Soon, several men in Chinese costumes with smiling faces were led in from outside and led to Lu Zhen to meet him. ~Sui~Dream~Little~Say~щ~Suimеng~lā Lu Zhen also met them with a smile, and after calmly receiving the knocks of several people, he invited them to sit down and asked them to prepare tea for the guests.

Yang Zhen, who was standing on the side, frowned even tighter when he saw this. This Lord Lu's attitude is really too kind, is he really planning to get some benefits from these people as he thinks?

However, because of his identity, it was not good for him to break in at this time and ask directly, and after some hesitation, he finally turned around and left. It's just a pimple in my heart, but it's planted.

The atmosphere in the hall was indeed quite good, and several gentry and merchant representatives were constantly saying flattering and flattering words to Lu Jin, while the latter listened with a smile on his face, as if he was very satisfied with their performance. It wasn't until they had said almost everything he had to say that he spoke: "It's just the right time for a few people to come from outside, and even if you don't come, the official plans to let the government introduce you to see you." ”

"Your lord's words are serious, if you want to see the grass people, you only need to say a word." The leader was a middle-aged man who looked quite rich and always had a smile on his face, and as soon as he heard Lu Jin's words, he quickly expressed his attitude humbly. Then, he asked cautiously, "But I don't know what the adults want to tell me to wait?" ”

"It's not a big deal, the governor of this official is new to the city, and he always needs to know some local things. Although Gao Fantai and other adults will also help me solve my doubts, but when it comes to understanding the folk affairs of Shandong, I think you know more clearly. Lu Zhen smiled and gave such a reason.

Although a few people present immediately praised Governor Lu for being a good official who was dedicated to the people, they didn't believe his words in their hearts. It's just that this kind of thing is not easy to break, so I can only follow his words and tell some customs and anecdotes about Shandong, especially Jinan, which is also interesting to listen to.

After a pause in their words, Lu Zhen led the topic and said: "If you talk about who is the most famous among the people of Shandong, I don't think you should think about it as a second person except for the Confucian family, right?" Since this official is the governor of Shandong, he will always have to deal with them in the future, but I don't know what you think of the Qufu Kong clan? ”

"Well, ......" Several people obviously hesitated, but the gentry headed by the surname Jin replied: "Yan Shenggong's family is naturally a big family that everyone in Shandong admires. Not only is the status lofty, but also the door is in order, which is the example of my Shandong family, and it is also the goal of my emulation. ”

"Oh? It seems that Confucius has a good reputation in your minds? When Lu Zhen spoke, his eyes made contact with several people in front of him, intentionally or unintentionally, and several of them subconsciously lowered their heads, but their mouths still agreed with him.

"Is that so? Then why did the official hear that the Confucian family was extremely powerful in the local area, and not only the people had to obey their orders, but even the government had to act according to their wishes? Isn't there a time when your interests are at odds? Lu Jin suddenly threw out such a question.

Hearing this, the faces of several people couldn't help but change, and after Jin Yuanwai shook his fist with his right hand, he smiled a little embarrassedly and said: "My lord said that I was joking, why have I never heard of such a statement?" Although the Kong family is very famous, they abide by their duties, and their descendants have not been out of Qufu except for scientific examinations, so how can they have anything to do with us? Moreover, we are only low-status businessmen, and we are not qualified to have any conflicts with the Confucian family. ”

There is a certain truth in what he said, because the Ming Dynasty has always despised businessmen, even if it has been established for a hundred years, the policy of suppressing businessmen at the founding of the country has also loosened a lot, but many times they are still not on the stage. And the Kong family, as the Yansheng Gong family sealed by the imperial court, is also the Tianwen Sect, so it is indeed difficult to hook up with the merchants.

Some other people also quickly understood, and nodded their heads in agreement: "Yes, yes, we have a lot of admiration for the Kong family, but it is difficult to have anything to do with it. As for whether there is any discord between the government and the Kong family, it is not up to the villain to know. ”

Seeing that it was impossible to find out some inside information about the Kong family from their mouths by means of side knocking, Lu Zhen had no choice but to give up, and then said something encouraging to them. If this kind of talk were to be said by an official, it would be dry, and it would sound insincere. But from Lu Jin's point of view, it is much more comfortable, after all, he knows very well how much businessmen have played a role in the development of the whole society.

When these people heard him say this, they were also overjoyed, and even a little proud. Unconsciously, several people sat up slightly and puffed up their chests. It is said that since they came in and saw Lu Zhen sit down, they have always been cautious, not only resting on the chair with half a fart, but also slightly rickety, in order to show respect for the governor, but now they seem to be a lot more relaxed.

After Lu Zhen said these words of encouragement, he suddenly changed the conversation and fell on what he really wanted to express: "...... For example, the ultimate goal of this official to be appointed to patrol Shandong is to open the sea ban, and the strong support of merchants is indispensable in this matter. Once the port is opened, the ship is shipped, and the time comes, I will still have to rely on you to send all kinds of products of my Ming Dynasty to Western countries in exchange for gold, silver and grain. Do you think so? ”

Several people subconsciously nodded frequently: "What my lord said is extremely true, we businessmen naturally want to contribute to the imperial court." ”

"Actually, it's not just this, but before that, you can also help the government a lot in all kinds of things about opening the port, and I hope you don't shirk when the time comes."

The few people who had come back to their senses hesitated slightly, but nodded in agreement. But they didn't think so in their hearts, how could such a major event of the court have anything to do with them businessmen? The Governor Lu in front of him said so many beautiful things, in fact, he didn't take a fancy to their money, and wanted to scrape some oil and water from them under the pretext of opening the port and opening the sea.

However, he and others came to meet today for this purpose, and even if he did not mention these things secretly, his own family still wanted to express it. And now, now that he has let his words out, several people will also consciously do the next thing.

I saw that Jin Yuanwai reached into his arms, took out a wooden box from it, and said to Lu Jin: "What Lord Lu did for my Daming, I and other Xiaomin have also heard a little. After knowing that you will be appointed as the governor of Shandong, we have been thinking about how to express our hearts. However, we also know that adults have always been honest and honest, and they must not accept any money. So I asked people to go to Liaodong to find a high-grade ginseng - adults must be working hard for me in Shandong day and night in the future, and I have nothing to be filial toy, so let's use this ginseng to replenish my qi. I hope that adults will not refuse. As he spoke, he handed over the wooden box made of Huanghuali, which was a foot wide and two feet long, with both hands.

Lu Zhen glanced at him thoughtfully, then reached out to take it, and said in his mouth: "Such a big ginseng, this official has never seen it." His hand had pulled the lid open, and his eyes had glanced in. At a glance, I saw the ginseng about two fingers thick inside, and the thick stack of silver tickets pressed underneath.

Only raised his eyebrows slightly, Lu Zhen had already put the lid back on the box at once, and looked at the few people who were obviously a little nervous: "This time I want to bear you!" ”

Seeing that he accepted the gift, several people's faces relaxed, and they hurriedly didn't dare to say anything, and then mentioned: "Actually, this gift is also a little bit of the heart of the adults in Shandong, and they asked me to wait to find the Lord Futai." If the adults use it well, I'll be able to find some more in the future. ”

"Hehe, that's the best way to go." Lu Zhen was not polite, and immediately responded.

Seeing that his appetite was so great, it really reached the point where he did not refuse, and several businessmen could only smile bitterly. You must know that those few silver tickets alone have accounted for the sum of their profits in the past two years. But under the low eaves, some things still have to be done against their will.

Fortunately, they believe that as long as the relationship with the government is good, there will be a chance to earn back this investment in the future. After comforting themselves in their hearts, they readjusted their mentality and talked and laughed with Lu Jinyou.

After the two sides said a lot of meaningless words, Lu Jincai served tea and sent off the guests, and several people smiled and left the governor with peace of mind.

After they left, Lu Zhen asked Yang Zhen to come over. After glancing at this somewhat gloomy face, Lu Zhen threw the ginseng box over: "Look at it, they are really big." ”

"Ah......" Yang Zhen took it casually, and then glanced at Lu Zhen with some surprise, and then opened the box. When he saw the stack of silver tickets inside, his face changed again. After taking out the silver ticket, it was him, and he couldn't help but exclaim: "There are 100,000 taels of silver!" ”

Lu Zhen was drinking tea, smelling this number, his hand shook, half a cup of tea was poured on his clothes, and he also gasped: "They can really afford to pay for it." "He has also received benefits before, but at most it is only a few thousand taels, and now it is dozens of times, but I don't know whether to say that Shandong is rich, or that his status as a governor is indeed high enough.

Yang Zhen didn't understand what Lu Zhen meant, so he looked at him and said, "What do you plan to do with this ill-gotten gain?" He deliberately added the last four words.

Lu Zhen smiled: "Well, I have my own plans." But don't worry, just 100,000 taels of silver, you can't buy me Lu Jin! ”