Imperial Palace, in the Xinuan Pavilion next to the Qianqing Palace.

The heating has been burned, and it is a freshly laid floor heating, which seems to be more advanced than the steam heating of Qingning Palace, although the north wind is swishing outside, but the house is warm like spring, and there is no choking smell of charcoal fire.

And Zhu Youzhu and Zhang Zhou sat on the ground seat, facing a delicate octagonal table, drinking tea as if chatting, taking out family and country affairs to discuss.

"Bingkuan, you have also seen that the British Duke has already made meritorious contributions in the northwest, but no matter how I look at it, it seems that it is the guilty Zhu Hui, as if he is not aware of the danger and trouble in front of him."

Zhu Youzhu finished speaking with a smile, as if he was waiting to see Zhang Mao's liveliness.

Zhang Zhoudao: "The British Duke is still ...... in terms of personal connections and the strength of leading troops. Some of them are accomplished. ”

"Really?" Zhu Youzhu continued to smile, "Do you think he can win?" ”

"This ......"

Zhang Zhou could only laugh silently.

Zhang Mao can only move his mouth like this, and he has never experienced a horse in half his life, it is good that he does not deviate from the battlefield without major deviations, and Zhang Mao is not a bold person.

Of course, there are many things, even Zhang Zhou himself can't make up his mind, but in the case of the Tatars themselves are like frightened birds, it is indeed too difficult for Zhang Mao to make some achievements, mainly because the Tatars will not confront him head-on.

Zhu Youzhu took out another secret piece and said: "Look at it, this is Xinbo's performance." ”

Zhang Zhou held the song in his hand, which was written by Wang Shouren.

Zhu Youzhu said: "Xinjian Bo has ordered 3,000 cavalry, all of whom have experienced more than two bloody battles with the Tatars, and he is ready to lead his troops from Weininghai to the northwest, all the way out of 400 miles, and then come back by detour, so that no matter where the Tatars are still in Koubian, they can only obediently withdraw their troops back." ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "The plan is complete, except for the fact that it seems to be a little risky, there seems to be nothing wrong." ”

"yes." Zhu Youzhu nodded and said, "You still teach well, you are brave and strategic, you can be a member of the Ming Dynasty, and his courage is also incomparable to those mediocre martial artists in the army today." But I'm afraid that this expedition will deviate from something. ”

Zhang Zhou smiled and put down the finished song and said, "Your Majesty is not at ease, it's still the British duke, right?" ”

"Then let him pick up a bargain." Zhu Youzhu said, "Obviously, he led the troops to conquer the northwest, but in fact, I never counted on him, I just asked him not to make trouble in the northwest." If Xinjian Bo can establish meritorious deeds again, then he only needs to march to Ningxia step by step, and he can reap the benefits of the fisherman, so it can't be that I am embarrassing him, right? ”

Zhang Zhou said: "If it's just like that, then it's really not difficult for the British public." ”

Zhu Youzhu smiled: "So you see, where else should I need to check and fill in the gaps?" If there is really something wrong with the British along the way, there is always some need for remedy, or if Xinbo can't return safely from the steppe, does it also need to put pressure on the Tatars on the side? ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty must have a relevant plan, right?" ”

"Oh, I can't hide anything from you, I have actually thought of a candidate for a long time, and he is actually the most suitable to command the northwest soldiers and horses. How about you and I write a name each to confirm it? Zhu Youzhu played with his heart.

He seemed to want to try whether he had the same foresight as Zhang Zhou in matters such as governing the army and marching the army.

Now Zhu Youzhu also wants to show his ability as a martial artist.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Please give your majesty a pen." ”

"What you don't give, there is a pen on the table, you can use it as you like."

Then the two of them wrote a name on the paper, in fact, Zhang Zhou didn't need to think about who was more suitable, just think about what the emperor was thinking, and what the emperor said "who commands the northwest soldiers and horses" is clearly referring to one person.

Wang Qiong.

When the two spread out their names, sure enough, the names matched.

"Haha, that's what I thought." Zhu Youzhu said with a smile.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Wang Shilang has repeatedly made achievements in the army, and now he has sent troops from Yansui and other places to hold the soldiers and horses on the Tatar border hostage, and create a good opportunity for Xinjian Bo to go straight to the hinterland of the grassland, which is very suitable." ”

"Yes, that's what I thought, too." Zhu Youji looked very excited, "Then I will give an order, let him mobilize the local soldiers and horses in Yansui, send troops from Hetao and other places, and make the Tatars unable to advance or retreat in the name of patrolling, as for how to fight, depending on his own performance, if this battle can be won, I will also remember him a great achievement." ”

Wang Shouren has merit, and Wang Qiong also has merit.

Only Zhang Mao, who is regarded as the commander of all walks of life in the northwest, seems to be a soy sauce player.

The emperor's expectation for him is just not to add to the chaos, to be a good disguise, and not to punish you when you are rewarded for meritorious deeds in the end, then it can be regarded as your ancestor burning high incense.

Even Zhang Zhou felt that maybe the emperor really looked down on those old ministers.

……

……

When Zhang Zhou came out of the palace, there were already some snowflakes outside.

This is the first snow after the winter, although the snow will melt when it falls, but it can still make people feel a chill, even Zhang Zhou can't help but want to go home, his wife and children hot kang head, and live a simple life.

But before Zhang Zhou could get on the official sedan chair, Sun Shangqi came over and said something in Zhang Zhou's ear.

Later, Zhang Zhou did not go home or the theater, let alone go to the office, but went directly to a courtyard in the city.

The courtyard is very quiet.

The alley at the entrance is very narrow, but it is entering the courtyard, but it seems to be a hole in the sky.

Before Zhang Zhou waited for the main hall, Aunt Lin was already waiting respectfully, and after a few steps to greet her, she greeted her with a big salute.

"Hmm."

Zhang Zhou just nodded.

Then enter the main hall.

Compared to the warmth of the West Warm Pavilion of the Imperial Palace, it was obvious that Zhang Zhou felt some chill here, there was a feeling that there were no fireworks, and he would also feel the stool cold when he sat down.

Aunt Lin said: "According to the master's instructions, I have made several assessments for several little masters, and finally selected a few people, just waiting for you to make the final selection." If they are promoted to be the shopkeepers of some shops, they may not be able to do it, but if they just sort out the general accounts, or do some records and other things, it is not worthwhile. ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "Really? Where are the people? ”

"It's all waiting in the backyard." Aunt Lin said, "One of them is the daughter of the Zhao family of Yongping Mansion, in addition to being good at arithmetic, she is also proficient in some business methods, the lord may have heard of the Zhao family, they are the richest man in the local area, and there are still some ways in the court." ”

When Zhang Zhou heard what the Zhao family girl was, he didn't say anything.

Sun Shangqi next to him said: "Grandpa, this girl was originally married by the Huang family, and after the case of Yongping Mansion, she was divorced from home, and the Zhao family is now guilty, only she is still in the left side of the Jingshi, and the rest of the people are sent to Yongping Mansion and other places to call." ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "It doesn't matter what the origin is, what you want is talent and ability." Show me how she did before. ”

Aunt Lin immediately handed over what looked like an exam paper to Zhang Zhou.

A thick stack, obviously the exam is not a joke, not only to sort out the accounts, but also to know how to make a plan, some business things, must have a reasonable understanding, and be a good professional manager.

This can be done in later generations, or by an ordinary person, but in this era, it is very difficult to need a boudoir woman to do it.

Aunt Lin said: "Although the previous choices are all literate daughters, many of them are only literate, and they almost don't know anything about the things on the side, only a few people can pass the first game, and most of them continue to the next few games, but their performances are different." ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "Also, a young lady from a big family is also married to another big family, maybe the Huang family is cultivating her as the future housemother of the family, so she will come into contact with things that others can't touch." Looking at the copywriting she sorted out, it is indeed the style of some female masters. ”

"The rest are here." Aunt Lin then handed over a few copies to Zhang Zhou.

"You don't have to look at it, just call people over, I asked in person, some people may only show on paper, and there will inevitably be stage fright when people are in front of them."

This means that there will be not only a written test, but also an interview.

If any of them can't be passed, that's not okay.

"The slave family is going to invite the adults over." Aunt Lin then withdrew from the door and went back to the inner courtyard to call a few of the women who had been selected to come out to see the real lord.

……

……

Four women.

Huang Zhao is about twenty-eight or nineteen years old, one is slightly older, about thirty-five, and the remaining two are younger, one is twenty years old, and the other one is like a girl who doesn't grow up, with a pair of big eyes peeking at Zhang Zhou after entering the house.

In terms of appearance, only Huang Zhao and the last girl look good, but they are more stable than stable, and the other two seem to be not far behind.

It seems that they also know that they can pass the final selection competition, and they are only one kick away, and they can't give up halfway at this time.

After all, whether she will be a female shopkeeper or a maid who serves people in the future depends on today's performance.

The four of them lined up in a row.

Zhang Zhou then began his interview.

"You must also know who I am, my surname is Zhang Mingzhou, a person from Yingtianfu in Jiangnan, and I have been in Beijing for a few years. Originally, as an official, I couldn't do business casually, but what I did was for the benefit of the imperial court, and it was approved by His Majesty. ”

Zhang Zhou also had to introduce himself first.

It also lets them know who they are doing things for.

It seems that he is doing things for Zhang Zhou, but it can also be said that he is doing an errand for the emperor, and he directly becomes a member of the inner government.

"I have a weaving business here, I want to spread it out, but there are not enough people or anything at present, if you have any good ideas, just talk about it in person." Regardless of what comes to your mind, you don't care what others say, or who you think makes sense, you can also make a supplement. ”

Discuss freely, don't be tied to the situation.

All four women chose to remain silent for a while.

When facing a big man like Zhang Zhou, they will still look restrained, especially such an approachable big person, which they didn't expect before.

Huang Zhao still spoke first: "Dare to ask grandpa, how big is this business?" ”

"Well, it takes about a few thousand horses to weave every day, in fact, I don't hide it from you, there were already prototypes in operation before, in the past, a loom needed a female worker, but now a female worker can see about ten machines, and the efficiency is more than ten times higher than before. If the business is left to you, how do you move forward? ”

Huang Zhao said: "The concubine believes that to do business, it is nothing more than to have people, land boundaries, and capital, and all three are indispensable. If you want to weave thousands of horses of cloth every day, I am afraid that the current supply of raw materials around Jingshi will not be enough to support it. ”

Zhang Zhou nodded and said: "That's right, the entire Jingshi can almost digest about a thousand pieces of cloth a day, after all, not everyone can make new clothes." Most of these were used for military quartermasters. ”

Huang Zhao said: "Then why don't you weave cloth in the northwest, but in Beijing?" ”

Aunt Lin was a little anxious and said, "Are you here to answer the adult's question, or is the adult to answer you?" ”

"Don't do that." Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "Today is just a reasonable discussion, and there is no need to use the momentum to suppress people." I think you're right, it's not that I haven't thought about it, but the transportation of hemp silk also needs to be transferred from all over the country, and the northwest itself is also lacking, and the transfer to Beijing is also a transfer, but the waterway and land transportation around Beijing are more convenient. And by my side, it's easier to control. ”

Huang Zhao said: "The concubine thinks that as long as the raw materials are controlled and the manpower is managed well, then it will ...... Almost. As for how the cloth is weaved, the concubine has never seen it, so it is difficult to make a conclusion. ”

Aunt Lin shook her head and said, "It's the same as not saying it." ”

Then the young woman next to her said, "That requires a lot of female workers, right?" Can I go to work as a female worker? ”

Obviously, the female shopkeeper was selected, but this young girl didn't seem to have any big ambitions, and she seemed to know that she didn't have any advantage in this kind of competition, so she just wanted to fight for a relatively stable errand for herself and survive.

"What do you think?" Zhang Zhou set his eyes on the other two women.

One of the older ones said: "The concubine body thinks that as long as the adult tells the concubine body to do what the concubine does, the concubine body can follow the rules." As many people and forces as there are, you can do as many things as you want, and you can't force them. As for things such as coming forward to communicate with others, I am afraid that the concubine will not be able to do it. ”

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Even if you communicate, you mostly communicate with internal officials, since you have to manage business, how can you only manage your own one-third of an acre?" To do business, you also need to communicate with people. ”

Huang Zhao looked very positive and said, "The concubine is willing to try." ”

"Oh? Do you think you have the ability to communicate with people in the government or the palace? Zhang Zhou was curious and forgot the past.

He could also see that this Huang Zhao seemed to be eager to change his future fate, so he was very strong in this kind of matter.

Huang Zhao said: "The concubine already has a business in the family, and has dealings with the local government, although the family is now down, but the concubine will not lose to others." As long as others can do it, even if the concubine body is open-minded, she can do it. ”

Aunt Lin frowned and said, "It's not for you to go out and fight with people, why do you have to fight hard?" (End of chapter)