Chapter 111: Rolling, Rolling to the Death

Zhang said, sighed and added: “Your brother-in-law as a human son, always have to share the worries and difficulties for their own father is that this to the West …… Hundreds of officials have said that the waste of money, food and people’s power …… You are outside …… heard anything?”

Zhang Anshi said, “As Sister said, this is a thousand years of work, how can short-sighted people see it, these people only want their wives and children to have a hot bed.”

Zhang blinked and wondered, “What’s a wife?”

Zhang Anshi instantly remembered that this era was not called a wife, so he explained, “Wife means wife.”

Zhang then laughed, “Are all wives old?”

Zhang Anshi said, “A woman who will grow old together? Sister, let’s get down to business. I think His Majesty’s trip to the West is a good thing, so don’t let my brother-in-law misbelieve the officials and follow them.”

“He knows.” Zhang said, “This brother-in-law of yours can be much more careful with his words than you, if you can learn half of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I will amitabha Buddha, and my heart will be put down.”

Zhang Anshi did not expect his good intentions to remind, turn around and a reprimand, well he is used to it, so he smiled sarcastically and said, “Going down to the Western Ocean does cost a lot of silver …… You teach your brother in law to rest assured that by the beginning of the spring, his majesty will not lack of silver.”

“Yes?” Zhang gazed at Zhang Anshi.

On this point, Zhang is a little confident, his brother has no other skills, but the ability to snatch silver, but a variety of skills.

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “Don’t worry about yourself, I’ll take care of it.”

Right now it was a good sign that Zhu Di had begun to expose the crown prince more and more to matters of state.

First, it was the science and now it’s the Ministry of the Household.

Of course, the historical Zhu Gaoqi, in fact, always did a good job, at least better than his old man.

Zhu Di may be one of those people who can do great things, and what he did was something that many emperors wouldn’t even think of doing.

These things, play well is Qin Shi Huang, Tang Taizong the same existence, but if you play off, is Sui Yang Emperor.

In a way, it all comes from money, and money is the only way to get things done.

Zhu Gaoqi, on the other hand, was almost reserved and specialized in raising money for Zhu Di.

Zhang Anshi was naturally clear that going to the West was too important.

It is not only necessary to go down to the West, but it is desirable to make that down to the West sustainable.

This is the great thing that really benefits all the people of the world.

In this way …… he had to get a large amount of silver before Zheng He s fleet left, no matter what.

But getting money is not the same as getting money, and some people get money by desperately trying to glean it from the people at the bottom!

This grips more, people are not vegetarian, a line of kings and queens would rather have seed, will teach you to die without a burial place.

Thinking about it, Zhang Anshi felt …… that he had to lay his hands on people with silver.

After thinking carefully for a while, Zhang Anshi will be excited to go up a Zaozhao, said …… hope to respond to the national policy of going to the West, Qixia Ferry here, can also build some sea boats, arrange people with Zheng He to go to the West.

This zhang shi sent to the palace, Zhu Di read since it is a great joy, can not help but also lost ha: “Zhang Anshi this kid, or have merit, he is anxious about what I am anxious, decree, grace.”

Said, Zhu Di but continue to worry about, because the Western Ocean is indeed too much money, at least the beginning of spring this year, let Zheng He went to Japan, spend a lot of money. As for the western ocean, the place to go is even farther, the cost of money and food is countless.

Of course, it is not without good news, this time Zheng He to the Japanese country after the Japanese awarded the king of the gold seal, at the same time that the king of the Japanese also expressed support for the Ming purge of the Japanese invaders, but also captured a lot of Japanese invaders, these Japanese invaders will be steamed.

Yes, it’s really steamed, like a steamed bun kind of thing.

Zhu Di was quite satisfied with this. Once upon a time, the Japanese had always been obedient, but now that they had seen Zheng He’s vast ships, this was the only time that they were truly obedient.

Zhu Di then picked up another report, which was played by the crown prince, nothing more than the Ministry of households side of the situation is worse, no silver.

Seeing this, Zhu Di had no choice but to sigh, “The Crown Prince has done his best, take some from my internal funds.”

Although this is said, Zhu Di is clear, the money of the internal money …… this year is to earn a lot, but after all, it is still limited, far from carrying the ambitions of Zhu Di.

Also Lostha said, “Yes.”

…………

Time passes like the blink of an eye and soon it’s time for New Year’s Eve!

Zhang Anshi New Year’s Eve, roughly, is to invite a group of brothers, taking advantage of this year’s big cold, taking advantage of some of the rivers to freeze, to go to blow up the ice to play.

Speaking of which, Chuson shows the advanced level of a bomb artist.

A pile of ice, how much gunpowder was needed, where it was set to detonate, all seemed familiar to him.

So much so that Zhu Yong and Zhang Yoking are a little cautious about him, always feeling that this guy …… will be more impulsive.

By the day of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Zhang Anshi, dressed in a new suit, first went to the East Palace, only at this time of the year, it happened to be the busiest time for his brother-in-law and sister.

So didn’t stay long, came out in a puff of smoke, let Zhang San prepare a gift, and headed for the Duke of Wei’s residence.

Zhang Anshi was able to come to pay his respects, and Duke of Wei Xu Huizu looked happy!

He personally entertained this descendant, and his son Xu Qin also wanted to come along, and was directly kicked away by Xu Huizu who almost told him to get lost.

Zhang Anshi said humbly, “Good day, Uncle Shih, good new year.”

Hearing the three words Good New Year, Xu Huizu froze, then smiled again, “Good good good. World nephew has grown quite a bit and taller, now more and more like an adult.”

Zhang Anshi smiled and bowed, Xu Huizu told him to sit down, and when the servant served tea, Xu Huizu said, “I heard that you did a lot of good things in Qixia Ferry, that’s good, a man’s manhood, starting a family, is the most important thing.”

Zhang Anshi then resentfully said, “In fact, the work is not good, are people fallacious praise, I’m not too good at the governance of the matter, and now the mind are in the writing of books.”

This four words of writing books and making speeches, the tone is very big, in the general view of the people, this is the only thing that the sages do.

Of course, Xu Huizu was a martial artist and didn’t care about this at all.

How does he know, Zhang Anshi all day to write a book, has long been those readers whole broken defense.

Xu Hui Zu said in a long and serious way: “You have this ambition, is very good, men’s ambition in all directions, but although so, there is the old saying is good, the so-called unfilial three, no later for the big. Your father died early, you are the only son of the family, the family must have a woman to give you the housekeeping is good.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Yes, yes, my nephew has kept this in mind.”

See Zhang Anshi not on the road, do not know whether it is really stupid or fake stupid, Xu Huizu thought he prompted so obvious, Zhang Anshi should immediately kneel down and call him a father.

Xu Huizu had to clean up his mood and laugh with Zhang Anshi a few more times.

Seeing that it was almost time, Zhang Anshi got up to take his leave.

Xu Huizu said, “Which other family will you visit later?”

Zhang Anshi said, “There is still a need to go to Uncle Zhu Shih, Uncle Qiu Shih, and the Zhang family.”

Xu Huizu’s face was slightly different when he heard about Uncle Qiu Shi, but he quickly smiled, “This is the right thing to do, you’ve grown up, of course you should pay attention to etiquette, unlike my family, Xu Qin, who is headless.”

At that moment, Zhang Anshi went out of the Xu Mansion, a day down, visited many people, the brain dizzy, so much so that the inertia of wanting to call everyone uncle has arisen.

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the New Year’s festivities, some more days passed, and seeing that the fifteenth day of the first month was approaching, Zhu Jin was called in by Zhang Anshi.

As Zhang Anshi’s designated business partner, Zhu Jin was happy.

He was now in the business world, almost walking sideways, after all, behind him was the Eastern Palace and the Marquis Wu’an.

Not only that, many of the Zhang family’s businesses were actually entrusted to him to take over, and on the surface he was just helping out, but in fact the Zhang family couldn’t possibly give him much profit.

But the implications of this are huge.

For example, Zhang Anshi to find the agent of the provinces, is through the Zhu Jin to mediate, after all, some things, as a royal relative of Zhang Anshi inconvenient to appear.

At that time, it was really a great success, and the merchants from all over the world, in order to grab this agent, which one of them did not nod and bow when they saw him?

The great merchants who used to call him ‘that Zhu so-and-so’ would now take the initiative to give him an arch and call him Brother Zhu.

This leap from dangling hair to pretty boy is so engrossing that Jukin is completely overwhelmed.

Of course, he realized more and more that he had to cling to the big tree of Zhang Anshi, which was the basis of his future establishment.

So Zhang Anshi only needed a greeting, and he immediately put down all the matters at hand and hurriedly came.

Two people hit the face, Zhang Anshi said: “This has come to the first month, the provinces of the hospital exams will begin, the goods should also be prepared to send out, I think about it, our books, according to the method of distribution to the provinces roughly counted how many people, but also according to the poor and rich in each province, developed a list, you to see, so that the agents according to this number of goods. ”

Zhu Jin laughed on one side, took the list handed over by Zhang Anshi, and smiled, “Uncle Cheng En’s personal efforts are really teaching ……… teaching ……”

The words came to a screeching halt as he eyed the list.

“What, a total of half a million books?” Zhu Jin’s eyes are straight: “Under this sky, the readers who participate in the court examination, I’m afraid that there are not so many ah, this sells out? Not to mention that the pricing is three taels, not a small amount, uncle, once it is not sold out, those agents’ goods can rot in their hands ah, I’m only afraid that they ……”

This time the preparation of more goods, mainly or time is abundant, coupled with the cooperation of those printing workshop, because of the early experience of cooperation, so under the tight protection measures, almost overtime, the goods to catch up.

Compared to Zhu Jin’s shock, Zhang Anshi laughed calmly, “You mean, with so many books, you can’t sell them?”

Zhu Jin laughed bitterly: “Small speculation, may be up to only sell 150,000 books, this is already the limit, after all, …… the world’s readers are limited, and the people …… who can afford to pay three taels of silver are also limited. ”

Zhang Anshi smiled, “You, you only know how to do business, but I’m different, not only do I know how to do business, but I also know how to read people.”

“What?” Jujin froze.

Zhang Anshi calmly said, “You don’t worry, teach the provincial agents to store is, in addition, I have this …… here ……”

Saying this, Zhang Anshi took out a sample paper of the Di Di newspaper, and handed it to Zhu Jin, while saying, “Take a good look at it, and when the time comes, this thing can also be spread out together, and the agents of the provinces should be taught to put this in the most conspicuous position of all the bookshops.”

Zhu Jin took the diaper, here, in fact, and the Chief Secretary’s diaper is not very different, densely packed with small words, the paper is not small, folded up after the diaper spread out, big scary.

He was confused, but on second thought, he did as he was told, where so many things, Cheng Enbo said what is what.

So he swore with conviction, “Don’t worry, uncle, I will do it properly.”

Zhu Jin immediately began to contact the agents who had been waiting here for a long time.

These people were also prepared, selecting those who carried the goods and those who escorted them along the way, all of whom were the most trusted.

So much so that even the wives and children of these people are made sure to be in his hands.

This is a heavenly deal, the relationship is significant, any mistakes, may let a waist of a million dollars of the giant family dumped, but at the same …… time, once the thing is done, it means that the financial resources are rolling.

In fact …… for many big booksellers, probably Zhang Anshi gave them not much profit.

The vast majority of the profits from these eight pen talks were held by Zhang Anshi to death.

Can do business people, is not care about the immediate small profits, on the one hand, they can rely on the eight shares of the pen talk more or less to earn some silver, the most important thing is that this kind of cooperation brought about by their own name of the various places of the bookstore in the state capitals to bring a huge advantage.

In this way, it is like a steady pressure on the competitors head, invisible, so whoever holds the right to represent, it is hidden to become the largest local booksellers, compared with other booksellers, can be said to be a ride.

Immediately afterward, bundles of parcels wrapped to death began to be loaded onto ships or trucks, and at every step, the most beloved of the booksellers personally supervised.

The carefully selected guards each showed a wary look.

Immediately, these carriages and ships began to be distributed to all parts of the world.

And Jukin, who was in the middle of it all for centering and regulating, was almost white for the night.

To coordinate so many relationships, really fuck up his heart, not to mention that when everyone knows that the Zhang family released so many goods, many booksellers have complained, after all …… all they are afraid that these books are not sold, and then smashed in the hands, is not a joke.

And Jujin could only patiently explain to them one by one.

Of course, there’s coercion, too. Someone wants to quit, that’s not going to happen. On the boat, you just say go? The silver you paid for the agency in the first place, but not a penny.

The booksellers are dissatisfied is, in addition to the eight pen talk, Zhang family actually also let them stock this di newspaper, this is a mandatory requirement, must let them and eight pen talk together with the goods, take back to their own bookstore to sell.

This has made the booksellers even more miserable, but right now, there seems to be no way back. There was simply no choice but to walk down one path.

Of course, the news that these second editions are about to go on sale naturally cannot be hidden from anyone.

Soon the news spread and people were running for cover.

When many readers heard this, it was as if the most painful memories that were buried deep inside began to come up all at once, so there was another bout of shouting and cursing.

At this time, just won the examination of the Yang phase, but has long repaired a letter, let a person to his hometown in Jiangxi Taihe County to send.

Spring had already begun by the time this correspondence arrived in Tahoe County.

This is a village in Taihe County called Changtangwei, Jiangxi mountainous, but also beautiful scenery, in this beautiful scenery, the Yang family mansion scale is grand.

Yang Xiang’s family is a big local clan, with several generations of officials! His father, Mr. Yang Taigong, joined the government during the Hongwu era, and when he got older, he returned to his hometown to retire because of a recurrence of his old illness.

Received the family letter, this Yang Taigong’s face is very bad, mouth: “Zhang Anshi ……… heard that this son is a treacherous and evil person ……”

He said, but then shook his head as he picked up a book and just sighed.

This is exactly what was bought earlier, the very first edition of Zhang Anshi’s eight-study pen talk.

To be honest, someone like Yang Taigong was certainly well aware of the value of this thing.

After the founding of the Ming Dynasty and the selection of students by the eight shares, everyone began to learn the eight shares, but the eight shares in the end how to write, how to make a good article, in fact, almost everyone, is a layman.

Now read this first edition, Yang Taigong immediately had a sense of enlightenment, suddenly realized that the original can also be used to write in this style, early access to this book, may be the results of the examination will be completely different.

As a result, this first edition has only a handful of useful things to offer, and the next …… is a desire to see what happens afterward.

Like all the people who have read this book, Yang Taigong is furious, this is shameless.

Now, the second edition of the sale is imminent, his son is not assured, personally repair the book to let people from the capital to bring back in a fire, reminding him that he must pay attention to, although Yang Taigong in his heart cursed Zhang Anshi cursed, but also has a sense of proportion.

This matter is related to the future of the sons and daughters, not a joke, even if Zhang Anshi he is a pig, a dog, does not prevent Yang Taigong pinched his nose to buy books.

That first edition of the book …… is now long tattered, and after having read it, too dilapidated to be read.

And now …… Yang Taigong takes his son’s letter, reads it, then puts it down, and right after that, reads it again ……

He frowned at times and paced with his hands behind his back.

At this point, he seemed to be weighing something carefully.

This sentiment has been going on for days.

Yang Taigong seems to suffer for it every day.

Finally ……

On this day, the steward of the home came hurriedly and said, “Master, master, the latest news, the provincial city there sent the latest news, the book has arrived in the provincial city, ready to open the sale. However …… however ……”

“But what?”

“But there is a batch of books that have been shipped to this side of Taihe County, a full three hundred books …… number is not small …… little man thought, wait until the time of the county, roughly around the early morning of the day after tomorrow.”

“Has it come?” Yang Taigong’s body shook as he looked both nervous and excited, staring intently at the steward, “Three hundred books is so much?”

“Yeah, it says it’s fully stocked, and we’re still kind of low on T&T.”

“Got it, got it.” Yang Taigong said, “Get ready.”

“Yes.”

It was hard to stay up until the wee hours of the morning after.

At this time should wait for the dawn, this bookstore will be open for sale.

There is only one bookstore that sells books in Tahoe County.

Consequently, Taigong Yang took a deep breath and summoned the steward, “Later on, go to the county town together with the old man.”

The steward hesitantly said, “Master, isn’t it too early in the day?”

Yang Taigong said, “This is a great thing, our Yang family children to participate in the courtyard examination this year, there are six people, the courtyard examination is related to the merit, how can you underestimate it?”

The steward then hurriedly said, “Yes, yes.”

Eunuch Yang then said, “Also, some days ago, let you sell grain silver, can still in the account?”

The steward said, “In the past two months, the master has urged the sale of grain, in addition to that, there is also a lot of oil squeezed by the oil mill last year was also sold, the silver are lying in the account.”

“How many?”

“Five thousand three hundred taels.”

“Bring them all.” Yang Taigong said indifferently.

The steward was shocked and looked at Eunuch Yang incredulously.

“Master, a book is only three taels of silver, our family, six sons and daughters to go to the examination, at most only buy six books.”

“Who said to buy six books?” Yang Taigong’s face was expressionless, but his eyes were looking at the steward slyly.

The steward was confused and wondered, “Could …… not …… it be?”

“Buy two hundred books, no, is how much silver, buy how many books! That store only said to take the first edition of the book can be prioritized to go to buy, but did not say, take the first edition of the book to go to be able to buy how many books, then we Yang family …… can buy how much is how much.”

The steward was still surprised and couldn’t help but ask, “Master, what does this …… this …… need so much for?”

“Idiot.” Yang Taigong looked at the steward fiercely and said sternly, “Is the courtyard test about the eight stocks? No, the court test is within this capital, who’s eight stocks are better, the comparison is not about making articles, it’s about comparing people to people. Let s say Taihe County, if everyone reads these eight stocks, everyone has grown, then is this book …… not bought for nothing?”

The steward suddenly realized, could not help but say, “So …… so …… only other people can not buy, we Yang family people buy, this courtyard examination is very hopeful.”

Indeed that’s what it’s all about.

It seems that Mrs. Yang is also very distressed, this can basically cost the family’s old capital.

But after thinking about the family’s upcoming examination of the six children, which there is a second son of his own, he will feel better in his heart, said: “the courtyard examination, is the Xiucai, Xiucai, although compared to my son, Yang phase of this scholar, is nothing, but this is the merit, the family rise and fall, than the merit of anyone’s family is more!”

“In the future …… these six sons and daughters, if one or two can be successful, or even in the jinshi, this silver spent on value. Silver is gone, as long as the land is still there, the future can always save, but this merit missed, then regret also too late.”

Speaking here, he continued with a face of annoyance, “Zhang Anshi that bastard, this damn guy, if not for him, my Yang family’s chances of winning the test would be even greater, but now …… but also had to throw his weight around.”

As he spoke, Mrs. Yang’s body was trembling; it was not easy to make such a determination.

Steward at this time but thought of something, then said: “Master, but this three hundred books, we only bought more than two hundred books, not the same also ……”

Yang Taigong shook his head, “One less to sell is one, even if we have one or two percent more certainty, we won’t lose.”

The steward said with residual concern: “But …… I’m afraid that this side is sold out, the county’s bookstore, and go to the provincial city to replenish the goods? At that time ……”

Yang Taigong laughed coldly: “Even if the replenishment, at least ten days of work, before the shipment can be delivered, this Academy Examination will begin in January work, not to say the future is still replenished or not replenished, even if it is replenished, our children have been studying for many days!”

“This book is too powerful, many of the techniques, are unheard of, whoever warms up to it first, will have the first chance! This matter concerns the honor and disgrace of my Yang family, it is not a joke, you quickly go and get ready, we will leave immediately.”

The Steward heard this and refrained from further persuasion.

In the face of merit, for a prestigious family like the Yangs, indeed silver is nothing.

So overnight, the Yangs arrived in the county with almost a cartload of silver.

It was slightly light when we arrived.

But just when arriving at the bookstore, it was found that this place has been a sea of people, and the vast majority of people …… are screaming and cursing.

Too late already?

Yang Taigong was shocked and anxious in his heart, so he hurriedly called for people to inquire, only to realize that at this time everyone was screaming and cursing endlessly.

“Master, master, it’s no good, it’s no good, we’ve been outbid, the Zhou family in the east of the city has bought all the books in one go.”

Yang Taigong only felt dizzy and almost fell head over heels.

“The Chow family, which Chow family?”

“County do silk trading that Zhou family …… his daughter, is not married to the governor as a concubine?”

Yang Taigong tensed his face and said, “His family is nothing but a merchant family, does he also have sons and daughters who study?”

“No, no ……” cried the steward, saying, “I heard …… I heard that he bought it all, and at the door of his own house, he burned that book directly. ”

Yang Taigong s body trembled, couldn t help but curse, “Good means, good means, this is really a Jedi scheme ah, this surname Zhou …… seems to be not simple.”

“Master, what’s going on here? Are we going to wait for the stores side to restock?”

“Restocking?” Yang Taigong laughed coldly: “You really are not enlightened, don’t you know that surnamed Zhou’s this is what the wishful thinking? He bought all the books and burned them in front of his face, which is to tell everyone that in this Taihe County, within ten days, the vast majority of the books …… are gone, and I expect that he still has a dozen or so books hidden in his hands, or twenty or thirty, and you guess, what will he do?”

The steward finally got the hang of it, “Sold at a high price?”

Yang Taigong coldly snorted and said, “I’m afraid that at this time, even if he sells a book for five hundred taels, everyone is going to grab it, it’s really a good deal, old man this time, it’s considered to be admitted, surnamed Zhou’s …… huh …… wait and see it, still froze! What, hurry up, go to the Zhou family to ask for purchase, no matter how much it costs, but also to buy a book back.”

The steward could not help but shiver, at this time carefully thought, which realized, that surnamed Zhou’s really ruthless enough, but look at the master for the book so urgent look, but also know, that surnamed Zhou is indeed directly pinch the seven inches!

At this time, even if a book, not to mention five hundred taels of silver, or eight hundred taels, one thousand taels, this hand on the area of more than a dozen books, but also sure to find a buyer.

For no other reason than it’s meritorious.

Merit might be ten or twenty taels of silver for an ordinary family to pay.

But for some people, even if they pay a thousand taels or ten thousand taels of silver, it’s just a drop in the bucket and won’t hurt them.

…………

P.S. The next chapter will be updated on August 14th at 0:00 a.m. This book was first published on the Starting Point, so please come to the Starting Point App to read it.

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