Chen Qing did not expect that a small teahouse incident would actually bring Wei Ningyuan, the head of the Wei family, to visit him. It seemed that Wei Ningyuan was very concerned about him, and he actually knew that Li Qingzhao was related to him.
Chen Qing invited Wei Ningyuan to the living room, and the tea boy came in and served tea.
Chen Qing smiled and said: "Last time we hosted guests and entertained the gentry, I didn't seem to see Master Wei!"
Wei Ningyuan said apologetically: "Last time I happened to be sick and bedridden at home, so I asked my eldest son to go in my stead. Maybe he is a junior and doesn't dare to come forward."
Speaking of this, Wei Ningyuan took out the envelope containing the house deed and land deed, put it on the table and pushed it to Chen Qing, "This is the land deed and house deed of the teahouse. Please pass it to Mr. Yi An through the envoy!"
Chen Qing did not accept it. He glanced at the envelope and said calmly: "Does the head of the family think that contract is reasonable?"
Wei Ningyuan was startled, "What does Jing Lue Shi mean?"
"For example, everyone, and also for the price, isn't one thousand guan too low?"
Wei Ningyuan sighed and said: "That contract was signed by my fourth brother. Strictly speaking, he also has the right to sell it. The teahouse is not a family property. It was opened by my mother thirty years ago. As for the price, a thousand guan is less.
Yes, but if we can meet a small condition, it’s not unacceptable.”
"I wonder what the little conditions that the Wei family leader refers to?"
"It's very simple. The Dragon and Phoenix Teahouse brand was founded by my mother. This is to commemorate my mother. The teahouse can be transferred, but the four words "Longfeng Teahouse" will not be transferred. We will find a new piece of land nearby to rebuild the Dragon and Phoenix Teahouse."
Chen Qing nodded, "Since the teahouse can be transferred, let's sign a new agreement and the price will be according to the market. This will make everyone feel comfortable and respect each other. As for the Dragon and Phoenix Teahouse brand, it can be written clearly in the contract. This brand
If it is not transferred, the new teahouse must be renamed.”
Wei Ningyuan is a person with extremely high emotional intelligence. Chen Qing said "respect each other" and he stopped insisting. Others did not lack the thousands of dollars. If he insisted on selling at a low price, it would make others think that he was bullying.
On the contrary, it will ruin Chen Qing's reputation.
"Okay then! Mr. Yi'an and I will sign a new transfer agreement and sell it at a price of three thousand guan. We will keep the Longfeng Teahouse brand."
Chen Qing immediately sent someone to find Li Qingzhao to sign the contract. It was a rare opportunity to chat with the head of the Wei family. The two big families in Jingzhao, the Wei family and the Du family, have great influence in Jingzhao. Chen Qing and the Du family have a good relationship.
The Du family even wanted to marry him, but he declined.
But this was his first contact with the Wei family. If they could get the full support of the Wei family, it would be helpful for them to stabilize the situation in Guanzhong.
"We don't know much about Guanzhong. What does Patriarch Wei think is our top priority in governing Guanzhong?"
Wei Ningyuan smiled slightly and said: "Since the strategic envoy asked so frankly, I will tell the truth. I have always believed that the key to a good strategy for Shaanxi lies in the border and Guanzhong, and the key to a good strategy for Guanzhong lies in people's livelihood and land.
, I won’t go into detail about people’s livelihood. In fact, the economic policy has done a good job. The price of salt has dropped sharply, and the price of food has also dropped significantly. It has also announced the good news of tax exemption for three years and tax halving in five years. It can be said that
"Both the rich and the poor are happy about these measures, but the land seems to have not been started yet. I suggest that the strategic envoy be cautious on the land issue."
“What aspects should we be cautious about?”
"The ownership of the land, Guanzhong is a vast area of fertile land. Before the invasion of the Jin soldiers, there was almost no empty land. After the invasion of the Jin soldiers, a large number of people were massacred, plus the people who fled to the south. After the Battle of Fuping, almost all the houses in Guanzhong were empty. Later,
The Puppet Qi State also migrated a large number of people from northern Shaanxi to Guanzhong to farm and distributed land to them. However, once the real owners of these lands return, serious conflicts will definitely arise. There is also a large amount of official land, so I suggest that the economic planner should focus on the land issue.
Don't act too hastily, but do it slowly."
Chen Qing nodded, "Thank you, Master, for your kind words. I will try my best to be cautious!"
At this time, the soldiers came in with Li Qingzhao. Chen Qingying stepped forward and said with a smile: "Here comes the head of the Wei family. I suggest you re-sign the contract and the price will be three thousand guan. We will not take advantage of them."
Li Qingzhao nodded, "Then let's re-sign!"
After a pause, Li Qingzhao said to Chen Qing again: "It's best for the officials to go back. Mr. Lu sent someone to deliver a message from Lin'an."
.......
Chen Qing sent Wei Ningyuan away and hurried back to the mansion. He knew that Lu Yihao must have brought important news to him.
In the living room, two family members who delivered the letter presented a letter to Chen Qing. As expected, it was Lu Yihao's own handwriting.
Chen Qing opened the letter and read it over. The letter mentioned the rewards for himself. He was promoted to Minister of the School Inspection and Engineering Department, Doctor Jin Ziguanglu, appointed as Shaanxi Road Propaganda Envoy, and his title was changed to Qin Guogong. In addition, his wife and children would also
Officially received imperial orders and conferments.
These rewards were all expected by him. When he monopolized Xihe Road, Zhao Gou wanted to kill him and get away with it. But once he captured Shaanxi Road, Zhao Gou would in turn appease him and please him. This was actually stealing the bait.
The difference between thieves and thieves.
"Does the old man have anything else to explain?" Chen Qing put down the letter and asked.
The head of the family bowed and said: "The great master said that Mr. Sun's heirs are few and he wants Madam to marry Mr. Sun a few more concubines."
"Aren't you telling me this?" Chen Qing said with a smile.
"This is a message to Madam. There are no other messages."
Chen Qing nodded, "You have worked hard on your long journey. Each of you will be rewarded with fifty taels of silver. Go down and rest!"
The two servants were overjoyed and quickly bowed and said: "Thank you, Aunt Sun!"
Chen Qing returned to the inner house with the letter. He came to his temporary study. After a while, Yu Lian brought him a cup of tea.
Chen Qing smiled and nodded, "Go ahead!"
Yu Lian was very well-behaved outside, but she only dared to act arrogantly in her master's study. She immediately got into Chen Qing's arms, hugged her master's neck and pouted, "Originally, I was the servant to serve the master tonight, but my body is inconvenient, so I had to...
Sakura took my place."
Chen Qing kissed her pretty face and red lips twice, and said with a smile, "When did you come?"
"Just this afternoon, I'm still looking forward to letting the master take pity on me tonight!"
"Then take good care of Madam and let Ah Ying do it!"
"I made an agreement with her. I'll give it to you these days. When she comes for her monthly appointment, she will pay me back."
Chen Qing really likes these twin sisters, one is gentle and the other is fiery, and he looks forward to enjoying the blessings of being together, but I am afraid that he will have to take them as concubines before he can have the chance.
"Go! I'll go see Madam later."
Yu Lian stayed in his arms and acted coquettishly for a while before she left aggrievedly.
Chen Qing picked up Lu Yihao's letter again and read it carefully. Lu Yihao advised him in the letter not to fall out with the court and to use this opportunity to reconcile with the court.
The letter also mentioned that the officials had ordered a re-investigation into the cause of death of the supervisor Wang Mian.
This is indeed a big signal.
The reason why his relationship with the imperial court reached a freezing point was the death of Wang Mian, the supervisor of the army. Although he also wanted to put Wang Mian to death, Wang Mian's death did not have anything to do with him.
Chen Qing knew very well that Wang Mian's death must be related to Liu Guangshi. Wang Mian himself brought hundreds of guards, and ordinary thieves could not touch him. Only a general like Liu Guangshi could kill Wang Mian.
I told the investigating officer all these situations, but the other party just stared at me. In the final analysis, it was Zhao Jifa who convicted him, and that was why the death of the supervisor was blamed on him.
Now they are re-investigating. No matter whether they can find out the real cause of death, they must clear their suspicions, otherwise the investigation will be meaningless.
In fact, Chen Qing also knew very well that it was not in his own interests to break up with the imperial court prematurely. It was the best state to be at peace with the imperial court. As Zhou Kuan said, if the imperial court takes advantage of it and you gain favor, what's the point?
Not for?
But what Chen Qing considers more is interests, including economic interests and political interests.
Especially for economic interests, people don’t know how expensive firewood and rice are. After Chen Qing had an army of 200,000 people, he realized how difficult it is to maintain an army of 200,000 people. A large amount of food and materials are required to support them every day, and just slaughter them every day.
There are nearly ten thousand sheep.
Just one Shaanxi Road cannot support an army of 200,000, not to mention that Shaanxi Road has been ravaged and needs to rest and recuperate for many years, and it is impossible to feed his army. Without strong logistical resources, it is impossible for him to defeat the Jin Kingdom, which is on the rise.
Now he is just seizing the opportunity of the political instability in the Jin Kingdom. Next, the Jin Kingdom will inevitably launch a massive counterattack.
Chen Qing thought of the Qin Dynasty. The fundamental reason why the Qin Dynasty was able to unify the Central Plains based on the Guanlong land was that it had access to the fertile land of Bashu and Shu, and its logistics were guaranteed.
This is indeed the best way, which is to let Bashu bear the burden of raising his own army. Of course, Chen Qing also knew that it was impossible to persuade the court to hand over Bashu to him. He could only forcefully control Bashu.
Chen Qing paced back and forth in the study, considering various plans.