While Yunxi was having a banquet with his clan members and later playing music and dancing, all the officials, common people, and merchants across the country were celebrating the New Year. This is of course normal. You can’t just let the emperor and his family celebrate the New Year, but ordinary people won’t be allowed to celebrate the New Year. But in
There is this family in the capital of Huzhou, and like Yunxi, they are talking about the Hanzhou continent.
"After the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, you will send people to the capital and Liujiagang to keep an eye on the fleet and the court's orders. If there is a fleet heading to the Hanzhou mainland, report it immediately so that your family can prepare in advance."
The old man with white hair and beard sat on the couch and gave instructions to one of the two middle-aged men in front of him.
"Yes, uncle." The man who was ordered agreed at first, but then said: "Uncle, the fleet heading to Hanzhou Continent will definitely pass by Yokohama, and will definitely stay for a few days. Our family has arranged for the sixth brother to be in Yokohama.
There’s no need to keep an eye on it so closely.”
"You really have no business sense!" the old man scolded: "Of course the fleet will pass by Yokohama, but by then it will be too late!" Seeing that the man still didn't wake up, he could only say: "This is for us
Prepare in advance here!”
"Your sixth brother is in Yokohama, and your third brother will also go there. But how can the goods purchased from Yokohama be as valuable as the goods purchased from Ming Dynasty? I asked you to keep an eye on the imperial court's decree and the fleet's order, just because you want to be in Yokohama
After learning that the fleet is setting off again to the Hanzhou continent, immediately collect some goods here and send a ship to Yokohama. After that, your third brother will give 25% of the goods to Governor Fang, and then 25% will be given to Governor Fang when they arrive at Hanzhou.
Give it to King Xiang."
"The imperial court has made a decree to change the title of King Xiang to King Shang," the man muttered in a low voice, and then said, "Uncle, my nephew knows."
"It's good that you know." The old man said. He then gave a few more instructions and asked him to retreat.
As soon as he retreated, the old man sighed and said to another person in the room: "Your eldest brother is far inferior to you in terms of brain agility."
"Uncle, my eldest brother is actually very smart. When I was in school, I only listened to my husband read "The Analects of Confucius" once and memorized two chapters. After a few days, I memorized the entire "The Analects of Confucius". My teacher exaggerated that my brother
He has the status of a top scholar." The man said.
"Hey, if our family can still participate in the imperial examination, a person like your eldest brother who is good at reading will naturally be suitable. But now that our family cannot participate in the imperial examination and can only make a living by doing business, a person like your eldest brother will not be suitable." The old man said.
"That's all, let's not talk about him anymore. Xiu'er, what you did in Hanzhou Continent this time was right," he said again.
"Uncle, you are so complimentary." The man said humbly.
Of these three people, the one who just defended the eldest brother was Yan Xiu who had returned from the Hanzhou continent. The old man's name was Yan Zhenshang, and the person called "eldest brother" was named Yan Yi. Although Yan Zhenshang is the oldest of this generation, his son
But he is not the eldest of the younger generation, he is the second eldest. Yan Yi, the eldest of the younger generation, and Yan Xiu, who is the third eldest, are both the sons of his second brother.
Yan Xiu was a little disappointed when he first arrived on the Hanzhou continent. Because the civilization here was too backward, and although there were some crops he had never seen before, they couldn't be sold for a lot of money.
But then, news came out that there was gold and silver in the Hanzhou continent. He was very excited at the time and went with the soldiers to mine a lot of gold and silver.
But just before returning, he suddenly donated most of the gold and silver on hand to Zhu Bai and Fang Mingqian, leaving only a few dozen taels of gold. He bought many seeds from the soldiers at a very low price, and secretly bought them from the soldiers.
The two pieces of jade he hid privately were brought back by boat.
"Xiu'er, why do you have to be so modest!" Yan Zhenshang said firmly: "What you do is the best way."
"Everyone is not guilty of carrying a jade. If you come back with a few hundred taels of gold, if you don't keep it all, some soldiers will secretly kill you and take away your gold. You are not one of those big-headed soldiers, nor are you Japanese
warrior."
"But it is useless to give gold to ordinary soldiers in vain, and they will not accept your love. Give it to His Highness King Xiang and Governor Fang. If my prediction is correct, you must be the first person to do this. Your Highness King Xiang
Governor Fang must be deeply impressed by you, and he will definitely take care of you a little bit when he goes to Hanzhou Continent in the future. His Royal Highness King Xiang is the person in charge of the place, and taking a little care of you will be of great benefit."
"The seeds you brought back are also very useful. According to you, those crops have never appeared in Ming Dynasty. Plant them in the next spring. After harvesting, whether you keep them to entertain guests or use them to give gifts, it will not cost much but the effect will be great.
Good. But it would be bad if the imperial court sends someone to ask for seeds."
"Well, let's talk about it later. The best thing you did was to bring back two pieces of jade. Although the carving skills are not very good, they are jade from a foreign land. There has never been that kind of jade in the Central Plains. One of them
I have sold it to the Li family in Suzhou for two thousand guan. Our family's business capital has increased a lot. I plan to keep the other piece and give it to important officials when it is most critical."
"Uncle, the imperial court will not come to collect our seeds. When Governor Fang returned, he also brought back a lot of seeds. Many soldiers also secretly brought seeds. The imperial court is not short of seeds." Yan Xiu said.
"Although this avoids the trouble of the government, it may not be a good thing for our family. That's all, whether it is good or bad, it is already like this. It is useless to say more." Yan Zhenshang changed the subject: "Xiu'er, uncle, I have something to do.
I don’t understand.”
"Uncle, please tell me."
"This time, didn't you encourage more than a dozen families from Jiangsu and Zhejiang to go to the Hanzhou Continent to make a fortune together? You also want to buy your own boat, ask an experienced expert who has been sailing at sea for many years to take the helm, and follow the imperial fleet to the Hanzhou Continent.
Do you have this route in your hands?”
"Yes, uncle."
"I understand that you gave gifts to His Royal Highness King Xiang and Governor Fang: Can you please take care of them? They are the ones in charge after all. But why do you still want to cooperate with the Japanese?"
"The Japanese and we are not fellow villagers. If we are weak, there is no guarantee that they will not turn their backs and deny us. In my uncle's opinion, there is no need to cooperate with the Japanese. Our fellow villagers are enough." Yan Zhenshang said.
.
Yan Xiu hesitated for a moment and said to him: "My nephew originally planned to wait until after the Chinese New Year to tell the uncle about this matter, but since the uncle asked about it, the nephew will tell the uncle now."
"The reason why my nephew plans to cooperate with the Japanese is because of a proposal from the Japanese. They want to occupy a place on the Hanzhou continent as an overseas feudal state for their Japanese country."
"The Japanese are also eyeing the Hanzhou mainland?" Yan Zhenshang said doubtfully, but he immediately understood: "The Japanese's three islands are so small, there are mountains everywhere, and there are so many people, they really should think
Occupy a place on Hanzhou continent."
"But what does this have to do with you?"
"Uncle, the Japanese want to join forces with us merchant families and each occupy a piece of land." Yan Xiu then told Miura Tomozhen and Fujiwara Keikou's plan.
"Xiu'er, you can't do such a thing." Yan Zhenshang said immediately: "In terms of business, our family has no great friendship with the Japanese, so why bother to wade into this muddy water! And how can the power of the Japanese compare to the Ming Dynasty?
With His Highness King Xiang in the Hanzhou Continent, they will definitely not be able to do it! If the matter is exposed and you are exposed, our family will not be able to live without food."
"Hurry up and deny this matter. If you fail, even if you deny it, His Highness Prince Xiang may reveal you when he interrogates them. When you arrive in Yokohama, make an appointment with the Japanese who told you about this matter and kill him.
Die to avoid future troubles."
"Uncle." Yan Xiulue said to Yan Zhenshang, somewhat dumbfounded: "Uncle, this matter is not that dangerous."
"How can it not be dangerous? To occupy land without His Majesty's permission is analogous to rebellion. Since ancient times, the king would rather believe in rebellion than trust in it?"
"Uncle, this is not the case. Things in the Hanzhou Continent are not the same as things in the Central Plains." Yan Xiu said seriously.
"What exactly does this mean?" Yan Zhenshang was confused by what he said. The same thing was different in the Central Plains and Hanzhou Continent?
Unexpectedly, Yan Xiu suddenly said: "Uncle, today is the Chinese New Year, so we should go back to the banquet to celebrate the New Year first, and wait until the second or third day of the Lunar New Year to tell my nephew about it."
"Well, in a few days, I would like to hear you explain this matter in detail." Yan Zhenshang said.
…
…
Suzhou, Li Family Courtyard.
"Xiao Xing, after the New Year, you go to the capital and sell the jade pendant you bought from Huzhou." Li Yuan, the head of the Li family, said to his eldest son.
"Dad, why don't you sell it in Suzhou?" Li Xiaoxing asked puzzledly.
"The carving of this jade pendant is not very good, but it's just that it came from overseas. It is said to have come from some Hanzhou continent. This kind of jade has never been seen before and is very novel, so it is valuable. But this is
Only those who are very knowledgeable can tell the difference. Although Suzhou is also rich, it is still inferior to the capital. Such jade can only be sold at a high price in the capital. Our family spent two thousand guan to collect it. If it cannot be sold for five
It’s more than a thousand dollars, but I didn’t make much money from this one.”
"Besides," Li Yuan suddenly thought of something and said with a smile, "If you can, it's worth giving it away."
Li Xiaoxing didn't understand this sentence and was about to ask when Li Yuan suddenly said to him seriously: "Remember to take your third sister to the capital with you. Doesn't she always want to see how prosperous the capital is? Just let her go and have a look.
.”
"That's all. After all, you are young and inexperienced. To be on the safe side, let your second uncle take you to the capital." He finally ordered.
"Yes, dad." Although Li Xiaoxing was full of confusion, he still agreed. But then he secretly looked at his third sister Li Yonglin: 'Why should you bring her with you?'
