Chapter 1721 Qiu Yu
Xiao Cuo turned to look at the rain outside the window, shook his head and sighed: "That's what I said, but if I don't see it with my own eyes, how can I feel at ease? This matter is too important, and the clan has entrusted this heavy responsibility to me. Although everyone is paying attention to his rise in status since then, if something goes wrong, I am afraid it will I have to commit suicide in front of my ancestors and apologize for my sins. Come on, it's really annoying that you evil stars have to discuss important matters in such poetic weather! Let's go, I and you will go to Jiang. Let’s take a closer look and see if there are any omissions.”
After saying that, he stood up reluctantly, and with a look of displeasure ordered the maid to prepare the raincoat and hitch the carriage.
Wang Qi and the others subconsciously glanced at the continuous drizzle outside the window, and then looked at each other. In this annoying weather, the humidity was so heavy that it was chilling to the bones. After sitting for a while, they were all wet as if they had been wet by the rain. Where could they be? A little bit poetic?
But the slander is the slander. Everyone knows that although this young master is not the direct son of the Xiao family, he has a higher heart and compares everything to the son of the patriarch Xiao Jing. As a result, the tiger is not like the dog, and the tone is annoying. ……
After a long time, I didn’t take it seriously.
Several people got up, each took the raincoat prepared by the maid and put it on, went out and braved the light rain, boarded the carriage covered with a layer of oilcloth in front of the door, and meandered along the bluestone path in the forest in front of the building towards the mouth of the Qiantang River. Move forward.
Under the rain curtain, the Qiantang River is quiet and beautiful, and the rolling water flows quietly.
In a bay surrounded by hills, dozens of large merchant ships were neatly parked. A sailor was inspecting the sails in the rain. Countless carriages were parked on the shore, and the goods in each cart were packed into boxes. Covered with tarpaulin, they were being unloaded in an orderly manner and transported to the cabin by porters through a temporary gangplank.
Not many people talked, but it was very busy.
When the oilcloth carriage was swaying down the hillside, heavily armed private soldiers had already rushed out from the mountains and forests on both sides of the road to intercept it. When they saw the big man with a beard and leopard head ring who opened the curtain, He immediately saluted respectfully, then retreated into the forest again and continued to be vigilant.
Following a winding mountain road to the edge of the river bend, Xiao Cuo and Wang Qi put on their raincoats again and jumped out of the carriage.
After stepping on the muddy ground, Xiao Cuo looked gloomy: "This damn weather..."
A steward in charge of loading the goods had already come up to him from afar. After saluting, he said: "Sir, the goods have been half loaded. It is expected to be almost ready in two days. But if the rain gets heavier, I'm afraid it will delay everything." One and a half days.”
Xiao Cuo glanced at the busy river bend and said: "We still need to speed up as much as possible. Although it will take some time for Fang Jun to go south, and the navy's expedition will take more time, but our scale this time is too large and there is no guarantee that the news will be leaked. If that guy Fang Jun finds out, there may be an accident.”
"Here! The old slave will tell the house slaves in the sentry realm that no stranger will be allowed to step within a few miles."
Xiao Cuo nodded.
He was not worried about going to sea. Each family on dozens of ships sent probably no less than 2,000 private soldiers. Although most of them were domestic slaves who had never fought in a war, they were all strong and strong. Facing those The pirates who have long since become extinct are definitely true.
He was even more worried that if the news leaked out, the ships would be attacked by the navy before they could even go to sea.
The Royal Navy is directly loyal to the emperor. Except for Fang Jun, no one can influence the will of this army. Even if a few nails are buried in it to act as eyes and ears, they will be dug out and disposed of in a few days. It is really monolithic... …
As long as they don't arouse the navy's idea, these cargo ships can go to sea without anyone noticing after the navy goes north, and they will definitely bring huge profits to the major families.
By then, he, Xiao Cuo, will be the hero of each family, and his reputation will rise, and the tide will rise. In addition, with the big tree of the Lanling Xiao family at his back, it may not be impossible to enter an official career...
*****
Even the rainy weather could not stop Fang Xuanling and Li Jing's curiosity.
In the morning, they ate some special Jiangnan porridge, brewed a pot of hot tea and played two games of chess. When the rain subsided a little, the two of them put on raincoats and strolled out of their residence, along the I walked slowly along a street behind the town office and looked around.
They are very interested in the wool weaving that Pei Xingjian talked about yesterday...
As early as when Fang Jun went on an expedition to the Western Regions to destroy the Gaochang Kingdom, he used wine and wool to appease the nobles in Gaochang. Not only did the Tang army successfully take over the entire Gaochang Kingdom, but he also made a lot of profits from it.
Until now, the wine produced by Fangjia Winery is still a treasure at the banquets of nobles from all over the world.
It's a pity that Guo Xiaoke was arrogant and intended to annex the Fang family's winery to obtain the grape wine formula, which directly caused all the Fang family's wineries and wool workshops in the Western Regions to withdraw to Guanzhong, and also lost the stability of Gaochang State, which directly detonated the Western Regions. There were wars between countries, and Guo Xiaoke was greedy for credit and rushed forward, so he lost his life and the good situation was ruined.
The imperial court had to send the British Duke Li Ji and Wei King Li Tai to lead the army westward, pacify the countries in the Western Regions, and keep the Silk Road open...
The Fang family is still engaged in the wool business, and Fang Xuanling knows it.
There is a wool workshop at Fangjiawan Wharf. Wool is purchased from the Western Regions, spun into thread, and then woven into cloth for sale. However, Fang Xuanling has never paid much attention to the affairs of those merchants, and Wu Meiniang has always been in charge of the wharf. Naturally, he didn't pay much attention to it, so he didn't know the details.
Now it seems that this business has been developed to Huating Town...
The rain washes away the smooth concrete pavement, making it cleaner and cleaner. The air is moist and cool, making people feel refreshed.
The two of them, accompanied by a few servants and soldiers, did not notify Pei Xingjian, and just walked on the streets of the residential area in Huating Town that was just completed last year. This is a house built on a piece of saline-alkali land. It is obviously planned. Deep drainage ditches are dug beside the road and covered with stone slabs. There are tall and straight trees planted in front of the door. They are obviously transplanted from the mountains. Now, although the roots have not penetrated deeply into the soil, we can already vaguely see how the crown will look like a shade in the future.
The houses are all made of blue bricks and black tiles, with about five rooms each. Looking in from the not-high walls, some have built several additional rooms on both sides of the yard, and some have planted some fruits and vegetables. , some keep chickens, ducks, pigs, dogs, poultry and livestock in pens, and the yards are clean, tidy and bright.
From time to time, villagers walked by on the street, and they all looked surprised when they saw this group of people. However, they did not appear panicked, nor did they come forward to watch. They just took a look from a distance, and then left. , everyone is busy with their own things.
There were children playing in front of the door with clear laughter. They were not afraid of strangers when they met Fang Xuanling and others. They smiled and showed off their two baby teeth. They raised a red fruit in their hands and giggled: "Seven, seven …”
Li Jing and others were stunned, "seven"?
Only Fang Xuanling, who was teasing his grandson at home, had deep experience in this. He knew that this was the little boy asking them to "eat" the fruit. When he saw this cheerful, fair and fat child, he couldn't help but think of his grandson at home. He was suddenly filled with feelings and took two steps forward. Squatting in front of the child, showing a gentle smile, reaching out to pick up the child...
"Who are you?"
A cry of surprise sounded from behind, and an old woman in Gebu clothes rushed out of the courtyard in a panic, pulled the child over and hugged her in her arms, staring at Fang Xuanling and others warily.
Fang Xuanling was still squatting, thinking that she was being treated as a human trafficker?
The servant behind him quickly stepped forward and shouted: "A country man, how dare you be rude to my master?"
Fang Xuanling waved his hand to stop him, and said with a smile to the surprised old woman: "Sister-in-law, don't worry, this person is not a child abductor, he just came to Huating Town to buy wool products. It rained heavily today, so I came here for a stroll. , no malice whatsoever.”
The old woman hugged the child tightly, took two steps back and stood at the door of the yard. She looked at Fang Xuanling and others up and down. She seemed to feel that these people did not look like bandits, so she asked suspiciously: "Acquisition Wool products? What do you charge?”
Fang Xuanling looked at her yard. There were wing rooms on both sides, and said, "What does your house make?"
The old woman said: "My family weaves blankets, but I have already received deposits from regular customers. I have been busy weaving in the past few months and have no extra blankets to sell."
Li Jing shook his eyebrows and was a little surprised: "Business is so good?"
The business delivered to the door is not solicited, which shows that the sales are indeed very good.
"That's natural!" The old woman straightened her chest, her wrinkled face filled with pride: "Have you seen the largest warship in the shipyard? Pei Changshi said that our entire village weaves blankets and The taxes paid on cotton can buy a warship like that every year!”
Li Jing was stunned.
Although I don’t know which warship the old woman is referring to, hasn’t paying taxes been something that people hate deeply since ancient times?
Why do you still look proud and proud when you pay taxes with your hard-earned money?
Fang Xuanling was silent for a moment, then Wen Yan asked: "Even if the business fails, I don't know if I can go into your yard and see the condition of your blankets?" (End of Chapter)