The Gao family slave looked at the destroyed village not far away and looked gloomy. There was the former Ningbian Prefecture, which was looted by the nearby foreign tribes and burned it, and it was abandoned. This small village was nothing. If it were in other places, the Gao family slaves were too lazy to take a look. But it had a different meaning here. Without this, the Khitan lost control within a radius of hundreds of miles. In addition, the Song army rebuilt the Bidou Village, and the connection between Zhaotaosi and Shuozhou in the southwest was cut off, and a wedge was instigated by the Song army in the territory of the Khitan.

Zhang Ke looked at Gao Jianu and smiled without saying a word. Tang Long Town and Biedouzhai held the Yellow River from the left and right, and the strategic situation was much better than before. Although it is a peaceful time, I don’t know what it is for, it is always something to be happy for a soldier.

The Gao family slaves were not many, and they could only burn and bury the Khitan corpses along the way, even the Shi family slaves. If the Song army had not watched them, they would not even do these things. When they arrived in the abandoned Ningbian Prefecture, they were finally done and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

After leaving the village, Gao's slave said to Zhang Ji: "This matter is over, it's more important to talk about the main matter. Let's go south from here and go straight to Bitouzhai to meet Judge Du. The governor can send someone to inform him and let the Judge prepare early."

Du Zhongxiao received the news from Zhang Kuaima and returned to Bitouzhai with Yelu Buhua. Although he did not make it clear, Yelu Buhua roughly knew the thoughts of the Song Dynasty and felt particularly relaxed. After occupying Tanglong Town, the Song army did not occupy a large area on the west bank of the Yellow River, but instead proposed to make it a free trade place, which everyone could explain in person.

When we arrived at Biedouzhai, Du Zhongxiao waited for a few days before Zhang Ke and Gao’s slave arrived. It was almost the end of the year.

In the winter months, some nomadic tribes with poor savings were short of food and clothing. At this time, conflicts between all sizes and sizes continued and attacked them. Du Zhongxiao was busy dealing with surrounding affairs. After a few days, he officially negotiated with Gao Jianu and Yelu Buhua.

From Yelu Buhua, he learned from the Song Dynasty that the Song Dynasty intended to make Tanglong Town a place of free trade, and Gao Jianu was unsure of his mind. Doing so would not cause any major harm to the Khitan. This was a marginal area. The most important thing now is to stabilize the relationship with the Song Dynasty and fight against Dangxiang with all his might. But whether this free trade belongs to the Song Dynasty or the Khitan, or is as semi-independent as before, the ministry has to say.

Several pots of charcoal fires were burned in the village hall, but it was not cold. Du Zhongxiao sat opposite Wang Kai, Gao Jianu and Yelu Buhua.

After the tea came, Du Zhongxiao said: "It has been nearly a month since the envoy entered the country. Seeing that the end of the year is approaching, I have only talked about important matters until now, and I am really frightened."

Gao Jianu said: "The remains of soldiers were buried along the way. Thank you for sending troops to help."

The two of them exchanged a few greetings and got to the point.

Gao Family Nu said: "The family from Tanglong Town has been enthroned by this dynasty for several generations and is a minister of this dynasty. Now the southern country occupies Tanglong Town, I wonder what to do in the future? The two countries have a good relationship, so don't hurt the harmony of such a wild land."

Du Zhongxiao smiled and said, "Since our dynasty established our country, we have been governing the subordinates. Everyone knows this. Lai Shushun and the two ends of the rat. Although he was the lower vassal general of the dynasty and he also paid tribute to the country, he also paid tribute to Dangxiang. He could not count such villains, and he would not mention it."

The Gao family's slave said anxiously: "How can you not mention it? Lai Shoushun's ancestors have been enthroned by this dynasty for several generations, so how can it not count!"

Du Zhongxiao shook his head: "Now that guarding Shun is in Dangxiang, do we still want to invite Dangxiang people to talk about it? Envoy, Dangxiang is the common enemy of our two countries. They have broken through Tanglong Town and plundered the entire population. It was because our dynasty sent troops to occupy it again. This is how things happened. We are confused about the past, and the documents here are clear, and the inheritance is orderly. It is useless to talk more about it. Let's talk about what the future will be."

The Gao family slave was silent for a while and nodded reluctantly. The family was indeed enthroned by the two countries and several parties surrendered, but the official documents were found, and the Song Dynasty was more dominant. The Gao family slave knew this well, and there was no need to be entangled.

Du Zhongxiao said: "Tanglong Town is sandwiched between the Three Kingdoms. Now our army is invading, and there is no intention to monopolize it. I have reported to the court that the people from the family should be the main ones. Our dynasty sends some troops to ensure its safety. The place is well connected, convenient for transportation, and the most convenient for trade. What we mean is that all parties can go there to trade freely to facilitate the people of the Three Kingdoms."

Gao's slave had been waiting for this sentence for a long time and asked hurriedly: "How to collect free trade there?"

Du Zhongxiao smiled slightly, and indeed what Gao's slaves care about the most was tax collection. The purpose of setting up tax venues in various countries is to collect taxes, whether it is the Song Dynasty or the Khitan, which is the most important benefit. Du Zhongxiao's purpose is not like this. The purpose of trade is to activate the economy and promote the development of various industries. The additional benefits brought by a large trade center are much more important than tax collection.

In the past, the fields were closed, and some were even set up in barren mountains and wilderness, which had little effect on local economy. In Tanglong Town, Du Zhongxiao wanted to be in the same place as the volcanic army, focusing on developing industries, and tax collection was second.

Seeing that Gao's slave looked at him nervously, it was obvious that the right to collect taxes was of great importance to him, Du Zhongxiao said: "In my opinion, Tanglong Town will not collect taxes on traders. Make a tax-free place to facilitate merchants."

"Tax-free? Tax-free-" Gao Jianu repeated these two words several times and was confused. If you don't collect taxes, what does the official encourage trade? You have to garrison troops, manage officials, and build cities. You spend money everywhere. Where does this money come from?

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Yes, there is no tax exemption for merchants there. No matter where merchants come from, they can enter Tanglong Town for trade. As long as they abide by the rules and trade fairly, they will be exemption from tax. Of course, before merchants enter the country, how to collect taxes is their own affairs."

Gao's family mistress thought for a while before she understood what Du Zhongxiao meant. That is, Tanglong Town is a completely neutral area, and countries collect taxes on their own merchants, but once they enter Tanglong Town, they no longer collect taxes. The closest Khitan field to Tanglong Town is the Zhenwu Army, which is not convenient. In this way, it is necessary to choose a suitable tax collection place. Doing so is indeed conducive to commercial prosperity, but why does the Song Dynasty spend a lot of effort?

After pondering for a while, Gao familynu asked Du Zhongxiao: "What are the benefits of doing this to the Southern Kingdom?"

"Benefits?" Du Zhongxiao was a little stunned for a moment, and then he thought about what Gao's slave meant. "Businessmen have business to do, and the people who have money to make money are the benefits of this dynasty. In this area, the people of the Han and Han people live in a difficult situation. Isn't it a great benefit to live a good life with this!"

The Gao family slaves did not believe in this. It is not uncommon for officials who care for the people, but it took a lot of effort to make such a big noise just to make the people live a better life. The Gao family slave knew in his heart that the Song people must have something to ask for. What benefits can such a trade place bring to the Song Dynasty? There are only horses in this place. However, this reason cannot be directly raised. Whether to sell horses is the business of each country. It would be better not to sell them in their own country. The Gao family slaves also doubted that as long as the Khitan was strictly managed, the Song Dynasty could buy horses from.
Chapter completed!