In the capital city of Yangzhou, Huixian Street, the most prosperous street in the city, was crowded with onlookers.

Today is the 60th birthday of Zhou Yuanzhao, the richest man in Yangzhou, and almost all decent people in Yangzhou City have come to garrison, even Wen Muan, the prefect of Yangzhou.

The people of Yangzhou City are scrambling to see the excitement, and the entire square is crowded.

Naturally, they couldn't see the scene in the Zhou Mansion, so they could only rely on their imagination.

As the richest man in Yangzhou, Zhou Yuanzhao's mansion naturally not only meets the basic living needs, but also has all kinds of pavilions and pavilions.

It is not an exaggeration to say that it is a beautiful garden.

Today's characters with heads and faces are basically here, and Zhou Yuanzhao even invited the best opera troupe in the city to sing.

The birthday banquet was arranged in the garden of the Zhou Mansion, and Zhou Yuanzhao came to the garden with the support of his eldest son Zhou Yuji, and nodded to the guests.

Zhou Yuanzhao's health is not very good, he has been sick in bed in recent years, and his eldest son Zhou Yuji is taking care of business matters.

Today, Mr. Zhou's sixtieth birthday, the Zhou family wants to hold a birthday banquet to rejoice the old lady.

Zhou Yuanzhao also cheered up and came to the banquet to show his face in person.

As the richest man in Yangzhou, the Zhou family's business spreads across various industries. Of course, the most lucrative thing is selling salt.

The salt industry has been profitable since ancient times, and it has been strictly controlled by successive dynasties.

Those who can get the right to sell are basically officials and businessmen who have a good relationship with the government.

Zhou Yuanzhao is like this.

"Haha, the prefect of Wen is not harmed. You can come to the old birthday banquet to make the humble house shine. ”

Zhou Yuanzhao arched his hand at Wen Mu'an, his face full of smiles.

Wen Mu'an also gave Zhou Yuanzhao a lot of face, and responded with a smile: "How can Old Man Zhou's birthday official not come?" You are the representative of the merchants in Yangzhou. ”

"Take a seat, please."

Zhou Yuanzhao stretched out one arm and made a gesture of please, and Wen Mu'an was not polite, and immediately lifted the hem of his robe and sat down.

Zhou Yuanzhao clapped his hands, and the troupe immediately sang.

The troupe invited by the Zhou family sang the Kunshan dialect, and the guests sitting were fascinated by it.

Zhou Yuanzhao was very close to Wen Mu'an, so he lowered his voice and asked, "Wen Fuzun, there is a sentence that the old man doesn't know whether to say or not. ”

Wen Muan stroked his beard and said, "Please speak outside the Zhou Yuan." ”

"I heard that the thief has taken Fengyang and Luzhou Mansion. Looking at this posture, it won't take long to come to Yangzhou. I also ask Wen Fuzun to give the old decay a thorough understanding of whether this Yangzhou City can be defended. ”

The smile on Wen Mu'an's face immediately froze.

I really dare to ask this week.

"Yangzhou has 50,000 soldiers and horses, and the nearby Huai'an and Susong are also strong and can support at any time."

Wen Mu paused and said, "This official thinks that the thief will not have any chance. ”

The reason why Zhou Yuanzhao pulled down this old face and asked was because he really had some bottom in his heart.

After all, the Zhou family is the richest man in Yangzhou. If the Ming army breaks through Yangzhou, their good days will come to an end.

Although the merchants of Wuchang and Nanchang were not greatly affected, Zhou Yuanzhao did not think that he would be so lucky.

After all, the Zhou family is strictly tied to the ship of the Qing court's official mansion, and if the Qing court overthrows the new dynasty, not only will it not give the same treatment, but it is also likely to use them as a knife.

After all, the fat sheep of the Zhou family is so rich that a casual killing is enough for the army to eat for a year.

Moreover, the Zhou family monopolized the salt industry, which was bound to be intolerable to the Ming court.

How to look at the relationship between the Zhou family and the Qing court, both prosperity and loss.

"With Wen Fuzun's words, I can rest assured."

Zhou Yuanzhao didn't know much about military affairs, but he listened to Governor Wen's oath, and he also had some bottom in his heart.

Today is his birthday feast, so naturally he should be happy.

These things will not be mentioned again.

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After the birthday feast, the guests dispersed on their own.

Zhou Yuanzhao returned to the house and sat down with the support of his eldest son Zhou Yuji.

"Dad, you have a glass of water."

Zhou Yuji poured a cup of hot tea for Zhou Yuanzhao and sent it to him very respectfully.

"Jill, close the door."

Zhou Yuji cleared his throat and said in a deep voice.

Zhou Yuji obeyed, closed the door and stepped back, and stood with his hands tied.

"Today, I knocked on the side for my father and asked about the garrison of Yangzhou City, Governor Wen. Now it seems that there should still be a defense. ”

After a pause, Zhou Yuanzhao said in a deep voice: "But if you are not afraid of ten thousand, you are afraid of everything." Our family has a big business, and if there is a mistake, it will be all over. ”

"That's what Daddy said."

Zhou Yuji asked very cautiously: "In my father's opinion, how should we act." ”

"Even if the south is safe for the time being, staying in Yangzhou is not a long-term solution."

Zhou Yuanzhao sighed with emotion: "You can find an opportunity to take the sea route to transport the silver to the north." You can stop at Denglai and transfer to Jinan, or you can stop directly in Tianjin Wei to go to Beijing. ”

Zhou Yuji was surprised: "What about you, Dad?" Aren't you going with your son? ”

Zhou Yuanzhao shook his head, looking very helpless.

"It would be too obvious if Dad went along. Governor Wen will definitely not agree. ”

Zhou Yuanzhao smiled bitterly: "Our family is a family that relies on the government, and it is naturally impossible for the government to let us go easily at this time." You find a businessman to go from the beginning, and your father will stay in Yangzhou so that Wen Zhifu can rest assured. ”

Zhou Yuji's heart sank, and it was very unpleasant.

No matter how unwilling he was to admit it, his father was telling the truth.

The government also pointed to the Zhou family's filial piety and silver to support the army, how could they let their families escape?

Going one and staying one seems to be the best option.

Zhou Yuji knew that his father left the opportunity to him, hoping to continue to spread branches and continue the incense for the Zhou family.

After all, Zhou Yuji is still young.

Zhou Yuji was moved, and tears and snot were stuck on his face.

Father left him a chance to live.

"Dad, you have to take care. When my son gets to the north, settle down, and then find a way to pick you up. ”

Zhou Yuji swore and promised.

"Good boy, don't worry about Dad. Dad has lived sixty years old, and he has lived enough. Besides, Yangzhou may not be unable to hold on. ”

"Live, live for my father and the Zhou family. Take as much silver as you can. Dad has prepared a lot of boats in Huai'an Mansion, you should try to move things to Huai'an. Once on the boat, keep going north and don't look back. ”

Zhou Yuanzhao seemed to see through everything, and said with emotion: "A moment of prosperity, a moment of prosperity." We don't know for sure who will have the last laugh. Let's bet separately from father and son, so that at least there will be no chickens and eggs. ”

Zhou Yuanzhao had already thought about it, and he chose to stay in Yangzhou.

In this way, after the Ming army broke through the city, he would choose to surrender to the Ming.

Needless to say, as long as you can save your life, these are not a problem.

As for whether the Ming army will accept him, it is not for him to decide.

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