When approaching Tongzhou City, Wu Shigong did see a large number of refugees. However, these refugees saw that Wu Shigong and his party were all soldiers, and no one dared to approach.

The miserable situation of those refugees is similar to that of African refugees on modern television. Wu Shigong has been traveling to the Ming Dynasty for a while, and to be honest, people with this appearance are not strange to see. However, to Wu Shigong's surprise, the number of these refugees was simply too much, and the shack was simply endless.

Wu Shigong asked Steward Deng: "How can there be so many refugees?" The last time I went to Tongzhou, I haven't seen anything like this. ”

Steward Deng replied, "That's to blame on that damn tartar." After the Tartar army arrived in Tongzhou City, it simply walked around Tongzhou City. In those days, I was scared out of my little guts. But although the Tartars did not attack the city, they crushed almost all the nearby villages and towns, and the refugees fled from the vicinity. ”

Wu Shigong nodded, he thought of the people he saw in the four cities of Yongping, who died on the side of the road, and were killed by the Tartars, and felt that these refugees in front of him were still quite lucky.

The soldiers guarding the gate of Tongzhou saw that Wu Shigong and his party were about to enter the city, and shouted for Wu Shigong and them to stop. Steward Deng hurriedly stepped forward, stuffed something into the little flag guarding the city gate, and said something in his ear, and the little flag waved his hand and put Wu Shigong and them in.

Steward Deng explained to Wu Shigong: "Now near Tongzhou City, there are all large armies waiting for the ship to return south, and the yamen has stipulated that except for the scattered soldiers who go to the city to buy things, no soldiers are allowed to enter. Your lord, there are too many guards, but fortunately, our lord still has some face in Tongzhou City, so we let him in. But sir, you must be careful not to cause trouble in Tongzhou City. ”

Wu Shigong knew the important position of Tongzhou City in the Ming Dynasty, and it was also an important barracks in Beijing. There are also a lot of officials who come and go from the south to the north, and he really can't be too arrogant as a small military attaché. So, Wu Shigong immediately asked Shumo to tell all the guards not to cause trouble in Tongzhou City.

Steward Deng took Wu Shigong to Zhang Chunyu's own restaurant in Tongzhou City. Steward Deng introduced to Wu Shigong with some boast: This restaurant is also one of the largest restaurants in Tongzhou City.

Wu Shigong looked at this restaurant, and the appearance was indeed magnificent. Wu Shigong asked the guards around him, leaving only about 20 people, and the others followed Steward Deng to the inn to settle down. Otherwise, there were 200 guards with knives and guns standing at the door of this restaurant, and Zhang Chunyu's restaurant business would not be done.

And after Zhang Chunyu knew that Wu Shigong was coming, he also personally came to the door of the restaurant to greet him and welcomed Wu Shigong to the private room on the second floor of the restaurant. At this time, there was a man with thick black skin and a sturdy physique, although he was also wearing a long shirt, but at a glance he knew that he was a person who had been running around in the wild for many years.

After entering the elegant seat, Zhang Chunyu introduced to Wu Shigong: "Lord Wu, this is my good brother, Tang Liu, the helmsman of the Cao Gang, Tang Liuye, this time Lord Wu returned to his hometown, brother, I asked Tang Liuye to help." ”

That Tang Liu hurriedly bowed to Wu Shigong and said, "In front of adults, I can't afford the word 'master', so adults can call me Tang Liu or Xiaoliu." ”

Wu Shigong also hurriedly smiled and said, "Brother Tang is polite, there are no adults or adults here, they are all friends." ”

Zhang Chunyu then introduced to Tang Liu: "Sixth Master Tang, don't look at Brother Wu's youth, but he is both civil and military. is also a showman, and his martial arts are also very strong. This time to beat the Tartars, Brother Wu also cut off a lot of Tartars' heads, and the reputation entered the ears of the emperor. Moreover, Brother Wu's identity is still very noble, he is a little marquis. Later, Tang Liuye will pay tribute to Brother Wu a few more glasses of wine! ”

Wu Shigong knew that Zhang Chunyu said this, on the one hand, to praise himself, and on the other hand, he relied on his identity to increase Zhang Chunyu's status in Tang Liu's mind. So Wu Shigong smiled silently.

Sure enough, Tang Liu pretended to be admiring, and saluted Wu Shigong again: "Brother, I admire the hero who can fight the Tartars the most." Brother Wu is worthy of being a nobleman, and he will worship the marquis one day. Phew, Phew, Phew. Look at my mouth, Brother Wu was originally a marquis who couldn't run away, so it should be to worship the general. ”

Today, I have met the old rivers and lakes, and they are all old rivers and lakes of the acting school. However, this kind of mutual praise was indeed pleasant, and the three of them smiled and humbled each other, and sat down separately.

Zhang Chunyu's arrangement is really thoughtful, the dishes on the table are dazzling, and there is a layer of gauze next to the private room, and a team of silk and bamboo is playing music.

After a glass of wine, Wu Shigong said to Zhang Chunyu: "Brother Zhang and I haven't seen each other for a few years, and I miss it very much." At that time, I also asked Lu Jianchen, a salt merchant in Yangzhou, about Brother Zhang's situation. He said that Brother Zhang has a wide range of money in Tongzhou City, and his business is getting bigger and bigger. ”

Zhang Chunyu hurriedly smiled and shook his hand: "Rumors, rumors." It's just a mixed meal. That Lu Jianchen came to Tongzhou once last year, but he hadn't seen him since the beginning of spring. Brother Wu also knows that we in Beizhili eat the salt of Changlu, not the salt of Yangzhou. When their Lu family went to Tongzhou, they only did some business of northern and southern goods. However, I heard that their Lu family is in some trouble now. ”

"What's the trouble?" Wu Shigong asked curiously.

"I don't know the details, it seems to be related to the salt business."

After Wu Shigong heard this, his heart chuckled. Seeing that Zhang Chunyu also looked like he didn't know the details, Wu Shigong had no choice but to put this matter aside.

Zhang Chunyu then said to Wu Shigong: "This time, Tang Liuye just escorted a batch of grain to Tongzhou. But now those armies who want to return south are crazy to rob ships. Fortunately, Tang Liuye gave me face, knowing that Brother Wu needed a boat, so he prepared his own boat and waited for Brother Wu's arrival. ”

Tang Liu smiled and waved his hand and said, "Transporting those armies, it's not a small trouble. Needless to say, if you can get the fare, these soldiers are crazy, and they may beat and scold our brothers in the Cao Gang. Knowing that Brother Wu and Boss Zhang have an old relationship, our Cao Gang brothers are just asking for stability. ”

Wu Shigong hurriedly said: "There is absolutely no problem with the shipping fare. Brother, I just want to go home early. It's been almost a year since this King Qin left home. However, I have one more thing to ask the two of you, the brother still has more than 8,000 stone of grain and some supplies in the capital, and I want to ask the two of you to transport it to Henan when I have time in the future. ”

"There's absolutely no problem with that." Tang Liu also hurriedly agreed.

But Zhang Chunyu asked strangely on the side: "Brother Wu, the price of grain is high in the capital, why do you want to transport it to Henan, where the price of grain is low?" Won't you sell it here first, and then buy grain in Henan? ”

Wu Shigong waved his hand and explained: "Brother, there is a shortage of grain here, and the price of this grain is not low. And I have a lot of people. Besides, my brother not only wants this food, but also wants to buy more food. ”

Zhang Chunyu and Tang Liu glanced at each other, and immediately made a suggestion to Wu Shigong: "Brother Wu, do you think this will work." I will sell your grain and materials in the capital, and let Tang Liuye go to Huguang to buy grain, and then transport it to your Henan. In this way, Brother Wu will also have less trouble, and we will be able to earn some expenses. ”

After Wu Shigong heard it, he felt that this idea was indeed good. So he immediately discussed the details with Zhang Chunyu and Tang Liu. The three of them agreed: Wu Shigong's grain and materials stored in the capital would be sold by Zhang Chunyu for Wu Shigong. And Tang Liu will transport the same amount of grain to Henan.

As for the silver sold for those materials, Tang Liu would also collect the difference of 10%, go to Huguang to buy grain for Wu Shigong, and then transport it to Henan. As for how to buy grain in the future, it will wait until the business is completed.

And Tang Liu also decided that the fare for transporting Wu Shigong's army back to Henan this time would no longer be charged. As for how Zhang Chunyu and Tang Liu will distribute the profits, let the two of them discuss it themselves.

The three of them also discussed and established a business partnership in the future. Wu Shigong will prepare local specialties in Henan, Zhang Chunyu will also prepare northern specialties in Tongzhou, Tang Liu will be responsible for transportation, and the three of them will make money together.

After discussing all this, Zhang Chunyu called a singer and sang a little song with the accompaniment of the silk bamboo team. The three of them also went home happy.

After the banquet, Zhang Chunyu invited the two of them to the Qinglou to relax. Wu Shigong wanted to rest early because of the fatigue of the journey, so he refused with a smile.

And Tang Liu also had to arrange people to report to his fleet, so that they could rush to Tongzhou as soon as possible. Because Tang Liu was afraid that the fleet would be forcibly requisitioned, he let his ship wait in a place other than the day's journey. Therefore, Tang Liu also politely declined Zhang Chunyu's invitation.