After his father left, Shen Shuren was not in a hurry to do things. This body has only just recovered from a serious illness, and it is not fast enough.

He first finished dinner, washed and cleaned up under the service of the maid Qingzhi, and changed into clean clothes from head to toe.

At the same time, I saw the stitches and inserted the needle, and learned more about the recent situation from Qingzhi without any traces.

For example, since he recalled his father's identity just now, he had a question in his heart: Since his father is the head of the household department, he is said to be a Beijing official, how can he be in his hometown in Suzhou?

If you return to your hometown on business, what is the specific reason?

Fortunately, Qingzhi is also clear about her own affairs, so she said 1510:

It turned out that Shen Tingyang gave the emperor another chapter last month, and the content was still a suggestion to "change the sea from Caoyun".

Shen Tingyang has been on this kind of concert several times, and he was originally obstructed by Zhu Dadian, the governor of Caoyun, saying that the wind and waves at sea are uncontrollable, and the food and clothing of millions of Cao people are uncontrollable, and the emperor is inconvenient to push it.

However, recently, there were also thieves in Shandong, and the emperor had to consider the risk of the canal being cut off, so he approved Shen Tingyang to return to his hometown first to investigate and organize a pilot project on a small scale. If we can confirm that the shipping effect is better and more cost-effective next year, we will promote it on a large scale.

After listening to it, Shen Shuren was relieved as soon as he confirmed the knowledge of "History of the Ming Dynasty" in his mind - there was indeed such a thing as "Cao Yun changing the sea" at the end of the Ming Dynasty.

It seems that Shen Tingyang's return to his hometown is indeed a normal household official business, and it has nothing to do with the letter incident from Guozijian, but it just happened by coincidence.

After eliminating this interference option, Shen Shuren also rested enough, so he asked Qingzhi to lead him to the study.

And his new follower, Shen Fu, had already sent the letter from the national eunuch to the young master's desk as instructed by the master.

There are also some recent imperial court newspapers, which were also ordered by Shen Shuren just now, and they are all ready to be put together.

Shen Fu is the son of Shen Xiang, the old housekeeper of the house, and he was originally released to work as a shopkeeper in a shop that dealt in Korean medicinal materials.

After the young master's accident, the old man was not worried about the helpers around his son, so he thoroughly investigated and retreated, and replaced them with a reliable old family member to come back to serve.

When Shen Shuren heard about this situation, he was also secretly happy in his heart: it happened that the new followers were not familiar with the young master before, and their style of acting would change in the future, and they would not be able to see the flaws.

While thinking about this, Shen Shuren didn't stop at hand, opened the document and read it carefully.

Soon, he first captured an important information from the "invitation letter" of the Guozijian:

"It turns out that in addition to me, the classmates who were invited to prison this time also included Zhu Guangshi, the nephew of Zhu Dadian, the governor of Caoyun, and Zheng Sen, the eldest son of Zheng Zhilong......

The reason is that this year's levy on 'training salaries' will be launched, and it will be more difficult for local financial transfers. The imperial court gave preferential treatment to officials and gentry who contributed more to the 'transportation of the country', and hoped that all parties would work together for the country. ”

When Shen Shuren saw this, he pondered for a moment.

The things mentioned in the letter should be true.

Now it is the twelfth year of Chongzhen, and the last straw of the three salaries at the end of the Ming Dynasty "practice salary" is indeed levied from this year, with seven or eight million taels of silver per year.

Although Zhu Dadian, the governor of Caoyun, did not personally do business, his family was in business, and they specialized in contracting Caoyun's business.

And the Shen family is also a wealthy businessman, and there are more than 100 sand ships in the Yellow Sea, and Shen Tingyang only bought an official and changed careers in the early years of Chongzhen - so he has been pushing "Cao Yun to the sea".

Of course, the "Cao Yun to the sea" can indeed save a lot of money for the imperial court, but at the same time, it is also to win orders for its own sea fleet. Therefore, the contradiction between the Zhu Dadian family and the Shen family is irreconcilable, and it belongs to cutting off each other's financial routes, which is the top deep hatred.

As for Zheng Zhilong, everyone on earth knows that the East Asian seas south of the Yangtze River estuary are his, so there is no need to say more.

To put it bluntly, the three mentioned in the letter were all "water transport and logistics giants" at that time, and the imperial court expected them to contribute more.

But

If Shen Shuren had seen this letter first in the first place, he might have been gullible in his trust.

But now that he has witnessed Zheng Hongkui blocking him from going to Nanjing, if things are really so simple, what is the Zheng family nervous about?

So, this letter can only be half believed.

The facts can be believed partially, but the motive part cannot be believed.

So, what exactly is the real motive?

Shen Shuren thought for a while and felt that this question could not be positively deduced by the existing evidence alone.

However, it is possible to push out some joints in reverse-

For example, it was easy for him to think that he and Zheng Sen were invited at the same time in this letter, which showed that Zheng Zhilong was most likely not "obstructing him Shen Shuren from going to Nanjing", but wanted to "let the Shen family be the first to pretend to be sick and disobey, and then let Zheng Sen also go to Nanjing with the trend".

After all, Zheng Zhilong has no grievances with the Shen family, and he can't deal with a junior like him. is so painstaking, most likely for his own son.

But why is Zheng Zhilong afraid to send his son to study? Shen Shuren became more and more puzzled.

Because he is familiar with the "History of the Ming Dynasty", he knows that in history, Zheng Sen went to Nanjing to study in the last years of Chongzhen, and worshiped under Qian Qianyi.

Of course, maybe not so early - "History of the Ming Dynasty" did not directly write the year when Zheng Sen went to Nanjing, but Qian Qianyi was Liu Rushi, whom Chongzhen only met and married in 14 years, and Qian Qianyi's case record was not sold at that time, and he was still in the opposition.

Therefore, Zheng Sen was able to apprentice with Qian Qianyi, at least after 14 years of Chongzhen.

Now, it's nothing more than bringing this two or three years earlier.

Could it be that Zheng Zhilong is afraid that his son will be taken hostage by the imperial court? But why is he not afraid after three years?

……

Shen Shuren peeled back the cocoon and felt that it was difficult to conclude the case with lone evidence. So I put the letter aside and prepared to skim through the other documents to try to find more inspiration.

The more adept the person is at intelligence analysis, the more important it is to know that full investigation is more important than hasty deduction.

Reading the paperwork with questions and conjectures in his heart is really efficient, but with half a burnt of incense, Shen Shuren has a harvest.

From two recent imperial court newspapers, he saw two important national events:

At the beginning of the month, Zhang Xianzhong rebelled against Yunyang and robbed Luo Rucai in Xiangyang, so the nine battalions rebelled, and the lake was eroded. Zuo Liangyu urgently sent troops to surround and was defeated by Zhang Xianzhong. ”

"The imperial court ordered Yang Sichang, a scholar of the cabinet and a secretary of the military department, to go south to supervise the division and quickly replace Xiong Wencan to coordinate the military affairs of the six provinces of the Central Plains to suppress thieves."

In May of the twelfth year of Chongzhen, Zhang Xianzhong and other thieves descended and rebelled!

After recalling this important information, Shen Shuren immediately racked his brains and tried to connect it with Zheng Zhilong's anomaly, and then he really discovered a guess.

Of course, this is just speculation.

Therefore, Shen Shuren didn't plan to verify it in person, it would be too much of a waste of time.

He took the newspaper and the letter, and went straight to Shen Tingyang's study.

……

"Why don't you rest so late?"

Shen Tingyang was checking the accounts of Cao Yun over the years, and was quite surprised to see his son asking to see him.

Shen Shuren didn't explain, and went straight to the point:

"Father, the Zheng family persuaded the child to say that he was sick and did not go to Nanjing, because he wanted our Shen family to take the lead in disobeying the order, and then their Zheng family would be able to ignore the public, right? In this way, he will not tear his face with the court openly, and he can prevent his son from being taken hostage, which is really a good calculation. ”

Shen Tingyang was stunned for a moment, staring at his son, and the room was terrifyingly quiet.

After a long time, he sighed with relief: "I have always underestimated you, but you have such a vision." Let's talk about it, how you can see it. ”

Shen Tingyang said, and got up to lock the door of the study.

In normal times, he only hopes that his son will study hard and not get involved in these conspiracies.

But he has been a little anxious recently, and he is afraid that he will not be able to complete his mission and will not be able to explain to Yang Gelao, so he is a little sick and goes to the doctor.

After his son woke up today, he was a little surprised twice in a row. He finally decided to give it a chance to talk openly behind closed doors.

Shen Shuren saw that he had guessed correctly, and he spoke more confidently:

"At the beginning of the month, Zhang Xianzhong, Luo Rucai and others rebelled, and these traitors were Xiong Wencan's advocate of Zhao'an. Now the imperial court has asked Yang Sichang to replace Xiong Wencan to supervise the six provinces, although it has not yet been said how to deal with Xiong Wencan, but with His Majesty's 'jealousy and hatred', most of them will be imprisoned and beheaded.

And Xiong Wencan's promotion from the governor of Fujian to the governor of the six provinces relied on the merits of Zheng Zhilong, who successfully Zhao'an when he was in Fujian. It's a pity that success is also Zhao'an, defeat is also Zhao'an, he wants to eat all over the world with one move, and finally planted it in Zhang Xianzhong's hands.

Once Xiong Wencan is imprisoned, the other warlords and thieves who were recruited by him will inevitably endanger themselves, for fear of being identified as his henchmen.

Therefore, the imperial court hoped that these warlords would send their sons and nephews to Beijing as hostages to prevent mutual suspicion and dogs jumping over the wall. Zheng Zhilong also saw this, and was afraid that his son would be detained, so he tried every means to avoid this cusp. ”

Shen Shuren finished this reasoning in one go.

Shen Tingyang's face changed several times, and the more he listened, the more wonderful his expression became, and finally he couldn't help but admire:

"Yes, you can guess this with seven or eight percent accuracy. However, it is not the 'imperial court' that wants to detain the proton - this is privately assigned by Yang Gelao.

Alas, His Majesty couldn't rub sand in his eyes, and he couldn't think of this kind of question of 'asking Xiong Wencan about it, would it cause people to panic'.

Yang Ge Lao had no choice, and the military affairs of the six provinces were all on him. He was afraid of a new thief, so he would rather be in vain than indulge, and if he could pull one more warlord to hand over the hostages, he would try to pull as many as possible.

On the sixth day after you got sick, Zheng Hongkui rushed to our house to find out the truth, because they also received an invitation letter from Guozijian, suspecting that it was just a pretense - they really didn't suspect that they were wrong.

Nowadays, there is the Zheng family in the south and the Shen family in the north. The two families invited together, and the Zheng family was not easy to be alert. But my Shen family is loyal to the Ming Dynasty and has never been a mercenary, so if you go to Nanjing, you will not be regarded as a hostage. The real hostage is only Zheng Sen. Of course, there may be other descendants of generals in the future. ”

When Shen Shuren heard this, he had already thoroughly understood Yang Sichang's situation.

To put it bluntly, take "Let the Bullets Fly" as an analogy, Yang Sichang used the Shen family and the Zheng family to be equally famous, made up an excuse to deceive, used the Shen family as "Huang Shilang" to cover up, and used the Zheng family as the "two major families in the south of the city".

It is a common practice in the rivers and lakes, "How much Huang Shilang produces, the two major families in the south of the city must also contribute." More out, more money".

After the matter was completed, the hostages of the Shen family were returned in full, and the imperial court divided the hostages of the Zheng family.

It's a pity that Yang Sichang's scheming is spicy, and Zheng Zhilong is not a vegetarian. With his natural suspicion and alertness, he still smelled danger.

And the Shen family's delay also has a certain responsibility - Yang Sichang originally wanted to take advantage of the information asymmetry and make a time difference, and before the Zheng family knew that Xiong Wencan was about to fall, he first deceived Zheng Sen on the road and cooked raw rice.

But Shen Shuren's illness wasted the poor information in the past few days.

If the Shen family doesn't remedy it, they may be worn by Yang Ge Lao in small shoes.

If the remediation is beautiful, then report the twists and turns and complete it more beautifully than expected, and you can reap a big favor from the elder of the pavilion.

Thinking of this, Shen Shuren was naturally a little worried, so he couldn't help but use the prophet of the traverser to take the risk of suggesting to his father:

"Father, since this matter was urged by Yang Gelao, let's take a gamble, ignore the persuasion of the Zheng family, and continue to forcibly send me to Nanjing. I heard that Zheng Zhilong only wants to dominate the sea, and he has no ambition to divide the territory of one party, and most of them dare not rebel. ”

This is the easiest and most straightforward solution to think of - Shen Shuren knew that Zheng Zhilong did not oppose in history, so he dared to bet.

But Shen Ting raised his eyebrows and frowned, disagreeing with his son's vision:

"It's so impulsive! Before the Zheng family spoke, it was nothing. Now that the Zheng family has opened their mouths, but we don't give face, won't the Zheng family worry, 'Could it be that the imperial court really wants to deal with us, so the Shen family has a rumor, and they want to clear up the relationship and refuse to help even this little favor'? Isn't this adding fuel to the fire?

I, Shen Tingyang, am loyal to the Ming Dynasty, I am not worried about the Zheng family retaliating against the Shen family, what I am worried about is harming the Ming Dynasty! Although the Zheng family is not afraid, now there are so many anti-thieves who have raised troops at the same time, and the southeast is rich and chaotic!

Even if this thing can't be done, as long as Zheng Zhilong is willing to share some follow-up, it will be nothing if he doesn't send protons. It's just that I was complained by Yang Ge Lao and didn't get promoted in the future. But what is my career! ”

Speaking of this, Shen Shuren could only be silent for the time being.

Indeed, as long as he can't say "I know history" directly, Shen Tingyang's cautious attitude will be difficult to reverse.

Moreover, this caution is not entirely unreasonable.

Inspired by this, Shen Shuren suddenly realized the butterfly effect he brought:

In history, Zheng Zhilong did not rebel, and it did drag on for three years before sending his son as a hostage.

But there is no interference from Shen Shuren in history!

Perhaps, this body originally died of heat stroke in the twelfth year of Chongzhen. Then it was over, and Yang Sichang didn't care about it anymore, and mixed it with the mud.

But now that Shen Shuren is still alive, the Shen family forcibly sent him to Nanjing after pulling with the Zheng family, and then the nature is different, maybe it will really become the last straw to force Zheng Zhilong to rebel.

So, it's true that you can't bet.

Thinking of this, Shen Shuren also pinched a cold sweat slightly.

I have read the "History of the Ming Dynasty" by myself, and I look at the problem in a hurry and is somewhat rigid and dogmatic.

In the future, when there is ample time for decision-making, we can no longer blindly believe in history books, but should realistically deduce from the changes in the situation.

Shen Shuren also knew that he was wrong, and immediately said: "In this case, the child will go back and slowly think of a way, as long as it does not irritate the Zheng family and can find an excuse to go to Nanjing, right?" ”

Shen Tingyang nodded with relief: "That's the case, but it's hard to find." It's enough for you to have this heart, so let's take care of your illness first. ”

Shen Shuren saluted and said goodbye, then turned around and went back to the house, comforting himself in his heart:

If this time is not done well, although Yang Sichang will complain, there will be no sin on the surface.

After all, this is an errand assigned in secret, not an errand of the imperial court.

Moreover, in history, Yang Sichang would be framed by Zhang Xianzhong two years later by attacking and killing the vassal king, and died of fear. At that time, the private account on his "small book" will disappear.

Therefore, no matter whether Yang Sichang is favored or complained, there is only a "two-year shelf life".

Of course, now that it has only been four and a half years since Chongzhen hanged himself, he has to seize every opportunity to quickly establish his power and lay out for the great cause of saving the Han people in the future.

At such a critical juncture, two years are also very precious. So as long as there is a glimmer of opportunity, we must do our best to achieve it.

——

During the new book period, I asked for some recommendation votes, and I asked for all kinds of votes.