Hongwu Survival Guide

Chapter 67

Such a big battle on the sea quickly attracted a large number of people to come to watch.

Zhu Yuan and Hua Gao, as well as officials from other places in Dinghai who arrived one after another, waited for about two quarters of an hour on the open space beside the pier blocked by the officer-soldier isolation fence, and the boat of Vice Governor Wu Zhen finally docked.

The springboard was set up, and a military general wearing a red cloak of brown light armor stepped off the boat with steady steps.

It was Wu Zhen.

Zhu Yuan followed Huagao a few steps forward, looking at him.

This is a middle-aged man with a big beard and a square face, about 40 years old, with a medium build, but his temperament is much more capable than Hua Gao, who is like an old farmer in the field.

The two sides came closer.

Wu Zhen's originally serious expression slowed down a bit, and he saluted Hua Gao solemnly: "Wu Zhen has met the governor under his post."

Hua Gao returned a salute with a smile, then held Wu Zhen's arm and turned directly to Zhu Yuan: "Master, this is Zhu Yuan, you must have heard a lot about him, so I won't repeat it. The Admiralty’s Mansion is a family, from now on we will be on the same boat, Han Lin is weak, you should take care of him more.”

Zhu Yuan pretended not to notice Wu Zhen's unnatural expression when Hua Gao grabbed his arm, and said with a long bow: "Zhu Yuan met General Wu, who fought for the country, and went north again. It's been a hard journey."

When Hua Gao let go of himself, Wu Zhen just relaxed a bit. Seeing Zhu Yuan like this, his expression was obviously surprised, and he hurriedly clasped his fists in return: "Wu Zhen has met...Mr. Zhu, Mr.'s reputation is too high, it's all a matter of his duty."

Wu Zhen had already heard about the anecdote of sending Guozuo 500 years ago in the southern front.

Before leaving Fujian, Wu Zhen was shocked when he received the lord's handwriting asking him to treat Zhu Yuan 'like my own son', so he was worried about what kind of person he would meet along the way.

now...

Seeing Zhu Yuan like this, Wu Zhen felt that it shouldn't be difficult to work together in the future.

Hua Gao laughed and interjected a few words, and waited for Wu Zhen and Mingzhou Wei Commander Tongzhi Changduan and others to meet one by one, and said: "It's just noon, and I have ordered the family to prepare a welcome banquet. Just go into town?"

Wu Zhen glanced at the naval fleet behind him, wanted to refuse, but was pulled back by Hua Gao again, and walked towards the prepared horses not far away.

Seeing this, Wu Zhen could only hurriedly say a few words to the guards around him, and left with Hua Gao first.

Zhu Yuan walked towards his sedan chair as usual.

Just stepping over the horizontal bar pushed down by the bearers, I suddenly heard someone shouting.Following the sound, a man in his fifties in a dark blue gown was cupping his hands in the crowd blocked by soldiers.

Seeing Zhu Yuan's eyes, the man hurriedly raised his voice again, and said loudly: "My lord, Shen Mao is in Xiachangzhou, can you spare some time?"

It's 'Shen Wansan' again.

Zhu Yuan smiled, there is no time now.

However, now that Wu Zhen has arrived in Mingzhou, some arrangements for maritime trade can be advanced.Thinking of this, Zhao Xu, the guard next to him, looked inquiringly, waved his hand casually, got into the sedan chair, and called a certain sack next to him to come in together.

According to the people around him, as long as Zhu Yuan gets close to the water, the sack girl must follow.

Follow and follow and get used to it.

A group of officials, big and small, left one after another, but the people watching the excitement did not disperse.

After all, this battle at sea is rare.

Shen Mao, the third son of the Shen family who had just called Zhu Yuan, did not leave either.

Not only that, Shen Mao was surrounded by a group of maritime merchants from all over the world who came to the pier after hearing the news.

Everyone hoped to take this opportunity to have a face-to-face meeting with the chief officials of the two major yamen of the Yinghai Division and the Naval Governor's Mansion, but unfortunately, even if Shen Mao took the risk of confrontation, he still failed to call for someone.

These days, because the Taicang Shipbuilding Department was suddenly withdrawn, and because of the establishment of the never-before-heard Yinghai Department, many sea merchants rushed here from all over the coast without the notice from Zhu Yuan.

In order to meet the important officials in the Yinghai Division and the Naval Governor's Mansion, they have also tried their best recently.However, both the famous battalion envoy and the newly-appointed naval commander rejected their request to see him.

Just simply talk.

wait.

The two chief officials didn't see any guests, and the other subordinate officials were worried that they would fall on them, so they became cautious and refused all kinds of visits one after another.

That being the case, just wait.

However, if other sea merchants are still waiting patiently, these days, the Shen family in Changzhou only feels that their home is like an ant that may be put on the roasting pan at any time.

All of this was due to the three ships that were really out of luck.

The three ships were fully loaded with goods worth as much as 15 taels of silver. When they left, they only had 7000 taels of silver. Once they went back and forth, they doubled by nearly nine times.

The most serious thing is that this account has been cleared up by the young envoy who has just arrived as a new official.

So the Shen family suddenly felt a little bit guilty.

After all, anyone can think of it. Since one sum has such a huge income, how many generations of Shen family has accumulated, what kind of wealth will they have?

Watching the small sedan chair disappear into the city gate from afar, Shen Mao couldn't help but sigh.

Shen Mao really wanted to explain in detail to the Yinghai Envoy, but there really wasn't that much.

After all, merchants at sea can go back and forth as smoothly as this time, and there is no one in ten.

However, the envoy of the sea camp has not given him a chance to speak up to now.

The more this is the case, Shen Mao only feels that the Shen family is about to suffer a catastrophe.

After all, the Shen family has lived in Suzhou for a long time, and it is impossible that they have nothing to do with Zhang Shicheng, who was destroyed last year.

Earlier, when the imperial court moved to Suzhou Fuminshi Linhao, Shen's family managed it up and down, and managed to save it with great difficulty.Unexpectedly, this time the truth was exposed, how could those people just let the Shen family go by simply peeling off the skin?
As for the current calm situation, even the new sea envoy only followed the new rules he set out, collecting [-]% ​​of the tax on the three ships, and then released them.

Shen Mao couldn't believe it was over so far, so he kept trying to contact the other party.

For the first time, Shen Mao went to visit with a heavy gift, but no one was seen.

The second time, after inquiring about some news, Shen Mao tried to ask for an interview again. He was already prepared. He not only hoped to donate all the three ships of goods including the sea-going ship, so as to save money and avoid disaster, but also hoped to make a contribution to the imperial court's upcoming northbound grain transportation. force.

Still failed.

Until now, ten days have passed, and it has been hanging up and down like this.

It's frightening to hang.

Shen Maodu has secretly sent a letter back to Changzhou, asking the family to quietly transfer some relatives' children, so as to avoid any catastrophe, at least to preserve the blood.

Today, I heard that Wu Zhen, the deputy governor of the navy, had arrived. It happened that Wu Zhen's elder brother Wu Liang was currently the commander of the Suzhou Guard, and the Shen family had dealt with him, so they rushed to the pier again.

Still nothing.

Seeing that Shen Mao looked a little bit out of his wits, colleagues who roughly understood the situation of the Shen family tried to comfort him, but Shen Mao could only force himself to respond calmly.

After chatting for a while, everyone was about to go back to the city when a carriage stopped not far away, and a middle-aged man in his 50s with a round face and short beard got out of the carriage in a hurry, and saw that all the court officials had long since disappeared on the shore of the pier The figure couldn't help stomping, turned his head and reprimanded his driver.Noticing Shen Mao and the others, that person suddenly showed a smile, walked quickly, and cupped his hands and said, "Everyone, you are here too, can you see the Deputy Governor?"

Everyone bowed their hands and returned the salute politely, but no one answered the man's question. Some sea merchants turned their heads deliberately, hoping that the other party would take the initiative to leave.

The man's name is Zhang Zha, from Haiyan, Jiaxing, and a sea merchant.

However, compared to the Shen family, which is well-connected and well-connected, the Zhang family's reputation is very poor.

Zhang Zha's father started his business by selling private salt in his early years, but in Zhang Zha's generation, he turned to maritime business.

However, Zhang Zha is not only stingy and lacks integrity, but also acts in a dirty way. It is rumored that he still has friends with pirates.A few years ago, a fellow villager of Zhang Jai, surnamed Wang, also ran a maritime business, and helped Zhang's family in his early years.For some reason, the family fleet of the Wang family just left Hong Kong encountered pirates during a business transaction. Not only the property was lost, but more than 70 lives were lost, and the Wang family was ruined as a result.

Afterwards, many people suspected that Zhang Jai had colluded with pirates to seek wealth and kill him, and by the way, killed a competitor.

But no proof.

Even the sufferer hanged himself, and the matter was over.

Such a person, no one likes dealing with him.

That's why everyone was able to arrive at the pier in time, except Zhang Jai who was late.The popularity is too bad, when everyone hears the news, no one will take the initiative to inform him.

It's not good to say nothing, so Shen Mao spoke kindly and dealt with Zhang Zhe for a few words. He had something on his mind and knew the details of this person, so he didn't say much.They exchanged winks with the people around them, and went back to the city together.

Seeing Shen Mao and the others leaving in a hurry without even trying to hide their disgust, Zhang Jai's expression darkened.

Looking fiercely at the backs of a group of people and muttering a few words, he was about to get on the carriage and go back to the city when he heard someone calling himself: "Brother Shuyi, don't come here without any harm."

Zhang jaw, word sparse meaning.

In private, many people ridiculed that this word is very appropriate, because this rich man can only give you a lot of "righteousness". If you get your 'righteousness', your backhand will take your 'money'.

Zhang Ja turned his head with a surprised expression.

It was the short-lived Taicang Shibo who promoted Chen Ning.

At the beginning of the opening of Taicang Shipping Department, Zhang Jai also went to give gifts. After all, no matter how reluctant he was, he also understood that such a thing had to be cut.

It's a pity that the pile of rare seafood worth at least 5000 taels of silver was all in vain.

Because this Chen Tiju, who had only been in office for more than a month, suddenly lost his position, and even the Taicang City Ship Tiju Division was dismissed.

Seeing Chen Ning greeting him, and thinking about the goods that he gave away, Zhang Jai felt distressed and subconsciously didn't want to talk to him.

It's just a hairless phoenix.

However, just now, when someone took the initiative to greet him, Zhang Zha regained some of his mood, and in a flash, he also showed a smiling face, and he cupped his hands and said, "Lord Chen, please stay safe."

Chen Ning twitched the corners of his mouth when he heard Zhang Jai calling himself 'Master Chen', and recovered quickly, still smiling: "Shuyi, but you came here for the maritime trade?"

Zhang Zha didn't answer, and looked at Chen Ning who walked in, suddenly thought he understood, and said in a low voice: "My lord...he came to Mingzhou, but to recover?"

Zhang Ja only knew that Chen Ning had lost his job, but he still didn't know about His Majesty's words of 'never hire'.

No one knew him.

Zhang Zha heard that many officials will come back soon after they step down.

If this is the case, let's burn Chen Ning's cold stove right now, and if the other party makes a comeback, his Zhang family will definitely benefit.

Of course, Chen Ning understood Zhang Jai's thoughts better, so he just gave an unpredictable smile.

Chen Ning has been in Dinghai for six days, and it is exactly what Zhang Jai thought. Although he thought that the new young envoy of the sea camp might have taken away his vacancy, but if he could see Zhu Yuan and ask for help, he would not hesitate to ask for help. Lack of this ability to bend and stretch.

That Han Xin has also had the humiliation of the crotch.

Given His Majesty's favor for the young man, it probably wouldn't be a problem if he was never hired.

Unfortunately it backfired.

After finally convincing the former Deputy Judiciary Chang Bao to introduce him, the answer he got was only two words, no.

Chen Ning thought it was Chang Bao who was worried about his recovery and didn't do his best, so he turned to other former colleagues and tried to meet the naval captain Hua Gao.

Unfortunately, nothing came of it.

leave?
Not reconciled.

So I have been wandering in this Dinghai County.

At the moment, after the two chatted, one was rejected by their peers, and the other was dismissed from office. Unknowingly, they fell in love with each other, and soon decided to go back to the city to have a long talk.Knowing that Chen Ning lives in an inn, Zhang Zha, who intends to make a fortune, invites him to live in the mansion he rented in Dinghai.

(End of this chapter)