The small weaving and dyeing workshop that brothers Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu bought together is located in Beicheng, where the land price is the cheapest in the inner city of Beijing. It is only two alleys away from the Imperial College. As for why they bought this shop, firstly, it is close to the Imperial College and is convenient.
Take care of them at any time. As for the second one... it's simple, because it's cheap. Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu haven't separated yet. They are both poor, so Zhang Shou paid for them.
With such a small amount of money, Zhang Shou could be said to have spent all his money on it. He poured out all the little money that his brothers had given him when they were studying in Cuiyunjian. If it was not enough, he thought to himself that he would ask Wu
Asking for money is called embarrassment. This is also thanks to the blacksmith shop that Lu Sanlang paid for, otherwise, he would have to be even poorer at this moment.
At this moment, the door of the house was ajar, and only the sounds of spinning machines and looms could be heard from the weaving and dyeing workshop. However, there were more than one pair of eyes staring at it. Even though most people were paying attention to the eldest prince and
Regarding the second prince's selection of a concubine, someone who had been harmed by Zhang Shou was trying his best to use this as a breakthrough.
"Are you sure that Ah Liu is at Xiao's house?"
"Yes, boss, don't worry! After all, that boy is the sworn brother of Zhao Guogong's eldest son Zhu Tingfang. He is more important than the property purchased by Zhang Shou's two students in name, so suddenly someone threw stones from outside.
For archery, that Ah Liu rushed over immediately! Besides, Zhang Shou, Zhang Wu, and Zhang Lu are all still taking classes in the Imperial College at the moment!"
"Very good, let me tell you all, be smart and make this vote. The bounty given by the second prince will be enough for everyone to have no worries for a lifetime!" After saying this, the leader of the strong and strong man immediately beamed with joy when he saw the short man behind him, and then
He moved forward to convey this to the others, and he couldn't help but smile proudly. When everything was ready, he puffed up his lips and whistled.
Following this crisp voice, more than a dozen people rushed towards the small courtyard with quick movements. However, they all tacitly let go of the closed door, and instead formed a group of two, one holding a hand, and the other
After climbing up, several people climbed over the wall and jumped into the courtyard in a short while. The big man at the head was among them.
However, just when the few people who were waiting outside to take a lookout heard that there was no unusual movement inside and just breathed a sigh of relief, a startled and angry voice suddenly came from inside: "How is it possible... Hurry, retreat quickly
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Almost as soon as the word "withdraw" came into being, several people on the outer wall who heard the voice of the leader ran away without thinking, not paying attention to the leader and other companions who had not had time to leave in the yard. But they also
Only after running out a few steps, Kankan found that his way was blocked by someone, and the leader was none other than Zhu Hong, who was smiling but not smiling.
"What a big group of thieves!" Zhu Hong gestured to the guards of Duke Zhao's Mansion behind him, and then said with a smile, "Take all these thieves and send them to Shuntian Mansion!"
Zhang Shou, please, Mrs. Tai personally ordered him to break up his people and wait here for so many days. Unexpectedly, he actually waited for a group of stupid thieves who thought they were unprepared. As for the thieves, they were caught and sent to the Shuntian Mansion Office.
, it is naturally very simple. Except for the strong and strong-willed Yin Wangjie of Shuntian Prefecture, a small official like Daxing County Magistrate Wanping County Magistrate will never be able to withstand this lawsuit.
When the second prince learned that the people he sent to investigate Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu's weaving and dyeing workshop were actually picked off by the guards of Zhao Guogong's mansion, and then sent to Shuntian Mansion, it was already an hour later. Faced with this bad guy
When the news couldn't be worse, he was so angry that he smashed something, but in the end, even though he was breathing heavily, he still had to face the reality.
He may be able to handle other minor officials, but a guy like Yin Wangjie of Shuntian Prefecture who is inexperienced...he can't deal with him!
The Queen was previously banned from the Kunning Palace because of the Queen Mother's words. He and the eldest prince were also banned from the east corridor of the Kunning Palace again. After many days, they were just able to leave the palace and move into their own apartment outside the palace.
A separate courtyard. As he has not yet opened a mansion, his residence can only be called a separate courtyard, and cannot be called a prince's palace or a prince's palace. And even this annexed courtyard was given to him by the queen.
At this time, the second prince was wandering around in the study like a trapped animal. He realized that he was likely to be unlucky again. Although he hated Zhang Shou and the Zhu family more, and Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu had been cursed by him countless times, but he knew
He couldn't sit still and wait for death. After thinking about it, he knew that it was useless to ask anyone, and his mother could not help him. There was only the last straw.
That is to drag his annoying eldest brother, the eldest prince, into the water! It is better for two people to bear it than for one person to bear it. As for whether the eldest prince is willing to take the blame... what does it have to do with him? It's just like the eldest prince deliberately tricked him back then.
He went to find Liu Qing, the daughter of Liu Shilang, to cause trouble. Now as long as the eldest prince makes some moves behind his back, he can make things big again!
Anyway, his good eldest brother was already accused by his father of stirring up trouble last time, so don’t try to get rid of this impression in the future!
When the second prince made up his mind to rely on his elder brother, the eldest prince also got the news that the second prince sent people to raid the weaving and dyeing workshop, but everyone was killed in one sweep, and then sent to the Shuntian Mansion Office. Although he was gloating about the misfortune, but
Thinking that Zhang Shou had made Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu the royal sons-in-law on one hand, and on the other hand controlled the people of Zhao Guogong's palace, he was naturally not in a good mood.
Faced with such news, he also left the palace and stayed in his own courtyard, pacing back and forth in the courtyard, thinking hard about what to do next. When the announcement came from outside the courtyard gate, he couldn't help but feel very
He asked impatiently: "Who is it?"
"Eldest Prince, the Queen has sent rose water to you."
Hearing that it was someone sent by his mother, the eldest prince couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat, but it was impossible to avoid him, so he could only order someone to be brought in. Sure enough, it was Ning Xi, the steward of Kunning Palace, who came with a nice smile.
After bowing and presenting the things, he lowered his voice and said, "The Queen already knows about the incident caused by the Second Prince..."
As soon as he said these words, the eldest prince interrupted impatiently: "Second brother, he is causing trouble. Does your mother want me to clean up his mess? This matter has already been brought to Wang Datou, and I can't do anything about it."
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"Of course the Queen will not involve you just because of the Second Prince's mischief." Ning Xi explained with an apologetic smile. She took a step forward and lowered her voice and said, "The Second Prince probably thinks that brothers Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu
The two of them must be working together with Zhang Shou to create something, but it would be too stupid to force their way in to find out the clues."
Seeing that the eldest prince's face was really bright, he knew that his statement was right for the eldest prince's taste, so he struck while the iron was hot and said: "To destroy their plan, you can only use outsmarts, not attack hard. The queen said, you are definitely better than the second prince."
There is a way."
After hearing these words, the eldest prince finally felt better. After all, he was sure that he was the mother's real support, and her mother was willing to rely on him. This was a better situation than the previous situation where he and the second prince were always in trouble.
Much more. At that moment, he nodded slightly and said, "After you go back and report to your mother, I will find out what the purpose of that little weaving and dyeing workshop is."
"Yes, I will definitely report this to the Queen." After the task was accomplished, Ning Xi resigned with a smile on her face. Of course, the Queen would be very satisfied with the eldest prince's reaction, and the second prince...since he had done such a favor
, lobbying between the queen and the eldest prince, he is worthy of the generous gift given to him by the second prince!
The eldest prince always acted responsibly, and he had an idea when he found out that there were six spinners left in the weaving and dyeing shop bought by Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu, and these people had not returned home for five or six days. He had no idea about the second prince.
Brain's approach was quite disdainful, and he directly paid a lot of money to bribe several spinners' relatives, and asked them to go to the weaving and dyeing workshop to ask for a visit.
Sure enough, although this request was initially rejected, several families made such a fuss one after another, and it was impossible for Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu to stay inside all the time. The spinners finally met their families. And as expected, these family members also got a piece of news.
.When the eldest prince learned the inside story, he simply felt that he had heard wrongly.
"Those spinners actually told their relatives that the spinning machines they use now are several times faster than the ones they used before? This is simply ridiculous, how is it possible!"
The guard who did this in person also thought it was unbelievable, but several people answered in unison. He who didn't believe it at first had to believe it now, and he immediately said with confidence: "Your Highness, I can guarantee that those guys will never dare to deceive.
I'm wondering, is it because of these new textile machines that Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu just rounded up people and kept it a secret?"
"You are right, it is indeed very possible!" The more the eldest prince thought about it, the more he felt that it was indeed the case. He took a breath and said, "Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu were originally just concubines of the Hou family with low status.
In the future, Marquis Nanyang and Marquis Huaiqing may not be able to share much of their family property with them, so it is reasonable for the two brothers to consider making money through this."
The guard nodded quickly and said: "Your Highness is wise, you must be so!"
"But where did they get the new textile machinery?" The eldest prince was so annoyed that he fisted his hands and started walking in circles in the study again. He said he was a prince, but in fact he had no property like them. Every year, the palace treasury allocates money to
With all the money, he can't even support himself, let alone support any talents. He doesn't even have enough money to make friends with talents!
After so many years of saving, plus various subsidies from his mother, he has only accumulated a fortune of five to six thousand guan, most of which is from his mother's family's support for his grandson who is likely to be a prince in the future... However,
His mother-in-law's family fell into decline too quickly. She only had a small amount of money and no talents! Why didn't he get that new spinning machine?
Self-pity has never been the principle of the eldest prince, so he took a deep breath and said word by word: "Go and check, I don't believe that such a spinning machine can appear out of thin air! Someone must have given Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu
Supplying textile machinery, no matter whether they use money to buy it or use any coercion, in short, I want to get a finished product! As long as I can get it, I will not hesitate to reward you generously!"
I heard that Jiangnan now has a whole industry from cotton fields, spinning, weaving, and ready-made clothes. If he masters such a spinning machine, he will undoubtedly be able to get involved with those wealthy merchants in Jiangnan, and maybe he can let them
That financial resources became his backing!
Under a heavy reward, there must be brave men, not to mention where the identity of the eldest prince lies, there are many people who are willing to work for him. After pervasive inquiries, he soon got a piece of good news.
"Those spinners said that the spinning machine was delivered by Fatty Lu himself? Did anyone else hear that Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu promised to give that damn fat man 20% of all profits in the future?" Although the eldest prince found this answer a bit unbelievable, but thought of it
The little fat man who was a prodigal son but could never be replaced with gold was a person both Ge Yong and his father had praised. He finally decided to believe the news.
If it were the second prince, he might have planned to kidnap Lu Sanlang at this moment and threaten him, but the eldest prince prided himself on being dignified and graceful. In addition, he had never had any conflicts with Lu Sanlang, nor had he ever had any trouble with Zhang Shou.
When there was a substantial conflict, he chose one evening when the Imperial Academy was over and waited directly on Lu Sanlang's only way home.
Then... he waited for a full hour, but he didn't see the dazzling fat man coming out of the Imperial College at all!
The eldest prince simply thought that Lu Sanlang had studied hard and had not left Jiuzhangtang at this time. However, when he sent someone to inquire in annoyance, he learned that Lu Sanlang only went home every holiday, that is, every other day.
He only returned to the Lu family in about three days, and most of the other time, he stayed in the narrow dormitories provided by the Imperial College for the students.
Only then did the eldest prince remember that he had indeed heard about this matter before, but at that time he only thought it was Lu Sanlang spreading rumors about diligence, but he didn't expect it to be true! But because of this, although he felt unhappy, he could
But he gradually felt that the possibility that the new spinning machine was invented by Lu Sanlang was gradually increasing. After all, how can one become talented without hard work?
Now that he knew where he was wrong, the eldest prince did not hesitate and sent someone to report to Lu Sanlang in the name of the Lu family. He just said that Lu Wan had to call his son back for urgent matters - of course, in the name of Lu Wan or Mrs. Lu.
News of a sudden serious illness might be able to trick Lu Sanlang out more quickly, but the eldest prince knew that cursing his parents in this way would definitely make Lu Sanlang disgusted.
Just as he expected, after the news was sent to the Imperial College, it was a little slow, but in the end, Lu Sanlang came out. He looked left and right, and finally got into the carriage driven by the driver of the Lu family. Not long after, the carriage was there.
His carriage stopped in front of the carriage that had been parked in the alley for a long time. Then, he watched with a smile as the Lu Mansion coachman opened the front curtain.
"Why did it stop all of a sudden? Didn't you say that Dad was looking for me urgently?"
Lu Sanlang asked impatiently, but when he saw the eldest prince sitting in the carriage opposite, his face immediately turned dark. He glared angrily at the driver standing beside the carriage and cursed: "You are such a naughty slave, how dare you betray your master?"
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"I just asked him to do a small favor, Lu Sanlang, don't be angry."
The eldest prince nodded to Lu Sanlang with a smile, and then said sincerely: "Recently, everyone in the capital has said that Lu Lang is a great talent. I didn't believe it at first, but after quietly investigating, I found that the rumors were not only true, but they were not even close to your true talent.
One ten thousandth of the number, so I just asked your servants to meet with you in private."
If someone had praised him so much in the past, Lu Sanlang would at least be beaming with joy even if he couldn't jump three feet high. But now he has been numbed by people's praise. He sneered in his heart, but said proudly on his face: "First Prince
You are very discerning. May I ask what you want from me?"
The eldest prince took a deep breath and said word by word: "I would like to ask you to join hands with me to seek great wealth!"