Tea Merchants of the Song Dynasty

When discussing any cooperation, a contract should be signed. The contract is also something that the government recognizes. If someone breaks the contract, they can still seek help from the government.

There are people like Jiang Yin who don't sign a contract, but they are rare.

After all, no one dares to bet on their own interests, unless they have enough confidence.

It’s just like Prime Minister Wang Anshi. When he talked about cooperation with people who were weaker than him, even if they didn’t sign a contract, no one dared to break the contract.

But Jiang Si Niang was still worried. Jiang Yin was not Wang Anshi, and the Jiang family was also high-ranking officials. Who knew who was behind the Su and Li families?

Jiang Yin knew it very well, but under the current circumstances, she couldn't sign the contract.

She sighed and said, “I am disguised as a man and use a fake name, so even if I sign the contract, it won’t work.

It would be better to wait until things are resolved before signing the contract with your real identity."

She paused and continued, "Don't worry, Si Niang. If they really break the contract, I won't let them off easily."

If they really broke up, she would definitely not let Hui ink and Xuan paper enter the official's eyes again.

There is nothing irreplaceable in the world. If there is, she doesn't believe that the government would not want to take it back.

Jiang Si Niang had no choice but to sigh and say, "Okay, as long as you know your limits. However, the most important thing for us now is not those things, but to solve the matter at hand first."

She sat up straight and asked seriously, "Do you have any news from the Inspector?"

Jiang Yin sent people to gather information yesterday, and there must be news back today.

"Speaking of this, I was just about to say this." Jiang Yin also sat up straight and said seriously, "This matter is a bit troublesome. The inspector entered the post station and never came out.

My people have been guarding from yesterday to today, but they have not seen his true face, let alone any action by him."

She pursed her lips and continued, "People have been visiting him at the posthouse one after another, and most of them are tea merchants. I don't know whether he summoned them or the merchants went there on their own initiative."

After the Inspector arrived, the post station was guarded more strictly and his men did not dare to get too close.

After all, it is undeniable that her people are not as good as those from Tokyo, and she is unwilling to let her people die in vain.

"What should we do then?" Jiang Si Niang frowned slightly and asked, "Can we just wait for him to come out?"

As long as you have enough patience, you can indeed wait for the so-called Inspector to come out.

But time waits for no one, and they can't delay too long.

As expected, Jiang Yin shook his head and said, "We can't just sit there and wait for death. I'll go check around and see if I can find any clues."

She could also follow those who came out to get information and see what the Inspector was going to do.

Jiang Si Niang frowned and said, "I'll go with you. Let's go over and see the situation. It would be best if we could split up and approach from different angles."

Jiang Yin thought about it for a while and then agreed. She was not a god who could take care of everything. With Si Niang around, they could always find some differences together.

After confirming the matter, Jiang Yin asked the inn to send up some food.

After dinner, she did not leave immediately, but rested in the room for half an hour. Then she and Si Niang went out one after another, preparing to go to the posthouse.

The posthouse in Huizhou City is located in an alley next to the downtown area, not far from the government office. It is not too noisy, but it is also very convenient to go out.

Opposite the posthouse is a teahouse. Unlike Huiji Teahouse, this two-story Suji Teahouse is very quiet and does not have a stage for performances.

Jiang Yin also liked this kind of quiet teahouse. Coincidentally, from the private room on the second floor facing the outside, one could see what was happening at the entrance of the inn.

In addition to the entrance of the post house, you can also see the government office in the distance. Jiang Yin couldn't help but doubt the owner behind this teahouse.

It was a pity that Si Niang went in another direction and was not with her. Otherwise, she would have to discuss this with Si Niang.

Just as she was sighing, Xiao Luo, who was also dressed in men's clothes, walked in.

After booking a private room on the second floor of the teahouse, she sent Xiao Luo downstairs to take a look around.

Xiao Luo came in and closed the door, then quickly walked up to her and whispered, "Sir, there is a new situation."

Jiang Yin quickly pulled her to sit next to him, handed her a cup of tea, and then said, "What's going on? Tell me quickly."

It seems that things in Yazhou are not peaceful.

But that’s true, it seems that their Song Dynasty has never had peace.

Xiao Luo finished her tea in one breath, and then whispered, "I heard that the governor stationed in Gansu suffered a defeat and suffered heavy losses. The government was furious and demanded that a large amount of tea be collected to exchange for war horses."

"We lost?" Jiang Yin's pupils shrank slightly. "Does the large amount of tea contain Huizhou tea?"

The governor-general and pacifier stationed in Gansu was Wang Shao. I heard that he had won a battle some time ago.

He also specifically asked the government for war horses and urged the tea-horse trade in Mengshan, hoping to continue winning the battle in one go.

It hasn't been long since then, and they've already been defeated, with heavy losses!

Xiao Luo nodded and said, "Yes, including Huizhou tea. If nothing unexpected happens, all Huizhou tea will be taken away this year."

Huizhou tea has a high yield, and in the past people would buy Huizhou tea in exchange for war horses. However, as the tea-horse trade shifted, the focus also shifted to Mengshan.

Jiang Yin's eyelids were twitching. Now, the tea monopoly system in Huizhou would have to be implemented regardless of whether he wanted to or not.

She looked tense, and after a moment's silence, she said, "You continue to watch downstairs and pay attention to safety. If there is anything unusual, come back immediately."

I still have to go out to get the news as quickly as possible. However, revenge may not be that easy.

Wang Shao was defeated, and both he and the government must have been furious. In this situation, anyone who touched the inspector who collected tea would be against the court.

She smiled bitterly in her heart and could only take things one step at a time. At least, she had to know who the enemy was.

"Yes." Xiao Luo stood up, bowed, and quickly left the teahouse.

Jiang Yin, on the other hand, came to the window with a cup of tea in his hand and looked in the direction of the inn with narrowed eyes.

Soon, two groups of people rushed out of the post house. After they came out, they quickly scattered and ran in all directions.

The teacup in Jiang Yin's hand shook slightly, then he drank the tea in the cup in one gulp and quickly went downstairs.

Of course, she did not cancel this private room. She had booked it for tomorrow, and if she hadn't gone to cancel it herself, the teahouse would not have done so on its own initiative.

This is a good position, maybe she will come back later.

However, as soon as she went downstairs, someone rushed in and went straight to the counter.

With a bang, the man slammed his sword on the counter and shouted, "Where's your boss? Call him out!"

The shopkeeper came out from behind the counter and bowed respectfully, saying, "Sir, please wait a moment. I will go and call you right away."

Seeing this, Jiang Yin was in no hurry to leave, and waited with the others to watch the fun.

Looking at the man's clothes, Jiang Yin recognized that he was the person who had just come out of the post house.