Chapter 68 68 Situation

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

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

Since 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's 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 exams in advance.

"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 it, 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 engaged in 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 earn is just the freight and banknote customs fees."

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 taken advantage of 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 the 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, and he was afraid that this factor was also 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 just hold a false position to receive a salary.

What are people 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 money-making freight and Chao Guan's original words. The transport ships were all owned by Weili, and there was no need to spend any money. All that was needed was to give the sailors some hard-earned money.

This business is a business without capital.

It is said that no businessman is 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.

"Being a magistrate for three years and earning a hundred thousand snowflakes of silver is not as much as earning money by joining the Salt Administration. It's just a routine thing, and it's 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 drink. Let's continue with this glass of wine today. I wish you all the way to pass the Guangde Mansion Examination and the Imperial 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's going on over there 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 guard station, which is here.

"It should be fine. The news that came back yesterday seems to say that there is no movement from the Japanese pirates there yet."

Zhang Shigui knows this best. He is the most familiar with Wei Wei and has been working there during this period.

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

In other words, Wei Guangde saw it, and it looked like a topographical map of later generations.

The mountains, rivers and lakes are drawn directly on the map, which is very vivid. As for the accuracy, we cannot guarantee it. I can only say that the general direction may be good.

This map only covers Zhejiang and Jiangxi, and parts of southern Zhili. It seems to have been 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 thought of training the two juniors. They were both going to take up their positions. If they were exposed to such things early, who knew whether they would encounter them in the future.

Immediately, under Wei Guangde's gaze, Zhang Shigui explained to them the current deployment of the Ming army.

Nothing has changed, it is still what I heard from my cousin, but this time with the map, it is much more intuitive for Wu Dong, Wei Guangde, and Zhang Hongfu.

The army was stationed in Zhenjiang and Taicang, but Songjiang Prefecture was near the sea.

The junction between Songjiang Prefecture and Zhejiang is where the Jinshan Guards are guarding. Then along the coast of Zhejiang, starting from Jiaxing, followed by Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo and even Wenzhou, the state capitals have stationed guards troops to strengthen defense.

Wu Dong was not stupid and quickly noticed Songjiang Mansion.

There is Jinshan Guard to the south of Songjiang Prefecture, but most areas of Songjiang Prefecture are directly facing the sea. Obviously, there are loopholes in the defense with just such a few people.

"Here in Songjiang, why are the troops gathered in Taicang? Instead of stationed in Shanghai County?"
Chapter completed!