Zheng Tongquan has been in the shopping mall for decades, experienced many storms, and encountered all kinds of dangers, but he still thinks too much. Whether it is the emperor Zhao Gou or other senior officials of the prime minister, they are relatively simple scholars, and they are not like him at all.
Such scheming, they never thought of sending someone to monitor him to prevent him from double-dealing, saying one letter on the surface and the other behind his back.
Zhao Gou had no such sense of precaution at all. In his opinion, Zheng Tongquan's willingness to give the letter to him for review first was already the greatest sincerity. Can the Zheng family refuse the double price he offered?
"Not bad! Very well written."
After Zhao Gou read Zheng Tongquan's letter to his son, he could feel Zheng Tongquan's overwhelming joy and urgency in the letter, eagerly asking his son to cooperate with the court and realize the family's century-old opportunity.
"Just like that, I sent someone to deliver the letter to Zheng Ping. In addition, I gave him another gold medal, 'Seeing the card is like a king', to show my sincerity!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Xu Xiantu added: "Wei Chen persuaded Uncle Zheng Guo for a long time yesterday. His only concern is that if his son refuses to agree, he will not be able to explain it to His Majesty."
"Would a son disobey his father? Zhao Gou asked calmly.
"Your Majesty does not know. Uncle Zheng Guo's son is very rebellious. He broke up with his father in the first year of Jingkang and ran away from home. There was no news for many years after he left. They all thought that his son was dead. Later, Weichen inquired through Zhang Jun.
It was only after the whereabouts of his son that we were able to contact him. The relationship between father and son has always been cold. He married a wife and had children outside without telling his family. He only came home once in more than ten years. Wei Chen knows the situation of his family very well."
Zhao Gou frowned, "Why is the relationship between the Zheng family and his son so bad?"
Xu Xiantu smiled bitterly and said: "Your Majesty also knows that Uncle Zheng is not the biological brother of Empress Dowager Zheng. He is a famous medicine merchant in Hebei. He travels back and forth between Liaodong and Hebei every year to purchase ginseng, tiger bones and other precious medicinal materials. He also
This became Wanyan Aguda's distinguished guest. His son Zheng Ping had a strong sense of justice. After the feud between the Song and Jin Dynasties, his son asked his father to cut off contact with the Jurchens, but his father insisted on going to Liaodong to collect medicines. A fierce quarrel broke out between them.
This led to the breakup, but it was during this trip to Liaodong that Uncle Zheng saved the Queen Mother and Emperor Yifu."
Zhao Gou nodded, "If you don't tell me, I really didn't know that the Zheng family and his son had such rich experiences. Tell Uncle Zheng that he doesn't have to worry. I know that he has done his best. No matter what the result, I will be happy."
We will not blame him, let alone hold him accountable."
"With your Majesty's words, I believe Uncle Zheng will do his best to convince his son."
Zhao Gou took out a gold medal and handed it to Xu Xiantu, "Go! Send the letter and the gold medal today. I'm waiting for good news from Sichuan."
"Wei Chen resigns!"
Xu Xiantu took the letter and the gold medal and slowly left.
Zhao Gou walked to the window with his hands behind his back, staring into the distance. He had been excited all night, thinking that Sichuan was about to return, but Xu Xiantu's words were like a basin of cold water, extinguishing the enthusiasm in his heart, and a bad feeling arose in his heart.
feeling.
Chen Qing's ships returned all the way, sailing with the wind, and the time was much shorter than when they left. In addition to carrying soldiers, the fleet also came back with a large amount of Fujian tea. If these teas were shipped to the northwest and sold, they could make five times the profit.
, if transported to pastoral areas and sold, the profit can be ten times.
This morning, the fleet finally arrived at Wuhu. Wuhu County is a strategic location on the Yangtze River. From here, you can enter Taihu Lake via the Lishui River, which shortens the journey by several days compared to taking the Jiangnan Canal. It is considered a shortcut.
Wuhu is Zhang Jun's territory. There were about 3,000 troops stationed in Wuhu before. However, after the Song Army's defense line was pushed north to the Huaihe River, Wuhu became the rear area and no longer had troops stationed there. Now it has become the domain of the Western Army, with 70,000 troops stationed there.
Wuhu, waiting for Chen Qing's return.
One after another, thousands of stone ships docked, and the soldiers disembarked and went to the camp to rest. Zhou Kuan and several officials were also on the dock to welcome Chen Qing's return.
Chen Qing stepped forward and said with a slight smile: "I have made you wait for a long time."
"Haha! I thought I would have to wait for more than a month, but I didn't expect His Highness to come back in less than a month."
"This time it went relatively smoothly and I didn't encounter any resistance."
"Is the sea safe?" Zhou Kuan asked again with concern.
"Don't mention it!"
Chen Qing smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I encountered a storm on the way to Penghu and almost lost my life at sea. You can imagine that when the waves like mountains crashed down, it took a ship of ten thousand stones to support it. Instead of three thousand stones,
The big ship will be completely destroyed.”
"It sounds scary. It seems like my old arms and legs are better off on the shore."
The two chatted and laughed all the way, and the soldiers escorted everyone into the camp. Zhao Yingluo took a dozen female guards and maids to her own camp, while Chen Qing came to the Chinese army's tent.
He sat down, took a sip of hot tea and asked, "The army is stationed in Wuhu, is there nothing going on?"
"Is there nothing going on with the court?"
Chen Qing heard that there seemed to be something in Zhou Kuan's words, so he asked, "What happened?"
Zhou Kuan pondered for a moment and said, "Zhang Jun sent someone here."
"How did he say?"
Zhou Kuan said slowly: "The attitude is very strange and a bit contradictory. On the one hand, he wants us to leave Wuhu as soon as possible, but he also seems to be hinting to us that it is not impossible to garrison troops in Wuhu."
"Is there a written letter?" Chen Qing asked again.
"No, it was dictated by a confidant sent by Zhang Jun."
Chen Qing thought for a while and said: "How does the counselor understand Zhang Jun's intention?"
"I feel that Zhang Jun wants to make a private deal with us."
"Using Wuhu to trade?"
Zhou Kuan nodded, "It should be that we are allowed to garrison troops in Wuhu in exchange for benefits."
Chen Qing sneered and said, "Isn't he afraid that the court will skin him if he finds out?"
"So both parties need to negotiate, and the transaction between the two parties must be within his control."
Chen Qing walked a few steps with his hands behind his hands. He admired Zhang Jun's vision. Zhang Jun knew exactly what he needed. He really needed a transit, from Quanzhou to Jianglingfu. He needed supplies and fresh water along the way, and the crew also had to go ashore to rest. Even
The goods also need a transit warehouse. Wuhu is undoubtedly an ideal transit point, but Wuhu is also an important military location. It is too sensitive to use Wuhu for transit by yourself.
"Your Highness can wait a little longer. I thought the other party would come back soon."
Chen Qing nodded, this matter is not urgent and can be left alone.
At this time, Zhou Kuan took out another letter, "There is another important matter involving Zheng Ping. I have to report to His Highness."
Chen Qing was startled, what does it have to do with Zheng Ping?
Zhou Kuan handed the letter to Chen Qing, "This is the letter sent by Zheng Ping's father five days ago. Please read it."
Chen Qing took the letter and read it over, his brows suddenly furrowed. The emperor actually wanted to persuade Zheng Ping to betray him, and he did not hesitate to offer the conditions of two princes.
Of course Chen Qing knew that Zhao Gou's target was not Zheng Ping, but Sichuan Road.
However, since Zheng Tongquan wrote this letter to himself, it means that the Zheng family will not accept the court's solicitation, but such rejection of the court will also bring disaster to the Zheng family.
Chen Qing then looked down and saw that Zheng Tongquan clearly stated his attitude in the letter. The Zheng family did not accept solicitation from the imperial court.
Next to him, Zhou Kuan said: "The messenger is a close family member of Zheng Tongquan. He told me that Zheng Tongquan wrote three letters in total. One is official and will be sent to Zheng Ping by someone from the emperor. The second is this letter in the hands of His Highness, and
The third letter was addressed to Zheng Ping and was also sent to Chengdu by this servant. He understood what Zheng Tongquan meant, and in order to protect his family, he ostensibly agreed to the court's request."
Chen Qing asked: "Has the counselor sent someone to Lin'an to learn more about this matter?"
"It has been dispatched. It is expected that news will be sent back soon."
