Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 511 Driving the Hu People
Song was still wearing his green official robes, which meant he must have come directly from the imperial government office to visit the Zhang family without even having time to change, showing how anxious he was.

“Zhang Liulang, there’s no need for such formalities. I’ve come without prior notice, which is bothering you. I’ve just learned some new things that I think you’d be quite interested in, so I came to visit you in a hurry.”

Having already dealt with Zhang Dai before, Song Hun stopped mincing words and directly stated his purpose to Zhang Dai.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai's eyes lit up. He gestured for Song Hun to come to the side hall of his house and invited him to sit down.

"I have long heard that Zhang Yan Gong is skilled at building his family fortune and is very wealthy. I have been too lazy to visit him in the past. Today, I had a quick visit to his home and I can see that his reputation is truly well-deserved!"

As Song Hun followed Zhang Dai into the house, he saw that the Zhang family mansion was far more magnificent and luxurious than his own, with the halls decorated in a splendid and imposing manner. He couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

"No matter how magnificent the property may be, it is merely the legacy of our predecessors. We, the younger generation, must carry on their legacy and create something new. How can we simply rely on our ancestors' achievements and do nothing?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai chuckled and then said, "The illness that Lord Song mentioned the other day must have been resolved by now. Is the Leyouyuan Villa you've acquired to live in satisfactory condition?"

Upon hearing this, Song Hun beamed with joy and bowed slightly to Zhang Dai, saying, "If it weren't for Zhang Liulang's righteous assistance, this wish might not have been fulfilled. The scenery on Leyou Plain is pleasant, and a fine house with beautiful women is sure to make one feel good. The only drawback is the scarcity of servants, which makes the house feel empty."

Before, he at least tried to cover it up by saying he had a friend, but now he's not even pretending anymore and has directly admitted that he bought this place for himself to keep a mistress.

Upon hearing Song Hun's reply, Zhang Dai couldn't help but feel deeply sorry for Song Jing. The old gentleman had been upright all his life, yet in the end, he had such a depraved son who was utterly wicked.

They just got a good deal from me and bought a villa, and now they're complaining about not having enough servants and not having enough room in the house. This bastard comes here like he's asking for extra water and extra flour!
Although he cursed inwardly, he remained outwardly calm and continued with a smile, "Song Jun, you are kind to others, so you will naturally receive their enthusiastic help. An empty house is indeed not beautiful; a noble young master should enjoy more beautiful women."

After Song Hun finished speaking, he kept glancing at Zhang Dai. Seeing that Zhang Dai did not show any annoyance but instead echoed him, he was greatly encouraged.

So he immediately said, "Let's talk about these things later and get down to business. Ever since I met Zhang Liulang and received his help, I have kept your kindness in mind."

Recently, I have noticed that Li Linfu has repeatedly invited chieftains and local kings from various states residing in the capital region to meetings at the Honglu Temple office. I initially thought it was just official business, but recently, after reviewing the temple's records, I found no such entries. I became suspicious and summoned the local kings to inquire further. Only then did I learn that Li Linfu's invitations to them were not for official business, but rather to persuade and coerce them into paying money in Luoyang..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai suddenly understood the problem that had been troubling him for so long: how could Li Linfu and his men mobilize so much money? It turned out that it was the money provided by these Hu chieftains in the capital!

When Song Hun saw Zhang Dai's expression suddenly change, he couldn't help but feel secretly pleased, knowing that the information he had gathered was highly valued by Zhang Dai.

He was greatly encouraged and immediately continued, "Li Linfu told the chieftains of various states that the Tibetan border is now weak and can hardly compete with our Great Tang. Therefore, trade in the Hexi Corridor and Longxi will surely prosper."

"Now, there is a strong desire within the country to cease hostilities. We have already made peace with Tibet and opened trade in Shuofang. If we were to do the same with Tibet in the coming years, the profits would be even more substantial! Now that the rulers of the various states are residing in Chang'an, they should take this opportunity to devise their own strategies. First, they should send money and silk to the Central Plains. Once trade flourishes, they can immediately send goods to the border, thus reaping many times the profits..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai couldn't help but admire Li Linfu's cunning; he would use any person or thing he could to his advantage.

If Song Hun hadn't come to report this, he would have completely overlooked the fact that Li Linfu was still serving as the Honglu Cheng in the court. The Honglu Cheng was not a particularly prestigious or powerful position, but it allowed him to frequently come into contact with the leaders of various Hu tribes residing in Chang'an.

Some of these people were hostages, while others chose to settle down there because they were attracted by the prosperity of Chang'an. Although they lived in Chang'an, they still enjoyed the offerings from their tribes and clansmen, and each of them was very wealthy and powerful.

Zhang Dai recently met the foreign merchant Kang Lian in the West Market. Kang Lian was also eyeing the shift in the strategic situation between the Tang and the Tibetan Empire and had some ulterior motives. This trend was no secret. Kang Lian could see it and was eager to seize it. Others could do the same.

Although Chang'an was the capital of the Tang Dynasty, it was still relatively remote compared to the vast territory, quite a distance from Henan and Hebei, the major hubs for the distribution of goods. Those Hu chieftains, wanting to be the first to obtain cheaper and more abundant goods, naturally needed to send their money out first.

A sum of seven or eight hundred thousand strings of cash is something that one or two families could not possibly come up with, but if it were divided among the many Hu chieftains who had settled in Chang'an, it would certainly not amount to much.

Zhang Dai had overlooked this detail before, but he hadn't expected Li Linfu to pull such a surprise move without warning. Ji Wen was currently just a street urchin; even with close surveillance, he couldn't easily detect Li Linfu's meeting and persuasion of these Hu chieftains at the Honglu Temple office, so he hadn't mentioned it to Zhang Dai. "This matter probably didn't happen anytime soon, did it?"

After a moment's thought, Zhang Dai looked at Song Hun and asked a question.

Upon hearing this, Song Hun couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

Indeed, this matter has been going on for some time, but he had been indulging in pleasure at his villa in Leyouyuan and had not paid much attention to the affairs of the Honglu Temple. Recently, after being reminded by his subordinates and after some investigation and questioning, he realized that Li Linfu's actions must be related to Zhang Dai. In order to get some benefits, he hurriedly came to the Zhang family to report this matter.

Seeing his appearance, Zhang Dai didn't say anything more. After all, Song Hun wasn't some street urchin like Ji Wen. His father was famous and still alive, so naturally he wouldn't let Zhang Dai order him around.

Seeing that Zhang Dai's expression was somewhat unfriendly, Song Hun couldn't help but feel uneasy, worried that he wouldn't get any benefits. So he said, "I've been busy with trivial matters lately and haven't been able to take care of everything. I came to report as soon as I learned about it. I will also investigate further and report any new developments to Zhang Liulang as soon as possible."

"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Lord Song. This Li Linfu is wicked and disturbing, truly despicable!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai's expression softened somewhat, and he then asked with a smile, "Does Lord Song have a suitable match he cannot find? Even with the virtuous reputation of the Duke of Guangping, is it impossible to win someone's heart and make them submit?"

"These trivial matters of love and romance are not worth flaunting to build your family reputation!"

Upon hearing this, Song Hun immediately shook his head repeatedly. He still had some bottom line and dared not openly tarnish his father's reputation. Then, somewhat embarrassed, he said to Zhang Dai, "Zhang Liulang, do you still remember our meeting at the Lu family's house in Pingkang Lane the other day? There was a woman in the 'Seeking Fragrance Manual' who captivated my heart and was unforgettable at first sight."

"Because she is a daughter of the Lü family, I wish to take her as a concubine, but our relationship is shallow, and I fear it would be presumptuous to ask. Zhang Liulang, you are a close confidant of the Lü family, could you please explain this matter to me?"

Hearing this, Zhang Dai was secretly amused. This guy was a real scoundrel, always taking advantage of others. If he really became Aunt Lü's son-in-law, wouldn't he have to call him his godfather-in-law? Wouldn't his relationship with Song Jing have to change too? Wouldn't they become buddies?
"Song Jun is indeed a romantic young man who cherishes flowers. I can pass on the message for you, but I cannot guarantee whether it will succeed or not. After all, that Lady Lü is no ordinary courtesan, and I doubt anyone in the capital would dare to go against her wishes. I hope Song Jun can understand this. If this causes a commotion, it will be difficult to explain to the Duke of Guangping."

He then smiled and said to Song Hun, "Passing on a message is possible. Although Song Hun is of questionable character, he is, after all, Song Jing's son. His family background is beyond reproach, and perhaps in the eyes of those in the world of romance, he is a perfect match."

Anyway, he would explain to Lü He what kind of person Song Hun was. If she was unwilling, he certainly wouldn't help Song Hun lock the bus or force a prostitute into prostitution.

"I am already deeply grateful to have received your message, and I dare not ask for more."

Upon hearing this, Song Hun nodded repeatedly, saying that he was quite confident in his family background and did not believe that a mere prostitute would not be tempted.

After seeing Song Hun off, Zhang Dai returned to his seat and began to ponder the matter again. Li Linfu's recruitment of the Hu chieftains had indeed caught him off guard, but the situation wasn't too serious.

After all, there are no great Hayeks in this world. No matter what form the conflict takes, it all comes down to a contest of power. Even if Li Linfu manages to lure these barbarian chieftains in, if Zhang Dai gains more power, these chieftains might not dare to join in the commotion and pressure.

The most important thing now is to determine Gao Lishi's attitude. As long as Gao Lishi is on our side in this matter, or even just maintains a neutral stance, then it will not be difficult to resolve.

So after some deliberation, Zhang Dai decided to first go to Gao Lishi's house to check the situation, lest Gao Lishi be affected by Wu Zetian and something bad happen.

Zhang Dai had originally intended to inquire about the latest developments in his grandfather's collaboration with Gao Lishi, so he could have a better understanding of the situation. However, Zhang Shuo happened to be out today, having gone to Jixian Academy to submit his manuscript. So Zhang Dai left home directly and headed towards Gao Lishi's residence.

The area in front of Gao Lishi's house was still bustling with activity. After Zhang Dai entered, he waited in the front hall for a while but was not received. Just as he was becoming a little anxious, he saw a group of servants and maids escorting Pei Guangting's wife, Madam Wu, out of the mansion. Gao Lishi and his wife saw her off to the front hall, which showed how much they valued Madam Wu.

Wu also saw Zhang Dai bowing with the others, a cold smile playing on her lips. Gao Lishi, however, ignored Zhang Dai, politely helped Wu into the carriage, and then went straight home with his wife.

(End of this chapter)