In the morning, he went to the military department to ask Huo Shiqi about his transfer, and Shang Cheng went to the Pingyuan General's Mansion again. He was here to serve as a right advisor to join the army, but he had never been to this yamen. The establishment of the guard battalion of his Shangzhu State is also in this yamen. He had already agreed with Su Po and Hou Ding to let them do something in their guard camp for the time being; Su Hou and the others also agreed. He now wants to say hello to the Plains General's Mansion, so that the General's Mansion can transfer the text to the Liyuan Camp to transfer people.

Ying County's fierce reputation is outside, and no one dares to slack off. Zhonglang, who was in charge of personnel in the General's Mansion, would write the document in front of him with a few brushstrokes, and specially signed the seal of "urgency", and immediately sent him to the Liyuan camp, and repeatedly assured him that Su Po and Hou Ding would be able to come over in two days at most.

After the matter was done, he went back to the county uncle's mansion. One told Huo Shiqi that Shao'an was not impatient, and he would be able to find a suitable position in the military department after a while, and on the other hand, he sent someone to Su Hou's two families to deliver a letter, so that Su Pohou could make preparations in advance. On the evening of the seventh day of the first month, I went to the Yiguo Mansion to have a meal of candied wine, and the next morning early in the morning, I waved to Wang Yi who went south to Jiazhou in Shili Pavilion outside the city. As a result, when I went to the Zhuangzi of the Ran family, I asked the eldest daughter of Ran Linde's Weng family before she was promoted to Dali Temple and broke out of prison, and Lao Ran went to her in-laws' house the day before yesterday to congratulate her. After asking when he could come back, the boss of the Ran family, who hadn't figured out the origin of the guests for a long time, spread his hand and said: It may be three days and two days, or it may be ten days and a half months.

Shang Cheng, who ran to find his old comrades-in-arms and catch up with his old comrades, had to go home sullenly.

When he got home, he was told that Xue Xun, the left attendant of the ministry, had been here for a long time.

Xue Xun came to congratulate him. The Son of Heaven proclaimed the system, Guo Biao conferred the title of the seventh founding prince of the country, and the false title of the country was Yue; Zheng VII was awarded the fifth founding uncle; The rest of the soldiers who went out on the expedition were rewarded according to their merits, or promoted or exempted from taxes, and were given money, food, cloth, and silk. Because Guo Biao's fake governor of Yanshan was recommended by Shang Cheng, the imperial court once again sent him more than a dozen carts of money and grain; At the same time, in order to reward Shang Cheng's meritorious work, and also to allow Ying Xianbo to better nourish his body, he specially selected a Zhuangzi near Gyeonggi to give him. However, because the owner of the former Zhuangzi was an heir, some places in the Zhuangshang Mansion were the system of the king, and it would take a little time to rebuild and repair it, so it was not announced to Shang Cheng for the time being. Xue Xun only heard about it today, so he hurriedly ran over to report the good news to Shang Cheng.

Shang Cheng heard Nanyang talk about Zhuangzi on the fourth day of junior high school, and he was not surprised at all when he heard Xue Xun's words. But Xue Xun didn't take off his court clothes and ran to say goodbye, he was still very grateful. He pulled Xue Xun to sit down, poured him a cup of tea and soup, and asked him, "Have you been to the Prime Minister's Mansion in the past two days?" ”

Xue Xun nodded. He blinked and waited for Shang Cheng's next step.

"Have you read Guo Biao's military report and merit book?" Shang Cheng asked. Seeing Xue Xun nodding again, he asked again, "Your brother-in-law should be called brother-in-law, right?" Your brother-in-law Yashige, how is he? He didn't see Guo Biao's credit book, and he was a little worried about whether Mizhong died on the grassland. He could see that Xue Xun actually valued Mi very much, and he didn't despise him at all because he was the younger brother of his six-room concubine.

"He was the first to rush into the Ancestral Court of the Assassination, so he was promoted several ranks in a row, and now he is a seventh-rank Captain of Guide." Xue Xun said. He and Shang Cheng were familiar with each other, so they didn't care about the splendid civil official city government in private, and said to Shang Cheng with a grin, "In addition, he was also blessed with an acre of Xuntian in Gyeonggi, and his sister and his father and mother couldn't keep together for a few days, and the family held a flowing water banquet for three days in a row." ”

Shang Cheng was a little moved. Although it is not easy to be promoted, it is even more difficult to receive Xuntian. Whether it is an official position, a lord, or money and food, if you don't bring it in life or in death, you won't have anything when you close your eyes and kick your legs. But Xuntian is different, that is to set up a stele in the field to show merit; As long as the stele is immortal, no matter how many teenagers there are, there will be people who will know what kind of merits this person has made. This is more convincing than being written down in the annals of history! Because words written on paper can be tampered with, while words carved in stone are difficult to change. It's just that Xuntian is too difficult to win and receive. He worked hard in the Yanshan Health Department for two years, from General Wupin to Shangzhu Guoying County, but Xuntian did not increase an inch, and he still only had the three acres of land before taking over as the fake governor of Yanshan. Yan Shanwei has been fighting continuously in the past two years, and his record is also good, and there are many soldiers who have been promoted, but there are only a handful of Xuntian that can be received, adding up to less than 20 acres. For example, Sun Zhongshan broke Heishui City and entered Zheng Guogong, but he failed to receive Xuntian, and the Xuntian granted before and after the war in Heishui City was only six acres; Yandong's victory was the only one acre of Xuntian that Tu Xian received...... Of course, Xuntian's difficult situation is also related to Yan Shanwei's too many achievements in the past two years. Two years ago, no matter who could capture a gold medal of the Trumpets, they would definitely be able to exchange it for an acre of Xuntian. But this thing can't be done now, and the gold medal is worthless now. When Sun Zhongshan broke through Heishui City, he drew forty or fifty gold medals, and Zhang Shaoximensheng also found six in Yandong, and all of them were sent to Beijing to ask for merit from the imperial court, and as a result, they exchanged a few carts of grain and a paper commendation order. Just because of this, several other Wei Zhen beat their chests and were frustrated that they couldn't share the soup in Yan Shanwei's bowl, and at the same time scolded Yan Shanwei behind their backs to the point of blood.

After talking about the wedding banquet at Mizhong's house for a while, Xue Xun asked: "I heard that you gave Li Dingyi an idea to help the Taishi Bureau find the Ministry of Industry to cast what kind of celestial observatory?" ”

"yes." Shang Cheng said. He was a little curious how Xue Xun could bring up this topic.

"I heard that it was Chang Xiushi who you personally found?"

"Yes." Shang Cheng was even more puzzled. Can this matter still have something to do with the officials?

Xue Xun thought for a moment and asked, "Are you familiar with the people from the Taishi Bureau?" ”

"Not familiar. Except for Li Dingyi, I don't know anyone in the Taishi Bureau. Shang Cheng said, "I actually talked full of words when I was drunk, and I was finally entangled by Li Dingyi." If I had known this guy's true face in advance, it would have been impossible for me to have any kind of celestial and terrestrial observance with him......"

Xue Xun was silent for a while, and said as if he had made up his mind: "Zida, you are not an outsider, so I won't hide it from you." That's the case, I've been an official for many years, and I still have some living money in my hands, about seven or eight hundred. You know, firewood and rice are expensive in the capital, and the land price is even higher, so this money can't actually buy a few acres of land, and you have to bear the risk of impeachment by the imperial history, so you have been putting it there to grow mold. He said as he looked at Shang Cheng's face. Didn't I hear that the Taishi Bureau and the Ministry of Industry are going to burn new samples of glass one by one, is it trying to burn glass, I wonder if I can ask the name of the Taishi Bureau to participate in it......"

Shang Cheng was silent. Xue Xun's words are true and false. It is impossible for the so-called money to be moldy, at least it can be lent out by others; As for not daring to buy land near Gyeonggi for fear of impeachment by the imperial history, he believed it. Since the Qin and Han dynasties, the rulers of successive dynasties have been extremely sensitive to the issue of land annexation, and have also tried to moderate the trend of land annexation. Especially in the Gyeonggi area, where the Gyeongshi is located, whether it is for the sake of peace or strict criminal laws, in short, even if the phenomenon of land annexation in other places is rampant and powerful, the vicinity of Gyeonggi can be quite acceptable. Like the Chen dynasty in front of him, the stage of the collapse of his rule is still early, and the politics are relatively clear, so he will inevitably be more vigilant against the phenomenon of large-scale land annexation that shakes the foundation of his rule. The foreign country is too far away from Shangjing, and the imperial court is a bit beyond the reach of the whip, as long as it is not particularly excessive when annexing land, it will turn a blind eye; But the vicinity of Gyeonggi is right under the noses of Zhang Pu, and if anyone dares to stir up the wind and rain here, he will act rashly, not to mention, if he is light, he will be punished with weight. Especially a high-ranking official like Xue Xun, every move is watched by countless pairs of eyes, even if he only buys a few acres of land, I am afraid that he will have to bear the reputation of "privately buying acres of land for profit", although it is harmless, but it is always not beautiful......

He suddenly remembered that when he went to look for Zhen Xiang two days ago, Zhen Xiang also mentioned in a flickering speech that a relative was asking about the glass. Now that I think about it, that relative may be a real person, but most of the people who want to participate in the shares are really Xiang himself, whether it is a loan or a land purchase, not to mention the amount of profit, at least he has to carry a bad reputation, where is the shareholding glass to come easily?

However, he was also a little puzzled. He didn't say it himself, at least he knew how terrible the profit would be if he could really burn the glass out; However, like Zhenqian and Xue Xun, they can't be as clear as themselves, right? How could they be willing to throw money into it?

While he was thinking nonsense, Xue Xun was still talking: "...... The people of the Taishi Bureau of the Ministry of Industry read their hearts and eyes stupidly, and when they met with the Ministry of Industry, they only needed 20% of the shares. The Ministry of Industry contributed money, craftsmen, and kilns, accounting for eighty percent of the total shares. Now it's like this, the Taishi Bureau has no money, so it takes out these two shares and sells them, and the result is ......" He suddenly stopped talking and let out a long sigh.

"How did it turn out?" Shang Cheng hurriedly asked. After he pleaded with Chang Xiu and the Ministry of Industry to agree to test the glass, he cared about this matter again, so he didn't know what this matter turned out to be.

Xue Xun didn't answer his words, and asked him first: "Zida, are you and I close?" ”

"What are these words?" Shang Cheng said unhappily, "If you and I are not close, then where are there any friendly people?" ”

"Since you and I are close, why are you reluctant to sue me for the glass-burning matter, but you directly found Chang Wenshi?"

Shang Cheng opened his mouth and couldn't answer. He helped the Taishi Bureau make the Celestial Observatory, this should be a business matter, right? Since it was an official matter, wouldn't it be reasonable for him to seek the Ministry of Works? That's what the Ministry of Industry is in charge of. Aren't all the armillary spheres or something from the Taishi Bureau earlier cast by the Ministry of Industry?

"Of course, casting the celestial sphere is a business matter, but burning glass is not a business business!" Xue Xun said incomprehensibly. He said in a complaining tone, "You have come up with a new way to burn glass, why do you want to find the Ministry of Works?" ”

"Not the way I came up with it......" Shang Cheng immediately denied it.

Xue Xun sneered and said, "Li Dingyi and Tian Qingshan are both frank gentlemen, they don't dare to take credit for you." "Li Mu and Tian Xiu are both upright people, where can you hide your head and shrink your tail like Shang Yanshan?

Shang Cheng closed his mouth in embarrassment.

Xue Xun also felt that his words were a bit heavy, and he didn't want to apologize to this Shangzhu Kingdom who dared to admit it, so he changed the topic and said: "You should still tell me a prophet, or tell the real adult, why bother to ...... ...... "He didn't know what to say. It's too cheesy to talk about money, but if you don't talk about money yourself, it can't be general, so in the end I had to cover up this sentence vaguely. “…… You shouldn't have gone to the Ministry of Works. By the way, find two families and let them spread the word that there is a good way to make money, and I'm afraid that no one will be willing to send money to try to burn any glass for you? One by one, do you know what kind of market the two shares of the Taishi Bureau are now? ”

Shang Cheng shook his head. He finally reacted now, where did Xue Xun come to him to congratulate him; This guy is just here to complain! But how did he know that Xue Xunzhen had living money in their hands and wanted to find a way to make money? He also thought that these two waiters who never mentioned the word "money" in front of him were Qing officials with clean sleeves.

"Do you think everyone is like you, with hundreds of households and tens of thousands of acres of land?" Xue Xun narrowed his eyes and said angrily, "Qingguan also has to eat!" There are dozens of mouths in my house counting on me to eat and drink! ”

Shang Cheng had no choice but to apologize for his momentary quick mouth. He pulled the topic back and asked: "What kind of market is the two percent shares of the Taishi Bureau now?" ”

"I went to ask someone last night, and it was one to four or five."

"What do you mean?" Shang Cheng didn't understand for a while. This is selling shares, holding the money and going to the end, how can it still pull out "at that time", is it still futures trading, and the price will rise and fall later? Besides, what does it mean to exchange four or five, is it that one percent of the shares will be sold for 4,500 copper coins?

"Four thousand five hundred for one percent of the shares." Xue Xun said with a sigh.

Shang Cheng opened his mouth and couldn't speak. You don't have to pay a penny for co-authoring the Taishi Bureau, just selling a craft that I don't know if it can be done, and you can sell it for 9,000 yuan? That's a lot of money, isn't it? He is now admiring Tian Xiu so much. He is worthy of the person who wrote "Qingshan Manuscript"! Tsk, look at other people's skills, the real empty glove white wolf, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a model of business operation! He said tentatively: "Then you are looking for me, do you want to borrow money?" You say, how much do you want to borrow? Is 4,000 Guan enough? He remembered that there seemed to be more than 4,000 people in his house.

Xue Xun shook his head a little angrily. He was silent for a moment and said, "It's late, since the words of beating you have been spread by the guys in the military department, the price is rising day by day." ”

"What did I say?"

Xue Xun glanced at Shang Cheng obliquely unhappily, and he thought that Shang Cheng wanted to deny it to his face, and said, "'Glass has at least three times the benefit; If you have the ability, it is not uncommon to sell it for a hundred times the profit'—you said this in the military department yourself, right? ”

“…… Seems like I said it. But that's all I've said to Lao Zhen. Shang Cheng hurriedly said. Zhen Qian is the left squire of the military department, his mouth shouldn't be so big, right?

Xue Xun sneered again and said, "There is also the person who changed the tea and soup for you, he also heard it, and the rumor came from him." I guess the whole city knows about it now. When I came today, some people said that they saw the third child of the Wang family in Qinghe County and a young secretary from the Taishi Bureau going to the outer city in the same car......"

Shang Chengleng waited for a long time before he cautiously asked, "Then, Lao Xue, what do you want to do when you come to me today?" ”

"I just want to ask you for help to say something in front of Li Dingyi, and let him say it to the Taishi Bureau, my seven hundred thousand, according to the example of one for four or five, I should give me as many shares as I want. Success? Xue Xun said, "Although Li Dingyi is not working in the Taishi Bureau now, he is still very authoritative when he speaks there." With his help, I ......."

Shang Cheng interrupted him and interjected: "You can go directly to the Taishi Bureau, why bother to ask Li Dingyi?" "Isn't this a debt of favor for nothing?

Xue Xun's eyes puffed out at that time. However, he stared at Shang Cheng for a long time, and finally let out a sigh and said, "Of course I know that it is better to go directly to the Taishi Bureau." But the Taishi Bureau just didn't say anything. Since the day before the fight, your words came out from the Heavenly War Department, and Zhengqing of the Taishi Bureau was sick at that time. A few people in the Ministry of Labor, except for Chang Xiu, either went to Xijing or Xiangzhou, and all of them went out on business. Even Chang Xiu is also 'sick', whoever goes to his house, the concierge is a sentence 'the wind and cold are inconvenient to meet guests', and they are not even allowed to enter the door. He said with a dry mouth, grabbed a cup of cow drink, wiped his mouth very disrespectfully as a scholar, and said, "There's something you don't know yet." The day before yesterday, the Taishi Bureau released a word to sell two percent of the shares of burning glass, and the price at that time was one to one, and that night it was one to eight, and last night it turned to one to four or five; What will it cost tonight, you say? Do you think that others only run on the Taishi Bureau? The Ministry of Industry Shangshu Lang Qi went to other places for business, just because someone was pressuring them, asking them to hand over all the things about the test burning glass, at least to give up most of the shares! ”

Shang Cheng was speechless for a long time. Where could he have imagined that he would come up with such a "stinky" idea? Knowing that there was today's situation, he only went to burn glass with the Ministry of Industry after he ate it! He estimated that Li Mu and Tian Xiu were also troubled by this matter, so they hadn't come to him to discuss their ideas until now. Of course, they don't come to the best. He hated to swallow everything he had said now, where else did he want to say to them?

He could only comfort Xue Xun in vain and said, "Where can glass be so easy to fire?" Maybe all the money has to be thrown into the water, and I can't even hear a sound. ”

"But what if it burns? That's three times the profit. Xue Xun said unwillingly, "Do you think, how long does it take to burn a kiln?" How many kilns can be fired in a year? One kiln triples, how many triples can there be in a year? "What's more, there is a profit of tens or hundreds of times!

Shang Cheng had no choice but to say: "Then, I'll go back and find Li Dingyi to see if I can help you get some shares out of the Taishi Bureau." ”

"Good!" Xue Xun said. He is looking for business achievements for this matter! Now that the goal was achieved, he praised Shang Cheng a few more words, and then got up to leave.

Shang Cheng sent him out of the Yimen and watched him climb into the carriage. Before saying goodbye, Shang Cheng also specially told that if Xue Xun was tight on money when buying shares, he must remember to open his mouth, and he didn't dare to say more, there were still three or four thousand.

Sending Xue Xun away, Shang Chengcai said that he would go back to the inner courtyard to read the book, and before he walked to the inner study, he listened to the guards' announcement, and another guest came.