"How much money are you going to pay for these guns?"

"Grandpa said, each artillery is five thousand taels of silver!"

"Are you going to take the sea route?"

"Yes!"

"Do you have any other requirements?"

"Grandpa wants to meet you and discuss important matters!"

In a side hall, Yue Yang summoned the steward from the Wei Mansion, who sat in his seat, and the Wei steward in front of him stood respectfully and answered Yue Yang's words.

Yue Yang sat on the chair and quietly looked at the steward of the Wei State Mansion in front of him, who looked like a rich man in the countryside, as if he would say Wishing you prosperity with one mouth.

Yue Yang asked slowly, "So you even have a sea ship ready?" ”

"Don't dare to hide it from the marquis, exactly!" Steward Wei did not hide from Yue Yang's question, and answered honestly.

"One last question!" Yue Yan raised a finger: "Why did your grandfather ask me to buy a cannon, isn't he afraid of the emperor's suspicion?" ”

"Master Hou, these are already two questions." Steward Wei smiled slightly, "The villain is just a subordinate, and some things the villain doesn't know, but the villain is still willing to tell you what he knows." The reason why the grandfather asked you to buy a cannon is because of your brilliant achievements over the years, as for the emperor's suspicion, there is no need to worry, because we are nobles who have the same fortune as the country, which nobles have you ever seen rebelled since this dynasty? It is because your worries are unjustified and necessary. ”

"Eh!" Yue Yang looked at the steward of the Wei Mansion with some surprise, don't look at this person's unsightly appearance, but whether he speaks or does things, he has a style, which is a kind of demeanor and temperament that only people from big families have.

Thinking of this, Yue Yang couldn't help but smile self-deprecatingly: "It seems that Ben Hou has to go to Jinling in person?" ”

Steward Wei said with a serious face: "If Master Hou goes to Jinling, my grandfather will definitely greet him!" ”

Yue Yang thought for a while, and finally made up his mind: "Okay, there is no need to say anything about what you want to say." In this way, you wait here for a few days, and when Benhou is ready, he will take the escort artillery and you to Jinling. Now what you have to do is to let Tianjin prepare more sea boats, otherwise if the ships are not enough, you will bear the consequences! ”

"Yes, the villain promises not to mess up!" As soon as he heard that Yue Yang had promised to go to Jinling in person, Steward Wei was so excited that he slapped his chest with a bang.

Yue Yang was going to Jinling, so he naturally had to discuss it with his family, and the old lady naturally had no problem, but just told him to be careful on the road. Then he ignored Yue Yang, and now his biggest interest is to take care of her two grandchildren, and she ignores other things.

Then there was no problem with the Linglong sisters, these two daughters-in-law belonged to the standard Chinese good wife and mother type, as long as it was the matter decided by the husband, they would not ask, but when it was Hai Lanzhu's turn, something went wrong.

"Xianggong, can you tell me the real reason why I went to Jinling? Presumably you are not only here to sell those cannons, but the two hundred thousand taels of silver are not worth your visit. "Wearing an emerald cotton dress and holding a pencil in her hand. was flipping through the information in his hand, Hai Lanzhu looked at Yue Yang with some puzzlement.

"Yes, of course I have a reason to go." Yue Yang nodded: "The biggest reason is that our silver is a little insufficient, so we have to open up another channel of stable financial resources." ”

Yueyang's words are not untargeted, it is said that Yueyang now controls nearly eighty percent of Shanxi's salt business. There are so many factories and mines in Wulizhai, how can there be not enough silver?

In fact, the reason is simple, although Yue Yang earns a lot, he spends more. Yueyang's main source of income is the sale of illicit salt. The second is the income from starting a factory, but as the saying goes, the more you earn, the more you spend. Today, Yue Yang has 30,000 soldiers alone, and 50,000 or 60,000 taels of silver are needed to pay soldiers every month. This does not include the food, weapons, armor, and ammunition consumed in the training of various troops in the army, as well as the annual expenses of the Arikawa Division and the Yamaji Division, which add up to 100,000 taels of silver per month.

In addition, Yue Yang has built roads on the North Road in recent years, collected the displaced people to reclaim wasteland, and the taxes to be handed over to the imperial court, these expenses are definitely not less than 1.5 million taels of silver per year, such huge expenses can only be supported by the profits from selling illicit salt in Shanxi and the income from the factories opened, especially this year, with the continuous increase of troops under his command, Yue Yang has felt a little difficult.

Regarding the financial problem, Hai Lanzhu, who is a person next to Yueyang's pillow, knows it, but although this woman from Mongolia is virtuous and capable, she has seven tricks and six tricks for financial matters, and the remaining one know-how is far behind, which is far worse than the Linglong sisters, so although she is very reluctant for her husband to go to Jinling, which is thousands of miles away, she can only let go.

"Xianggong, do you really want to go in person? Can't you send someone else? ”

"No, no, I have to discuss some things with Wei Guogong personally, and those nobles also have to take care of it, after all, the water in Jinling is too muddy, if you change someone else, I'm afraid those nobles won't pay attention to you." Yue Yang is also very helpless, he went to Jinling this time to carry out the sale of illicit salt to the end, and he is an outsider rashly entering other people's territory to grab food, and he doesn't know how big a storm to set off, if you send someone to go, I'm afraid that people won't look at you.

………………

"On the second of February, the dragon raises its head"

For the Chinese people, this season means that spring is coming, everything is recovering, and the dragon begins to move, indicating that the year's agricultural activities are about to begin. In the north, the second day of February is also called the Dragon Raising Day, also known as the Spring Dragon Festival. In the south, it is called the Qingqing Festival, and it is known as the Picking Vegetables Festival in ancient times.

Jinling has a haircut to the old custom, most of the later generations have heard of it, but in ancient times there was a custom that was more special, maybe the young people of later generations did not know, that is, "February 2, every household to pick up the woman to sue for grievances" custom, what does it mean, that is, in the old days, the daughter who was married went back to her parents' house to save relatives, and the daughter came back to tell what happened to her husband's house, and the parents comforted their children, how to be diligent and thrifty, filial piety to their in-laws, and harmony. The daughter worked hard at her in-laws' house for a month, so she could rest at her parents' house. Go out with your friends to go out for a spring tour, talk about homely things, and live a few days of relaxed life. Of course, now the meaning of the daughter's return to her parents' home will not be like this, most of them go home to visit their parents, talk with their parents about interesting stories, and share their family. Therefore, when it came to Shatian, the streets and alleys of Jinling were full of people, daughters-in-law and aunts who went back to their parents' homes.

Yue Yang, who was wearing a cyan silk robe, walked slowly on the edge of the Qinhuai River.

When you come to Jinling, you can't fail to mention one place, that is, the Qinhuai River. The Qinhuai River was called Longzangpu in ancient times, and later called Huaishui, and most of the Qinhuai River is in the territory of Jinling City. It is the largest regional river in the main city of Jinling, and the section that flows through the city of Nanjing is called "Ten Miles of Qinhuai".

It is also known as "the area of the smoke and moon of the six dynasties, the place where the gold powder gathers", and the prosperous place of ten generations, so it is also known as "the first historical and cultural river in China".

Well, having said all this, in fact, nothing else matters, what matters is that the place where the gold powder gathers is our comrade Yueyang's favorite.

"Hou ...... Childe, this is the most famous ten-mile Qinhuai in Jinling! Mao Xiang, who was walking behind Yue Yang, pointed ahead and said to Yue Yang with a smile. It's not time for us to come now, if you come in April, it's really beautiful, every night. Literati, tourists, and girls on the Qinhuai River can crowd this place to a squeeze. ”

Looking at Mao Xiang, who had an excited look on his face, Yue Yang said with a smile, "Bijiang, from your tone." I can tell you used to be a regular visitor here. ”

Mao Xiang's face turned red as soon as he brushed it, and he said hesitantly: "This ...... Marquis...... Childe laughed, and the students used to only come here with their friends to chant poems. There is no transgression! ”

"Hahaha...... Bijiang, Bijiang, do I blame you, what are you doing so nervous? Yue Yang laughed, and the laughter startled several small birds that had been perched on the shore.

This time Yue Yang came to Jinling, in addition to the forty artillery, 200 gunners and 500 personal soldiers, the people around him only brought the captains of the personal soldiers, Chen Dazhi, Mao Xiang and Fang Yizhi. Chen Dazhi was brought to protect his own safety, and Mao Xiang and Fang Yizhi were brought because they were familiar with Jinling, these two people had lived in Jinling before they took refuge in Yueyang, and they were naturally familiar with the Qinhuai River.

Mao Xiang was afraid that his boss would have any prejudices against him, so he naturally tried his best to clear himself, but Fang Yizhi on the side ruthlessly exposed his lies, "Son, don't listen to Brother Bijiang's nonsense, you don't know, Brother Bijiang is a frequent visitor to Qinhuai River, and there is no girl here who he is not familiar with!" ”

As soon as he heard that he had been exposed to his brother, Mao Xiang was a little annoyed and angry, and shouted: "Okay, you are a secret, you actually dismantled my platform in front of the Hou Ye, where do you think you are good, who was in Qinghefang in the past, and was detained by the old bustard because he did not have the qualifications, and then if it wasn't for me and Chaozong to bring you out, it is estimated that you will have to brush the dishes in Qinghefang now to repay the qualifications!" ”

"Hahaha......" Seeing that these two people couldn't stop arguing, Yue Yang couldn't help but shake his head, although Mao Xiang and Fang Yizhi looked like they were honest, they were also very sullen in their hearts.

After everyone talked and laughed for a while, they stopped laughing, and Mao Xiang asked Yue Yang: "Master Hou, since we have arrived in Jinling, why has a day passed, why hasn't Grandpa Guo seen you yet, doesn't he want those artillery?" ”

Yue Yang said lightly: "Isn't this still hard to guess? Wei Guogong is afraid that he wants to hang our appetite so as to create some advantages for the next meeting, but don't worry, since he is not in a hurry, we are not in a hurry, let's have a good time here for a few days, and someone will be in a hurry to see us at that time. Let's go, take me to the girl you know and sit down! With that, Yue Yang took the lead and strode forward......

On the Qinhuai River, there are painting boats of different sizes shuttling around. There are two kinds of boats, one is a building fixed on the shore, also known as a boat that is not moored. One is the ornately decorated pleasure boats, which vary in size and are generally used to play on the water, to enjoy the scenery in and on both sides of the water, and sometimes to feast and drink, and also to greet guests.

Qinghefang is a famous green building on the Qinhuai River, and there are six or seven painting boats of different sizes under the command of the old bustard Qianniang, who is also a famous person on the Qinhuai River.

Today, Qianniang, who got up after mid-afternoon, sat lazily on the chair by the window of the painting boat, looked at the deserted river casually, and sighed softly, "These damn widows, if they don't come, our business will be gone." If this continues, we will all have to drink the northwest wind. ”

While talking, a small boat came from not far away, this kind of boat is also called the canopy boat, it has two sharp ends, the ship is covered with a semicircular canopy, the canopy is made of bamboo sheets, the bamboo fence is sandwiched in the middle, and the tung oil is painted with black lacquer, which belongs to the unique boat of the southern water town.

The awning boat slowly approached the boat, and finally stopped beside the boat, and a thick boatman standing at the bow of the boat tied the boat and the boat firmly together with a thick rope and fixed it, and then turned his head and said angrily to the awning boat urn: "Girl." It's already here, please get on the boat! ”

The curtain of the painting boat was opened, and first came out a twelve or thirteen-year-old dressed maid dressed in green clothes and a rough woman in her thirties wearing coarse clothes.

When the three of them got on the painting boat, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old maid in a pink dress ran over and smiled happily: "It's a little girl." My girl has been waiting for her sister for a long time! ”

The girl chuckled, stretched out her slender jade finger and pointed at the girl's little head and said, "You little girl is quite sharp-eyed, I just got on the boat to meet you, do you want any benefits?" ”

The little maid covered her head and said aggrievedly: "Little girl, what you say is so unreasonable. Last night, my girl chattered for half the night, saying that you would come to see her today, and today she urged the slave to look around, but the slave's eyes were sour. I didn't see you until now, and you blame the slave. ”

"Flutter ......"

The girl laughed and trembled along her small mouth, and nodded on the door of the maid's little brain. Ai pitied scolded: "You little girl, a small mouth is like smeared with honey, no wonder Sister Xiangjun loves you so much." ”

"Hee-hee!" The maid laughed, her little face was indescribably cute!

While he was talking, a door of the painting boat was pushed open, and a beautiful woman Ying Ying walked out, and as soon as she went out, she scolded with a smile: "Okay, you Dong Xiaowan, let me wait for a long time without saying anything, and when you come, you will come, and you are still teasing my maid here, what should you be guilty of?" ”

What came out was a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, wearing a light green shirt, a melon seed face, beautiful and beautiful, a pair of clear eyes staring at her, and looking at the girl known as Dong Xiaowan with a slight smile on the corner of her mouth.

Dong Xiaowan saw the visitor, happily stepped forward and hugged the person and said with a smile: "Sister, it's so unreasonable, people came directly without delay after getting up today, but after coming to you, I didn't eat a cup of tea, and I fell behind, don't you say I'm wronged?" ”

The visitor laughed, and the cherry mouth turned up, looking indescribably moving. She grabbed Dong Xiaowan's fragrant shoulder and said softly: "Okay, okay, it's my sister who blamed our Xiaowan girl, so now my sister will invite Xiaowan to the room and personally pour you tea to ask for sin, do you think it's okay?" ”

"Hmph, that's pretty much it!" Dong Xiaowan and the visitor glanced at each other, and the two laughed at the same time, and the two hugged each other and laughed together.

While talking, Qianniang also walked down from the painting boat, and saw that the two were talking happily, so she couldn't help but remind: "Two girls, it's windy outside, if you catch a cold, it's not a joke, you two should go into the room and talk, right?" ”

"Thank you, Mom!" After Dong Xiaowan and Qianniang thanked each other, they quickly walked into the painting boat.

When the two of them entered the painting boat, Qianniang was about to beckon someone to close the door, but found that two more awning boats came from the front, and at the bow of the awning boat headed by several scholars in long robes stood at the bow.

Qianniang's heart is a joy, these days due to the frequent news of the Japanese invaders, the number of tourists has decreased, her painting boat business can simply fade out of the birds, today finally saw a guest to the door, can't help but be happy. She trotted all the way to the bow of the boat and looked over, and saw that the person standing on the awning boat in front of her seemed to be very familiar, and after rubbing her eyes and looking over, the joy on her face could no longer be hidden, and she took out a handkerchief from her bosom and waved it ahead and shouted.

"It's Mao Gongzi and Fang Gongzi who are coming ahead?"

"Hahaha......"

The people on the canopy boat in front of them also laughed out loud, "It turned out to be Mother Qian, I haven't seen you for a long time, how are you doing lately?" ”

"Huh...... Okay, Mao Gongzi and Fang Gongzi are rare guests, come and come...... Come up and have a bar! ”

If it was a few days ago, Qianniang would not be so enthusiastic about Mao Xiang and Fang Yizhi, although these two people are quite famous on the Qinhuai River, but they don't have much silver on them, they can't squeeze any oil and water, and they are not very popular objects, but now they are different. In the case of a bad market, Qianniang can't take care of anything, no matter how small the mosquito is, it is meat, and it can earn a little.

"Haha...... Then bother! ”

The person who came was Yue Yang and his party, and he said to Yue Yang with a smile: "Childe, this is the famous Qian mother on the Qinhuai River, all the girls under her are all good at piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and I guarantee that you will make this trip worthwhile!" ”

Qianniang's eyes were so poisonous, she saw Mao Xiang and Fang Yizhi standing next to Yue Yang, their expressions were so respectful, and a fine light suddenly appeared in her eyes! (To be continued......)