Geng Zhongming is a man who is willing to use his brain.
Compared with Kong Youde, he may be slightly inferior to him in terms of martial prowess, but when it comes to his flexibility of mind, Kong Youde is far inferior to him.
He was disdainful of being subordinated to Kong Youde, but when he couldn't stand Marshal Jiang, Kong Youde leaned on him first. No matter how angry he was, he could only endure it.
Since he has no plans to go back to Liu Xingzhi and his subordinates don't have much strength, it is obvious that showing his ability in front of Marshal Jiang is the only way for him to be reused.
Marshal Jiang's soldiers practiced for several days, and then asked Kong Youde carefully about the battle situation when they encountered the Tatars in Korea. Geng Zhongming was satisfied with Marshal Jiang's soldiers and even Marshal Jiang's training methods.
A rough understanding.
Obviously, Marshal Jiang attaches great importance to firearms. However, Marshal Jiang has almost no experience in fighting against Tatars. The last time he encountered the Tatars in North Korea, he was very lucky. If there were more Tatars,
, it doesn’t even have to be over a hundred, just seventy or eighty cavalry, I’m afraid the battle situation won’t be so smooth.
No matter how fast the firecrackers shoot, they still need time to reload, and the Tatar cavalry will never reload their projectiles from the moment they appear in the firing range until they rush face to face.
of time.
Once the Tatars rush into the queue, it will be a massacre without any suspense. The officers and soldiers of Pidao have fought against the Tatars for many years, and these experiences were gained in exchange for the lives of the brothers.
However, how to make Marshal Jiang understand this and then improve his training methods is a difficult problem for Geng Zhongming. Even Kong Youde, who has been in contact with Marshal Jiang for a period of time, has no idea.
I dare not say that I have figured out Marshal Jiang's temperament, and as a new defector, if he said these things to Marshal Jiang, he might be lying about military affairs and shake the morale of the army.
Just as he was thinking about this matter every day, a fleet of ships appeared on the sea. Seeing the non-surprised looks of the officers and soldiers on the dock, Geng Zhongming also put aside what he was thinking about and headed towards
The dock rushed over.
The ship was a Chinese sailboat and several smaller ships. Someone got off the ship and said something to the people on the dock. Then someone started to direct people to carry things from the ship. Geng Zhongming saw a few young people.
, surrounded by several people, headed directly towards Marshal Jiang's cabin, while the personal guards guarding the cabin greeted the visitors from a distance, looking familiar.
What Geng Zhongming paid attention to was not these, but that among those people, there was actually a person wearing a long gown. In Pidao, there are people wearing all kinds of clothes, but this person wearing a long gown is rare, regardless of whether this person is
He is a scholar and a businessman, but he is definitely not someone who relies on swords and guns to make ends meet.
"Come and help, what are you looking at!"
Kong Youde, who was passing by him, greeted him: "The fleet is coming, there will always be something good, come and help!"
"Is this Marshal Jiang's fleet?" Geng Zhongming asked casually: "It looks a bit shabby. Isn't it possible that the imperial court can't even cobble together a fleet to deliver grain and grass?"
"Haha, you really thought wrong!" Kong Youde said with a smile: "After Liu Shen, our general, has been rectified in Pidao, the imperial court will send food? Don't even think about it, this is Marshal Jiang's rectification.
Yes, the food and drinks we have at Huwei Camp are all brought here by this ship. Come with me and I will find you some good things!"
In the distant row room, Jiang Wan burst into laughter.
"Okay, okay, okay!"
Mei Xiaofei's return was expected, but looking at the person next to Mei Xiaofei, he couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm very happy that you can come in person. Does your father have anything to say to me?"
Next to Mei Xiaofei is Fan Zhen.
Fan Yongdou wanted to stay with Jiang Wan, but Jiang Wan left Fan Zhen behind in the capital. He had done a great job in organizing the headquarters of Sihai Commercial Bank in the capital, but after all, the other party was a businessman, and Jiang Wan could not possibly put him there.
He takes the place with him, and he won't let him follow him to take up a post on Phidao.
Once he had a ship, there were trade routes that could be opened up, and the first thing Jiang Wan thought of was Fan Yongdou.
No way, Jiang Wan didn't know how rich Fan Yongdou was, but Fan Yongdou donated one hundred thousand taels of silver when he arrived in the capital. Now when he was in urgent need of money, how could he forget this rich man.
In particular, he felt that he was giving Fan Yongdou face by using Fan Yongdou's money. In Shaanxi, he used Fan Yongdou to run the salt and grain business. He didn't know how much Fan Yongdou could make, but judging from the situation at the time, Fan Yongdou could make money.
I'm afraid the profit will be meager.
Especially since the other party also threw money at him and the business with Sihai Commercial Bank and Shaanxi, if he didn't lose money, it would be considered a good thing.
And if the Fan family can be brought into his maritime trade, even if Fan Yongdou is a pig, he can still make a lot of money. And with the participation of the Fan family, Jiang Wan is even confident of creating a team that can maintain peace and stability.
The fleet coming against the Kedo Chamber of Commerce.
If this is necessary.
"My father asked me to tell the commander-in-chief that everyone in the Fan family would like to thank the commander-in-chief for giving the Fan family such an opportunity. If the commander-in-chief gives him such an opportunity, everyone in the Fan family will never frown!"
Fan Zhen replied respectfully. He was in the capital, or even in the Sihai Trading Company, and he was very aware of Jiang Wan's movements. And if Jiang Wan wanted to lead the Fan family now, given his position as Pidao Guard,
, Not to mention North Korea's maritime trade in the future, the Fan family is still confident in controlling it.
"In a hurry, we used the name of Sihai Trading Company to purchase some goods that are said to be very popular in North Korea!" Fan Zhen replied: "According to the agreement reached by my Fan family and the two ladies, regardless of the profit of this maritime transaction,
How much profit there is, Sihai Trading Company accounts for 70%, and my Fan family accounts for 30%!"
"More!" Jiang Wan shook her head: "More than 30%!"
"The two ladies think that 30% is not much!" Fan Zhen's face remained unchanged: "The Fan family will build two sea-going ships every year for the first three years to join the fleet, one of which will not have less than a thousand materials. After three years, the Fan family will receive dividends from the trading company.
!”
Jiang Wan's face looked a little brighter: "It seems like your Fan family has not only made no money in the past three years, it has also lost money!"
"My father said that taking a loss is taking advantage. What's more, the commander-in-chief has not forgotten my Fan family. It is an honor for my Fan family to use my Fan family. If you care about money, you will be sorry for the commander-in-chief.
I’m looking forward to this!”
"That's right!" Jiang Wan nodded: "This time I go to North Korea, do you want to go with me?"
"This is necessary!" Fan Zhen nodded decisively: "In addition to meeting the commander-in-chief, going to North Korea is also the purpose of my trip. After listening to Mei Baihu's report, the two ladies felt that if this person
It would be better to send a knowledgeable person to look after the transaction. If the commander-in-chief allows it, leave the management of the fleet to me, Fan Zhen!"
"Can!"
Jiang Wan nodded without hesitation. A profiteer fights against a profiteer. This is called one thing defeating another. The officials in North Korea are not immortals who do not eat the fireworks of the world. They took such big risks and even two families joined forces. Except for
Apart from loyalty and goodwill towards Ming Dynasty, who said there was no motivation for huge profits in this.
It would be most appropriate for Fan Zhen to deal with them.
"However, you have to note that our current transactions with the North Koreans are mainly based on food. We must first ensure that our military food is not lacking, and then consider seeking profits!"
"Of course!" Fan Zhen said solemnly: "The more powerful the commander is, the easier it will be to do business. Fan Zhen understands this!"
"Okay, I'm looking forward to seeing what surprises your Fan family will bring me!"
Jiang Wan asked Fan Zhen to take him down to rest. He was in a very happy mood. The Fan family was indeed on the road, which made him feel confident. Although the Fan family's structure was still a little small, he just thought that Jiang Wan was strong, so this business would be good.
Yes, but if the other party is a businessman, how much higher consciousness can he ask of the other party?
It's good to realize this.
It was an accident and a necessity to get involved in maritime trade with such an opportunity. However, Jiang Wan knew very well that the Ming Dynasty was short of money and the emperor was short of money. Maritime trade was not about making money.
, it’s simply a money grab.
It is a pity that the maritime trade of the Ming Dynasty was almost controlled by officials or local gentry in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong. Longqing was closed for many years, and the greatest progress made by the Ming Dynasty in maritime trade was just the collection of commercial taxes. As for personally participating in this
When it comes to maritime trade, I don’t have that idea, nor do I have that strength.
Under the encouragement of a group of officials with vested interests, even if someone raised this point, they would immediately be rejected by these people in the court.
If the maritime trade is done well, it can not only solve the supply problem of Dongjiang Town, but also continuously earn a lot of money for the Ming Dynasty. This is what Jiang Wan thinks is a small aspect of the Fan family. His Sihai Trading Company is not only
He, Jiang Wan, is the one-man company of Sihai Trading Company. Since a few wealthy businessmen from Yan'an, Shaanxi Province can all invest in the Shaanxi branch of Sihai Trading Company, why should the main branch of Sihai Trading Company in the capital not be owned by the palace, but by powerful people?
Nothing can stabilize the existence and stability of a relationship more than interests. If Jiang Wan could create a network of interests that would include the emperor and even the top dignitaries of the Ming Dynasty, then he would be able to join the army, politics, or business, no matter what.
, what else is there to worry about?
"Sir, there is another person who wants to see you!" Mei Xiaofei reminded Jiang Wan: "The third lady asked me to bring this person to you. You will know it when you see him!"
Jiang Wan was stunned. Is there any other explanation for the person Catherine asked him to meet?
After ordering the person to be brought in, Jiang Wan vaguely felt that the person looked familiar, until the person knelt down respectfully and said, "Ning Yuanxing Sheng, I have met the commander-in-chief!"
Happy!
A face suddenly appeared in Jiang Wan's mind. He looked at the person in front of him carefully, compared it with the face in his mind, and then combined the image in his mind with the person in front of him.
"It's you!" He said with a solemn expression: "Didn't I order you to stay in Ningyuan, spy on the Tatars, and infiltrate traitors? How could you come here without my order?"
He frowned, the other party came from the capital, which meant that Gao Xingsheng had left Ningyuan.
"Commander!" Gao Xingsheng said in a deep voice: "Last year, the Tatars invaded the Ming Dynasty. I heard that the imperial court appointed Mr. Sun, and the previous contact message from Mr. Sun to us appeared in Ningyuan. Now the war is urgent, and your lord has
Far away in Shanxi to quell the chaos, I acted urgently and reported the information I received directly to Mr. Lisun. At the beginning of the year, I returned to Beijing in the name of Mr. Sun and still wandered around as a businessman!"
Gao Xingsheng explained sentence by sentence: "Before I conveyed the news to Mr. Sun, I had informed you about the relationship between me and you. If my lord hadn't woken me up at Ningyuan that day, I would have forgotten my original intention.
Mr. Sun did not feel dissatisfied, and because your Majesty took up the post of Pidao, and I am no stranger to Liaodong and even Pidao, I will return my subordinate to your Majesty!"
"I came here this time with a message from Mr. Sun!"
"What did Mr. Sun say to me?" Jiang Wan asked in a deep voice.
"You will be outside, and you will receive or reject your orders!"
Jiang Wan nodded slowly. He couldn't figure out what Sun Chengzong meant by bringing this sentence to him. However, it was an accident and a surprise that this happy person appeared now.
He was worried about the lack of people he could trust and who were familiar with Liaodong. He was glad that Sheng's coming this time would undoubtedly be of great help.
"You stay here in Pidao to help me for the time being, and first get familiar with the familiar place and the people around me!" Jiang Wan said: "Since even Mr. Sun thinks you can help me, then you must be able to help me.
Come to my place!”
"Thank you, sir!" Gao Shengsheng went out calmly.
People were coming and going in the cabin here, but Geng Zhongming, who was near the pier, was a little absent-minded. From time to time, he turned back and glanced at the cabin. Even Kong Youde could see that he had something on his mind.
"Old Geng, what are you worried about?"
"It's okay, I'm just a little strange. The people on the boat said that the boat came from Tianjin, so it doesn't mean that the boat has arrived near the capital!"
"Is there anything strange about this? Marshal Jiang is originally from the capital. Isn't it normal to have some influence near the capital?"
"That's not what I meant!" Geng Zhongming said: "I mean, didn't you say that you have never seen many of the people who got off the boat except Mei Baihu before? Are these people all from the capital?"
"Old Geng!" Kong Youde patted his shoulder and shook his head: "I said, why are you thinking about these things? Let's just do our own thing. It doesn't matter where these people come from. We just need to know and follow
As long as Marshal Jiang can have enough to eat and get promoted!"
"You have been promoted, but I am still on the defensive!" Geng Zhongming gave him a faint look: "If I don't think about showing off my skills in front of Marshal Jiang, I will be suppressed by you and I won't be able to get ahead!
"
"Haha, show it if you have the skills!" Kong Youde laughed: "What's the use of just thinking about it? Once you figure something out, I will take you to see the commander-in-chief. Only if the commander-in-chief has strong soldiers and horses can we brothers be promoted!"
He patted his chest: "Don't worry, I, Kong Youde, have a lot of talents, but I am not afraid that my brother is capable. If my brother is capable, doesn't it mean that I am more capable?"
Geng Zhongming: "...I think what you said is very reasonable!"