Wang Chengen left the palace late at night, explained the matter of Xu Liang in the Dongjiang Annex, and left. The celebrant Bingbi is also a figure of considerable weight in the twenty-four yamen of the inner palace, Wang Chengen came in a low-key manner and walked quietly, as far as possible not to alarm the eyes of people with intentions.

With Wang Chengen's orders, Xu Liang couldn't think of any other solution for the time being, so he had to stay honestly. For a few days, Xu Liang was bored in the Dongjiang Courtyard, and he had no interest in wandering around the capital, so he stayed in the room all day looking at the information presented by the Jingshi Qingyi Guard. Thinking of not worrying the two ladies in Shaanxi, he wrote a long letter and sent back the situation in Beijing.

On this day, it was Sun Yuanhua, the squire of the military department, and Yu Dacheng, Langzhong, who went to the Dongjiang Courtyard together and invited Xu Liang to come to the guest house to drink.

The guest house is on the street of Xuanwumenli, both sides are the official yamen, and the business of officials is mostly done, and the price is fair, although the decoration level is slightly inferior, but it is still favored by the middle and lower officials.

Xu Liang and Sun Yuanhua, Yu Dacheng and the three of them arrived at the guest house, Yu Dacheng's position was only in the military department, and his rank was the lowest among the three, so he was responsible for ordering food and wine. Fortunately, the two of them are also familiar customers in Kelaiju, and Yu Dacheng is naturally familiar with these things.

After arranging the wine and food, Yu Dacheng pushed the door into the private room, sat down, and smiled at Xu Liang and Sun Yuanhua: "Two adults, the lower official chose three meat and three vegetables, and a pot of three-year-old daughter red." ”

Sun Yuanhua waved his hand and said with a smile: "Some small things, Brother Yu can just look at them." ”

Xu Liang knew from the casual attitude of Sun Yuanhua and Yu Dacheng that the two must be deep friends. Thinking of his shallow connections in the capital, Sun Yuanhua and Yu Dacheng are both young talents. I had the idea of making friends with the two, and immediately smiled: "Brother Sun." Master Yu, there is no one else here today. We will not be commensurate with our official positions, so as not to appear raw. I see that Lord Yu is older than me, so I will call Lord Yu Brother Yu. ”

Sun Yuanhua and Yu Dacheng both agreed greatly, and immediately gave up their official positions, each commensurate with their brothers. In this way, when the wine and food are served, the relationship between the three of them will be much closer.

The three of them chatted while eating, and Sun Yuanhua introduced to Yu Dacheng about Xu Liang's manufacturing of honeycomb coal in Shaanxi and the handling of the Chamber of Commerce.

Xu Liang waved his hand and smiled when he heard this: "Those are all clumsy things. I didn't intervene. ”

Yu Dacheng quipped: "Brother Xu, don't explain, we all understand." Saying that, Yu Dacheng said enviously: "Speaking of which, Brother Xu is at ease in the locality, the officials of the court are in charge, and the silver in the shopping mall is earned, and there is no delay at both ends." How can these Beijing officials like us, it sounds good to say, but in fact, they go to the household department every month to lead the dead money to live, and when the court is short of funds. is in arrears, and the wife and children in the family are almost unable to support them. ”

Sun Yuanhua listened, and his expression darkened, he himself was a squire of the military department. is also a student of Xu Guangqi, and he can still have some gray income on weekdays, but a small official like Yu Dacheng is six or seven grades. It's not so good. Master Yu is upright and refuses to ask the people below for meaning. Relying on that little silver, life is naturally tight.

Yu Dacheng was obviously emotional. As he spoke, he looked at Sun Yuanhua and said embarrassedly: "Brother Sun, I am afraid that the twenty taels of silver I borrowed from you a few years ago will be returned after some time." ”

Sun Yuanhua waved his hand and reprimanded: "Between you and my brothers, don't say those things that are out of sight." ”

When Yu Dacheng heard this, he stopped squeaking, squeaked, and drank in a sullen voice.

Xu Liang heard that this topic was a little heavy, so he thought about changing the topic, so he asked Sun Yuanhua: "By the way, Brother Sun, why do you want to pull your brother out for a drink today?" ”

Sun Yuanhua stared at Xu Liang and said with a smile: "I heard from the teacher that Brother Xu is still stranded in Beijing, and I am afraid that you will be lonely, so I pulled Dacheng over and invited you to drink." ”

Xu Liang's heart warmed when he heard this, and he raised his glass and said, "So, brother is grateful." ”

Sun Yuanhua and Yu Dacheng followed with a drink, Sun Yuanhua put down the wine glass, sandwiched the vegetables and pressed the wine, and said in a deep voice: "Brother Xu's affairs, the teacher told me. Two days ago, the teacher mentioned Brother Xu's matter at the court meeting, but he was rejected by Cao Gelao. ”

Xu Liang's heart moved, and he asked in a deep voice: "But that Cao Yubian old horseman?" ”

Sun Yuanhua nodded, looked at Xu Liang, and said with a smile: "It seems that the contradiction between you and Cao Ge Lao is really not shallow, and even the old man has been scolded." ”

Xu Liang snorted lightly and said, "I'm small-minded and have always held grudges. The old guy who can't get along with me has always been called a puppet. ”

Sun Yuanhua laughed, raised his glass and praised: "Brother Xu is a man of temperament, and he admires his brother." ”

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, Sun Yuanhua finally told Xu Liang his intention after Xu Liang's repeated questioning: "Brother Xu, in fact, there is indeed one more thing to call you out today." ”

Xu Liang had been waiting for his words for a long time. Although Sun Yuanhua and Yu Dacheng are kind to Xu Liang, they are far from the point of drinking and talking.

He immediately sat up straight and asked, "Brother Sun, please speak." ”

Sun Yuanhua said: "That day at the teacher's house, I heard that Brother Xu's honeycomb coal business in Shaanxi was very prosperous, and I thought, with Xu Liang's ability, why not build another factory in the capital to produce honeycomb coal." There are nearly one million people in the capital, and most of them are wealthy families, so it is definitely not a problem to sell them. ”

Xu Liang glanced at Sun Yuanhua, and saw Yu Dacheng looking at him eagerly, so he vaguely guessed what the two of them thought, so he asked inquiringly: "What does Brother Sun mean: The three of us are working together?" ”

Sun Yuanhua nodded, not hesitant, and said: "There are a few small coal mines on the West Mountain, we can buy them." The Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Households, both of whom have some acquaintances for brothers, are not a problem in doing these things. ”

Xu Liang looked at Yu Dacheng, what he meant in his eyes was, what contribution could Yu Dacheng make?

Yu Dacheng's face turned slightly red, he was only a soldier in the army, he was born poor, and he was naturally inferior to Sun Yuanhua in terms of connections. However, he was the one who lacked the most money among the three, so he didn't care about the embarrassment and looked at Xu Liang calmly. Zhengse said: "Brother Fool is in charge of the allocation of grain and grass for hundreds of thousands of troops in the capital, and honeycomb coal is made. The sales in the army were covered by the foolish brother. ”

Xu Liang thought for a moment. glanced at Sun Yuanhua, and knew in his heart that the reason why Sun Yuanhua pulled Yu Dacheng in was not to help Yu Dacheng make extra money. He nodded slowly and said, "Then I will be responsible for the production technology and factory construction costs." It's just that the brothers settle the accounts, how should this share be calculated? ”

Sun Yuanhua and Yu Dacheng saw that Xu Liang agreed, and a big stone fell to the ground in their hearts, and immediately said generously: "As long as Brother Xu agrees to partner, this share or something." Brother Xu just looked at it. ”

Xu Liang shook his head and said categorically: "I have always done things first as a villain and then as a gentleman, so let's discuss here today, and when I go back, I will draw up a chapter and law, and the three of us will discuss again." ”

"Okay, everything is up to Brother Xu." Sun Yuanhua and Yu Dacheng both agreed.

After eating a banquet for nearly an hour, the three of them dispersed.

Return to Dongjiang Annex. Xu Liang was slightly drunk, and when Rou'er saw this, she prepared hot water for Xu Liang to bathe. In the wide bathtub, Xu Liang's entire body was immersed in warm water. Rou'er on the side blushed and pinched Xu Liang's shoulders plainly. After Xu Liang deliberately teased her that day, Rou'er was embarrassed for a while, but simply let go. Xu Liang took advantage of some verbal advantages from time to time, although he was ashamed. But it's not true.

Xu Liang closed his eyes and enjoyed Rou'er's proper kneading, leaning comfortably on the edge of the bathtub. But there are some things on my mind.

According to the news revealed by Sun Yuanhua, although Sun Chengzong went to Liaodong, he would not stumble on himself for the time being, but there was a Cao Yubian in the capital who was in the way, and Xu Liang was worried that even if Jin Xiaobeile's identity was confirmed after that, Xu Liang would not be able to get the reward smoothly.

It's still a little shallower. Although Xu Guangqi is kind to himself, he is only a waiter of the Ministry of Rites after all, and he is not a cabinet minister, so he can't make a lot of effort in his own affairs, and Wang Xian's uncle Wang Chengen is very close to Emperor Chongzhen, but he is a eunuch and is not allowed to interfere in the affairs of the court easily. After thinking about it, Xu Liangdun felt that if there was no one who vigorously supported him in the court, then he would be at the mercy of others everywhere.

It seems that it is time to look for some reinforcements. It's just that whose thighs are better? Emperor Chongzhen is undoubtedly the thickest thigh in the Ming Dynasty, but judging from Emperor Chongzhen's attitude towards himself, if he wants to hug Chongzhen's thigh directly, there is a long way to go. As for the others, several scholars in the cabinet, the first assistant Zhou Yanru, the second assistant Cheng Jiming Xu Liang are not familiar with, and Cao Yubian and Sun Chengzong, these two Xu Liang have already offended.

In addition to the cabinet scholars, the next ones are only selected among the six ministers. There is Xu Guangqi in the Ministry of Rites, Xu Liang is on top, and Qiao Yunsheng in the Xing Department is also a role that basically has no hope. There is Sun Chengzong in the military department, don't even think about it. As for the Ministry of Household and the Ministry of Industry, these two yamen did not have much effect. The only thing left is the ministry.

Wang Yongguang Xu Liang has also seen it, he is an old minister of the Tianqi Dynasty, he is stable, and he has a good reputation in the court, the key is that Xu Liang thinks that he has not caused any bad impression on Wang Shangshu.

The Ministry of Officials is in charge of the promotion, appointment and dismissal of officials in the Ming Dynasty, and the authority of the Ministry of Officials ranks first among the six departments. It's decided, you have to try to hug the thigh of the official department first.

It's just that this matter is not urgent, and it has to be considered in the long run. Then Xu Liang turned his mind to the matter of opening a honeycomb coal plant in the capital, to be honest, even if Sun Yuanhua and Yu Dacheng did not come to him today, Xu Liang also had this plan. Now that these two people want to get together, Xu Liang is naturally happy to see it. According to the successful experience of promotion in Shaanxi, the sales channel of honeycomb coal must first win the government market, and then the ordinary people. Now that Yu Dacheng is in charge of the military, who should the government look for?

Xu Liang went through the adults he was familiar with in his mind, and when he thought of Wang Xian, the white and chubby official in the ministry, Xu Liang smiled.

Wang Xian has been in the position of the official department for almost three years, he is very familiar with the door in Beijing, and he is the nephew of Wang Chengen, the master of ceremonies, and he is in such a critical position in the Ministry of Officials.

Xu Liang stood up from the bathtub with a bang, clapped his hands and laughed: "It's him!" ”

Immediately, I heard an exclamation, but it was Rou'er next to her who covered her face with her hands and shouted in shock and shame: "Ah, my lord! ”

Xu Liang was taken aback when he heard this, and then he remembered that there was still a little girl standing beside him, and his image at this time was really not good, standing in the bathtub naked, and the water beads on his body were really dripping down his skin, and as for the critical position, it was just out of the water.

With another bang, Xu Liang sat in the water and smiled awkwardly at Rou'er: "That...... Forgot you're still here......"

The little girl had covered her face and ran out.

Xu Liang smacked his lips and said secretly, why don't you just take this little girl away? Then I thought about receiving a letter from Feng Suqin the day before yesterday, saying that she and Lou Xian'er had left for the capital, so I suppressed this idea first, and the matter of leaving such a handsome girl by her side is still in the period of concealment.

Wang Xian was wearing an official robe with a bulging fat image, and Xu Liang couldn't help but want to laugh when he saw it. He joked: "I said Lord Wang, your belly is bulging a lot." You are one of the officials in the Ministry of Literature, in charge of tens of thousands of officials below the fifth grade in the Ming Dynasty, and you have to maintain the image of some clean officials, with such a big belly, what will the officials below think? ”

Wang Xian's face was not afraid of boiling water, he held his round belly, sat down in the Taishi chair, and squeaked a good chair. Xu Liangzhen was worried that the chair would not be able to bear it and fall apart.

"They love what they want!" Wang Xian said indifferently: "If you have the ability, you can rip off our official robe!" ”

Xu Liang smiled and said, "Who dare!" Who in Beijing doesn't know that the prince in the palace is such an old nephew! ”

Wang Xian smiled very hypocritically. After laughing, he squinted at Xu Liang and asked, "It's so late, what do you want to do when you come back with me?" You won't see your uncle again, will you? Wang Xian had a frightened expression on his face and said, "I've been a microphone for you three or four times!" Although we are brothers and have a lifelong friendship, you can't torture me like this! ”

"Look, Brother Wang, you have what you say." Xu Liang looked at him funny, shook his head and said, "This time, I came to find you on a special trip." ”

"Looking for me?" Wang Xian blinked his eyes and said suspiciously, "What are you looking for me to do?" I can't say anything about your affairs. ”

Xu Liang shook his head again, got closer, and said mysteriously: "I came this time to give you a way to make money......

Wang Xian listened, his eyes lit up instantly, and while listening to Xu Liang's muttering, he nodded vigorously and grinned happily. (To be continued......)