Everyone thinks that the Song Dynasty's trade is prosperous, but there is collusion between officials and businessmen, and the hidden filth must be countless.

But in fact, this phenomenon is surprisingly rare, and there are not many of them in historical records.

Because in the Song Dynasty, not only merchants did business, but officials did business as well. Officials were businessmen themselves. How could ordinary merchants compete with them?

In addition, there is another reason, that is, the mobility of officials in the Song Dynasty was too high and their shelf life was very short.

For example, during the reign of Emperor Renzong, there were 23 prime ministers, and more than 100 deputy prime ministers, planning ministers, and principal ministers, including the Vice Prime Minister, the Minister of the Three Departments, and the Privy Councilor. Their average tenure was basically no more than two years.

For example, Wang Sui took office as prime minister only last year, and less than a year had passed when he was attacked and impeached by the censors headed by Han Qi.

If he hadn't been lucky enough that Zhao Jun came out of nowhere and saved his life, he would have been impeached by now. He only lasted eight months in office, and it can be said that he was in trouble before he even had time to get comfortable in the office.

In this situation, even if businessmen want to bribe officials and build relationships with them, the officials are often transferred before they can establish good relationships with them, and they have no time to become corrupt with them.

So in fact it was not that the merchants did not want to collude with court officials, but that they could not maintain long-term relationships.

Instead, the clerks in various government offices became the targets of merchants, and their main income also came from donations from merchants.

For example, the people that tea merchants tried to win over the most were the officials of the Taifu Temple who were responsible for issuing tea permits, as well as the subordinate officials of the Border Pacifiers, Transport Commissioners, Administration Commissioners, and Tea and Salt Commissioners who were responsible for collecting grain, counting goods, and delivering tea permits.

The inflated values ​​of tea merchants' trade notes were also inflated by these officials, driving up prices and helping them drain the state treasury. The two sides split the profits 70% and 30%, forming a profit-making alliance where each side got what it wanted.

Therefore, under such circumstances, Tian Chang had not even met Wang Yong, the newly transferred judge of Taifu Temple this year, so he naturally had no right to have any relationship with him.

However, Tian Chang was an old hand after all, and he soon found out that the Privy Councilor Li Zi and Wang Yong, who were officials of the Taifu Temple, had summoned tea merchants from all over the country.

Tian Chang did not go directly to the door, but first found the officials of the Taifu Temple who were familiar with him, presented them with a sum of gold and silver, and asked them to introduce him. The officials were delighted to receive the money, and first had a meal and drinks with Tian Chang, revealing a lot of information to him.

"Old Tian, ​​you're lucky. Lord Li and Judge Wang were already refusing to see guests, and it was only after I put in a few nice words that they agreed to see you. You'd better be careful with your words and don't let anything slip."

The next morning, an old clerk with a red nose from the Taifu Temple took Tian Chang into the government office through the back door, and walked through the side courtyards, through the various government offices, and headed towards the main hall, while giving Tian Chang instructions as he walked.

Tian Chang agreed on the surface, but felt quite disgusted and resentful in his heart.

He knew that Li Zi had originally summoned tea merchants from all over to hold a meeting in Taifu Temple, and there was no need for an introduction. It was definitely not the credit of these officials. They were even less worthy than himself to have a say in front of Prime Minister Li.

The clerk then claimed that it was all their fault that he was able to see Li Xianggong, which was really disgusting. If the King of Hell wasn't easier to deal with than the little ghosts, Tian Chang wouldn't have spent such a waste of money.

Soon, under the guidance of the clerk, Tian Chang entered the main hall. Li Zi was not in good health, his face was a little pale, and he was drinking tea to moisten his throat.

There was an official in his forties sitting next to him.

"Mr. Li, Judge Wang, this is Tian Chang, the largest tea merchant in Bianliang."

When the clerk came in, he first bowed and then introduced Tian Chang.

Tian Chang hurriedly bowed and said, "Tian Chang greets Lord Li and Judge Wang."

"Are you the owner of Tian's Tea Shop?"

Li Zi put down his teacup and asked.

Tian Chang responded respectfully, "Yes."

"The court intends to reintroduce the cash payment law. What do you think?"

Li Zi asked.

Tian Chang said, "This is a good thing that benefits the country, and the people strongly support it."

"But I heard that several big tea merchants in Bianliang came to you yesterday and wanted to unite with you to oppose the new policy?"

Li Zi said lightly.

Tian Chang was shocked and quickly bowed, saying, "They did come to me, but I was unwilling to join them in opposing the new policy."

"oh?"

Li Zi asked, "Why?"

Tian Chang said, "Because I know that the new policy is to eliminate corruption and false trade in border areas, which will benefit the country. I don't want to harm the country for my own benefit."

"Um."

Li Zi nodded with satisfaction, turned to look at Wang Yong and said, "This Tian Dong is very righteous, and is exactly the talent the court needs."

Wang Yong smiled and said, "Your Excellency is right. Other tea merchants bribe officials at the border to make high profits by inflating prices. Only Tian Chang not only transports the most grain, but also rarely inflates prices. Even if he takes more, he will pay less when he returns to Beijing to collect the money."

"You're pretty good."

Li Zi turned back to look at Tian Chang and said, "If the Song Dynasty could have a few more merchants like you, we wouldn't have to worry about food shortages at the border."

"Yes, yes, my lord, thank you for your compliment."

Tian Chang responded with a smile. In fact, it was not that he didn't want to take the money, but because he had traveled a lot and saw too many officials taking advantage of others and knew the dangers of the court, so he decided to keep some rules for himself.

That is, you must never take what you shouldn’t take.

It was this rule that saved Tian Chang's life, because Zhao Zhen had already obtained the solution to deal with the tea merchants from Zhao Jun, which was to use one faction to fight against another, kill the disobedient ones, and support the obedient ones. Now it was time for Li Zi to find an agent.

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