Starting from a thatched cottage, the farmer embarked on the road to wealth through imperial examina

When everyone heard this, they were shocked. What kind of disease could kill most of the people in a caravan?

"Since we didn't have enough manpower to go to further tribes, we finally agreed to exchange with them. They paid some of the money with gold, silver, gems and spices, but it was far from enough. After discussion, they planned to pay the rest with cattle and sheep."

The onlookers heard that the merchants had earned gems and spices, which are rare and valuable things, but why were these two merchants dressed so shabbily? Everyone was a little curious.

"We didn't want the cattle and sheep originally. It would take too much time to drive them back from a long distance. Their families would surely be anxious waiting. Besides, we are also carrying the ashes and relics of our deceased brothers. We hope they can return home soon."

As the two vendors spoke, they burst into tears and no one interrupted them. After a while, the vendors continued to speak.

"Finally, we accepted this batch of cattle and sheep. We drove them for more than two months before we entered Dasheng. We headed towards Yizhou Prefecture, intending to sell them as we went. The sheep were easy to sell, and they were all sold out before we even reached Yizhou Prefecture."

Another vendor took over the conversation and said.

"But this cow is not easy to sell. No one has ever seen this kind of cow. Moreover, our Dasheng has strict control over cattle. Even the wealthy landlords and gentry only dare to secretly buy them and slaughter them for meat. We have been wandering around Yizhou City for half a month and have only sold a few cows. So we thought about trying our luck in Yuzhou Prefecture."

When the farmers heard that some landlords and gentry dared to buy cattle and slaughter them for meat, they gnashed their teeth.

"When we arrived at Yuzhou Prefecture, the cows were not easy to sell. No one had ever seen such a cow, but many people came to see it. We had no choice but to lower the price to 15 taels. We only sold two cows. Less than two days later, they were taken to the county government office. Your Excellency, County Magistrate, I am truly wronged!"

After hearing the statements of the two vendors, there was a burst of discussion at the scene.

“It’s not easy to be a businessman!”

"That's right. Most of the people died on this trip."

"The parents, wives and children of these people are so sad."

"This business is inherently risky, and it's safer to stay at home."

"Will you stay at home and starve to death?"

"But in any case, we should not sell cattle of unknown origin as oxen for farming."

……

In fact, this case is very easy to judge. The cows sold by these two vendors cannot be used to plow the land, which is fraud. They should be sentenced to refund the money and pay compensation, and then be detained for two days.

When Magistrate Wu heard the noisy crowd, he wanted to close the case, but suddenly he saw Ye Changyan walking out of the crowd.

When Ye Changyan saw the two spotted cows and listened to the stories of the two merchants, an idea suddenly came to his mind, but he was still a little confused, so he squeezed out of the crowd.

Someone at the scene recognized that the young man who walked out was the storyteller from the Ye family in Yunfeng Tower.

The noisy crowd gradually quieted down.

"Mr. Ye, I am investigating a case. I wonder what you are talking about?

Although Magistrate Wu's words were official, his tone was gentle.

"Sir, you are interrogating a case, and I shouldn't interrupt you. I just have some questions that I want to ask these two businessmen."

Ye Changyan bowed respectfully to Magistrate Wu and then spoke.

“It may be related to this case.”

“But it is related to this case.”

"Then I will allow you to ask the two merchants questions."

"Thank you, sir!"

As he spoke, Ye Changyan bowed to Magistrate Wu again, then turned to the two businessmen and asked.

"May I ask you two elder brothers, when you were driving the cattle and sheep back from the Qiang and Hu lands, were there any deaths on the way?"

The two businessmen looked at each other, wondering who this young man was and why the county magistrate allowed him to question them. The two businessmen did not hide anything but answered honestly.

"It was a long journey, and three sheep died on the way, but no cattle died."

Hearing that the cow was not dead, Ye Changyan's worries were mostly relieved and he continued to ask.

"Then how did the sheep die?"

"The sheep fell off a cliff and died on the way. We picked up one and roasted it for food, but the other two were too deep to be retrieved."

Ye Changyan was worried that the cattle and sheep in the Qiang and Hu lands might be sick, but after hearing what the merchant said, all his worries were put to rest.

"Then may I ask, when you were exchanging with the Qianghu tribe, did they tell you what kind of cow this was?"

After hearing Ye Changyan's question, the two businessmen fell into deep thought for a moment. After thinking carefully for a long time, one of them answered with some uncertainty.

"It seems to be called something like si...si tan niu. I don't quite understand what the Qiang and Hu people are saying, but it seems to be talking about something like si tan niu."

After hearing the merchant's answer and looking at the two cows beside him, Ye Changyan was basically certain that this was an ancient breed of dairy cow from outside the region, and then he continued to ask.

"How many of these cows do you have now?"

"In Wanshou County, there are 21 cows, 8 bulls, and 5 calves that are less than two months old. There are probably 60 to 70 more in other counties."

When the people at the scene heard that this group of merchants still had more than a hundred cows, they were all shocked. How much would that be worth?

Ye Changyan turned around and bowed to Magistrate Wu again, saying.

"Your Excellency, I have seen this kind of cow in a book. This kind of cow cannot be used for plowing. Generally, female cows are used for milk, and male cows are mostly killed for meat."

Everyone was shocked when they heard this. Such a strong cow could not be used to plow the fields and could only be killed for meat. How could the laws of the court allow this?

When the two merchants heard this, their faces turned pale. They felt that they had too much trouble with so many cows. They immediately knelt down and cried to Magistrate Wu.

"Sir, we really didn't know that these cows can't plow the land. We have so many cows, what should we do? We are still waiting to sell these cows and get money to support our dead brothers."

Listening to the merchant's crying, everyone felt sympathy, and County Magistrate Wu could only look helpless.

At this time, Tu Ergou and Song Dazhu also knelt down and kowtowed, shouting to County Magistrate Wu.

"Mr. County Magistrate, we borrowed money from our relatives, friends and neighbors to buy this cow that can't plow the land. You have to make a decision for us!"

For a moment the scene became noisy again.

At this moment, Ye Changyan stood up again and bowed to County Magistrate Wu.

"Sir, I have a way to have the best of both worlds."

Everyone listened to Ye Changyan's words and stared at him curiously.

"Mr. Ye, please tell me your plan."

"Sir, I see that the villagers and merchants are in trouble, so I have a bold idea. If the county magistrate can help solve these two problems, I have a plan to raise cattle, and I am willing to help find buyers to buy all these cattle."

When everyone at the scene heard this, there was an uproar.