Of course, Ruan Yuan's success also meant that Cai Qian gradually fell into trouble.

"Cai Qian, it seems that this plan to alienate the Ruan family's wives and concubines has failed." At this time, dozens of pirate ships were parked on several islands in the Fujian Sea. There were no officers and soldiers here, so naturally it became

They arrived at the place where Cai Qian temporarily set up camp. Grandma Lu also received a report from the shore that day. Not only did Zhou's mother miss the boat in Hangzhou, but she was also imprisoned and convicted, so she told Cai Qian about it.

"Yeah, hum, but I didn't expect that the Ruan family's wives and concubines could have such a close relationship. It seems that we usually pride ourselves on knowing a lot of people, but we still underestimated Ruan Yuan." Cai Qian couldn't help but

He smiled bitterly.

"Boss, the most important thing right now is no longer a divorce plan. It's a question of how much money and food we can have for our brothers at sea next year, and whether they can replenish enough gunpowder." Cai Lin also said with concern.

: "This year Zhejiang has strictly inspected the coastal defense. The entire fishing market is under strict guard by the government and the army. We can't get involved at all. Maritime business can only be done in Fujian and Guangdong. If it is the same as last year, forget it. This year Ruan Guangzhan

It's over. Most of the people who used to hang out with him at sea have defected to us. With more people, we need more money, food and gunpowder, right?" At this time, Ruan Guangzhan had been killed by Ruan Fuying, and Annan, who had previously worked for him,

The navy also dispersed, with some part joining the Guangdong pirates, and the other part coming to join Cai Qian's gang because Cai Qian had also worked with Lunguili.

"Not to mention anything else this year, the number of foreign ships coming is much less." Grandma Lu also complained: "I heard that among the foreigners, there is a country called France, which fights with other foreigners all day long.

They don't dare to come here to do business anymore. They say there are French ships in Nanyang, which can stop them at any time. Domestic business can't be done, and foreign business can't be done either. If we can't find a big deal in the coming year, I'm afraid it will be too long.

, people's hearts have changed." Three years before this, that is, the year when Ruan Yuan went south to become the governor of Zhejiang, Napoleon gained military and political power in France, and immediately fought with other European countries, winning many battles, and in the spring of this year, the

With the signing of the "Peace of Amiens", the second anti-French alliance came to an end. However, the number of merchant ships from various countries to and from Guangzhou also decreased a lot due to the war. Even though the peace treaty was in place, it could not be restored. And half a year later, the peace treaty was torn up.

The third anti-French alliance was established, and Europe's trade with China has been difficult to improve.

"It's not like there's no big business... either, let's focus all our attention on Lu'ermen next year. I've inquired there and the largest number of merchant ships entering and leaving Taiwan to buy wood. If we can get them to give us some wood, we can repair the ships."

The problem is, there is also a shortage of food in the interior of Fujian these years. Taiwan has to transport tens of thousands of tons of food a year to support the governments of Fujian. If we can win this part, it will be a big business." From the Qianlong Dynasty to Jiaqing

During the North Korea, both grain and large timber were gradually in short supply in the interior of Fujian. On the contrary, Taiwan gradually became an export area for grain and large timber. It was necessary to replenish about 80,000 shi of grain a year to the officers and soldiers in the interior of Fujian. Therefore, Cai was involved in this.

Plan.

"If it's just a lack of food and gunpowder, it would be easy to handle. But what I'm afraid of right now is that people's hearts will break up." Cai Lin said: "Boss, it's not like you don't know that after the heavy rain the year before last, there have been people there.

Rumors say that Ruan Yuan and Li Changgeng were helped by God, and that God was on their side during the rain. I don’t believe this, but I think some people below do believe it. What’s more, in the past two years, we have also failed to deal with the government.

I didn't get any benefits, and the new arrivals were a mixed bag, and there might be spies on the shore who deliberately spread rumors. So in my opinion, whether we can replenish food and gunpowder in the coming year is secondary, and whether our people's hearts can be stabilized.

That’s our foundation.”

"Is that so..." A glimmer of light suddenly appeared in Cai Qian's eyes, and then a sly sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Mom, Cai Lin, I have an idea. When spring comes next year, we will go north to Mount Putuo to offer incense."

"What?" Lu Lao and Cai Lin seemed not to understand Cai Qian's intention.

"Hmph, think about it, what do we people who eat on the sea believe in most on weekdays? Either Mazu or Guanyin Bodhisattva. If we want to say that the most spiritual place on the sea to believe in Guanyin, where is it? It is Putuo Mountain! Next year we will

As soon as we arrived, we headed north with great fanfare. If anyone asked, we would just say that we were merchants going to offer incense. The court would probably not be able to tell for a while whether we were a real merchant ship and would not pursue us immediately. Let us offer incense if there is still time.

, take advantage of their hesitation and go to Zhejiang to make a fortune! As long as we act quickly, we can come back safely before the court discovers us! If we can find a few merchant ships carrying timber in the coming year, we can capture them.

, isn’t this human heart coming back again?” Cai Qian already had a plan to deal with it.

"Cai Qian, is your approach feasible?" Grandma Lu was a little worried when she heard this, and said, "Ruan Yuan is not a mediocre person. As long as he hears that our fleet of ships is heading north, I think he will be able to gather the navy immediately. I guess

, the best opportunity for them to take action is when we go south. If we are really trapped in Zhejiang at that time and want to attack the imperial navy, we have no absolute chance of winning now, right?"

"Mom, Cai Lin is right." Cai Qian said: "The most important thing for us right now is to stabilize people's hearts. If people's hearts are scattered, this Fujian businessman will dare to go against us. That is the worst thing.

The situation. So going north is indeed risky, so I have to go. As for the back... Hehe..." At this point, Cai Qian showed the slightly cunning smile before.

"Does Ruan Yuan think that he can sit back and relax after defeating my divorce plan? He may not know it yet. He has no way to deal with me now! If he really dares to take action and wants to destroy us like this,

Then we have to use the last resort. I want him to know this time that I will never be defeated on the East China Sea!"

Lao Lu and Cai Lin knew what Cai Qian meant, so they had no objections. Soon, Cai Qian gathered all his ships nearby, joined forces with Huang Kui, Zhang Azhi and others, and started

Prepare to go north.

Not long after, it was already the eighth year of Jiaqing, and it was Ruan Yuan's 40th birthday. Zhang Jian, Chen Wenshu and other students from the Sutra Execution House also prepared gifts early that day and sent them to the gate of Fuyuan. But what was in front of them was

The situation surprised these students. Kong Luhua was walking towards several sedan chairs with the three daughters of the Ruan family. It seemed that he was out on business. The Fuyuan officials told them that Ruan Yuan had taken people to the riverside to observe the construction of the seawall before that.

The situation is no longer in the house.

"Madam, how are you?" Zhang Jian and others also came over to pay homage to Kong Luhua under the guidance of the officials, and said: "My teacher went out to inspect the seawall, which really surprised the students. It's just that the students had known before that today was the day.

It is the 40th birthday of my mentor, and it is really rare for Shilin to be able to govern a country at the age of 40. Therefore, we have prepared this birthday gift early. I hope Madam will not dislike the students' meager birthday gifts and accept their wishes."

"Chunye, you'd better take the gift back." Kong Luhua also bowed to Zhang Jian and said, "Actually, my wife has known about you coming to give gifts. It was precisely because he didn't want to see you coming to give gifts that he went there specially.

Yesterday, he told us that if we accept gifts from you today, in the future, other outsiders can come and give gifts under various names. When he came to Hangzhou, he made a rule not to accept gifts. In the past few years,

When I came here, I only received some poetry, paintings and ancient utensils, but not gold, silver, silk or silk. He also told us not to accept the gifts you brought today, so you should go back.

, when this intention comes, Master will be very happy."

"This...why does the teacher have to do this?" Zhang Jian sighed: "Actually, the students also know that the teacher has never been honest and does not accept gifts, but this life is not many, and the gifts brought by the students are not that big.

If the teacher really doesn't want to accept the precious gold and silver treasures, it will make things difficult for us students."

"Oh, Master, I knew you would say that." Kong Luhua couldn't help but laugh and said, "Master also told us yesterday that most of the students from the Exegetical Jingshe will not give anything valuable, but your thoughts, he

He has received it a long time ago, and he has an idea of ​​what you can give him. These things are not important to our family. If you really want to give him something, there is nothing you can do. Last year he made a plan

The "Collected Works of the Exegetical Jingshe" is only the first collection. If you write good articles in the future, you can compile a sequel as much as possible, and treat it as a gift to him. When he sees that you have made a difference, he will naturally be happy that you have an article.

, can also be immortalized in future generations, isn’t it the best of both worlds?”

"This... If that's the case, then please ask Madam to ask for the teacher's well-being for us." Zhang Jian knew that Ruan Yuan had left so many words, and he probably would only be boring if he forced a gift. Looking at Kong Luhua and his entourage, he seemed to be disappointed.

When he was about to go out, he was not only curious, but asked: "But there is nothing else going on at Teacher's house today? My wife is also going out today, but I don't know how important it is?"

"Don't you all know that Master built a Puji Hall in the north of the city last winter?" Kong Luhua said: "Master said that although Hangzhou is a prosperous place and the population is increasing, there are also many hungry and cold people.

So the Puji Hall was set up. It was originally supposed to be a month of porridge in December, but this year it was colder than last year, so an extra month was added. No, because Master went to the seawall today and brought many government servants out.

Puji Hall was short of manpower at the moment, so we sisters had to go together to help. Puji Hall had to do a lot of things. In addition to giving out porridge, it also distributed cotton-padded clothes, coffins, ginger soup, and typhoid medicine. It looked like how many of us there were.

We are going to be busy for another day."

"That's really hard work, Master." Zhang Jian said with a smile: "It's just that the students don't know that if the Puji Hall is short of manpower, why don't the teachers just leave it to the Hangzhou Prefecture? If the Hangzhou Prefecture can take it over, they can take it over from the Prefecture.

Has the government sent officials to run the business?"

"The officials of Hangzhou Prefecture? If they come over, this Puji Hall will not be able to be run." Kong Luhua sighed, "You don't know something. The nursery school two years ago was also the agent of Hangzhou Prefecture. Later, I and a few

When the ladies of a gentleman’s family went there, they discovered how chaotic their management was. There were not many children in a place where babies were nursed, and few of them were seriously breastfeeding! I don’t know where the money in the accounting room went, and there was no loss.

Not bad. At that time, there were more than a dozen wet nurses inside, all dressed up. Do you think this was a nursery or a brothel? They didn't take good care of the children there. They drank and gambled. At that time, in order to

It took a long time to rectify the nursery hall! Fortunately, there are still people who are willing to take over the Puji Hall. A gentleman from Shaoxing said that he could pay for it. The master also discussed the handover with him. It is estimated that in a few days, we will

There’s no need to run around like this.”

"My teacher loves the people as much as his children, which really makes us admire him." Zhang Jian couldn't help but sigh: "Teacher, Mrs., it seems that I feel a little ashamed that the students have done nothing. If Mrs. Shi doesn't dislike it, we are also willing to help take care of Puji.

Sir, what do you think?"

"Well... that's fine. If you want to come, just take the gifts home first and come over later." Kong Luhua listened to Zhang Jianzhi's words, but couldn't help complaining: "You also said that he 'loved the people like his own children', right?
Chapter completed!