Fan Nan saw it clearly from the side and almost laughed out loud, but he quickly held it back and deliberately coughed.
An Dehai saw that the "little follower" did not accept the candy or answer, but just looked at him.
I thought the other party was reserved or frightened by my enthusiasm, and was about to say something to ease the mood.
But Fan Nanchangshi stood up, bowed respectfully to the young man in plain clothes, and introduced him solemnly:
"Muyun, this is the shopkeeper An Dehai who came from the Western Regions."
Then he turned to the completely stunned Andehai:
"Manager An, I'd like to formally introduce you to the governor of Hedong, General Zhenbei, Zhao Muyun."
"He...he is General Zhao Muyun?"
The gem candy in An Dehai's hand fell to the ground with a "click" and rolled to the corner.
His eyes were as big as camel bells and his mouth opened and closed.
Looking at Fan Nan with a respectful look on his face, and then at this excessively young young man in plain clothes, it seemed as if thousands of camel bells were buzzing in his head at the same time.
The image he imagined of a middle-aged veteran who was mature, experienced, and perhaps even had scars on his face, did not overlap in any way with the handsome, tall, and scholarly-looking young man in front of him.
"Are you...are you really General Zhao Muyun? The...the General Zhao who led his nine brothers to defeat a hundred Tartars at the border?"
An Dehai's voice changed in tone, filled with disbelief.
Zhao Muyun smiled slightly, his voice clear:
"It's Mr. Zhao. Did you enjoy the story of Shopkeeper An? It's a pity that storytellers always like to exaggerate and can't be taken seriously. Please take a seat!"
An Dehai moved to the chair and sat down almost at the same time, as if he was sleepwalking.
His eyes were still fixed on Zhao Muyun, as if he wanted to find some traces of the old general on his face.
This magical Shuozhou, with its strict military discipline, novel regulations, and widely circulated legendary stories...
They were all created by this young man?
This was even more incredible than any myth of the Western Regions he had ever heard.
An Dehai followed Zhao Muyun and Fan Nan almost at the same time into the study of the general's mansion.
His mind was still in a mess, and from time to time he would secretly glance at the back of the overly young figure walking in front of him.
The furnishings in the study surprised him again.
There is no luxurious decoration as imagined, and the walls are lined with bookshelves filled with all kinds of books and maps.
Documents were neatly stacked on a huge cedar desk.
There is also a sand table full of small flags standing on the side, which clearly outlines the mountains, rivers, terrain, cities and passes.
The whole room is simple, practical and full of pragmatic atmosphere, which forms a subtle contrast with the age of its owner.
"Manager An, right? Please take a seat!"
Zhao Muyun sat down in the main seat, his posture casual but natural with the dignified bearing of a superior.
Fan Nan sat quietly at the bottom, obviously used to this kind of occasion.
An Dehai calmed himself down and tried to recover from the huge shock, but he still stuttered:
"General Zhao... General Zhao, I'm truly... rude. I never imagined that General Zhao, so powerful in the Northern Frontier, would be... so... young and promising!"
Zhao Muyun smiled and personally poured a cup of hot tea for An Dehai. It was a local Shuozhou white tea with a unique fragrance.
"Appearances are merely appearances. Mr. An has traveled extensively between Dayin and the Western Regions, and he's well-informed and should understand this."
"Shuozhou's current status is not due to my own efforts alone, but to the concerted efforts of officers, soldiers, officials and people."
His tone was calm, without any arrogance of a young man, which made An Dehai feel a little relieved.
He took the teacup, thanked him repeatedly, and took the opportunity to look at Zhao Muyun carefully.
Looking closely, the young general's eyes were exceptionally deep and bright, as if he could see through people's hearts.
Although there was a hint of imperceptible fatigue between his brows, there was more of a calmness and confidence.
"Captain An's purpose for coming here has already been stated in the letter from Captain Tang and Minister Pei."
"I'm very happy to have the trust of Shopkeeper An. You are our friend in Shuozhou. I hope you can get the goods you want here."
Zhao Muyun came straight to the point. Although his tone was gentle, his questions went straight to the point.
After the sergeant who escorted An Dehai handed him the joint letter from Tang Yanhai and Pei Lun, Zhao Muyun understood the situation of the two in Longyou.
As expected, Timur fled to Longyou and then to the Western Regions, seeking refuge in a small country.
The various prefectures in Longyou seem to be acting independently, and the Longyou Jiedushi is isolated and is probably also looking for a way out.
An Dehai was cheered up when he heard this, knowing that the main topic had arrived.
He put down his teacup and his expression became serious:
"General, please understand. The Central Plains is in turmoil, and the Longyou Corridor is also unstable. The old trade routes are intermittent and extremely risky."
"I heard from Lord Pei and Captain Tang that Shuozhou is well-ordered and prosperous under the general's rule. In addition to tea, silk, and porcelain, there are also various novel goods."
"The craftsmanship of the colored glaze is especially remarkable; it is a work of nature. Furthermore, the general has a strong army under his command, and he can ensure peace in this area."
"So I've come across the desert to discuss with you, General, whether we can open a new trade route through Shuozhou, connecting the Western Regions with the Central Plains."
"My Anjia Trading Company is willing to be the first to try this new thing. We are also willing to abide by all the rules set by the general and pay the due taxes."
Upon hearing this, Fan Nan was filled with excitement.
It was he who first proposed the plan to attack Longyou. Unexpectedly, not long after Pei Lun and Tang Yanhai arrived, they encountered merchants from the Western Regions.
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