Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 62
As the host, Fan Yongdou didn't want to see the guests being embarrassed, he smiled and said, "Yes, yes, there is someone behind the Zhuangyuan Building?" Everyone also looked at Wang Dengku curiously, listening to his answer.

Wang Dengku took a sip of tea, and said unhurriedly, "Have you ever heard of a tragedy in Xuanfu in the eighth year of Chongzhen?"

Fan Yongdou said: "Is it the case that several members of the family were exterminated? I heard people say that it was done by the bandits on the mountain. They robbed money and killed people. The government's arrest papers were posted everywhere. It's been almost a year. I heard that the murderer was caught, old brother, what does this have to do with the Zhuangyuan Building?"

"The one who was wiped out was the original owner of Zhuangyuan Building. You are too busy earning money to inquire about these things. I love to eat and drink, and the family business is handed over to my son. I like to inquire about things when I have free time." Wang Dengku Said.

Everyone was shocked when they heard this, and felt that there was something strange about it.

Wang Dengku took a sip of the wine, then took a bite of the bear's paw with his chopsticks and tasted it carefully, his face full of intoxication.

Huang Yongfa, who was the most impatient, urged: "Brother, what's the matter here? Tell me quickly!" The rest of the people also looked forward to it. Business people are most afraid of offending people who can't be offended. It is better to know more about the relationship.

Wang Dengku took out a towel from his sleeve and wiped the oil stains from the corners of his mouth, and looked around. Fan Yongdou waved his hand, and the two maids who were serving beside him turned around and left the room. The nephew of Zong Bing, the business of Zhuangyuan Building has been booming. It is said that the profit has exceeded 2 taels a year. Someone came up with [-] taels of silver to buy it. "

It was only then that everyone looked stunned. Every time they came to the Xuan Mansion, they would go to the Zhuangyuan Building to entertain distinguished guests. Although they were not familiar with the host family, after knowing the truth of the tragedy, they still felt sad.

Jin Liangyu said indignantly: "He earns more than 1 taels of silver a year, but he actually wants to buy it for 2 taels, and no one will do it for him. In the end, he actually wiped out his family. Is there any law?!"

Wang Dengku let out a chuckle, and he pointed to everyone present and said, "If it's okay for ordinary people to say this, everyone here think about it, isn't what we did violated the law of the king?"

Fan Yongdou was startled, and quickly changed the topic: "Come on, don't talk about it, drink and drink, we do business, as long as we make money, as long as we manage properly, we brothers in Xuanfu Town are fine! "

After everyone drank a few cups, the atmosphere was a bit dull. Fan Yongdou said with a smile: "Today is my father's birthday, and Mr. Zhang, the general guarding the West Road in Xuanfu Town, also sent someone to send gifts, as well as Wanquan Right Guard, Left Guard, The Commander of the Longmen Guards also has congratulatory gifts, and after a few days our shipment will be out of the fortress, and it will be a huge profit when we come back, so let’s spend some more money to manage it, what do you guys think?"

Everyone nodded in agreement, everyone here is worth hundreds of thousands of millions, and they have never been ambiguous in their actions. They know that if they spend 1 taels, they will earn 10 taels, as long as the business can continue.

Wang Dengku pointed to the east, and whispered, "Is anyone from there?"

Fan Yongdou coughed lightly and said, "If you're all right, why don't you go to my study for tea?" Everyone understood that they had something to say, so they said they were full, and then got up and followed Fan Yongdou to the inner house.

Fan Yongdou's study is located in a secluded courtyard of the inner house. Usually few people come here. Only people like them who have mixed interests come here when discussing important matters. Although they are idle every day, the courtyard and room It was cleaned very cleanly, and everyone in the Fan residence knew that no one could approach this place without the order of the young master.

After everyone entered the room, they consciously sat in their usual seats. Fan Yongdou looked around and closed the door. He sat down on the main seat and whispered, "This time a Niu Luzhang Jing was sent over there, who is equivalent to a general of the Ming Dynasty. , the name is a mouthful, what is it called Gu'er Mahun, this Gu'er will tell me that the country has already been established over there!"

After hearing this, everyone had different expressions, some were excited, some were skeptical, some were disdainful, and some didn't care. Fan Yongdou continued: "The title of the country is Qing! Do you know who became the emperor? It's that Sibeile, Huang Taiji! "

The crowd began to discuss in low voices. Wang Dengku stroked his goatee and thought about it for a while, then said, "This is a good country name! I don't know which tall person picked it up, it is really tall!"

Everyone stopped discussing and looked at him, Fan Yongdou asked: "Old brother, isn't it just a country name? How can there be good and bad?"

Wang Dengku smiled proudly: "I am still red in the Ming Dynasty. I am the virtue of fire, and the virtue of water is pure. Water can overcome fire. Isn't this what a master gave me? They want to replace it!"

Everyone nodded in agreement when they heard the words, Jin Liangyu doubted: "It's so magical to have the name of who can conquer whom? Our Daming has a population of hundreds of millions and a territory of tens of thousands of miles. Just those barbarians, with a total population of one million, can destroy our Daming? Let's just do business over there, I think, don't get involved in other things!"

Fan Yongdou said with a smile: "Old Jin, what we did can't be cleared up in a few words. You should have counted how much money everyone has earned from it in the past few years, right? Besides, the emperor of Ming Dynasty is now fatuous, the court is corrupt, officials The army is incompetent, and there are more and more thieves, I think, this Ming Dynasty really has no time!"

Wang Dengku said: "This matter is too big, let's take it one step at a time. If there is any request over there, let's give it to him as much as possible. No matter who will rule the world in the future, we will not suffer!"

Zhai Tang, who had never spoken a word, said: "Brother Wang is right, we merchants, as long as someone wants something and there is money in it, we will sell it to him, Lao Fan, we have all the goods this time. What? What is Jing doing here?"

Fan Yongdou said with a smile: "I said over there, this time we need more food and medicinal materials. People know that we have been in drought for several years. These thieves and grass bandits are just mud legs that are about to starve to death. I thought about it, and the meaning over there is, Let's transport a few more stones of grain to the east, and there will be more people who can't eat here, and there will be more rebels. Just like this, bloodletting from Daming's body bit by bit, although the effect is slow, but it can always be managed. Use it?"

Wang Dengku said: "I think, over the past few years, the population has increased over there, there are more people, but there are more soldiers, less farmers, and less food. That's why we ask for more food. As for medicinal materials? , Could it be that we are going to fight again?"

Tian Shenglan smiled and said: "I just said that we are businessmen, and now we are nosy again. As long as there is money and ginseng fur Dongzhu over there, we will give him whatever he wants. We have been in business for so many years, and we can get everything Come on, don't look at those mud legs who can't eat, we have plenty of food!"

Fan Yongdou said with a smile: "Lao Tian is right, this time Brother Wang's family has more food, ironware Lao Tian and Lao Jin are responsible for it, medicinal materials and cloth, I, Dong's family and Dong's family are responsible for Liang, Dong's family and Huang's family are responsible for salt and sundries. Do you have any comments?"

These are old rules, and everyone nodded in agreement, Jin Liangyu suddenly said: "Old Fan, why did I hear from the shopkeeper that your family bought some firecrackers and medicines from the frontier army? Could it be that they will be given away together this time?" Walk?"

Fan Yongdou's face changed, and he forced a smile and said, "What's the matter, I bought a few firecrackers and kept them at home for self-defense. If I bought more, the officers and soldiers would not dare to sell them to me!"

Jin Liangyu sneered and said: "Those bastards dare to sell anything for money, the court spends money to raise some white-eyed wolves!"

Wang Dengku interrupted their dispute: "Okay, okay, stop gossip, let's discuss business, Xiao Jin, don't meddle in other people's business!"

Jin Liangyu snorted in dissatisfaction, bowed his head and stopped talking, and the rest of the people began to whisper about where to get the goods, where to find porters and carriages, how many people each family sent, and other trivial details.

At this moment, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the originally quiet courtyard, as if someone ran in, everyone looked at each other, Fan Yongdou's face became angry, he stood up and was about to go out to check, when a panicked voice came from outside the door: " Eldest young master! It’s not good! Our house is surrounded by officers and soldiers!”

(End of this chapter)