The Tao family set a principle many years ago, which was to follow the power center. When the Jiangxia army's power center was transferred from Chaisang to Wuchang, the Tao family also moved to Wuchang. This time, Jingzhou was restored, and the power center was moved back to Xiangyang, and the Tao family also began to move to Xiangyang.

In fact, not only the Tao family, but also the civil and military officials in Jingzhou also sold their houses in Wuchang and moved them back to Xiangyang. Everyone knew that only by following the power center could they get the greatest benefits.

However, the Tao family did not enter Xiangyang, but chose Fancheng. On the one hand, although there was a Tao family's house and business in Fancheng, there was no need to re-buy the property.

But a house is just a drop in the bucket for the Tao family, so this is not the main reason. The fundamental reason is Tao Lie's meaning. Don't be too close to the center of power, as it will make Tao Zhan feel embarrassed.

At present, Tao Lie stayed in Wuchang due to physical reasons and did not move again. On Fancheng, the two brothers Tao Sheng and Tao Li were hosting. In fact, Tao Sheng was hosting. Tao Li came to Fancheng this time because of a special reason.

In the room, the Tao brothers were discussing a major event, that is, the Tao family capital was preparing to enter Bashu. Since his father told Tao Sheng about the three realms of merchants, Tao Sheng seemed to be woken up by a stick. He finally understood what the Tao family should do and what not to do. His thinking began to broaden and no longer disappointed his father.

In the room, Tao Sheng asked his brother: "The Palace Master asked you to come to Xiangyang, but to go to Liyang to transport iron billets?"

Tao Li shook his head, "I didn't see the governor of the state. It was Military Commander Jia who received me. It was strange that he actually asked me how I had passed the layers of Hanzhong checkpoints when I was transporting wars to Jingzhou in the past?"

"This is a bit strange. What does Junshi Jia care about this?"

"I don't know either. I just told the truth. At that time, I bribed Yang Song and got Yang Song's special pass card, so I was unobstructed. Then Junshi Jia asked how to bribe Yang Song? The question was very detailed. I felt that Junshi Jia was actually interested in Yang Song."

Tao Sheng thought for a while and he understood a little. It was estimated that the Jingzhou Army was preparing to take action against Hanzhong. For the merchants, there were great business opportunities hidden in it.

But at this time, Tao Sheng no longer made money just for business. He remembered his father's words and wanted to advance and retreat with the Jingzhou army and become a military businessman. Although there are great benefits in this, the real purpose is to gain connections from the upper military and political levels.

"Hanzhong is not the key, nor is Bashu. The key is Chang'an. Is there any new news from Li Zhong?"

Li Tong is one of the Tao family's chief managers. Half a year ago, he was ordered by Taoli to go to Chang'an to set up a office. Taoli hurriedly said: "Li Zhong has bought the largest Sanqin Tavern in Chang'an. The guys have gone to more than twenty and have stabilized."

This is the Tao family's usual style. Every time you expand to a place, you always have to start from a hostel or a tavern to facilitate the collection of information, and then expand to shops, warehouses, boat trips, etc.

Tao Sheng nodded and said, "I guess after Jingzhou takes Bashu, the next step is Hanzhong, and then Guanzhong. We must make arrangements in advance. Second brother, this matter will be left to you."

"Don't worry, brother! I will make arrangements."

Just as the two brothers were discussing, a report from the manager came from the door: "Young Master Zheng is here."

Tao Sheng was stunned. Isn’t Tao Zheng in Wuchang? Why did he come to Xiangyang? He quickly ordered: “Let him come in!”

Tao Zheng walked into the room and knelt down to salute his father, "Children pay homage to his father, and pay homage to his second uncle!"

"Get up!"

The father is usually very strict with his son, and Tao Sheng is no exception. Although his son has become a county magistrate, he still has no future in his eyes. He sank his face and said, "Why don't you do your best in Wuchang and why do you come to Xiangyang?"

Tao Zheng lowered his hands and said, "The child came to Xiangyang by the order of the governor of the state, saying that there was something important."

"What's up?"

"It is to let the child be the governor of Qichun County." Although this matter is not yet announced, Tao Zheng dared not hide it from his father or lie, so he told the truth.

"What?"

When the Tao Sheng brothers looked at each other, their eyes were filled with shock. It was not that Qichun County belonged to Jingzhou, but that Tao Zheng had actually jumped from a county magistrate to a county magistrate, which was something that people could not imagine.

"Why"

Tao Sheng was surprised and his mind was blank. He didn't know what to say, why was his son promoted?

After all, Tao Zheng had been in the officialdom for three years. Although he was puzzled at the time, he realized on the way that his sister must have something to do with him. He whispered: "I think it may be related to the Zhou Mu's marriage to Princess Jiangdong."

Tao Li reacted first and smiled and said, "I understand that this is the compensation given to the Tao family by the provincial governor. Because he married Princess Shangxiang, the provincial governor felt guilty towards the Tao family, so he promoted the political aside in an extraordinary way."

Tao Sheng closed his eyes and thought for a while, shook his head, "I also think it should be related to Princess Jiangdong, but it is not compensation, it should be a kind of comfort and give us peace of mind. Zhou Mu means that he will not change Zhan'er's status."

Tao Sheng actually did not have much resistance to Liu Jing marrying Princess Jiangdong. It is normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines. As long as the status of his daughter remains unchanged, even if Liu Jing marrys a hundred women, he will not have any impact on Tao Sheng. With his father's awakening, his thinking has gradually broadened, and many things can be seen in the essence.

But no matter what, the promotion of his son to county magistrate was indeed a great joy for the Tao family. Tao Sheng was extremely excited and said to his son: "I will rush back to Wuchang immediately and report this to your grandfather."

Tao Zheng came to find his father, but actually had other ideas, because Xu Shu hinted that if he could stabilize Qichun this year, he would consider being promoted to his prefect. He only had one year to do his job well and make people accept it. After thinking about it, he could only ask the family for help.

Tao Zheng said, "I wonder if I can ask the Tao family to help me and make Qichun prosper as soon as possible. If I can achieve political achievements within one year, I may be promoted to prefect."

Tao Sheng was even more excited. If his son was promoted to prefect in a year, the Tao family would really make a name for themselves. Qichun was originally small in population and had no business opportunities. The Tao family was never interested in it, but for his son's future, Tao Sheng decided to pay a price.

He nodded, "Don't worry, my son, the Tao family will fully support you in managing Qichun County. Even if it's a loss-making business, we will do it."

Taoli laughed, "Brother, this is not a loss-making business. The capital is on Zheng'er. If he can be promoted, that is the biggest profit of our Tao family."

It gradually came early August, and the southern region entered the last summer, commonly known as the "Autumn Tiger". It was still hot during the day, but there was a hint of coolness in the morning and evening. In the Jiangbei region, this coolness in the morning and evening is even more obvious.

In Liyang County, Jiangbei, it also belongs to Danyang County, but is located in the northwest corner of Danyang County and not far from Lujiang County. Liyang County has extremely important strategic significance for Jiangdong, which is equivalent to Xiazhi County in Jingzhou. The reason is that there is the largest iron ore and copper mine in Jiangdong.

There are tens of thousands of mine slaves serving here, some of them are criminals, some of them are captured Shanyue people, and some of them are poor people who come here to sell their coolies for their meager wages.

Millions of kilograms of ore are mined every year, and after initially smelting out crude iron and copper, they are transported to the other side of the river to continue refining, casting weapons and armor, making tools and agricultural tools, making money and casting copper ware, and the government obtains a lot of profits from it.

It can also be said that Liyang County is an extremely important economic center in Jiangdong, but just over a month ago, a Jingzhou army that came from Lujiang County occupied Liyang County. This army was a five thousand elite army led by Zhao Yun.

They seized hundreds of flat-bottomed mine ships in Jiangbei and used these mine ships to cross the river south. Zhao Yun led his army to attack Wuhu and then attacked Liyang County along Lishui, shocking the city of Dongwu, causing chaos in the hinterland of Jiangdong. However, Zhao Yun did not continue to attack and withdrew back to Liyang County, Jiangbei.

At present, Zhao Yun led his army to confront 10,000 troops led by Zhou Yu in Liyang County. There was no battle between the two sides. Zhou Yu also knew that Zhao Yun's army would leave sooner or later, but he could not allow Zhao Yun's army to shake Jiangdong again.

Zhao Yun's army controlled Liyang County and the riverside wharf, while Zhou Yu's army was in the mine thirty miles away. There was a river connected to the two places. On the top of the city, Zhao Yun was looking out from afar and looking at a fleet of more than 30 flat-bottomed mine ships slowly sailing towards the mine.

There are hundreds of thousands of stone cargo ships parked on the dock, which are the Dow Merchant Cargo ships from Jingzhou. According to the agreement between the two parties, Jiangdong will compensate Jiangxia with one million kilograms of thick iron billets. The Tao family cargo ships came to pick up the thick iron for the Jingzhou government.

Because the river is narrow and cannot travel a large cargo ship of Thousand Stones, it is necessary to rely on the mine ship to transport the thick iron billet from the mine smelting warehouse to the dock first, and then transfer it to the large ship and transport it to Jingzhou.

At this time, Zhao Yun had received an order from Jingzhou. After transporting pig iron, his army would return to Jingzhou with the cargo ship transporting pig iron.

Zhao Yun felt a little regretful. When he conquered Wuhu, the hinterland of Jiangdong was empty. In fact, he could have captured Dongwu City, or even attacked Jingkou, causing a greater shock to Jiangdong. However, Zhao Yun also knew that military victory may not be in line with the strategic interests of Jingzhou.

When he was about to go to war, Liu Jing made the order very clear that the army mainly used to intimidate Jiangdong and did not trigger it.

At first he didn't understand it very much, but as Zhang Liao led his army to Hefei, Zhao Yun finally understood the profound meaning of Liu Jing's order. Once Jiangdong was in chaos, it would not be Jingzhou, but Cao's army that benefited.

"General, brothers are all ready to line up. Can you set off?" Deputy General Li Qun bowed behind Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun took back his thoughts and smiled at Li Qun, "Take your brothers to the dock and prepare to board the boat! Thank you all the hard work along the way."

"But it would be unsafe for the general to stay in Liyang County with only two hundred brothers!" Li Qun said worriedly.

"It's okay, the Zhoumao's fleet is coming. I'm going to accompany the Zhoumao to Jingkou this time. Besides, the contract has been signed, and the Jiangdong Army dare not touch me again. You don't have to worry, go with peace of mind!"

"As for the order!"
Chapter completed!