"Today, Baishuntang exchanges 10 taels of chips and gets two white pigeon tickets. The prize is 30 taels. Come on...run!"
At Baishun Hall at the west end of Dazhong Bridge in Nanjing, the servants who were standing at the door swarmed into the lobby, causing a panic in the hall.
"What are you doing! What are you doing!" Jiang Shuqiong pushed aside the crowd angrily and strode out of the door with Mao Yatou. She saw chaos on the street outside. Several Zaoli were holding whistle sticks and looking at a beggar.
The man was beaten randomly, and in a moment the man fell to the ground.
A Zaoli shouted loudly to the crowd around him, "The Yamen has arrested rogue spies. No one in the city is allowed to keep beggars, laborers, wandering monks, Taoists, etc. Any shop that employs Westerners must leave the city within three days."
Anyone who conceals something and fails to report it will be sent to the official for questioning, and anyone who knows about it but does not report it to his neighbors will be guilty of the same crime."
After a few Zaoli finished shouting, they picked up the beggar on the ground and dragged him eastward. The people who were watching talked about it and did not disperse for a while.
"Who still keeps beggars, arrests people at my door, scares all the guests away, a bunch of slaves." Jiang Shuqiong pouted on the ground. People have been arrested everywhere in Nanjing recently. I heard that they were gangsters arrested in Jiangbei, confessed,
It is said that thousands of thieves and spies have crossed the river into Nanjing and are waiting to cross the river this year to respond.
This year, there are particularly many people crossing the river from the north of the Yangtze River. The tragic situation in Hezhou, Chaoxian, Quanjiao and other places has gradually become clearer, and the rumors of rogue bandits attacking the city in various places have become more and more mysterious. This year, Nanjing is arresting thieves and spies, and it has a very good effect.
However, it also caused a lot of panic. Many people believed that Nanjing had become the target of rogue bandits. Rich families left the city early and went to safer places such as Suzhou.
This has affected the business of Baishuntang to some extent, but the business of Dajiang Bank across the river is getting better and better. Liu Ruogu has opened another branch in Yangzhou across the river, and is also preparing for a branch in Suzhou to launch flying ticket business. It is said that
Even before it opens, there are already many people vying to save money. Liu Ruogu rarely comes to Baishun Hall now. Jiang Shuqiong is in charge of everything, so she cares more about performance. Now that rogue bandits are affecting the business, Jiang Shuqiong is naturally more concerned about these rogue bandits.
Not waiting to see you.
Mao Yatou tugged on her sleeve and said, "Sister Jiang, don't call her a slave. Our boss used to be a slave."
"My boss is Lian Li, how can they compare with them." Jiang Shuqiong put her hands on her waist and raised her head and said, "In the future, you have to call me shopkeeper Jiang. Shopkeeper Liu Da told me that he will follow me."
I am opening a bank in Suzhou. From now on, I will be in charge of all matters big and small in Baishuntang. I don’t want my sister to yell randomly and make the people below lose their moral integrity."
Mao Yatou came closer and said, "He hasn't asked you to be the shopkeeper yet. I heard from the people in their bank that Shopkeeper Liu wants to please the Pang Dong family and wants Zhou Yueru to be the shopkeeper of the gambling stall. You will still be the second boss."
"Don't listen to their nonsense." Jiang Shuqiong was angry and blushed for a moment, "Zhou Yueru is just a bookkeeper. When he came to Tongcheng Baishun Hall, he had to be looked after by my mother. How could she manage everyone in this hall?
Help me fool my mother-in-law."
"So shopkeeper Liu Da said that if you let me take care of all the big and small things, it doesn't mean that I know that Zhou Yueru can't take care of it. That doesn't mean that because you have done everything, my sister, Zhou Yueru, will get a ready advantage."
Jiang Shuqiong gritted her teeth and gasped. This was not the first time she had heard about this. Ever since the opening of the bank, Liu Ruogu had been right across the street, but he basically didn't care about the gambling stalls and kept seeing those people every day.
Officials and gentry, everyone is waiting to see when a new shopkeeper will be appointed. Judging from the rumors that have leaked out now, Zhou Yueru may be more likely to be the one.
"Sister, think about it." Mao Yatou said carefully, "Look, Zhou Yueru didn't treat you as a sister. As for depositing money in the bank, the local helpers in our gambling stall collected the money and left it to you. Now
She will recognize anyone who comes, and she obviously doesn’t want you, sister, to earn this kind of profit."
Jiang Shuqiong twisted her mouth and said, "I told you not to call me sister. Then, little girl, tell me how to do this."
"Sister... Shopkeeper Jiang, Zhou Yueru happens to be a Westerner. If someone reports her, she will not be allowed in the city, and she will naturally not be the shopkeeper."
"Sister, for an upright person like me, it's always not good to do things like report behind the scenes." Jiang Shuqiong snorted and squinted at Mao Yatou, "If sister becomes the shopkeeper, things in the lobby will be different.
It's up to you to take care of it."
…
"You don't want Baishuntang, this is a good opportunity to take advantage of the situation."
In the garrison mansion on the west side of the Imperial City of Nanjing, the garrison young prisoner Zhou Renzai was sleeping on a recliner and gently tapped his legs. Guo Zushan hurried over and beat his legs skillfully.
"The meaning of the adoptive father..."
Zhou Renzai breathed a sigh of relief, "The news came from the Chief of Ceremonies in the capital. The emperor wants to take Qian Qianyi. The Ministry of Punishment will write a document and ask Zhang Guowei to escort Qian Qianyi and Qian Qianyi to the capital."
Guo Zuoshan hesitated and said, "But Qian Qianyi doesn't have much connection with Baishun Tang. I'd like to ask my adoptive father for advice on what the child should do."
Zhou Renzai pulled up the small blanket, shook his head and said with a smile, "Young man is usually smart, but why was he so confused today? Who said gambling stalls have to be taken from the gambling stalls? The congratulatory message written by Qian Qianyi to the bank is all there
Jiangnan Times wrote, "Pang Yu thought he was getting an advantage from Shilin, but he didn't know that he was getting an advantage from you."
"But the shopkeeper of Baishuntang is Liu Ruogu. Should the child go to Liu Ruogu or to Pang Yu?"
"If Pang Yu doesn't fall, you Baishuntang won't be able to handle it. If Pang Yu falls, Liu Ruogu will be nothing. Besides, Liu Ruogu is just a white man. Why are you impeaching him?"
Guo Zuoshan's eyes changed for a moment and he said, "My child originally only wanted Baishuntang, but now that the bank has opened, my child really likes it."
"Then Yinzhuang..." Zhou Renzai paused and said, "It's really impressive, but Yinzhuang's profits all rely on official loans. If you lend it out in Nanjing, you have to take it back in the capital. If you take over Yinzhuang, I'm afraid you'll be in trouble in the future.
They are going to run north and south."
Guo Zuoshan did not hesitate and said, "My child originally wanted to be an official loan. There is a provincial examination in Nandu, and it is also a must to go to Beijing for the joint examination. The child in the capital is already prepared. I will ask my adoptive father to take care of me. With this big river
With the reputation of the bank, it is reasonable to make huge profits from official loans."
Zhou Renzai did not express his position, and stretched out his left hand slightly. Guo Zushan immediately took the chimney, lit it on the copper stove for heating, took a sip himself, and when he saw smoke coming out, he handed it to Zhou Renzai's hand.
There are many pawnshops and banks in the city of Nanjing. Banks at this time all rely on lending. Nanjing banks mainly rely on official loans. There are already a lot of people doing it. They also need to have certain abilities in the capital, otherwise it will not be conducive to debt collection.
. Guo Zuoshan also has one in hand and has done some official loan business. Because the amount is too small, it is not their main source of profit. Therefore, although the bank is also profitable, it is more troublesome than the gambling stalls. It’s just that the Dajiang Bank is too attractive.
, seeing the fat that can reach your mouth, it would be a pity to give up. Of course, if they knew how much deficit Pang Yu had in his account, they might change their minds.
"You see, Dajiang Bank is really impressive, but they charge interest for depositing money, and they don't refuse anyone who comes. I'm afraid the amount of money they have deposited in the past few months will not be less than a million. Calculated based on the annual interest of one dollar, you will
You need to give out one hundred thousand silver every year, where can you find so many official loans in such a hurry?"
"Don't worry, adoptive father. If you really have so much money," Guo Zuoshan looked behind him and whispered, "there is no need to engage in official loan business. If those who have money deposits want to collect debts, they can only go to Pang Yu.
If Qian Qianyi and Pang Yu fall, we will let Liu Ruogu disappear into ashes, and the millions of silver will have no clue and will fall into our hands silently."
Zhou Renzai was smoking with squinted eyes, but when he heard this rare moment he opened his eyes, and even raised his head slightly, staring straight at the roof. A million taels of silver, even if Zhou Renzai has been in a high-level position for a long time, is an irresistible temptation.
Even just thinking about it makes people excited.
After a long while, Zhou Renzai lay back on the chair again, took a deep breath and knocked the pipe on the armrest. Guo Zuoshan immediately reached out and took it.
"Having decided to take this bank, we must handle it immediately. We must involve Pang Yu in the Qian Qianyi case. This matter cannot be handled in Nanjing alone. People from the capital must be used, and those who can be used by our family will also be used.
." Zhou Renzai's eyes were piercing, "Zhang Yixian is dead. Now Mr. Zhang has the final say in the garrison. And it happened that Qian Qianyi's case happened. Since the bank has great profits, you can't delay this God-given opportunity.
"
"I know, my adoptive father said last time that Pang Youyi would not be proud for a long time, and that was indeed the case." Guo Zuoshan's face was full of excitement, "He was proud for a while, but in the end he made a wedding dress for us."
…
The Zhenjiang Prefecture Road Patrol Division, more than a hundred miles east of Nanjing, was Zhang Guowei's temporary residence at this time. After the first month, the situation of the rogue bandits changed again. Last year, during the Chuzhou War, Gao Yingxiang was killed, which really made the rogue bandits
The strength of the thieves has been greatly reduced. This year, officers and soldiers in various places are more fully prepared, and the scope of the bandits' movement is far less than last year.
According to past practice, during the peak period of rogue bandit activities, Zhang Guowei would move his base from Suzhou to near Nanjing. Last year, the base was Jurong, and this year, it is Zhenjiang, so that he can command nearby.
He not only needs to prevent the rogue bandits from crossing the river to threaten Nanjing, but also needs to prevent the rogue bandits from crossing the canal eastward and entering the sacred land of the Ming Dynasty. Judging from the current situation, the only major force operating in Jiangbei of Nanjing is Ziweixing, who is also under Caodu's control.
Three thousand Zhejiang soldiers were sent to pursue them. Puliu faced little threat and the possibility of crossing the canal was even smaller, but Anqing became increasingly nervous.
The last time Pang Yu and Shi Kefa complained to each other, Pang Yu took the initiative to take the initiative to prevent various bandits from finally gathering in Anqing. Now there are signs of such development.
Mr. Ma whispered next to him, "Shi Kefa reported that the rogue bandit Zhang Fatty, with one hundred thousand people camped together in Lujiang, failed to attack Kongcheng Town, so he went north to Luzhou. Shidaotai knew that the bandits were cunning and did not dare to relax even a little bit.
, Sure enough, the thief left and returned three days later. Shi Daotai led Pang Yu, Pan Keda and others to line up in Kongcheng Town. The vanguard fought for more than ten times and beheaded more than a hundred people. The rogue bandits were frightened by the power of our troops and fled towards Shucheng.
Well, Shi Daotai personally led the troops to Beixiaguan, waiting for the danger and vowing to ensure the safety of Tongcheng."
"Pang Yu also came with a copy of the pond newspaper?"
"Yes, this time in Kongcheng Town, Pang Youyi once again advocated crossing the county boundary to defeat this large group of bandits, but Shi Daotai refused to allow it, and Pang Yu was quite critical of this."
"What do you think, Mr. Ma?"
"My subordinates think that... Shi Daotai's defense of Kongcheng Town is a meritorious service, and his defense of Beixia Pass should be worry-free. However, the Anqing banditry has not been alleviated at all, but has been ruined. Fatty Zhang is still a bandit, and Tongcheng
The soldiers and horses were restrained here. A large group of Macheng's eight bandits heading west were blocked by Huguang soldiers and horses, and they also came east. Previously, another large group of Macheng's bandits was unknown in the Yingshan Mountains. In addition, they were originally in
Ge Liyan and Zuo Jinwang in Yinghuo Mountain are most afraid of these thieves west of Macheng. If they come from Huangmei and Guangji, thieves will be everywhere in Anqing. How can Shidaotai be defended then?"
"The Caodu Ministry's Titang officer sent a report to send an additional 1,500 Sichuan soldiers to Lu'an Prefecture." Zhang Guowei frowned, "Zhu Dadian wanted to force the rogue bandits to go to Henan, but the rogue bandits may not be able to leave.
Henan.”
"Zuo Liangyu has arrived in Gushi, followed by Chen Yongfu and Zu Dalue. The Henan thieves need to fight with this group of officers and soldiers first, otherwise they have no choice but to escape into the mountains. In this way, most of the bandits are already in Yinghuo Mountain. If
Going south out of the mountains, there are hundreds of thousands of thieves in front of Anqing." Mr. Ma looked solemn, "It would be fine if it happened in the past, but today I cannot be defeated."
"You have read the Emperor's decree, and it must not be delayed. It must not be delayed."
Mr. Ma lowered his head and said, "What's more serious is the matter of Mr. Yushan. Although the official document from the Ministry of Punishment has not yet arrived, there is already news from the capital. The emperor wants the military to send Mr. Yushan to the capital, which shows the holy will. This holy will is not the same as the emperor's.
People can understand that there are usually people who are ready to take action, and there are not a few people who are keeping an eye on Governor Yingtian. If the war is not going well at this time, sir, and someone with the slightest instigation makes a slight instigation, it will be a big disaster."
Zhang Guowei sighed softly. The change of situation was completely beyond his expectation. Originally, all the focus was on Zhang Pu. Who knew that the situation suddenly changed and Wen Tiren directed all his attacks on the Donglin Party.
Qian Qianyi was the literary leader of Donglin and Zhang Guowei's mentor. Once Wen Tiren defeated Qian Qianyi, it would be easy to implicate Zhang Guowei. The emperor even asked Zhang Guowei to arrest his mentor, which was tantamount to holding Zhang Guowei on fire.
Roast. At the same time, the war supervision here is very strict. If there is no successful record, it is equivalent to procrastination and neglect of government.
The pressure from all parties was almost crushing him. At this time, Zhang Guowei also felt a little regretful. If he had followed Pang Yu's tactics, he might have won a big victory, so that he could have the capital to neutralize Wen Tiren's attack and at least alleviate his own pain.
situation.
But now there is no record to speak of. Although Shi Kefa can save Tongcheng, in the eyes of the emperor, it is his own business. If Zhang Guowei pleads for Qian Qianyi at this time, it is tantamount to asking for help with nothing. The situation in all aspects has developed.
Zhang Guowei was forced into a corner with no escape route behind him. It is no longer enough to just defend Anqing this year. He needs at least a convincing victory to survive.
"Mr. Ma drafted an order to deploy the following troops and horses: 300 from Yongsheng Battalion, 300 from Changzhou Biao Battalion, 200 from Jinshan Battalion, 200 from Commander Lu Wangyou, 300 from Zhenjiang Lu Camp, 200 from Fushan Camp, and 200 from Commander Wang Xihan.
, Jiang Ruolai’s troops will have 400 troops, Liuhe Chen Yuwang’s troops will have 300 troops, and General Officer Zhan Peng will have 300 troops. We must put the actual troops under the command of Cheng Long, the deputy general of Yongsheng Prefecture, and gather all troops at Jiangpu in seven days.”
Mr. Ma hesitated and said, "Your Excellency, it is clear that each of the ministries has empty troops. Previously, each of them sent one to Anqing. If we deploy real troops again in this way, there will be almost no usable troops in Jiangnan, and even Liuhe will be an empty city."
"Xu Ziqiang's troops and horses stationed in Longtan were also transferred to Anqing."
"Sir, I dare to say this, this is... a desperate move."
Zhang Guowei took a deep breath and said, "Draw up the text according to this and tell the generals of each battalion that I will personally lead the reinforcements to assist Anqing."