Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 1206 Opportunity

Luzon, Zhenhaicheng.

Decades of construction have given this former Manila a new look.

The brick-covered city wall is three and a half feet high, and the broad copper-nailed iron-wood gate is brightly colored and can accommodate four carriages traveling parallel to each other.

Western-style open carriages, Oriental curtain carriages, ox carts, and donkey carts formed a long queue and marched in an orderly manner.

Not far away, accompanied by the sea breeze, a large number of sailboats and carriages docked, followed closely by rickshaws like migratory birds, carrying merchants in an endless stream.

"One big man for big animals, one copper coin for a single person, and two big men for carriages!"

At the gate of the city, three or five guards were standing guard. A man was sitting behind a desk, enjoying the cool air under an umbrella, and a man was writing records beside him.

There were several baskets around him filled with money, piled into a hill.

But no one who entered the city dared to covet it. Instead, they took out the money from their robes in distress.

"Andre! It's me!"

The man under the parasol raised his head, looked at the person in front of him, and was slightly startled: "Kevin? Are you back?"

Andre unconsciously showed a hint of arrogance:

"I passed the scholar examination, and now I am no longer called Andre. My name is An Yongli, and my courtesy name is Shouwen. You can call me Shouwen."

"Shouwen?" Awkward Chinese came out of Kevin's mouth, and he suddenly felt something was wrong.

Wherever there is a trace of Spanish temperament, it is completely Oriental.

"I passed the scholar examination, and now I am working as a clerk in the Yamen, and am the secretary of the Commercial and Taxation Department!" Andre said proudly:

"Positive Ninth Grade!"

"My God!" Kevin sighed: "With such a large population, there are endless business opportunities. Andre, I think my wealth will increase several times here."

Dazi is a copper yuan. A big penny is equal to ten cents.

"What are you?" Kevin was surprised.

Kevin has green eyes, a high nose bridge, half-curly hair hanging on his shoulders, and wears a vest. He is a typical European.

This little boy is completely different.

"What about you?" Andre looked at the two carriages with five or six people, and blurted out: "Six big boys plus six cents!"

Wearing a Taoist robe with a close-fitting silk garment underneath, wooden clogs on his feet, and a cup of green tea in his hand, he looked casual and proud.

Kevin could only take out the money and go into the city with Andre.

The two of them got into the carriage and drove slowly. The lively street scene was dizzying.

As he spoke, he looked at Andre in front of him.

"Andre, we haven't seen each other in ten years, right?" Kevin sighed.

"Yes, I went to Madrid this time." Kevin spoke pure Spanish with a satisfied smile: "I made a lot of money, which is enough to live on."

On the way, Andre introduced Luzon: "Today's Luzon has five big cities, hundreds of villages and towns, and a population of more than one million. Zhenhai City is one of the largest cities in Southeast Asia, with 200,000 people living there..."

"Yes, you said you were going to Spain to make a living, but now you are doing well."

"This?" Kevin was shocked. Our long-time friends also accepted money?

"There's nothing I can do, it's business!" Andre said casually: "This money is collected from the yamen, not my pocket."

If it weren't for his European appearance, he would really be a Akito.

Andre smiled: "I believe you, Kelly, this is the best place to make a fortune."

The two talked and laughed, but when they arrived at the inn, they ran into trouble.

The price is too high, it costs ten dollars a night, it's a money grab.

"I can't spend it like this even if I have money."

"I can't live with you. There have been a lot of guests recently. If we stay for a while, there won't be any room!"

The shopkeeper raised his head and said with an arrogant look on his face. It's not up to him to decide whether Xi Yi has a backer or not.

Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of Andre in Buddhist robes behind him, and trotted over quickly.

The boss ignored Kelly, who was all dressed in fine clothes, and focused his attention on Andre:

"Guan An, why do you have time to come to my place for inspection? Don't worry, you will definitely pay the tax."

As he spoke, he unconsciously put a few silver coins into the latter's hands, bowed and smiled.

"This is my friend!" Andre puffed up his chest unconsciously.

"So he's your friend!" The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Then I won't charge you any money, and you can live there."

"Just follow the rules!" Andre smiled reservedly: "You have to make money when you should."

"Yes, yes!" the shopkeeper said politely: "Excuse me, just give me two yuan."

Kevin glanced at Andre in disbelief, and then silently paid two dollars.

For the first time, he felt the power of the senses.

The two of them set up a table on the second floor and started eating.

Three meats and two vegetables, with a glass of wine, it's just right.

Kevin talked about Spain and Europe, and said, "Spain has suffered a huge loss in this war. It is already dusk on the empire on which the sun never sets."

"Louis XIV of the French will dominate Europe."

"In my opinion, the sun never sets on the Ming Dynasty!" Andre said seriously: "France is just a province and can only be rampant in Europe. How dare it come to the East and fight to see God!"

Kevin didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he didn't refute.

The recent Oriental craze in Europe was driven by Louis XIV. A large number of translated books such as The Analects and Mencius have become aristocratic fashion.

"I'm looking good in Luzon now. In fact, I'm at my peak." Andre drank, revealing a hint of bitterness:

"Although I speak Mandarin and wear Taoist robes, my appearance is here. The big guy is secretly talking about Xiyi."

"As for the examination of candidates, it is difficult. I am self-aware and have no hope in my life..."

Hearing this, Kevin felt a little more comfortable.

God is still fair and cannot only think of you with good things.

Suddenly, his heart moved, and he whispered: "I passed through Batavia this time and heard something, which should be of some benefit to you."

"Oh?"

"King Xiang and his troops are building the Four Fingers Island, which is the Kingdom of Xiang. They are recruiting troops and horses. Many people from Batavia have gone."

"Why should I go?" Andre said irritably: "Luzon is the central government after all. If I go to Xiang State, wouldn't that be self-destruction?"

"Hey, you don't understand!" Kelly said seriously: "King Xiang, his mother is the daughter of Baron Silva."

“That is to say, King Xiang is a mixed race——” Andre exclaimed, his face full of joy.

As a mixed-race prince, this meant that he would naturally be close to Westerners like him, and he did not discriminate against him with green eyes and curly hair.

A fair officialdom is really important to him, as it means a promising and bright future.

"That's right!" Kelly said with a smile: "My friend, this is your opportunity, an opportunity where the carp leaps over the dragon's gate as the East calls it."

"Changing places is like changing a fish from a pond to a river. It can grow bigger and travel farther."

"That's right!" Andre couldn't stop the smile on his lips: "This is my opportunity, I must seize it!"

(End of this chapter)