Chapter 34: Minshili
The difference between the official market and the private market was significant. The official market was essentially a bartering operation, with pricing power held by the Ming Dynasty. The prices of goods had long been converted into banknotes, which were then converted into silk, cloth, grain, and the like. The two parties to the transaction simply counted the goods and exchanged them.
Zhu Yuhuan deliberately put on the dark armor she had worn before, disguised herself as a soldier and followed the official, looking at the Wuliangha people calmly. She had seen Wuliangha captives before, and at this moment she did not think there was anything worth being curious about.
Compared to this, Zhu Yuhuan was more curious about the transaction process between the two parties.
There was no other way. There were few opportunities for private communication in such official occasions, and Zhu Yuhuan could only judge the other party's status based on their clothes and appearance.
Thanks to the fact that Zhu Zhanji had previously captured many Uriankhai prisoners, Zhu Yuhuan had seen their attire and appearance, which enabled him to quickly come to a conclusion.
The Wuliangha were indeed very serious about this trade, and the troops they sent were all people of high status, which could be considered as a formality. This shows that Liu Yongcheng fought a brilliant battle, at least in terms of deterrence, it was enough to intimidate the Wuliangha.
But when he really met this group of Mongols, the language Zhu Yuhuan had learned at the last minute was obviously not enough. In addition, the other party spoke very fast, so Zhu Yuhuan could only roughly understand what they said, and he immediately felt regretful.
This is the importance of mastering a language! She needs to find a few people to help her cram in after she gets back...
After the official market ended, she curiously asked the local officials what had happened in between.
Compared with Zhu Yuhuan, the officials obviously knew more. When Zhu Yuhuan asked, they immediately explained the whole process clearly.
Probably because they took into account that there were officials in the Ming Dynasty who understood the Tatar language, the members of the Uriankhai delegation spoke with extreme caution, probably also considering the possibility of leaking information.
Zhu Yuhuan knew this was bound to be the outcome, but he wasn't discouraged. He just said cheerfully, "Now I know how to participate. I'm sure I won't be caught when we go to the civilian market."
Xu Gong, who followed, was surprised and couldn't help asking, "Your Highness, you still want to see the civilian market?"
Zhu Yuhuan chuckled and said, "I'm just taking a look, I won't do anything."
Xu Gong met her smile and felt a sense of foreboding. He quickly tried to dissuade her, saying, "There's a mixed crowd in the market. What if something goes wrong?"
Seeing how nervous he was, Zhu Yuhuan comforted him, "Don't worry, I believe in your abilities. You will never put me in danger, right?"
Xu Gong fell silent.
Should he agree to this or not? Commander Sai didn't teach him these things before asking him to follow the princess obediently!
"Don't worry, I won't do anything dangerous. I just want to know what the herders in Wuliangha need."
Xu Gong exclaimed, and then he had nothing to say when he thought of Zhu Yuhuan's profitable businesses in Beijing and Jiangnan.
Border trade has always been strictly regulated and not accessible to ordinary merchants. However, Zhu Yuhuan has a special status as a royal princess. His Majesty has even agreed to allow the princess to leave the border, so doing business with the Tartars is probably not a big deal...
Seeing that he remained silent, Zhu Yuhuan looked at the stunned official beside him and said with a smile: "If there is anything else you need to pay attention to, please tell me. Then I will be less likely to make mistakes when I dress up."
On the day when the civilian market was open, Zhu Yuhuan took Huai'en and Han Guilan, changed into ordinary people's clothes, took a box of cloth, and borrowed a donkey cart to go. As for Xu Gong and others, they also disguised themselves as civilians, pretending to go to the market as well, but in fact they were secretly protecting Zhu Yuhuan.
Thanks to the wind and sun they had experienced along the way from the capital to the border, Zhu Yuhuan and the other two were no longer as delicate and tender as when they had just left the palace. After dressing up carefully and changing into appropriate clothes, they were no different from the people around them.
The only problem was probably the accent. Fortunately, Han Guilan still remembered some northern dialects. In addition, Kuanhewei was close to Liaodong, so the accent was more similar.
Therefore, the three of them divided their roles. Han Guilan was the eldest sister, and she came specifically to bring her younger siblings to buy furs and other things for the winter.
Zhu Yuhuan had been to markets before, but this was his first time. While the civilian market was regulated, it was clearly much busier than the official market. At first glance, it looked no different from any other market, but it was supervised by officials and soldiers, most of whom were ordinary citizens from the Ming and Wuliangha.
Because the civilian market will last for several days, there are many people coming from different places. The accents of the three people are not so noticeable, which makes Zhu Yuhuan feel more relieved.
Only by looking at the clothes and appearance of these people did Zhu Yuhuan understand what "poverty" meant.
She had seen refugees from the capital region in the charity hall before, but they were not like these people. Although they were not naked, seeing that their clothes were gray and they were all thin, she knew that they were just barely making ends meet.
The goods in the civilian market were much richer, mostly cattle, sheep and animal furs, such as sable, fox, lynx and mane, etc. Although not as good as the quality in the palace, they were all good furs. Zhu Yuhuan asked Huai En to look at the cloth and satin, while he took Han Guilan to look around, and soon they picked out several pieces.
Previously, all the concubines in the palace had shown great affection for Zhu Yuhuan, so naturally she wanted to do the same, and she should bring back some things that were not available in the capital as gifts.
In addition, there were also wild ginseng and other medicinal herbs, although the quantity was small, they were very popular. On the other hand, the Han people mostly had flour and beans, as well as silk and cloth, and were also surrounded by people.
Unlike the exchange of money for goods in the capital, trade was based on barter, but communication was still a problem.
Fortunately, there was a tall and strong woman nearby. Seeing that Zhu Yuhuan and Han Guilan didn't quite understand and could only make random gestures to each other, she took the initiative to step forward and help explain.
"Girl, these pieces of cotton cloth in your arms are enough to replace the furs you chose."
Zhu Yuhuan had previously learned about the prices in the horse market and knew that it was the Ming Dynasty that held the pricing power, but he still had to sigh at what predatory trade was.
In the capital, how could these few pieces of cloth be exchanged for so many furs?
Seeing the woman offering to help explain, Han Guilan smiled and thanked her, "This is our first time here too, so we don't quite understand what they're saying."
"Your accent sounds like you're from Liaodong." The woman helped hand the cloth to the Uriankhai people, and then handed the furs to the two men.
Seeing her enthusiasm and initiative, Zhu Yuhuan looked at her calmly.
She looked healthy in complexion, though a little thin, with her hands covered in scars from frostbite. However, her eyes were bright and shrewd. Just by looking at her eyes, Zhu Yuhuan could tell that she was about the same age as his mother.
Han Guilan held the pile of fur in her arms and asked curiously, "Madam, can you understand the Tartars' language?"
The woman rubbed her hands and said, "What's the point of calling me Madam or not? I'm just an ordinary woman. Why are you being so polite? My last name is Huang."
Han Guilan thought to herself that something was wrong, but she responded, "Mrs. Huang looked just like the head of a household I used to serve, so she blurted it out without realizing it."
"Oh, you must be from a big city then." Mrs. Huang sighed, her eyes falling on the cloth in Han Guilan's hands. She said, "Is this cloth woven in your home?"
Zhu Yuhuan had mentioned this to Han Guilan in advance, so she nodded slightly and said with a smile, "We knitted them at home. It took us a long time to finish some and send them to the market. What do you do for a living?"
Mrs. Huang spoke openly, "My family is useless, so I cultivate the land to earn some medicinal herbs, raise cattle and sheep to supplement my income, and sell mutton and milk in the village." She asked curiously, "Where are you from in Liaodong? You've come all this way here."
When Zhu Yuhuan saw her looking at the two of them from time to time and asking where they lived, he knew that Mrs. Huang was interested in the cloth in their arms, so he calmly pulled Han Guilan's sleeve and winked at her.
Han Guilan naturally understood and said to Huang Niangzi, "My brother is still guarding over there, so I won't delay you." After that, she took Zhu Yuhuan away.
Mrs. Huang was still a little reluctant to leave, and she couldn't help but worry about the two sisters. She didn't know whether they would come to the market tomorrow.
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