I

(In the previous chapter, the conversion of silver taels was wrong. It has been changed to: I grabbed more than 3,000 taels in total, and one side divided 1,500 taels.)

Spring, the sixth year of Chongzhen.

The bandits entered Beizhili, and the generals were killed in the ambush. Zhaozhou, Xishan, Shunde, and Zhending fell.

He then fled to the foot of Motian Ridge in Xingtai, recovered briefly, and then headed to Wu'an to defeat Zuo Liangyu. Guard Cao Ming, chief clerk Wu Yingke and others were all killed in battle.

The peasant army ravaged Hebei, and the capital was shaken.

At the same time, the army surrounded Dengzhou Shuicheng, and Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming escaped.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the first military champion king came to hire. It was the one who Chongzhen dismissed a large number of military officials, ordered a re-examination and passed the exam. After the martial arts examination, Wang Laipin was actually appointed as the deputy commander-in-chief of Shandong Province. He was very grateful to Emperor Chongzhen. He always took the lead in every war and died in the siege of Kong Youde.

Suiping, Shandong.

After successive wars, the imperial court was out of money again, and ordered all provinces to quickly deliver the salt tax silver. A total of more than 3.2 million taels were owed.

In addition, gold flowers and silver were also handed over quickly. This order made the lives of farmers in Jiangnan prefectures increasingly difficult. Because the official land that requires payment of gold and silver has long been occupied by nobles, gentry, and powerful men, once the court forces it, the tenant farmers will have to pay rent twice.

The situation in the world is becoming increasingly chaotic.

…

Zhao Han dug out the silk clothes he brought from Qianshan and headed to the Huang family's ancestral home holding a folding fan.

Plans are subject to temporary changes.

Zhao Han disguised himself as the son of a wealthy businessman in Jishui, Pang Chunlai was the accountant he brought, Chen Maosheng was the boy beside him, and Zhang Tieniu acted as his bodyguard.

"Mr. Zhao... Young Master," Chen Maosheng touched the brim of his hat, "Can you really not see the scar on my forehead?"

Zhao Han was a little impatient and said, "I really can't tell, so don't touch it."

Zhang Tieniu still stayed at the inn, and Zhao Han only took Pang Chunlai and Chen Maosheng out.

Huangjia Town is very small, with only one street. After leaving the town, we asked all the way, and within a short while, we could see the ancestral home of the Huang family in the distance.

"There's another spring drought this year."

Zhao Han glanced at the surrounding farmland. He said this to Pang Chunlai. The old master's eyesight could only see close objects.

Pang Chunlai could only sigh: "The country is about to perish, and natural disasters occur frequently."

It’s really nonsense. For several years in a row, Jiangxi has experienced spring drought, summer floods, and winter snows in turn. The only thing we can be thankful for is that it has never caused a major disaster. Drought and flood disasters will stop after they last for a while.

Zhao Han looked at the ditch on the roadside and suddenly couldn't help laughing.

There are people guarding the canal along the way. It is brought in by water truck by the river and flows into some fixed paddy fields - they should all be Mr. Huang's fields.

As for other people’s fields, no matter how close they are to the canal, they still have to take a long way to fetch water from the river.

Zhao Han saw many farmers going to the river in groups, carrying water back one load after another, but they could not irrigate more than a few acres from morning to night.

"Oh, this ancestral hall is so beautiful."

When Zhao Han passed by the Huang clan's ancestral hall, he let out a strange sigh of admiration.

The main reason is that the nearby farmers are too poor and the nearby residential buildings are too dilapidated, which makes Huang's ancestral hall stand out from the crowd.

There are brackets and cornices, carved beams and painted buildings, and there are stone lions and stone turtles at the door. Although compared with the Fei Family Ancestral Hall, it is like a rich man meeting a wealthy businessman, but it is so unsightly standing here.

About dozens of steps past the ancestral hall, you will find the ancestral home of the Huang family.

Zhao Han had inquired about it a long time ago. The Huang family only produced Jinshi during the Zhengde Dynasty, and not even one was elected after that. Moreover, the Huang family itself is not engaged in business. They only sell some agricultural products and handicrafts to foreign merchants passing through this town.

How could he maintain such a lavish ancestral home with no extra income and only by exploiting the village!

"Bang bang bang!"

Menzi opened the door and saw that they were strangers, so he couldn't help but ask: "Who are you looking for?"

Zhao Han just shook his folding fan, looking like a handsome man from aristocratic family.

Pang Chunlai stroked his beard without looking at anyone.

Only Chen Maosheng stepped forward, handed out the famous invitation with one hand, and said with a haughty attitude: "My young master is Zhao Yan, a scholar of Jishui. He said that he wants to see Mr. Huang. Go and report it as soon as possible. You can't bear the delay."

These three people were very impressive, and they looked like they were from a big place. The disciple couldn't help but feel ashamed, and quickly took the name card and ran to report it.

Zhao Han secretly gave a thumbs up and praised Chen Maosheng for his superb acting skills.

Not long after, the doorman ran out again, nodded and bowed and said: "Three distinguished guests, my master invites you."

"See the reward!" Zhao Han stepped in.

Chen Maosheng took out a bunch of copper coins from his bag and threw them to the doorman.

There's so much of this stuff, it's enough to fill it up.

Menzi took the reward with both hands, roughly estimating it to be at least two to three hundred cash. He suddenly became elated and became even more enthusiastic, treating the three of them as high-rollers from the big city.

Zhao Han was taken into the waiting room and tea was quickly served.

"Pooh!"

Zhao Han took a sip, spit it out, and said disdainfully: "What kind of bad tea is this for people to drink?"

Pang Chunlai quickly dissuaded him: "Master, this is someone else's house. Even if the tea is not good, you should give the master some face."

"Okay, okay, just give him face." Zhao Han put down the tea bowl and never picked it up again.

The maid serving tea left with the tray and ran quickly to see Mr. Huang.

After talking about it, Mr. Huang felt angry and felt that he had been humiliated. But he also feels a little inferior. He has lived in a village for most of his life, and he really doesn't deserve to carry shoes for wealthy businessmen.

Mr. Huang did not dare to neglect any more, and hurriedly came to the hall, clasped his fists and said with a smile: "I, Huang Zundao, keep his word upright. Haha, sometimes you miss the welcome from afar, and sometimes you miss the welcome from the distance."

Zhao Han also stood up and held up his hands, speaking modestly in an arrogant tone: "No matter where you are, I'm a newbie here, so I have to rely on Mr. Huang for everything."

"I don't dare to call you master, you just call me a member," Huang Zundao asked, "I haven't asked you for your name yet?"

Zhao Han reported his family background: "Zhao Yan, a scholar of Jishui, is named Zizi."

Huang Zundao felt even more inferior. Although he was over sixty years old, he was still just a child.

In the entire Ming Dynasty, Jiangxi had the most Jinshi.

In the whole of Jiangxi, Ji'an has the most Jinshi.

Huang Zundao was born in a remote rural area of ​​Ji'an Prefecture, where educational resources were poor and the imperial examination pressure was high. He had bought this child, and it was too expensive to continue buying scholars, so he had to make do with showing off in front of his neighbors.

Jishui also belonged to Ji'an Prefecture, and Zhao Han claimed to be a scholar of Jishui, which was far more valuable than the scholars of Yunnan and Guizhou.

"It turns out that it was the senior who faced me, disrespectful, disrespectful." Huang Zundao bowed quickly.

This is a battle for fame and wealth.

When a young boy faced a scholar, and when a rich man faced a rich businessman, Huang Zundao really couldn't stand up.

Of course, if self-interest is involved, that's another story.

A strong dragon will not overwhelm a local snake!

"Since Mr. Huang is also a scholar, it's easy for us to talk about it," Zhao Han said pretentiously, "I want to build a warehouse in Huangjia Town. Are you willing to sell me the rocky wasteland by the river?"

Huang Zundao said in surprise: "Senior, are you going to build a warehouse here?"

Zhao Han suddenly sighed: "My Zhao family is considered a wealthy family in Jishui. We used to do business in Fujian and Guangdong. Have you ever seen the sea?"

"I'm about to go take a look." Huang Zundao said.

Zhao Han boasted: "My goods all have to be shipped to the sea. If they are sold to Fujian merchants, they will be shipped to Taiwan, Luzon, Ryukyu, and Japan. If they are sold to Guangdong merchants, they will be shipped to Western Europe. There is France, there is France, there is England. Have you ever heard of these foreign countries?"

Huang Zundao felt even more inferior and said with a smile, "I've heard a little bit about it."

"Damn those rioters!" Zhao Han slammed the table, knocking the lid of the teacup off the side.

Huang Zundao only knew what was going on in the nearby villages and towns, so he hurriedly asked: "Where are the rioters?"

Zhao Han said: "There are rebellious people in southern Jiangxi and western Fujian. When they retreat, they gather in the mountains and forests, and when they advance, they attack the prefectures and counties, blocking all the trade routes of my Zhao family. These dogs will be forced to extract the merchants when they encounter them." Thirty percent of the goods!”

Huang Zundao nodded and said: "These rioters really deserve to die."

"The Southern Jiangxi General is also a fool. He suppressed bandits for several years, but was suppressed by the mob and was too afraid to leave the city. The court should arrest him and put him in jail!" Zhao Han yelled.

The first commander-in-chief of Southern Jiangxi was Yu Dayou, but as long as the banditry was not rampant, there was usually only one military commander-in-chief of Southern Jiangxi, and the commander-in-chief of Southern Jiangxi was also the commander-in-chief of Jiangxi.

The same is true for the governor of Southern Jiangxi. Generally, the governor of Jiangxi holds the post concurrently, and will only be appointed specially when things get serious.

Now the Southern Jiangxi military officer has jurisdiction over western Fujian and southern Jiangxi. As far as the eye can see, they are all peasant armies...

Huang Zundao asked in surprise: "The generals from Southern Jiangxi don't dare to leave the city?"

"Isn't it?" Zhao Han sneered.

Huang Zundao asked quickly: "Didn't the imperial court send troops to suppress it?"

Zhao Han sighed and said, "Where are there any soldiers in the imperial court? In recent years, there have been civil unrest in Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Huguang. There are also White Lotus Sects in Beizhi, Shandong, and Henan. Bandits are raging in Shaanxi and Shanxi, and in Liaodong It’s also occupied by the Tatars, where do you think the imperial court sent troops from?”

"This, this, this...how could it be like this?" Huang Zundao was shocked. He only cares about his own one-third of an acre of land and knows nothing about the outside world and will not inquire with passing merchants.

Zhao Han added: "The business in the south is no longer possible. Our Zhao family plans to use Heshui to transport goods from central Jiangxi to Huguang. I was sent by my family to explore the route. I think Huangjia Town is in a good location and would like to come here. Build a transit warehouse.”

"This is it."

Once his own interests were involved, Huang Zundao became reserved, put on his airs, and began to argue. He even changed his title: "To be honest, brother, this rocky wasteland on the river bank is not worth a few dollars, but it is shared by all the Huang family clans." Industry. I’m afraid it’s not easy to convince various sects. I have to think carefully.”

Zhao Han also changed his title and said with a smile: "Since Huang Yuanwai can't decide, then I will build a warehouse in another place. Farewell!"

"My dear brother, don't be anxious," Huang Zundao quickly dissuaded, "Everything can be discussed."

Zhao Han said confidently: "Although Huangjia Town is located on a commercial thoroughfare, there are many towns along the Heshui River! I built a warehouse in Huangjia Town, which is a great thing for Huang Yuanwai. The warehouse is a If the city is built, the more merchants will be stationed there, the better the business in the town will be. Wouldn’t Huang Yuanwai’s local products be more profitable? Maybe, in ten or twenty years, Huangjia Town will become a big town. !”

This pie is so well painted, Huang Zundao really believes it.

Zhao Han added: "I want to build a warehouse, recruit workers, and buy stone, wood, and mortar. Isn't it Huang Yuanwai who has the final say on which workers to recruit? Shouldn't the stone, wood, and mortar be bought from Huang Yuanwai?"

yes!

Huang Zundao was secretly happy that he could take advantage of the opportunity to make a fortune.

Zhao Han held a folding fan in his hand and said with a smile: "The wasteland on the river bank cannot grow food. If Huang Yuanwai can give it to me for free, then we can continue to discuss business. If not, then I will go to the town next door. I will only give you three days. Taking time into account, once three days are over, I will leave immediately!"

Huang Zundao said: "No need to think about it. As long as it is a wasteland that cannot be farmed, brother, you can take as much as you want. But, I will be responsible for the workers and materials to build the warehouse. How about it?"

"Haha, deal!" Zhao Han laughed.

Isn’t this just a hook?