On today's trip, Xia Shang was not a bookboy, but a distant cousin of Li Youlan. Therefore, his clothes were more luxurious and solemn than those of the bookboys in the past. Among the many princes and grandsons in this flower boat, they were not out of the ordinary. His handsome appearance had a certain
Without the support of clothes, everyone looks more free and easy.
When Mrs. Sai saw him, she did not expect that the Xia Chamber of Commerce would be dressed up like this today, but after looking at it carefully, she was sure that this was the old friend named Xia.
The cabin was very lively, but the place where Mrs. Sai was was a little deserted. Xia Shang sat opposite Mrs. Sai, and Jiang Nan poured tea and water for the two of them.
"Mrs. Sai was also invited to meet the Western caravan today?"
"It's normal, it's just a time when something new is new, so I naturally want to go and see it if I have the chance."
"Oh, that's how it is."
Although the two were old friends, they rarely communicated with each other. After Xia Shang talked about it, he could not find anything to talk about.
The scene was a bit awkward. Mrs. Sai thought for a while and asked: "Jiang Nan often mentions you, sir, in my ears on weekdays. Now that Mr. Xia has become Miss Li's bookboy, his life should be comfortable and leisurely."
"Not really. In fact, things are not going well in Suzhou and Yangzhou. In order to survive, we have to change our appearance. Mrs. Sai must not tell anyone."
"It's natural. When I heard that Mr. Xia turned into a Li family scholar for the first time, I already guessed a little bit. I just don't understand where Mr. Xia's danger comes from? The Xia Family Shopping Mall in Yangzhou, Suzhou is not going smoothly, and I have never heard of offending anyone.
.”
Xia Shang smiled: "Hey, it's a long story."
Mrs. Sai lowered her head: "I'm sorry, I said the wrong thing."
"It doesn't matter. Why don't you tell me about you, madam? How did you come to the capital? How did you become the honored guest of Prince Li Xin?"
"This matter..." Mrs. Sai's face turned gloomy, "This matter is also a long story and difficult to describe."
"Sir, mother, you two finally sat down to talk, why don't you say something happy?"
"That's true..." Xia Shang smiled coquettishly, "Let's talk about something else. Why don't we talk about today's Western merchants. This is the first time I've heard of it, and I don't know why His Highness the Crown Prince has launched such a big battle."
"People in power are always face-saving people. When meeting foreign guests this time, they want to show their national prestige. It is said that those Western merchants are quite arrogant, but they underestimate us Dahua. In order to save Dahua's face, His Highness the Crown Prince entertained these Western merchants this time.
The scale is naturally not small, and some of the talks with Western merchants are indispensable. Therefore, celebrities from the capital were summoned to participate, hoping that they would not lose face in the exchanges with Western merchants. As for why we need to take a boat out of the city today, it is because of those Western merchants.
He boasted to Haikou that he was willing to teach our craftsmen how to build ships, so that they could improve and build giant warships several times larger than the current Dahua warships. Today is the day when the warship is completed. In order to test the results, we have to go to the current of the Yellow River.
That’s all.”
"Is there such a story among them?" Xia Shang was also quite surprised, "So, this Western merchant has stayed in Dahua for a long time?"
"This is natural, but not all merchants can receive the highest treatment from Dahua. This group of Western merchants can attract the attention of the prince, which is indeed unique. This time, in order to prove their strength, they have recommended themselves to build a giant ship, which has been going on for three years.
Time, I don’t know what the result will be. But there are rumors that it is a miracle through the ages.”
"Three years? So long?"
"At first, the emperor came into contact with it, and later it was taken over by the prince. Secrecy has always been a top priority."
"That's not a good thing."
"A good thing? Mr. Xia thinks this is a good thing?" There was a lot of doubt in Mrs. Sai's voice.
Xia Shang asked back: "Isn't it?"
Mrs. Sai smiled: "I'm afraid Mr. Xia is the only one here who thinks this is a good thing."
"Why?"
Xia Shang was puzzled and was asking questions.
Suddenly I heard a voice next to me: "What kind of knowledge can those small people from foreign countries have? Our country is so big, it embraces hundreds of rivers, and it is full of talents. In terms of the richness of products, the prosperity of culture and military, and the exquisiteness of ingenuity, who can know it?"
Is it comparable to these small foreign people? What happened today is really puzzling. Why do we, as a great country, have such a great pomp and show that we are inferior to foreign missions?"
The person who spoke in the room was a handsome young man. Xia Shang still recognized him. He turned out to be the young scholar Lu Pin who competed with him in Linshan Garden last time.
"Why is he here too?" Xia Shang asked in confusion.
While Sai Jiangnan was pouring tea for Xia Shang, he replied: "My mother has already said before that in order to meet Western merchants this time, the prince invited many famous people in the capital. That person's name is Lu Pin, who is quite famous in the capital."
Xia Shang nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
I saw that Lu Pin spoke in the crowd, and then attracted people to agree: "What Mr. Lu said is true. With the talents and learning of all of you, are you afraid of foreigners? It is really a joke in the world. Your Highness, the Crown Prince, is too cautious.
some."
"Exactly! Those foreign people are just some exaggerated people who talk about war on paper. They say that they can build ships several times larger than our Dahua warships. It is simply a fool's dream. The strength of our Dahua country is well known to the world.
How can a few small foreigners do something that cannot be cast? I am afraid it will be a joke for me to wait for everyone to go there today."
Most of these arrogant and flattering people are celebrities invited by princes and princes. In order to show themselves in front of these princes, they are extremely arrogant.
The other young ladies also agreed upon hearing this. Only Li Zijin frowned when he heard this: "Don't underestimate the foreign envoys. I heard that they are well-informed and have brought many treasures from the west."
Even His Highness the Crown Prince has many things that he has never seen before."
"Please rest assured, little prince, when it comes to being as knowledgeable as I am, Cai Cheng. I, Cai Cheng, have been visiting famous mountains and rivers for several years, no matter the poetry and paintings in the south of the Yangtze River, the waves in Haikou, or the majestic mountains in Spain.
, or maybe I have seen the ice and snow in the far north, and I have hidden the folk customs, rare treasures, household items and other trivial things in my heart. No matter what weird things those foreign people come up with, they can't escape from me.
Dharma Eye."
Cai Cheng, a famous scholar in Dahua, traveled abroad all year round and drew many detailed local maps of Dahua. For this, he was appreciated by the current emperor and became famous.
When it comes to knowledge, Cai Cheng is naturally the best among everyone. No one doubts his words, and some people agree: "Master Cai is a famous person in the world. He is well-informed and well-known. With Master Cai here, I guarantee that
There is nothing unknown.”
Xia Shang looked at all this and shook his head: "It seems that no one really hopes that Western merchants can make achievements in Dahua."
"Xia Hui, you are here." Suddenly Li Zijin's voice appeared next to Xia Shang.
At this moment, Jiang Nan was respectfully pouring tea to Xia Shang, and this scene happened to be seen by Li Zijin. (To be continued)