Please note that the translation has been provided.

Please note that the translation has been provided.
Yelv Ju looked at the young king sitting upright on the throne, resembling an adult, and spoke comforting words to him.
He couldn't help but think of the Crown Prince back in the capital city.
Both Tai Sun and the young emperor of the Southern Dynasty are of similar age.
However, no matter how much Yelv Ju looks at it, he feels that his own Tai Sun is not even comparable to the other's toe!
Ironically, the emperor in the capital city still believes that the Crown Prince of the Great Liao is the new ruler of the Southern Dynasty. Translated content:
Moreover, this young emperor of the Southern Dynasty has been intentionally cooperating.
Various records and notes are constantly being sent over every few days.
And envoys are continuously dispatched to the capital city, bringing some "notes" of the crown prince back to the Southern Dynasty.
It seems as if the Emperor of the Great Song and the Crown Prince of the Great Liao have become classmates.
One sent an envoy to claim the position of elder brother, delivering a handwritten note and repeatedly saying 'wishing to encourage my royal brother'.
Another one, on the other hand, is very proper and considers himself as the younger brother of the Emperor. He often sends messengers to express his gratitude and also sends notes to seek advice from the Emperor of the Great Song.
People who are unaware might actually think that these two emperors or crown princes of similar ages are going to become sworn brothers.
However, Yelv Ju understood in his heart that the notes and writings of the Crown Prince were actually written by the civilian officials in the capital city.
It is possible that this young master from the Southern Dynasty has actually sent his own notes to the capital city.
His mind was filled with random thoughts as he vaguely heard the words of the Southern Dynasty emperor echoing in his ears. Yet Yelv Jugu paid no attention to them at all, merely nodding his head respectfully and pretending to listen attentively.
At this moment, a keyword exploded in the ear of Yelvju.
"Yesterday, I was also here to see off the Korean monk Yitian, who came to the court."
"At that time, I said that the Great Song Dynasty is willing to live in peace with all countries of the world..."
Yelu Ju raised his head and opened his eyes wide.
Goryeo?
Did the Southern Dynasty's young emperor just mention Goryeo?
Are Goryeo people involved in affairs with the Southern Dynasty again?!
Yelu Ju maintained a calm expression, but his heart was already stirred up.
The abacus in his mind was clicking faster than anyone else's!
"With this achievement, once I return to my homeland, I can prove my merits to the emperor!" Yelü Ju's eyes kept rolling.
This is a great achievement that fell from the sky.
With this credit of uncovering the collusion between the Southern Dynasty and Goryeo, once he returns to his country and makes some moves, it is very likely that this Southern Dynasty envoy will still be his.
Those kickbacks, benefits, will also be his.
As for whether or not he will be deceived or fall into a trap?
Does it have anything to do with him?
……
After leaving the Chongzheng Hall, Yelv Ju encountered Xing Shu who was waiting for him. Sure, here's the translated content:
As a companion of the court, Xing Shu possessed a legitimate and reasonable identity and qualifications to interact and converse with the Liao envoy.
Therefore, the two of them directly met openly.
"Brother Yelü, the tea leaves for my friends have arrived," Xing Shu said. "Do you want to go and inspect the goods, brother?"
Yelv Ju burst into laughter, saying: "How could I doubt the goods of my friend?"
Both of them are meant to be transported back to the country, to be consumed by the peasants and merchants.
Yelv Ju has no financial connection to them whatsoever.
Whether the quality is good or not, as long as the kickbacks and benefits really end up in our hands, who cares about all the rest?
Xing Shu smirked and said, "Although that's true, we still need to inspect the goods."
“再说，在下的朋友们，也想见见耶律兄。”
“另外还有几个新朋友，也想结识一下耶律兄。”
“新朋友？”耶律琚心说，这是有人要送钱给他？
That's great!
With a flicker in his eyes, Yan Zizhong turned to Xing Shu and said, "Oh, I see. Should I go and see then?"
Xing Shu cupped his hands and said, "Please!"
So, after more than an hour, Yelv Ju came to a tea storage yard in Bianjing City and saw the piles of tea leaves at the wharf.
These tea leaves are packaged in wooden crates.
You can smell the strong aroma of tea from afar - there is no musty smell as expected.
This curiosity intrigued Yelv Ju.
Tea without any moldy smell?
This must be good tea!
However, he is unaware that in the tea plantations of the Song Dynasty, once tea leaves become moldy, they are destroyed.
Even before they have a chance to become moldy, they are destroyed. Translation:
Because the tea has become moldy, it only indicates that it cannot be sold, or merchants believe that the profits are too low and the risks are too high.
This is the result of the current tea monopoly system in the Song Dynasty.
Because the current tea regulation system has long abandoned the policy of using tea leaves as a form of tax payment.
Instead, it has adopted the commercial laws since the Jia You era.
The main idea behind the commercial laws is: tea growers pay rent to the government; tea traders have to pay taxes to the government. The translated content is as follows:
This prompts profit-seeking merchants to only purchase tea leaves from gardeners that yield the highest profits and are easiest to sell.
As a result, those tea leaves that are of lower grades, generate less profit, or have slower sales, naturally become unsold, causing troubles for gardeners and government officials.
Because of the Trade Law, the government is no longer allowed to forcefully allocate second-grade and aged teas to merchants.
In other words, this is actually the invisible hand of the market economy at work.
However, both the government and the tea farmers are very concerned.
If these accumulated intermediate teas and aged teas cannot be sold, the tea farmers will suffer losses, and the government will also lose tea taxes.
Yelü Ju is unaware of the complexities involved, and he is astonished by the boxes of tea leaves piled up at the dock. Translated content:
等到刑恕带着他，随机抽查了几箱茶叶后。
耶律琚的神色，就变得极为精彩了。
他抓着手中的一个茶饼，放在鼻前闻了闻，茶叶的香味在鼻腔里弥漫开来。
He raised his head and looked at the words "Ci Cha" marked on the wooden box.
Then he turned to look at Xing Shu: "Is this Ci Cha?"
Xing Shu nodded with a smile.
In the Song Dynasty, the main consumers of tea were the first and second-class households in the city and rural areas.
Poor people cannot afford to drink tea, nor can they afford to let go of the opportunity to drink tea.
As a result, most people who drink tea have some level of pursuit.
They value the quality and aroma of the tea leaves, as well as the flavor of the brewed tea...
They all have requirements.
Like those tea cakes made from coarse tea, except for a few people, no one buys them at all.
Even if someone buys them, the market is very small.
Before Jia You era, the government would still forcibly distribute these second-grade teas and aged teas to merchants.
Force these tea merchants and find ways to sell subpar tea and aged tea.
After the implementation of the Commercial Treaty, these tea merchants were liberated and became free.
Most of the subpar tea was automatically eliminated from the market.
Especially in Chengdu, where there is competition from teas from Southeast China and Fujian.
Their quality is better, and they are closer to the main tea consuming region, naturally resulting in lower costs.
As a result, the sales of Chengdu Ci Cha and Chen Cha became even more dismal.
It was common for several hundred thousand kilograms of Ci Cha and Chen Cha to remain unsold each year.
However, Yelv Ju seemed to be like a mouse that had fallen into a rice warehouse.
Holding the tea cake in his hand, his eyes shone with excitement!
He dared to bet that after these tea leaves were transported back to the country, they could be sold for at least eighty or ninety coins per cake.
If sold to the Xianbei or Jurchen people, the price could be even higher!
And it will be snatched up by people!
He thought that the tea given to him by the Southern Dynasty would be of poor quality.
He even prepared himself for the Southern Dynasty's tea to be filled with moldy and rotten inferior tea leaves.
Who would have thought that he would actually buy tea leaves of quality worth 80-90 coins per cake at a price of only 20-30 coins per cake.
This is huge profit!
And also a great achievement!
Yelv Ju stared at Xing Shu fervently and said, "Scholar's friends, truly righteous merchants!"
Xing Shu smiled and remained silent.
In fact, he had privately asked the emperor why they had to sell tea to the northern invaders at a loss.
But the emperor asked him a question in return.
"Minister, what is the most precious thing in this world?"
Xing Shu remembered his answer at the time: "Benevolence and righteousness!"
However, the ruler laughed and then gave his own answer: "What is free is the most expensive!"
Honestly, Xing Shu still hasn't figured out the meaning behind the ruler's words.
However, Xingshu understands that the official must have a grand plan in his mind.
Behind this transaction, there is probably a highly targeted scheme concealed.
Although it may sound exaggerated that the young official began scheming against the northern invaders at the age of ten.
但这些时日来，通过和官家的接触。
刑恕知道，那位官家绝不可用常理推断。
因为他即位以来，还没有在国政上出过错！
As long as he begins to engage in and handle national affairs, he behaves like a mature monarch.
He is well-versed in the system, regulations, ancestral customs, and practices of the Song Dynasty.
He understands them all.
From top to bottom, there are very few people or things that can escape his watchful eyes.
Yelü Ju is unaware of these.
He is currently completely immersed in joy.
He can even imagine the praises he will receive from all levels of government and society when he brings these tea leaves back to his country.
With this achievement, his position as an envoy of the Southern Dynasty is considered stable.
……
That night, in a tavern located in the Sang family area, specifically within its private rooms, Xing Shu took charge.
Yelü Ju was invited to take the main seat and sat down. Translated content:
Then, one after another, the prosperous merchants were introduced to Yelv Ju by Xing Shu.
"Brother Liu, this is a good friend of mine, the owner of Sun Family Store, one of the seventy-two prestigious stores in Bianjing City, Mr. Sun."
Sun Cixiao smiled and approached Yelv Ju. "Ju, I've met an esteemed guest."
In the past few months, Sun Cixiao climbed up the ladder and his business has been extremely prosperous.
Now, Sun's main store and all its branches have expanded to the neighboring Bai Ma County. Translated text:
It can be said that it's making a fortune.
Of course, with gains, there must be sacrifices.
Now in Sun Ci's shoe shop, there are many wine experts, all of whom are members of the Investigation Division.
These people take advantage of Sun's shop as a cover, silently infiltrating the inside and outside of Bianjing.
Moreover, Sun Ci also received orders from the palace.
The palace commanded him to invest in many industries, most of which were closely related to his business.
For instance, the palace once ordered him to establish a workshop outside the city of Bianjing, specifically dedicated to producing a substance known as "flower dew water".
Sun Ciyi gritted his teeth and invested several thousand guan to set up a workshop outside the city, following the techniques provided by the palace.
Then he realized he had made a fortune!
Once the floral water was produced, it quickly became a sought-after product among the people of Bianjing.
Because it has a floral fragrance, even the young ladies in the palace are fond of it.
And because it can repel mosquitoes, now a small bottle sells for two guan on the market.
Yet still in short supply! Translated content: Because of its floral fragrance, even the young ladies in the palace are fond of it. Due to its mosquito-repellent properties, a small bottle is now sold for two guan on the market. However, the demand still exceeds the supply!
For example, the palace ordered him and several other families to collectively contribute tens of thousands of guan towards establishing a kiln factory called Qingliang Temple outside the city of Bianjing. This factory specifically produced porcelain bottles for storing alcohol.
The technology used is the Ru porcelain technique passed down from the palace.
As a result, the kiln factory is now able to produce hundreds of exquisite Ru porcelain wine bottles every month.
And the wine packaged in these bottles has become the most expensive fine wine in the Song Dynasty.
A bottle of Ru porcelain wine that costs one jiao sells for one hundred guan!
It is still in high demand!
Because many people have started buying this expensive famous wine as a special gift for others.
Of course, even the palace doesn't let him make money for nothing.
All of them have requirements.
For example, the production of flower lotion follows the same system as liquor production.
The key ingredient for manufacturing flower lotion, various flower oils, can only be purchased from the exclusive manufacturing armaments bureau.
The pottery worker, refractory bricks, and the porcelain clay used for firing Ru ware must all be purchased and employed from designated places.
However, compared to the immense profits and the freedom to conduct business without worrying about being exploited or squeezed by the government, this restriction is simply insignificant!
Now, Sun Ci bows and kneels three times in the morning and evening, facing towards the imperial palace, expressing gratitude for the grace of the imperial family!
He is not the only one doing this.
他还带着自己的妻妾子女，一起叩谢官家恩情。
这既是他的真心，也是演给别人看的。
孙赐之后，刑恕继续引荐着其他商贾给耶律琚。
都是如今和官家走得近，也极为听话的，被筛选出来的商贾。
不过这些人，背后还站着外戚就是。
等到引荐到最后一人，刑恕就特地带着此人，到耶律琚面前，说道：“刘兄，这位就是在下欲要引荐给刘兄的朋友了！”
那人有着一张胖胖的脸，厚实的下巴上，留着浅浅的胡须。
他笑眯眯的来到耶律琚面前，拱手道：“汴京票行黄良见过刘官人。”
“汴京票行？”耶律琚不太明白这是个什么玩意，他看向刑恕。
刑恕眯着眼睛，说道：“这位黄朋友啊，目前在做交子的营生？”
"Yes?"
刑恕微笑着解释：“就是帮助一些经商的朋友，周转资金，转运钱财一类。”
“目前，黄朋友的票行，已经可以让洛阳、颍昌的商贾们，将钱存在当地，然后拿着交子来汴京取钱……”
耶律琚懂了。
飞钱嘛！
大唐的时候就有了。
“就是，目前还缺些交子……”黄良低着头，笑眯眯的说道：“听说刘官人处有不少交子……”
“在下就厚着颜面，请了刑兄来引荐，希望和刘兄谈一谈这个买卖。”
耶律琚看着这个胖乎乎的商贾，想起了自己手里头那些回扣的交子的。
心中顿时一动。
他确实还没有找到办法，让手里头的交子变现——虽然，他可以拿着这些交子在南朝采购商品，然后运回国中去变现。
可他的交子太多了。
若是采购的话，数量会极为庞大，很容易就被人抓住把柄。
可这交子若是不花出去，三年之后，新旧交子更还，一旦他到时候不在汴京，这些交子就可能作废。
这让他真的是伤透了脑筋。
不意，他正发愁呢，就有人上赶着上门来帮他解决问题了。
耶律琚看着对方，问道：“朋友的意思是，可以帮在下，将交子在瓦桥关兑换成铜钱或者金银？”
若是这样的话，那他宁肯给些好处，也要将这个事情做成。
黄良却是微笑着，心中想着官家给他的指令，轻声道：“在下一介商贾，哪里有这么大本事？”
“不过，在下有个办法，可以叫官人的交子无忧，而且还能有些赚头！”
耶律琚狐疑的看着对方，问道：“什么办法？”
“自然是赚钱营生之法。”黄良走近一步，道：“刘官人若是愿意，可否与某到这阁楼上细谈？”
老实说，在初知官家给他的指令时，黄良自己都吓了一大跳——这是纯骗傻子吧？
但仔细看完官家给出来的指令，细细思虑之后，黄良知道这个事情不仅仅能做，而且对方十之八九会答应的。
因为，这个契丹人手里面的交子，没有太多变现的渠道。
他只有一个选择。
就是官家给他的选项！
不然他手里的交子，就随时可能因为，新旧交子兑换而变成一张废纸！
他肯冒那个风险吗？绝对不肯的。
耶律琚看着这个站在他面前，明知道他身份，还口口声声想和他做买卖的南朝商贾。
他又看了看刑恕。
刑恕当即道：“刘兄，黄朋友的长辈，也是在下的朋友，在下愿意给黄朋友作保，这个买卖绝不会让刘兄受损！”
耶律琚狐疑的点点头：“既是这样，那黄朋友前头带路吧。”
他倒要看看，这个南朝商贾想和他谈什么？
感冒依旧在，作者君昨天嗓子就已经哑了，勉强支撑着码字，今天更是有点发烧！
请大家见谅！