Chapter 323: The Commander receives them personally

If Beijiang were a scene of starving people everywhere and people living in misery, then Cui Wangshu and Jiang Jinshi could only be in a state of basic cooperation afterward, and Cui Wangshu wouldn't even provide any more help to the other party.

Conversely, Cui Wangshu would increase her chips and win over Jiang Jinshi with all her might!

Ever since Jiang Qingyan entered the territory of Beijiang, she had been looking around with curious eyes!

She still remembered the scene when she left Beijiang last year; mountain bandits were rampant everywhere, and if the merchant caravan she followed hadn't been numerous, it would have been hard to escape!

But now entering the territory of Beijiang, it was a completely different scene. There were many people repairing the road by the official road, and she could even see smiles on their faces.

Jiang Qingyan didn't know what had happened in Beijiang, but the familiar Beijiang accent in her ears made her realize that she had finally returned!

It's just that she didn't know how those "family members" of hers were doing now, and whether their lives had become worse. If not, she had to find a way.

She dared to take action against them when she was all alone, and now that she had some confidence, she was naturally even less afraid.

Jiang Qingyan even secretly guessed that now that Xiao Shi had earned silver, these people would definitely come to the door to suck blood, and Xiao Shi probably wouldn't be able to say anything because of face!

But she was a rebellious person who didn't care about face anyway. If there was really such a situation, she had to help Xiao Shi solve this trouble.

It would be nothing more than bearing some bad reputation; she didn't care!

Just as Jiang Qingyan was thinking, the escort captain walked up to ask: "Miss Jiang, we are now in the territory of Shuo Fang Prefecture, the destination is..."

"Guangwu Prefecture!" Jiang Qingyan naturally wouldn't forget where her home was, it's just that now that Xiao Shi was making money, he shouldn't be living in the village anymore. She would ask again when she arrived.

Jiang Jinshi was drinking tea in the Guangwu City mansion when a personal guard ran over quickly, cupped his fists, and whispered: "Commander, Captain Wang sent news. The Cui merchant caravan is less than thirty miles from Guangwu City, and Miss Jiang's group is still in Shuo Fang Prefecture. According to the pace... they should only be one day apart."

Jiang Jinshi nodded: "According to the original plan, open the door to welcome the Cui merchant caravan, and the etiquette should be comprehensive, but not too luxurious. As for the merchant caravan of Sister Qingyan entering the city, lead them directly to the post house, no need to make it public."

"Yes."

Since Cui Wangshu wanted to come and see the situation in Beijiang, he would let the other party see it clearly!

Beijiang now was not something an aristocratic family could shake, which was also good for Cui Wangshu to bring news back to the South; the muddier the water, the better.

On the official road, Cui Wangshu's carriage paused slightly.

The maid reported softly outside: "Miss, three miles ahead is the post station outside Guangwu City. There are already Beijiang officials waiting there, saying they are ordered by the Ming Army Commander to welcome the Cui merchant caravan into the city."

Cui Wangshu lifted the curtain and looked at the outline of Guangwu City in the distance. The black "Ming" character flags were majestic and domineering on the city wall, and the figures of soldiers patrolling could be vaguely seen. The carriages and pedestrians at the city gate were entering and exiting in an orderly manner, without congestion or noise.

"Understood."

She put down the curtain and sat back in the carriage, "Follow their arrangements. After entering the city, all guards are not allowed to leave the station without permission, and all negotiations will be handled by me and a few stewards."

Coming to the other party's territory, one naturally had to follow the rules. If she really bumped into the other party, then don't blame her for not leaving any room for negotiation!

"Yes."

The person who came to welcome them was Xiao Chunqiu, who had done business before and was a meticulous scholar, so it was most appropriate to handle this matter.

Xiao Chunqiu wore a green scholar's long gown, his expression calm, without any special performance because of the other party's status as the Eldest Miss of the Cui Family.

Behind him stood several attendants dressed as civil officials, as well as a small team of spirited Ming Army soldiers.

Seeing the Cui merchant caravan, Xiao Chunqiu stepped forward a few steps, cupped his fists, and said loudly: "I am Xiao Chunqiu, ordered by the Commander to welcome the Eldest Miss Cui here. It has been a hard journey, please rest in the post station before entering the city."

The attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, and the etiquette was comprehensive.

Cui Wangshu, who grew up in the Cui family, was accustomed to capturing some things from others' expressions. Her gaze quickly swept over Xiao Chunqiu and the people behind him.

This Mr. Xiao had an elegant temperament and clear eyes, and was definitely not an ordinary petty official.

The Ming Army soldiers stood straight, their eyes sharp, and their posture of holding weapons was steady and powerful, clearly having undergone strict training.

After simple pleasantries, Cui Wangshu's group was introduced to the post station.

Although the post station was newly built and a bit simple, it was clean and tidy, with hot water and hot tea available, and even some tea snacks with Beijiang characteristics were prepared.

Xiao Chunqiu didn't disturb them too much, and after arranging everything, he said goodbye, saying that he would accompany them into the city after Eldest Miss Cui had rested well.

Cui Wangshu sat in the simple guest room of the post station, looking through the window at the outline of Guangwu City in the distance, and the crowd flowing in and out of the city gate in an orderly manner.

One day later.

Jiang Qingyan's merchant caravan arrived at Guangwu City, dusty and tired. Halfway there, a servant who claimed to be from the New Moon Chamber of Commerce had come to welcome them.

Unlike the formal reception received by the Cui merchant caravan, the process of her small merchant caravan entering the city was plain and unremarkable.

The city guards checked the road permits and goods, asked simple questions about the purpose of the visit, then waved their hands to let them pass, only pointing out the road to the post house.

Jiang Qingyan didn't care; she was used to being low-key. It was just that after entering the city, the scene before her eyes surprised her.

The streets were wide and clean, shops were lined up, and most of the pedestrians were dressed neatly, although not as good as in the Jiangnan area, and their faces were ruddy.

She had never been to Guangwu City before, and had only been to Jiangcheng once, but in her memory, the cities in Beijiang were always desolate and dilapidated, with beggars and refugees everywhere on the street.

Now, this appearance was quite different from her memory.

According to the servant's guidance, the merchant caravan arrived at the post house in the city.

The post house steward was a kind middle-aged man, smiling enthusiastically: "Miss Jiang, the room has been prepared, and hot water and meals will be sent over immediately. Boss Jiang... Boss Jiang ordered that please rest assured, he will come to see you after handling the urgent matters at hand."

Boss Jiang? Jiang Qingyan pondered this title in her heart.

Xiao Shi's business, is it done so big? Even the post house steward is so polite to him?

She thanked the steward and turned into the room.

The room was simply furnished, but the bedding was clean and the windows were bright. She pushed open the window and could just see the front courtyard of the post house and part of the street.

Just at this moment, a small commotion came from the street corner.

Only to see a cavalry of about a hundred people, escorting several carriages, moving slowly toward the city center.

Pedestrians on the road avoided them one after another, discussing curiously.

"Is it the cavalry in the Ming Army? So majestic!"

"Definitely! Heard that there is a big merchant caravan from the South today, and the Commander received them personally!"

"Our Beijiang is different now, even big merchants from the South have to come to talk business!" ===== CHAPTER 324 =====

"Our Northern Frontier is quite different now; even big merchants from the south want to come and discuss business!"