2, Zuo Zongtang is here

This is not only an era that rewrites modern Chinese history, but also an era that rewrites modern economic history, Rockefeller, Morgan, Mellon, DuPont, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo...... These world-class conglomerates have laid their foundations in this era.

First of all, Hu Chuyuan has to thank Hu Xueyan for leaving him a solid foundation.

Unlike many wealthy people in later generations, Hu Xueyan's wealth is extremely real, all of them are snowflake silver, and the real fixed assets are only the Hu family compound worth 3 million taels of silver, more than 60 storefronts, a mansion, two small gardens, and more than 3,000 acres of mulberry fields and more than 1,000 acres of paddy fields outside Hangzhou.

In the general account of Fukang Qianzhuang, Hu Xueyan kept 4.25 million taels of private accounts, 2.57 million taels of silver in Xueji Silk Bank, 1.62 million taels of deposits were given to Sannong in Hangzhou, Quzhou, Huzhou, and other prefectures at the beginning of spring, 780,000 taels of silver were retained by the Gongji pawn shop, 700,000 taels of silver were retained by Hu Qingyutang, 200,000 taels of silver were retained by Yufeng Rice Bank, 2.7 million taels of loans were retained by the Hunan army, and more than 5.7 million taels of goods were not paid by several foreign companies -- these money had to wait for the foreign companies to sell raw silk to foreign textile merchants one after another. can be returned to the Hu family one by one.

In the silver cellar of the Hu family's compound, there are still three million taels of "descendants' money", and the descendants have no money to use, so they can take out the money in it to save the emergency.

This kind of money is available to all big families in this era.

Excluding property, the total capital is 21.52 million taels of silver, and the liquidity in hand is 8.5 million taels of silver.

In addition, Fukang Qianzhuang has 27 branches in the country, and the perennial deposit of more than 20 million yuan of silver, with an average of about 800,000 taels per family, 30 percent of which are official deposits, and 50 percent of which are deposits of squires and merchants with great mobile surnames.

……

In a flash, Hu Xueyan had been dead for nearly ten days.

Yesterday, he really couldn't wait for Tan Yiyun, the third treasurer, Hu Chuyuan estimated that Zuo Zongtang must have returned to Xinjiang Province, so he asked the second housekeeper Hu Rong to go to Jiangning Mansion to find Shen Baozhen, the governor of Liangjiang.

Although Shen Baozhen is not from Hunan, he has a good relationship with Zuo Zongtang, and for Zuo Zongtang's sake, he has to take care of it a little.

As for the funeral for Hu Xueyan, it can't be delayed any longer.

The time for the ancients to stay in the mortuary was as little as three days and as much as seven days, but now it is ten days, which is not suitable for reason and reason.

In order to prevent officials and customers from going to various money banks to withdraw money and run on it, Hu Chuyuan has arranged for the big shopkeeper Chen Xiaobai to take out the money in the silk store first, and the pawnshop and medicine store business will be collected, and the funds will be pressed to avoid accidents.

In the business arena for the time being, he is not afraid of the opponent waiting for the opportunity to plot, and the things in the officialdom will not be clear, and Hu Chuyuan can only wait for Shen Baozhen's reply.

In Hu Xueyan's study, Hu Chuyuan and the chief housekeeper Wang Baotian, the big shopkeeper Chen Xiaobai, the second shopkeeper Liu Chengxiang, and the fourth shopkeeper Shen Furong settled the accounts.

The five of them were counting the family's assets when there was a shout outside the porter.

"Big Young Master...... Old lady! Someone in the distance screamed at the main entrance, and ran eagerly inside, the sound getting closer and closer.

Hu Chuyuan lived at home for half a year, and as soon as he heard the voice, he knew that Tan Yiyun was back.

His heart flashed, according to the time, the third shopkeeper Tan Yiyun definitely did not go to Xinjiang Province, so ...... Zuo Zongtang is in Beijing, which is very lucky.

He hurriedly got up and led Wang Baotian and the three big shopkeepers to rush out quickly.

As soon as Hu Chuyuan and the five of them arrived at the door of the flower hall, Tan Yiyun also ran into the door, and when he saw Hu Chuyuan, he hurriedly said, "Young Master, Lord Zhongtang...... Lord Zuo Nakado is here! It's coming! ”

Hu Chuyuan was extremely surprised, he didn't expect Zuo Zongtang to come in person.

"Quick...... Call the old lady and the fourth master out to greet them! Hu Chuyuan hurriedly gave an order to Wang Baotian, and he went to the main gate of the Hu family's compound with Chen Xiaobai and others.

Ten days later, the gate of the Hu family was reopened, and the sound of soldiers and horses could already be heard in the distance, mixed with the noise of the common people.

Hu Chuyuan walked out of the gate quickly, and at a glance, there were two long formations lined up at the intersection of Yuanbao Street, thousands of soldiers brave, riding or walking, and in the center was a sedan chair inlaid with gold and red, leading the way, and the two military attachés riding horses were all more than 1,000 studded cloth armor.

Such a momentum is indeed very amazing, and even Hu Chuyuan is a little stunned.

Soon, the soldiers arrived at the door of Hufu, and the sedan chair was parked at the door. As soon as the curtain was lifted, a wealthy old man wearing the official uniform of the imperial court walked out, his figure was not tall and burly, but his demeanor was unusually majestic and cold, and the momentum was hidden in his chest.

"Nakado-sama!" The two generals quickly dismounted and supported them.

Just looking at this official uniform, listening to those words, Hu Chuyuan also knew who was coming.

Apart from Zuo Zongtang, who else could there be?

The middle hall is a scholar, four halls and two pavilions, at most six, three each of the Manchu and Han, and being able to obtain this position has reached the limit of the Qing Dynasty regime.

Hu Chuyuan stepped forward and bowed: "Lord Zhongtang, junior Hu Chuyuan, my father is Hu Guangyong, the candidate of Jiangxi!" ”

Zuo Zongtang glanced at Hu Chuyuan with a stern expression, and immediately sighed sadly: "Let's take the old man to visit your father for the last time!" ”

"Yes!"

Hu Chuyuan nodded silently, asked the chief housekeeper Wang Baotian to take care of Zuo Zongtang's entourage, and led Zuo Zongtang into the Hu family's ice cellar.

The Hu family's ice cellar is hidden in a tunnel more than six meters deep underground, the four walls are made of thick bluestone, brushed with coal ash powder and mud, 16 meters wide and long, and three meters high, which can hide 100 tons of ice, and can be used for ice all year round.

Hu Xueyan's coffin was parked in the center of the ice cellar, and after being parked for a long time, the surface of the corpse was frozen with a layer of frost, and his complexion was pale.

Walking to the coffin, Zuo Zongtang looked at it, his eyes closed, and two tears slipped quietly.

After sighing and lamenting a few times, Zuo Zongtang sighed heavily: "Xueyan, you have really worked hard all these years, and even after you died, you have to suffer such grievances again." Old man...... I'm sorry for you, old man! ”

Hu Chuyuan hurriedly said: "Lord Zhongtang, it's all Chu Yuan's unfilial piety, I really don't know how much impact this matter has, and I don't dare to mourn ......!" ”

"No ......!!!"

Zuo Zongtang raised his hand coldly, not letting Hu Chuyuan blame himself anymore, and said: "You are doing the right thing, at present, the military affairs of Xinjiang Province have been owed more than 6 million taels, most of which are guaranteed in the name of your father, and the old man is negotiating with the imperial court to raise money." At this juncture, your father is leaving the West, which is really ...... The impact is huge. ”

After a pause, he said again: "However, since the old man has returned to Zhenliangjiang and is here, you can mourn." You are still young and there is no one else in the family to rely on, so let the old man preside over the funeral for you. ”

Hu Chuyuan said: "Thank you, Lord Zhongtang!" ”

Zuo Zongtang was silent, his thoughts were surging, and after a while, he said, "Alas...... How did your dad die? ”

Hu Chuyuan said: "Evil poison invaded, stroke in heat and heat, dizziness and swelling, red blood in the eyes, coughing in the lungs, so that the limbs were stiff and numb......!" ”

Without waiting for him to finish, Zuo Zongtang said coldly: "You remember, your father died because the imperial court military salary was delayed and the old man was too much debt, so that he had difficulties in business, was very worried, and died of blood coughing. Before leaving, I have already played the imperial court, chased your father to fill the title of Anhui political envoy, received a product to wear, awarded the rank of cloud cavalry captain, rewarded the yellow coat, and gave another 1,000 taels of silver for the funeral. The court clothes have been brought, and your family has paid for them, and they all use precious gems and beads, so they will be used to make shrouds. ”

Hu Chuyuan was a smart man, and he knew that the cause of death between the two was very different, and replied: "Thank you Zhongtang, my nephew is grateful, and I keep it in mind!" ”

Zuo Zongtang bowed his head, sighed, stopped talking, and waved his hand to signal Hu Chuyuan to go out on errands.

When Hu Chuyuan left, he stayed in the ice cellar alone, silently looking at Hu Xueyan's body, as if he was thinking back to when the two first met.

That year, he was fifty years old, just became the governor of Zhejiang, and Hu Xueyan was thirty-nine years old.

Sixteen years have passed in a flash, these years, since Hu Xueyan's help and care, he has never been short of money, food and military salaries with soldiers, and if he wants to buy foreigners' firearms and ammunition, Hu Xueyan will buy as much as he wants, and if he wants to buy a foreign machinery bureau, Hu Xueyan will buy machinery for him and recruit craftsmen.

Fuzhou Shipbuilding, Lanzhou Manufacturing Bureau, Gansu Weaving Bureau...... All this is always done by Hu Xueyan for him.

To put it bluntly, half of all his achievements in the past 16 years are due to Hu Xueyan.