Chapter 13: The Caravan Follows the Army, Each Taking What They Need
Chapter 13: Caravans Accompanying the Army, Mutual Benefit
The Great Court Session concluded swiftly. It was unanimously decided that the Great Qin would launch a military campaign against the Xiongnu this June. Ying Zheng entrusted the affairs of the caravans to Yang Zimo, while the task of selecting and organizing the mercenary forces fell to Zhang Han. In history, Zhang Han was the final great general of the Qin Dynasty.
Under the Second Emperor of Qin, to defend against Zhou Wen’s rebel forces led by Chen Sheng, Zhang Han had suggested selecting convicts from Mount Li and the children of slaves to form a convict army. They achieved victory after victory, forcing Chen Sheng to flee, only for Zhang Han to eventually be defeated by Xiang Yu and titled the King of Yong. Unexpectedly, in a Great Qin where history had taken a different turn, Zhang Han was still fulfilling his historical role—truly, fate is fickle and unfathomable.
After the session, Yang Zimo boarded his carriage, and his mansion servants drove toward Xianyang’s grandest restaurant: The Drunken Immortal Pavilion. It was the first three-story building in the Great Qin constructed with cement, featuring a main hall on the first floor, private rooms on the second, and a viewing pavilion on the third. Standing on the banks of the Wei River, one could overlook the Guanzhong Plain and the surging river from the top floor, as if holding the entire world in one’s embrace.
By late morning, the South Street of Xianyang was already bustling with noise and activity. As the most famous restaurant, the entrance was packed with diners, each holding a bamboo slip inscribed with a number, waiting for the waitresses to call them.
"Calling the guests for Private Room A-7, please head upstairs to dine," the graceful, elegant waitresses called out in sweet voices.
"My Lord, we have arrived at the restaurant," the driver whispered into the carriage.
"Hmm."
Yang Zimo stepped out and walked toward the entrance. He had barely reached the midway point when a loud shout nearly startled him.
"Which guest are you? Please queue for a number; do not cut in line!" a girl in red, who was managing the numbers, suddenly yelled.
"I have never queued when coming to this establishment. Please ask your manager; he knows me."
"I don't care about that. Since the boss gave me this job, I must do it properly and not be slack. Please, take a number and wait in line."
"Good grief!" Yang Zimo didn't want to make a scene; he had serious business today. Otherwise, he might have teased the young lady. He simply took advantage of her distraction and strode inside.
"Pah! I’m going to square off with you! Do you not know who owns this restaurant? Get out of the way, I’m going to drag him out!" She rolled up her sleeves, ready to storm in. Fortunately, the manager, sharp-eyed, grabbed her arm and whispered, "You mad girl, what are you doing? That was the Marquis of Jingyang, our Great Qin’s Immortal Master. You’re new, so you don’t recognize him. Remember this: don’t offend him next time."
On the third floor of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, at the Drunken Immortal Chamber, guards were stationed every three steps.
"We pay our respects to the Immortal Master!" The numerous merchants waiting in the private room stood up and bowed as Yang Zimo entered.
"No need for formalities. Please, be seated," Yang Zimo waved his hand.
Ever since the First Emperor’s sacrifice at Mount Tai, the story of him finding a disciple of an immortal at the foot of the mountain had become well-known throughout the Great Qin. The First Emperor had honored him as an Immortal Master and bestowed upon him great rewards. Every change in the Great Qin over the past five years had been driven by the Immortal Master, bringing countless benefits to the empire, for which the people were deeply grateful. Yet, few had actually seen his face. Had it not been for the invitations sent by the Marquis’s mansion, those present would never have had such an opportunity.
"Since everyone is here, let us begin."
"We await the Immortal Master’s instructions!" No one dared to be presumptuous.
"I will be brief. You are all elites in your respective fields. Although the Great Qin’s reforms caused many to lose their monopolies, I am pleased that you made the right choices; otherwise, you would not be standing before me today."
"We are all willing to die for the Great Qin!" the crowd quickly declared.
Yang Zimo waved his hand and said, "That is unnecessary; the Empire sees your loyalty. I have summoned you today to share a great opportunity—a reward from the Empire for your service."
"His Majesty intends to strike at the Xiongnu, and the Empire is preparing urgently. This battle must be won! Do not speak of this; if military secrets are leaked, your entire clans will be executed!" Yang Zimo stared at them, speaking slowly.
They were all clever people; their hearts tightened, and they bowed quickly. "Rest assured, Immortal Master! We understand!"
"This northern campaign is different from those in the past. The Great Qin allows you to accompany the army. The supplies seized by the army will be sold to you on-site at low prices. As for horses alone, do you realize what you stand to gain? If you are unsure, you may ask Lady Ba Qing and Clan Leader Wu Luo beside you." With that, Yang Zimo closed his eyes and began to sip his tea.
The words were like a stone causing a thousand ripples, deeply stimulating the merchants. The twenty-plus merchants in the room became restless. Some even pulled out their personal abacuses to calculate rapidly. Soon, gasps of astonishment rose one after another. The leaders among them exchanged glances and cupped their hands toward Yang Zimo.
"May we dare ask the Immortal Master for the specific details?"
Seeing their bloodshot eyes, Yang Zimo knew they were already planning. He set his teacup aside and stood up.
"All supplies seized by the army will be sold to you at half the market price of the Central Plains. Once the transaction is complete, the Great Qin will be responsible for your safety, but the transportation and sales will be entirely your own affair."
"Immortal Master, is half price not a bit too high? Our transportation and manpower costs are immense. Furthermore, the journey to the grasslands is long; after all the attrition, we will have little profit left," Wu Shi Luo was the first to speak up.
In the *Biographies of Money-Making Merchants*, it was mentioned that a wealthy man named "Wu Shi Luo" raised livestock, sold them, and bought silks to present to the Rong King. The Rong King would repay him tenfold, giving him livestock until his horses and cattle were measured by the grain. The First Emperor of Qin had granted him the status of a feudal lord. Such a man, who built his fortune through animal husbandry, was most familiar with horses and cattle. With a simple calculation, he knew the wealth hidden within this deal. But merchants prize profit, so the price was still negotiable.
"Clan Leader Luo is quite right. My family has been in business for generations, and I am well aware of the losses involved. My loyalty to the Great Qin is also beyond doubt. I implore the Immortal Master, for the sake of our loyalty to the country, to offer a discount so that we may also earn a decent living," added the Widow Qing of Ba Commandery, the largest cinnabar monopolist of the Qin Dynasty. Historically, she had provided a hundred tons of mercury for the First Emperor’s mausoleum, worth at least five hundred million in later valuations.
With the two greatest merchants taking the lead, the others began to chime in, all talking at once, giving Yang Zimo a headache.
Finally, after several hours of bargaining, the matter was officially settled.
The army’s supplies would be sold to the accompanying caravans at thirty percent of the market price. The Imperial Army would be responsible for escorting the caravans safely back to the Great Qin, but the caravans would pay the Empire a one-percent escort fee on the goods.
With that, the matter of the caravans was settled.