After Chen Wenhui and Ma Mingsong chatted about the situation in the imperial court for a while, suddenly, Chen Wenhui's face turned red and asked, "Brother Ma, I don't know if you rushed back from the northwest?" ”

Ma Mingsong was a little strange, how could it be good, Chen Wenhui blushed? This girl is not a shy master. But, strange as strange, he replied, "Isn't it?" If I hadn't come back from the northwest, where would I have spent seven days? This is the result of my day and night, and five horses alone have died. ”

Chen Wenhui said: "Oh, I think so, if you are in Yangzhou, I am afraid that you will be able to reach Shanghai in one or two days." ”

Ma Mingsong said: "Yes, I haven't been back to Yangzhou City for a long time now. Most of the time is in the Northwest. Speaking of which, our Ma family's business in the northwest is very prosperous, and I think it is not at all inferior to the money made as a salt merchant in Yangzhou. ”

Chen Wenhui hurriedly asked, "Really?" Tell me about the Northwest. I'm curious. ”

Ma Mingsong said with a smile: "At first, I thought that there could be anything in that bitter cold place in the northwest? Where can you compare to the benefits of Shanghai City? Where can we compare to being a salt merchant? But when I really got there, I found out ☆☆~, because of the long distance and many years of fighting, the soldiers in the Northwest Army have accumulated a lot of things in their hands, most of which are trophies. Now we bought them with silver, and they were very happy. We also bought a lot of stuff at low prices. It's all good stuff. After all, it's something that the barbarians have been running for thousands of years. Of course, these are one-time deals, not long-term. We also buy captives. Hee-hee. Of course, most of this is by you Nanyang. Yizhou Island's was bought. There is a long-term deal out of this, which is the war horse. ”

Chen Wenhui nodded and said, "Yes, in comparison, the northwest is rich in horses, and it is indeed a good deal in the long run." By the way, have you ever met a friend of mine there, who is the Zhongyi family? My second son and I are both friends of the prince. ”

Chen Wenhui said it lightly, but in fact, she was nervous. Ma Mingsong has no doubt about him. He immediately said: "When I went to the northwest, I brought with me a letter from the crown prince, which was addressed to his friend General Zhao Chongyi. Therefore, my business in the northwest is really thanks to General Zhao Chongyi. He is really a righteous, bold, and capable man. So you're familiar with him, huh? By the way, you went to disaster relief with Lord Liu Jingyuan, the crown prince, and General Zhao Chongyi. By the way, he also talked to me for a long time about Shanghai City. ”

Chen Wenhui immediately understood in her heart. It must be that Zhao Chongyi is also thinking about her in his heart, so. Looking for Ma Mingsong to ask about Shanghai City, in fact, it is to better understand himself. It's like doing it yourself. Thinking of this, Chen Wenhui felt a warm current flow in her heart.

Ma Mingsong didn't notice this, but continued: "In addition to war horses, we have many things that can be traded in the northwest, such as cattle and sheep, which can be sold at a good price when they are trafficked to the Central Plains. In addition to these, we have also found many ores, all of which are in the range of our buying and selling. Of course, because the war is still going on, the most lucrative industry we have now is selling prisoners of war. You are the biggest buyers. ”

Chen Wenhui was interested when she heard this, and asked, "How were the previous prisoners of war handled?" ”

Ma Mingsong said: "In the past, prisoners of war had to be escorted back to the capital, and the escort and unloading, traveling, eating and drinking on the road was a big amount, and the imperial court was unwilling to spend too much money, which made many people lose on the road." Those who arrived in the capital were particularly strong. After arriving in the capital, it will cost the court a lot of money to support them. Well, the remaining prisoners of war before have been rewarded to you by the emperor, and this time it has saved the court a lot of money. After that, there is no need to spend this money, because our Ma family has taken over all the prisoners of war directly from the northwest. As long as it is transported to Shanghai City, it can be sold to you, and of course, some of it is sold to dignitaries and nobles in the Central Plains. ”

Chen Wenhui laughed when she heard this and said: "My brother is short of manpower, as soon as these prisoners of war are transported, we will not be able to spread it in Nanyang, and it is estimated that they will be taken over by Yizhou Island." In this way, the development of Yizhou Island can be carried out in an all-round way. More mines can be mined, more farmland can be cultivated, and more grain can be produced, so more grain can be supplied to the Chen family land and the imperial court. Hey, in this way, the emperor doesn't have to worry about the food problem more and more. Also, I solved the remaining prisoners of war before, and your Ma family solved the prisoners of war after that, and the court saved a lot of money at once. In addition, the income of the Ma family and my 10% Shanghai City was handed over to the emperor, and the emperor's income increased and the expenses decreased, which is much better. ”

Ma Mingsong is the emperor's loyal retainer, and when he heard this, he also laughed and said: "You still have one less count, that is, our Ma family's salt transportation business has also been handed over, and the emperor has sent someone to Yangzhou to take over, which is another large amount of income." Alas, the emperor's life is much better now than before, speaking of which, since the emperor ascended the throne, he has been conscientious, where has he squandered it? Even if you want to build a garden, you don't dare to break the ground, but the money is nervous, and this time you can probably start construction. It's time for the emperor to enjoy it. ”

Chen Wenhui said: "We have been chatting for so long, Brother Ma should be tired, hurry up and rest, I also have to pack up my things, and prepare to leave for Yizhou Island in the next two days, it has been delayed for so long, and it will be a mistake if I don't leave." ”

Ma Mingsong was about to nod, when suddenly the chief next to him came in and said, "My lord, eight hundred miles is urgent, and the emperor has a secret decree." ”

Ma Mingsong didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly went out to receive the secret order. Chen Wenhui was a little suspicious, at this time, what secret decree did the emperor have? While guessing, Ma Mingsong had already come in, with a strange smile on his face. Chen Wenhui thought when he saw that he was smiling, it shouldn't be a bad thing, and sure enough, Ma Mingsong said: "Wenhui, you can't go to Yizhou Island right now." ”

Chen Wenhui frowned: "What's the matter?" ”

Ma Mingsong said: "The emperor has come to the secret decree, because the imperial concubine canonizes the queen, and the crown prince canonization has to hold a grand ceremony, so Princess Lichuan will not be able to return to Shanghai City in the short term." There's nothing about this, I can watch it here. However, the emperor suddenly came to the secret decree and said, let me go to Jiangnan to do some things, leave you to continue to look at Shanghai City, and wait for me to finish my work, before I can accept the affairs of Shanghai City, and you can go to Yizhou Island. Of course, the migration of 200,000 people from those prisoners of war went on as scheduled, but your second brother could only stay in the capital to watch the ceremony, and those children of the family could only watch the ceremony in the capital. A qiē has to wait for the ritual to take place before it can be continued. ”

Chen Wenhui was stunned for a moment, what can I do about this, this delay continues, it is a large amount of silver expenditure every day, and Yan zhòng has affected the construction progress of the four cities of Nanyang.

Chen Wenhui asked: "Brother Ma, is it convenient to tell me what you are doing in Jiangnan?" How long is it going to go? ”

Ma Mingsong said: "I can sue you for this." I went to Jiangnan to investigate the affairs of the officials, families, and gentry who colluded with Jiangnan and the King of Qi. Alas, this time, Jiangnan is not calm, and the heads are rolling again. ”

Chen Wenhui pursed her lips and said, "The treasury of the imperial court is about to enter a large amount again." Jiangnan is rich, and it is a good way to raid your home. ”

Ma Mingsong laughed at what Chen Wenhui said and said: "The emperor didn't kill people for money. ”

This Chen Wenhui understands. Because the king of Qi is the blood of the winner, the emperor is afraid of the officials, gentry, landlords, and families of the world who are in contact with the king of Qi, and are indirectly controlled by the winner, which is the major event that threatens the society. Money is secondary, but it's always good to have.

Chen Wenhui asked: "Jiangnan sent Ma Da Ge to investigate, what about other places?" ”

Ma Mingsong said: "There are people all over the country who have investigated, and they are all people who can be trusted by the emperor, and they are all acting in secret. I didn't go openly, but I followed the patrol sent by the imperial court. On the bright side, the patrol is doing. ”

Chen Wenhui nodded, it is also important to appease the people.

Chen Wenhui frowned and asked: "Jiangnan has a large population, many officials, and many wealthy gentry, so after such a check, don't you want a year and a half?" When can I leave for Yizhou Island? Isn't this delaying the progress of the construction of my four cities in Nanyang? ”

Ma Mingsong said: "It doesn't work for so long. If others don't know, can you still not know? Our Ma family has been entrenched in Jiangnan for many years, and the information has long been in hand, at this time, it is just to implement it once, and I estimate that it will be able to deal with it all in a month and a half. At that time, the ceremony in the capital will also be completed, and it will be just in time for you to follow the children of the family to Yizhou Island. As for the construction of the four cities of Nanyang. I also know that a day of delay is a huge amount of money. I think so, you should first let your stewards take those ordinary people and craftsmen first, and go to build cities, build houses, and open up wasteland. You don't have to do this by yourself. ”

Chen Wenhui thought about it too. When they were in disaster relief back then, they were not familiar with the officialdom in Jiangnan and those grain merchants, didn't they still ask the Ma family to give them the information? Now that the Ma family is doing things on their own, it is naturally easier. The Ma family has been entrenched in Jiangnan for so many years, making money for the emperor while collecting intelligence on Jiangnan, I am afraid that there are a few people in each wealthy family, and a few favored concubines are clear. Naturally, it is neat to do.

Thinking of this, Chen Wenhui was relieved, and if she came, she would be safe, so she would just stay in Shanghai, let Qiu Bi and them go first, and wait until Chen Wenhui arrived in Nanyang in the future to have a house to live in, so she would suffer less. (To be continued......)