"Oh? Brother Liu has just returned from Luoyang? That's my hometown..."
Ma Sanbao didn't show any airs, and even praised the Wu brothers from time to time, while Feng Erna was talking about his fighting experience, and the atmosphere at the table was extremely good.
I heard that the man surnamed Liu was a businessman, and Ma Sanbao was immediately interested. The Wu family was now half-official, half-business, and half-business, so it was no longer easy to deal with him. This guy seemed to be just right.
"What kind of business does Brother Liu's family do? Now I heard that everyone is looking north, taking this road to Luoyang... is it impossible to transport it by water?"
"I didn't expect the general to know this..." Brother Liu was a little flattered. The status of a businessman is still too low. If you interact with these people here, you can only put on a smile and won't be truly valued by others.
In fact, before, he was almost the same as the Wu brothers. They were everyone's moneybags, but they were not as good as the Wu brothers. After all, my grandpa got an official position, and he shed his skin as a businessman before his eyes. This is also the ultimate goal of the businessman group.
.
Otherwise, everyone would not regard Lu Buwei as their ancestor.
Ma Sanbao looked at him and smiled, "What kind of general is not a general? If my dear brother thinks highly of me, Ma Sanlang, just call me Brother Ma."
Liu, who did not deserve a name, was overjoyed. With a businessman's tongue, he didn't know what to say. He just bowed and nodded, as if he had met a confidant on the road.
In fact, to be honest, Ma Sanbao didn't think highly of businessmen in the past. He felt that businessmen had no credibility, disregarded friendship, and calculated things very disgustingly.
But now that he was planning to do some business, he felt particularly pleased with the businessman.
How do you say that, no matter what song you sing on any hilltop, Ma Sanbao enters the role very quickly.
In just a few words, Ma Sanbao figured out that Liu's main business was actually the timber business, and there were also some shops that sold calligraphy and paintings. He also did some writing business, which was actually the publishing business later on.
The business is running very well, and the configuration is very reasonable. The timber business, papermaking, and bookstores are all obviously related. It is not just about making money, and the Liu family is indeed a famous businessman in Chang'an.
Not much better than the samurai Yulai back then...
The reason why they have been traveling between Chang'an and Luoyang recently is because Luoyang is undergoing construction in full swing. Mr. Liu said it very modestly, as if he didn't make much money. In fact, they are actively joining Henan.
During the reconstruction projects in Hebei and other places.
Not to mention making a lot of money, but also eating a lot.
Business in the north? They are not those merchants who make huge profits by taking risks...
Liu was very respectful to Ma Sanbao, but he was actually wondering if he could use this person to get to Mrs. Chu's house.
If it could be done, Mr. Liu would be able to lean on a big tree and kowtow to Ma Sanbao without hesitation.
………………
"Are there many people buying and selling books in Chang'an now?"
"Well...it depends on when. I won't talk about it during the previous dynasty. Business was really good at that time. It's a pity that when the war broke out, people didn't bother to study. They all picked up swords and guns to earn fame and wealth."
"It is better to be a centurion than a scholar..."
"The poems of the Supreme... Yes, they are not popular nowadays... You should be called Your Majesty. Your Majesty's poems are powerful in a way that is rare in the world, and gentle and touching. You can truly say that he is the one who has come out of the ages."
"Yes, when I returned to Beijing, I heard someone play and sing Sapphire Case. I don't know how to put it, but I just thought it was good."
As the two talked, they became more and more enthusiastic, and even praised the emperor. Ma Sanbao was happy. Liu's conversation was good, which suited his taste, so he ordered someone to move Liu's short table over to share the table.
, which surprised everyone.
Ma Sanbao made jokes and made no one else feel left out.
It is easier for two people to talk when they are together.
"It is also thanks to the blessing of the Supreme Being that as soon as the Yuanxi Ci Qingyu Case came out, many people copied it. Our business has indeed become much easier. Moreover... Your Majesty attaches great importance to literary affairs. My grandfather said that in the future, the style of collecting books will be better than before.
Even better...
For example, this year everyone who is doing business in book shops in Chang'an is looking at the Duke of Pi State. I heard that the book He's Works is almost finished. The original volume must have been published by the imperial court, but everyone can probably eat it.
How many points do you get.
This book is said to be incredible. It is the work of He Gong throughout his life. It is the first of its kind. Once it is published in the world, it will be a great event in the literary world.
We people are of humble status and have no access to important matters, but because of the business, we may be able to help a little bit in the grand event.
In addition, there are more and more academies. Du Gong, Yu Gong, Wang Ji, Wang Gong and others often have new works, and it seems that the literary boom is just around the corner. For booksellers like us, it is a rare good time."
Ma Sanbao nodded repeatedly after hearing this, and even felt enlightened.
Liu, however, still said with unfinished meaning, "There are over 100,000 books in the Guanwen Hall in the palace, and countless of them were damaged by the war. I heard that they are being replenished all the time.
We all know that Brother Ma is not an ordinary person. If you can introduce someone to him, everyone will flock to him, and you should also thank him sincerely. Do you think this deal can be done well, Brother Ma?"
A businessman is a businessman, always trying to find ways to do something. When they meet for the first time, they start thinking about something as soon as they talk.
Ma Sanbao smiled, noncommittal, but his mind became more active.
I thought this must be asking for directions, just like those people who came to the gates of Chai Mansion and Princess Mansion in the past. First they wanted something, and then they clung to it. In this way, the big plan came.
………………
As the food and wine were served, the ladies in the restaurant, including Tingting, also entered the hall. So among the coquettish voices, the men no longer talked about business. At this time, they were still talking about their mother's business, and they were enjoying the happy time.
It's the most important thing.
Everyone began to take turns to toast, and Ma Sanbao cheered up. He had learned a lot from just talking to Liu, and he was in a very happy mood.
He had a good drinker, and he drank a few drinks with the host according to the rules, and then... he became the protagonist without hesitation. He didn't do any cheating, and when the wine was dry, he hugged the young lady next to him and fed each other a few drinks.
.
Seeing him acting so wildly, everyone laughed. They completely put aside their scruples and gradually let themselves go.
After three rounds of wine and five delicious dishes, someone else got up and came to Ma Sanbao to propose a toast.
This man was a secretary in Chang'an County, a native of Wannian County, and had some connections with Webster's family in Wannian County.
He had a goatee at a young age and looked very old.
"I've heard about the general's name for a long time..."
"I am over-flattered."
"I'm not kidding. When I was at home in Wannian County, the general was in charge of the county. We still remember the general's kindness to this day."
Ma Sanbao did serve as the magistrate of Wannian County for a year, and his job was actually the work of a county captain. As soon as he took office, he vigorously eliminated banditry. After a year, he left office before he could do anything else.
It is not false to say that it will benefit the people of Wannian County...
Ma Sanbao laughed, raised his neck and poured the wine into his stomach. His official qualifications were actually in leading troops in combat, so this compliment really didn't scratch his itch.
The Shu Zuo and Ma Sanbao had a drink, but they didn't leave. He said with a smile: "Today we are having a good drink, but we can't talk well. I will treat the general to a drink someday when the general is free. I wonder if the general will honor us and get together?"
Ma Sanbao was not interested in this, but this man spoke in a leisurely manner, and his tone was not gentle. Ma Sanbao couldn't help but look him up and down, and said politely, "That's really what I want."
Shu Zuo felt that he had been promised, and happily turned to pay respects to others, but he also left a meaningful saying, "The general is from Luoyang. When the time comes, I will introduce several villagers to the general, and he will not let the general return disappointed."
.”
Ma Sanbao doesn't care very much. When he was in Luoyang, he was a servant of the Chai family. That's not a good qualification for a township party? I'm from Jin now. Do you understand?
………………
The clerk was a little confused, but he didn't disturb Ma Sanbao's interest. He hugged him from left to right and drank the wine very happily.
At the same time, I was extremely envious. These businessmen were really rich. Whether it was the Wu brothers or Mr. Liu, they all looked wealthy. Ma Sanbao felt that if he was in business, he would definitely not be worse than them.
You can earn an enviable family fortune for your children and grandchildren.
When the store presented songs and dances, the hall became more lively.
From what you said to me, Ma Sanbao learned a lot of information.
For example, King Wu Du Fuwei went to the capital to lead his troops. He heard that he had actually won several battles overseas. Ma Sanbao was very surprised when he heard this.
King Wu Du Fuwei was able to leave Chang'an alive? He was such a lucky guy. He couldn't build a country overseas, right?
He thought again of the Dou Jiande he had met before. Seeing that he was walking around freely without much depression, he might be able to live for many years.
Your Majesty is as big as the sea, I admire you.
Another example is the imperial examination that was just held. Two people here actually took part, and the secretary was one of them.
Of course, they will not take the exams for regular subjects, but will participate in the official selection of formal subjects.
In November, the results of the imperial examination have been announced. Those who are not selected will not be criticized. Those who are selected will have to study hard in the next few months and prepare well for the Beijing Examination next year.
Both of them were selected and looked very proud. Ma Sanbao said to himself, "You don't go to study hard but you come here to hang out. Can you cope with the Beijing Examination next year?"
At this time, the tune of Sapphire Case sounded in the hall, which was completely different from the tune Ma Sanbao had heard before. The prostitutes around him explained to him while feeding him wine and food.
This is a piece of music that came out of Mrs. Chengguo's house not long ago. It is said to have been composed by Lu Xiangjun, a master of qin art. The tune is so exquisite that no one can match it, and it soon became popular among the people.
Even the less skilled luthiers dared not play, and the museum paid a lot of money to invite two masters to come over, so they dared to show their shame in front of the guests.
Ma Sanbao listened to it again and felt that there were indeed many differences between Chang'an and before...