I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

The eighth day of the third lunar month, near noon.

Just when Shen Nian thought that commodity prices in Deshengbao City would no longer fluctuate greatly, another tabloid article began circulating in the market.

This article refutes Zhang Jingxiu's claim that "if the leader of the Tumed tribe does not apologize within a month, there will be no Cold War but only war, and Deshengbao will turn from a border city into an inner city."

This paper elucidates the Ming Dynasty's policy of appeasement from multiple perspectives, including the new policies of the Ming Dynasty, border trade, and the gains and losses after the war.

Then, based on the conflict between the Third Daughter of the Tumed tribe and Huang Taiji, it was deduced that the leader of the Tumed tribe would be hard to determine within a month, and the Deshengbao horse market would definitely be closed. As for whether it would be a cold war or a hot war, it was still unknown.

This article is detailed, well-reasoned, and consistent with the real intelligence held by many Ming Dynasty merchants, which caused commodity prices to drop again, making Ming Dynasty merchants uneasy once more.

If the market closes for a month, merchants will lose real money. If they don't lower prices to clear their inventory, they may not be able to recover for the next ten years.

……

Deshengbao Mashi, entrance.

The second floor of the Jade Emperor Pavilion.

Shen Nian stood on the Drum Tower, having just finished reading the tabloid article.

Zhang Jingxiu, standing to the side, puffed out his chest and said, "Your Excellency, how about I write another article to refute this?"

Shen Nian shook his head slightly.

"The author of this tabloid article is not only well-versed in the new policies and border trade of our Great Ming Dynasty, but also particularly familiar with the affairs of the Tumet tribe. This is not something an ordinary merchant could write. If you disagree, can you explain the matter between Third Sister and Huang Taiji clearly? Can you state a reason why the two of them will definitely come here within a month to apologize and seek peace?"

Zhang Jingxiu was speechless.

Everyone knew that Third Sister had left Guihua City; everyone also knew that Huang Taiji's attitude towards trade was not so friendly.

The Tumed tribe is currently leaderless.

As the saying goes, those who have nothing to lose are not afraid of those who have something to lose. They might not actually come to negotiate. Shen Nian has already declared that if they don't come to apologize and negotiate within a month, Deshengbao Horse Market will be closed.

When the merchants of the Ming Dynasty learned of this news and gleaned some details about the internal strife within the Tumed tribe from this tabloid article, they naturally panicked again.

Border trade has always been like this, full of unexpected events.

A looting, a half-month market closure, or a sudden ban on the sale of a certain product can all affect business.

at this time.

Qi Hu, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard responsible for investigating the source of tabloid articles, strode over.

"Your Excellency, we've found out. Although there are more than ten Mongolian merchants who have been frantically buying up our goods recently, they all have a master behind them: the horse merchant Zashik. This man is a nobleman from a branch of the Tumed tribe. He started doing business at the Deshengbao horse market three years ago, exchanging horses for various goods from us. He is very knowledgeable about our business practices. Both the previous tabloid article and this one are related to people around him!"

Shen Nian nodded, pondered for a moment on the Drum Tower, and then turned to look at Qi Hu.

"Qi Hu, call Manager Bai. Today, let's sell the eight cartloads of silk from Yaodong Trading Company's Datong branch to the horse merchant Zha Xike!"

"Yes!" Qi Hu immediately ran downstairs.

Zhang Jingxiu's eyes lit up, and he said, "Your Excellency, I understand! You intend to sell the eight cartloads of silk from the Datong branch to Mongolian merchants at the original market price or higher, in order to stabilize border trade prices!"

Shen Nian shook his head.

"No, I plan to sell it at the current market price!"

"Huh? Then we're going to lose money? The Datong branch is a government-owned enterprise, representing the face of our imperial court. If this happens, the merchants will probably panic even more, and our goods will have to be discounted again!"

Shen Nian looked at the market ahead and said, "If we want to stabilize commodity prices, there is only one way: have San Niangzi or Huang Taiji apologize and seek peace on behalf of the Tumet tribe. Once our eight cartloads of silk are sold, we should achieve our goal. Get ready, let's go sell the silk!"

Zhang Jingxiu was a little confused, wondering what Shen Nian was really up to.

……

After a while.

Bai Dachun, the manager of Yaodong Trading Company and Datong Trading Company, came to Shen Nian.

When he heard that Shen Nian wanted to lower the price of the silk, he was taken aback, then cupped his hands and said, "I will listen to the young master. Selling it this way will not make us money, but it will not lose us money either!"

Although Bai Dachun didn't know what Shen Nian was planning, he knew that he was not qualified to ask.

If Shen Nianruo wants to tell him, she will.

……

Near noon.

Bai Dachun, Shen Nian, Zhang Jingxiu, and Qi Hu changed into the clothes of a shopkeeper, accountant, clerk, and guard, respectively, and met with the Mongolian horse merchant Zaxi Ke at the Deshengbao Teahouse west of the market.

More than ten guards were hidden outside the Deshengbao Teahouse in case Shen Nian and Zhang Jingxiu encountered any accidents.

On the way, when Shen Nian told Bai Dachun what to do next, Bai Dachun couldn't help but be very excited.

He knew Shen Nian wouldn't do a losing business.

……

Before long, the two arrived at a tea room.

Then they sat facing each other.

Bai Dachun sat in the middle, Zhang Jingxiu and Shen Nian sat on either side, and Qi Hu, who served as a guard, stood.

The Mongolian horse trader, Zashik, was a burly man, nearly nine feet tall, with two imposing guards standing behind him.

Zaxi and Bai Dachun were old acquaintances, and they had done no less than a hundred transactions together.

"Manager Bai, when I heard you were in such a hurry to sell your goods, I could hardly believe it. The market price of silk isn't very good right now!" Zaxike said with a hint of pride on his face.

Bai Dachun looked helpless.

"Sigh! There's no other way. If the border market closes, all my eight cartloads of silk will just sit here getting moldy. I have to sell them!" "How about a 30% reduction based on the price announced at the beginning of the month?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Dachun curled his lip slightly and said, "Zaxi Ke, you're not being fair. You're trying to take advantage of the situation. Based on the current market price, the price can only be reduced by 20% at most!"

Shen Nian instructed Bai Dachun to ensure that he did not lose money while selling the silk, and a 20% reduction was Bai Dachun's bottom line price.

“Okay, lower the price by 20%, and we’ll do the deal today!” Zashik agreed immediately. He dared not lower the price any further, for fear that the deal would fall through.

He never expected such a huge windfall to fall from the sky!
Once he spreads the news that Yaodong Trading Company's Datong branch is selling off its goods at reduced prices, other merchants in the Ming Dynasty will definitely follow suit and sell off their goods at reduced prices again.

He felt like he was about to make a fortune this time!

At this moment, Bai Dachun spoke again: "The transaction can be completed today, but I have one condition!"

"Speaking!"

"I want to trade with Third Sister in person!"

Upon hearing the words "Third Sister," Zaxi Ke's expression changed drastically. He then feigned confusion and asked, "Third Sister? Third Sister has disappeared since leaving Guihua City. How would I know where she is? Besides, what does our transaction have to do with Third Sister?"

"Those two tabloid articles recently clearly came from you. Given your or the group of Mongolian merchants' abilities, you couldn't have written such articles, obtained the information about our dynasty's new policies, and refuted them so quickly. Third Sister must be in Desheng Fort!"

Upon hearing this, Zashik subconsciously glanced behind him.

This glimpse was enough to show that Third Sister was not only in Desheng Fort, but also right next door.

This surprised and delighted Shen Nian.

Zashik looked at Bai Dachun and glared at him, asking, "What exactly do you want to do?"

"These eight cartloads of silk represent the sincerity of our Great Ming Dynasty. They are enough to allow you to make a small profit. That's all you need to do. Next, we need you to apologize and then wait for your pleas for peace!"

Upon hearing this, Zashik licked his lips, unsure how to respond.

Zhang Jingxiu, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but brighten up.

Shen Nian's suggestion to "sell eight cartloads of silk at a reduced price" was a stroke of genius. It not only gave Third Sister enough face, but also served as a way to negotiate with her in good faith. Once a settlement was reached, the prices of goods in Deshengbao Horse Market would immediately return to stability, and other merchants would not need to lower prices to sell off their goods.

Just then, the door to the tea room suddenly opened.

A tall woman wearing a long red brocade dress adorned with cloud and floral patterns, a coral necklace, and an exquisite sheathed scimitar at her waist walked in.

Zashik immediately stood up and bowed in greeting.

This woman was none other than the most powerful woman in the Tumed tribe: Third Sister.

Third Sister first looked at Bai Dachun, then suddenly fixed her gaze on Shen Nian.

"So that's why such a brilliant plan was seen through. It turns out it's Grand Secretary Shen. This humble servant greets Grand Secretary Shen!" Third Sister bowed to Shen Nian.

Shen Nian originally intended to keep her identity hidden and let Bai Dachun handle the negotiations.

He never expected that Third Sister would be here, and he never expected that Third Sister would recognize him.

He immediately stopped pretending.

He stood up, and Bai Dachun and Zhang Jingxiu immediately stood behind Shen Nian.

"Princess Consort of Shunyi, Shen Nian greets you. I didn't expect you to recognize me!" Shen Nian bowed to her.

Anda was the Prince of Shunyi, bestowed by the Ming Dynasty. San Niangzi was naturally the Princess Consort of the Prince of Shunyi, but San Niangzi was just a common name.

Even though Shen Nian was a high-ranking official, he still had to pay his respects to him.

Third Sister walked up to Shen Nian, looked him up and down, and said, "Grand Secretary Shen is indeed a handsome man, much more handsome than the portrait of Grand Secretary Shen that I have in my collection!"

Shen Nian couldn't help but blush slightly.

Mongolian women are known for their boldness; a married woman even hid a portrait of another man and spoke of it without any shame, truly showing her genuine nature.

immediately.

Third Sister looked at Shen Nian as if she were examining a work of art.

Third Sister was very concerned about the new policies of the Ming Dynasty, and Shen Nian, as the second-in-command of the new policies, had his words and actions studied by Third Sister.

At this moment, the two were only an elbow's length apart.

Shen Nian could even smell the fragrance on Third Sister's body. Third Sister was the same age as Shen Nian, with very beautiful facial features and a touch of the wild beauty of a grassland woman.

Third Sister looked at Shen Nian with gentle eyes.

"Grand Secretary Shen, how about we talk? Just the two of us, and let them all leave!"

"can!"

Shen Nian nodded, then turned to look at Qi Hu.

Shen Nian wanted to tell Qi Hu that he had not been seduced by San Niangzi's beauty trap, but really wanted to talk to San Niangzi alone. He would shout immediately if there was any danger.

Soon, everyone else left the tea room, leaving only Third Sister and Shen Nian inside.

Third Sister picked up the teapot and personally poured tea for Shen Nian. Then, when she looked at Shen Nian with her two beautiful eyes, they were like hooks, making Shen Nian feel uneasy all over.

“Princess Shunyi, you are beautiful, but your beauty cannot make me give in. I, Shen Nian, respect women. This trick won’t work on me!” Shen Nian said calmly.

Upon hearing the words "respect women," Third Sister couldn't help but withdraw her alluring gaze, sit opposite Shen Nian, and say, "Fine, it's quite tiring for me to pretend like this!"

The "beauty trap" has always been a way for Third Sister to win people's hearts.

For a woman to achieve such success in the dog-eat-dog world of the grasslands, she sometimes has to rely on her looks.

Shen Nian's respect increased her positive feelings towards him even more. (End of Chapter)