Chapter 286: The Future King of the Sogdians

The banquet at Kang Jinshan's house did not end until deep into the night. Zhang Zhao carefully observed these two leading figures among the Liangzhou Sogdians.

Cao Wantongxi was smooth and worldly-wise in every way. The Cao family's business spread across the entire Hexi Corridor, and they even had dealings in Qinzhou, Weizhou, Longzhou, and the western capital Jingzhao Prefecture (Chang'an).

Kang Jinshan, on the other hand, was a notch below Cao Wantongxi in both skill and vision. His skin was not as thick as Cao Wantongxi's either, and his business was not as large.

But there was one thing that attracted Zhang Zhao the most: the Kang family's business was mainly in Shan-Kuo-Lianzhou and the Qingtang Plateau, where the West Sea (Qinghai Lake) and Dafeichuan were located.

This region was precisely where the Wenmo people were most numerous. If Zhang Zhao wanted to further win over the hearts of the Wenmo and Tibetans throughout the He-Huang Valley and even on Dafeichuan, there would certainly be places where Kang Jinshan could be of use.

Moreover, Zhang Zhao's initiative today in proposing to feast at Kang Jinshan's house had also been made with a purpose in mind.

When Zhang Liecheng entered Liangzhou City and met with the members of the Sogdian Merchant Guild, he had said that Zhang Zhao was willing to grant the Sogdian Merchant Guild the exclusive right to deal in the white sugar and rock sugar that he held.

The reason it was called an exclusive dealership was to indicate that what Zhang Zhao provided was goods, not technology. But in that case, the production of white sugar and rock sugar would have to be Zhang Zhao's own responsibility.

For this reason, Dharma King Zhang had been so worried that he had lost several handfuls of hair, because among his subordinates there were people who schemed and plotted, and even more warriors who killed, but there were almost none who did business.

At present, this area was being managed for Zhang Zhao with the help of Lady Cao Sanniang, which was why, after entering Liangzhou City, Lady Cao Sanniang was still out running around even now.

But this was only a stopgap measure, because Lady Cao Sanniang was not very familiar with this line of work either; she had been forced to take it over with no other choice.

What was even more critical was that the trump cards in Zhang Zhao's hand were not just white sugar—they should be three things: white sugar, tea bricks, and cotton.

These three things were Zhang Zhao's money trees. Not only could Lady Cao Sanniang not manage them all, but letting the people around him get too deeply involved in them would bring no benefit either.

People all have selfish motives. If Sanniang were to cause some trouble, what would Zhang Zhao do then? Could he really send Lady Cao Sanniang to the execution ground to take a blade?

And so, Dharma King Zhang, who had lost several handfuls of hair over this matter, thought of a group: the Sogdians—more precisely, the Liangzhou Sogdians.

Zhang Zhao was preparing to establish in Liangzhou a government office specifically responsible for producing these three items—sugar, tea, and cotton. Naturally, the secrecy of the production processes for these three items, as well as technological improvements, would all be the responsibility of this office.

And these Sogdians were extremely well suited to do this. Of course, Zhang Zhao could not possibly toss both the exclusive dealership and the "state enterprise" that produced the sugar, tea, and cotton all together to the Sogdian Merchant Guild.

If he did that, the exclusive dealership and the secrecy would become empty words. The person Zhang Zhao had selected to run this "state enterprise" was Kang Jinshan—on the condition that Kang Jinshan must withdraw from the Sogdian Merchant Guild.

"I have heard that Captain Kang has two daughters, both of whom have come of age. I happen to have two sons as well—a perfect match. Would Captain Kang be willing to become in-laws with me?"

Zhang Zhao asked in a soft voice with a smile. Kang Jinshan, however, was taken aback. He knew that today's banquet surely had deeper meaning, and he had also considered that if Zhang Zhao wanted to win him over, forming a marriage alliance would be the most direct way.

Only, he had assumed that Zhang Zhao wanted to take one or both of his daughters as concubines, which was why Kang Jinshan had called out his third and fourth daughters to perform a dance. He had never expected that Zhang Zhao actually wanted to become in-laws with him.

"Captain, please look. My adopted son Zhang Liecheng is, like you, of the Nine Zhaowu Clans—of the same kin to begin with. Moreover, he is brave and strong and has repeatedly won merit in battle. He is a rare fine young man. If he were wed to your third daughter, would that not be a match made in heaven?"

Zhang Zhao clapped Zhang Liecheng on the shoulder and said with a great laugh. Of course he would not take Kang Jinshan's daughter as a concubine. If Kang Jinshan became one of his many fathers-in-law, would that not be the same problem as having Lady Cao Sanniang manage this business?

If a crime really were committed, it would be hard to handle. But if he did not take Kang Jinshan's daughter, then Kang Jinshan would merely be his adopted son's father-in-law, and killing him would not be so thorny or troubling.

Zhang Liecheng had long since received Zhang Zhao's instructions. When Kang Jinshan's third daughter performed her dance, he had kept his eyes on her.

Her looks were beyond reproach, graceful and slender, like a lotus rising from the water. Moreover, Kang Jinshan's family was the head of a clan; though their status was a bit lacking, the dowry would certainly be generous.

And as for him, Zhang Liecheng, if he had not by chance caught Zhang Zhao's discerning eye, he would probably still be a shepherd boy. Now that he could marry the daughter of a great Sogdian merchant, what was there left to be dissatisfied about?

Kang Jinshan also took a few glances at Zhang Liecheng. Though the lad was of lowly birth, his looks were passable enough.

Add to that his identity as Commander Zhang's adopted son, and the fact that at such a young age he already possessed a full set of mounted combat skills—he was now already the squad general of Zhang Zhao's personal guard, the Hanshan Company—his prospects could be said to be limitless.

Thinking of this, Kang Jinshan nodded with satisfaction, then cupped his hands toward Zhang Zhao.

"I am most grateful that the Commander has personally acted as matchmaker. And since he is the Commander's adopted son, with a dignified bearing and a spirited, heroic air, I, Kang, could not ask for more!"

"Hahaha! Good! From this day forward, Captain Kang and I are one family." As he spoke, Zhang Zhao lightly tapped Zhang Liecheng on the head.

"Why don't you go out and pay respects to your esteemed father-in-law?"

Zhang Liecheng immediately scrambled out nimbly. "Your child pays respects to his esteemed father-in-law!"

Kang Jinshan also hurried out and helped Zhang Liecheng to his feet. As for the third daughter of the Kang family, who had just finished her dance, she was not shy in the least. She stood beside her father with her head lowered, constantly stealing glances at Zhang Liecheng, and she seemed rather satisfied as well.

Zhang Zhao tilted his head slightly and noticed that Murong Xinzhang's gaze was still drifting toward the fourth daughter of the Kang family, behind the third daughter.

Zhang Zhao raised his wine cup, took Murong Xinzhang by the hand, and brought him over before Kang Jinshan as well.

"Elder Kang, as the saying goes, good things come in pairs. What do you think of this heroic young man before you?"

Kang Jinshan immediately sized up Murong Xinzhang for a moment. In terms of looks, this lad was even more handsome than Zhang Zhao.

After all, with his mother Lady Cao Sanniang's appearance alone, Murong Xinzhang could not possibly be ugly. Add to that the fame of the white-robed young general by the Dabei River, and it lent him even more luster.

"Could this be the white-robed young general who shot and killed Yaoluoge Tongli with a volley of arrows by the Dabei River?"

Zhang Zhao had not been in Liangzhou long, so Kang Jinshan did not yet know Murong Xinzhang well. He only knew of him as the brave general who had shot and killed Yaoluoge Tongli by the Dabei River in Suzhou.

"Indeed!" Zhang Zhao said, and drank a cup with Kang Jinshan.

"But I should let Elder Kang know: this young man is named Murong Xinzhang. He comes from the Murong family of the Tuyuhun royal line. He is not only a brave general under my command, but also a fine son of mine!"

Murong Xinzhang's face reddened, and for the first time he did not refute Zhang Zhao's way of addressing him. Kang Jinshan also suddenly understood—he knew who the person before him was now. This was Commander Zhang's "true" son.

"I have observed that young Xinzhang and Elder Kang's fourth daughter are quite drawn to each other. Might I ask if the two of them could become companions?"

Zhang Zhao had put this rather euphemistically. It was not about being companions at all—he was asking whether Kang Jinshan was willing to give his fourth daughter to Murong Xinzhang as a concubine.

Would Kang Jinshan agree to let his fourth daughter become someone's concubine? If it were an ordinary person, Kang Jinshan would certainly not agree. But faced with Murong Xinzhang, he agreed at once.

Because his fourth daughter was different from his third daughter. The third daughter was born of his principal wife, while the fourth daughter was the daughter of a concubine.

A daughter of a concubine could not marry into a family of equal standing as a principal wife anyway. The best choice was for Kang Jinshan to marry her off to a talented man of lowly birth among his subordinates.

But faced with Murong Xinzhang, even becoming a concubine actually counted as a very good choice.

One must understand that Murong Xinzhang was not merely Zhang Zhao's stepson. He was also the eldest grandson of Murong Guiying, the Prefect of Guazhou, and he came from the Tuyuhun royal line. He was also destined to be a great general of the Guiyi Army in the future.

With such lineage and status, even the possibility of the third daughter of the Kang family marrying Murong Xinzhang as his principal wife was slim, let alone the fourth daughter. Now, while Murong Xinzhang had not yet taken a wife, becoming a good concubine was quite excellent.

Cao Wantongxi was envious—though only a tiny bit envious.

Zhang Liecheng's origins were too lowly, and his adoptive father, Commander Zhang, was not much older than him. In the future, he would probably be a hard-luck laborer for the rest of his life.

Murong Xinzhang had high origins and good prospects, but unfortunately the fourth daughter of the Kang family could not become his principal wife.

But Zhang Zhao's next sentence directly made Cao Wantongxi so envious that he vomited up three catties of sour water.

"Elder Kang, today I intend to establish a Commerce Office, specifically responsible for the production of white sugar, rock sugar, tea bricks, and cotton.

The Sogdian Merchant Guild's exclusive dealership rights for the two commodities of white sugar and tea bricks will both be organized and supplied by the Commerce Office."

"If Old Kang is willing to hand over the Kang family's business, then this post of Merchant Affairs Adjutant is one I very much hope Old Kang will take."

Cao Wantongxi was stunned, and Kang Jinshan was also taken aback — but immediately he was swept up in a surge of wild joy that made his head spin. After only a dozen or so seconds of consideration, Kang Jinshan dropped to both knees before Zhang Zhao.

"Your humble servant Kang Jinshan is willing to hand over all the Kang family's business and devote himself entirely to serving the Military Governor!"

"Adjutant, please rise at once. We are all one family now. The Merchant Affairs Office is newly established — in all matters, Adjutant, you may consult with Administrative Assistant Cao!"

Zhang Zhao pulled Kang Jinshan to his feet, and by the way introduced Cao Yanlu behind him to Kang Jinshan.

As the younger brother of Lady Cao Sanniang, the elder brother of the Nineteenth Miss Cao, and Zhang Zhao's own cousin-in-law, Cao Yanlu had recently come to Liangzhou as well.

Because after Zhang Zhao left, Guazhou and Shazhou had grown even more stagnant and lifeless. Unwilling to muddle along in a daze, Cao Yanlu also wanted to accomplish something great, and so he had come to Liangzhou.

Zhang Zhao immediately appointed Cao Yanlu as Hexi Military Governor's Push Official. Apart from Cao Yanming, the Fourteenth Cao, Cao Yanlu, the Sixth Young Lord Cao, was one of the few members of the Cao family whom Zhang Zhao could trust.

Kang Jinshan knew this was Zhang Zhao's brother-in-law, and hastened to exchange courtesies with Cao Yanlu.

Over on the other side, Cao Wantongxi came sidling over eagerly. So Kang Jinshan, Kang the Pockmarked, had struck it rich — but surely the Military Governor Zhang couldn't give all the good posts to him alone. Was old Cao here not worthy?

Zhang Zhao smiled faintly and shot Cao Yanlu a meaningful glance. In appointing Cao Yanlu as Military Governor's Push Official, Zhang Zhao had in fact given him only two tasks.

The first was to keep watch on Kang Jinshan. The second was to put the Sogdian merchant network — and indeed the Sogdians of Hexi, Shuofang, and Daibei — to full use.

These Sogdian merchants were spread across the entire northern realm; they were the most suitable and most effective source of intelligence.

Zhang Zhao planned to recruit all the Sogdians of the northern realm, having them gather intelligence for him, spread rumors, sow discord among enemy commanders, and even carry out economic blockades.

The first step would begin with the Sogdians of Liangzhou. From now on, anyone wishing to travel the Silk Road — every Sogdian — would have to join the merchant guild.

I, Zhang the Transmigrator, am once again preparing to add the title of Sogdian King, or Sogdian Khagan, to my list of honors.

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