Chen Xuan's arrival gave Zhu Zhanzhen less time to rest.
"Mr. Chen, why are you here?"
"Today I went to His Highness the Prince to continue discussing the shipping tax. As you said last time, Your Highness the Fifth Prince, you wanted to go to see the production of silkworms. I happen to be going to Huzhou Prefecture tomorrow. If Your Highness is willing, you can come with me.
.”
"Okay, then, when will we set off?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"Okay, I'll tell my father."
As expected, Zhu Gaochi agreed to let him leave the palace. He was going to go out for a few days this time and sent five guards to follow him. Xiaosheng and Chu'er also followed. The emperor and grandson finally had this posture.
Early the next morning, Zhu Zhanyi got up early and arrived at the ferry. This trip was by boat.
At the ferry, you can still see many people holding newspapers. It seems that this business can still make some money.
Chen Xuan came by boat. It was his own boat. It was not big, but luxurious. After all, he was the commander of water transportation and had a title. He always had this kind of wealth.
Chen Xuan, who was standing on the bow of the ship, greeted Zhu Zhanzhen: "Your Highness, Fifth Prince."
After welcoming Zhu Zhanyi on board, Chen Xuan exchanged a few pleasantries and ordered the ship to move.
This trip still had to take a section of the canal, and Zhu Zhanzhen finally had the opportunity to experience the canals of this era firsthand.
Modern canals still have shipping, but they are not as busy as in this era. There are many modern transportation methods and there are many modes of transportation. In this era, if you are within the scope of both sides of the canal, it is always most convenient to take the canal.
Merchant ships also carry passengers, which is called mixed cargo and passengers. Of course, inspections are not strict at this time. If you don't bring any imperial convicts, they will generally not care about you.
After the boat entered the canal, the two sides were very lively. The water system in the Jiangnan water town was developed. There were floating markets, merchant ships coming and going, and of course there were many flower boats. The small flower boats usually only have one girl. This is also a business.
Even many young peasant women would go on boats to make a living.
"Your Highness, do you feel uncomfortable taking a boat?" Chen Xuan came over and asked.
At this time, Chu'er was already vomiting. She didn't expect that such a smooth canal could cause seasickness like this. Fortunately, the others were fine.
"This time you said you were going to the Cao family in Huzhou Prefecture?"
"Yes, Cao Yangshan is a well-known wealthy family in Huzhou Prefecture. His grandfather was promoted to the Minister of Household Affairs during the Hongwu period. He was also one of the staunchest supporters of Emperor Taizu during the Northern Expedition. He himself was a philanthropist and a famous Confucian businessman.
The family has many in-laws in the three provinces of Jiangnan, and the silk produced by the Hangzhou Weaving Bureau basically belongs to his family."
A large, intricate family is the most difficult to deal with. Either ignore it or catch it to death.
"Speaking of which, Cao Yangshan has lost the reputation of his grandfather and father. His father and grandfather were both famous people. The Cao family's business has fallen into Cao Yangshan's hands. This is related to his lack of business acumen.
, this time, their family ranked ninth among the big taxpayers written in the newspaper. If their elders were still there, they would still be in the top three."
"Is it because of the serious leakage?"
Zhu Zhanzhen's question made Chen Xuan stunned. Is this a question that can be asked casually? It is true that His Highness the Fifth Prince has a perverse personality.
"His family should be considered to be in the best situation. Cao Yangshan is interested in the scientific examination. The eldest son in the family is very talented and has high hopes since he was a child. However, he has failed the examination since he was eighteen years old and has never passed the examination. He is an honest man and is not good at business.
If his wife hadn't supported the matter, the head of the Cao family would have been replaced long ago."
"Mr. Chen, you seem to be quite familiar with Cao Yangshan."
Chen Xuan sighed and said without hesitation: "When I was a teenager, I would play by the canal every day. He followed me when I was young. He was too bookish."
Now it was Zhu Zhanzhen's turn to be surprised. He didn't expect that he was a family friend and had played together since childhood.
But Chen Xuan should have a clear conscience when he dares to speak out. After interacting with Chen Xuan for a short time, his first impression of Chen Xuan was very good, but he can't always trust people, and they didn't get along for a long time.
But he was 100% sure that Chen Xuan would not harm him, because Chen Xuan had no reason to harm him. Although the Ming Dynasty wanted to revive shipping due to the emergence of steam engines, he, Chen Xuan, was now the hand-picked future navy
Commander, I've been promoted.
If something happened to him on his trip, Chen Xuan wouldn't be able to afford it, and his great future would be ruined, and he would have to pay for it with his life. Unless a strict investigation of the water transport transport would lead to him being traced to the Nine Tribes, he would have no choice but to take action against Zhu Zhanyi.
But historically Chen Xuan had a very good reputation, so it is unlikely.
But Zhu Zhanyi felt strange again why his water transport commander now wanted to find this unqualified businessman Cao Yangshan.
"Mr. Chen, you're not just here to show me around."
"Well, Cao Yangshan passed away a few days ago, and I went to mourn him."
"ah?"
"His wife is my sister Chen Xu. When his grandfather saved my father's life, he gave my sister to him in marriage."
Sure enough, the big family is far more intertwined than imagined. Chen Xuan said it bluntly. There is no need to hide such things. There are many people who know about it.
"Cao Yangshan and my sister have been married for fourteen years. Unfortunately, they have never had a son. They only have one daughter. He adopted his brother's son and raised him under his knees. Although he had a concubine, he was not pregnant. He also treated my sister during his lifetime.
Not bad.”
Having no sons was a big taboo in ancient times. Fortunately, Cao Yangshan's other concubines also had no heirs. Although there were criticisms, they were not excessive.
However, his wife is Chen Xuan's biological sister. If she doesn't look at the monk's face or the Buddha's face, no one can touch her even if her parents' family is in this big mountain.
Chen Xuan sighed: "Yesterday I received the news that Cao Yangshan was seriously ill a few days ago and his health was getting worse. The boy who went to Jinan Mansion to report to me and I missed it. I only got the news yesterday that Cao Yangshan had passed away a few days ago.
"
"Condolences to Mr. Chen."
I didn't expect that this trip was to pay condolences. No wonder a high-ranking person like Mr. Chen had to go in person. After all, he was his brother-in-law, and it was the right thing to do according to etiquette.
Cao Yangshan died at a young age, only thirty-six years old. The huge family property will inevitably lead to competition. Although Chen Xuan's sister adopted a son, she did not have an heir who truly belonged to her, and the son was only ten years old.
, there is no way he can be the head of such a big family.
Chen Xuan also went to support his sister, letting the whole family know that Chen Xuan, his water transport commander, was still there.
"When Your Highness gets there, I will arrange for you to stay at an inn. The funeral will be held tomorrow. After I have taken care of it, I will accompany you to visit various places. I hope Your Highness will forgive you."
"It doesn't matter, just stay at Cao's house."
"This..." Chen Xuan did not expect that Zhu Zhanzhen was not taboo at all.
Zhu Zhanchen wanted to take this opportunity to see what the family was like.
The boat crossed the canal and arrived at the ferry in the evening. On the ferry, a woman wearing white mourning clothes led her children in mourning and mourning, and there were many people behind her.
As soon as the boat docked, Chen Xuan walked down quickly, and Chen Xu pulled the child to greet him. The woman in her thirties had fair and delicate skin and was wearing mourning clothes. As soon as she saw Chen Xuan, her red eyes couldn't stop.
Cry.
In the Jiangnan water town, there are gurgling water and scattered bluestone bridges. Under the setting sun in the evening, the white linen clothes look particularly desolate. The others behind her keep a certain distance from her. There are many disputes in front of the widow's door, even if she is a newly married widow.
"Brother." Chen Xu said "big brother" as if he had thousands of words.
"It's okay, it's okay, big brother is here."
Chen Xu wiped away his tears and pushed the little boy beside him forward: "Xiaojie, I have met my uncle."
"Uncle."
The childish child looked haggard and had not slept for several days.
Chen Xuan whispered a few words to Chen Xu quietly. Chen Xu looked startled and hurriedly pulled his son to Zhu Zhanzhen to salute: "Chen Xu, a commoner girl, and her son Cao Jie have met His Highness the Fifth Highness."
As soon as the word "Your Highness" came out, people behind him started talking about it.
The autumn in Jiangnan this year was a bit colder. The woman in mourning clothes had red eyes and hands. Zhu Zhanzhen stretched out his hand to stop Chen Xu who was about to salute and said softly.