When I got home, it was past noon, and I was thinking about sending someone to ask if I wanted to eat out, but I didn't have to bother.

The lunch is still very rich, and there is the duo of Zhuang Liuniang and Zhongli Watermelon who came together again with a few dishes, Zhu Yuan can see that I don't know if it was that meal, and the watermelon girl was obedient to Zhuang Liuniang's cleanup.

After eating, Zhuang Liuniang said that her second uncle Zhuang Muxu arrived before noon and had been waiting, hoping that Zhu Yuan would be able to meet him.

See you then.

In the main hall of the reception in the front yard, Zhuang Muxu, who was dressed in a blue silk robe, looked like he was in his fifties, with a goat's beard, thin and energetic.

After the salute, Zhuang Muxu sat down at the bottom, but he did not take the initiative to speak, his waist was straight, waiting for orders.

Zhu Yuan held a cup of warm tea, recalling the information about the dealer that He Xuan had ordered to pay attention to last time, which was roughly the situation of the Shaanxi Fengxiang Zhuang family from Zhuang Murui, who served as the prefect of Fengxiang, to the 'wood' character generation in a total of six rooms, while looking for a topic with great interest: "The dealer is in Shaanxi, how long has it been inherited?" ”

"Back to my lord, if you look for ancestral traces, the Zhuang family was originally a person from the Qinling Mountains, and there is still the Zhuang ancestral temple in the eastern mountains of Xingyuan, which stood at the end of the Sui Dynasty. At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the ancestor of the villain went out of the mountains and entered the army, followed the general Li Jing Li Da, the head of the Dingxiang Road march at that time, to conquer the Eastern Turks, and got some military exploits, and then settled down in Guanzhong, and then hundreds of years, after several changes of dynasty, the Zhuang family was also once down, and hid back in the mountains, fortunately passed down to this day. ”

Sui Dynasty, around 600 AD.

Right now......

It's another big family with a heritage of six or seven hundred years.

Think about it, let's just say that a few hundred years later, in this land, even if it is a small household, who has not inherited it for thousands of years?

What didn't pass down, it was gone.

The problem, of course, is size.

The Zhuang family can preserve the ancestral shrine for six or seven hundred years, and there are people who have fished out a four-grade Fengxiang prefect in the founding of the new dynasty, and it must be a big family.

Thinking so, Zhu Yuan smiled and said: "I envy you, no matter what, if a family can inherit for six or seven hundred years, it takes not only luck, but also some great wisdom." ”

"Your Excellency praised it."

Zhu Yuan took a sip of tea, and then said: "I won't say it before, the new dynasty and the new atmosphere, the key is in the future, has the Zhuang family considered it?" ”

Zhuang Muxu keenly noticed that 'I won't say it before', this is not like a little boy who said it casually, and he didn't dare to treat the young man on the top as an ordinary teenager, so he understood that this was a point, the new dynasty would not rummage through the old accounts, and what he would see was the future.

Silently wrote it down, mentioning the spirit, Zhuang Muxu did not go around, and said bluntly: "The Zhuang family only wants to serve the court wholeheartedly, and I also ask the adults to help with the project." ”

That's pretty simple.

Perhaps, it is also a person who knows the times as a junjie.

There used to be a Northern Yuan, but now, the Northern Yuan is gone, and there is a plate of scattered sand on the desert, and if the big clans in various places have any two hearts, it is stupid.

Zhu Yuan thought about it and asked, "Your family didn't catch up with this year's imperial examination, right?" ”

Zhuang Muxu showed a regretful expression: "Yes." ”

"I know Zhuang Murui and Zhuang Yu, but you won't be satisfied. It just so happens that there will be the imperial examination next year, and there are both civil and military affairs, you can pick some young children to come over and try to stretch out your hand, heh, it is not limited to young children, Mr. Zhuang, can also enter the examination room. ”

Zhuang Muxu nodded, and said again and again: "The villain can't be called a gentleman." Not...... Next year, definitely, definitely. ”

"My ancestors have always been thirsty for talent, and I am also looking forward to seeing the talents of the Zhuang family next year," Zhu Yuan said: "However, Mr. Zhuang, when you come to Beijing or for a while, you should see that our Daming is different from the past, how do you feel?" ”

Zhuang Muxu replied cautiously: "The new dynasty is to bring forth the new." ”

What he said was simple, but Zhuang Muxu was quite emotional in his heart.

Not the same?

Of course not.

Zhuang Muxu has never heard of the 'ten' books recently established in the new dynasty, let alone a series of 'universities' that have been opened or are brewing in Xuanwu Hubei, as well as the "Daming Monthly", or a series of 'groups' and 'companies'.

Unheard.

Zhuang Muxu also found that what pushed all this behind the scenes was a master who shouted out last year's 'send five hundred years of national ancestry', this young master surnamed Zhu not only made many achievements in just one year, but also was recognized by His Majesty the current emperor and became a royal family, as long as there is no accident, there is a high probability of being a 'county king'.

O county king!

And this man is right in front of him.

Zhuang Muxu is also a scholar, and he can't release the scroll in his daily leisure, so he knows that the imperial court in the Song Dynasty suppressed a lot of relatives of the emperor, but on both sides of the Song Dynasty, whether it was the Tang Dynasty or the Yuan Dynasty, the clan had real power.

Besides, the little boy in front of him is not only a potential county king, but at such an age, he has become the court's subordinate to the political affairs of Pingzhang, equivalent to the deputy minister, or the deputy minister who can compete with the left minister Li Shanchang, which makes people marvel At the same time, they can't help but see the attitude of the new dynasty towards the clan.

In this case, there will be no big mistake in leaning in.

What's more, when an opportunity falls on him, a useless abandoned woman who breaks the family is replaced by a big backer, and if she doesn't come up, it's simply 'God doesn't take it, but suffers from it'.

Grab it, of course.

Even, Zhuang Muxu was worried during this time, afraid that the eldest brother's niece, who had been arrogant since childhood, would make the young man Pingzhang unhappy.

To this end......

This time, I also deliberately ......

Just thinking about it, the young man Pingzhang at the top had already spoken again: "The times are different, in the future, everyone will change, change it for the better, it will be another hundred years and a thousand years, if it is not changed well, the torrent of the times will roll by, then there will be nothing left." ”

Zhu Yuan's words, Zhuang Muxu didn't understand much, but he was shocked.

Nothing left?

This is......

Zhu Yuan saw Zhuang Muxu's shocked and uncertain expression, smiled, and said, "Don't think about it, if you don't bend around, I'll just say some direct words." As for the Zhuang family, it is a good thing that he is willing to serve the imperial court, but this time is different. Just say...... The imperial court opened ten ministries, and in the future, everyone's eyes will be on the ten, and the imperial court has run a university, and if you want to keep up, you have to rush to enter the university. Even, in the future, Shinong, industry and commerce, and the imperial court will treat everyone equally, and everyone will also treat them equally. These are the simplest and most fundamental truths. It may sound a little empty to you, but if you can understand it, the Zhuang family can easily enter the ranks of the thousand-year-old family. ”

"Not empty, not empty." Zhuang Muxu hurriedly denied it, he did understand, and after thinking about it, he simply got up and bowed again: "Master Zhuang Xie mentioned it." ”

Motioning for the other party to get up, and waiting for Zhuang Muxu to sit down again, Zhu Yuan turned to ask, "Is your family in business?" ”

Zhuang Muxu was stunned again, and soon said, "It's ...... Some. ”

"Shaanxi, the beginning of the Silk Road, is it to the west?"

Zhuang Muxu obviously couldn't turn the corner immediately, and felt that it was quite undignified to talk about these businessmen, so he stumbled: "Early years...... In peacetime, some to the west, and in recent years, they are all to the south or north, connecting Shuzhong and Saiwai. ”

Zhu Yuan easily sketched a line in his mind, from Shuzhong in the south to the desert in the north, and you can imagine the scale of the dealer's business. However, he was still curious and asked, "Why not go west?" ”

Actually, I probably remember.

During this time, Central Asia was also plagued by wars, cutting off the Silk Road and greatly contributing to the advent of the Age of Discovery.

However, Zhu Yuan wants to know some specific details.

Zhuang Muxu didn't know why the young man Pingzhang was interested in this question, thought for a while, and said, "Probably, 20 years ago...... Well, if the villain remembers correctly, it has been 22 years, and a rebellion broke out in the Chagatai Khanate in the Western Regions, which was divided into two parts, the east and west, and they are still fighting each other. ”

Twenty-two years ago, it's still messing around.

Well......

Zhu Yuan grabbed a point: "How do you know...... Still messing around? ”

Zhuang Muxu said: "It's just that the dealer is not going, but there are always some people who are unwilling to go west to make a profit, so the small ones can often hear the news." ”

Zhu Yuan nodded, not thinking about it.

The soldiers entered Shaanxi without bloodshed, and Sichuan had been pacified, and the Ming army was capable of taking Gansu in one go, taking Gansu, opening up the Hexi Corridor, and recovering the land of the Western Regions was like exploring the bag.

However, it is a pity that the key to this matter is still outside the war.

At present, it is still an agricultural era with extremely low productivity, and in Zhu Yuan's 'distribution', the agricultural era will only be weaker for the ability to 'allocate resources at the regional level', which means that the cost of the expedition to the Western Regions will be very large.

Daming can't afford to toss.

Three years.

Let's start with a 'three-year plan', and then let's see.

However, after three years, even if you want to fight, it will most likely be to the north, to the west...... It is estimated that it will be three years later.

In the past, Lao Zhu was very patient with this, and Hongwu pacified the desert and the northeast around 20 years ago.

This time, we can't rush.

Zhu Yuan only hopes that the war in the Western Regions can continue, but don't stop suddenly.

Zhuang Muxu saw that Zhu Yuan was in thought, he didn't know what he was thinking, it couldn't be an expedition to the Western Regions, right?

However, if this is the case, the dealer in Shaanxi, it is easier to make the force.

Thinking of it, Zhuang Muxu decided to write to his brother as soon as he went back, asking the family to pay more attention to the situation in the Western Regions. Even, there are merchants, it doesn't matter if they make money or not, the key is to listen to the news, so it's worth it even if you fill in some people's lives.

Just as he was thinking about it, he suddenly heard a young man's voice: "What is Mr. Zhuang thinking?" ”

Zhuang Muxu woke up and hurriedly apologized, thinking about it or telling the truth: "The villain thinks that let the family try to run the trade route to the west again, not to make money, but to find out some news from the Western Regions to the imperial court." ”

"Yes," Zhu Yuan nodded, interested: "This can be done as a serious matter, and I will mention it to my ancestors tomorrow." ”

Zhuang Muxu paused and said carefully: "The villain thinks that if this is the case, Gansu ...... It's a problem. ”

If you want to go west, the Hexi Corridor is the most convenient, but the problem is that Gansu, which controls the Hexi Corridor, is not yet in the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuan shook his head: "Gansu is not a problem. ”

Although the imperial army pressed towards Sichuan, it did not completely stop its actions against Gansu, but the means adopted were the same as those against Shaanxi, which were mainly appeased.

Gansu once caused some trouble for the Ming army, but that was because Timur was entrenched in the middle.

Now, Kuangkuo is competing with the grassland tribes for territory near Mobei and Lin, and Gansu, like Shaanxi before, only some local military towns are entrenched, and there is no climate. At this time and space, even the Northern Yuan Dynasty is gone, and the local pattern of Gansu is ...... Unless you want to stand on your own feet as you did in the Western Xia, you must always submit to the east or west.

Zhu Yuan believes that as long as he is not stupid, there is a high probability that he will push the boat down the river.

After all, although Gansu seems remote at present, it has a history of more than 1,000 years in China, and the local Han people are still quite powerful.

Now, Sichuan has been pacified, and Gansu also knows that only by returning to obedience earlier can the interests be maximized, and changes will occur later. Moreover, Tanghe in Shaanxi was not idle, and he was also taking the initiative to contact.

Perhaps, you will hear good news around the New Year's holiday.

After taking Gansu, Daming will be able to push the territory directly to Yumen Pass.

His thoughts flew for a short time, and seeing that Zhuang Muxu was still waiting for him to speak, Zhu Yuan threw out a sentence, but didn't say more, but said: "This is a military matter, let's not discuss it too much, as for your family's willingness to run the western trade route again, I will still help to talk about it, the imperial court can send some people, well, in this way, even if we are two together, I will contribute some money, which can be regarded as a partnership." ”

Zhuang Muxu knew what Zhu Yuan meant when he said, 'The court can send some people', but he didn't have the idea of refusing at all, more because the young man in front of him, Pingzhang, wanted to partner with his own family, and couldn't help but get up subconsciously: "Villain...... The villain must do his best. ”

Zhu Yuan waved his hand and motioned for the other party to sit down, and suddenly laughed: "Your dealer thinks about how to go up, in fact, it's as simple as that, three words: do things." But if you do good deeds, don't ask about the future, but have a future. ”

Zhuang Muxu nodded in agreement, but he didn't agree in his heart.

There are too many people in this world who want to 'do things', but they can't find a way. Their...... I'm really lucky.

Thinking of this, Zhuang Muxu took the initiative to mention: "My lord, the next official ...... this time Among them, there is a daughter of the Zhuang family, who is the concubine of the villain's third brother Muwei's family, there is nothing to say, but her appearance is okay, and she will also have some poetry and books, hoping that she can cook tea and play the piano for adults, and add some pastime. ”

Zhu Yuan smiled: "A six-child is very 'entertaining' for me, this, well, is the first?" ”

"If you sort according to all the juniors in the family, this is Twenty-two Niang," Zhuang Muxu said, and hurriedly said: "My lord, Sixth Niang...... If yes, if so...... But with disposal, adults do big things, and there is no need to worry about it. ”

This is also a stumbling statement.

Originally...... He had heard of what his niece was like at Zhongli's house.

If the arrogant niece arrives at Pingzhang's mansion, it is still like this, and it makes the young man Pingzhang in front of him angry, it is a white silk strangled to death, and the dealer will not ask, after all, strictly speaking, it is not the banker's daughter.

In comparison, the young man in front of him, Pingzhang, this backer, is the most important.

However, this should not be said too bluntly.

Zhuang Muxu still doesn't quite understand the temperament of the young man Pingzhang, if the other party thinks that the dealer is too ruthless, so he is disliked, it will be worth the loss.

Zhu Yuan didn't think about this, but he just felt that the number 'twenty-two' was quite good.

So I didn't refuse.

Anyway...... I already have one at home.

Addicted to women!

After chatting for a while, the goals of both parties had been achieved, Zhu Yuan had other things, and seeing that the time was about the same, he served tea and sent it off.

(End of chapter)