In a study room in Liufu, Hangzhou, an old man sits next to a desk and cuts potted plants on the table. The old man was dressed in a cotton coat and had a square scarf simply wrapped around his head. His hair is all white, but there are not many wrinkles on his face, and he looks good at maintenance, he is the contemporary head of the Liu family, Liu Yixing, who has entered the age of sixties two years ago. At the moment he was intently cutting some branches of the pine tree, and the fireplace in the house made the study warm like spring, and the firelight reflected on his face, making him look ruddy.

There was a knock on the door, and the old man didn't raise his head, but said casually, "Come in." The door slowly opened, and two men entered, similar in appearance to old men, with a Chinese face, a straight nose, and large, bright eyes. One of them looked to be about 50 years old, about 1.78 meters, and the other was in his early 40s and a little taller. After entering, the two bowed and saluted, "Father." The old man didn't look at them, he just said, "Sit"

The two sat on the chairs and didn't speak, just quietly watching the old man cut the potted plants. They are the old man's eldest son and third son, that is, Liu Xuan's father and third uncle. The eldest son, Liu Chengde, is a priest in Hangzhou, and although his official position is not large, he has a great reputation among the Shilin in Hangzhou. Liu Chengfu, the third child, is a well-known businessman in Hangzhou, and he is the nominal owner of many transactions.

At this time, the two brothers had anxiety and worry in their eyes, but the prestige of their father made the two of them dare not open their mouths to disturb. However, after a few minutes, the old man finished trimming, looked at the potted plant and showed a hint of self-satisfaction, and then carefully moved the potted plant a little away, and then sat down to look at the two sons.

"How is this pine tree, old man?" The eldest son bowed slightly and replied, "Father's pine tree is majestic and magnificent, and it is a rare and excellent product. The old man nodded, looked at the potted plant and said slowly, "This potted plant needs to be carefully served, which is why we have today's scene." The old man has never let anyone else touch it, do you know why? ”

The two of them arched their hands and replied, "I don't know, child." The old man smiled and said, "This potted plant, how to plant it, how to cut it, you have to come by yourself, so that you can grow into what you want in the future." If it is not taken care of every day, then it will grow strangely, and this pine tree will grow badly, and it will be worthless, and the old man will not get anything in the end. Watching it grow up slowly, I can't help but feel a little relieved. ”

"Father, the news of Xuan'er's imprisonment has come the day before yesterday, what should we do now?" Liu Chengde carefully voiced his concerns. Liu Xuan is a talent among talents in every aspect, and he can be said to be the first among his peers, and the family has already cultivated him as the next generation of family heads. Liu Chengde attaches great importance to this son, and now he is in prison, although he will not suffer much, but he is also very worried.

"How did the old man do what he told you yesterday?" The old man's tone was very flat. Liu Chengde immediately replied, "I have already been ordered, all kinds of important things have begun to be transferred, and the personnel have also been withdrawn." It's just that there are a lot of people and a lot of items, and it can't be put together for ten days and half a month. ”

The old man said noncommittally, "Do as much as you can, and let the people below be careful at this time." Now take back one more point, and our Liu family will have a little more vitality, and we can't be sloppy. Not really. Liu Chengde asked a little anxiously, "Let's not do something else?" ”

The old man looked back at the potted plant and took a deep breath, "What else can I do?" Just wait. Enough needs to be done. ”

At this time, the third Liu Chengfu asked cautiously, "Father, when Xuan'er was sent north to take charge of this matter, the child was a little confused, why did you want our Liu family to do it?" ”

The old man looked at his third son, with seven points of expectation and three points of guilt in his eyes, but he immediately returned to his usual appearance of Gujing Wubo, and said slowly, "Although major events will be notified to you at home, there are things about officialdom that have never been told to you. Well, listen carefully. You also know the Tianjia World Chamber of Commerce, and the manufacturing method of glass held by Tianjia can be said to be making money every day. This is the first time in the history that the royal founders of the Chamber of Commerce have been stunned for the money in the treasury, and they all agreed. Although glass makes a lot of money, but the expenses of the heavenly family are also large, although the Ming Dynasty has a name and surname, although it looks hot, but it is also passable. Later, there was soap again, and I heard that the fishing business with Xungui in the north was also very prosperous. In this way, everyone can't sit still. It's the same as a bonsai, if you don't pay attention, you start to grow on your own, and it's impossible to predict what it will look like, but it's certain that in the future, those of us who plant trees won't get as much as we used to. That's why there was this move, there were a lot of people in Jiangnan, and they were far away from the capital, so they discussed it. The old man started this and helped with the cutting. It's done, the Liu family can take more in the future, and if it loses, it will hurt its vitality, and maybe it will be difficult to make a comeback. Alas, the old man also wanted Xuan'er to take the opportunity to do something that day, so that the people in the family were quiet, and Xuan'er was young. ”

The third Liu Chengfu was a little surprised and a little surprised when he heard his father talk so much. Among the three sons in the past, he was the least valued, and from childhood to adulthood, his father did what he said, and never said why. It's just that he doesn't quite understand officialdom or political matters, so he boldly asked, "Isn't it just to earn more silver taels with these means that day, what's the big deal?" ”

The old man shook his head slightly when he heard this, "Money, saints and gentlemen are all disdainful, but where is there less officialdom." Thousands of miles for officials only for money, how many people can be willing to be poor and prosperous as a human being? Heaven is the head of my Ming Dynasty, and I am the only one in heaven and on earth. That's what I said, but in this world, I still have to be governed by scholars. Stepping into officialdom, no one doesn't like power, so the scholar wants to govern a peaceful and prosperous world, but at the same time, he also wants to let the heavenly family take it away, coil it, and don't let him do whatever he wants. Not only did it grab more power from this court, but it also made the Heavenly Family rely more on scholars and give more benefits. The heavenly family is the heavenly family after all, although my Ming court can refute the Son of Heaven, but the righteous name is ultimately in the hands of the Son of Heaven, and the refutation once or twice can not be refuted again and again. So what else can be done? You can only start from the money, many big and small things in the court are related to money and food, the more the court of the Ming Dynasty is short of money, the more the family depends on us, as long as we grasp a degree, don't make the family anxious, and the reader can always enjoy the blessings. If you want to get a good reputation for peace and prosperity, then let the treasury be full, if the Son of Heaven is tough, then let the treasury be less, let him be anxious, and compromise. The civil officials of the Ming Dynasty have reached the end of their power, as long as they keep it. But now that the Heavenly Family has begun to make money on its own, and unexpectedly can make a lot of silver, if this continues, the dragon of the Heavenly Family will have to raise its head again. Although you are not in the officialdom, the way inside should also be clear, if you really want to be investigated, how many people will have to go down, and the court will have to reshuffle. Taking advantage of the fact that the World Chamber of Commerce has not yet gained a stable foothold, it should take action, and it is too late, and this Ming Dynasty will change the sky. ”

Only then did Liu Chengde come to his senses, looking at him and nodding his head, the old man continued, "What is the fastest money in our south, and that is the trade of the feudal kingdoms. Cloth, silk, porcelain, tea, knives, guns, bows and crossbows were sold at a high profit, and this trade was by sea, and ordinary people did not do much. However, the northern heavenly family has already begun to build a big ship, and the purpose of the future is self-evident. Originally, I heard that those people from Longjiang Shipyard were sent away, and the old man wanted to stop them, but unfortunately it was too late. Later, Tianjia built a ship, and those who did the sea business on our side still didn't wake up, and when they made a decision a few days ago, several of them still didn't agree. The old man can assert that when the World Chamber of Commerce starts trading, the good days of their people will come to an end. Chengfu, you remember, if you are allowed to go to sea, then go to Nanyang immediately, where it is far away from Daming, and it is more convenient to be incognito. Although the big man is good, it is too close to Daming and too dangerous. ”

Liu Chengfu was frightened this time, "Father, aren't you going?" Besides, there is a big brother here, and it is not the turn of the child to call the shots. The old man shook his head, "Chengfu, now the old man has explained to you clearly, this is far away from the homeland, the old man and your eldest brother will not go, in the future, take people and things and start over there, and the Liu family will be handed over to you in the future." Our Liu family still has to leave some people behind to give an explanation to the imperial court. Otherwise, even if you escape, you may not be able to escape in the future. You remember, my Liu family will be a businessman in the future, and just support some children from poor families to study and become officials, and we won't participate. ”

"Father" Liu Chengfu stood up anxiously, wanting to say something, but the old man shook his hand and said, "Okay, the old man is tired, you can go out." The silent Liu Chengde stood up and walked out with the third brother who wanted to stop talking. The old man in the room continued to sit, staring at the potted plant on the table without saying a word, his eyes unfocused.

After a while, the door rang again, and the old man came back to his senses, looked at the door, and said, "Come in." It was no one else who walked in, the eldest son Liu Chengde, who had officially left not long ago, was still holding a letter in his hand, the seal of the letter had been opened, looking at Liu Chengde's dark eyes, the old man did not read the letter, but exhaled with relief, and then said with a smile, "Let the third child leave as soon as possible." Our relationship in Jiangnan for many years is still of some use. ”

The old man had already expected the result in his heart, because the news that Liu Xuan was imprisoned in the Shuntian Mansion prison was sent after a whole month, and according to the Liu family's own information transmission channels, it only took ten days to arrive. Even the information channels of the Liu family have been cut off, indicating that the affairs of the Liu family have been exposed.