The current king of Chu, Zhu Huakui, has a very early heir and a very long lifespan, and is now an old man in his seventies. He also has a twin brother who looks exactly the same, Zhu Huabi, the king of Xuanhua, who also lives long.

Zhu Huakui is not like many Zhu family vassal kings, he has a fat and bloated figure, a wide and full face, but a shriveled body, a thin face, and a long white beard on his chin.

"No wonder the sect people doubt your bloodline!" Zhu Zhihan slandered in his heart, lying on the ground and kowtowing to worship.

Zhu Huakui, the king of Chu, seemed to be moving his mouth, and he couldn't hear any sound. A middle-aged eunuch beside him who was full of heaven passed down the will loudly:

"The princes of Chu are sitting and talking!"

Soon the little eunuch presented two mazas. Zhu Zhihan and Lu San thanked them again, and then sat down. At this time, Zhu Zhihan saw that Zhu Huakui's mouth seemed to be moving, and the eunuch beside him once again passed down the will of the king of Chu:

"The prince of Chu asks you, you have to answer well!" The eunuch said loudly, "The prince of Chu asked you, the two feudal domains of Chu and Shu are in the same vein. The wealth of Shu is known all over the world. Others came to cheat the Chu Mansion of money, but it was just a matter of paying it back. Why did you Shu Shizi also come to fight the idea of Chu Mansion? ”

……

The palace of the king of Chu was built in the center of the southern foot of the Yellow Pigeon Mountain (now Snake Mountain) across Wuchang City from east to west, two miles from east to west, and four miles from north to south, accounting for half of Wuchang City. In addition to the Chu Wangfu, more than a dozen kings of Chu Fan County were also crowded in Wuchang City. It can be said that the architectural facilities of the entire Wuchang City, including the provincial capital and county yamen, were built around the palace of the king of Chu.

Zhu Zhihan and Lu San entered all the way from Chumen, the main gate of Chu Mansion, and had fully appreciated the luxury and grandeur of Chu Wangfu. From time to time, Lu San whispered a comparison between the Chu Wangfu and the Shu Wangfu, for fear that Zhu Zhihan would not know that he had entered the Shu Wangfu.

In the empty transport hall, except for the king of Chu and the eunuch, there were only four people, Zhu Zhihan and Lu San.

Yesterday I submitted a letter to ask for a meeting, and today I was summoned by the main hall, and there were no civil officials such as the left and right Changshi present, is it just to humiliate us?

It's not like that! Zhu Zhihan judged in his heart. Undeterred by the bad start, he cleared his throat and looked up and asked loudly:

"Why did the prince of Chu ask Shu Shizi for cheating money for no reason? I don't know! ”

"Chu Mansion silver, why did you deposit it in your bank?" The eunuch sneered and asked, "The Chu Mansion is so big, isn't there a place to dig cellars and store silver?" Besides, your bank has no interest, but you still have to charge any storage fees. Joke! The money bank in Jinshazhou (Note 1) has a monthly interest rate of two cents! The Chu clan is like a cloud, so no one knows the outside market? ”

Since it was the eunuch next to the King of Chu who acted as the vanguard, Zhu Zhihan deliberately avoided the King of Chu in his words, and pointed the finger at the eunuch beside him: "Since the father-in-law talked about interest, my son would like to ask: If the thieves enter Wuchang City, which one of the small money houses outside can guarantee the repayment of the principal?" They are too busy to take care of themselves, how can they protect the silver of the Chu Mansion? Huitong Bank is fine! ”

Zhu Zhihan's words were sharp, and the eunuch sighed, looked at the master's face and asked, "I don't know how you did it?" ”

Zhu Zhihan did not hide it: "If His Royal Highness the King of Chu deposits the silver in Huitong Qianzhuang, the grandson of the clan will immediately transport the silver back to Chengdu and put it in the underground silver vault." Three years later, if the clan relatives of the Chu clan took the deposit certificate issued by the money bank to Chengdu, the money bank immediately cashed the deposit certificate in cash without delay! Also, the matter of depositing silver, in accordance with the rules of the bank, is absolutely confidential and will never be leaked! ”

The eunuch listened to Zhu Zhihan's reply, and laughed a few times at the corner of his mouth. He turned to Zhu Huakui and bowed, "Lord Wang, they don't dare to lie to you, they are telling the truth." They really want to release this silver back to Shudi! ”

Zhu Huakui's mouth moved again, and then Zhu Zhihan finally heard a small voice. The eunuch waited for the king of Chu to stop, and immediately announced loudly: "The prince has a decree: the imperial court has rules for the princes of each family, dividing the feudal mansions without tin soil, the lords without the people, and eating Lu without governing things!" Since you and others have the Sichuan government to open the road to quote the text, then you and others opened a money village, and the Chu Wangfu has nothing to help. Retreat! ”

A well-prepared audience was hastily dismissed like this?

What does it mean to open a money bank and have no help to help? Are you happy to see it happen? Or do you sit idly by?

Lu San puffed out his eyes and glared at Zhu Zhihan, in order to impress the King of Chu, I memorized the tragic situation in Renshou County all night according to your instructions!

Zhu Zhihan ignored Lu San.

He just said out loud before sending off the King of Chu: "Shizi Dao, the silver taels deposited by each vassal this year will be kept free of charge; After this year, the storage fee will be increased by 10% every year! ”

……

Zhu Zhihan and Lu San found nothing, and walked out of the Chu Palace. But when you arrive in this Wuchang City, Qianzhuang must be built.

They hurriedly looked for a Chinese person to buy a house, and found a small yard in Pinghu Gate, near the Yangtze River. The most prosperous business districts in Wuchang City are Jinshazhou and Baishazhou outside the southern city, where most of the local money banks gather. Pinghu Gate is full of government offices. And Zhu Zhihan's construction of the money village is in the company of the official government, which is to explain the difference of his money bank.

By the time they had completed the formalities of the government and hung up the sign of Huitong Bank, several days had passed. There are still four countries and a half to go, Zhu Zhihan is anxious, and decides not to wait for the auspicious day of Qianzhuang to open, and set off for Qizhou the next day. But Lu San suddenly sent an invitation card and suspended Zhu Zhihan's plan.

The Yellow Crane Tower is a bamboo shoot-shaped high-rise building with two tops and three floors, five or six zhang high, and Yueyang Tower, Tengwang Pavilion are called the three famous buildings in the south of the Yangtze River. It is located on the top of the Huanghu (HU) Mountain, which can overlook the entire Chu Palace, and even Wuchang City, echoing the Qingchuan Pavilion on the Hanyang Turtle Mountain across the river. Like most famous buildings, the Yellow Crane Tower is a complex of buildings. In addition to the main building, there are mountain gates, cloisters and annexes.

The place where Zhu Zhihan was invited to the banquet was on the high main building.

The cold wind is howling outside, but the building is full of spring. Zhu Zhihan entered the Yellow Crane Tower, took off the cold-proof coat, and handed it over to the eunuch and palace maid to pick it up. A big-ass palace maid led him up to the main building, and immediately two masters greeted him.

One is about forty years old, dressed in a five-grade civil official robe, tall and powerful; The other person was about his early thirties, with a weak and kind face, a straight red robe, a jade belt wrapped around his waist, and a dragon pattern on his chest, front and back.

"It turns out that this is the clan brother from the Shu Domain!" The middle-aged man in the dragon robe took the lead in bowing and saluting, "In Xiaxuanhua Wangfu Governor Sun Zhu Shengmiao (HUO)!" ”

After reporting his identity, the middle-aged man in the dragon robe introduced the official next to him to Zhu Zhihan: "This is Lord Xu Xueyan Xu, the left chief of the Chu Palace!" ”

After Zhu Zhihan finished returning the salute, Zhu Shengmiao smiled and took his hand to take a closer look.

"I can't imagine that there are such heroic and handsome people in the Shu clan clan!" Zhu Shengmiao sighed.

"Really?" A slender female voice sounded not far behind Zhu Shengmiao, "Bring it and let my sister-in-law take a look!" ”

What you want to see Zhu Zhihan's appearance is a little girl, who is still young and younger than the world. She leaned on a bench, embroidered vertical collar skirt, white placket with fur small armor, uncombed temples, and long hair casually.

Zhu Shengmiao hurriedly introduced: This is Zhu Fengde, the youngest daughter of Zhu Huakui, the king of Chu. In terms of seniority, she is Zhu Shengmiao's out-and-out cousin.

"It turned out to be the county lord's aunt!" Zhu Zhihan strode forward to salute. He didn't have a good impression of this little girl who didn't know how to behave, so he shouted with a slight exaggeration.

The girl sat up straight and muttered pink lips: "Don't call people old!" It's really infuriating - before they got married, they became many people's aunts and grandmothers! ”

Zhu Fengde lost his temper. Maybe it's not strange to see it, Zhu Shengmiao and Xu Xueyan didn't pay attention to Zhu Fengde. They smiled and let Zhu Zhihan to the guest seat and chatted with each other.

Zhu Zhihan was originally a master storyteller, otherwise he would not be able to discipline King Qingfu's bunch of mischievous grandsons. Zhu Zhihan told the customs and customs of Shuzhong and what he had seen and heard along the way, and when he talked about the kindness of Jingzhou Wharf, but was surrounded by beggars, Zhu Fengde pursed his lips and sneered.

"I can't imagine that Shu Fan is so benevolent and righteous, and he still cares about the people in the world! If there is chaos today, everyone is looking after each other. If you can escape your life, you are the ancestors who accumulate virtue, where can you take care of others! ”

"The show begins!" Zhu Zhihan thought to himself.

He shook his head, indicating that he did not agree with Zhu Fengde's words: "Ordinary people can flee with their wives and children, but we can't wait for Emperor Gao's descendants." Leaving a little bit of blood is the bane of the new dynasty. Therefore, the new dynasty will not be merciful, and will definitely kill the Zhu family. The world is overturned, and others are ruined. My Zhu family is a dead race. Looking at the encounter between King Xiang and King Fu, you will know that the nephew is not alarmist! ”

Zhu Zhihan's face was warm and windy, but what he said was cold and biting. Zhu Shengmiao couldn't help but shudder.

Zhu Shengmiao's fear and cowardice fell into Xu Xueyan's eyes. He sighed in his heart, there is no one in Chu Domain! But as the chief of the Chu Domain, he will not fall behind at the beginning.

Xu Xueyan slowly picked up the tea bowl, took a sip of tea, and said to Zhu Zhihan with a smile: "Wuchang City is small and strong, and there is a big river to rely on, I am afraid that the thieves will take Hankou Hanyang, and I can only look at the river and sigh!" However, this official has heard that since the Chongzhen years, thieves and thieves have entered Sichuan several times, and they have surrounded Chengdu Mansion. The superintendent had no choice but to fly to the Chu army for reinforcements. Could it be that the Sichuan army is made of tofu scum and is so vulnerable? Isn't the white-pole strong soldier of the widow of Shi Yan Qin quite capable of fighting? ”

Xu Xueyan wanted to gain the upper hand, but Zhu Zhihan was overjoyed. So the Lord is here! We asked for a meeting, but we were sent away at the beginning of the meeting, and we didn't even have a return gift, isn't this reasonable! It turns out that they have left a back hand to see if we are serious or lip service!

Zhu Zhihan secretly cheered up and said to Xu Xueyan: "Lord Xu's candle shines thousands of miles!" Qin Zongbing is already old, and her man, son, and younger brother all died on the battlefield. Her old woman is alone, how can she stop the whole thief? The stone is a narrow place, the land is barren and the people are poor, and there have been several big battles, so you can imagine how many white pole soldiers can be left!

The Sichuan soldiers are even more unbearable: since Chongzhen broke into Sichuan in the seventh year, defeated the main force of the Sichuan army at Baiqingba, and Hou Zongbing died in a good column, and the Sichuan army was weaker day by day. Last year, the thieves entered Sichuan, and the Sichuan soldiers were defeated one after another, and finally Shao Jiechun had no choice but to send Fubiao. As soon as Fubiao went into battle, he was beaten by the thief! The generals are gone, and the whole army is gone......"

Zhu Zhihan followed Xu Xueyan's words, listed the facts one by one, and belittled the Sichuan officials and soldiers to uselessness. This is different from Xu Xueyan's expectations.

He asked with doubts, in this way, wouldn't Sichuan be in danger? The implication is that if the silver is placed in Shudi, isn't it more dangerous than Huguang? Then what are you doing here?

Zhu Zhihan is waiting for Xu Xueyan here. As soon as Xu Xueyan's words fell, Zhu Zhihan stood up, folded his hands, and bowed to the sky.

"Fortunately, there is no place for it! The ancestors of my Shu domain accumulated virtue and did good deeds, and the Bodhisattva descended a heroic and intelligent son for my Shu domain! My Shu Domain's society is saved! All the people of my Shu land can be complete! ”

As he spoke, Zhu Zhihan conjured up a special issue of Fuxing Daily from his sleeve and handed it to Xu Xueyan and others for circulation. He sat down and patiently told the deeds of the prince Zhu Pingjin to the governor of Chu Prefecture: reducing rent and salary, revitalizing education and education, preventing plague and controlling epidemics, encouraging agriculture and mulberry, vigorously cultivating land, setting up industry and commerce, restraining the sectmen, subduing the government, connecting the money village, the machine bureau, and the weaving bureau.

"Now the people of Shu have enshrined the portrait of the prince on the desk. Even the golden boy next to Guanyin Bodhisattva in the temple has to replace his face with a portrait of the son! ”

"Well, why is that?" The little girl asked curiously as she stared at the portrait of Zhu Pingjin in the newspaper.

"The people of Shu say that the son of the world is the reincarnation of the boy who scattered wealth in front of the Guanyin Bodhisattva. How can there be a bodhisattva in the present world who does not worship, but worships the clay sculpture bodhisattva? ”

Zhu Zhihan's words aroused the county lord Zhu Fengde's strong interest in Shu Shizi. She immediately threw down the newspaper and jumped up, and began to inquire around Zhu Zhihan, such as Shu Shizi's appearance, hobbies, and ...... Marriage and love history come.

Zhu Shengmiao and Xu Xueyan did not follow Zhu Fengde to mess around. They pondered silently for a while, and Xu Xueyan finally broke the silence and mentioned the most sensitive topic.

"Childe, it is rumored in the market that the son of Shu is the best at training. At the beginning of the year, there were countless floating corpses floating across the Wuchang River, which were killed by the Shu army and thieves. Is this true? ”

Note 1: Jinshazhou and Baishazhou are outside the southern city of Wuchang and are the most prosperous commercial areas in Wuchang during the Ming Dynasty.

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