Xie Ming

Chapter 290: Last name Shen!

Shen Zhengwen told everything, what exactly was his purpose in working so hard in the southern border in recent years!

After hearing this, Yuzhen looked embarrassed. Her partner Xiao'e was completely unaware of this conspiracy and even complained a lot. She really shouldn't have done that!
As a brother, Shen Zhengwen, seeing his own sister nodding her head in shame, he smiled and waved his hands.

"hehe."

"Silly girl!"

"I don't blame you!"

"It's just that I never thought of it!"

"He (Zhu Chunchen) actually..."

"Ugh!"

"I thought that at the last moment, if the capital city could not be saved, he would take the lead and lead all his relatives to move to the southern border!"

"Even if things have changed, he has been appointed to a high position in times of crisis and it is difficult for him to leave for the time being, but, at the very least, the family members of the clan should be sent down as soon as possible!"

"If this is the case, then it is not in vain. I have worked hard for several years to arrange so many things!"

"But what about now? Only until now did I realize that he (Zhu Chunchen) actually had other ideas!"

"Alas! Such a failure! In the end, my relatives and clansmen can hardly protect themselves!"

"And you and I will also bear the eternal infamy of treason for him!"

"My hard work over the years has all gone to waste!"

Melancholy, loss, and resentment!

When Shen Zhengwen talked about these things, he felt angry.

But things have come to this point, and it is useless to dwell on these things. So after finishing the story, Zhengwen raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead, then he forced himself to cheer up and changed the subject!

"Forget it! There's no point in talking about the past here!"

"The key point right now." As he spoke, Shen Zhengwen took a deep breath and looked up at the two sisters.

"Yuzhen, Yu'e!"

"Now that you two have come here, you must remember this in the future!"

"Since our family in the North has already committed treason, from now on, we must never mention our previous identities in the South!"

"According to my analysis, even if Nanjing supports a new ruler in the future and establishes the Southern Dynasty, these old events of the former court will definitely have to be explained!"

"Zhu Chunchen surrendered to the enemy and betrayed the country. He can't escape this!"

"So, this is also the reason why when I introduced you two to each other just now, I only vaguely said that you two were sisters!"

"This concern must be addressed from now on!"

"You two, do you understand the pros and cons of this situation?!" Zheng Wen gave detailed instructions in a serious tone.

Upon hearing this, Yuzhen and Xiao'e hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"kindness"

"From now on, you two will have the same surname as me and both have the surname Shen!" Shen Zhengwen said bitterly.

"Yes"

"My surname is Shen." Faced with this sudden change, Yuzhen was panicked and hesitant for a moment.

On the contrary, the little E next to her is innocent and happy.

"Sister, since you and I have arrived in the southern border and found my brother, from now on, you should listen to him in everything!" Yu'e had a simple mind. After a long while, she finally found a chance to speak, and her words were quite fluent.

"Well, good! Xiao'e is right!"

"Brother, from now on, my sister and I will listen to you!" Yuzhen took a deep breath and continued.

"That's right, brother!"

"You just mentioned Shen Chaozong and the Shen family."

"I wonder if they are all in Nanjing Prefecture?!" Yuzhen was still worried and asked more questions.

"Uh, hehe." The eldest sister suddenly changed the subject, and Shen Zhengwen was a little dazed for a moment.

After hearing the question clearly, he quickly responded.

"Shen Chaozong, the Shen family mansion is in Yangzhou, not in Nanjing!"

"Yuzhen, I wonder if you knew that in our Ming Dynasty, the salt transportation center in the south was mainly concentrated in Yangzhou City!"

"This Yangzhou area has a unique geographical location, convenient transportation, and developed water transport. Salt merchants mostly rely on water transport. Over time, it has become a gathering place for salt merchants!"

"And the Shen family is now mainly engaged in the salt business!"

"So, my home is in Yangzhou!"

"In addition, in addition to the Huizhou merchants represented by his Shen family, there are also the Shanxi Merchants Association, which is mainly based in Shanxi and Shaanxi!"

"The two salt merchant gangs share the salt transportation business in the southern border. They don't get along with each other and have been competing secretly!"

"The reason why I came to Nanjing on business in recent months was to seek this year's salt permit!" Zheng Wenyan.

"Salt, salt-inducing agent? What is that?!" Xiao'e found the word new, so she blinked her big eyes and interrupted him rudely.

"Oh, haha, the salt permit is the certificate issued by the imperial court every year to merchants to transport and sell salt!"

"In our Ming Dynasty, salt tax is a heavy tax, which affects the overall tax revenue of the court!"

"So, this salt transportation business is strictly controlled by the imperial court!"

"Recently, Qiu Weizhen, the Minister Qiu, who was assigned to Nanjing to handle the salt permits, has been informed that because of some kind of northward expedition to support the emperor, tens of thousands of troops from the four towns in northern Jiangnan have been mobilized. It's going to be a big event!"

"So, the job of obtaining the salt permit was delayed!"

"Well, you two don't have to worry!"

"Well, stay with me in Nanjing for a few days!"

"Once I finish my job of taking over the salt permit, we will go back to Yangzhou together!"

"I think Uncle Shen will be happy to see you two!" Shen Zhengwen planned.

But when she suddenly heard about going north to serve the king, Xiao'e had an idea. Although she had been secluded since childhood and had a simple mind, she was also smart and insightful. Especially when it came to matters involving her elder brother Xiao, Xiao Jingchuan, her mischievous nature was immediately revealed.

As he thought of something, he opened his mouth and wanted to ask his brother.

Yu Yuzhen, who was standing beside him, could also think of this. However, after all, Xiao Jingchuan's move of breaking out of the capital two months ago seemed to be a betrayal of the Duke's Mansion!
As to why Xiao Lang and his father parted ways, the matter could only be determined after they were asked face to face.

What's more, my brother and Xiao Lang don't know each other. If he brings up the matter of Xiao Jingchuan now, who knows how much gossip and other things will arise!
Sui Yuzhen lowered her head from the table, raised her wrist and pressed Xiao'e down, then glanced away, thinking it was a signal.

Yu'e was just about to get excited when she was suddenly stopped by her sister. She didn't understand what her sister meant, but she couldn't say anything more. Her heart was racing. She thought that since she had waited here, she must get to the bottom of it!
It was rainy and cloudy in the south of the Yangtze River, but in the northern Shandong border, it was sunny early!

Time flies, and it’s already the fourth day of June!

After four days and a 200-li march eastward, the Xiao army had gradually reached its target - Qinghe County.

If you go further east from here, you will enter Shandong Province!
On the morning of June 5th, fifteen miles west of the small county town, Xiao Jingchuan, who had rested for a night, led a group of vanguard Hu Chen to go ahead and make the visit.

Last night, I heard a report from the central line saying that two days ago, a large number of troops suddenly stationed in the small city of Qinghe. Upon inquiry, I found out that they were a unit of General Li Chengdong under the command of Gao Jie of Fengyang.

These soldiers in the border garrisons are domineering, brutal and cruel. It is no exaggeration to say that they are plucking feathers from a passing goose!

One route was pushed eastwards, and all the cities and towns it passed through were devastated. It was truly a disaster that made people suffer beyond words!

(End of this chapter)