Chapter 62: The Back Road (I)

"Before the world is decided, there are already kings and ministers who are suspicious. To ensure such a mean boy as the emperor, even if it is successful, Sheng may have to end up hiding all his bows! "Completely different from the old eunuch Liu's thoughts at the moment, Sheng Wenyu, the political affairs of the big ** chapter, was disheartened after being tossed by Zhao Junyong and Han Lin'er's mother and son for most of the day.

He was a very bloody reader. The reason why he risked losing his head back then and accompanied Han Shantong, Liu Futong and others to pull the uprising flag was to make a living for all the people in the world, but secondly, he was completely desperate for his own future. And with so many years of wind and rain, most of the pride and ambition of the year have been washed away by blood, and the rest is only deep unwillingness to fate.

He was not a eunuch, and he never intended to be a slave. So for him, it is very important to keep a "wise man". If you choose the right one, not only can you be famous and smoked, but your children and grandchildren can follow the brocade for generations. And choosing the wrong lord is to work in vain in the world, and in the end even the head has to be a gamble.

Obviously, Han Lin'er was a wrong choice. Liu Futong's original act of inviting Yang and Han Lin'er's mother and son out of the mountain seemed to be extremely clever, but in fact it was equivalent to putting a rope around his own neck. Instead of being able to coerce the Son of Heaven to order the princes as he wished, on the contrary, if he was not careful, he himself would have his throat cut by this rope.

At this point, Zhu Chongjiu is much more clever. That self-taught guy actually drew a clear line with Mingjiao and the so-called Great Song Kingdom from the very beginning. At first, although there are some risks, it may even seem difficult. But after surviving the most difficult days, the sky is wide. No one can stand high above his head and point fingers, and no one can find a way to jump out and pull his hind legs when he is not in the center.

"Sheng Fu, come in and help the old man clean up, the old man wants to go out and have a look, and buy a few packs of new tea by the way!" Thinking of the Huai'an Army's seemingly absurd development trajectory over the years, but full of mysteries step by step, Sheng Wenyu turned his heart sideways, gritted his teeth and whispered.

"Here, master, you, you" Sheng Fu, a family general who has followed Sheng Wenyu for many years, agreed to enter, looked around, and asked hesitantly, "This year's new tea should not be ready to come down." It's only the middle of February."

"Long-winded! Can the old man want to go on a disguised private visit? You don't care so lenient! Sheng Wenyu changed his previous kind appearance, frowned and scolded.

"Yes, villain understands!" The general Sheng Fu did not get a good reward for his kindness, shrunk his neck, and responded respectfully.

Although he is a martial artist, he knows how to serve people very well. commanded a few maids to divide five by two, and after a while, Sheng Wenyu was dressed up as an ordinary rich man. The master and servant found a donkey from the backyard, one rode on it, and the other walked with the reins, left the house through the side door, and walked slowly towards the east market of Bianliang City.

Although just a few days after the first lunar month, the streets of Bianliang, which should be bustling and lively, have no signs of the festival. Most of the shops have been emptied, and only twenty or thirty stores have strong enough capital, or they are inseparable from the things they operate, and they are barely maintaining the last few points of vitality. Of course, there are also particularly hot businesses, such as green houses and casinos, which are the opposite of the prosperity of the streets. There is a morbid extravagance from the inside out.

"Alas——!" Looking at the sparse flow of people under the twilight, Sheng Wenyu couldn't help but sigh in a low voice. What did everyone risk their lives to rebel for? It is to give himself and the people around him a better way to live. And with so many brothers dead, this goal seems to be getting farther and farther away. In today's Bianliang City, except for the high-ranking officials of the Red Turban Army like himself, the livelihood of most of the others is not as good as it was at the beginning. Although it was the Mongol princes and the two Tatars who ruled here, now, the Song kings and officials are all members of the common people.

It has a noble goal, and countless people with lofty ideals have sacrificed their lives one after another. In the end, he got an ending that was completely opposite to the original intention. Every time he thinks of this, Sheng Wenyu's mood can't help but be heavy. If the person who won the world in the future was not born in the red scarf, how will the history of the new dynasty describe those who died? Zhang Jiao and Zhang Liang were described as demons, and Huang Chao was written as cannibalistic ghosts, looking at the annals of history, who can guarantee that the people who repair history will not frame the crimes committed by the officers and soldiers of Mengyuan on the head of the Red Turban Army? !

The more he thought about it, the heavier his mood became, and the blood all over his body began to chill. The whole person is like a lotus leaf in autumn, sitting on a donkey, and every step forward, it is shaky.

When his henchman Sheng Fu saw it, he quickly freed up a right hand and slowly pressed it on his back. While massaging the blood with all his heart, he prayed in a low voice: "Boss, go back!" There's nothing to see, it's so late, it's early to disperse. The ancients said well, the spring breeze in February is like scissors! ”

"You're going to use allusions!" Sheng Wenyu shook his head and laughed because of the general's crooked criticism of ancient poems. sighed and corrected in a low voice: "The spring breeze in February is like scissors, and it is the willow leaves that are cut, not people." If you talk about people, it is the cold rain and the wind in the evening, which is more suitable for the occasion! ”

"The villain doesn't read much and doesn't understand. But the villain thinks that the evening breeze is indeed a little cold at this time! Sheng Fu only hoped that he could successfully pull the proprietor out of his desolate state of mind, so he didn't care whether the ancient poem was quoted appropriately or not. Reaching out and scratching his scalp, he smiled and advised.

"It's good to blow the cold wind, at least it can make people sober!" Sheng Wenyu smiled and waved his arm a few times, his eyes gradually returned to clarity, "Go to Huaiyang business, that shop is doing brisk business, it is impossible to close so early!" ”

"Yes!" Sheng Fu was slightly stunned, and then nodded slightly.

He guessed that his proprietor was definitely not here to buy tea, so he didn't talk too much, pulled the reins of the donkey, controlled the speed, and walked to the largest shop in the center of the East Market without hurrying.

It was a three-storey building, and both the scale of the building and the level of the decoration were second to none in the entire East City. In recent years, countless Huaiyang novelty goods have been launched from here, and then quickly swept the entire Bianliang. Therefore, the people who come to the business to negotiate and buy and sell are basically all local tycoons and tycoons with backgrounds, and few ordinary people directly climb the bluestone steps at the door of the business.

Sheng Wenyu, who was dressed as an ordinary rich man, and Sheng Fu, who was dressed as a nurse, appeared, and immediately seemed out of place with the surrounding environment. However, the men of the business were very well-trained, and instead of saying anything to drive people away, they took the initiative to step forward and help Sheng Wenyu a few steps, and let him to a very warm and bright position in the hall, and then served hot tea and asked the old man about the purpose of this trip.

"Old man? You say I'm an old man? Sheng Wenyu was politely addressed by the guy, making him cry and laugh. He is only in his early thirties this year, and his two sons are still in their prime, so he can't afford to be an old man anyway. But if you just look at his full head of gorgeous hair and the crisscrossed wrinkles on his face, who dares to guarantee that he is not over the age of sixties?!

"This, this, forgive me for being clumsy. I don't see how old you are. Your old body is so strong, you must have just passed! The guy was taken aback and quickly bowed down to explain.

"That's it, the old man is the old man!" Sheng Wenyu smiled again and waved his hand happily. "Is your shopkeeper there? The old man has a business, and the scale may not be too small. Can you please take the time to see me? ”

"This" The young man looked at Sheng Wenyu suspiciously, no matter from which angle, he couldn't believe that the old tyrant who was over half a hundred years old in front of him was a businessman. But the oral and deed teachings of the predecessors of the ordinary shopping mall have long taught him not to judge people by their appearance. Therefore, he smiled and bowed down, and responded very politely, "This, Xiao Ke really doesn't dare to be the master of my family." In this way, please go to the VIP room on the second floor with me to sit for a while, if the big shopkeeper happens to be upstairs, Xiao Ke will ask him to come to see you immediately! ”

"Good!" Sheng Wenyu got up with a smile and let the guy lead him up to the second floor. From head to toe, he did not show the slightest appearance of being a courtier.

When the guy saw that he was so magnanimous, he didn't dare to slack off. After finding a spacious and bright room on the second floor and settling their master and servant, they immediately trotted to the shopkeeper to pass the word. About half a pillar of incense time later, the door curtain was opened from the outside again, and a middle-aged man with broad shoulders and a broad back, but with a natural Maitreya Buddha-like smile, walked in quickly.

Seeing Sheng Wenyu's master and servant, this person's body suddenly stiffened. Immediately, he took two more steps forward, and a long bow fell to the ground, "Oh, it turned out to be your lord, your lord." What do you need, just send your men over and tell Xiao Ke no? How can you dare to bother your adults to make such a trip in person? ”

He spoke politely, and his hospitality was extremely respectful, but from beginning to end, he did not mention the names and official positions of the guests. Sheng Wenyu saw it, knowing that the other party must have recognized him. So he didn't say much, waved his hand, and said with a smile: "That's it, we are all old acquaintances, so there is no need to be polite." I'm a few years older than you, you call me an old brother! ”

"Then, that little Ke might as well be respectful!" The shopkeeper was slightly stunned, and immediately understood that Sheng Wenyu really didn't want to make a noise. Hurriedly saluted again, and added with a smile, "Brother is above, my brother doesn't know that you are coming, and I haven't greeted you from afar, please forgive my brother!" ”

"What is not guilty, I am the buyer, you are the seller. With so many ordinary business contacts, who doesn't know what whom? Sheng Wenyu heard this, smiled and waved his hand again. The posture of the whole person is no different from that of ordinary large customers.

He is indeed a big customer of Huaiyang Firm. Especially in recent years, in order to support the Bianliang Red Scarf to bear the pressure on Huaiyang, Zhu Chongjiu has openly supplied all kinds of weapons to friendly forces. Although Bianliang has also worked hard to imitate qualified artillery and plate armor, the quality has always been a big difference according to the "imported" goods, and the production capacity has not been able to keep up with the consumption. In addition, all kinds of novel luxury goods produced in Huaiyang are the favorite of the senior civil and military of the Red Turban Army. Therefore, between Bianliang and Huaiyang, there are millions of money and goods exchanged every year. The heads of both sides have no less contact openly and secretly.

It's just that in the past, Sheng Wenyu was the payer, and the shopkeeper Zhang was the backbone of the business sent by Huaiyang firm in Bianliang, so the latter took the initiative to visit Pingzhang Mansion with gifts. This time, on the contrary, the party who sells the goods sits at home, while the party who pays comes to the door in disguise.

As the saying goes, when things are abnormal, they must be demons. After thinking about it for a while, Shopkeeper Zhang understood that something terrible must have happened inside the Bianliang Red Scarf recently. However, the market has been extremely peaceful these days, except for a group of red turban troops rushing back from Chenliu in the morning to boast of martial arts, there is nothing particularly noticeable at all.

Since he was puzzled, he didn't continue to speculate, first accompanied the guests to drink a few sips of tea, chatted a few words about the recent weather changes, and then stood up again and smiled and arched his hand, "Brother Sheng is the pillar of the country, and he also took time to visit the shelter in addition to his busy schedule, which really flattered the shelter from top to bottom." I just don't know what the big deal the old brother is talking about today? ”

"Don't be in a hurry first, first bother the shopkeeper to answer Sheng's question!" Sheng Wenyu waved his hand, and a few weird smiles appeared on his face.

"Brother, please speak!" Shopkeeper Zhang shuddered suddenly in his heart, but he quietly surrendered his hand.

It will certainly not be too simple to make a country come to inquire about it. And ask yourself, the Bianliang branch of the Huaiyang firm has never done anything that violates local laws, and the filial piety that should be given to each yamen throughout the year has never been short. Sheng Wenyu has such a high official position, it stands to reason that there is no need to come over in person to pick the bones.

was confused, but saw Sheng Wenyu also stood up, and gave his hand to himself very solemnly, "Sheng wants to ask, what are the chances of your President Zhu in this Northern Expedition?" ”

"This?" The shopkeeper Zhang was suddenly struck by lightning, and his right hand, which was held in mid-air, instinctively fell to his waist. However, only halfway through, he suddenly became alert, shook his head, and said with a smile: "Your Excellency is serious. If you ask me how many four-pound guns, how many cargo ships and iron armor can be provided by the Huaiyang firm in a year, Zhang may be able to go and find out. The Northern Expedition is a militaristic matter, and even officials at the prefect level may not be qualified to participate. ”

"Hehe" Sheng Wenyu didn't want to refute at all, just smiled and shook his head.

Although the Bianliang red scarf is not like Huaiyang's side, the fine work is all over the world. The Imperial City Division, which can be copied from the Song Dynasty, is not a promiscuous yamen. After so many years of overt and covert visits, I have long known that the largest shareholder of Huaiyang firm is Zhu Chongba himself. Of course, it is impossible to believe that a person like Shopkeeper Zhang has nothing to do with the Grand Governor's Mansion.

It's just that in the past, in order to maintain the relationship between the two sides, Bianliang never treated the shopkeepers and guys in the Huaiyang firm as fine works. Similarly, with regard to some of the detailed works that Bianliang had planted in Huaiyang in the name of doing business, Huaiyang's military intelligence and internal affairs departments also adopted a strategy of overt and covert tightness, and did not openly arrest or expel them.

However, Zhang heard people say at the time, "Sheng Wenyu was sweating with laughter, and the shopkeeper Zhang had to deal with it hard," I heard that this Northern Expedition is not difficult in the war. With the strength of our Huai'an army, it is a matter of time before the capital is broken, and it is impossible to return when it is blocked. But "

He bowed his hand to Sheng Wenyu again, and he solemnly added, "But after the fight, no one dares to guarantee whether it can gain a firm foothold in the capital." If you have a good idea, you may wish to teach it in person. Even if Zhang is desperately condemned by the owner, he will do everything possible to send the adult's advice to the chief manager! ”

Note: As a reminder, this book is almost finished. Thank you for your sincere companionship for more than a year. The next one is a story of five generations, I hope everyone can like it too.