Para llevar las mercancías, Shen Zechuan recordaba que los gobernadores de Zhongbo no habían durado mucho en el cargo desde la cuarta Sanyu. Los cambios se producían con mucha frecuencia. Al principio, Shen Zechuan pensó que era debido a las rencillas entre bandas, pero descubrió que Railingzhe no era tan fuerte como para tener tanto poder. Luego recordó que Hai Liangyi, al convertirse en el primer ministro, había enviado a Jiang Qingshan a Zhongbo, con la esperanza de cambiar las cosas allí.
—Quiero unirme sinceramente a usted —dijo Yán Huru—, somos compañeros indisolubles.
—Zhengzhou todavía estaba transportando grano para Sanyu el año pasado —Shen Zechuan no se apresuró a responder y miró a Yán Huru—. ¿Cómo puedes mantener a tu dinero y tus recursos sin unirte a Xue Xiuzhuo?
Yán Huru disipó su sonrisa.
—También quería unirme a Xue Xiuzhuo, pero solo quiere mi cabeza.
Shen Zechuan dijo:
—¿Xue Xiuzhuo te investiga?
—No solo me está investigando —dijo Yán Huru—. También investiga los libros contables de la familia Xi. Es un hombre muy agresivo; no soporta que le digan nada.
Yán Huru temía a Xue Xiuzhuo, algo que quedaba claro desde que era funcionario en el Ministerio de Hacienda. Había intentado corromperlo con dinero, pero sin éxito y casi fue descubierto.
El método de Yán Huru para formar alianzas era simple: colaboraban en cosas malas, manteniéndose mutuamente amenazados.
Shen Zechuan no siguió a Yán Huru.
Yán Huru se asomó y dijo:
—¿Esto está bien? Podríamos establecer un reglamento. Pasemos juntos sobre el comercio del Jazze y la zona de intercambio del Norte, discutamos cómo dividir las ganancias e implementar las estrategias.
—El negocio puede funcionar —dijo Shen Zechuan—, pero antes de octubre, debes asegurarte de que los jinetes del norte tengan ropa adecuada.
Yán Huru asintió. Seis días después, confesaron todo.Scenecan Zhao chuan knew that his thoughts were all schemes, so he said: "So what is your meaning?"
Yan Huru's eyes sparkled as he said: "How about this: next spring, the grain reserves of Cha and Dun states will be jointly supplied by Hezhou and Cizhou. I'll take the lion’s share, which is a pretty generous gesture, right? For the part of military rations needed for Qidong, I'll go west via the river to buy from Baima State. There are some old acquaintances there. However, the silver required to clear customs would be too much this year, so instead, I suggest that you exempt my merchants from He Family Shop from paying tariffs and let them exchange their goods at the Beili market. By the time we return to Yan Clan, there will still be coarse tea."
Zhao chuan drank his share of tea and left without a word.
"Hey," Yan Huru followed Zhao Chuan as he walked, saying, "This won't work either? Lord Governor, you're being too stingy! Even if it's for my benefit, I need to eat first!"
Zhao Chuan stepped out the door when Xiang Chiyue entered from a cave.
Yan Huru lay on the ground and started acting like a child, shouting: "Please, brother Zhao! You are my real older brother! We can still talk about this!"
Zhao Chuan turned around and glanced at him. He said: "The rampant bandits in Cha and Dun states? All thanks to you. Since 1268, the He Family has made quite a fortune in Zhongbo. I didn't close down their shops just for your sake. If anyone starves to death next spring in Cha and Dun, I'll personally put it on your head."
Yan Huru shrank back like a quail, lying on the ground as he looked through Fe Sheng's raised curtain at Xiang Chiyue's boots. Suddenly inspired, he shouted: "I still have something special!"
Xiang Chiyue tapped his umbrella while standing on the steps and said, "What kind of treasure? Let your second son see it too."
Yan Huru immediately put on a happy smile and spoke sweetly, saying, "Second son? I mean second lord! Do you like pearls and jade in Qian State? I just got some good things this autumn. It's like 'a sword for heroes,' pearls paired with the second lord. I've wanted to give them to you for a long time!"
Xiang Chiyue had always wanted to put earbangles on Zhao Chuan, so he was genuinely interested and asked Fe Sheng to continue raising the curtain.
"What kind of goods?" Yan Huru knew that Xiang Chiyue and Zhao Chuan were close. He said, "When I leave, I will have someone deliver it to your residence for you to admire."
Xiang Chiyue was in a good mood, saying, "You're smart."
Yan Huru nodded like a garlic bulb, saying: "Second lord and Lord Governor are here to do business. They've been staying with me for quite some time now, and I haven't properly entertained them. I feel truly ashamed."
Xiang Chiyue stood on the steps while Yan Huru secretly muttered to himself, thinking that Second Lord Xiang was just too tall; his shoulders were so broad that he could roll around on them.