Chapter 68 68 Situation

Accompanied by the afterglow of the setting sun, the ship docked at Jiujiangfu Pier.

Wu Dong took Wei Guangde and other people off the boat to meet Zhang Hongfu and Zeng Yuanshu. After greetings, they all set off together into Jiujiang Mansion.

Because it was getting late, we had to find a place to rest first.

Wei Guangde and Zeng Yuanrui had somewhere to go, and the remaining three classmates had already found a place to stay. Since the family had business in Jiujiang Prefecture, the two classmates also lived there temporarily.

After making an appointment to sign up together, everyone separated on the road and headed to their destinations.

Wei Guangde came to the Zhang family again, and after meeting the elders of the family, Wei Guangde and Wu Dongcai moved into the small courtyard again.

Wu Dong didn't just send people here and that was it. He also had to stay here until Wei Guangde completed the government examination, that is, he would accompany him in the examination.

In the evening, Zhang Shigui, the eldest son of the Zhang family, set up a banquet for Wei Guangde to welcome him, saying that he wanted to wish his junior high school entrance examination.

"Uncle, why didn't you see your second uncle?"

The last time Wei Guangde came to Zhang Mansion, he called the two brothers Zhang Shigui and Zhang Fugui after his cousin Wu Dong, so he called him that way this time.

"Fugui went to Wuchang to do business. He will not follow the old man to Zhenjiang, haha."

Zhang Shigui thought that Wei Guangde did not see Zhang Fugui and thought that he followed the old man to Zhenjiang.

"Second uncle's business is really good."

Wu Dong also smiled and said, "Last time I came here, I met my second uncle on the dock. He said he was going out to do business, and I will do the same this time."

"It's good, it's all about earning some hard-earned money."

Zhang Shigui looked at the three younger ones. His son and Wu Dong were definitely going to be soldiers. He didn't say anything, but the fate of the Wei family was better. They gave birth to an extra son, and there was still time to rush.

"Actually, there's nothing bad to say. Every family in Jiujiang Wei is doing this business. Otherwise, if we have to support a large family, that little salary alone will be enough."

Zhang Shigui was still smiling and looking like a good old man.

"What kind of goods did the second uncle send this time?"

Wu Dong asked curiously, last time he said he was transporting Suzhou silk, but he didn't know what he was transporting this time.

"The porcelain from Jingdezhen next door, the goods that Shaanxi merchants want, are handed over in Wuchang. In fact, the money they make is just the freight and banknotes."

At this time, Zhang Hongfu replied, obviously he knew a lot about his second uncle's business even though he had nothing to do.

Also, the second uncle does not have a son. In addition to part of his property being used as dowry in the future, the rest will also go to the public school. In the end, won’t it belong to him, Zhang Hongfu?

At least that seemed to be the case before the second uncle had no son.

After hearing the following words, Wei Guangde probably guessed that they must have used their identities to allow the merchant ship to pass directly through the Jiujiang banknote customs, and the tax money was put into his pocket.

Guard officers from other places definitely don't have such conditions, but as an officer of Jiujiang Guard, they still have this ability.

Thinking of this, Wei Guangde couldn't help but think of the Wei Guogong Mansion in Nanjing, which had always maintained contact with Jiujiang Wei. I'm afraid this factor was involved.

Wei Guangde had heard from his father that the official positions of a group of Wei Li people were managed by the Duke of Wei in Nanjing, and they did not receive salary for their actual duties.

What are they planning?

These days, there is no possibility of leading troops to rebel. Now those nobles have long lost the idea of ​​making achievements on the battlefield as their elders. They are all focused on making money and playing with women. They have already divorced the Ming Dynasty and the country, so there is no need to argue.

"No wonder, I see there are fewer ships at the guard station on the pier over there."

Wu Dong interrupted with a smile.

"Those ships are just idle. They go out to haul some cargo and let the sailors earn some money."

Zhang Hongfu said indifferently.

Only then did Wei Guangde fully understand the true meaning of the original words of "earning freight" and "Chao Guan". The ships were all owned by Weili, so there was no need to spend any money, just give the sailors some hard-earned money.

This business is a business without capital.

It is said that no businessman can be a traitor, but this Shaanxi businessman is also very powerful. After ordering the goods, he asked Zhang Fugui to help transport them to Wuchang. The safety along the way was guaranteed and he saved money, although part of the money saved may go to the Zhang family. , but it also saved a lot of trouble.

It's really hard money. Just make a trip and get a few hundred taels of silver.

"Oh, it's your second uncle who has no ability. If he had obtained a merit degree through his studies and had him join the Salt Administration, the money he would have made would have gone to waste."

Having said this, Zhang Shigui couldn't help but sigh, "Guangde, let me tell you, your studies and taking the imperial examinations are actually nothing more than seeking power and seeking wealth. I won't talk about seeking power. That requires you to have the ability and the ability to do so. You must be lucky to be appreciated by noble people.

But when it comes to asking for money, local officials are nothing.

Three years to clear the magistrate's office, and one hundred thousand snowflakes of silver, is not as much as the money earned by joining the Salt Administration. It is still a routine thing, and it is hard for others to say anything. "

Wei Guangde kept nodding. It was hard to say anything at this time, so just listen and nod.

"Okay, let's have a drink. Today, with this glass of wine, I wish you all the way to pass the Guangde Mansion Examination, and that the candidates will be awarded Jinshi, haha."

With that said, Zhang Shigui picked up the wine glass, and Zhang Hongfu and Wu Dong also picked up the wine glass and touched it lightly with the wine glass in Wei Guangde's hand.

"I don't know what the situation is in Zhenjiang."

After everyone drank a few more glasses of wine, Wei Guangde thought of Father Wei again.

The news they got there was actually from their cousin Wu Dong, and the source of the news for his cousin must have been from the Weisuo, which is here.

"It should be fine. The news sent back yesterday seemed to say that there was no movement from the Japanese pirates."

Zhang Shigui knew this best. He was the most familiar with the guards and had been working there during this period.

But when it came to this, Zhang Shigui seemed to suddenly think of something and asked the servant to bring a scroll from the study. After unfolding it, Wei Guangde saw that it was a map of Jiangnan.

However, Wei Guangde saw that it had a bit of the flavor of a topographic map in later generations.

The mountains, rivers and lakes were directly drawn on the map, which was very vivid. As for whether it was accurate or not, it was definitely not guaranteed. It could only be said that the general direction might be correct.

This map only involved Zhejiang, Jiangxi and parts of Nanzhili, as if it was specially prepared for this war.

"Hongfu, Wu Dong, come and take a look and guess what Nanjing is thinking."

At this time, Zhang Shigui suddenly remembered to train the two younger generations. They were all going to inherit the position. If they were exposed to some such things earlier, who knew if they would encounter them in the future.

Then, under Wei Guangde's gaze, Zhang Shigui told them about the current deployment of the Ming army.

There was no change. It was still what he had heard from his cousin, but this time there was a map. Whether it was Wu Dong, Wei Guangde, or Zhang Hongfu, it was much more intuitive.

The army was stationed in Zhenjiang and Taicang, but Songjiang Prefecture was on the coast.

The junction of Songjiang Prefecture and Zhejiang was the defense area of ​​Jinshan Guard. Then the coastal areas of Zhejiang from Jiaxing, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo to Wenzhou, the prefectures have stationed guards to strengthen the defense.

Wu Dong was not a stupid person and soon noticed Songjiang Prefecture.

There was Jinshan Guard to the south of Songjiang Prefecture, but most of Songjiang Prefecture was directly facing the sea. Obviously, there were loopholes in the defense with such a small number of troops.

"Why are the troops gathered in Taicang here in Songjiang? Instead of stationing in Shanghai County?"