(In the previous chapter, the conversion of silver taels was wrong. It has been changed to: I grabbed more than 3,000 taels in total, and one side divided 1,500 taels.)
Spring, the sixth year of Chongzhen.
The bandits entered Beizhili, and the general Yang Yuchun died in the ambush. Zhaozhou, Xishan, Shunde, and Zhending fell.
He then fled to the foot of Motian Ridge in Xingtai, recovered a little, and went to Wu'an, where he defeated Zuo Liangyu. The guard Cao Ming, the chief clerk Wu Yingke, and others were all killed in the battle.
The peasant army ravaged Hebei, and the capital was shaken.
At the same time, the army besieged Shuicheng in Dengzhou, and Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming fled.
The first martial arts champion since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Wang Laipin, was the one who succeeded after Chongzhen dismissed a large number of officials from the Ministry of War and ordered a re-examination. After the martial arts examination, Wang Laipin was actually awarded the title of Deputy Chief Soldier of Shandong. He was extremely grateful to Emperor Chongzhen.
Whenever there is a war, he will take the lead and fight to the death when he besieges Kong Youde.
Suiping, Shandong.
After successive wars, the imperial court was out of money again, so it ordered all provinces to quickly deliver the silver from salt courses. A total of more than 3.2 million taels were owed.
In addition, there were gold flowers and silver, and they were handed over quickly. This order made the lives of farmers in Jiangnan provinces increasingly difficult. Because the official land that needed to pay gold flowers and silver had long been occupied by nobles, gentry, and powerful men, once the court forced it, it would be tantamount to
Tenants had to pay rent twice.
The situation in the world is becoming increasingly chaotic.
…
Zhao Han dug out the silk clothes he brought from Qianshan and headed to the Huang family's ancestral home holding a folding fan.
Temporary changes to plans.
Zhao Han disguised himself as the son of a wealthy merchant in Jishui, Pang Chunlai was the accountant he brought, Chen Maosheng was the boy beside him, and Zhang Tieniu acted as his bodyguard.
"Mr. Zhao... Young Master," Chen Maosheng touched the brim of his hat, "Can you really not see the scar on my forehead?"
Zhao Han was a little impatient and said, "I really can't tell, so don't touch it."
Zhang Tieniu still stayed at the inn, Zhao Han only brought Pang Chunlai, and Chen Maosheng went out.
Huangjia Town is very small, with only one street. After leaving the town, I asked all the way, and after walking for a while, I could see the ancestral home of the Huang family in the distance.
"There will be another spring drought this year."
Zhao Han scanned the surrounding farmland. He said this to Pang Chunlai. The old master's eyesight could only see close objects.
Pang Chunlai could only sigh: "The country is about to perish, and natural disasters occur frequently."
It's really nonsense. For several years in a row, Jiangxi has experienced spring drought, summer floods, and winter snows in turn. The only good thing is that it has never caused a major disaster. Droughts and floods will stop after a while.
Zhao Han looked at the ditch on the roadside and suddenly couldn't help laughing.
There are people guarding the canal along the way. It is brought in by water truck by the river and flows into some fixed paddy fields, which should be Mr. Huang's fields.
As for other people's fields, no matter how close they are to the canal, they still have to take a long way to fetch water from the river.
Zhao Han saw many farmers going to the river in groups, carrying water back one load after another, but they could not irrigate more than a few acres from morning to night.
"Oh, this ancestral hall is so beautiful."
When Zhao Han passed by the Huang clan's ancestral hall, he let out a strange sigh of admiration.
The main reason is that the nearby farmers are too poor and the nearby residential buildings are too dilapidated, which makes Huang's ancestral hall stand out from the crowd.
There are brackets and cornices, carved beams and painted buildings, and there are stone lions and stone turtles at the door. Although compared with the Fei family ancestral hall, it is like a rich man meeting a wealthy businessman, but it is so annoying standing here.
About dozens of steps past the ancestral hall, you will find the ancestral home of the Huang family.
Zhao Han had already inquired about it, and found out that the Huang family only produced Jinshi during the Zhengde Dynasty, and they did not even have a successful candidate after that. Moreover, the Huang family itself did not engage in business, and only sold some agricultural products and handicrafts to outsiders passing through this town.
Merchant.
How could he maintain such a lavish ancestral home with no extra income and only by exploiting the village!
"Bang bang bang!"
Menzi opened the door and saw that they were strangers, so he couldn't help but ask: "Who are you looking for?"
Zhao Han just shook his folding fan, looking like a handsome man from aristocratic family.
Pang Chunlai stroked his beard without looking at anyone.
Only Chen Maosheng took a step forward, handed over the famous invitation with one hand, and said with a haughty attitude: "My son is Zhao Yan, a scholar of Jishui. He said that he wants to see Mr. Huang. Go and report it as soon as possible. You can't bear the delay."
These three people were very impressive, and they looked like they were from a big place. The disciples couldn't help but feel ashamed, and quickly took their name cards and ran to report them.
Zhao Han secretly gave a thumbs up and praised Chen Maosheng for his superb acting skills.
Not long after, the doorman ran out again, nodded and bowed and said: "Three distinguished guests, my master has invited you."
"Look and enjoy!" Zhao Han stepped in.
Chen Maosheng took out a bunch of copper coins from his bag and threw them to the doorman.
There is a lot of this stuff, so use it in large quantities to satisfy your needs.
Menzi took the reward with both hands, roughly estimating it to be at least two to three hundred coins. He immediately became elated and became even more enthusiastic, treating the three of them as high-rollers from a big city.
Zhao Han was taken into the waiting room and tea was quickly served.
"Pooh!"
Zhao Han took a sip, spit it out, and said disdainfully: "What kind of bad tea is this for people to drink?"
Pang Chunlai quickly dissuaded him: "Master, this is someone else's house. Even if the tea is not good, you should give the master some face."
"Okay, okay, just give him face." Zhao Han put down the tea bowl and never picked it up again.
The maid serving tea left with the tray and ran quickly to see Mr. Huang.
After talking about it, Mr. Huang felt angry and felt that he had been humiliated. But he also felt a little inferior. He had lived in the village for most of his life and he really was not worthy of carrying shoes for wealthy businessmen.
Mr. Huang did not dare to be negligent anymore. He quickly came to the hall, clasped his fists and said with a smile: "I, Huang Zundao, have a good character. Haha, sometimes you miss the welcome from afar, and sometimes you miss the welcome from the distance."
Zhao Han also stood up and held up his hands, saying modestly in an arrogant tone: "No matter where you are, I'm a newbie here, so I have to rely on Mr. Huang for everything."
"I don't dare to call you master, you just call me a member," Huang Zundao asked, "I haven't asked you for your name yet?"
Zhao Han reported his family background: "Zhao Yan, a scholar of Jishui, whose courtesy name is Zi."
Huang Zundao felt even more inferior. Although he was over sixty years old, he was still just a child.
In the entire Ming Dynasty, Jiangxi had the most Jinshi.
In the whole of Jiangxi, Ji'an has the most Jinshi.
Huang Zundao was born in a remote rural area of Ji'an Prefecture, with poor educational resources and great pressure from the imperial examination. He was a child born in China, and it was too expensive to continue buying scholars, so he had to make do with showing off in front of his neighbors.
Jishui also belongs to Ji'an Prefecture, and Zhao Han claims to be a Jishui scholar, which is far more valuable than the talents of Yunnan and Guizhou.
"It turns out it was the senior who was in front of me. I'm disrespectful. I'm disrespectful." Huang Zundao bowed quickly.
This is a battle for fame and fortune.
When a young boy faced a scholar, a rich man faced a wealthy businessman, Huang Zundao really couldn't stand up.
Of course, if your own interests are involved, then you have to talk about it differently.
A strong dragon will not overwhelm a local snake!
"Since Mr. Huang is also a scholar, it's easy for us to talk about it," Zhao Han said in a pretentious manner, "I want to build a warehouse in Huangjia Town. Are you willing to sell me the rocky wasteland by the river?"
Huang Zundao said in surprise: "Senior, are you going to build a warehouse here?"
Zhao Han suddenly sighed: "My Zhao family is considered a wealthy family in Jishui. We used to do business in Fujian and Guangdong. Have you ever seen the sea?"
"I'm about to go take a look." Huang Zundao said.
Zhao Han boasted: "My goods all have to be shipped to the sea. If they are sold to Fujian merchants, they will be shipped to Taiwan, Luzon, Ryukyu, and Japan. If they are sold to Guangdong merchants, they will be shipped to Western Europe.
There is France, there is France, there is England. Have you ever heard of these foreign countries?"
Huang Zundao felt even more inferior and said with a smile, "I have heard a little bit about it."
"Damn those rioters!" Zhao Han slammed the table, knocking the lid of the tea bowl off the side.
Huang Zundao only knew what was going on in the nearby towns and villages, so he hurriedly asked: "Where are the rioters?"
Zhao Han said: "There are rebellious people in southern Jiangxi and western Fujian. When they retreat, they gather in the mountains and forests, and when they advance, they attack the prefectures and counties, blocking all the trade routes of my Zhao family. These intruders must be forcibly extracted from passing merchants when they encounter them.
Thirty percent of the goods!”
Huang Zundao nodded and said: "These rioters really deserve to die."
"The Southern Jiangxi General is also a fool. He suppressed bandits for several years, but was suppressed by the mob and dared not leave the city. The court should arrest him and put him in jail!" Zhao Han yelled.
The first commander-in-chief of Southern Jiangxi was Yu Dayou, but as long as the banditry was not rampant, there was usually only one military commander-in-chief of Southern Jiangxi, and the commander-in-chief of Southern Jiangxi was also the commander-in-chief of Jiangxi.
The same is true for the governor of Southern Jiangxi. Generally, the governor of Jiangxi holds the concurrent post. When things get serious, he will be specially appointed.
Now the Southern Jiangxi military officer has jurisdiction over western Fujian and southern Jiangxi, and all he can see is the peasant army...
Huang Zundao asked in surprise: "The generals from Southern Jiangxi don't dare to leave the city?"
"Isn't it?" Zhao Han sneered.
Huang Zundao asked quickly: "Didn't the imperial court send troops to suppress it?"
Zhao Han sighed and said: "Where are there any soldiers in the imperial court? In recent years, there have been civil riots in Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Huguang. The White Lotus Sect is also in trouble in Beizhi, Shandong, and Henan. Bandits are raging in Shaanxi and Shanxi, and in Liaodong
It’s also occupied by the Tatars, where do you think the imperial court sent troops from?”
"This, this, this...how could this happen?" Huang Zundao was shocked. He only cared about his own one-third of an acre of land and had no knowledge of the outside world, nor would he inquire with passing merchants.
Zhao Han added: "The business in the south is no longer possible. Our Zhao family plans to use Heshui to transport goods from central Jiangxi to Huguang. I was sent by my family to explore the route. I think Huangjia Town is in a good location and would like to come here.
Build a transit warehouse.”
"This is it."
Once his own interests were involved, Huang Zundao became reserved, put on his airs and began to argue, and even changed his title: "To be honest, brother, this rocky wasteland on the river bank is not worth a few dollars, but it is shared by all the Huang family clans.
Industry. I’m afraid it’s not easy to convince various sects. I have to think carefully.”
Zhao Han also changed his title and said with a smile: "Since Mr. Huang can't make the decision, I will build a warehouse in another place. Farewell!"
"My dear brother, don't be anxious," Huang Zundao quickly dissuaded, "Everything can be discussed."
Zhao Han said confidently: "Although Huangjia Town is located on a commercial thoroughfare, there are many villages and towns along the Heshui River! I built a warehouse in Huangjia Town, which is a great thing for Huang Yuanwai. The warehouse is a
If it is built, the more merchants will be stationed there, the better the business in the town will be, and won’t Huang’s local products be more profitable? Maybe, in ten or twenty years, Huangjia Town will become a big town.
!”
This cake was painted so well that Huang Zundao really believed it.
Zhao Han added: "I want to build a warehouse, recruit workers, and buy stones, wood, and mortar. Isn't it Huang Yuanwai who has the final say on which workers to hire? Shouldn't the stones, wood, and mortar be bought from Huang Yuanwai?"
yes!
Huang Zundao was secretly happy that he could take advantage of the opportunity to make a fortune.
Zhao Han held a folding fan in his hand and said with a smile: "The wasteland on the river bank cannot grow food. If Huang Yuanwai can give it to me for free, then we can continue to discuss business. If not, then I will go to the town next door. I will only give you three days.
Consider the time, as soon as three days are over, I will leave immediately!"
Huang Zundao said: "No need to think about it. As long as it is a wasteland that cannot be farmed, brother, you can take as much as you want. However, I will be responsible for the workers and materials to build the warehouse. How about it?"