In the early morning, the canal wharf outside Yangzhou City gradually became lively. Shi Kefa had already walked back from the shore when Chang Yu was washing up: "Just from the scenery of the wharf, it seems that the prosperity of Yangzhou is not inferior to that of Suzhou, or even better than that of Suzhou."

Chang Yu nodded. Although he has never been to the current Gusu City or Yangzhou City, he knows that since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, cities that are close to water and sea have developed very fast and well.

What's more, the city of Yangzhou has relied on the Grand Canal for thousands of years and has a profound heritage.

In the early morning, the pier suddenly became agitated. A group of people rushed over from the city and attracted the attention of passers-by. This is the group of officials. What are they doing at the pier?

Of course, we are here to welcome distinguished guests.

Ren Minyu, the prefect of Yangzhou, had just woken up early in the morning when he heard that a Dongchang fan had come to the city and was shocked. Then he was told that the eunuch of Dongchang and the Minister of War, Shi Kefa, were at the canal dock outside the city, asking the civil and military officials in the city to go.

meet.

Chang Yu always keeps a low profile when traveling and doesn't like being dropped off or greeted by others. This time, it is definitely rare for someone to go out of town to tell him to greet him.

So Ren Minyu hurriedly took more than ten officials out of the city to the riverside to greet him, but he saw nearly a hundred officials standing or squatting on the pier to have breakfast. He had no idea which one was the young eunuch. Fortunately, he saw Shi Kefa in official uniform.

He hurriedly knelt forward and said, "I'm here to pay my respects to Lord Shangshu. May I ask where the governor is?" As he said this, he glanced at Gao Jie, who was wearing casual clothes next to him, and thought to himself: Could it be this? He looks a little rough.

"Our family has admired the name of the prefect Ren for a long time. I am honored to meet you." Chang Yu came from elsewhere and held a piece of candy cake in his hand. He handed over his hand to Ren Minyu, but the prefect was dumbfounded in surprise: "I have seen you before."

Lord Governor..."

"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you." Chang Yu chuckled and glanced at the faces of the officials behind Ren Minyu one by one. On the 10th in Yangzhou, there were almost no defectors among the officials in the city. Ren Minyu and more than ten people either died in battle or committed suicide.

Although there are records of a few people who died for their country, they were not in Yangzhou at this time. For example, Liu Zhaoji, the commander-in-chief who defended the city at that time, had just been promoted to the governor of Nanjing and the admiral of Nanjing University at the beginning of the year. Chang Yu did not take him with him when he mobilized troops from Nanjing for the western expedition.

, after all, Nanjing also needs someone to take charge.

Wu Erxun was still working at the Hanlin Academy in Beijing at this time, and his staff He Gang was also working in obscurity in the capital. But Ma Yingkui, who wore white armor every battle, endorsed the words "loyalty to serve the country" on his back, and died in a street battle, was currently serving as a junior general in Yangzhou.

.

So Chang Yu opened his mouth and asked: "Where is Ma Yingkui?"

Ren Minyu was confused at that time. Ma Yingkui was just a young general guarding the city. This eunuch came to Yangzhou early in the morning just to find such a person? Could it be that Ma Yingkui had committed some serious crime?

Of course, what made him even more surprised and puzzled was that the young eunuch was very friendly to them and his group, and he had no pretensions, so much so that Ren Minyu even doubted whether this person was the senior eunuch of Dongchang. This was really unnatural.

None of the eunuchs in the palace have their eyes looking at the sky, let alone the eunuchs in the East Factory.

With this doubt, Ren Minyu welcomed Chang Yu and Shi Kefa into the government office. Chen Suole and his guards went shopping, which was actually just shopping. Li Muchian also asked Chang Yu for leave, saying that he was going to visit the past and the present, but Chang Yu let it go.

He has gone. This Taoist priest has nothing to do with the clouds and cranes and cannot always be tied up.

Although Chang Yu respected the loyalty and martyrdom of Yangzhou officials such as Ren Minyu, to be honest, he had nothing to talk with them because these officials were too embarrassed when facing him and could not relax while holding their own, so that Chang Yu had to restrain himself.

Feel free to do so, otherwise people will say that the eunuch of Dongchang is not doing anything right by jumping up and down.

This made Chang Yu, who was used to hanging out with the soldiers casually, feel particularly tired. Feeling particularly uncomfortable, he asked Shi Kefa to chat with them. There were many topics among civil servants, such as the war against bandits, and things about Chang Yu. Ren Minyu and the others were all

Very curious.

Chang Yu, on the other hand, left the Yamen and went to visit Yangzhou City, with only Kuang Ren and three or five personal guards accompanying him.

In fact, Chang Yu has no interest in shopping. Just like in later generations, whether you go shopping or shopping in Beijing or Shanghai, you will find that everything is the same. All commercial streets, pedestrian streets and ancient streets feel like they are mass-produced and have nothing new.

Although the local characteristics of this era are still relatively obvious, it does not arouse any desire for shopping in Chang Yu. He walks on the street more to experience the local customs and the most authentic people's livelihood.

Of course, the happiest person was Gao Jie. It was rare that Li Yan, Li Muxian and others were not around, so he could be alone with his brothers, the majestic Admiral of Ming Dynasty East Factory. It was a very proud and satisfying thing.

The two of them were wandering around the city of Yangzhou, chatting and joking uncomfortably. Before noon, some guards came to tell them that Ren Minyu was hosting a banquet at the Yamen. Chang Yu waved his hand and told them to do what they wanted, and he and Gao Jie found a place for themselves.

In the restaurant, we ordered a few side dishes, a pot of tea and a pot of wine, ate, drank and chatted by the window. Shi Kefa in the Yamen became the protagonist of the reception banquet, and everyone was chatting happily during the dinner.

"Brother, what on earth are you doing here in Yangzhou City, just to meet Ren Minyu?" There was no one else around. Gao Jie and Chang Yu looked like brothers and kept a low profile without being ostentatious.

"Let's talk about some business and recruit a few more people by the way." Chang Yu chuckled, and Gao Jie was confused: "Could it be that we want to open a shop in Yangzhou City?" Then he thought of something and looked around: "What did you do before?

It is said that our Da Ming Bank wants to open two capitals and thirteen provinces, but due to limited funds, it cannot be fat in one bite, so we do not hesitate to recruit some nobles to join us, but why not find Xu Hongji to join us in Nanjing?"

Chang Yu couldn't help but laugh after hearing this: "It's not like joining a gang after robbing someone's house, that's called buying a share." Gao Jie scratched his head in embarrassment: "Yes, buying a share, why not look for Xu Hongji?".

"He is deeply entrenched in Nanjing and has great influence. He should have been a good partner, but I gave up on him just because he was too powerful. His network of relationships is too complicated," Chang Yu said, shaking his head gently.

: "Besides, you don't have to find a partner to do business in Nanjing." Gao Jie said oh, but he didn't really understand: "Then who do you plan to find to join the partnership... that... to become a shareholder."

Chang Yu chuckled: "Actually, the capital to open a shop in Nanjing is sufficient, and there is no need for others to invest in it. If necessary, it is natural to choose Huaiyuan. However, such a professional thing as opening a shop has to be done by professional people, unless it happens.

I won’t get involved until there are people and things that I can’t handle.”

Yes, Gao Jie nodded: "Then who did you come to Yangzhou to discuss business with, Ren Minyu?" Chang Yu curled his lips: "His pockets are cleaner than your face, and he is just here to motivate and reward them in this way.

Gao Jie touched his face and said, "My face feels refreshed recently. No wonder a lot of girls on the street were staring at me just now."

Chang Yu almost vomited. Gao Jie asked again: "Is Ren Minyu an upright official? I asked you to come specially to visit him."

"It doesn't matter if you don't know whether an honest official is honest or not, but he is a very loyal minister. Most loyal ministers are relatively honest. At this time, loyal ministers are more precious than incorruptible..." Before he could finish speaking, Gao Jie exclaimed: "I understand.

, you said you are poaching him, are you going to bring him to the capital?"

"It may be possible in the future, but right now..." Chang Yu said and glanced out the window and downstairs: "Here we come." Gao Jie looked over in confusion and saw several guards leading one person into the restaurant in a hurry.

After a while, a man in military uniform with a panic-looking face was brought to Chang Yu's desk. He said that anyone taken away by people from Dongchang would feel panicked.

"Do you know who he is?" Chang Yu raised his hand and pointed at Gao Jie next to him and asked the man. Gao Jie quickly sat up straight, stared at the man with a majestic look on his face and said, "Do you know who this general is?"

The man was very nervous and coughed lightly: "I'm sorry for not knowing."

"I am Gao Jie, the commander-in-chief of Xuzhou, have you ever heard of me?"

The man was slightly surprised: "It turns out to be General Gao, Master Gao. I wonder what the reason for calling the young man is here." He muttered in his heart, how could Gao Jie be able to use Dongchang Fanzi.

"Yes, why are you looking for him?" Gao Jie couldn't answer and looked at Chang Yu. The little eunuch chuckled, and the man was even more confused: "Who is this sir?"

"I am the governor of Dongchang Chang Yu, Ma Yingkui, are you willing to fight with me?" Chang Yu put away his smile and looked at the man squarely.

Yes, this person was Ma Yingkui, the deputy commander-in-chief of the army who fought and died defending Yangzhou in history. He was only a low-level general at this time, so he was completely confused at once.

First, he was called by Dongchang. He thought he had committed something and was so frightened that his legs went weak. However, he was brought to see the big boss of Dongchang. He named him and wanted to take him to show off and fly him away. Who wouldn't be confused? After all, this little guy

What did the eunuch see in him?

What he likes is their loyalty and courage. In that time and space, most of them sacrificed their lives for the country. In Chang Yu's time and space, he thought that giving them more support would be a kind of compensation for them. In addition, he really needed to promote a group of people.
Chapter completed!