On the spacious concrete road from Tianjin to the capital, a burst of chanting sounded on the concrete road. Hundreds of strong men were shirtless, dragging ropes, and struggling to drag a large whale forward on the cement road.
OK.
This whale was so big that everyone who saw this scene along the way couldn't help but stop and watch. Thousands of people gathered on both sides of the road to watch the excitement, and they talked about the huge beast in front of them.
As for whales, such huge creatures in the sea, only a few people here in Tianjin have seen them a few days ago, and most people have never seen such a huge fish.
This whale is eight feet long and looks like a house. Just looking at it will make you shocked.
"Oh my God, there really is such a big fish. Just now I thought Chen Laoshi was bragging."
"Isn't that right? The fish is so big, it's probably tens of thousands of kilograms."
In the tea shed, everyone was no longer in the mood to drink tea. They all looked at the big whale on the road, and everyone opened their mouths. Even the boss of the tea shed, the son, and Aunt Fan and her were busy in the kitchen.
My daughter and daughter-in-law came out to watch the fun.
"Haha, why did I, Chen Laoshi, say I was panicking?"
Chen Laoshi said slightly proudly at this time: "This whale is bigger than the one I saw a few days ago. The weight of this whale is probably more than 100,000 kilograms."
"More than 100,000 catties?"
Everyone in the tea shed couldn't help but widen their eyes again.
"One hundred thousand kilograms is a conservative estimate. This is the Kunpeng in the sea. Of course it is not an ordinary thing. This whale is enough to feed tens of thousands of people for a day."
Chen Laoshi smiled and said, as if he had captured this whale.
"Everyone, please work harder. Let's take a rest in the tea shed in front. Let's have a sip of tea and something to eat."
Next to the big whale, Zhu Houzhao rode a tall horse and followed the huge whale. He looked at the tea shed in front, looked at the sun in the sky, and said loudly.
Originally, such a matter did not require His Highness the Crown Prince to personally come forward, but now, he was very excited and wished he could return to the capital immediately to dedicate this big whale to his father and mother, so
He didn't even ride in the carriage, he just rode a horse and followed him all the way.
"Heyyo~Heyyo~"
After hearing Zhu Houzhao's words, the people responsible for pulling the whale immediately quickened their pace and pulled it forward with all their strength, trying to get to the tea shed as soon as possible to have a good rest.
"You bitch, what are you doing standing around here? Why don't you go to the tea shed and ask the owner of the tea shed to prepare tea, snacks, etc. If you delay my arrival in Beijing, I will kick you to death."
Zhu Houzhao looked at the big whale next to him and felt very proud. Then he looked at Liu Jin who was also riding behind him and couldn't help but curse.
"Yes, sir~"
Liu Jin quickly replied with a smile, and quickly galloped towards the tea shed.
"Who's the boss here?"
Liu Jin came to the tea shed and immediately asked loudly.
"I am, I am, what are your orders?"
When Hu Dalang heard this, he immediately replied with a smile.
"Bang~"
Liu Jin directly threw down a piece of silver ingot and said: "Hurry up and prepare more tea and food. When my whale pullers come over to drink tea and food, give me all you have. If you don't have enough, hurry up and buy it for me."
, don’t delay my important event.”
Liu Jin naturally obeyed Zhu Houzhao and was very well-behaved, but towards ordinary people like Hu Dalang, his attitude was naturally condescending.
"Yes~yes, I'll have someone prepare it immediately."
Hu Dalang picked up the silver ingot he was sitting on, weighed it slightly, then bit it with his teeth. His eyes suddenly lit up and he nodded quickly and replied.
When Liu Jin saw that the other party had collected the money and went to do something, he nodded with satisfaction and turned around to return to Zhu Houzhao.
"Mei Yao, hurry up and call all the people in the village to help, and then let people pick up free tea and everything from home."
"Boss, go back to the village and borrow a briquette stove and some more chairs."
"Second brother, go to Aunt Li's house across the street to see if there is anything else to eat or drink. Ask her to get them all, and then you can calculate the money with her."
"Second brother, hurry up and go diving. There will definitely not be enough tea for these hundreds of people without a few buckets."
"This time, we're in for a big deal."
Hu Dalang turned around and faced his son, and his daughters began to give orders. This big business for hundreds of people only cost five taels of silver ingots. This was definitely a big deal.
After hearing Hu Dalang's words, his son and daughter also started to get busy quickly, preparing tea, snacks, food and so on. Now hundreds of people came to drink tea and eat, which was enough to keep Hu Dalang's family busy for a long time.
"Heyyo~Heyyo~"
The sound of neat chants kept ringing, and there were people on both sides of the road watching the excitement. There were also many people behind who were slowly moving forward, and they were constantly discussing while looking at the big whale.
In a four-wheeled carriage, Liu Jin looked very bored.
The speed was really too slow, and we still didn’t know when we would arrive in the capital. Sitting in this four-wheeled carriage, I felt drowsy, but there was a loud chant outside and I couldn’t fall asleep at all.
"It would be great if I had a mobile phone. Watching movies would make time fly by."
Liu Jin couldn't help but miss the life in the future. There was nothing more comfortable than lying down and playing with his mobile phone.
"Let's read the Four Books and Five Classics. Autumn will be here in a while. No matter what, we have to go through the motions and experience the ancient imperial examination."
Shaking his head slightly, Liu Jin reluctantly picked up a book from his side and started reading. It was already the end of June, and after July it would be August, and August was the day of autumn.
The imperial examination was a major event for the imperial court in this era, especially the ethics and talents ceremony held every three years. From the emperor to the common people, they attached great importance to it.
Liu Jin now has the reputation of being a scholar. Well, he is still a famous scholar in Changli County. He is already a scholar at a young age.
In Changli County, even Yongping Prefecture, and even the entire capital and North Zhili area, Liu Jin is considered a famous person. Everyone is paying attention to him. In addition to his reputation as a scholar, Liu Jin is also considered to be a disciple of an expert.
.
Liu Jin also knew very well that there were countless pairs of eyes looking at him in Qiu Wei, so even if there were a thousand or ten thousand people who didn't like to read these Four Books and Five Classics, Liu Jin still had to read them, even every day
You also need to take time to practice calligraphy.
No matter how the article is written, at least the words should be written beautifully and the presentation should be good-looking.
"Teacher, there is a tea shed in front of you. His Highness has ordered that everyone rest here in the tea shed and rest before leaving."
At this time, Liu Jin's cheap student Tong Yuan came over and said.
"Where are you now?"
Liu Jin nodded, looked outside and asked.
"We have arrived in Wuqing, and we will probably arrive in Beijing in the afternoon."
Tong Yuan quickly replied.
"It's really slow in the afternoon."
When Liu Jin heard this, he immediately felt helpless.
This whale is really too big and heavy.
In order to transport the whale to the capital intact and smoothly, Liu Jin also racked his brains and used a thick wooden board with some round wooden sticks of the same size placed underneath.
Hundreds of people in front are constantly dragging the whale, while people on the side are constantly using wooden sticks to spread it in front. This is equivalent to having wheels, which can greatly save energy and facilitate transportation.
Otherwise, in this era, it would be almost impossible to transport such a huge whale to the capital city, which is more than 100 kilometers away.
Fortunately, the cement road from Tianjin to the capital has been built, and the cement road is wide and straight enough. If it were the original old official road, which was full of potholes and very narrow, even if there was this method, it would not work at all.
It is impossible to transport such a huge whale to the capital.
"Teacher, this is already very fast. It is very, very difficult to transport such a big whale to the capital."
Tong Yuan said with a smile that he was very satisfied with the current speed. After walking for a few days, he finally reached the capital.
"Forget it, let's go have some tea and eat something first."
Liu Jin did not dwell on this matter anymore.
The huge team had already arrived at Aunt Fan's tea shed. Soon, the teams pulling the whales stopped one after another and swarmed to the tea shed. Suddenly the whole tea shed became extremely lively.
Liu Jin very carefully left a table for Zhu Houzhao and Liu Jin, wiped it carefully, and filled the table with a variety of food.
"Old Liu, you are so good that you can think of such a method, otherwise I really don't know how to transport this big whale to the capital."
Zhu Houzhao took a sip of tea and ate a big bun in one gulp. He didn't look like a prince at all. He looked just like the many shirtless coolies beside him, rushing to eat.
While he was eating, he did not forget to talk to Liu Jin.
"Your Highness, thank you. Although this method can transport the whale to the capital, the speed is too slow. It has taken several days to travel more than 100 kilometers, and the whale is no longer fresh."
"We still have to find a way in the future to design a carriage that can transport large whales."
Liu Jin smiled and shook his head and said.
"It's not necessary. This whale is too big and heavy. It will be easier to transport it if it is dismembered in the future. What's more, is there any carriage that can hold such a large whale?"
Zhu Houzhao thought for a while and shook his head and said: "This time, I also want to present a gift to my father and mother, otherwise I wouldn't have spent so much effort transporting this whale into the capital."
Aunt Fan's tea shed became extremely busy with the arrival of hundreds of people. Aunt Fan's family was very busy, and at the same time, the invited villagers were also extremely busy.
"Young Master, I am Tu Jiangnan. Is this whale yours?"
In the tea shed, a middle-aged man in extraordinary clothes came to Zhu Houzhao with a smile on his face. He had good eyesight. Although Zhu Houzhao's food was relatively vulgar now, he could tell at a glance that the Zhu Houzhao in front of him was a noble man. As for the man on the side
Although Liu Jin was also extraordinary, he was far inferior to Zhu Houzhao.
"Yes what's the matter?"
Zhu Houzhao glanced at Tu Jiangnan and didn't pay much attention to him at all.
"To be able to hunt such a big whale, the young master must be extremely brave, which is really admirable."
Tu Jiangnan was not only very discerning, but also very good at talking. He knew that young people of Zhu Houzhao's age were all self-righteous and needed the approval of others, so he said with a smile.
"Haha, of course, I shot this whale directly with one shot. Seeing that there was no wound on the whale's back, I used the harpoon gun and shot it with one shot."
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he immediately smiled and his attitude improved a lot. He pointed to a stool nearby and said, "Sit down."
"Thank you, sir~"
Tu Jiangnan bowed his hands in thanks and sat down politely. He had a lot to ask, so it would be best if he could sit down and chat.
Liu Jin noticed Tu Jiangnan when he came over to say hello. He looked at him carefully, and he and Tu Jiangnan smiled at each other and nodded, which was regarded as saying hello.
"I haven't asked you for your names yet."
Now that we have sat down, we must get to know each other.
"My name is Zhu Er, and this is Liu Da."
Zhu Houzhao said very perfunctorily.
"Forehead…"
Liu Jin and Tu Jiangnan were both slightly startled. Zhu Houzhao was too perfunctory. Zhu Er, Liu Da, even if they just thought of names, they wouldn't be so perfunctory. People could see it right away.
"It turns out to be Mr. Zhu and Mr. Liu."
Tu Jiangnan soon returned to normal. Since the other party was unwilling to tell his true identity, forget it. There was no need to force him, but he could already guess some of it now.
The young master Zhu in front of him is probably from the palace, and the Liu Jin who is following him is definitely a eunuch in the palace. Only the nobles in the palace can have a eunuch serve him so wholeheartedly.
As for Liu Jin on the side, he has an extraordinary bearing, a handsome figure, and you can tell at a glance that he is a young master from a wealthy family.
"Don't dare to take it seriously~"
Liu Jin smiled, cupped his hands and said to the other party.
"To be honest, I am very interested in whaling. I wonder if Mr. Zhu and Mr. Liu can tell me about this whaling."
After some polite exchanges, Tu Jiangnan said with a smile.
"Haha, you asked the right person."
Zhu Houzhao is now looking for someone to brag about his bravery. Liu Jin has no interest in him bragging about whaling, which makes him very depressed. As for Liu Jin, this bitch, he has been following him and there is no point in talking to him.
Meaning, now that I heard Tu Jiangnan's words, I immediately started bragging to Tu Jiangnan happily.
"When going out to sea to hunt whales, you must buy a special whaling ship manufactured by Tianjin Shipyard. Other ships will not work. Whales are sacred creatures in the sea. They are too strong and ordinary ships will be pulled to pieces by whales."
"Let me tell you, the most important thing in hunting whales in the sea is the shot of the harpoon gun. It must be accurate..."
Zhu Houzhao began to talk endlessly to Tu Jiangnan about hunting whales in the sea, and he was talking with great joy and excitement.
Tu Jiangnan had been listening carefully, and from time to time he would give appropriate compliments and praise Zhu Houzhao's bravery. This made Zhu Houzhao even more energetic and told him everything he knew and learned about whaling.
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This made Liu Jin on the side couldn't help but shake his head slightly. After all, this Zhu Houzhao was a little younger. Some people praised him a few times, and he couldn't hide any secrets.
"Master Zhu is truly brave and invincible. He will surely be able to conquer the world and be invincible in the future."
After talking for half an hour, everyone was already full and ready to go on the road again. Zhu Houzhao had just finished speaking, and Tu Jiangnan also praised him very wisely, which made Zhu Houzhao's little eyes filled with joy.
Narrowing his eyes, he was about to regard Tu Jiangnan as his confidant.
"Sir, let's continue on the road, otherwise we might not be able to reach the capital today."
Liu Jin looked at the sun, then at everyone who had rested, and reminded him in a low voice.
"Master Zhu, how about we go out to hunt whales together next time we come to Tianjin?"
Seeing that the other party was about to leave, Tu Jiangnan also suggested with a smile.
"Okay, it's settled."
"Liu Jin, you and Mr. Tu Jiang please contact each other and leave your contact information. Next time we go to Tianjin, we will go out to sea to hunt whales together."
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he happily agreed. At the same time, he looked at Liu Jin and said, "Old Liu, why don't we go together next time? You don't know how powerful I am. I can kill even the most powerful whales."
Shoot to death.”
"Well, I have no interest in whaling~"
Liu Jin refused without thinking.
"Old Liu, I even doubt whether you are a real man. If you are a real man, you should go out to sea to hunt whales."
Zhu Houzhao looked at Liu Jin carefully again, and suddenly said something confused.