Guo Si's eyes lit up, and he looked at Duan Jiong, "General, do you mean we should set up checkpoints and levy entry taxes on them?"

“Ado is right, that’s exactly what I mean! Anyone without a pass should be arrested as a spy.”

Duan Jiong glanced at Guo Si with satisfaction, then added, "Not only that, in addition to the checkpoint tax, we should also levy a commodity tax on them. We can't let them just take away our Han Dynasty's money and grain like this."

After thinking for a moment, Duan Jiong said, "As for the prices, ten coins for a sheep, one hundred coins for a cow, and five thousand coins for a horse. As for other merchants' goods, you can send people to keep an eye on them and make sure they list their prices. You can charge them 30% of their profits."

Li Jue couldn't help but ask, "General, isn't 30% a bit too little?"

"That's quite a lot. This should be the limit they can handle. What if they stop coming if there are any more?"

Li Jue nodded, "That's right, to deal with them, we need to use a dull knife to cut them, nibble at them little by little!"

"Ahem~ Watch your wording, this is called a steady and long-term relationship, a friendly exchange!"

Duan Jiong coughed twice and couldn't help but glare at Li Jue again.

"Hehe, a slow and steady wins the race!"

Li Jue chuckled twice. Even if he was slow-witted, he could imagine how huge the profits from this trade would be, and how much better the soldiers would eat and wear.

"Hmm~ Also, all merchants without Han Chinese status are not allowed to enter the city. Some houses should be built at the trade market and rented to them for accommodation."

As for the price, let's calculate it at ten times the price of the best post station in the city, and let them all stay there. Then, send troops to patrol, and anyone who refuses to rent a place to sleep outdoors will be arrested for disturbing the peace!

"Uh...."

Everyone looked at Duan Jiong in astonishment. This was too dark!

"Hey~ What are you all standing there for? Get to work!"

"Yes, sir! I'll take care of it right away!"

Subsequently, squads of Liangzhou soldiers, led by several men, rushed to various locations along the main routes leading to Pengyang to set up checkpoints.

Another group of soldiers were sent to the trade market to start building houses. Soon, rows of houses were built, and the speed of construction was astonishing.

"Uh... General Li, is this really okay? There's not even a pillar inside to support it, and the house looks like it's shaking."

Following the soldier's gaze, Li Jue, who was in charge of the construction, saw a building made of wooden planks that resembled a large doghouse, swaying in the wind.

Li Jue glared at the soldier and quickly scolded, "What are you standing there for? Go get some sticks to prop it up!"

"Okay! Great!"

Soon, several soldiers hurriedly grabbed wooden sticks and braced themselves against the outside of the house, finally stopping the shaking.

"General, is this really going to work?"

Looking at the rows of buildings, Xiaobing couldn't help but swallow hard. He was really worried that if the wind blew in the water, he might be crushed to death.