People in Hongwu, from heavenly master to emperor master

Chapter 268 Shen Wansan's Shen Family, Can I Trust You?
Fatty Chen is in a good mood, and his auction house is a hit today.

The reputation is also out, and the profit is also obtained.

Not to mention the turnover of several mirrors consigned by Zhang Yi as high as 3 taels of silver, even the sum of other auction items is not bad.

He didn't make much money from Zhang Yi's auction.

Other lots also received tens of thousands of taels of silver.

A turnover of nearly 10 taels a day is a good business for any business.

Although according to the commission ratio, the money he earned was not too much, probably around 1000 taels of commission.

But firstly, this is pure profit, and secondly, he actually made more money than this.

Because many collections are Chen Ke's own things, the market price premium of these things is more than 1000 taels.

After this match, Chen Ke's gross profit exceeded 4000 taels, no wonder he was grinning from ear to ear.

"Little Brother Zhang, this is a big red envelope that this old man gave you alone. If you hadn't reminded me, this old man wouldn't be able to earn the money...

The means of those foreigners in the vassal states also have merits! "

Chen Ke chatted with Kong Na for a few words, and first gave Zhang Yi a piece of money.

There is not much money, ten taels is good, which just fits Zhang Yi's identity.

Zhang Yi was like a servant in front of Kong Na.

He glanced at Kong Na first, Kong Na rolled his eyes, this guy really looks like it.

"Master Chen gave it, you accept it!"

Kong Na opened his mouth, and Zhang Yicai put away the money.

"Master Kong, this is the Taoist leader's money, and the bills are all big numbers, and they can be cashed at any time!
As for the commission, the old man won't accept it. I hope you can help me introduce this priest someday! "

Conner: ...

He is just a tool for collecting money, and he doesn't know how to say polite words.

After collecting the bank notes, Kong Na exchanged greetings with Chen Ke.

"I'm happy today. I should have had a drink with you, but many old friends came here. They originally wanted to meet you, but the old man knew that you like to be clean, so I pushed them away...

But this old man has offended someone, so he has to socialize and make amends!

Young master, please do what you want today, don't blame the old man for not entertaining you well!

Turn around, the old man will send you back in person, after all..."

Chen Ke pointed to the banknotes on the table, no matter what he said or did, he was impeccable.

The farce at the auction house today was originally caused by Zhang Yila himself.

Kong Na was naturally eager to leave, so several of them went out together.

Fatty Chen arranged for Chen Man to take the two of them and plead guilty to leave.

He entered Tianzi No. [-] box, and hearty laughter greeted each other came from inside.

"The Shen family in Zhouzhuang?"

Zhang Yi suddenly asked, his face full of curiosity.

"Little brother, have you ever heard of the reputation of the Zhou family? Although the Shen family is famous, it cannot be heard by the Confucian family..."

Chen Man didn't doubt him, and answered Zhang Yi's question with a smile.

Conne was also curious about him asking a businessman well.

The mystery of Zhang Yixiao, although the Shen family in Zhouzhuang is not considered a big figure in this era, but the posterity will also interpret their patriarch as famous by the posterity, but it is comparable to Zhu Yuanzhang...

"Brother Man, I am a servant of the Kong family, not the Kong family!

The young master concentrates on studying, so naturally he can't listen to these lowly people.

It's just that I like to listen to stories, but I know many people..."

Zhang Yi's age was very deceptive. Chen Man believed his explanation and didn't take it seriously.

"The master of the Shen family is Shen Xiu?"

Zhang Yi asked tentatively, and Chen Many answered with a hum.

"Sure enough, it's Shen Wansan... It's a pity that we don't have the chance to meet him today!"

Zhang Yi was thoughtful, regarding the person Shen Wansan, the dates of his birth and death were disputed in history, and the sources of Shen Wansan in Ming history and some historical materials that were later verified did not match.

Some say that he was in the same era as Zhu Yuanzhang, and some say that he died at the end of the Yuan Dynasty.

Before asking, what Zhang Yixin had was another historical document. Since he was still alive, it was another matter.

Shen Xiu, a rich man, originally mixed with Zhang Shicheng. The Shen family ran Zhouzhuang and made a lot of money from sea trade.

Later generations attached to it, saying that he was the number one businessman in the south of the Yangtze River, and it was even said that he had a cornucopia.

Lao Zhu killed him because he was greedy for his cornucopia.

All in all, this is a figure as legendary as Liu Bowen.

But it is estimated that Shen Xiu in the real historical trajectory is just like that.

No matter how rich a businessman is, he is also a lowly person.

In this era, businessmen can be as rich as an enemy, but they are still vassals of the powerful.

No matter how awesome Shen Xiu is, she doesn't deserve the attention of a powerful family.

He was exalted in the unofficial history, probably because the emperor punished him. This tragic situation gave the literati who hated Lao Zhu an excuse to write...

To put it bluntly, the promotion of Shen Xiu was still for the black old Zhu!

"What are you thinking, get in the car..."

Zhang Yi was thinking wildly, but was pushed by Kong Na.

He shook his head and smiled, he really didn't need to waste his mind on Shen Wansan.

He followed Kong Na into the carriage, and the coachman of the Confucian mansion flicked his whip, and the carriage headed towards the Confucian mansion.

Chen Man led a few people, keeping a distance on the side, guarding the left and right.

Tens of thousands of taels of silver is not a small amount no matter when it is placed. Officials in the early Ming Dynasty raised their heads for corruption, and their net worth may not exceed ten thousand taels of silver.

Kong Na had a huge sum of money in his arms, and Chen Man outside gave him a sense of security.

Seeing that there was no one around, he quickly stuffed the banknote into Zhang Yi's arms.

"You are relying on my Confucian mansion. You are a little real person who is inappropriate, but you just ask me to endorse you..."

Kong Na angered Zhang Yi angrily, but Zhang Yi had a thick skin and didn't take it seriously:

"It's better to be Nene, thank you Nene!"

He looks shameless, and Kong Na can't do anything about him.

"However, it's a good and novel experience to participate in the auction this time, but it's a pity that I don't have any money in my pocket, otherwise I will go to bid!
By the way, shopkeeper Chen should have made a lot of money this time..."

Kong Na seldom goes out, and when the man encounters such a novelty as an auction, he inevitably invites Zhang Yi to share his joy.

Zhang Yixiao:
"The money is quite standard, Fatty Chen is expected to get off to a good start this time, and it is estimated that many auctions are commission-free or low-commission!
But a commission of 1000 taels of silver is considered a good business. After all, although his Run Yutang has exaggerated profits, it doesn't always have business!
If I were Fatty Chen, I would definitely stuff some of my own things into the lot!

If these things are sold at a premium as the atmosphere rises, the money earned is several times the commission..."

He talked about Chen Ke's business in every possible way, and Kong Na also listened with great interest.

Zhang Yi continued:
"But the most important thing in this business is not to make money,

The most important thing for an auction house is credit, channel and platform...

If Fatty Chen can grasp these points, he can occupy a role in Ying Tianfu in the future.

It may not be impossible to knock on the door of the capital's dignitaries in this way!

Don't think that I don't know about him, an old thief. Among the four mirrors, there is a mirror that he secretly ate..."

Kong Na was shocked, this kid can even see Fatty Chen taking a picture of himself in a mirror?

Kong Na couldn't help but feel discouraged. With Zhang Yi, he always felt that his IQ was crushed.

"He ate this mirror, probably because he wanted to use it as a knocking stone, but he didn't know which door he wanted to knock on?
But regardless of him, since I took this mirror out, I already knew that there must be noble people in the capital staring at it!

Some people use it, it has nothing to do with us..."

After Zhang Yi finished speaking, he took the bank notes and counted them.

Conne was a little annoyed:

"Do you not trust me or shopkeeper Chen?"

Zhang Yi didn't raise his head:

"I can trust both of you, but I'm too poor recently, and my life is miserable, so counting money for fun!
The happiness of being rich, you can never imagine..."

Kong Na was so angry that he could die of anger after just three words to this guy.

……

With the money, Zhang Yi immediately cleared all his debts and gave Lao Zhu 1 taels of silver.

Longhushan's investment in the emperor's business has reached 5 taels.

As an investor, Zhang Yi once caught Zhu Biao asking about the progress of going overseas, and Zhu Biao said meaningfully:
"After Qingming..."

Qingming is not far away!
Zhang Yi is still satisfied with this progress.

This year the Japanese pirates have been particularly intrusive. Since the beginning of the first month, these bastards have not allowed the coastal people to have a good year.

But it really reached its peak when the Suzhou government was attacked in August...

In the hinterland of the south of the Yangtze River, the economic core area of ​​the Ming Dynasty has been harassed.

Although benefiting from the strong fighting power of the Ming army in the early Ming Dynasty, the Japanese pirates did not take advantage of it this time.

However, the scourge of the Japanese pirates finally attracted Zhu Yuanzhang's attention because of the chaos in the second year of Hongwu.

Fighting head-on, the imperial army is not afraid, and can even suppress the Japanese pirates' offensive.

But if the other party comes and goes without a trace, Daming really has no good solution.

The only option left is to ban the sea, to isolate the coastal area in a way similar to hardening the walls and clearing the wilderness.

Starting from the three-year-old Zhu Ba of Hongwu, the Taicang City Shipping Department, Daming started a process of gradually banning the sea for several years...

This effect has indeed played a certain role, although the coastal defense will still be invaded...

It's just that such an approach seriously damaged the interests of the landlords and businessmen along the coast.

The decline of the Shen family may have started from that time...

Don't think about what you have and what you don't have, just go to sea in Qingming, so that you can avoid the peak of the wave.

Zhang Yi is actually not too worried about going to sea itself.

Although going to sea at this time is a hundred years earlier than Columbus's time, Daming's shipbuilding level is much better than that of Columbus's time.

Before the Industrial Revolution, except for a small number of subdivided areas, the East was basically pressing against the West and rubbing against the ground.

Columbus can arrive, and the merchant ships of Huang's family have a high chance of reaching America.

"If it goes well, one year, if it doesn't go two years... at most two years, the fleet should be able to return!

I'm afraid that at sea, those pirates and Japanese pirates will harass the fleet, but there are Hongyi cannons to protect him, and my uncle himself has a pirate background!
This matter should not trouble him! "

……

Lao Zhu, whom Zhang Yi regarded as the leader of the pirates, was currently studying how to fight pirates.

The next day,

In the imperial palace, in the royal study.

A general is kneeling on the ground.

Zhu Yuanzhang held a map in his hand, which was the coastal map painted by Zhang Yi.

However, the original version of this picture, Lao Zhu, has been treasured for a long time, and this picture is a copy.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the picture by himself, and Zhang Cundao, who was kneeling on the ground, dared not make any movement at all, for fear of angering the emperor.

Zhang Cundao, son of Zhang Yi.

"Xuanwu Army, what do you think?"

After a long time, Lao Zhu finally broke the silence in the imperial study.

Zhang Cundao quickly replied:
"Your Majesty, you can use..."

"You are fair and don't brag about those falsehoods to me. Indeed, the current Xuanwu Army is only usable!

Veterans and recruits are mixed, and the recruits have not seen blood, nor have they been in the water...

Zhang Cundao, can you bring me the Xuanwu Army? "

Zhang Cundao hurried back:

"The minister leads the army, and he will die!"

"You should also understand that the meaning of the establishment of the Black Tortoise Army is determined by the world, and there is no room for the navy army to play.

But overseas, my Ming's coastal defense is still riddled with holes.

Especially the grain road from the south of the Yangtze River to the north is not very safe! "

"I know, I must train my troops well and protect the frontiers of Ming Dynasty!"

"A basalt army can't defend my Ming's coastal defenses well, and I shouldn't expect the same from you...

When Xuanwu goes out to sea, it should be regarded as a huge wave, and I have higher demands on you!

But this matter can be put aside temporarily, I will tell you another matter..."

Zhu Yuanzhang simply told Zhang Cundao that the envoy to Japan had been killed.

Zhang Cundao was filled with righteous indignation when he heard the words, how dare the little Japanese general dare to kill the Chinese envoy?

Although the Central Plains has lost contact with Japan after Yashan, Zhang Cundao, as a member of China, still looks down on the isolated Japanese country.

This is the arrogance that the Chinese people have accumulated little by little since the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very satisfied with Zhang Cundao's attitude, and continued:

"I wanted to send troops to attack Japan, but Liu Bowen stopped me.

He said, once the Yuan Dynasty failed here, our Ming Dynasty is not strong enough!

Second, it’s our Daming navy that can’t do it…”

Zhang Cundao didn't understand what Zhu Yuanzhang meant by these words. After all, Liu Ji was also an elder of the Eastern Zhejiang School. He replied:
"Your Majesty, I think what Master Liu said makes sense..."

hehe~
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled meaningfully when he heard the words.

He added:
"Jiangsu and Zhejiang are a good place, I heard that there are many people in your area who are engaged in business, and they also have their own trade at sea!
Life on the sea is different from that on the ground!
In order to trade smoothly, many coastal people live on the sea all the year round, and they can't tell the difference between the people and the thieves!
Some people told me that if we attack Japanese pirates and attack Japan,
It will affect the interests of those wealthy households along the coast,

Liu Ji is clean and honest, I believe in this.

But if he sympathizes with the country gentry and protects their interests, do you think it is possible? "

Zhang Cundao was sweating profusely, coauthored the emperor to dig a hole for him here?
He was so frightened that he knelt down three times and kowtowed nine times:

"Your Majesty, I am not Master Liu, and I don't understand what Master Liu is thinking about this move, but I have no second thoughts about the loyal ministers of the court!"

The emperor didn't mean Liu Bowen, he was clearly reminding the officials from eastern Zhejiang.

Although Zhang Cundao was a general, he also came from a poetic family.
He suddenly understood Zhu Yuanzhang's purpose for calling him, that the emperor was testing him and beating him.

"Zhang Cundao, do you think I can trust you?"

Zhu Yuanzhang finally got straight to the point.

　The birth and death years of Shen Wansan are controversial in history. For the sake of drama, this book may use the historical materials where his and Zhu Yuanzhang's timelines overlap!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)