As the days passed, everything seemed to be going according to plan.
The plaque of Sihai Trading Company was once again hung up on Wangfu Street. The storefront was neither big nor small. It was neither particularly wealthy nor particularly shabby. It was as ordinary as the countless shops on Wangfu Street. The only exceptions were the ones that opened.
At that time, no one in the officialdom or in the market came out to ask for money or anything like that.
It turned out that Jiang Wan planned to hand over the management of the Sihai Trading Company in the capital to Li Fuyao, and Li Fuyao also felt that it should be managed by himself. However, Catherine felt that Jiang Wan would not go to Shaanxi again, so she
Don't plan to go back.
Fortunately, Ren Lao, Zhao Huchen and others who originally ran the original Sihai Trading Company in Hao Jing Ao had always been in the 5000th household. Catherine did not intend to take charge of the 1000th household, so Jiang Wan could only temporarily adjust the plan and directly let them
Ren Lao became the shopkeeper of Sihai Trading Company in Yan'an Prefecture and the deputy thousandth household of the fifth thousandth household.
As for whether he is familiar with the business, Jiang Wan is not worried. He is just worried that the emperor's decree will suddenly come down. While he is still the commander of Nanhai Guard, he still has to do these things and arrange things.
Arrange as much as possible.
Except for the guards who were still with him now, most of the personal guards and disciples from Zhouzhuang who were by his side had already joined the Nanhai Guard and became middle-level or grass-roots officers. Jiang Wan summoned them according to his own impressions.
He recruited some people, and finally determined a group of people who would leave Nanhaiwei and take military positions to serve him.
This is the meaning of selecting servants in disguise. He understands the meaning of this matter, and the people who are selected also understand the meaning of this matter. Therefore, for his selection, although some are reluctant to leave Nanhaiwei, most of them
They all gave Jiang Wan a definite answer.
Over a hundred people were selected. Including the current personal guards, there are now nearly two hundred people who can be regarded as Jiang Wan's servants. A mere guard commander can raise two hundred capable and brave people.
Zhan's servants are already very good, but if this scale is brought to Dongjiang Town, it will be a bit unsatisfactory.
Jiang Wan estimated that it was impossible for Zhu Youjian to directly appoint him as the chief military officer of Dongjiang Town. This kind of promotion, even with his contribution to quelling the rebellion in Shanxi, was a bit shocking. He was a fourth-grade guard commander.
, he was suddenly promoted to the rank of general military officer, a position that only a second-grade official could do. Official grades in the Ming Dynasty were not so cheap.
Therefore, he felt that he should be promoted to a higher level, then given a military position in Liaodong, and finally, given the title of Acting General Soldier, but that was enough.
Therefore, he felt that his more than two hundred personal soldiers should be more than enough.
The recruitment of soldiers in Zhouzhuang has not stopped. Poor Li Fuyao probably still wants to do his old job, continue to train new recruits in the new Zhouzhuang of Nanhaizi, and reserve talents for the needs of Nanhaiwei and Jiang Wan in the future.
On Fo Langjiren's side, even if they relented, Jiang Yanran obviously carried out Jiang Wan's instructions to the end. When Folangjiren conveyed Jiang Wan's dissatisfaction to Hao Jinghong, and waited eagerly
While following the reply from Hao Jing'ao, the group of Buddhist monks in Honglu Temple were still living in dire straits.
However, Jiang Wan didn't care about these things. Jiang Yanran had already understood what he meant. As long as no lives were lost and these Francois were allowed to suffer more, it would be considered as repaying some interest for Catherine's long-distance escape.
It seemed that the marriage that had been planned for a long time finally came to fruition on a certain auspicious day. After some beautiful scenery, seeing the hustle and bustle that the guests in the courtyard seemed to have left behind yesterday, Jiang Wan felt as if he had woken up in the old Jiang family house many years ago.
It's the same as when I was there, there was a particularly unreal feeling.
Now, no matter from what point of view, he is an out-and-out Ming Dynasty man, and in this trance, he finally figured out one thing. All the connections between the previous world and him should be
It doesn't matter anymore. If before this night, he didn't have a particularly strong sense of belonging to the era he lived in, then after one night, he would be completely rooted here.
He has a family.
He has a woman to spend the rest of his life with, someone he wants to take care of, and his woman will probably give birth to many offspring in the near future. His Jiang Wan bloodline will continue and branch out in this era.
Loose leaves can even last until the later generations in his memory.
And around him, there are many people who are willing to live and die with him. These people rely on him, rely on him, and even put their lives and futures on him.
In the past, the Jiang family was just a name or a title, but now the Jiang family is a real family.
He couldn't remember where the custom of honeymooning began. The Ming Dynasty didn't pay much attention to such things. However, the days after getting married really felt like a honeymoon for him, until one day suddenly, a eunuch came with the emperor's will.
Come.
He knew that no matter how reluctant he was to part with the tender honeymoon, he had to leave immediately.
Three days later, Jiang Wan left the capital and headed for Tianjin.
…
"It's really ridiculous, extremely ridiculous!"
In the small church where the Victor Chamber of Commerce in Hao Jingao resides, Jose, the director of the Victor Chamber of Commerce and president of the Far East Branch, is talking to a priest wearing a priest's robe. Today is not a day for worship. However, every day Jose
Whenever I have something boring, I always come to the church to sit there.
And Father John in the church always gave him a lot of revelations from God, making him suddenly enlightened.
Of course, this is also related to the fact that Father John is an erudite and wise priest. Father John graduated from the Roman College and was appointed by the Jesuits to preach in the East. Although he is not old, his amazing talents and Roman
Studying at the academy allowed him to make extremely enviable achievements in mathematics, astronomy, geography, mechanics and even alchemy, in addition to theology.
Sometimes, Jose felt that it would be better if Father John was not a priest. The Victor Chamber of Commerce would not hesitate to absorb such talents into the Chamber of Commerce. There are exiles, murderers, liars and thieves everywhere.
In Hao Jing'ao, talents like Father John are as bright as the stars in the night sky.
"So, did the Victor Chamber of Commerce and this Ming Dynasty noble have such a verbal contract?"
After listening to Jose's complaint calmly, John said calmly.
"This is indeed the case, but contracts are only valid between civilized people. If you make a contract with these barbaric orientals, even if it is written in black and white, as long as you are strong enough, it can be torn into pieces.
, not to mention this verbal contract!”
"So, is the Victor Chamber of Commerce strong enough now?" Father John looked at Jose calmly: "Can it afford the consequences of tearing up the contract?"
Jose looked at John's identity and wanted to say "Yes!" However, he finally shook his head slowly.
"The Ming Empire is too big, even though they are so backward, but..."
"So, can I think that they have the right and strength to pursue Victor for not fulfilling the contract?" Father John smiled slightly: "God sees all people as equal, regardless of whether they are barbaric or civilized.
In God’s eyes, everyone in the world is His child!”
"So, the priest wants the Chamber of Commerce to continue to fulfill its contract with them?" Jose said thoughtfully: "But the Ming Empire was invaded by barbarians last year, and even the capital was almost occupied by barbarians. Even if we don't fulfill our contract,
Contract, I think that Ming noble will probably not have the time or resources to cause trouble for us!"
He felt that he suddenly saw through the essence of the matter: "So, when he makes things difficult for our left-behind personnel in the capital of the Ming Dynasty, he is just incompetent and furious, venting his anger!"
Father John looked at him with a smile, but said nothing.
"I know what to do. I should withdraw everyone. If the Ming Empire continues to need our large-caliber artillery to resist the barbarian invasion from the north, then they should let them come to us, not us.
It’s like waiting for them to give us a handout order!”
He stood up and made up his mind: "Thank you, Father John. Every time I chat with you, I feel like my whole being has been baptized by the truth!"
“You are welcome to come and bask in the glory of God at any time!”
The entourage around him put a few gold coins into the church's fundraising box. Jose walked out of the church refreshed. The hot and humid air outside the church was mixed with the noisy shops in the distance. At this moment, Jose,
But there is no longer the feeling of depression that I felt when I entered the church.
Behind him, John looked at his leaving figure, shook his head with a smile, and walked back to the inner room of the church. He took off his priest's robe and left the church.
Summer in Hao Jing Ao is a test for everyone. Even if it is not yet noon, there are not many idle people in the streets and alleys. Except for the usual bustle and bustle on the pier, there are many people in Hao Jing Ao.
Most of the streets are empty.
Father John did not go to the shops on the street. Instead, he turned around and headed towards the jungle in the distance. There were many shacks there. Most of the new immigrants who had just arrived in Hao Jing'ao had almost nothing.
Although these people living here call themselves adventurers, Father John knows that most of these people will probably stay in this land in the east for the rest of their lives.
"Father!"
"Father!"
Near the shacks, people kept saying hello to him. John nodded to these people with a smile until he reached the largest shack and stood still.
"The angel of God has come again to inspire me, a heinous sinner!?" A sarcastic voice came from the shack.
"I told Mr. Jose from the Victor Chamber of Commerce that the patrol team will not come to the shack every day to disturb you, but cleaning it once a month is a must. Because your people committed crimes, the patrol team came to arrest the criminals. The matter is not in my agreement with him!"
"I didn't expect you, Father, to be so proud!" A figure walked out of the shack. It was a tall figure, and unlike the faces of the people around him, it was clearly an oriental face.
"So, is our deal done?"
"That's not that easy. I'll have to wait and see in a few days before talking!" The oriental man chuckled: "If it's really what you said, I will definitely not forget what I promised you!"
"That's the best!" Father John smiled with satisfaction: "If there is nothing else, I will go back!"
"Wait!" The Easterner stopped Father John and seemed to frown: "I can arrange it for you when you go to the capital. When you get to the capital, I will even ask my friends to arrange it for you. However, all this It all costs a lot of money, Father, you know this!"
"I don't have money!" Father John said calmly: "Besides, our agreement at the beginning was not on one line. You said that as long as I help you solve the matter of the Chamber of Commerce patrol team, you will arrange for your friends to take me to the capital. !”
"I know you don't have it, but the Victor Chamber of Commerce does!" The Easterner said nonchalantly: "If you really don't have money, I'll give you an idea. You have to travel a long way to the capital, and the risk is high on the way. Very, it is necessary to find a few people to protect you. With your relationship with the Victor Chamber of Commerce, you should have the honor to ask them for weapons!"
John looked at the guy in front of him and became confused.
"Ten muskets, forget it, five, I want the latest kind!" The Easterner offered the price: "If the patrol doesn't come to trouble me, and I have the muskets, when are you going to leave, Father? When will I?" Find you a boat!"
Father John left the shack with some helplessness in his eyes. Sometimes to achieve a bright goal, it seems inevitable to make a deal with the devil in the darkness. He is not the kind of pedantic priest who came out of the seminary, but he is really I don’t know how to ask Jose for some of the latest muskets!
He can't say that he is going hunting!
On the other side of the pier, there was another loud noise. He lowered his head and walked towards the church without paying any attention. At the door of the church, a familiar figure stood there. He was stunned and gritted his teeth. He walked towards that figure.
"Mr. Jose, didn't you go back to the Chamber of Commerce? Why did you come to the church again?"
He thought that Jose had discovered the deal between him and the guys in the shack, and he felt a little worried. This was definitely not a glorious thing for a priest, although he didn't really care.
"Father John, I need you to give me another baptism of truth!" Jose's face was a little ugly: "Do you still remember what I just talked about with you? That damn Ming nobleman shamelessly demanded compensation from our Chamber of Commerce. !”
"Yes, I remember. Didn't you have an idea? Have you changed your mind now?"
"That's not it!" Jose's beard trembled slightly, not sure whether he was excited or nervous: "That damn Ming noble is here, he is at the dock now, and he is bringing a damn army with him!!!"