The Slender West Lake on a winter night is beautiful, but it is cold and damp.

Daiyu was unwell, so she didn't want to get off the boat to suffer the cold.

But for the rich salt merchants, this is clearly not a problem.

In a short period of time, several glass screens were found to block the four sides of a small fishing platform.

He also used silk as thin as a cicada's wings to cover the gap, and the light was transparent, and it did not block the sight at all......

Because the Diaoyutai is not spacious, I found a complete set of pear blossom nanmu carved eight immortals across the sea tables and chairs, small and exquisite, and there are carpets woven of Western velvet all over the ground.

A Tang Dynasty Shouxian Ding burned silver frost charcoal, put a jade frame on it, put a foot of purple gold pond, the pool contains the fishy fresh milk, and there is a white jade bottle in the middle of the milk, which is warm and fragrant and not sweet osmanthus sake......

When Jia Qiang arrived, he saw Qi Taizhong leading an old man and two middle-aged people to get up to greet each other.

There are only four of the eight major salt merchants left, but they are much stronger than before.

After seeing the ceremony, Jia Qiang and the four of them entered the Diaoyutai platform, and when they saw the furnishings in the Xuan, he smiled lightly and said: "I have heard of the rich families in the south, and I regard the powerful people in the capital as local officials." Seeing it now, it's not prejudice. ”

Except for Old Lady Qi, the other three also met with Jia Qiang.

But at this time and at that time, when he was in Yangzhou, Jia Qiang was just a "good minister of the emperor", plus he was a relative of the Yanyuan Yamen, and he acted in such an identity.

Even if everyone gave him three points of thin noodles, it was just to look at the faces of the Emperor Taishang and Lin Ruhai behind him.

But for him, there is no respect, let alone fear.

However, only a year has passed, and Jia Qiang has broken out of such a pattern in the capital, and the marquis of the Emperor is listed as a martial artist, and the official worships the commander of the embroidered clothes guard.

In the eyes of Emperor Long An and the military machine scholars, Jia Qiang never interfered in the government affairs, never placed people in the court, did not make friends with officials, was a lonely minister, and had little impact.

But in the eyes of people from other provinces, Jia Qiang is only one step away from the power of the government and the opposition.

His position now is not what they could have treated with the attitude they had at the beginning.

Hearing these heart-wrenching words, the three of them didn't know what to say for a while.

It's Qi Taizhong, although the biggest reliance he has accumulated over the decades of friendship with the Emperor Taishang is gone, but the old man is extremely shrewd, knowing that Jia Qiang attaches great importance to overseas, and now the Qi family is its forerunner, and these three are also available forces that Jia Qiang values, so he will not be too awe-inspired.

He laughed and said: "Ning Hou said that he was joking, when it comes to being rich, there are only a handful of people who can compare with Ning Hou today. ”

Jia Qiang waved her hand and smiled: "You can always joke about this, this time Benhou went south, just to find some silver to return to Beijing Huahua." Poor jingle ......"

The old lady of the Chen family was about to say that he was willing to repay the service, but Qi Taizhong smiled and said: "Ning Hou threw it into that canal this year, I'm afraid there will be a million taels of silver?" Coupled with the sea ship workshop here in Yangzhou, not to mention other bits and pieces, not to mention three million taels a year. How many people in the world can have such a handiwork? ”

The head of the Li family shook his head and smiled: "Although I shouldn't say it in front of the two old ladies, but looking at Ning Hou's heavenly means, I still have to obey the old man." ”

As they spoke, the five of them sat down.

Facing the door is the upper seat, several humble can't give up, Jia Qiang sits on it, Qi Taizhong and the old lady of the Chen family are in the second seat, and the heads of the Li and Peng families sit side by side.

Qi Taizhong smiled at the head of the Li family and said, "The nephew doesn't have to be based on Ning Hou, how many young people like him are there in this world?" ”

After another burst of praise and laughter, the four of them saw that Jia Qiang gradually showed an impatient look on her face, so they ended their greetings and got back to business.

Qi Taizhong said to Jia Qiang: "Ning Hou, the dog Qi Wanhai went to sea, and among the people who went to Johor, in addition to the Qi family, there were also people from the Chen family, the Li family and the Peng family. After hearing about Ning Hou's ambition, they also had great expectations for overseas, and they were willing to make a small contribution to Ning Hou. It's just that there is one more thing I want to ask you, I hope Ning Hou can tell the truth. ”

Jia Qiang said: "You still know me better, Ben Hou spoke, and he didn't dare to say a word, but at least he didn't deceive anyone." Even those enemies and opponents in the capital, at most, only said that I acted unscrupulously and lawlessly, but no one said that I was a liar. So today you can talk openly and honestly, and you can talk about anything. The things that are said in this Diaoyu Tai will not be prayed to the heavens, and the earth will not be sacrificed to the earth, let alone known to the sixth person. You just want to ask if it doesn't hurt to build a country on land overseas. ”

As soon as these words came out, even Qi Taizhong's old face twitched, and said, "Is that feasible?" ”

Jia Qiang smiled: "Of course it is possible, but it can't be in Johor, it's too close to Dayan." Siam, Java, Annam, Luzon, Johor, and the places around Dayan are best left to Dayan. But these places, in fact, only occupy less than 100% of the land that can be occupied. As long as your heart is high enough, the world is much bigger than you think. Now those white-skinned beasts in Western Europa are enclosing the land everywhere, and they are almost at the door of Dayan's house. If you don't act at this time, after ten or twenty years, even if you want to move, you will lose the best opportunity. ”

Qi Taizhong's eyes showed a complicated look, and he said, "If the old man can be twenty years younger, he will have to go through it himself." With Dayan as the foundation, you will be able to do a career. It's a pity that time is running out......"

Jia Qiang looked at him and smiled: "I really want you to live for a few more decades, at least another five or eight years." Otherwise, I'm afraid that Qi Yun may not be able to control the Qi family after you die of old age. However, no matter what, Ben Hou can give the Qi family a guarantee. Even if your sons die, as long as Qi Yun is here, I can keep the Qi family from falling. It should be the Qi family's share, and no one can encroach on it. This guarantee has little to do with today's events. ”

Qi Taizhong was greatly moved when he heard this, and all along, with his sophistication and shrewdness, it has always been difficult to find a good solution to the dilemma of the sudden death of the Emperor Taishang and the unclear way out of the Qi family.

Once a son of heaven and a courtier, he and the Emperor Taishang were friends of cloth, so he could make the Qi family feel like a fief in Yangzhou, and think about it, I also know that Emperor Long'an would never allow Yangzhou to have the surname Qi!

At present, Emperor Long An is still busy with affairs, the government has not been sorted out, and the military power has not yet been grasped, so the Qi family can still survive.

But when Emperor Long An came back to his senses, the Qi family's big fat meat would never be able to run!

If he hadn't seen this predicament, how could he have let his third son leave his hometown and take many Qi family children to overseas wild places?

People are cheap when they leave their hometowns, not to mention that there is still a miasma there.

It's only been a year, and more than 10% of the people brought by the Qi family have died of illness......

However, Qi Taizhong thinks that it is still worth it, and it is better to die than to be slaughtered as cattle and sheep by someone who is all over the house.

However, if Jia Qiang can protect the Qi family, then the Qi family can't say it, and they can retain three more points of vitality.

Qi Taizhong pondered for a moment and said, "Ning Hou, the next generation of the head of the Qi family must be Qi Yun." Now, he is also obedient. If he can sit firmly in the position of the head of the family, then the Qi family will naturally look forward to Ning Hou. If you can't sit still...... Ning Hou can save his life and leave a pulse for my Qi family, and the rest, Ning Hou will do it. ”

The rest are abandoned sons, naturally including the third son Qi Wanhai and the Qi family's foundation in Johor.

For Qi Taizhong to be so ruthless and decisive, the three heads of the Chen family, the Li family, and the Peng family were all shocked.

Jia Qiang smiled and didn't say much.

It's really getting to that point, it's supposed to be like this.

After the three family heads were silent for a moment, the Li family head asked Jia Qiang in a deep voice: "Ning Hou, the villain only asks one word, is the imperial court really unable to tolerate our salt merchants, and wants to purge us, deprive us of our family wealth, and support a group of new people?" ”

Jia Qiang shook her head and said, "Ben Hou can tell you clearly, at least so far, the household department has no intention of moving you. Nor did the Embroidery Guard receive any order in this regard...... But there is no doubt that the salt law will definitely change. In addition, Jiangnan taxes account for 30% of the world. Therefore, the officials here will definitely be replaced, on a large scale. The doors you laid in the past are basically in ruins, and you have to start anew.

There is one more thing that should be clear to you. The new law and the new party do not mean that the newly appointed officials are all clean and good officials, and in the newly introduced evaluation method for examining the official performance of officials, the first important thing is taxation, and the second important thing is to maintain local tranquility and arrest the number of thieves.

Therefore, those officials want to eat fatty meat, and there is no need to talk about suppressing the salt merchants, replacing the salt merchants, as long as the murder case is strictly investigated, your family will not be able to escape.

Most of the newly appointed officials are poor officials, their eyes are green, and you still want to be the same as before, even if you can spend money to settle it, your family will basically lose most of your lives, and there is nothing left. ”

There is really not much room left for these families in the Long An Dynasty......

The heads of the three families looked at each other, their faces were very ugly, and the Chen family master said slowly: "Ning Hou is willing to bless the three families like he blessed the Qi family?" We are willing to give 500,000 taels of family wealth every year......"

Jia Qiang smiled and said, "If Ben Hou says that he is not interested in money, you will think that I am talking crazy." But I tell you, I have no shortage of money to chew on. Just one ice house makes a living, and I make a lot of money in one summer. You say, "What do you want so much silver for?" ”

The Chen family master said: "Then Ning Hou, what do you need me to do for you?" ”

Jia Qiang shook her head and said, "Don't think about what you're doing for me, what you're doing for yourself." You must all know the allusion that Heavy Ear is born on the outside, and Shen is born and dies on the inside. You should just go out and find a way out, and it just so happens that I also need you to go to Annam, Siam and other places to do what you can for Benhou. You all have a group of outlaws, and you also have a staff member of the White Paper Fan Military Division, who has been a salt merchant for so many years, and has been wandering in the gray area. Such a person is most suitable to go to the place where he is born to take root. ”

"Annam, Siam...... Don't you want to go to Johor? ”

The head of the Peng family asked suspiciously.

Jia Qiang curled the corners of her mouth and smiled, and said, "Benhou and the Qi family have different friendships and trusts, so from the beginning, we can support them to gain a foothold in Johor." In the future, the Qi family will also be the first batch of families to seize a foundation in overseas enclaves. But you are different, you also have to establish enough meritorious deeds, so that Benhou can mobilize resources and power to provide convenience for you as the commander of the embroidered guard. Ben Hou's frank and straightforward words, I hope you don't feel rude. ”

Qi Taizhong had already recovered from the agitation of Fang Cai at this time, and said to the Chen family master and the two heads of the Li family and the Peng family: "What are you hesitating about? We, the others, were going to find a way out. Ning Hou was born a genius, and he has great courage and means, which can pull us along, and it is also the fate of burning incense and worshiping Buddha on weekdays. What else do you have to be sure of? ”

Old Lady Chen sighed and said, "Seventh brother, it's not for us to handle, it's just about such a big family business...... It's not easy. Furthermore, if the three of us also send people out, would Ning Hou be willing to bless the three families in Dayan? ”

Jia Qiang said: "As long as you can send capable people to complete the things that Ben Hou has explained, Ben Hou will naturally bless your three families in Dayan." But those who remain must no longer do anything that commits a degrading offense or disrupts the law. As he spoke, seeing that the three of them were still full of sadness, he paused and said with a smile: "That's it, if you are still not at ease, Benhou can promise you a real wealth that can be passed down for centuries in advance to relieve your worries." Even if your family is defeated in a catastrophe, but with this wealth, it can also ensure the longevity of your family. ”

"What is rich?"

The four of them asked in unison.

"Ben Hou is now concurrently serving as the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and after giving the son of tomorrow, he decided to set up a money bank, the money village of the House of Internal Affairs of the Heavenly Family. Do you want to buy shares in the House of Internal Affairs? A total of 100 percent, 100 percent, 100,000 taels. At present, only the kings of the clan and the relatives of Wuxun are eligible to buy it, and the rest of the Manchu Dynasty are not civil and military. Of course, they buy slightly cheaper...... Benhou can license you, and the family will buy two cents. Since then, it has the same shares as the heavenly family. ”

Jia Qiang smiled and said something that surprised the four families.

Even Qi Taizhong was like this, and the other three families had no objections.

Mo said that he knew what it meant for the Heavenly Family to open a money bank, but he didn't know, and he was willing to give Jia Qiang silver.

Now they are not afraid that Jia Qiang will ask for silver, but they are afraid that he will not want it.

The giants and ministers of the Jing Chu Dynasty all suffered one by one, and most of the former backers collapsed, and the new governor of Liangjiang was obviously not very satisfied with the salt merchants of Yangzhou, and he couldn't even enter the door when he asked for a visit several times.

At the moment, the three families felt like children walking on the street with gold ingots, surrounded by evil wolves with shining eyes.

If it weren't for the Qi family to support them in front, they would have had problems a long time ago.

Now that they have Jia Qiang's assurance and the same brilliance as the Heavenly Family, a heavy stone has finally fallen from the bottom of their hearts.

Seeing that the business was going well, the head of the Peng family thought that Jia Qiang was still coming with his inner family, and suddenly had an idea, and said: "Master Hou, it just so happened that the shopkeeper from Hunan came back to see me two days ago, saying that he had found two excellent fireworks masters over there before, and he had made a lot of fireworks. Hou Ye came to visit with his family today, but do you want some fireworks? If so, I'll let someone get it! ”

Jia Qiang's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she smiled: "Okay! But Ben Hou not only wants fireworks, but also the two masters who are good at making fireworks! ”

In these years, those who are good at sub-medicine are all talents!

The head of the Peng family hurriedly went out and sent someone to fetch it, but after a pillar of incense, he hurriedly sent three carts.

After Jia Qiang went out to take a look, she turned back to Qi Taizhong and the others and smiled: "Since you should make this matter, then what should you do next, I will send someone to discuss with you in detail." In addition, the old man can also find a few more trustworthy ones, and there are also people who can stand up after going to sea, and I still have some money and shares in my hand, all of which are begged from the emperor, and I can sell a few more. ”

The old lady of the Chen family didn't wait for Qi Taizhong to speak, and said with a smile: "Why don't Ning Hou take out all the shares, the four of us are enough to cover the round." ”

Jia Qiang waved his hand and said, "A family can get two points at most, and the prince of the clan is nothing more than that." Except for Zhao Guogong, who was not ashamed, he made trouble in front of the emperor and handed over all the granges in the Guogong Mansion, so that he had to go to ten points, and all the other nobles only got two points. This matter cannot be faked, and you will know if you send someone to the capital to inquire about it when you go back. Taking too much is not a blessing. ”

Qi Taizhong said with a smile: "If this money village is personally managed by Ning Hou, the future will naturally be unlimited. Taking too much is indeed not a blessing. Anyway, the old man will go to find a few more, which is a very good thing. ”

Jia Qiang nodded and said, "There will never be such a good opportunity again, this time is really rare." Alright, that's it. For the rest, Ben Hou will send someone to discuss it in detail. Leave! ”

……

After a cup of tea, the 24th Bridge was filled with fireworks.

Sister Feng, Tanchun, and Xiangyun took Xiangling, Xiaojiaoer, Xiao Jixiang and others to light the fireworks one by one and then ran away with a laugh.

Bunches of colorful fireworks burst into the sky, brilliant and colorful.

Jia Qiang took Daiyu's hand and looked up at the extremely beautiful scene in the world on the Wuting Bridge.

Daiyu gently leaned on Jia Qiang's arms, looking at the clusters of fireworks, and couldn't help but be stupid......

I hope there will be this night every year.

……

PS: Yesterday I got a silver league and a league leader, I wanted to come to explode the liver for a night of code words to repay, and I was extravagant, I bought two boxes of duck neck duck racks, but I was hit, and halfway through the night, I was a thousand miles away...... What is written in the book is that people can win the sky, but in reality, it's so fucked, I'm almost living on the toilet, and I'm still pushing it up today, crying miserably...... I'm going to come on, I'm going to come on.