Every time Gada came to trade sheepskins, he brought considerable profits to the merchants of Great Zhou. The relationship between the two sides had always been harmonious.
In the past, when he entered the city, many familiar faces would greet him warmly.
But today was different.
As Gada entered the city, not only did those who knew him avoid him, but even his regular customers turned away. Many Zhou people glared at him with expressions of disdain, as if he had become their sworn enemy.
Gada’s brows furrowed in confusion.
Leading his tribesmen, he headed to the marketplace he frequented.
The courtyard-turned-trading market was under the direct management of Yicheng’s government. The officials in charge oversaw transactions, while stationed soldiers ensured peace and order.
In the past, whenever Gada arrived, the market bustled with life. Merchants haggled, customers bartered, and laughter echoed through the air.
This time, however, the place was eerily quiet.
Gada’s unease deepened. A sense of foreboding gnawed at him as he instructed his tribesmen to guard the goods outside. With deliberate steps, he approached a familiar shop run by Merchant Zhang, a man he had dealt with countless times.
The moment Merchant Zhang saw him, he didn’t even lift his head, focusing instead on his work.
Gada spoke quickly in his broken Great Zhou official language.
“Brother Zhang, I’ve brought a new batch of goods today. Each sheepskin is carefully crafted, and the wool is of the finest quality. This year’s batch is exceptional. Shall I bring them in for you to inspect?”
Merchant Zhang finally looked up, his expression cold and indifferent.
“Take this batch back,” he said flatly.
Gada felt as if lightning had struck him. His dark face turned pale, and his lips quivered.
“W-why? Is it the price? If you think it’s too high, we can negotiate. We’ve worked together for so long. I’ll even include some of our freshest sheepskins as a gift!”
Merchant Zhang shook his head impatiently, leaning back in his chair.
“Gada, don’t you know? Your Khan of the Turkic Khanate attacked Great Zhou, and our Empress is furious. She’s ordered a ban on the purchase of Turkic sheepskins. Take your goods away—I can’t risk buying them.”
Gada’s eyes widened in disbelief. His sturdy frame swayed, and his knees nearly buckled.
The words hit him like a physical blow. His heart turned ice-cold.
If it were just a matter of price, he could have adjusted it, sacrificing profit to keep the business alive. But a complete ban? That left no room for negotiation.
Gada stared at Merchant Zhang, his voice trembling. “Brother Zhang… this can’t be true. Our tribe’s survival depends on this trade. If we can’t sell the sheepskins, we’ll have nothing left. Please… reconsider.”
Merchant Zhang waved him off, his expression unmoved.
“What happens to your tribe is none of my concern,” he said dismissively. “Blame your Jie Li Khan for declaring war. Do you think I’m not suffering losses too? Now leave, or I’ll call the authorities to throw you out.”
Moments later, Gada stumbled out of the courtyard, his shoulders slumped.
The young men guarding the carts rushed up to him, their faces alight with anticipation.
“Chijin(Turkic term for chieftain), how much are they willing to pay?” one asked eagerly.
“Our sheepskins are top-quality, better than any other tribe’s. We can’t sell them cheap!” added another.
“My parents worked so hard preparing these furs. They’re counting on this sale so I can marry my Tangsuxi,” a third chimed in, grinning.
Gada’s chest tightened at their hopeful expressions.
He hesitated, then forced the words out, his voice hoarse. “Because Jie Li Khan attacked the Zhou Dynasty, the Empress has banned the purchase of our sheepskins. They won’t buy from us anymore.”
Silence fell over the group.
The young men, who had been so full of hope, now stood frozen. Their smiles vanished, replaced by expressions of shock and despair.
One of them muttered, “What about my parents? They worked so hard…”
Another whispered, “Without this sale, how will I marry my Tangsuxi?”
A third, trembling, said, “Rina just gave birth to our son, Tughu. What are we going to do?”
Their despair pierced Gada’s heart like a blade.
He forced himself to stay strong, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
“Don’t lose hope. Perhaps we can find merchants from other lands willing to buy. Or maybe some Zhou merchants will risk buying secretly.”
But even as he spoke, Gada knew these were empty words. This was the Zhou border; few foreign merchants ventured here, and those who did wouldn’t offer fair prices.
Days later, the trade market between Great Zhou and the Turks was officially closed.
For many Turkic shepherds, it was the final blow.
A wave of despair swept through the Turkic lands, accompanied by growing resentment against Jie Li Khan.
In the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin held a report in his hand, his eyes filled with astonishment.
“Two years. Yang Yi had the patience to wait two whole years.” His voice carried a mix of admiration and shock. “Just as you predicted back then, he’s cutting off the Turks at their roots.”
Inside the hall, Changsun Wuji and the other ministers exchanged uneasy glances.
Two years ago, they had speculated about the Zhou Dynasty’s trade strategy. At the time, it was merely a hypothesis.
Now, it had become reality.
A poisonous plan, meticulously executed over two long years.
The ministers shuddered at the thought.
“This Yang Yi is a master strategist,” one murmured.
Another added, “The Turks won’t recover easily from this. Jie Li Khan must be at his wit’s end.”