The Qi family has three mansions in Jiangning County, of which the main house is located in Dongcheng, which is a mansion covering an area of 30 acres, for more than ten years, the house has been deserted, only a few old people who take care of the house, but since the Qi family returned from the capital, the old house of the Qi family immediately regained its vitality.

The biggest change in the Qi family is the old family owner Qi Wannian, since he restored the title, he is in a good mood, the whole person has become radiant, as if ten years younger, not only the restoration of the title, but also the emperor also publicly praised the Qi family for the contribution made to the Daning Dynasty at the court meeting, which has never been done before, which shows that the path chosen by the Qi family is completely correct.

Leaving the officialdom of the capital and becoming a simple commercial house, this road has obviously been affirmed by the emperor.

But there are pros and cons to everything, although the Qi family has re-embarked on the business path, its road ahead is not smooth, and an unknown shadow began to loom over the Qi family's head.

In the room, Qi Wannian was listening to the report of the manager of Qi Dafu Qian Zhuang in Baxian Bridge, Weiyang County, five days ago, Qi Dafu Qian Zhuang in Baxian Bridge in Weiyang County suffered an unusual large-scale run, in just two days, nearly one million taels of silver were taken away by the guests, although this matter quickly subsided, but the strangeness of this matter still attracted Qi Wannian's attention.

"Master, I investigated afterwards, not counting the small merchants who rushed to withdraw silver after hearing the news, there were a total of thirteen guests who really came to redeem, all of them were sea merchants who did trade between Yuben and Goryeo, and they were all our old customers, they came to exchange silver at the same time as if they had made an appointment."

"Did they say why?" Qi Wannian asked very seriously.

The second son Qi Wei, who was sitting on the side, was unimpressed by his father's attention, it was normal for Qian Zhuang to have a run, why did his father take it so seriously, but he didn't dare to say anything, and fidgeted beside him.

Steward Liu said cautiously: "I asked three of them, but they refused to say, a bite is necessary for business, everyone said the same, and then I found a way to find out a little bit of news, I heard that it was a person named Zhu Erye, who asked them for silver at a high interest." ”

"What kind of Second Master Zhu?" Qi Wannian grasped the main point of the matter.

Steward Liu shook his head, "I inquired repeatedly, but the insider was only willing to say the name Second Master Zhu, and said that this had already given me a lot of face, and he refused to say anything more." ”

"And how much interest does he use to get the money?"

Steward Liu lowered his head in shame, "Master, I've tried every means to inquire, I really don't know anything, I'm incompetent, please punish the master!" ”

Qi Wei finally couldn't help but say: "Father, the child thinks that this kind of run is normal, it has happened often before, and one million taels of silver is not a big amount, why does my father attach so much importance to this matter?" ”

Qi Wannian glared at his son unhappily, and then said softly to Steward Liu: "You go back first, I won't punish you for this matter, but you have to be vigilant, and report to me immediately if anything abnormal happens." ”

"Master, what about last month's loss?"

"Let's talk about that matter after the three girls finish reading! You can just give her the account later. ”

"Yes!" Steward Liu retired.

Only then did Qi Wannian say coldly to his son: "Do you know why I didn't care about this kind of thing before, but now I do?" ”

Qi Wei didn't dare to argue, and said in a low voice: "The child doesn't know, please ask my father to admonish." ”

"Because the situation is not good."

Qi Wannian sighed and said, "Since the emperor fainted last time, the situation in the entire court has become very weird, you may not know it!" The military power of the prince's East Palace Six Rates Mansion has been taken away by the emperor. ”

"Ahh Qi Wei was taken aback, "When did this happen?" ”

"Just three days ago, your eldest brother sent the news with a pigeon letter, the emperor appointed Fang Yi, the general of the Yulin Army, as the general of the new Sixth Rate Mansion, and now this army is still called the East Palace Six Rate Mansion, but it has been relocated to Yongjing to defend the East Palace of Yongjing, an empty palace, this is the emperor's means, let the prince eat coptis dumbly, and there is a holy decree that the people are not allowed to smelt pig iron, all under the unified control of the official."

"But wasn't it allowed before?"

"In the past, the people were not allowed to trade pig iron, but in fact, it was repeatedly banned, but this time it is really moving, and the private smelting is not allowed, and the source of pig iron from the people is cut off, do you know why? This is to control the major forces to recruit private troops. ”

Qi Wei thought for a while and said: "But there are still loopholes, smelting is not allowed in China, and it can be purchased from overseas, which is also difficult to ban." ”

"There will be a way, I estimate that the water army of Huangfu Wujin will start to get busy."

Qi Wei was silent for a moment, but finally couldn't help asking, "Father, isn't our Qi family not involved in politics?" Why did my father pay so much attention? ”

Qi Wannian's face sank suddenly, "Why are you so confused, my Qi family is not involved in the officialdom struggle, it's not that I don't pay attention to political affairs, the Qi family has such a big business, if you don't pay attention to current affairs, I'm afraid I don't know how you died, it is precisely because of the strange situation in the imperial court that I attach so much importance to the matter of Weiyang County's run on deposits, do you think that if our Qi family doesn't interfere in politics, it will be very peaceful?" Will Uncle Shen and the crown prince forget us? Don't be too simple in your mind! ”

Qi Wei wiped the sweat from his forehead, he didn't dare to talk back, he felt that he couldn't understand his father more and more, his father kept saying that he would quit the officialdom, but he tried his best to please that Huangfu Wujin, you know, Huangfu Wujin is also a Liangwang family, isn't this also dealing with officialdom?

At this time, the voice of the old four Qihuan came from the door, "Father, I'm back." ”

"Come in!" Qi Wannian's spirits perked up, and he said to Qi Wei again: "You go!" You can buy the three silk shops in the West Market, and you can do it. ”

Qi Wei was stunned for a moment, he was in charge of Qi Dafu Qianzhuang, how could he ask the silk shop, it should be the matter of the fourth child.

But he didn't dare to ask more, so he had to retreat slowly, Qi Wannian looked at his back and shook his head, this second son was too insensitive to changes in the political situation, and even a little stupid, not suitable for managing Qianzhuang anymore, he decided to let the fourth Qi Huan take over Qianzhuang.

The door opened, Qi Huan walked in, knelt down and saluted his father, "See father!" ”

"Don't make such a big salute, sit down!"

Qi Huan sat down and said, "Father, the child has already given things to Huangfu Wujin." ”

"Good!"

Qi Wannian nodded and smiled: "What about the three girls?" Did she meet Wu Jin's new wife? ”

"See, they seem to have a good conversation, they really made friends, Feng Wu is back, does my father want to see her?"

"No need, let her be as she is, that girl doesn't like to do hypocritical things, just let her really make friends, I won't ask her again."

Qi Huan said again: "I have already given the invitation to Wujin, he said that he will definitely come, in addition, he asked us to invite Zhang Shaoyin at the same time, I also saw him in Wujin's mansion today." ”

"Oh?" Qi Wannian was very interested, this was an unexpected gain, he had always wanted to establish a relationship with Zhang Shaoyin, but he didn't have a chance, but he didn't expect to get in touch with Zhang Shaoyin through Wujin.

"Good! You immediately go and send an invitation to Zhang Shaoyin, you go in person and invite them and their husband and wife to come together. ”

"Yes! The child will go at once. ”

After hesitating for a moment, Qi Huan said again: "Father, the child has a saying, I don't know whether to say it or not?" ”

"If you have something to say, just say it, what else should you say in front of me?" Qi Wannian reprimanded his son.

Qi Huan's face flushed, lowered his head and said: "The child has an intuition, Huangfu Wujin is likely to form an alliance with Zhang Shaoyin to deal with the Shen family together, as far as the child knows, Huangfu Wujin and Zhang Shaoyin had a very good relationship when they were in Weiyang County, it is obvious that Zhang Shaoyin was squeezed out by Yu Yaojiang and Shen Yuan, he will definitely pull Huangfu Wujin as his help, Huangfu Wujin is also not good, it can be said that they coincide, and tomorrow our Qi family treats, it is likely to become a place for them to form an alliance, In this way, will our Qi family also be involved in the officialdom struggle in Jiangning Mansion? This is inconsistent with the purpose of the Qi family to fade out of officialdom, what does my father think? ”

Qi Wannian also fell into contemplation, his son's worries are not unreasonable, the power struggle in the imperial court is weird, at this time Wujin came to Chuzhou to take office, the real motive is unknown, if the power struggle of the imperial court is involved in Jiangning officialdom, the possibility of Wujin and Zhang Rong's alliance is very large, in this way, if the Qi family and Wujin are too close, it is indeed easy to be involved in the officialdom struggle, with the emperor's eyes and ears, it is impossible for him not to know, he thinks that the Qi family has reversed his word, which makes him angry with the Qi family, and he really has to be careful of this.

Qi Wannian just wanted the Qi family to establish a personal friendship with Wujin, and didn't want to get involved in the officialdom struggle in Jiangning Mansion, he thought about it and said, "That's it!" Zhang Shaoyin doesn't need to be invited, and then invite a few big squires from Donghai County to accompany him, let's just hold a gathering of fellow villagers, so that others will not be distracted. ”

Qi Huan secretly praised his father for being really clever and easily resolving the trouble caused by the treat, and he said: "If you invite unfamiliar outsiders to come, will it be inconvenient for Huangfu Wujin's wife to attend?" ”

"It's okay, the female dependents will go to the inner house, and I will let Feng Wu entertain you, so it's solved."

"The child understands, the child does not disturb the father's rest, so he retreats."

"Wait a minute!"

Qi Wannian stopped him, "I have one more thing to tell you." ”

"Father, please!" Qi Huan stood beside his father with his hands down.

Qi Wannian smiled and said slowly: "I plan to adjust everyone's division of labor, this is also a common practice, it should be adjusted at the beginning of the year, I have been delaying until now, I plan to let your second brother manage the silk line, Qi Dafu Qianzhuang, you will take over." ”

Qi Huan is overjoyed, Qi Dafu Money Village is the most important business of the Qi family, and his father handed it over to him, which shows his trust in him, "The child must work hard and not let his father down!" ”

Qi Wannian waved his hand, and said earnestly: "Don't think about things too simply, you are actually in danger, the money village has been a little unpeaceful recently, especially the run on the Baxian Bridge money village in Weiyang County, decades of experience in the shopping mall, let me always feel that the water behind this matter is very deep, you can start to investigate, I mean, if the strength of our Qi family is not enough, you might as well ask Huangfu Wujin for help Meihuawei to help." ”

(To be continued)