prosperous age

Chapter 68 68 Situation
Accompanied by the afterglow of the setting sun, the big ship docked at the wharf of Jiujiangfu.

Wu Dong took Wei Guangde and a group of people off the boat to meet Zhang Hongfu and Zeng Yuanshu. After exchanging greetings, everyone went on the road together and entered Jiujiang Mansion.

Because it was getting late, we had to find a place to rest first.

Wei Guangde and Zeng Yuanrui had a place to go, and the remaining three classmates had already found a place to stay. It was the family that had business in Jiujiang Mansion, and the two classmates also lived there temporarily.

After making an appointment to register together, everyone separated on the road and went to their own places.

Wei Guangde came to the Zhang family again, and after meeting with the elders of the family, Wei Guangde and Wu Dong lived in that small courtyard again.

Wu Dong didn't just send the person here and finish the job, he still had to stay here until Wei Guangde finished the government exam, that is, he accompanied the exam.

In the evening, Zhang Shigui, the uncle of the Zhang family, set up a banquet to welcome Wei Guangde, saying that he wished the juniors a high school exam.

"Uncle, why didn't you see the second uncle?"

The last time Wei Guangde came to Zhang's mansion, he called Zhang Shigui and Zhang Fugui after his cousin Wu Dong, so this time he also called them that.

"Fugui went to Wuchang to do business, he won't go to Zhenjiang with the old man, hehe."

Zhang Shigui thought that Wei Guangde didn't see Zhang Fugui, and that he followed the old man to Zhenjiang.

"Second Uncle's business is really good."

Wu Dong also smiled and said, "The last time I came here, I met my second uncle on the pier. He said he wanted to go out to do business, so it's the same this time."

"What's the matter, it's all about earning some hard money."

Zhang Shigui looked at the three younger ones, his son and Wu Dong were definitely going to serve in the army, he didn't say anything, just that fate, the Wei family would be better off, he had an extra son, and there was still time to rush.

"Actually, there is nothing bad to say. In Jiujiangwei, every family is also engaged in this business. Otherwise, the whole family needs to be supported, and the salary alone is enough."

Zhang Shigui was still smiling, looking like a good old man.

"What kind of goods did the second uncle send this time?"

Wu Dong asked curiously, last time it was said to transport Suzhou silk, but this time he didn't know what to transport.

"The Jingdezhen porcelain next door, the Shaanxi merchants want the goods, and hand them over in Wuchang. In fact, what they earn is the shipping fee and banknotes."

At this time, Zhang Hongfu replied that apparently he, who had nothing to do, still knew a lot about his second uncle's business.

That's right, Second Uncle doesn't have a son. Apart from a part of his property that will be used as a dowry in the future, the rest will also go into the public house. Isn't it Zhang Hongfu's in the end?
At least it seemed to be like this before the second uncle had no son.

Hearing the following passage, Wei Guangde probably guessed that they must have taken advantage of their identities, the merchant ship directly passed through the Jiujiang Bank Pass, and the tax money was pocketed.

The officers of the guards in other places certainly do not have such conditions, but as an officer of the Jiujiang Guards, they still have this ability.

Thinking of this, Wei Guangde couldn't help but think of Wei Guogong's mansion in Nanjing, which has always maintained contact with Jiujiangwei, which may also be a factor in it.

Wei Guangde may have heard from his father that the official positions of Wei Li's men and horses are all managed by Duke Wei's Mansion in Nanjing, real positions, not false positions to receive salaries.

What are they drawing?

These days, there is no possibility of leading an army to rebel, and now those nobles have long since lost the idea of ​​making contributions on the battlefield. They are all focused on playing with women for money.

"No wonder, I see that there are fewer boats in the guard station at the pier over there."

Wu Dong interrupted now with a smile.

"Those ships are also idle. They go out to get some goods, and let the sailors earn some money."

Zhang Hongfu said indifferently.

It was only then that Wei Guangde fully understood the true meaning of the original words about earning the shipping fee and Chaoguan. The ships transported were all owned by Wei Li, and there was no need to spend money, just give the sailors some hard-earned money and it would be over.

This business is a no-cost transaction.

It is said that there is no business and no evil, this Shaanxi businessman is also very powerful. After ordering the goods, please Zhang Fugui to help transport them to Wuchang. The safety is guaranteed along the way, and it also saves money. Although it is said that part of the saved money may be given to the Zhang family. , but not a lot of trouble.

It's really hard money. After a trip, you can get a few hundred taels of silver.

"Well, it's because your second uncle is incompetent. If he got a good reputation in his studies and worked him into the salt administration, the money he earned would be gone."

Speaking of this, Zhang Shigui couldn't help sighing, "Guangde, let me tell you, you study and take the imperial examinations, in fact, there are two ways of seeking power and seeking money. Let's not talk about seeking power. Be lucky and be appreciated by noble people.

But when it comes to asking for money, magistrates are nothing.

What is the three-year Qing magistrate, one hundred thousand snowflake silver, it is not as good as entering the salt government to earn more, it is still a routine, and it is difficult for others to say anything. "

Wei Guangde kept nodding his head, it's not easy to say anything at this time, just listen and nod.

"Okay, let's have a drink. Let's have a glass of wine today, and I wish you all the way through the Guangde Mansion Examination Institute, and get a Jinshi in the exam, haha."

After saying that, Zhang Shigui picked up the wine glass, Zhang Hongfu and Wu Dong also picked up the wine glass and lightly touched the wine glass in Wei Guangde's hand.
"I don't know what's going on in Zhenjiang."

Everyone drank a few more glasses of wine, and Wei Guangde thought of Father Wei again.

The news they got there was actually from their cousin Wu Dong, and the source of his cousin's news must be from the guard, that is, here.

"It should be fine. The news that came back yesterday seems to say that there is no movement from the Japanese pirates."

This is what Zhang Shigui knows best, he is the most familiar with Wei, and he is also working there during this time.

But at this point, Zhang Shigui seemed to think of something suddenly, and called his servants to bring a scroll from the study. After unfolding it, Wei Guangde saw that it was a map of Jiangnan.

How to put it, Wei Guangde saw it, and it looked like a topographical map of later generations.

The mountains, rivers and lakes are directly drawn on the map, which is very vivid. As for the accuracy, there is definitely no guarantee. It can only be said that the general orientation may not be bad.

This map only involves parts of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Nanzhili, as if it was specially prepared for this war.

"Hongfu, Wu Dong, take a look and guess what Nanjing thinks."

At this time, Zhang Shigui suddenly thought of exercising the two juniors, both of whom are going to attack their posts. If they get in touch with such things earlier, who knows if they will encounter them in the future.

Immediately, under Wei Guangde's gaze, Zhang Shigui told them about the current deployment of the Ming army.

Nothing changed, I still heard it from my cousin, but this time with a map, whether it is Wu Dong, Wei Guangde, or Zhang Hongfu, it is much more intuitive.

The army is stationed in Zhenjiang and Taicang, but Songjiang Mansion is near the sea.

The connection between Songjiang Mansion and Zhejiang Province is the place of defense of Jinshan Guard, and then the coast of Zhejiang starts from Jiaxing, followed by Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo, and Wenzhou.

Wu Dong was not stupid, so he quickly noticed Songjiang Mansion.

There is Jinshanwei in the south of Songjiang Mansion, but most of Songjiang Mansion is directly facing the sea. Obviously, there are loopholes in the defense of such a small number of troops.

"Here in Songjiang, why did you gather troops in Taicang? Instead of stationing in Shanghai County?"

(End of this chapter)