What Zheng Zhilong never expected was that he felt that he was already well-informed. However, the prosperity of the capital still surprised him.
This train station is just outside the city. The huge crowds and the various sounds of hawking and soliciting customers can deafen people.
"Tea eggs are available. Tea eggs are for sale. Freshly baked tea eggs. If they are not delicious, there is no charge!"
"Steamy steamed buns, Sir, would you like to try one?"
“I’ve stayed at the hotel, I’ve stayed at the hotel, the price is affordable, and the store has everything. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied!”
"..."
This is a day when the cold wind is howling. These northerners are not afraid of the cold and go to the streets early in the morning?
To be honest, Zheng Zhilong was a little puzzled. But he didn't think too much, tightened his mink coat tightly, got into a luxury carriage that Zheng Hongkui had casually summoned, and headed to the inn inside the capital to stay, waiting for the emperor's summons.
.
Outside the carriage, the coachman started chatting with Zheng Zhilong's bodyguard. Listening inside, he realized that the area around the train station was one of the most prosperous and lively areas in the capital.
"But these days, there is another place that is more lively than the train station!" The coachman's voice was loud and enthusiastic as he introduced these foreign enemies, "Sir, would you like to go and have a look? By the way,
Just turn it over, and I’ll only charge you an extra five cents, which is very cheap!”
"No need!" The guard did not dare to agree. It was only right to go to the inn.
As for Zheng Zhilong sitting in the carriage, he would not cause any trouble.
However, Zheng Sen was curious after hearing this, so he asked across the carriage: "What place can be more lively than here?"
As soon as the coachman heard this, he knew there was a door, and quickly introduced: "On the square not far ahead, His Majesty has issued a reward. Whoever can separate the two hemispheres will be rewarded fifty taels of silver!"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Sen became even more curious.
Although his family is indeed rich, he can also understand that fifty taels is a lot of money!
So, he asked even more enthusiastically: "Is it difficult to pull the two hemispheres? How many people have pulled them apart?"
The capital is so big, with so many people, and there must be many strong men. No matter what hemisphere, they can definitely pull it apart, right?
"No one has pulled the coach so far." The coachman replied quickly. "The palace issued a new decree the day before yesterday. Two people can pull the coach for ten cents. If there is one more person, the fee will be 10 cents.
Times. But this time the reward has also been changed, to one hundred taels!"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Sen was immediately surprised, went over to lift the curtain, looked at the coachman and asked, "Is this true?"
When the coachman heard the conversation, he turned around and saw that it was indeed a young man. He immediately replied: "How dare you lie to me, this kind of thing? Anyone who asks you will know this. I heard that many people are forming gangs today."
Let’s go and try it! That’s one hundred taels!”
"Then there is still no one to pull away?" Zheng Sen is not stupid. After thinking about it for a while, he came to a conclusion and confirmed it immediately.
If someone pulls away, there won’t be much excitement to see! And the coachman said it’s more lively over there, so obviously no one has pulled away yet.
After hearing this, the coachman nodded immediately and said: "Of course, sir, would you like to go and have a look?"
"How about we go take a look?" Zheng Sen was obviously interested, but at least he knew that his father was here, so he had to ask his father first.
Zheng Hongkui on the side saw that Zheng Zhilong had been closing his eyes to rest, so he answered on his behalf: "What's so good about this kind of excitement? Serious things are more important!"
Zheng Sen was a little disappointed when he heard this, but before he said anything, Zheng Zhilong closed his eyes and suddenly asked: "Is there anything special about those two hemispheres? Why can't most people pull them apart?"
After hearing this, the coachman quickly replied: "It's strange to say that it's just two hemispheres made of iron. They are filled with water first, and then the water is drained out and the air holes are plugged. It's that simple. But, there is no
People pull away!”
"How many people have gone to pull it out at most?" Zheng Zhilong immediately asked again after hearing this.
Zheng Hongkui next to him felt a little strange when he heard this.
In his opinion, when his brother came to the capital, he had important things to do. At least he had to deal with the emperor's summons. He shouldn't care about such ordinary people's fun!
Zheng Sen didn't think so, and wanted to know the answer, so he quickly followed his father and asked, "Yes, how many people have pulled it together?"
"I don't know. It is said that the largest number of people yesterday seemed to be nine people." The coachman did not dare to say it, "If we had not pulled away, there would be even more people today!"
"Nine people?" Zheng Zhilong asked immediately after hearing this, "Did you pay one, two, eight, and eight cents of silver?"
"This gentleman is really awesome!" After hearing this, the coachman nodded and said, "That's the money!"
Hearing this, Zheng Zhilong opened his eyes and said, "I'm afraid it will take sixteen people to pull this thing open!"
"Why?" Zheng Sen asked curiously upon hearing this.
Zheng Zhilong didn't answer him, but just ordered the carriage driver: "Then go and take a turn!"
"Okay!" The coachman worked really hard to earn more five cents. He was very happy when he finally got what he wanted. He immediately agreed and quickly concentrated on driving.
Zheng Sen got back into the carriage, looked at Zheng Zhilong and asked, "Dad, how do you know it takes sixteen people to pull apart?"
At the same time, Zheng Hongkui also looked at Zheng Zhilong and said: "Brother, business is important!"
Obviously, although he was curious, he could distinguish the seriousness of things. This time, he did not understand why his elder brother went to see it. Logically speaking, he shouldn't!
After hearing this, Zheng Zhilong first replied in a low voice to Zheng Hongkui: "This is the emperor's decree and the emperor's intention. If you go and have a look, you can learn more about him!"
Having said this, he suddenly sighed in a low voice and said: "Now it seems that this person is really good at calculating, and he is not easy to deal with!"
"Ah?" Zheng Hongkui asked a little surprised when he heard this, "How do you say this?"
We haven’t even gone there yet, so how could we come to such a conclusion?
Zheng Sen doesn't care about this. Anyway, in his opinion, today's emperor is a wise king, so there is nothing to worry about!
What he was concerned about was his father's conclusion. When his father didn't answer, he asked again: "Dad, you haven't said anything yet. Why are you so sure that it takes sixteen people to pull it apart?"
When Zheng Zhilong heard what he said, he turned to look at him, hating that iron was not as good as steel. This son had not learned even half of what he was capable of.
But luckily for me, because of my own reasons, I have now become the commander of the Imperial Guard!
In the officialdom, when I see my son, I have to call him "Sir".
Zheng Zhilong put these distracting thoughts to the back of his mind and said to his son: "There is a reward of one hundred taels of silver in the palace. According to this payment, if sixteen people go to pull it, they should pay ninety-nine taels and four cents. Therefore,
I just guessed that it would take sixteen people to pull it, so that we won't lose money."
At this point, he suddenly sighed and said: "I guess no one can pull these two hemispheres apart!"
Zheng Sen was thinking about his father's previous words when he suddenly heard the next words again. He couldn't help but wonder, and subconsciously asked: "Why?"
Zheng Zhilong looked at him, but he was patient, and answered him: "If seventeen people go to pull it, they will have to pay one hundred and ninety-nine taels and eight cents, which is far more than the reward. Who would go to pull it at a loss?"
After finishing speaking, he sighed: "This person in the palace must have made a lot of money, he is so smart..."
As he spoke, Zheng Zhilong looked at Zheng Hongkui and said, "...Do you think it's easy to deal with?"
Zheng Hongkui was speechless after hearing this, but Zheng Sen next to him disagreed and immediately retorted: "How much money can you make with this? Your Majesty is rich all over the world, will you care about this little money? I think..."
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly realized that Zheng Zhilong's vision was not good, and he immediately stopped talking.
The car was quiet for a while.
In the end, Zheng Zhilong finally taught his son: "Human nature is greedy. If two people can pull him apart, there will never be three people. Especially when there is one more person and the cost doubles, it will be even more difficult."
People think that since I am strong, I can pull it apart with less people. If I try to go up little by little, the money will definitely not be a small amount!"
After hearing this, Zheng Sen curled up his lips, obviously disapproving of it. No matter how much the money was, he was the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, would he care about this money?
However, he immediately discovered that his action made his father's face darken again, and he immediately regained his attentive expression.
But Zheng Hongkui, who was standing next to him, understood what Zheng Zhilong meant, so he explained to his nephew: "What eldest brother means is the palace's grasp of human nature, not how much money you make!"
"Oh!" Zheng Sen listened and replied respectfully, "I understand!"
Zheng Zhilong's eyes were poisonous. It was his own son. How could he not see that his son didn't mean what he said?
However, this understanding of human nature is ultimately lacking for those who have not experienced it.
His son has everything going smoothly. If he can really understand this, he would be a genius!
But obviously, this son is not!
Thinking of this, Zheng Zhilong sighed in his heart, and without forcing himself, he closed his eyes and rested himself.
Not long after, after arriving at the scene, it turned out that the place was packed with people. There were soldiers from the Five Cities Military and Horse Division here to maintain order. Groups of people formed gangs and called friends, all lining up here to try their skills.
Of course, there are also some young masters from the capital who bring their slaves with them and want to give it a try.
Watching all this, Zheng Zhilong was here to teach his son, pointing to those people and saying: "These people should be here for the silver reward; those people are probably to be angry with their friends; and those people are probably here to get their own money."
The fame spreads to the palace!"
Zheng Sen half understood what he was saying. Anyway, all he had to do was nod when his father spoke.