"Boom-boom-boom-"

The huge sound of cannons attracted people's excited eyes to the direction of the dock, where dozens of sailors and seagoing ships, large and small, were moored there, and the gun windows on the side of the building ships were spewing flames in turn, and before long, the sky was covered with black smoke. The defenders of Canton were familiar with this scene. The vast majority of people saw such a behemoth sprayed with tongues of fire for the first time, and the people around the school yard were shocked on their faces, some were excited, and some children were so frightened that they cried.

"The big cannibal loses unjustly." Nie Siwei, the head of the Chamber of Commerce, said with emotion.

The merchants around him nodded in agreement. If they were impressed by the inspection of the infantry battalion, now the review of the sailors is deeply shocking, and some of the Nanyang merchant ships are also equipped with giant crossbows and iron cannons, even in the face of pirates or ordinary official warships, they are not without a fight. However, this kind of building ship, which is equipped with dozens of iron barrel guns, is not at all able to fight back by armed merchant ships. Before the officers and soldiers opened fire, the pirate ship might be able to escape with the advantage of speed, but the merchant ship loaded with cargo could not even escape. In the face of heavy artillery fire, personal bravery was of no avail. At this time, Nie Siwei and the others understood why the fierce Great Eater Pirates were blocked in the harbor by the South China Sea Sailors, and they didn't rush out until the end of the canopy was wiped out.

"Dad, is this an amplification of the artillery battle?" A bold little boy asked.

"This is the artillery of the imperial court sailors." Liu Honggui bowed his head and explained to his son Liu Fuxiang, "A few days ago, they drove away the big food robbers. "Liu Honggui is the son of Liu Gongliang, in Confucianism, Liu Gongliang is a gentle elder, Chen Dong and Chen Gongju are Liu Gongliang's descendants. Liu Honggui had a relationship with Er Chen, Zhao Xingde, and Huang Yuanlong. He was a learned Confucian scholar who was engaged in farming and reading as well as a mulberry garden and a silkworm farm. Although he has never been a scholar, he has long been a state student and is quite famous in the local area.

"The black thing flying in the sky," Liu Fuxiang asked loudly, "is this how it was made?" ”

The young children's voice attracted the attention of the surroundings, and many people looked at it. The people who stood and watched the ceremony in this area were all famous people and wealthy gentry in Guangzhou. "Don't be afraid, Xiao Liu Gongzi is not equipped with round iron shells," Sun Shen pretended to be witty: "It can be regarded as a cannon battle, this artillery battle is much more lively than Shangyuan!" His words drew a chorus of laughter. Some people even laughed and said: "Little Liu Gongzi, this cannon commander is not cheap, I heard that the eight-inch heavy cannon, one shot is more than a dozen, where is this artillery battle, it is clear that the money is scattered." The laughter around him was even louder, Liu Honggui frowned slightly, and secretly said that these guys have too much copper smell, and military affairs are simply child's play.

"I'm not afraid!" Liu Fuxiang shook his head violently, his little face flushed and said loudly, "I will be like them in the future." ”

"I want to be like Mr. Zhao and defeat those robbers." He pointed to the troops on the parade ground.

The child couldn't afford to be excited, and this solemn remark caused a small burst of laughter.

"Ambitious!" Sun Shen gave a thumbs up and said with a smile, "However, I'm afraid that your old lady Liu will be reluctant." ”

"Brother Sun Xian's words are wrong," At this time, Liu Honggui shook his head and said: "I am one with the upper and lower levels, and to protect the country is to protect the family, how can we be left behind." My father's approval is not enough, how can I stop it? He stroked Liu Fuxiang's head and smiled approvingly, "I'm afraid that he is too young, and his growth may not be good." "Since the imperial court opened up local regimental training, it has become a common practice for the gentry to train soldiers for self-preservation. Not only are scholars like Luo Huan throwing pen to paper, and the Liu family is a scholarly family like the Liu family, and it is not taboo for grandchildren to talk about military affairs.

"Boss Liu is really high-spirited." Sun Shen stretched out his thumb again and boasted.

He secretly pondered in his heart that even the grandson of Boss Liu would follow General Zhao's example. It can be seen that General Zhao's development of trade routes in the South China Sea was still supported by most of the Qingliu gentry. At present, there are fewer and fewer scholars in the imperial court, and if scholars want to become officials, one way is to go to school, and the other way is to be promoted, and these two roads must rely on the prestige of the scholars, and it is not easy to walk. In the past, as long as the ordinary wealthy gentry hired a full school of Confucianism, once there was a high school for the imperial examination, they would leap into the dragon gate and be blessed and expensive, and now there is almost no such situation. Prestige sounds like a vain thing, but it's more rare than anything else. A wealthy businessman like Sun Shen, if he is not a local tycoon, even if he abides by the Qingliu Law, can only slowly accumulate fame and make Shilin recognize him as a "good gentleman" rather than a "bad gentleman", so that he can hope to really squeeze into the Qingliu. However, businessmen are also particular about making friends with Qingliu, if they accidentally make friends with honey-bellied swords, or insatiable guys, they can't afford to lose their wealth. Businessmen are most afraid of corrupt officials. And a Qingliu celebrity like Liu Honggui, who is rich and white, has a good temperament, and also runs an industry, and does not exclude the friends of businessmen, is the best choice.

"The proprietor," said a shopkeeper, coming up with an ear, "the gifts have been confiscated over there, and the inkstones have been returned." ”

"What?" Sun Shen glared and said in a low voice, "Lord Zhao excused himself, didn't you repeatedly plead to accept it?" ”

"The villain begged." The shopkeeper looked almost unjustly killed, "But that side said, there is no adult agreement?" ”

Sun Shen prepared for a long time, and gathered the ancient inkstone used by the famous ministers of the Ten Directions before the court, and gave it to Zhao Xingde as a gift, which can be regarded as a scholar's elegant object. However, if the value of the Shifang inkstone is not less than that of rhino horn and ivory, and even if the family has a lot of money, it may not be able to collect so completely. Sun Shen searched everywhere with a lot of effort, and only then did he get all the numbers before the big school review. He guessed that General Zhao's mind was not only a famous man, but also a former courtier's self-proclaimed, but one of these inkstones secretly matched his thoughts, and General Zhao would have an excellent impression of himself. However, I didn't expect that none of the parties agreed with Lord Zhao's intentions, and all the ten inkstones were returned.

"Nothing agreeable?" Sun Shen frowned and asked, "What style does Lord Zhao like?" Did you ask clearly? ”

He seems to be easy-going and cheerful, but in fact he is a person who does not give up until he reaches his goal, and he has always spared no effort to make friends with the government. The atmosphere of the Great Song Dynasty is like this, as long as the exchange of gifts from the official gentry is not overtly bribe, they will not avoid people's words. The sailor is about to go on an expedition soon, and after this village, there will be no such shop. Therefore, Sun Shen was a little angry at this time, and his voice was a little louder. This time, as long as Lord Zhao's mansion reveals a trace of preference, he will definitely get it back at any cost, even if it is a thousand dollars, he has to get this way.

"This," the shopkeeper looked embarrassed and a little stumbling, "Lord Zhao replied......

"Say!" Sun Shen glared at him and urged, "What do you like?" ”

"The shopkeeper replied cautiously, "and the proprietor's kindness has been received." The ten ancient inkstones are all good, but these Lord Zhao don't like it. Lord Zhao's favorite is the Duanzhou tribute inkstone used by the Bao service system in this dynasty. ”

"Which one? Duanzhou Gongyan? Sun Shen said sharply, stomped his feet and said, "What are you doing in a daze, quickly go and search everywhere!" ”

"Yes, yes." The shopkeeper agreed, but he didn't dare to argue, so he wanted to retreat.

"Brother Sun Xian is slow," Liu Honggui on the side couldn't stand it, and said, "There is only one Bao servant system in this dynasty, that is, Bao Xiaosu Gong Bao Zheng, this adult has only used one Duan inkstone in his life, and it is an inkstone sent by Duanzhou's father." Therefore, according to the old legend, Bao Daren has been in charge of Duanzhou for three years, with two sleeves and a breeze, not taking a thing in vain, when he returned to Beijing at the end of his term, the doorman could not bear the begging of Duanzhou's father, and privately received a Duan inkstone. It wasn't until the official ship was about to leave the boundary of Duanzhou and could not turn back that the doorman offered this inkstone, and as a result, the servant system immediately ordered to stop the ship and take the inkstone and put it into the river water of Duanzhou, and then continued to sail. Liu Honggui's face was a little strange, and he looked at Sun Shen with a smile and said, "This dynasty has only used this square inkstone in his life, where do you let the shopkeeper find it?" ”

"Huh?" Sun Shen opened his mouth and stammered, he also knew the story of Bao Heizi's inkstone, but he didn't think about it for a while.

"Could it be that Lord Zhao is entertaining me?" Sun Shen said secretly, however, he thought about it again, as if he had opened up a little trick, and summoned the shopkeeper to him again, and asked, "You inquire outside, has Lord Zhao accepted gifts from other families?" The shopkeeper nodded hurriedly. Sun Shen looked at his back and secretly thought that if Lord Zhao was really a clean official like Bao Heizi, it would be easy to do. Since he was in business, he has been running around, he is used to seeing the world, and he has long since stopped believing in the things in the drama.

At this time, Sun Shen looked at the figure of Zhao Xingde on the school field, and there was a trace of expectation in his heart: "I hope so......"

In the middle of the viewing platform, another shopkeeper was also whispering to Nie Siwei, the head of the Chamber of Commerce.

"What?" Nie Siwei frowned and said, "Lord Zhao only accepted the box and returned the jade bi?" ”

"Yes." The shopkeeper said in a low voice, "Over there, the master's gift is too valuable, and it is really difficult for Lord Zhao to accept it." The small one also pleaded again and again, and the other side was very embarrassed, and reported to the house, so he took the jade wall out of the box and returned it to the villain, leaving the brocade box, saying that Nie Xingshou's mind was accepted in the box, but the jade bi was still returned to Zhao and returned to the boss. The villain pushed again, and it was very difficult for the other side, and he refused to return the gift, so the villain brought the jade back. ”

"It's a good one." Nie Siwei looked at Zhao Xingde's back, pondered for a moment, and sighed, "Lord Zhao has such elegance and wings, which is really a blessing for us." This expansion of the sea was originally intended to be left for the children and grandchildren to do. But now that Lord Zhao is presiding over the affairs of the South China Sea, the time is gone. This time, we also have to prepare more goods, and the ship should also go as far as possible, so that we can cope with it in the future, no matter who comes in the future. He didn't ask the shopkeeper where he put the jade back, waved his hand, asked him to step back, and turned his gaze to Zhao Xingde, as if this was a strange commodity.