Suspiciousness is like caries. It's fine if you don't touch it, but it hurts if you touch it. King Yan trusted everyone in the Rongguo Mansion, but he was vaguely worried that his achievements would overwhelm his master. After Jia Cong's wife gave birth to a daughter, he thought about Nezha's fate.
It was slightly better to be childless. But Jarvis was in a different situation in his mind.
This man was loyal, honest, and good at fighting. When he was originally ordered to go on the expedition, the intention was for him to meet up with Gan Lei and others before discussing where to move the troops. The pilot sent by Cao Xinsheng also led him to the west bank. However, he did not stop halfway.
Hearing what the pilot said, he took a detour to the east. Naturally, Situ Pan knew that he would be punished by foreign kings. Moreover, Jarvis won the battles and occupied a large area of land. However, although there were many Westerners there, the rich households
But there are very few, and it is not cost-effective. The land is more fertile than in the west, but it requires immigrants to cultivate it. In the first few years, taxes cannot be collected. And the two countries are separated by the sea, so immigration is too expensive. At the moment, it is more cost-effective to mine gold mines.
.If you think about the general, Jarvis's actions are extremely wise; if you think about the Yan Kingdom, he is a bit careless and covets fame and military success.
After thinking about it for a long time, Situ Pan was still not sure whether to ask Jarvis's wife and children as hostages. But just now Feng Ziying came to report that the adviser who came up with the idea had secret contacts with the prince. Situ Pan was shocked. Feng Ziying said: "
Wei Chen saw that he was not someone who had an affair with the prince, so he went to ask him. He said that it was actually the prince who asked him to advise the prince and ask Jarvis's son to return to the country. The prince's intention was not to take hostages, but to wait for two years.
Let the child be the prince's companion. He has rejected the prince's request, but he was reminded and proposed the matter to the prince."
Situ Pan frowned and asked after a while, "What do you think?"
Feng Ziying immediately said: "Wei Chen thinks it is not appropriate. My grandson is already nine years old, so there is no need for such a young companion. The prince's third son is the child of the prince's concubine, and he is two years old this year. Therefore, Jarvis's son enters the prince's house.
As a companion, I must follow the three princes and grandsons...I am afraid that the order of elders and younger children will be reversed after many years. Furthermore, it is better if the companion is older than the master."
Situ Pan's heart was moved when he heard this. He was usually busy with state affairs, and he didn't even pay much attention to his younger sons, let alone his grandson. Now he thought about it, the eldest son's own qualifications were mediocre, and his eldest son didn't seem to be that smart either; on the contrary, Zeng
I once heard that the younger one is very smart. On the surface, the emperor's family said that he would establish a direct descendant, but in fact, he should be established by the one who has the ability - he is neither the direct descendant nor the elder. Could it be that the boss has the intention to train the younger son in the future?
Jarvis was originally Jia Cong's companion and bodyguard. Thinking of this, he no longer hesitated. He ordered someone to draw up an order to arrange for Jarvis's wife, Lin, to return to China with her son. In the future, the young master would study in the capital and serve as his wife.
Wang Sun accompanied the reading. He specially sent a chamberlain named Wei to North America to convey the order and set sail together with the ships transporting military supplies.
In the past, warships set out from Tianjin. Because now there are many merchant ships in Tianjin Port and the warships are large. In order not to occupy the port, the supply ships mostly transported the supply baggage in pieces to the Japanese Yan family, and then reassembled and loaded the ships from there. This is Wei Gonggong's suspicion.
Trouble, one of the generals who accompanied him said: "Why go to all the trouble, why not just go to sea from here?"
The general smiled and said: "When my father-in-law arrived in Japan, he naturally understood when he saw the warships at the dock."
Another general came over and said: "Tianjin Port has expanded in recent years, but after all it is not as good as the newly built large military port in Japan. Besides, merchant ships make the most money from Tianjin Port, and warships do not pay taxes. Large berths
It’s all given to merchant ships.”
Eunuch Wei sighed: "Your Majesty is in a difficult situation." He also brought two young eunuchs with him and went into the cabin together.
Not long after boarding the ship, Eunuch Wei and the two young eunuchs got seasick at the same time. They vomited so hard every day that it was dark and miserable. After struggling for many days, they finally came to the cabin and called out to the three of them: "Eunuch, we are almost here." Eunuch Wei
Having fainted for half his life, he waved his hands in confusion. After half an hour, the ship docked, and the general personally helped Eunuch Wei onto the deck.
Eunuch Wei took a look and couldn't help but praise: "It's so big! So many ships!" There were countless ships parked densely in this port, and they were all extremely large. Compared with these ships, the small boat they took was too small. This is a military port and a pier.
There were no civilians, but many soldiers wearing neat military uniforms lined up in two lines to unload the baggage from the ship. Two soldiers stood on the dock, holding a small brush in their hands and a small paint bucket at their feet, painting each piece of baggage.
Mark, well organized.
Feng Tang, the governor of Yan in Japan, came to greet Eunuch Wei in person. Eunuch Wei sighed, stroking his stomach, "This journey has been very frustrating for the entire family."
Feng Tang laughed loudly: "My father-in-law, this is my first time taking a boat. I will naturally get used to it after some time."
In the next few days, Feng Tang accompanied Eunuch Wei around. After the baggage ship was loaded, he personally sent him to the big ship. Eunuch Wei was surprised: "It's so big! It's much bigger than what it looked like at the dock."
The general smiled and said: "What are you talking about, general? If this thing is parked in Tianjin Port, merchant ships will have to build another port."
Not long after, the big warship started to move. Black smoke burst out from the bow of the ship, which startled Eunuch Wei. The captain accompanying him explained: "This ship is a new steam engine-powered ship from Lingnan Shipyard. The power cabin is burning."
Coal, so the smoke is a bit black. It saves a lot of manpower." Although Eunuch Wei didn't know what he said, he nodded with his hands behind his hands.
Before this trip, Eunuch Wei had heard someone say that it would take at least half a year to travel from Japan to North America. He asked Feng Tang to prepare a lot of medicine for him to cure seasickness. However, those medicinal materials were of no use at all, and Eunuch Wei still vomited.
Tian Wuri was like a pregnant woman, hoping not to die on the ship. On the contrary, the two little eunuchs had stopped fainting.
Unexpectedly, after only three months of walking, the large warship would arrive at the Port of New York in North America. This port is older and much smaller than the Port of Fontana, and it looks a bit shabby from the ship. Abandoning the ship and landing, I saw that the houses were weird and completely
It's not like the style in the Central Plains. Eunuch Wei supported the young eunuch and asked the general who was escorting the baggage on the ship: "What kind of house is that?"
The general said: "These were built by Westerners earlier. We haven't had time to immigrate here, so we haven't built any houses. Now we all live in Westerners' houses. My father-in-law will go and sit inside later. The house is full of
The products from the sea cannot be more upright. But things from my dynasty are rare."
Eunuch Wei said weakly: "That's right. This is a place originally owned by Westerners, so of course everything belongs to them. Ours has become imported goods."
The soldiers who were on the pier came to meet him, and the general went to hand over the things to him. Eunuch Wei sat on the stone steps of the pier to rest for a while. A young eunuch smiled and said: "You can be considered ashore. My father-in-law has a good rest today."
"
The other one said unkindly, "I have to do this again when I go back." Eunuch Wei was so angry that he wanted to slap him, but he was too weak, so he had to send it away for now.
The one in front said: "I heard from the soldiers on the ship earlier that there are many pirates on the sea, why didn't we encounter them?"
This one said: "I specifically asked that black-faced general, and he said that we have built six large cannons on the ship. Pirates are bullies and fear the strong. I'm afraid they won't be able to defeat them, so they don't dare to come over." He whispered, "Then
The general said, "Actually, there are four smaller cannons behind the six big ones, and those smaller ones are more useful. The bigger ones are just fake cannons made of iron sheets wrapped with wood, specially designed to scare pirates." Both of them are no more than thirteen.
At the age of four, he started laughing as he spoke.
Only then did Eunuch Wei suddenly realize: "What did I say! I have never seen such a big cannon. It turns out to be a fake."
After sitting for a long time, there was still no one sent by Jarvis to greet him. Eunuch Wei was a little unhappy. After waiting for half a day, the general on the ship sent a personal soldier to pick up Eunuch Wei. He went to the dock office to sit for a while and have some tea.
The father-in-law coughed twice and kept groaning for a long time, then helped the little eunuch to stand up and move slowly.
When I entered the dock office, there was no one inside. The room was full of Western furniture, which looked very interesting. The soldiers called for a long time before a woman came out from somewhere else. She ran over and took out four tea cups.
He poured four cups of hot water for the three eunuchs and one of the soldiers, and said, "It's cold now. You drink some hot water to warm yourself up first."
Eunuch Wei frowned: "Where is General Jarvis?"
The woman thought for a while: "I heard a while ago that General Jia went north to fight, but I don't know about it now."
The soldier said: "General Jia marches secretly and is good at making noises from the east to the west. Westerners are most afraid of him."
Eunuch Wei said: "Didn't he kill all the Westerners a long time ago? Why do you still want to attack the east and attack the west?"
The woman wondered: "Kill them all? They have immigrated here for 150 years, how can we kill them all immediately? There used to be more than three million Westerners here. Smallpox spread several times in the early years, and about 30% of them died.
There are still more than two million people. And these people are not living together, but scattered in various places. Is it possible that they stand and let us blast them with artillery? Now General Jia only drives them from south to north, leaving a few for them in the north.
Let them go back to Europe." She said with a smile, "But our Military Advisor Lin has a great reputation. Westerners say she is some kind of Satan queen. They are most afraid of the one called Satan, and many people are scared away." Suddenly she said:
He sighed, "There are also people who are reluctant to go back. Europe has been fighting endless wars for many years. They are afraid that if they go back, the country's leader will capture the young men. Nowadays, many people are moving to Africa. Although it is hot there,
At least we won’t fight.”
Eunuch Wei was stunned. He did not expect such a scene. After thinking for a long time, he asked: "Why don't you keep those Westerners and let us hire them to do work?"
The woman said: "General Jia is also willing to let them work. But they all believe in Western Nestorianism, and they are willing to pay taxes to some Nestorian pope. It can be done here or there! The people of our dynasty can only pay taxes to the prince, how can they pay taxes to foreign popes?
Besides, if they paid taxes to the Pope, wouldn't they have less to give to the prince? General Jia had already told them that they could stay, but they had to believe in Western Nestorianism; it was OK to secretly write the letter without anyone knowing, but they must not give it to them.
The Pope pays taxes.”
Eunuch Wei nodded and said, "What if those people pay taxes secretly?"
The woman said: "The pope has sent tax collectors below. In addition to collecting taxes, he also teaches them Nestorian scriptures. General Jia can tolerate ordinary people, but he cannot tolerate these tax collectors. Many Westerners can't do anything without tax collectors."
In order to survive, their children have to be washed by the tax collector from birth, and even after they die, they have to have sutras recited by the tax collector."
Wei Gonggong said: "So, although Jarvis has won many battles, his life is not easy."
The woman smiled and said, "It's better now. Last year, Master Su, the prefect of Jiangxi Province, suppressed bandits and captured many bandits and sent them over. How could these people farm? The officials couldn't stand those people, and there weren't that many officials.
Look at them. Therefore, we sent one boat after another, and sent another boat after another. Those who were originally prepared to let them open up wasteland and cultivate land have now gone completely, and there is not a single one left."
Eunuch Wei asked curiously: "Since all the troops we sent have fled, how can it be better?"
The woman said: "They are all bandits. They have been robbing homes for more than ten years, and they have killed and buried many of the Westerners that General Jia can't find. They killed many of the Westerners who General Jia couldn't find. General Jia also said that he would give the prince a discount tomorrow. Thank you very much."
Mr. Su."
Eunuch Wei smiled and said, "I didn't intend to plant willows to make shade." Then he asked, "Why don't you have many people here?"
The woman said: "There was no one in the first place. My husband and I were digging gold mines in the west. The year before last, my husband was injured and couldn't dig anymore, so we tried to take a boat to the east. The east was full of soldiers and there were no women. Anyway, I
I can get a job to support him." He sighed tiredly. Eunuch Wei was a smart man, so he said a few words of relief after hearing this.
Eunuch Wei waited here until dusk, when the generals and soldiers on the ship came over to set up a place for him. The house he lived in still had Western furnishings, but it was quite old. Fortunately, the Western fireplace was very warm and had enough charcoal. Another seven or eight days passed.
, but there is news about Jarvis, saying that he is fighting in the north. His family members are now in Boston. Lin Daiyu sent someone to pick up the angel. Eunuch Wei let out a sigh of relief.
After bumping on the carriage for more than ten days, Eunuch Wei and two young eunuchs entered the city of Boston in a carriage. It had snowed a few days ago, and now there was still snow on the roofs and roads, and it looked a bit cold at first glance. This city
There were all Western houses, but no common people. The people who occasionally came and went on the road were soldiers. The carriage stopped in front of a very tall Western stone house. The soldiers sent by Lin Daiyu led Eunuch Wei out of the car. I saw a man standing at the door of the house.
Two soldiers of average height, wearing strange dark green military uniforms, with guns on their backs and motionless.
Wei Gonggong had the order of King Yan hidden in his arms, and he slowly walked in with the soldier in square steps. After entering the house, he walked two or three more rooms. In front of him was a very high hall with stairs beside it. The soldier led him
After walking up the stairs for half a day, we arrived at the entrance of a small hall.
There were also two soldiers with guns standing outside the small hall, but the door was open. Eunuch Wei raised his eyes and looked in. It was very bright inside. It was cold now, and a large row of windows were closed, but these windows were all closed.
Translucent glass. The sun shines in from outside, and there is some warmth inside in winter. There is a huge Western-style fireplace in the hall, with red charcoal fire. There is a long Western-style table in front of the stove, and a table is spread on the table.
There was a huge map, and four or five people were standing around the table. There was a young woman wearing a sky-blue Western-style robe, with a bun on her head but without a hairpin. She was holding the edge of the table with one hand, slightly bent.
He looked at the map from his back. The others were all men, wearing dark green military uniforms.
The soldier shouted loudly outside: "Report."
The woman didn't even raise her head and said, "What's the matter?"
The soldier said: "Eunuch Wei from the capital has arrived."
The woman then turned her head and looked towards the door. Eunuch Wei took a sharp breath: This woman is really beautiful! She is better than all the beauties in the palace.