Shopkeeper Liu heard that the two new customers wanted to round up the rest of their 'population', but they only offered 700 guan. He said flatly: "This is too little. Tell them, at least 1,200 guan! One penny less."
Not for sale!”
The clerk agreed and was about to go outside and talk to the customer. But Xiao Zhuo stopped him and asked a few words, and said to shopkeeper Liu: "Old Liu, for such a big deal, it would be better for you to talk to the customer in person. And I ask
I asked the guys about them, and they looked like military generals. Even though there are officials everywhere in the capital, we can't be too disrespectful."
"Since Mr. Liu said so, I will go over and ask." Shopkeeper Liu actually disagreed with Xiao Zhuo's words. If it was really a high-ranking official who came to buy slaves, the clerk would definitely tell him. If he didn't mention it like now, he would definitely
He is not a high-ranking official. There are as many officials as dogs in the capital, and the middle-aged man buying vegetables in the market is probably an official. What's more, they are two military generals. Their business has nothing to do with the army, so it is not worth paying attention to.
.
But since Xiao Zhuo said it, he would not go against Xiao Zhuo's wishes. Shopkeeper Liu ordered the other two clerks to prepare an upper room for these two good-looking people, and to provide them with adequate food and clothing.
Then go out to entertain customers.
Xiao Zhuo did not take Xiao Tong out with him. Although he paid more attention to these two officials than Shopkeeper Liu, in fact, it was just that, and it was not worth him to go out to entertain them in person.
He continued to inspect the hospital and looked at the houses prepared for the "population" in several shops. Just as he was about to look again, a young man ran over and whispered something in his ear. Xiao Zhuo shouted in surprise:
"There is such a big background!" Then he hurried out without having time to say anything to Xiao Tong.
Xiao Tong was very surprised: ‘Didn’t you say they were just two ordinary generals? Why was Uncle Six suddenly so excited? What are their backgrounds?’ He followed out out of curiosity.
Xiao Zhuo walked much faster than him. When he reached the store in front, Xiao Zhuo was talking humbly to the two generals, as if he were treating second- and third-grade high-ranking officials. He only heard him say: "..., it's just...
It's just a few slaves, we didn't spend much money to buy them from Nanyang, Commander Zhang asked you to give them six hundred guans, which is enough."
"Is six hundred guan too few?" The man known as Commander Zhang said hesitantly: "I heard that even for slaves from Southeast Asia, more than 30 people need more than 1,000 guan."
"That's another time. It's the first month now, and there are few people buying slaves. Don't we have to make small profits but sell more? We can sell them at a lower price? We raise these slaves, feed them, treat them, and sleep for them.
Bedding also costs money. If you sell it one day early, you can save one day's money."
Xiao Tong knew that Xiao Zhuo was completely lying. Although he didn't care about the business at home, he had also heard that the average daily cost of raising a slave was not much money. To see a doctor, he only needed to get some medicine to survive.
It can continue to be sold, but if it cannot survive, it will just be a roll of straw mat thrown into a mass grave.
He became even more curious because of this. 'Who is the person who can make Uncle Six be so careful about fawning over him?'
This person called Commander Zhang is Commander Zhang Lun of the Security Right Guard, and the other person who came with him is Commander Yu of Huailai Guard.
After the two of them followed Yun Zhi in sending troops to capture Tuo Huan and Arutai in Lanzhou, Yun Yin wanted to hold a prisoner dedication ceremony after winning the battle of Yi Wu in the capital. It happened that Bao Youwei and Huailai Wei also participated in Yi Wu.
After the battle, Yun rewarded them and asked them to lead some soldiers to Beijing to participate in the prisoner presentation ceremony.
Of course, the two of them happily agreed. For Yu, everyone in the Ming Dynasty knew about the prosperity of the capital, and he naturally knew it, but he had never been there, so of course he wanted to see it; for Zhang Lun,
, he had seen the prosperity of the capital and didn't care about it, but his favorite daughter was married to Qin Song, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, and he hadn't seen her for several years. He had long wanted to ask to come to the capital to see her, but when he heard that he was allowed to come to the capital
Naturally, I was very happy.
After that, they returned all the way with Yun's fleet. On the 17th of the twelfth lunar month, they arrived in the capital and participated in the prisoner presentation ceremony a few days later.
Yun later rewarded them according to their merits in the Battle of Yiwu and the Battle of Lanzhou. Each of them was given ten pieces of silk and satin, a jade pendant, an additional year's salary, a second-grade Wusan rank, and kept them
In the capital, some of their subordinates were also left behind, but they had not yet arranged any errands.
Yu was even more happy. Among other things, staying in the capital and being given the second-grade Wusan rank meant that they would be appointed as the second-grade military attache of the capital, most likely the second-grade governor Qianshi. This alone was enough to make him
He was overjoyed. It seemed that he had only been promoted by two levels from the third-level commander to the second-level governor general. However, more than 95% of the commanders in the country could not cross these two levels. Even if they received the second-level salary, they would not be able to do so for the rest of their lives.
He is a commander.
But Zhang Lun was not as optimistic as he was. Qin Song said to him personally: "Father-in-law, your Majesty established civilian military attachés a few years ago, and vigorously searched for skilled tailors to design new official uniforms for them. This must not end here. It must not end here."
We are going to make a big move against the military commander system. If my father-in-law leaves you and Yu in Beijing, I will probably appoint you as officials within the new system."
"Although I can't guess what His Majesty is thinking, and His Majesty has not revealed any information to his son-in-law, it must be completely different from the current system. There will definitely be many problems in the beginning when such a new system is put into operation.
At that time, people who are dissatisfied with the new system will definitely take the opportunity to impeach you, and the emperor may not protect you."
"Furthermore, as my son-in-law has been the commander of the Royal Guards all these years, there must be many people who are dissatisfied with him. His Majesty still trusts him. They don't dare to directly impeach him, so they will keep an eye on his brother.
My father-in-law, you will impeach me if you make any mistakes."
"So, it is not a good thing to become a military attache in Beijing at this time."
"Even if it is what you said, what can I do?" Zhang Lun sighed: "Can I still ask Your Majesty to resign and return home?" If he were an ordinary military commander, it would be okay even if his resignation and return home were not approved, but he
He was Qin Song's father-in-law. It was inevitable that the emperor would not think too much about him when he resigned and returned home.
"Of course this won't work." Qin Song naturally thought of it, but there was no solution. "For now, the only way is to be cautious in everything after taking office."
Zhang Lun also became a little worried because of this. But since it was basically determined that he would stay in the capital as an official, he also had to buy a house and slaves, so he and Yu came to buy slaves.