The Prosperous Era of Longwan

Accompanied by the afterglow of the setting sun, the ship docked at Jiujiangfu Pier.

Wu Dong took Wei Guangde and other people off the boat to meet Zhang Hongfu and Zeng Yuanshu. After greetings, they all set off together into Jiujiang Mansion.

Because it was already getting late, we had to find a place to rest first.

Wei Guangde and Zeng Yuanrui had somewhere to go, and the remaining three classmates had already found a place to stay. Since the family had business in Jiujiang Prefecture, the two classmates also lived there temporarily.

After making an appointment to sign up together, everyone separated on the road and headed to their destinations.

Wei Guangde came to the Zhang family again, and after meeting the elders of the family, Wei Guangde and Wu Dongcai moved into the small courtyard again.

Wu Dong didn't just send people here and that was it. He also had to stay here until Wei Guangde completed the government examination, that is, he would accompany him in the examination.

In the evening, Zhang Shigui, the eldest son of the Zhang family, set up a banquet for Wei Guangde to welcome him, saying that he wanted to wish the younger generation in advance for the high school entrance examination.

"Uncle, why didn't you see your second uncle?"

The last time Wei Guangde came to Zhang Mansion, he called the two brothers Zhang Shigui and Zhang Fugui after his cousin Wu Dong, so he called him that way this time.

"Fugui went to Wuchang to do business. He will not follow the old man to Zhenjiang, haha."

Zhang Shigui thought that Wei Guangde did not see Zhang Fugui and thought that he followed the old man to Zhenjiang.

"Second uncle's business is really good."

Wu Dong also smiled and said, "Last time I came here, I met my second uncle on the dock. He said he was going out to do business, and I will do the same this time."

"It's okay, it's all about earning some hard-earned money."

Zhang Shigui looked at the three younger ones. His son and Wu Dong were definitely going to be soldiers. He didn't say anything, but the fate of the Wei family was better. They gave birth to another son, and there was still time to rush.

"Actually, there's nothing bad to say. Every family in Jiujiang Wei is engaged in this business. Otherwise, if we have to support a large family, that little salary alone will be enough."

Zhang Shigui was still smiling and looking like a good old man.

"What kind of goods did the second uncle send this time?"

Wu Dong asked curiously, last time it was said to be transporting Suzhou silk, but he didn't know what it was transporting this time.

"The porcelain from Jingdezhen next door, the goods that Shaanxi merchants want, are handed over in Wuchang. In fact, the money they earn is just the freight and banknotes."

At this time, Zhang Hongfu replied, obviously he knew a lot about his second uncle's business even though he had nothing to do.

Also, the second uncle does not have a son. In addition to part of his property being used as dowry in the future, the rest will also go to the public school. In the end, won’t it belong to him, Zhang Hongfu?

At least that seemed to be the case before the second uncle had no son.

After hearing the following words, Wei Guangde probably guessed that they must have used their identities to allow the merchant ship to pass directly through the Jiujiang banknote customs, and the tax money was put into his pocket.

Guard officers from other places certainly do not have such conditions, but as an officer of Jiujiang Guard, they still have this ability.

Thinking of this, Wei Guangde couldn't help but think of the Wei Guogong Mansion in Nanjing, which had always maintained contact with Jiujiang Wei. I'm afraid this factor was involved.

Wei Guangde had heard from his father that the official positions of a group of people in Wei Li were managed by the Nanjing Wei Guogong Palace, and they did not receive salary for their actual duties.

What are they planning?

These days, there is no possibility of leading troops to rebel. Now those nobles have long lost the idea of ​​making achievements on the battlefield as their elders. They are all focused on making money and playing with women. They have already divorced the Ming Dynasty and the country, so there is no need to argue.

"No wonder, I see there are fewer ships at the guard station on the pier over there."

Wu Dong interrupted with a smile.

"Those ships are just idle. They go out to haul some cargo and let the sailors earn some money."

Zhang Hongfu said indifferently.

Only then did Wei Guangde fully understand the true meaning of what he said about earning freight and Chao Guan. The ships were all owned by Weili, so there was no need to spend any money. All that was needed was to give the sailors some hard-earned money.

This business is a business without capital.

It is said that no businessman can be a traitor, but this Shaanxi businessman is also very powerful. After ordering the goods, he asked Zhang Fugui to help transport them to Wuchang. The safety along the way was guaranteed and he saved money, although part of the money saved may go to the Zhang family. , but it saved a lot of trouble.

It's really hard money. Just make a trip and get a few hundred taels of silver.

"Oh, it's your second uncle who has no ability. If he had obtained a merit degree through his studies and had him join the Salt Administration, the money he would have made would have gone to waste."

At this point, Zhang Shigui couldn't help but sigh, "Guangde, let me tell you, your studies and taking the imperial examinations are actually nothing more than seeking power and seeking wealth. Let's not talk about seeking power. That requires you to have the ability and the ability to do so. You must be lucky to be appreciated by noble people.

But when it comes to asking for money, local officials are nothing.

Three years to clear the magistrate's office, and one hundred thousand snowflakes of silver, is not as much as the salary earned by joining the Salt Administration. It is still a routine matter, and it is difficult for others to say anything. "

Wei Guangde kept nodding. It was hard to say anything at this time, so just listen and nod.

"Okay, let's have a drink. Today, with this glass of wine, I wish you all the way to pass the Guangde Mansion Examination, and that the candidates will be awarded Jinshi, haha."

With that said, Zhang Shigui picked up the wine glass, Zhang Hongfu and Wu Dong also picked up the wine glass and touched it lightly with the wine glass in Wei Guangde's hand.

"I don't know what the situation is in Zhenjiang."

After everyone drank a few more glasses of wine, Wei Guangde thought of Father Wei again.

The news they got there was actually from their cousin Wu Dong, and the source of the news for his cousin must have been from the Weisuo, which is here.

"It should be fine. The news that came back yesterday seems to say that there has been no movement from the Japanese pirates."

Zhang Shigui knows this best. He is the most familiar with Wei Wei, and he has also been working there during this period.

But at this point, Zhang Shigui seemed to suddenly think of something, and asked his servants to bring a scroll from the study. After unfolding it, Wei Guangde saw that it was a map of Jiangnan.

In other words, Wei Guangde saw it, and it looked like a topographical map of later generations.

The mountains, rivers and lakes are drawn directly on the map, which is very vivid. As for the accuracy, I cannot guarantee it. I can only say that the general direction may be good.

This map only covers parts of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and southern Zhili, and seems to have been specially prepared for this war.

"Hongfu, Wu Dong, come and take a look and guess what Nanjing is thinking."

At this time, Zhang Shigui suddenly thought of training the two juniors. They were both going to take up their positions. If they were exposed to such things early, who knew whether they would encounter them in the future.

Immediately, under Wei Guangde's gaze, Zhang Shigui explained to them the current deployment of the Ming army.

Nothing has changed, it is still what I heard from my cousin, but this time with the map, it is much more intuitive for Wu Dong, Wei Guangde, and Zhang Hongfu.

The army was stationed in Zhenjiang and Taicang, but Songjiang Prefecture was near the sea.

The junction between Songjiang Prefecture and Zhejiang is where Jinshan Guards are guarding. Then along the coast of Zhejiang, starting from Jiaxing, followed by Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo and even Wenzhou, the state capitals have stationed guards troops to strengthen defense.

Wu Dong was not stupid and quickly noticed Songjiang Mansion.

There is Jinshan Guard to the south of Songjiang Prefecture, but most areas of Songjiang Prefecture are directly facing the sea. Obviously, there are loopholes in the defense with just this few people.

"Here in Songjiang, why are the troops gathering in Taicang? Instead of stationing in Shanghai County?"