Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 281
Bai Juyi's "Publishing Shangzhou Poems" says: "Stop in the Shangzhou Pavilion for three days, and wait for the wives and children to accompany each other."

Shangzhou City, Luoyi above the Spring and Autumn Period, and Luoxian County above the Han Dynasty, is now Shangzhou.

Shangzhou is the largest city on Wuguan Road, located at the intersection of Sancha Road, a transportation hub and an important military location.

In the north of the city, the stone house covers an area of ​​about [-] mu. It is also one of the largest mansions in Shangzhou. A pair of big stone lions in front of the gate are mighty and domineering.

For Shangzhou, the Shi family's status is extraordinary.

In Shang, it is one of the few large chambers of commerce on Wuguan Road with hundreds of cars and horses. More than a thousand people rely on their homes for food. There are hundreds of shops all over Shaanxi Province. Even Shaanxi merchants are afraid of it.

In terms of family status, his poems and books have been heirs, three consecutive generations have been awarded as candidates, two generations have been awarded Jinshi, and there are more scholars. He is one of the few imperial examination masters in Shaanxi Province.

Therefore, when the magistrate of Shangzhou took office, the first step was to visit the Chenghuang Temple and the Confucian Temple, and the second step was to visit the Shi family.

Suddenly, a luxurious carriage stopped in front of the door, and a middle-aged man walked straight forward without any intention of stopping.

When Menzi saw him, his attitude instantly became affectionate: "Master Zhou, you are here!"

"Don't talk nonsense, take me to see your master."

The man, dressed in a light blue robe, strode forward without stopping.

In front of him, one hurriedly went to report, while the other was leading the way at an extremely fast speed.

Soon, Shi Yu, the Patriarch of the Shi Family, heard the news, tidied up briefly, and met him directly.

"Brother Zhou, why are you here?"

Shi Yu brushed off his wrinkled white cotton robe, and greeted him with a smile on his face.

"Hmph, Brother Shi, you and I are in-laws from generation to generation. It can be said that there is no distinction between you and me. Even if the king enters Shanxi, it is the same hatred and the enemy has never been left behind. Why has it changed now?"

Zhou Qi's face was full of displeasure, he picked up the teacup and took a sip, then put it down heavily, splashing some tea.

"Where did you say that?" Shi Yu was caught off guard, with an innocent face.

"Hmph, your Shi family is very powerful and well-informed. You are better than Jin Yiwei in Shangzhou, but our Zhou family is not vegetarian."

Zhou Qi sneered, snapped his fingers and said, "First, your Shi family has silently hoarded nearly ten thousand stones of grain in the past half a month."

"Secondly, you have also collected a large amount of herbs. Even King Chuang can't steal your house. I'm afraid it's more than a hundred thousand catties..."

"Okay, okay!" Shi Yu quickly waved his hands, and said with a wry smile: "Brother-in-law, you are asking the question knowingly!"

"Brother-in-law, if I don't tell you, you still have to pretend to be stupefied!" Zhou Qi snorted coldly and said dissatisfiedly:
"Although our Zhou family is not as good as your Shi family, we are not blind. Now we have a lot of grain, salt, herbs, and cloth, which are just used to reward His Royal Highness King Yu."

"How many people know about this?"

Shi Yu frowned.

"Who in Shangzhou City doesn't know the news about King Yu going north?"

Zhou Qi shook his head, and said indifferently: "Even Zhizhou pretends to be deaf and dumb, and stays in the yamen every day to have fun, and the rest has long been ignored."

Hearing this, Shi Yu sighed, and said with a wry smile: "That's all, our Shi family can't afford such a great feat."

"That's right!" Zhou Qi smiled: "Your Shi family eats meat, so we can have some soup, too?"

Shi Yu had no choice but to nod his head.

As a well-known figure in Shangzhou, whether it is Shanxi merchants or Huguang, he has a very wide network of contacts. He has long heard the news that King Yu will enter Shaanxi from Wuguan, so he prepared for a long time.

As a family of imperial examinations, he naturally would not seek the interests of merchants, and what he valued more was the future of King Yu.

The bet is the second king of Yan.

In this way, the Shi family can be regarded as developed.

"Since this is the case, if there are too many people, meritorious service will not be enough."

Shi Yu stroked his long beard, narrowed his eyes, and said in a deep voice:
"It's better to join forces and dedicate Shangzhou..."

"Shangzhou?" Zhou Qi was taken aback for a moment, this offended King Chuang to death, he was desperate!

"How can you look forward and backward when doing this?"

Shi Yu looked at the brother-in-law, and couldn't help scolding: "How can you be half-hearted about such matters in politics?"

Zhou Qi was silent.

As a merchant, he really couldn't compare with his brother-in-law, who had a broad vision.

"I'll personally persuade Zhizhou!"

Shi Yu raised his head and said.

From Wuguan to the north, there are Wuguan Station, Cengfeng Station, Taohua Station, Dihua Station, Luoyuan Station, Sihao Station, and Shangzhou Station outside Shangzhou City.

Almost every [-] miles or so, there is a large post station that transports grain and grass from Huguang for the imperial court. During the Battle of Hetao during the Wanli year, grain was transported from Huguang.

Although Emperor Chongzhen abolished the post station, the foundation is still there. It can provide a resting place for merchants and pedestrians. Similarly, it can also provide housing for cavalry battalions.

When Li Jingwu and others came to Taohuayi, they could be regarded as taking a breath.

Hurrying along the way, approaching Shangzhou in less than two days, it was really tiring, and the horse lost a lot of weight, which made him feel bad.

"Commander, something is wrong with this Peach Blossom Station!!"

The lieutenant general Hou Gongji beside him couldn't help but move his eyes, sniff his nose, and said softly.

"That's right, it looks like there are a lot of people."

Looking from a distance, Li Jingwu frowned: "Could it be that there are many merchants gathered here? There must be no ambush!"

"Send scouts to investigate one or two."

Immediately, several scouts rode away, and galloped back after a while, shouting loudly:

"Commander, there are many merchants, scholars, servants, and a lot of wine and meat in the post station. They all said that they came to reward Master Wang."

"Reward?" Li Jingwu was taken aback.

Hou Gongji, who was at the side, was skeptical: "I'm afraid there is fraud?"

"will not."

Li Jingwu shook his head: "The surrounding area is open and there is no ambush. If they gather at the post station, there will be nowhere to escape if it is set on fire. Even if their heads are flooded, they will not do it."

"Go, be careful, let's go and see."

So, the cavalry battalion quickly surrounded the station, and then dozens of people walked out, dressed in gorgeous clothes, elegant and easy-going, they were not generals at first sight.

"Xiatian is the magistrate of Shangzhou. Hearing that Master Wang has arrived, he came here to kowtow to His Royal Highness King Yu, and prepared a large amount of wine and meat to reward Master Wang."

The magistrate of Shangzhou has a big belly, and his face is full of sincerity.

Although Li Jingwu is a military commander, he has a good EQ after all, so he hurriedly helped him up, and said with a smile:
"I was ordered by King Yu to be the vanguard. I never thought that Zhizhou would bring order out of chaos. It can be said to be the blessing of Ming Dynasty. I will definitely play to King Yu—"

Zhizhou immediately showed a smiling face, and the position was saved.

"These are all sages in this state, especially this one, who is the Patriarch of the Shi family."

Shi Yu was introduced to go forward, seeing a big man with a broad face and full beard, he hurriedly cupped his hands and said: "Student Shi Yu, I have met the general."

"To reward Master Wang, we have prepared [-] stones of food and grass, and tens of thousands of catties of wine and meat..."

"Okay, wow!"

Li Jingwu nodded, appreciatively said: "I can't delay for a moment, I have to go on the road after replenishing some food and grass. Your Highness is behind, you have to prepare more."

With that said, the cavalry battalion quickly set out on the road after replenishing food, like a gust of wind.

(End of this chapter)