Chapter 333 Transaction

Zhao Jiu suddenly asked the question, but Zhang Jun was not caught off guard, because he realized long ago that he had to answer this question...but before, he thought he had to hand over the answer to the Privy Council and public opinion, but after the emperor began his large-scale inspection of the Yellow River defense line, he knew that he had to report directly to Emperor Zhao.

To be honest, Zhang Boying felt that the latter situation would be more comfortable, because he did not need to think so much and could just tell the truth. Relatively speaking, facing the current public opinion and official rules, he was a little confused and felt a little afraid... He felt a little bit unable to keep up with the new era.

Of course, this unexpected situation makes people a little nervous.

"Your Majesty, I have to tell you the truth." Zhang Jun said as he stood up and carefully poured half a glass of wine for Emperor Zhao.

"It's a private banquet at a private house, so there's no need to deliberately call yourself a vassal." Zhao Jiu took the wine glass and said casually. "Say whatever makes you feel comfortable."

"Yes." Zhang Jun sat back in his seat, sighed softly, and sighed repeatedly. "Your Majesty... I actually really want to say that it was my suggestion for that kid to cross the river this time... If I tell it to others, I guess everyone in the world will believe it... And according to what was said in the court newspaper, as a military governor, I already had the opportunity to go to the battle and respond... "

Halfway through the conversation, Zhang Jun couldn't remember what the word was, so he could only look back at his son-in-law under the strange gaze of Emperor Zhao, while Tian Shizhong also gritted his teeth and whispered a reminder under Emperor Zhao's gaze:

“Power and responsibility.”

"Yes, authority and responsibility." Zhang Jun took over the conversation and turned his head, speaking very sincerely. "If I admit it, I will lose face, but Zhang Zongyan will be saved. The emperor doesn't know that since Zi Gai was placed in the front army of the Imperial Camp by the emperor, Xiao Tian and him have basically been in charge here... Besides, he just wanted to make a contribution, so he underestimated the enemy and made a mistake on the battlefield. His original intention was good. But then again, I am afraid to admit it. First, I have deceived the emperor and I can't explain it to myself. Second, I am the commander of the Imperial Camp. If I admit it, people will think that the Imperial Camp Right Army is so incompetent in fighting, which will tarnish the reputation that the Imperial Camp has worked hard to build over the years."

"So, this was done by Zhang Zongyan on his own initiative?" Zhao Jiu understood it more or less.

"yes."

"You didn't doubt it at the time?"

"I was busy with a private matter at the time..." Zhang Jun explained helplessly. "I was working with the sea merchants in the east of Jingdong and the old friends in Huai River in the south. I planned to use the ships and sailors in Jingdong to sell the goods in Huai River to Japan... At that time, I was competing fiercely with Li Bao for the ships, so I believed Zhang Zongyan's lies and thought that his dispatches and the fight for military equipment and supplies were to help me! Who would have thought that he would take the opportunity to conceal the situation from both Jingdong and the upper and lower levels?"

Zhao Jiu was finally stunned, as if thinking about something.

"Your Majesty." Tian Shizhong also lowered his head and interrupted, adding, "Zhang Zongyan used mostly the logistical supplies assigned to the Imperial Navy by the Privy Council and the local authorities when crossing the river this time, and did not use the large warehouses in Qingzhou... That's why we were deceived by him."

Zhao Jiu thought for a moment, picked up another meatball, and then turned his head and laughed while chewing: "Boying, how big a business was you doing in Japan this time? How could you not even have time to take care of the things right under your nose?"

Zhang Jun stood up awkwardly, but dared not not answer: "Thirty ships, 20,000 rolls of silk, 3,000 dan of tea, 500 boxes of porcelain, ready to exchange for some silver and lacquerware... In addition, when we go, we have decided to use boxes of copper coins as the weight of the warehouse, and when we come back, we have decided to use barrels of sulfur mixed with water."

Zhao Jiu couldn't help but wonder: "I heard from Wang Lun, the Minister of the Honglu Temple, that Japan has always been cautious about the letters from the Song Dynasty. They pretend not to know anything about the word tribute, and there are many restrictions on trade. You have so many things... especially the 20,000 rolls of silk, which is the largest part this time. Compared with the 800,000 to 900,000 rolls of silk taxed by Lianghuai every year, it is not much, but Lianghuai itself can't sell much. 20,000 rolls is almost the total annual sea trade volume of Lianghuai in previous years when the country was prosperous. Aren't you afraid that the Japanese will not buy it?"

"Your Majesty, I have found out everything." Zhang Jun hurriedly explained. "First, after the Jingkang Incident, trade between the two countries has been tight for many years, and there is indeed a shortage of goods there. Second, the current situation in Japan is said to be a bit wrong... On the one hand, the central foreign court in Japan is increasingly not involved in affairs, and on the other hand, the governors of the counties and states below are doing whatever they want, just like the princes during the Three Kingdoms period... My idea is that if we can't sell out all the goods in Kyushu Island in the east, we will try to go further east. If that doesn't work, we can go back to Goryeo."

"What if it still doesn't work?" Zhao Jiu asked seriously.

"Look at what the emperor said." Zhang Jun immediately stamped his feet and explained. "Doing business, especially maritime trade, let alone other things, just exchanging copper coins for silver, that is double the profit. If it is silk or tea, it is several times the profit. For porcelain, it depends on the quality. Good porcelain can make more than ten times the profit... Therefore, if six or seven of the thirty ships come back, I can break even. If more than ten ships come back, I can double my money. Thirty ships means that I have exhausted all methods, but only sold twenty ships. So what? It's back!"

Zhao Jiu was thoughtful at first, then shook his head suddenly: "I know. After I came back, I vaguely heard Li Bao and several commanders of the Imperial Camp Right Army talking about this matter, but I didn't expect that your business is so big."

Zhang Jun was very proud for a moment.

"Has the ship gone out to sea?" Zhao Jiufu asked again seriously.

"I was delayed by Zhang Zongyan's incident..." Zhang Jun retracted his attitude and responded awkwardly. "We should have gone out to sea quickly while the Dragon King of the Sea was less angry in winter."

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!