain price in the Jurchen-controlled Liaodong region would rise from the normal 5 to 6 tael per dan to 40 tael, and later to 80 tael, with the highest price reaching 100 to 200 tael per dan. Countless people starved to death. At that time, what would the profit from smuggling grain to Liaodong be?

Liang Hong and the others didn’t know this, but even Liang Xing and the Jiang brothers looked at Zhang Han with admiration.

With one transaction, over ten thousand taels of silver had been earned. The grain that had been stockpiled was all sold. If it were ordinary grain, these 50,000 dan would have taken several small markets and a considerable amount of time to sell. If it were held until May or June, when the grain price dropped, it would have been a loss.

There were few people with such accurate foresight, and even fewer with the courage to make a decision. Combining all these conditions was even rarer. This young master in front of them had many obvious strengths, and it would be difficult for him not to become a great figure.

Zhang Han’s purpose in bringing Liang Xing and the others was also to cultivate them. The Lahu group would gradually differentiate. Those who could keep up with him and gradually shed their bad habits would be retained. In one or two years, those who couldn’t keep up would be gradually eliminated.