(This book was first published on the Let's See Literature Network, referred to as the Literature Network, please support genuine subscription to protect the rights and interests of the author.) ）

As the morning approached, a horse-drawn carriage headed for the county lord's mansion in the center of the city in the rising sun.

Lu Cai didn't sleep well this night, and there were three days left before Chinese New Year's Eve, and he had to deliver the gift to Yongchuan County Ling today, and then he could rush back to Quanzhou for the New Year as soon as possible. Now the Lu clan is nominally completely under the control of the two brothers, Lu Fu and Lu Cai.

Yongchuan, on the other hand, is a concentrated trade area for liquor and medicinal herbs in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and the revitalization of the shops here will make the operation of dozens of shops in the land controlled by the two brothers improve slightly.

When they first took over, Lu Fu and Lu Cai found that there were only more than 200,000 taels of silver left on the books for turnover, and the escape of Xiao Si also caused them to lose their main accounts, so the two brothers could only try their best to restore the local trade and other items in the surrounding areas in a hurry.

In two months, the bloody storm in Quanzhou Mansion was carried out, dozens of shops changed hands, hundreds of people were killed, and the people behind the scenes were all Semu people.

The two of them received sixty percent of the wealth of the land stolen by the camp of the dead soldiers, and it was because of this wealth that they betrayed their master's family and could not turn back.

Shibo Silu Yuan listened to the words of the Semu people like a jumper puppet, and the prefect of Tang Mian was suddenly removed by the imperial court, all of which made the tens of millions of residents of Quanzhou Mansion panic.

And the next move is even more jaw-dropping, the port of Thornton was occupied by the volunteers overnight, the tax was more than doubled, and the merchant ships of various states after some trade, compared with the previous profits, actually refused to come to Quanzhou, but preferred to divert to the more distant Beicang, Zhaojiagang and other ports, that is, after some more time, but the profits will be much better.

After this, the seaborne trade of Quanzhou Prefecture continued to decline, which was the lifeblood of Quanzhou Prefecture, and the merchants from all over the Central Plains were told to give priority to selling high-quality goods at low prices to the Semu people's shops, and then transported to various states through dozens of medium-sized sea ships of the Semu people in the port of Thorn Tong.

Even the Lu's firm can't withstand this kind of blow, although there are people with colored eyes behind their backs, but when it comes to maintaining these stores in their hands, they need to figure out their own way.

Now Lu's firm in Jiangsu and Zhejiang also has two pillars that can maintain the normal operation of the business, that is, Huzhou silk weaving and Yongchuan's wine and medicinal materials, Yongchuan has ninety percent of the wineries belong to Lu's firm, Shang Yu has also seen when entering the city.

At this time, if the local shop and winery can be retrieved from the government again, the two brothers Lu Fu and Lu Cai can live a carefree and old-fashioned life, otherwise they can only let the Lu family business stay in their hands for a while, and then they have to sell it to others.

"It's just a pity that the eldest brother can't get the business name, saying that its value is limitless! He refused to find a stable place with me, buy hundreds of acres of fertile land, and live that life at home! Thinking of this, Lu Cai couldn't help sighing, he didn't think about money as seriously as before.

"Those Semu people completely control the city, and all the profitable business belongs to the Semu people, even the Han shops have to pay a lot of land in addition to the tax, so the puppet life, the eldest brother is as happy as a glutton! Forget it, I'd better send this gift as soon as possible! Thinking of this, Lu Cai couldn't help urging the coachman to hurry as soon as possible.

The three-foot five-color coral is Lu Weixuan's favorite thing, and there have been many wealthy businessmen in the Central Plains who have begged each other for a high price of 50,000 taels, but Lu Weixuan? If you refuse, you can expect how precious it is. (In terms of currency, the silver at the end of the Yuan Dynasty depreciated a lot compared with the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty, one tael of silver is about 2,000 yuan of purchasing power today, and 50,000 taels of silver is about 100 million yuan, which can be imagined that the value of this coral is high.) ）

The rest of the gifts are all some things imported from Fanbang, all of which are some uncommon things, even in Quanzhou Mansion, which is not common in Quanzhou Mansion, which Lu Cai asked someone to inquire about before he came, otherwise he would not be so confident, but yesterday he suddenly heard a voice similar to Shang Yudi, which really made him a little uneasy.

"It must be a delusion! I sent a guy out to inquire, that Mu Yu is similar in age to Shang Yu, but he is from the Semu clan, and he is also a person who refines medicine, how can it be Shang Yu's little rabbit cub? The maid said last night that the county magistrate was very tired, and he hurried to see him today, hoping to do good things quickly, and then rushed back to Quanzhou Mansion. Lu Cai thought to himself.

The relationship between the Semu people and the Yuan army is very delicate, since Zhao Qing transferred away and put into Taizhou Zhang Shicheng's command, the Semu people entered the Quanzhou area, and the Yuan army also stepped up the deployment of troops and horses in the Quanzhou area, but the volunteers did not expand further, nor did they immediately pull up the banner of rebellion, but the two sides faced each other, nominally still an irregular army of the Yuan court.

When Lu Cai arrived in Yongchuan because of the Lu family's business, he was naturally suspicious, and he was afraid that the Yuan court government would find out about his relationship with the Semu people.

"Mr. Lu! It's in place. Lu Caizheng was thinking about this, but when he felt that the car sank and stopped, the coachman outside shouted.

"Got it!" Lu Cai turned around and said to the two guys beside him, "Hurry up and help me prepare to move things in!" If you break something, you won't be able to afford to eat or drink for the rest of your life. With that, he pushed the door and stepped out of the car.

After a pillar of incense, Lu Cai saw the county magistrate who had been in charge of Yongchuan for several years, Lu Cai was very fat, but when he saw this county magistrate, he almost squirted out the tea that had just arrived in his mouth, and forced himself to swallow the tea, and he stood up with a red face.

"This official has always been very concerned about the shops in the county, especially the big merchants like Mr. Lu. Yesterday, the county handled too much official business, and even treated Mr. Lu slowly, and asked for forgiveness. Because of his concern for the five-colored coral, Gřibsu Balcher said to Lu Cai with an expression of love for the people as if he were a child after entering the living room.

Hearing the county order speak to him like this, Lu Cai immediately put aside that worried feeling, and immediately clenched his fists and said, "The county master! It's the villain who came too late yesterday, you don't need to be so polite to the villain, don't bother the villain. ”

"Huh! Mr. Lu, you're welcome. Please sit down, but I don't know what you have to do in this official mansion, so you might as well say it directly. "If you are courteous to others, you must ask for something, Ge Ribu Subarcher was woken up in a dream last night and heard the official surnamed Zhou talk about the five-colored coral, and he was so happy that he wanted to jump up, but he also knew that the other party must also be here for the Lu family's shop in Yongchuan City, just waiting for the other party to say it.

"Lord of the county government, where did the words come from. Our Lu business is all thanks to the old man's blessing, in order to operate well in the past few years, so the villain came to Yongchuan to check the accounts, and there is also a little local product to honor you, I hope you will not dislike it. Lu Cai did not immediately sit down or say the intention of this visit, but respectfully handed over a gift list.

"Oh! Where do you dare to be this, I am a small county magistrate, I have always been clean and self-conscious, and my sleeves are breezy! How can I accept your gift plainly, if it is heard by outsiders, and it will not tarnish my reputation if it is reported to the court? After taking the gift list, Geribu Subarcher opened it, and at first glance saw the name of the three-foot five-colored coral land, although he was ecstatic in his heart, he did not show it, and immediately closed the gift list and quietly raised his head and stared at Lu Cai and said.

The rest of the gifts were also many things that he had only heard of but had never seen, and when these gifts were in his hands, he would be transferred to them, and the problem of not being promoted for several years would be solved, and how could he not be happy in his heart?

"Lord of the county government, these are all local products, local chickens and dogs, and they are not very precious, you can take them as a piece of the villain's heart! How can it damage your reputation? If you don't accept these gifts, your reputation for loving your people as sons will be ruined! Lu Cai immediately squinted his eyes and said with a smile, the previous head of the Quanzhou Mansion liked "native" gold and silver, but this county lord liked special "native", and the reason was the same.

The other party is as fat as a pig, and the mansion he lives in is not bigger than Lu Mansion, but from the inside, it is much more luxurious than Lu Mansion. This made Lu Cai immediately relieved.

"Oh! Since Mr. said so, then the official will reluctantly accept your native products, but this kind of thing should not be an example. If it is spread out, the people must think that the official asks for bribes, and in return, they will ask Mr. to stay and share breakfast, I also want to hear your next business strategy for the Lu family in this county, I don't know if Mr. wills? Ge Ribu Subarche couldn't bear to brush Lu Cai's good intentions, and sincerely stayed Lu Cai for dinner.

The shops of the Lu family are the main source of taxes in Yongchuan County, most of them have to be pocketed, and then handed over to the local officials in turn according to the size of the official position, only one-third of them are handed over to the imperial court, and at present, the Lu business name is temporarily sealed by the Quanzhou Prefecture and the Bo Division, which also gives him a headache.

At present, the business shops in Yongchuan County are nominally subject to the control of the Quanzhou Prefecture Bo Si, otherwise he would have already taken these shops into his hands, which is also not to intensify the contradiction between the Semu Volunteers and the Yuan Army. It is because I want to take this opportunity to restore the normal operation of those shops, and also so that the next tax revenue of Yongchuan County will not be greatly affected.

"Thank you, sir, it's just that the villain has already had breakfast! I would like to be by my side, and listen to your instructions! Lu Cai immediately felt great joy in his heart, but there was also a sense of loss in his heart, in the past, when he came to the counties, Lu Cai was only a small steward in the house at that time, in addition to the officials of the city department to look at it highly, the officials below the fifth grade must be avoided when they saw the carriage of the Lu firm, at this time when he became the general ledger of the Lu firm, but it was not as majestic as the original small steward, he naturally had a sense of loss.

After roasting the pill over a slow fire, it gradually emitted a tangy aroma, but Shang Yu shook his head again and again when he smelled it.

"These pills are all made from the best medicinal herbs, but it's a pity that there are no better tools! If the aroma does not disperse, the medicinal effect and storage time will definitely be longer. ”

One of the three roasting ovens was already almost roasted, and Shang Yu began to take the medicine from the inside, at this time, Shang Yu's face was not tired, but looked energetic, and there was no sleepiness that had not slept all night.

This time the pharmaceutical process is actually a kind of tempering for Shang Yu, it is not difficult to refine the drug, and the important thing is that Shang Yu can concentrate on the pharmaceutical process.

The blacksmith of Beichuan County is by no means inferior to Quanzhou Mansion, so according to Shang Yudi's instructions, he can make these many tools and make crossbows and flying god grasps, and when Shang Yu really leaves the territory under the jurisdiction of Quanzhou Prefecture, he will realize this, and there will be future things that will happen to him as a craftsman in Quanzhou Prefecture.

In terms of medicines, it will be very difficult for Shang Yu to imagine such luxury as he is now, the Central Plains is about to be in chaos, and it will be difficult to collect a variety of drugs in the future.

He has now lost his parents, and the Lu clan business name he relied on has also changed hands, and the mysterious business alliance has only left him that little clue, but he still wants to go to Suzhou to find Lu Wan's whereabouts, and then go to Yangzhou, only after finding the business alliance, can there be a way to explore the information between his parents and Lu Shaobei.

All of this gave Shang Yu a complete pharmaceutical ability, and after he went south to the rebel army in the future, another story would be introduced.

"Brother Mu! I'm Xiao Zhou, and my lord asked me to see how your pill is going? Can the door be opened? The official surnamed Zhou shouted outside the door.

After Shang Yu heard this, he immediately turned around and walked to the door, opened the door, and said with a smile: "Lord Yacha! The pills have been baked a little, do you need me to take some samples and send them to the master? ”

"So soon? Great, then please take some and go with me to see the master! The official surnamed Zhou was in a very good mood at this time, and after receiving those gifts, Ge Ribu Subarcher was having a meal, and Lu Cai sat aside to discuss the matter of Lu's shop with him.

In his mind, if the county lord waited for the guests to leave, and mentioned the matter of the maid, most likely he would have fulfilled his wish. At this time, Shang Yu's baking pills had also been successful, and the official surnamed Zhou was even more happy, Shang Yu could be regarded as his introduction to the county master.

After hearing this, Shang Yu thought to himself, "Hmm! At this rate, one day will be one more day to make all those pills, if you are in a hurry, you can complete it tonight, and then you will get the guide and go north out of the city immediately, and you can't delay any longer! ”

But he said, "Lord Yacha, then please wait!" I'll be right there. ”

As he spoke, he turned around and entered, and in less than half a column of incense, Shang Yu walked out of the room with a porcelain vase, and said with a smile: "There are still two furnaces of medicine being baked in the house, and I only have half an hour to see the master!" Please lead the way, this house is very large, and it will be rude for me to accidentally break into the room of the female dependents! ”

The official surnamed Zhou said with a smile: "Little Brother Mu is really good at talking!" You're so young and so handsome! The master's dozens of beautiful concubines won't let them go! I won't blame you, okay! Please come with me. ”

Shang Yu took the porcelain vase and followed the official surnamed Zhou through several courtyards before coming to the back hall of the last Gezhibu Subalcher.

The hall is full of calligraphy and paintings, so that Shang Yu can't help but open his eyes, that can be regarded as the handwriting of more than a dozen famous artists in the Tang and Song dynasties, Shang Yu has seen some in the treasure street, but he didn't expect a county order to collect such calligraphy and painting in the whole place, it is difficult to imagine that this person is a Mengyuan official.

"These calligraphy and paintings are all obtained by adults when they marched and led the troops, and it is said that they are all genuine! Gee! Are you stunned? You watch first, I'll go and tell the master. Seeing Shang Yu looking at those calligraphy and paintings blankly, the official surnamed Zhou couldn't help but smile and said, and then walked towards the inner hall.

After hearing this, Shang Yu couldn't help but feel a chill rising from his heart, and said in his heart: "How many rich and noble families did that fat pig rob to get these precious calligraphy and paintings?" "The scene of the Yuan soldiers slaughtering the village came to mind, Lijia Village is just a dilapidated small village, and the Yuan soldiers did not completely pacify the Yungui area until a few years ago, thinking that this county commander had been stained with countless blood to obtain these calligraphy and paintings when he joined the army.

"Brother Mu! Sir, please go in at once. While Shang Yu was thinking about it, the official surnamed Zhou quickly came out of the inner hall and beckoned to him.

"Oh!" Shang Yu agreed, and followed the official surnamed Zhou into the inner hall.

"Sir! Brother Mu is already here. The official surnamed Zhou walked into the room with Shang Yu and said.

Shang Yu kept his head down and came in, and then he heard Ge Ribu Subarche say: "Brother Mu! Thank you for your hard work, you actually made a batch so quickly! Quickly present it for the official to see, and by the way, let the guest of the official have a long insight! ”

Shang Yu raised his head and was about to speak, but he heard the person sitting at the same table as the county lord shouting, "It's really you!" Are you really alive? ”

Shang Yu couldn't help but be shocked when he heard this, the voice was extremely familiar, and when he looked up, his hairs couldn't help but stand up, wasn't the other party the Lu Cai he saw outside the Lu Pharmacy?

Frightened, Shang Yu immediately wanted to turn around and run away