Chapter 26 Section Four

When it was time to light the lamp, there was no report from the Yue sword: Mr. Yiren had lost his fever and was still sleeping soundly. The doctor said that he would wake up at dusk tomorrow.Lu Buwei felt relieved immediately, and immediately went to do the second thing that he had already planned, and ordered in a low voice, even if there is no way to jump the sword, go and prepare.Half an hour later, the sealed black car flew out of Yunlu and headed straight for Handan Jingzifang. After King Wu Ling, Zhao Guoshi was greatly expanded.In the past 30 to 50 years, Handan has become another emerging metropolis after Xianyang where merchants gather.At that time, Daliang and Linzi had already declined one after another. Merchants, famous scholars, knight-errants, beauties, skillful craftsmen and all kinds of frustrated officials from the six countries of Shandong poured into Handan one after another. In addition, the Hus of the grasslands had always used Zhao as their trading window with the Central Plains, and Handan became a veritable million-dollar city. The capital of Shang has a more expansive atmosphere than Xianyang.Merchants all over the world say: "Xianyang has a big market, and Handan has a big market." Those who benefit from the market are the ones who gave birth to Italian gold.However, Xianyang has strict laws and regulations, and the merchant district and the Chinese district are divided into two. Not only can the luxury enjoyment of merchants, scholars and tourists only be in the Shangshangfang, but it cannot be integrated into the Qin people. Some regrets.Handan is an old tradition in Shandong. Although there is a demarcated merchant area - Jingzifang, there are no restrictions on the exchanges between merchants and Chinese people.As long as merchants can buy land, they can open their shops anywhere in Handan.As long as the Chinese have money, they can enjoy all kinds of pleasures like foreign merchants.Zhao people are close to the barbarians, and their style is unrestrained and bold. In addition, barbarians continue to join in. There are few divisions and unreasonable taboos among the ruling and opposition people, so they are favored by businessmen and travelers.Even merchants who make big profits in Xianyang must also buy a house in Handan and lay a foundation at the same time. They would rather not do business in Handan, but enjoy the rare luxury of life in Handan.With such a large increase in foreign tourists, Handan's various industries have expanded around the various entertainments of various tourists. All kinds of restaurants, restaurants, social apartments, apartments, inns, and workshops have sprung up like mushrooms, and at night, they are even more charming.

The car enters the center of Tic Tac Square, and in the distance, three green buildings arranged in the shape of "pin" are reflected in a sea of ​​wind lanterns. Four big wind lanterns and red characters are swaying high on the roof——Wanlujia state! Yue Jianwu drove the black car slowly through a cross street, just as he pointed the front of the car at the entrance of the green building avenue, a waiter in red flew out from the sea of ​​lights, smiled and waved to guide the black car into the carriage field, turned around Two rows of tall cars managed to find a parking space that had just been vacated.Yue Jianwu was proficient in chariot skills, he walked the horse at a leisurely pace with the reins in the cage, and stopped the two horses and the chariot properly without going forward or back.

"A master with one step!" The waiter in red exclaimed, walked to the side of the car and opened the curtain, respectfully asked the adults to get out of the car, then knelt down and supported the pedals under the car.Lu Buwei stretched out his foot and said with a smile: "Green House moved from Linzi to Handan, and it is good at fancy styles." The waiter got up and brushed Lu Buwei's knees with his red sleeves, stood up and bowed his head respectfully, and said with a respectful smile: "My lord will give you money, I will wait for you forever." Respectful, it was originally a vocation." Lu Buwei couldn't help laughing: "Speaking elegantly, good! One gold reward." Yue Jianwu took a step forward, and hit a heavy cake of gold into the waiter's palm.The waiter thanked the lord for the bounty, turned around and swung his sleeves outside the chariot and horse farm, and two women in green skirts floated over pushing a bamboo cart in the depths of the sea of ​​lights. You leisurely entered the depths of the brightly lit courtyard.

"My lord, are you on the left or right?" The woman in green had a sweet and intoxicating voice. "Changqing Building." Lu Buwei smiled indifferently. This Wanlvjiabang is the largest sex art market in Handan. It was originally opened by Linzi "green merchants" who entered Zhao, but its momentum has far surpassed that of Linzi Green Street back then.It has existed since ancient times that women rely on sex to survive.However, it was the first of its kind in Qi State during the Spring and Autumn Period to make women's prostitution into a dedicated industry.At that time, Duke Huan of Qi, Jiang Xiaobai, took Guan Zhong as his prime minister to carry out reforms.In order to broaden the tax sources, Guan Zhong recruited all the women who sold sex in the castles of Qi to Linzi, and built more than 20 green bamboo buildings on a street in the official city area; then the government recruited merchants and received government distribution. The girl who gave sex art opened a guest house wine shop specializing in selling sex art on Lulou Street, and paid taxes to the government like all merchants.This is the "state-run sex art" that is ridiculed by all countries.After entering the Warring States period, the atmosphere of private business spread like a wild sky, and selling sex art quickly evolved into a private business industry.Because most of the color art guest houses follow the tradition of building buildings with green bamboo, people at that time called these industries "green businesses" and these merchants "green merchants".Lu Buwei has been in business travel for a long time, and he once heard that Yidun, a great merchant of Chu State, and Qingdu, a great merchant of Qin State, were secretly involved in the Green Bank. The reason why this Wanlu family is so prominent is that one of these two great merchants is behind it.Although he has never stepped into this beautiful and extravagant land, Lu Buwei is familiar with the rules and regulations of the Wanlu family.The three green buildings have different names and different experiences.The two green buildings in front, hidden in a large bamboo forest, stand side by side across the lake, named Shuangshu Building, divided into Zuoshu and Youshu.Zuo Shu raises all kinds of beauties from all over the world, and her name is "Sex Selling".Youshu gathers singers and dancers from all over the world, and it is specially for the elegant to entertain guests with designated songs and dances, and is called a performer.The small building at the back is called Changqing Building, but it is a quite mysterious place, unless the guests invite them to go, the waiters never lead the guests into this building.

Seeing that Lu Buwei was going to Changqinglou, the two green-clothed maids were more respectful, one pushed the cart slowly, and the other swayed in front to lead the way, but they didn't say a word again.The bamboo cart circled a large pond in the hatchback wind lamp, and stopped at the intersection in front of a bamboo forest.The maid leading the way stopped and chanted: "I have a guest, play the lute and the sheng." Immediately, a woman responded from the bamboo forest: "I have wine, with the heart of a Yanle guest—" Then While reciting gracefully, a woman in red with a skirt dragging the floor floated out and bowed deeply to Lu Buwei: "My little girl welcomes the distinguished guest." After saying that, he helped Lu Buwei stand up, turned around and walked into the bamboo forest path.

Lu Buwei didn't speak, and followed Yue Jian without a wave.Out of the bamboo forest, there is a small white bamboo building standing on the open grass in front of it. It is neither the traditional emerald green of this trip, nor the extravagance and luxury of the two floors in the front yard. There is only a row of wind lamps that illuminate the entrance hall warmly. Like spring.Entering the porch and bypassing the big screen, the spacious hall is unique and magnificent: under the high lamps of six bronze figures, six green jade tables occupy a corner, and there is no clean table at all; the facing wall is inlaid with a The huge bronze mirror makes the hall even more open and deep; there is a piano table under the wall on the left hand side, a complete row of chime bells under the wall on the right hand side, and a two-foot-square red carpet in the central space, without a table.

"Sir, please." The woman in the long skirt led Lu Buwei to sit in front of the jade table in the southeast corner, turned around and clapped her hands, and a girl in yellow shirt came out to make tea, and the woman in the long skirt smiled back and left.The fragrance of tea was pervasive, and a well-dressed middle-aged man with a big beard turned out from behind the big screen of the table, bowed his hands to Lu Buwei, poured a cup of tea himself, and held it to Lu Buwei's desk with both hands, which was very humble He said with a smile, "Sir, by the way, do you have a survey, or is it decided to buy?"

"Buy." Lu Buwei only said one word lightly. The bearded man immediately turned around and bowed solemnly to the big mahogany screen: "The guest officer has made a decision." After a while, a soft and beautiful laughter came from behind the big wooden screen: "Mr. Lu Buwei had already seen a window inlaid with the same color spun gauze under the big wooden screen, knowing that this woman was sitting in front of the table behind the screen, so he knocked on the long table and said with a smile: "Is it a way to respect guests when a female Dong hides herself?"

"It seems that this is the first time for Mr. to set foot in." Qingli said with a smile, "The owner of Changqing never sees customers. It's not that he is disrespectful to customers, but it's just a matter of convenience. Once the transaction is completed, it will never be related. If the transaction is made, sir, you should know me. Lou Rules are really considerate of guest officials." "The customer can do whatever he wants, so he can talk about buying and selling." "What grade do you want sir?" "For the first time in this way, dare to ask about the grade?"

"Listen, sir." Qingli's voice was soothing and soft, "Women's talent is different from literature and art. No one in the world is the same as a woman's physique. Women's family background and experience are also valued by people. The different situations of the combination of the three are: There are also 36 talented women in the Changqing Building, and everyone is a talented woman. However, when the three are combined, they are divided into three levels: beautiful talents, pure talents, and graceful wizards. Beautiful talents, flames Hu women. These women have skin like snow, three peaks towering, plump and tender, not only proficient in Hu Ge and Hu Yue, but also a fire in the couch. What's more, they have a strong and tough physique, they are willing to ride and fight, and they are happy to be a couch Female slaves, if the master is willing, can also be the queen to ravage the master endlessly. The pure and pure talents are also virgins in the Central Plains. These women are proficient in poetry and books, are familiar with etiquette, and are good at singing, dancing and instrumental music; Waiting to be released. A graceful talent, or a princess, or the daughter of a wealthy family."

"Can there be a princess here?" Lu Buwei was so surprised that he couldn't help blurting out. "Mr. is too pedantic." Qingli's voice giggled, "Wanlu Jiabang's words are true, and it will not destroy its own brand name. But sir, I think: there are still more than 20 small princes who are in danger. I don’t know how many princesses are scattered. There are only three princesses selected by my building, and their bloodlines are pure and testable. "I would like to hear about it." Lu Buwei was indifferent as usual. "Mister is so sober, it's rare." Qingli's voice paused for a moment, "Beautiful and bearded girls are not virgins. Pure and pure talents, with a correct temperament and no involvement in adultery, have a little regret in sexual pleasure. Graceful talents come from a noble background, Non-celebrities and heroes do not commit themselves, and they are sold for a price." "How much does it cost?" "A glamorous and talented woman is worth a thousand gold pieces. A mellow and talented woman is worth three thousand pieces of gold. Graceful talents are different from person to person: a rich and talented woman is worth six thousand pieces of gold, a princess is worth eight thousand pieces of gold, and a princess is worth ten thousand pieces of gold." Lu Buwei smiled slightly: "Three Manmiao, dare to ask Nudong to tell her her background." "There is no such case." The clear and beautiful voice behind the big screen giggled, "The rules of the graceful business: unless the husband clearly stipulates the contract, the names and backgrounds of the three women cannot be announced in advance." "However, if you don't like the contract, how will you deal with it?" "Sir, it's bad!" Qingli's voice was obviously displeased, "The faith of the Wanlu family is well known in the world, there has never been a case of business disputes in the past hundred years, and there has never been a single customer dissatisfied. Today, Mr. Suspicion, Ben Dong just made a rule: if If you don’t like it, you will pay back the money in double; however, if the three daughters are in danger of showing up and not closing the deal, you have to pay three thousand gold in addition to the price; this money is not taken from the east, it’s just to comfort the hearts of the three daughters. What do you think, sir?” "Yes." Lu Buwei waved behind him.The tall and upright Yue Jianwu bowed his hands to the bearded middle-aged man: "Please come with me to get the gold." The clear and beautiful voice behind the big screen said: "Mr. Deacon, make a covenant." The bearded man respectfully stood up and made a promise, and waved behind him, and the woman in the long skirt floated in holding a large copper plate, knelt beside the long table and laid out a few things in front of Lu Buwei: A piece of emerald green bamboo slips six inches wide and one inch thick, a sharp carving knife, a jade cup filled with cinnabar on one side, a delicately polished bamboo brush, a stone inkstone covered with ink on one side, a thin and shiny copper wire, A fierce oil lamp with a thick flame, and a copper stand more than one foot high. Although Lu Buwei was not familiar with the detailed rules of the green business, he had experienced many times in making contracts with business, and when the things on the case were properly arranged, he picked up the piece of green bamboo.I saw a thick red line in the middle of the bamboo slices, a big "Yue" across the thick red line, and two lines of the same text on both sides of the red line: "The two parties agreed to use □□gold market□□□girls, during the period of the Qing Dynasty, There will be no more disturbance." The next convenience is the empty space between the two sides. "Sir, let's listen to the feelings of the three daughters, and then make a decision." The clear and beautiful voice came out softly from behind the big screen, "The six-thousand-gold talented woman is the granddaughter of Zhao Guo's Anping Jun. The eight-thousand-gold princess is Anling The princess of the country. The princess of Wanjin is also the princess of the state of Wei. You can choose the grade first, sir." Lu Buwei smiled and said: "Master Dong is meticulous and careful, step by step, you might as well finish it once and consider everything." "The value of the human market lies in the carefulness, sir, forgive me." Qingli's voice sighed, "Deacon Jing just said it." The bearded man bowed his hands and said: "The guest officer chooses the grade of the woman, and then he can make a contract. After making the contract, he can meet and talk with the selected woman for half an hour. We call it 'first meeting'. If the first meeting is satisfactory, the contract will be fulfilled. If the first meeting is not satisfactory, you will pay half of the amount, and then meet with another woman for a discussion. In this way, you can have three first meetings. The method of the first meeting: you can touch the skin to taste, you can talk about poetry to determine your talent, and you can watch songs and dances to test your skills However, there are two prohibitions: one is not to engage in sexual affairs, and the other is not to ask about the woman's life experience. If the three phases are not met, the master will refund all the money, and can give the guest officer a top singer for free. Once the contract is selected, the guest The official must take away the city girl within half a month, and there will be a fine of 100 gold per day if the deadline is overdue. The last prohibition: no matter whether the transaction is made or not, the guest officials are not allowed to tell the outside world about the scene of the Changqing Building, and we will never disclose it to the public. The relationship between guests and officials. This is 'once the transaction is completed, it will never be related'. If you can understand all the deep meanings here, you can choose to make a contract." After some explanations, it is clear and capable, obviously A master of green line deacons. Lu Buwei heard it clearly, and couldn't help showing some respect for the heroine of the Changqing Building.There are two kinds of people in the world: one is the slave trade, because most of the slaves have a black brand, and the merchants call it the "black trade"; the other is the female sex trade, which is called the "green trade".In the five hundred years of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, these two lines actually ebb and flow.During the Spring and Autumn Period, the slave market was booming and was the mainstream of the slave market, and the sex trade was still in its infancy.During the Warring States Period, slavery had already collapsed. With the demise of the government slave market and the strict prohibition of slave trade by laws and regulations of various countries, the slave trade declined greatly and became an underground black market for a very small number of unscrupulous merchants.At this time, the business of female sex is flourishing, and there are green businesses permitted by law in major cities in various countries, and it has become an important source of taxation for many small and medium-sized vassal states.However, no matter how lucrative the market is, the black and green industries have never escaped the public criticism of the world, and have always been despised by righteous merchants.Not only a wealthy businessman like Lu Buwei would never set foot in such a dirty and lucrative market, but none of the big merchants in the Warring States period that Lu Buwei was familiar with was involved in the green business.If there is no special need today, he is destined to never step into this Wanlu homeland, let alone enter the Evergreen House.However, after seeing it tonight, he suddenly had a strange feeling about this evergreen building—it wasn't a businessman's big hand, and he definitely wouldn't have such a way of managing it!Among the merchants in the Warring States period, apart from Qing, the widow of Qin State, who has heard her name for a long time but never met her, is there any other female merchant with such courage?In an instant, Lu Buwei felt a strong curiosity about the main character behind the big screen. "The law of the Changqing Building is very appropriate." Lu Buwei smiled lightly, "It's just that I want to meet and talk with the Lord." The big beard glanced at the big screen quickly, and said solemnly: "Forgive me, sir, the master never meets with the guest officials. No matter what you wish, as long as it involves market transactions, you can discuss with me." Lu Buwei ignored the big beard , just staring at the big screen and smiling silently. "Sir, the master has already withdrawn." The bearded eyes stared at Lu Buwei, "It is one of the rules of the Changqing Building that the master does not see guests. If the guest officer does not forgive, the transaction will be over. The guest officer only needs to pay It's only three thousand gold." Lu Buwei laughed loudly: "Since that's the case, the guest is up to the host. The wealthy Zhao daughter. Make a contract." "Mr. is clear." The bearded man immediately recovered his respectful demeanor, knelt and sat opposite Lu Buwei, picked up a bamboo brush from the large case, dipped it in the inkstone ink, and filled in the blanks of the two lines on the wide bamboo slips. On the words "Six thousand gold" and "Noble Zhao daughter", he held the bamboo slips in front of Lu Buwei respectfully with both hands: "Please leave your name on it, sir." Lu Buwei took the bamboo slips, took out a copper seal from the leather bag in his arms, roasted it for a while on the fierce oil lamp, then pressed the blank space on the lower right half of the bamboo slips, with a soft bang, lifted the copper seal, and the bamboo slips were placed A strange scorched yellow mark suddenly appeared, like surrounded by mountains and rivers, or entangled by monsters; then picked up the bamboo pen, and wrote four ancient seal characters under the mark - Lushibuwei.In the same way, he branded and left his name on the lower left, and pushed the bamboo slips to the opposite side of the big case.The big beard smiled and said: "Mr.'s imprint is elegant, and his calligraphy is stable. I can't wait for it." After finishing speaking, he cut out a dark green stone seal from the belt around his waist, and it was also burned by the fierce oil lamp for a moment. Press it next to Lu Buwei's seal, and there will be A yellowish-white imprint stands out clearly.After branding the two seals, Big Beard picked up the bamboo pen and wrote two more times, then handed it over respectfully and said, "Please verify, sir." Taking a closer look, Lu Buwei's heart skipped a beat!The lines of this imprint are ancient and intertwined, and it looks like rivers flowing and mountains, but in fact it is a kind of writing that has disappeared-Ziwen!Lu Buwei learned a lot and knew that this inscription was originally a kind of inscription carved on the bell and tripod in the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. Because it was ancient and difficult to write, it was not used in daily writing. After the Spring and Autumn Period, it gradually disappeared. It can only be used on bronzes of the three generations See, so it is also called "Bronze Wen" by scholars, and it is also called "Dazhuan".After entering the Warring States period, the characters of various countries were simplified one after another, and few people could recognize such ancient characters.Right now, the ancient Chinese character Lu Buwei seems to be familiar with him, but he can't remember it at the moment. "The imprint of one's feet is interesting." Lu Buwei handed the bamboo slip with a faint smile, "Let's cut the contract." "This is the seal of the master, and I don't recognize it. The name is next, Jing Sangma." The bearded man was talking, and he picked up the thin bright copper wire on the case with his left hand and burned it on the fierce oil lamp for a while, until the middle of the copper wire When it was burning red, his right hand snapped the bamboo slip into the copper bracket, and the red-hot copper wire aligned with the thick line in the middle of the bamboo slip and strangled it.After doing this twice, the wide bamboo was split into two halves in a puff of light green smoke, and the character "Yue" in the middle was also strangled in half. "The agreement has been made, sir, take it away." The bearded man handed over half of the bamboo slips, cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Please move your honor, Prime Minister." "No need." Lu Buwei put the bamboo slips into the leather bag in his arms, got up and waved his hands and said, "I trust Changqinglou, just move the gold with me. People, come and pick them up within half a month." "How did this happen?" Big Beard panicked and said, "Mr. originally agreed to choose three times, but charged an extra three thousand gold. Now that Mr. doesn't choose no choice, the Changqing Building will have a negative Mr. I'm afraid I will ask the Lord Dong to show me, Only then can be the master." "Your step is noisy." Lu Buwei laughed, "I'm here to buy and sell. Before the transaction, I will follow the owner, and after the transaction, I will follow the customer. I have made a contract, and I will pay you nine thousand gold. What's the trouble?" After saying that, he strode out.Yue Jian Wuyi cupped his hands to say please, and hurriedly followed out with Big Beard. Arriving at the carriage and horse farm outside the gate of Dewanlu Jiabang, a tightly sealed iron-wheeled cart had already stopped beside Lu Buwei's cart.Lu Buwei said to Big Beard: "This is all. The deacon will clear the money with one step, and I will leave." Big Beard hurriedly bowed deeply: "Mr. go away. Within one month, I will wait for your order at any time." "No. Half a month." Lu Buwei waved his hand and stepped on the black car and went away.