Fantastic Extra Story (Tomorrow will be foggy for the lord
In the 20th year of the founding of the Tong Dynasty, Kaifeng, Zhishiyuan.
A female steward dressed in men's clothing walked past the waterside pavilion, and heard cheerful music coming from the front.
It was a group of pretty maids dancing.
Walking into the small pavilion, I saw Zhang Hongyi lying half on the soft couch, seemingly asleep.
"Alang."
"Um?"
"News has arrived from Baozhou. The imperial concubine is on a tour with His Majesty and will not return to Baozhou this year to visit relatives..."
Zhang Hongyi said "Huh", nodded, and said: "Go back to Songjiang."
"But the four princes and princesses will come to Baozhou to offer sacrifices."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier? Are you sure?"
"Sure."
"Then get ready and go back to Baozhou." Zhang Hongyi gave the order and said, "It's too inconvenient to deliver the news. I have to come north and wait in person."
He actually spent a lot of money to buy a "Future Object Direction Illustrated Book" to judge future business directions. He also saw something called a "telephone" on it, but apart from a description of its use, there was no way to make it.
, was classified into the "Future Imagination" category when it was reprinted.
There were even more outrageous ideas, but he didn't take them to heart because they were too outrageous.
One thing that Zhang Hongyi is very concerned about now is that there are rumors that an official of the Gewuyuan named Zhu Shijie has made a breakthrough in the technology of steam engines.
He really wanted to confirm the authenticity of the news, so when he heard that Zhu Shijie had gone to Kaifeng to seek advice from Guo Shoujing, he hurried over, but in vain.
Seeing that the Chinese New Year is approaching, we can only put these business matters aside for now and return to Baozhou.
~~
On the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Hongyi arrived in Baozhou.
He has made a lot of money in the maritime trade business over the years and has a high status in the Jiangnan business community. However, every time he returns to Baozhou, no one takes him seriously.
Most people in the Zhang family do not say they despise merchants, but they definitely respect officials and scholars more.
In this atmosphere, Zhang Hongyi did not dare to be too arrogant, so he put away his gorgeous white velvet jacket, put on his big cotton-padded jacket, and sat at the bottom of his generation.
Whenever the elders saw him, they would shake their hands and say, "The pursuit of profit along the coast is getting more and more intense. It's really outrageous."
Zhang Hongyi smiled every time, thinking that what they said was right, but different people have different ways of living.
On the twentieth night of the twelfth lunar month, while having tea at home, Zhang Hongyi yawned repeatedly and left early.
He is used to the days of red sleeves and fragrant clothes. He prefers to watch girls dancing rather than chatting with old men. Maybe he is really immersed in the extravagant customs of Jiangnan.
"Uncle Twelve, let's go together?"
Someone followed.
Zhang Hongyi turned around and saw Zhang Gui, the eldest son of the ninth family of the Zhang family.
Zhang Hongfan made a wrong choice back then. Fortunately, the court was lenient and did not punish Zhang Hongfan's sons.
But Zhang Gui's life was obviously far inferior to that of other Zhang family children.
"Let's go together."
Zhang Hongyi patted Zhang Gui on the shoulder, and the two of them walked out of the courtyard of the second room together.
The Zhang family has now been divided into several houses, including the Zhang family's mansion, which has also built courtyard walls and is divided into several medium-sized houses.
This was Zhang Honglue's decision after Zhang Rou's death, which shows that he did not want to make a big tree attract publicity. However, after Zhang Wulang took command of Zheng Naiyan a few years ago, Zhang Honglue became the Zhang family's highest official in the court.
Now the disciples from all over the country are rushing back to Baozhou, just to wait for Zhang Honglue to return with the prince and princess in a few days.
"Where is Gong Duan now?" Zhang Hongyi asked.
Zhang Gui responded: "Served as deputy commander in the Liaodong Army."
Zhang Hongyi was surprised and a little impressed.
When he took another closer look at his nephew, he realized that Zhang Gui actually had a strong figure and had the majesty of a Tang Dynasty soldier.
"I didn't expect you to be the most promising person of the younger generation."
"I don't dare to take it seriously." Zhang Gui said: "It's just that the rewards and punishments in the army are strict, so I don't dare to fail to do my best."
Zhang Hongyi laughed and said: "You all have good speaking skills, I can't compare."
"It's rare that my twelfth uncle is willing to return to Baozhou. My nephew wants to get closer to him."
Zhang Hongyi looked at Zhang Gui carefully and asked, "Have you met His Highness the Second Highness?"
"He prefers everyone to call him Erlang." Zhang Gui said: "Not only have we met, I was also a fellow soldier with Erlang."
"He... served in the military?"
"It's not just Erlang." Zhang Gui said: "The prince also spent some time in the army, but others don't know it."
"real?"
"Of course I'm not going to a dangerous battlefield to gain experience. I use a pseudonym so that others don't know."
Zhang Hongyi was silent for a while and asked: "How is Erlang like a person?"
"He is the son of my aunt and your Majesty. What do you think, Uncle Twelve?"
"I thought? Among all the highnesses in the palace, which one is not the best among people?"
Zhang Gui suddenly sighed and said in a low voice: "Let me whisper to my twelfth uncle. I just want to say that among the several highnesses I have met, I randomly picked one of them to be the emperor in the Zhao and Song Dynasties.
It’s a hole.”
"yes."
"It's a pity that Erlang is so talented." Zhang Gui whispered to himself.
Zhang Hongyi rolled his eyes and realized that Zhang Gui was testing whether he could start a certain topic with him.
A topic that has been lingering in the minds of many people in the Zhang family recently, but few people talk about it openly.
Now that Zhang Hongyi was back, he had something to say about this, but he hesitated until the end and did not speak.
~~
On the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Hongyi finally met Li Changjing.
What few people know is that the two uncles and nephews are actually very familiar with each other.
Before Zhang Rou's death, Zhang Hongyi was taking care of her. Li Changjing visited her several times, and the two of them could chat quite well. In the following ten years, although they met less frequently, they occasionally exchanged letters.
It can even be said that Zhang Hongyi is one of the people in the Zhang family in Baozhou whom Li Changjing trusts the most, to the extent that he can talk about what is on his mind.
"Two days ago, Zhang Gui had a conversation with me, and he spoke highly of Erlang." That day, the two of them went up the mountain to visit Zhang Rou's grave, so they found an opportunity to chat alone.
"What does uncle want to say?"
"Then let me tell you straight." Zhang Hongyi said: "I think he wants to help you fight."
Li Changjing smiled when he heard this and said, "I'm afraid there won't be many people from the Zhang family who are willing to help me fight for the throne."
"But I wonder what Erlang thinks?"
"Don't even think about it." Li Changjing said simply, sat down on a rock and asked, "Have you seen my father in the past few years?"
Zhang Hongyi shook his head, but he already understood what the phrase "don't even think about it" meant.
Given the emperor's condition, most of the Zhang family cannot wait until the day when the prince succeeds to the throne, so what's the use of fighting?
"Being my father's son is really difficult and tiring." Li Changjing looked into the distance and said, "Including my brother, we knew very well from the beginning that the achievements we can achieve in this life will never exceed
He...by the way, my father has already made plans. When he thinks the time is right, he will pass the throne to his brother. He will escort him until the handover is smooth."
"Why is Your Majesty like this?" Zhang Hongyi was extremely surprised and said: "Your Majesty's love and trust in the prince have reached this point?"
"My father treats us brothers and sisters in the same way. He never considers these feelings. It doesn't matter which son he prefers. What matters is the stability of the country. In fact, I sometimes feel that my father doesn't even care whether the Li family's descendants can retain the throne forever.
"
When Li Changjing said this, his eyes showed some doubts.
He finally couldn't see through his father.
After a long time, Zhang Hongyi asked: "Are you determined not to fight?"
"Yes, no more arguing."
Even so, Li Changjing still seemed thoughtful.
"What else does Erlang have to worry about? But is he worried about the prince?"
"What do you think of Zhao Song's clan system?"
Zhang Hongyi pondered: "The advantage is that after a few generations, the clan will be no different from the common people. They can take imperial examinations and serve as officials, and they often have good tutors. Therefore, although the Song Dynasty died, the Zhao family was exempted from involvement. As far as the common people were concerned, there was no need to
Worshiping the clan will indeed benefit all surnames. But there are also disadvantages. The clan has no power, and when the country is in trouble, all authority will be in the hands of outsiders..."
"My father didn't want his descendants to be supported by all the people and become useless pigs in the future." Li Changjing said: "If people still need a prince and the foundation of the country, he will give them a prince. As for us, he said that he has already
It gives us the best starting point, and I hope we can support ourselves."
"What do you mean? Your Majesty wants to assign all His Highnesses to serve the people, but it's not possible?"
"No, there is a lot of resistance in the DPRK, and there are various forces behind us sons." Li Changjing said: "But it is inevitable to reduce the offerings."
"Isn't your Majesty's move directed at your Highnesses? Is he worried about future generations?"
"That's right. I'm really not afraid of supporting myself. What if I don't have the prince's salary?"
Zhang Hongyi gave a rare smile and said: "Erlang is both civil and military. Once he breaks free from the shackles, he will be happy in his life."
"But there is another way to make me king."
"As far as I know, His Majesty has no intention of enfeoffing any princes. He has not even enfeoffed a prince after taking over Japan."
"The distance is close, the culture and customs are the same, and although Japan is barren, it has been civilized. Father has plenty of time to realize the governance of Yizhou County." Li Changjing said: "The land that can be divided into enfeoffments is far away, even further than Liulang's fiefdom."
Zhang Hongyi shook his head and said with a wry smile: "What is there to do in those areas? Even becoming a vassal king is not as happy as a rich man in the Tang Dynasty."
"Of course I know my uncle is happy."
"I... am indeed very happy."
Li Changjing smiled and sighed: "If I had a choice, why would I be willing to leave my hometown?"
"What does Erlang mean by this? It's...it's been decided."
"Brother-in-law, do you know how many Zhang Gui are around me?" Li Changjing said: "They have devoted their efforts to me for more than ten or twenty years. How can I abandon them and live a happy life? With Zhang
If the family's power and ambition are not guided, it may destroy the family sooner or later. After all, even the most carefree brother-in-law came back for this, right?"
Zhang Hongyi said: "I can't help myself. If you want to fight, how can I not help you?"
"If the conflict cannot be resolved, it will have to be moved outward."
"Where does Erlang want to conquer?" Zhang Hongyi asked: "If it is to occupy the city, Annan area. Not only can I help Erlang with money, food, ships, and sailors, but it will also facilitate business in the future."
"The Golden Horde, and even the Yin'er Khanate. Not only me, but also Wu Lang and Ba Lang also want to make a fortune."
"Going to the west? Fifth brother is in the northeast, I am in the southeast, and Erlang wants to go to the west. This..."
"What I said to my uncle today is not to ask him to help me raise something." Li Changjing thought for a while and said, "I just want to say...the world is vast."
Zhang Hongyi originally thought that this trip to the north would be the beginning of his life being mired in a conspiracy to seize the heir. Unexpectedly, what he heard were these words.
But in his heart, he breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that the invisible burden that had been on his shoulders for several years was lifted.
Then there was a wave of sadness about parting.
"If Erlang makes such a decision, I don't know if we will ever see each other again in this life..."
~~
The first month of the twenty-first year of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
As soon as the Lantern Festival was over, Zhang Hongyi set off to leave Baozhou.
He was half leaning on the comfortable and flat carriage, and several maids were rubbing his shoulders, pressing his legs, and feeding him fruits.
"Master, what are you thinking about? You didn't even listen to Nanako's singing seriously."
Zhang Hongyi said casually: "I'm thinking, my brother-in-law is really a cruel person."
"Eh?"
"When I was a child, because I was a concubine, I often felt that I was not happy." Zhang Hongyi said to himself: "But looking back, I had no worries about food and clothing all my life, and now I am even more happy. On the contrary, His Majesty's children have to bear such responsibilities.
Lots of stuff.”
"So what is Master worried about? Can Nanako make Master happy?"
Zhang Hongyi smiled and shook his head slightly, suddenly feeling that his hedonistic life was too smooth and boring.
You have to do something big.
"Nanako, tell me, what should I do?"
"Master, would you like to play checkers?"
"You don't understand what I mean." Zhang Hongyi sighed, but riding in a carriage was indeed too boring, so he said: "Let's put it on first."
~~
Twenty-four years after the founding of the Tong Dynasty.
Songjiang Prefecture.
A middle-aged man about forty years old was invited to Songjiang Zhang's Trading Firm.
Zhang Hongyi hurriedly came out and said enthusiastically: "Scholar Zhu, I'm sorry to hear you come from afar. Please come here and make me the best tea."
Zhu Shijie frowned slightly and didn't say much.
More often than not, it was Zhang Hongyi who was talking.
"Scholar Zhu knows this, right? I bought this project from the imperial court at a high price of tens of millions of taels of silver."
"Yes, therefore, I will lead someone to teach you how to build a steam engine."
Zhang Hongyi smiled slightly. Zhu Shijie, like his relatives and friends in Baozhou, did not think highly of businessmen.
"That's right. I have inquired about it. The imperial court allows some officials to do business after resigning..."
Zhu Shijie raised his hand slightly and said: "Boss Zhang, why don't you show me your workshop?"
"Is Master Zhu unwilling to resign? But you should know that the court only needs to grasp the general direction, and businessmen can promote the progress of industrial technology and make more money."
"I'm not short of money." Zhu Shijie was quite proud.
However, Zhang Hongyi still pushed out a piece of paper and said: "It doesn't matter, Bachelor Zhu just needs to write down a salary that satisfies you, even if it embarrasses me."
Zhu Shijie shook his head and said: "The atmosphere along the coast is really bad."
"I sincerely want to join hands with Master Zhu to create a great cause. You and I both know that this steam engine can change the entire era, and only by stimulating it with huge benefits will it be extremely prosperous. This is the same as the conquest of Japan.
In the same way, people don’t get up early if they don’t have any profit, so we should boldly pursue profit..."
Zhu Shijie seemed to understand something, sighed helplessly, picked up the pen on the paper, and wrote a number.
Zhang Hongyi took it and solemnly added the word "zero" at the end.
"This is my sincerity to you."
After that, he wrote the word "zero" again and said: "This is a big cause I want to start with you."
The corner of Zhu Shijie's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
Zhang Hongyi picked up a book from the shelf and placed it on the table.
That's an illustrated book of objects.
"We all know this is not fantasy."
~~
The twenty-sixth year of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
During the Umrah meetings, there were still quarrels from time to time.
"Your Majesty, since the beginning of sea trade, evildoers have been rampant and people's hearts have been in chaos. Looking at the southeastern coast today, the people are restless in the fields and only chase merchants for profit. Wherever there is profit, they will use all possible means, including slave trading and smuggling. , bribe officials, or even worse, assassinate court officials. The world is declining, and people's hearts are not as good as before! It is definitely not the way to achieve long-term peace and stability! If you are bold, your majesty, please ban the sea!"
"My lord, please ban the sea!"
All the ministers knelt down in front of Li Xia.
"I know the problems you all mentioned. I might as well tell you again that the problems caused by the prosperity of business are far more than this. But development is always inevitable. If a person is afraid of falling, can he still not walk?"
"His Majesty……"
"I plan to let all this develop at the craziest speed while I am still alive and can still control the situation, so as to minimize the pain. May you understand?"
"I, my ministers, are willing to die to remonstrate with you, please Your Majesty to ban the sea!"
Li Xia shook his head and said: "I have said this, please do as you please."
As he said, today is still the time when he, the founding king of the country, can calm down the situation.
He traveled through time and became the Nine-Five Master step by step. He has reached the time where the development of the times can snowball faster and faster.
It grows wildly and changes with each passing day.
~~
Thirty-nine years after the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Songjiang Prefecture.
Zhang Hongyi unfolded a drawing, checked it again carefully, and frowned slightly.
He has been in business for so many years, but this is a rare moment when he gets stage fright.
The business this time is too big. With the strength of his family, even if they join forces with the giant businessmen they are familiar with, they cannot take it. They can only do it with the giant businessmen headed by Jia.
"Alang." His female steward rushed over and whispered: "I just found out that Jia's boss's original surname is Li. He is a young man who calls himself Jiulang."
"How come the big boss of Jia's Trading Company is named Li?"
"It is said that when the old boss died, he divided the business into many shares. One part was given to the Jia family in Taizhou, and the other part was left to a Mrs. Zhao. Mrs. Zhao was not easy to manage, so she divided it among several children."
"Li Jiulang, right?" Zhang Hongyi nodded and asked, "What is this person's temperament?"
"I only know that he mostly works behind the scenes and rarely comes forward. The only one he manages personally is the charity home. This time he was only willing to come because he met A Lang."
Zhang Hongyi took a deep breath and asked, "Where is Mr. Zhu?"
“I went to the venue in person to confirm.”
"Let's go."
The meeting place was on the outskirts of the city.
Zhang Hongyi felt familiar when he saw Li Jiulang from a distance.
"Have I seen Kuro somewhere?"
"Handsome people are always the same." Li Jiulang smiled.
He is a joker.
A group of wealthy businessmen chatted for a while and then boarded a temporary high pavilion.
Li Jiulang asked: "Why don't you see Mr. Zhu?"
"I'll be here soon." Zhang Hongyi was a little nervous, raised his finger and pointed not far away, and said: "Everyone, please look over there."
Just hearing the rumbling sound, something slowly came from a distance along the railway track.
"Really did it?"
Everyone, including Li Jiulang, leaned forward and stared at the direction of the tracks until they saw a locomotive that looked very similar to the one in the Gewu illustrated book.
“Really did it!”
"Is that Mr. Zhu?"
"Hello!"
Someone was standing on the front of the train waving to this side and shouting loudly.
It wasn't until the locomotive got closer that everyone could hear clearly what Zhu Shijie was shouting.
"We are going to change the times!"
~~
"Can I drive the car?"
This is Li Jiulang's only request today.
However, Zhang Hongyi, who had prepared a lot of speeches, was stunned for a moment.
However, he deliberately refused to readily agree to Li Jiulang's request, but said: "As long as Jiulang is willing to invest in the Northwest Railway together."
"This business is very risky." Li Jiulang said: "There is no railway in the world that can actually be opened to traffic."
"Step by step, first build from the capital to Fengzhou."
"But if your locomotive fails, I will lose everything."
"I have this confidence. Moreover, Fujian merchants, Hui merchants, and northern business groups have all united. Only by cooperating with me can Jiulang get this opportunity."
"I may not need this opportunity. If we merchants from the southeast go to the northwest to compete with others, we will probably die miserably."
Zhang Hongyi hesitated for a while and said, "I might as well tell Jiulang a secret."
"All ears."
"The end of this railway is my backing." Zhang Hongyi said: "Therefore, I am bound to win, and I will not hesitate to lose my fortune."
"Really?" Li Jiulang said: "But no one can guarantee that the train can drive that far, without experiments, right?"
"I have Mr. Zhu, our train will definitely work."
Li Jiulang laughed again and said, "I'll talk about it after driving."
Zhang Hongyi had no choice but to say: "Okay, Jiulang please."
Li Jiulang didn't look like a businessman, so after hearing this, he called his wife and walked towards the train.
"Yitian, come on, take the train."
~~
In the 40th year of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the construction of a railway jointly built by 17 Southeast maritime merchants began and was named the Jing-Feng Railway.
On the planning drawings, it is only a small part of the entire east-west railway.
The end point of its planning was Neihai City, the royal city of the vassal king that had just been enthroned by the Tang Dynasty.
But no one knows how long and long it will take for such a huge project to be built...
~~
The twenty-third year of Taihe.
Zhang Hongyi is getting old and sitting in a wheelchair in the flower garden, not knowing what he is thinking.
A middle-aged man came in and said, "Grandpa, it's time to eat."
"I just had a dream." Zhang Hongyi said: "So, I have a decision."
"What did Grandfather decide?"
"I think," Zhang Hongyi struggled to even speak and finally finished his sentence, "Go to Neihai City to meet Erlang."
"grandfather?"
Zhang Hongyi murmured unwillingly: "I want to go there once before I die."
The middle-aged man behind him was stunned for a long time, and finally sighed and said: "Then grandson is going to send a telegram and tell the king in advance that his grandfather will come over."
Zhang Hongyi said: "I have only done one big thing in my life, and I have to finish it..."