“… When did the fourth master arrive? Brother Fang and I first took the sea route from Dengzhou, and then transferred from Xinyang Port to the inland river, and it only took ten days to arrive in Yangzhou, but I didn't expect it to be one step too late. Yan Rui said curiously.

"I left Shandong and went to Jinling, and I took the land to Yangzhou in advance, but it took two days, so I naturally had to go faster." Jiang Qingliu continued: "The Cao Gang already knows the news that I came here, and has sent someone to investigate secretly. The two guards must be taken with them on weekdays, in case they jump off the wall in a hurry and use some indiscriminate tricks. After today, we will communicate by message, and private meetings can be avoided, and the two of us can just act like ordinary merchants in Yangzhou City these days. ”

"Don't worry about this fourth master, Brother Yan and I are also prepared this time. Hmph, although the Cao Gang is powerful, we are not soft persimmons! Fang Weiyuan snorted.

"That's true, our fourth master doesn't have to worry about safety. It's just that I don't know what the fourth master is going to do next, although the Cao Gang started recklessly, but after all, it has cooperated with the imperial court for many years, and the relationship with the local government is also quite complicated, and it is not so easy to shake. Yan Rui's tone was slightly worried.

"It's really hard to bring down the Cao Gang completely, and that's not my goal. We just need to stumble on him, make him make a mistake, and leave us a chance to make a difference. Jiang Qingliu turned the teacup lightly and looked at Yan Fang and the others: "I don't know if the two of you know that the imperial court is going to transfer a large amount of grain from Jiangsu and Zhejiang to Gansu and Sichuan recently?" ”

"Yes. Last year, both of these places were hit by a severe drought, and the people had no harvest and could not survive. The imperial court had already transferred tens of thousands of catties of grain from Huguang and Guangxi to provide relief to the victims, but it was difficult to maintain it until February this year. In order to prevent hunger and riots, the imperial court recently issued a decree to allocate another batch of grain from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Speaking of which, this matter is still handed over to Cao's assistant, and Li Tai, the helmsman of Yangzhou, is probably busy with this matter recently. Yan Rui said, his thoughts turned around, and he said, "Fourth Master, don't you want to start with this matter?" ”

Jiang Qingliu shook his head lightly: "This is indeed a good opportunity, if the Cao Gang makes a mistake in the matter of transporting disaster grain, we can take the opportunity to enter and make some achievements." However, if it is at the cost of the lives of tens of thousands of victims, although Jiang is just a businessman, he cannot do such a thing of disregard for human life and selfishness. ”

"Well said! If you really want to do this, the first one of our family will not agree, what is the difference between this and the bastard who makes a fortune? A manly man, he must act against the heavens and the earth, worthy of his conscience! Fang Weiyuan slapped the table and said.

Yan Rui nodded and said, "What Brother Fang said is extremely true, although we are profit-seeking businessmen, we don't do things that damage yin morality. Presumably the fourth master has other plans for this? ”

Jiang Qingliu bowed slightly, and said: "Every year, the Cao Gang will transport a batch of tributes from Guangzhou for the imperial court, and pay tribute to the inner court harem, mostly jewelry, clocks and other imported goods. According to the practice of previous years, this batch of tribute should be transported to the capital at the end of the year, but last year, affected by the disaster, the emperor decreed that the palace consumption was reduced, so this batch of tribute was exempted. At the beginning of April this year, General You Da, who was stationed on the northwest border, returned to Beijing with a cadre of generals to report on his work, and the imperial court intended to reward and reward him. I guess it's only been a few days, and that's where I'm ready to start. ”

"Wonderful, this gang has to be busy with disaster relief food, and they have to prepare these tributes, there are probably omissions. If we can send this batch of tributes to Beijing for the Cao Gang, and show our faces directly in front of the minister and the emperor, are we still worried that we can't open this dart? Fang Weiyuan slapped his thigh and said excitedly.

Jiang Qingliu poured him and Yan Rui another cup of tea, and said, "It's not enough to just show your face. As long as this tribute arrives in the capital smoothly, the credit is still the Cao Gang, and we are just helping to run errands. We have to let the court know that the Cao Gang also has times when things are unfavorable, and in addition to the Cao Gang, there are other darts that have the ability to share the worries of the court. That's when we're done. ”

Fang Weiyuan listened thoughtfully, but Yan Rui's mind changed sharply and said, "Didn't the fourth master want our dart number to connect with the imperial court?" ”

Seeing Jiang Qingliu nodding in affirmation, he couldn't help but wonder: "If you can do errands for the imperial court, it is indeed no less than a golden job." But we are just ordinary merchants, although the business is bigger and a little famous, but the foundation in officialdom is very shallow, how can we get a piece of this pie? ”

"Brother Yan doesn't have to worry, you and Brother Fang just need to contribute, and leave the twists and turns of these officialdom to you. Now that the tribute in Guangzhou has been prepared, we must act immediately. "Jiang Qingliu Road.

Yan Rui and Fang Wei saw that although his expression was still indifferent when he said this, the confidence between his eyebrows showed the certainty of Cheng Zhu. He put aside the doubts in his heart, and the three of them discussed it in a low voice.

……

"Fourth master, don't worry, I will definitely handle this matter, and then I will ask the fourth master for a glass of wine and say goodbye!"

"The fourth master has a very thorough plan this time, and after I go back, I will notify the ship to take action, and it must be a success in one fell swoop! Farewell! ”

After Fang Weiyuan and Yan Rui stood at the door and said goodbye to Jiang Qingliu, they left first.

Jiang Qingliu, Qin Ziming, and Min Chong waited for a while, and then prepared to leave. Xiao Er, who had been guarding the door, stopped them, and handed a plain letterhead to Jiang Qingliu in his hand, and said, "Childe, this is Miss Chen's entrustment to ask me to transfer it to you, please accept it." ”

Jiang Qingliu didn't look at him, but his face turned completely cold. The little second became more and more nervous, and he stammered a little: "Don't blame the son, I didn't want to agree, but people have to ask me to pass on this letter, otherwise don't want to do it here." I had no choice but to agree, please have mercy on me, just accept it. ”

Qin Ziming was furious and scolded: "What did you promise yourself, what does it matter to our son?" Then Miss Chen's tone is too big, she said you can't do it here, you can't do it, which onion is she? See if I don't beat her..."

Listening to what he said, the more excessive he became, the junior second hurriedly interrupted him and said: "This eldest brother, do you know that this Miss Chen is the pearl of our Yangzhou Governor Chen's mansion, but it is not something that our ordinary people can afford to provoke." ”

Qin Ziming reluctantly stopped his anger when he heard this, but he was very puzzled and asked, "What kind of letter did this prefect's daughter send to my son-in-law?" We don't know her. ”

"Look at my mouth, I haven't explained it for a long time." The little second slapped himself on the back and said, "The girl in red that we met when we went upstairs today is Miss Chen." Later, the maidservant girl beside Miss Chen came to me and asked me to give this to my son. ”

Qin Ziming looked at Jiang Qingliu when he heard this, and saw that his face was still cold, so he was about to send this little two away, but he heard Jiang Qingliu say coldly: "Take it and go home." With that, he strode away.

He quickly snatched the letter and chased after it. Min Chong glanced at Xiao Er expressionlessly and followed.

After getting into the carriage, Qin Ziming asked cautiously: "Childe, what is the purpose of this Miss Chen sending this letterhead, we are just a one-sided relationship with her, I really don't understand." ”

"You don't know if you read the letterhead." Jiang Qingliu said lightly.

"Huh? I think? Qin Ziming was a little stunned.

"Do you want me to see it for myself?" Jiang Qingliu asked rhetorically.

"Oh, then I'll see." Qin Ziming obediently took out the letterhead, unfolded it and read: "Thanks to the grace of the son's rescue, I will set up a luncheon in the Guanyu Pavilion three days later, and please be sure to enjoy the light and get together." ”

Jiang Qingliu listened, and his expression was slightly impatient. Qin Ziming also came back to his senses and said puzzledly: "I really don't know if this Miss Chen really doesn't understand or fake, the son has taken the initiative to avoid suspicion for the sake of her reputation and reputation, and she has to lean on." If you let someone know, maybe what to say! He looked at Jiang Qingliu's face and asked again, "Childe, are you going to this banquet or not?" ”

"You go for me." Jiangqing Channel.

"Huh? I, I'm going? Qin Ziming was shocked.

"She invited the person who saved him, and if you saved her, you will naturally go." Jiang Qingliu's tone was still light.

"But it's obvious that Gongzi was able to save her, I, I..." Qin Ziming looked at Jiang Qingliu's well-organized expression at this time, and understood that the general trend had gone, so he had to accept his fate and said: "I can't go." After speaking, he couldn't help but say worriedly: "But it's you, the son who is invited, will I be kicked out if I go?" ”

"I am the person who wrote the invitation by name in her letter?" Jiangqing Channel.

"Not really." Qin Ziming reacted, and said with a smile rather scoundrel: "When the time comes, I will bite her to death and say that I can save her, hehe, even if she doesn't believe me, she can't do anything to me, and she has to treat me with good wine and food." Childe, your trick is really high, it not only gives her face, but also makes her bitter and unspeakable, haha! ”

Jiang Qingliu patted him on the shoulder and said, "She is the daughter of the prefect, of course I want to give her face." It's just that I don't want to have anything to do with her, so I have to wronged you. ”

"No grievances, no grievances. Childe is asking me to eat a free meal! Qin Ziming couldn't help but look forward to the banquet in three days.