New Shun 1730

"Sir, what do you think of the effect of this mission to Europe?"

At home, Kang Budai saw that Liu Yu was not in a good mood after returning, and thought something had gone wrong, so he asked.

Liu Yu was still thinking about Chen Zhen's matter. After hearing Kang Budai's question, he actually had no idea.

"It's hard to say. In the tenth year of Wanli in the previous dynasty, Japan also sent a group of young people to visit Europe. It has been 150 years since then, right? After that, the one-eyed dragon Date Masamune also built a galleon, crossed the Pacific Ocean, walked around Mexico, and went to Spain. It was the same as those young people. It can be regarded as a round-the-world voyage, except for the South American section. But what's the use?"

The tenth year of Wanli was an extremely important year for Asia.

That year, Matteo Ricci set foot on Chinese soil for the first time, Japan sent the first Asian mission to Europe, and Gregory changed the Julian calendar. Since then, the Gregorian calendar has been determined, and Catholicism has been able to use the calendar to tear open the absolute defense of culture.

In the blink of an eye, a hundred and fifty years have passed. The Galen of Date Masamune has become the last masterpiece. After the Japanese youth group returned from visiting Europe, they faced a closed-door policy.

Liu Yu was worried about many things, but it was useless to worry.

It would take three to five years to know what this mission would turn out like.

Kang Budai knew a lot of Liu Yu's plans. As a man of chivalry that Liu Sheng recognized as trustworthy, Liu Yu had discussed many things with him.

Hearing Liu Yu talking about Japan, Kang Budai said: "Japan is closed to the outside world. According to what you said, it is worried about Catholicism. Didn't the believers revolt during the Chongzhen period of the previous dynasty? Now our dynasty has sent people to Luosha and France. Even if the religion is banned, there is still communication. There is no need to worry too much about this."

Liu Yu thought to himself, you don't understand. I am not worried about the ban on religion cutting off communication, but I am worried that those people will see many things they don't want to see.

If you really want to go out and see, you can see both good and bad. The key is how to see it.

There is no way to only have good enlightenment and budding, but avoid bad budding and enlightenment.

Just when I was worried, a servant came over and said, "Third Master, someone outside said that he is your old friend, but there is no invitation. He only said that his surname is Du and he is an acquaintance in Northern Xinjiang. He brought some things and is waiting outside the door. You see..."

"Suspected Du?"

Liu Yu smiled and said, "Okay, Mi Ziming's brother-in-law is here. I'll go to greet him."

Kang Budai also laughed when he heard this surname, "Is this the 'official-obsessed young man' that the young master said?"

"Hahahaha, that's right. The young man is not bad. Zhongxian, please sit down, I'll be back soon."

Following the servant around the small door, he went out from the corner door of the Duke's Mansion.

Outside the door, Du Feng was standing there. He might have been frightened by the gate and the doorman of the Duke's Mansion. He was not afraid of the flying lead bullets when he attacked the city and captured the stronghold that day. Now facing the huge stone lion and the vermilion gate, he was a little timid.

There was a horse beside him, which looked a bit like D'Artagnan when he first came to Paris. It was a very strong horse, but now it was a little weak because of the hustle and bustle of the capital. There were muskets and sabers hanging on the saddle. These were good things on the battlefield, but they looked quite poor in the capital.

Du Feng had two bulging pockets next to him.

"Hey, Du Feng!"

Du Feng saw Liu Yu and hurriedly saluted, "Master Liu."

Glancing at the two bags beside Du Feng, Liu Yu smiled and said, "Why, do you think that our Yiguogong Mansion is short of food and clothing?"

"Master, you are joking. It's one thing for my father to say that you don't want to come, but it's another thing for me not to bring some gifts. This door of your house is worth all my land. This is not worth much, a few pounds of dried mushrooms, fungus, two mink skins, and a few ginseng bought from Koreans. I don't know what to bring for the first time, I hope you don't laugh at me."

The servant behind him hurriedly carried the two bags into Liu Yu's yard, and another servant came to help lead the horse away and feed it.

Liu Yu did not go through the corner gate, but took Du Feng straight to his own yard.

Before entering the door, Du Feng looked back at the tall stone lions and the majestic vermilion gate, and admired the glittering gilded animal head door knocker.

There were no women or maids in Liu Yu's courtyard, just some servants.

He asked someone to make tea, introduced Kang Budai, and sat down as host and guest.

After not seeing each other for nearly a year, they were somewhat unfamiliar. Liu Yu first showed off and said, "Hey, Du, you may not know. Now I have an additional Wenxun Zanzhi Shaoyin. I have entered the upper house, and my thighs are almost thick enough. You followed me at the beginning, right?"

After deliberately showing off, Du Feng gradually let go of his awkwardness, as if he had returned to the atmosphere on the battlefield at the beginning, knowing that Liu Yu was telling him not to be restrained.

"Your Excellency has made great contributions. Now I have also been admitted to Wude Palace, and I will officially start school in a few days."

"Okay, I got what I wanted. Wude Palace has accommodations, so come and sit with me when you have nothing to do in the future. Just go through the small gate. My family is troubled and there are many things to do. My brother is the eldest son, and I can't get involved in family affairs. Besides, you have just entered Wude Palace. To be honest, even if you meet my father, you can't help much. Let's not bother."

Du Feng felt warm in his heart, knowing that Liu Yu was telling the truth.

All the way from Shenyang to Beijing after the exam, I had only been to Jilin Shipyard before I grew up. It was my first time in Beijing, and I was really stunned.

After asking where the Duke of Yi's mansion was, I saw the gate of Duke Yi. Under the pressure of the stone lion, I felt both the insignificance and inferiority of the caste and the fear that my own home would be like the vermilion gate in the future. The fantasy of a gilt animal ring.

Under such pressure, Liu Yu remained the same as before and spoke the truth as before, which warmed Du Feng's heart.

After drinking a few sips of tea, Liu Yu asked the boy to get a cigarette tray and ordered a cigar from Macau from Luzon. It was rolled with dried tobacco leaves. This was the first time Du Feng had seen it.

Liu Yu sent the boy to fetch the steamed buns.

After getting over the embarrassment of not seeing each other for many days, he asked, "How are you doing? Is it good for the exam?"

Du Feng put down his cigar and smiled shyly.

"It's quite simple. Your Excellency, I have heard that the man who translated the last few volumes of the Elements of Geometry was sent to Handori Acropolis because of something bad. Fortunately, I learned well. I am not from a good family in Laowuying, but thanks to my father’s reputation, I am finally qualified to take the exam in Shenyang. There are not many people in the north of Liaodong. I was the first among a few. "

Liu Yu generally knew the examination process of the Wude Palace. The Liangjiazi of the Old Fifth Battalion basically followed the land equalization system and the land-changing system. As a Liangjiazi, he was not a guard serf of the previous dynasty, but a low-ranking military noble. They have spokespersons, and they are also a group of soldiers that the emperor can trust most, and they can also be regarded as the basic base of the Yulin Guards in Dashun.

If he is not a son of a good family in the fifth battalion, his father's generation must have an honorary title, or he must pay a large amount of money to buy a place in the examination.

This was a force directly under the emperor's control, and the management was still very strict. People from the imperial examination could not get involved.

Du Feng was lucky, not to mention a blessing in disguise, but if someone hadn't been exiled there because of something bad, he probably wouldn't have been able to get into the Wude Palace in this life.

"Xiao Du, do you take what I said that day into your heart?"

"Well, I will remember what you said. I will definitely learn more about navigation in the future. By the way, where is Master Shu now?"

"Jiao Lao Butu? He is guarding the place in Heilongjiang. He was promoted to General Xuanwu and signed. Now he has the post of Xuanfu Envoy. He is mainly in charge of border trade, fur trade and other matters there, and also patrols the border and collects goods. Don’t you know about collecting Diao tribute and building a trading city?”

"Well, I went to Shenyang to take the exam and never came home. My father asked someone to bring me some souvenirs. I have never heard of this. So, I am promoted?"

Liu Yu nodded and said with a smile: "Gao Sheng can't be counted. The area he manages is thousands of miles around, which is quite big. It's a pity that there are not many people. He can't control too much of the soldiers of Zhe Chong Mansion. Let's make do. But it's done. , is also a good place. Nowadays, Rakshasa has opened two ports for trade with us, such as tea, raw silk, rhubarb, etc. It must be from Mongolia, and it will not be far away. For furs and the like, we still have to go to Jingqilijiang to trade. I told him that he was collecting mink and that the Rakshasa people were not allowed to trade privately. I guess I could make a lot of money in a year. Can we establish a shipping route from Vladivostok to the mouth of the Heilongjiang River, get some cloth, ironware, etc., and directly trade the skins with the local tribes to make a profit."

It doesn't sound like a high promotion, after all, it is a bitter and cold place.

But Du Feng also understood the difference between promotion and conferment. Shu Tu was only a fifth-rank official at that time, but he followed Liu Yu to reach the fourth rank in just two years.

Although it was because of the subsequent siege of Shilka River Castle, if he had not followed Liu Yu, there would have been no such opportunity.

Now, despite hanging up the seal, he is still in charge of a place that looks bitter and cold but is actually rich in wealth. This further proves that the choice made that day was correct.

Follow along and there will be meat to eat.

Not long after, the steamed buns also came. Before the ceremony, Liu Yu first talked about the naming of the steamed buns. Du Feng also knew the meaning and only called him Brother Ziming.

"Just in time, Xiao Du is here. I feel a lot more relaxed. In a few days, I will find a teacher who knows Latin. Xiao Du will learn Latin from Zi Ming, and then also teach Zi Ming geometry. How close you two are, I'm relaxed too."

"My family has a small courtyard outside the Wude Palace. No one in my family goes to the Wude Palace to study anymore. You can just live there. Come to my place when you have nothing to do. Living in Kyoto is not easy. I still have to eat meat. No problem.”

After saying that, he pointed to Kang Buyao and said: "Mr. Zhongxian is talented. If you have anything you don't understand about classics and history in the future, you can ask him."

The small group of several people gradually became familiar with each other and had a meal together. Liu Yu also spared most of the day and walked around the capital with Du Feng.

After returning home, he sent some of the less valuable local products that Du Feng had carried to the backyard.

My mother had heard Liu Yu talk about Northern Xinjiang and had a deep memory of this young man. She also knew that Liu Yu had played tricks on others and deceived him into seeking big things. I also heard Liu Yu say that he was so frightened that he shed tears, and the tears froze in the cold wind on his face, which was painted with badger oil. He also laughed a few times.

Knowing that he is not a son of a good family in Laowuying, he is not a son of a noble family, and he comes from Kushangougou Zhechong Mansion, he must be a person who can be admitted to Wude Palace. Although there is luck, intelligence and hard work are also indispensable. It is always right to make friends with such people.

It is said that when dealing with favors, etiquette is essential, but giving money seems like coming to beat the autumn wind, but it means looking down on others.

Then he asked the maid to find two pieces of good satin, and asked Liu Yu to hand them over to someone to cut two pieces of clothes for wearing in the capital. And put a few stacks of paper, brushes, etc.

Hearing Liu Yu talk about Mantou's thoughts, the mother smiled and said: "After all, she is a person who has left the house. Since she doesn't like the maid anymore and her horizons are high, there is also some affection in it."

After thinking about it, he found two pieces of jewelry that were as cheap as possible. They were both gifts from others during the Chinese New Year and had never been used. Fortunately, the styles were not too extravagant. He asked Liu Yu to take them with him and said they were for his sister.

Before leaving, his mother called Liu Yu back, dismissed the maid, and said with a smile: "You have the intention of being a matchmaker, but you should also think about your own affairs, right?"

Liu Yu smiled bitterly, thinking that his mother in the previous life urged him, and his mother in this life also urged him. Surely this thing can't even stop time and space?

Seeing Liu Yu's bitter smile, his mother spat, "Why are you smiling bitterly? You will be separated in the future. Family affairs have nothing to do with you. Who you must marry is your elder brother's business. You only need to ask for what you want, but you have to give me an explanation. Is it tall, short, fat, thin? Is it well-educated? Or something like that?"

"This... uh..."

This question is really difficult to answer. In this day and age, you can't even meet before getting married. It is very likely that the first meeting and the first night will be on the same day. It all depends on luck.

Anyway, he must get married. His marriage is actually simple.

There is a beautiful maid named Yuyan in the bed. There are no rubber products in this day and age. If the maid who accompanies the room gets pregnant before marrying the main wife, it's actually nothing.

First, he will not inherit the title, and second, he will not marry. If he really wants to marry, it must be the so-called "equal status".

If a maid gave birth to a concubine, the girl's family would definitely be disgusted, but since there is no marriage, there is no need to worry about this.

The key is that his current status is awkward.

If he was just a Sanqi Sheren, it would be easy. But now that he is in the limelight, it is hard to find one.

He has too many things to do, and some of the things he has done are really frightening.

In this era of implicated people, those who are eligible for marriage will definitely not think of marrying their daughters to such a dangerous person.

Hearing his mother's question, Liu Yu hesitated for a long time before saying: "Mother, but there is one thing, I don't want to bind my feet. I don't want to be taciturn. Anyway, I can't make the decision, mother, just help me. But if I bind my feet or I am taciturn... I will inevitably be upset in the future. It is certain that the whole family will be in turmoil."

The mother laughed and shook her head and said: "It is not difficult to not bind feet. The noble families should also marry fewer young ladies from the imperial examination. Don't say you don't like taciturn people, even I don't like them. Apart from these two, there is nothing else, right?"

Liu Yu smiled, spread his hands, and recited a poem.

"Not as good as the willow catkins rising in the wind."

Hearing this, the mother couldn't help laughing and said, "You have high requirements. In the past thousand years, who can compare with her... or Li Yi'an? Or Shangguan Zhaorong?"

"When Taizu started his army, there were brave and good fighters in the strong women's camp, but there was no talent like Xie Daoyun; there were many women who could write poems about catkins, but there was no heroic spirit. The literary can write lyrics to be passed down through the ages, and the martial arts can raise the sword and kill the enemy without hesitation in the face of danger... If you really want to think so..."

Halfway through the words, it seems that he is too lazy to continue.

Liu Yu also smiled.

"Mother, look, there is always a gap between what I want and what is possible in reality. It's not up to me to decide what kind of marriage I should have. There is nothing I can do. Aren't they the same two things? One is that she can't bind her feet, and the other is that she can't be a dull person. If she is better, it will be considered a blessing for accumulating virtue."

Seeing that Liu Yu was not serious again, the mother just smiled and let him go.

After leaving the house, I was mumbling about this topic, thinking about the line "Not as good as the catkins rising in the wind", and thinking, but it is said that Lin Daiyu "has talent in chanting catkins". Could it be that in the real version, Lin Daiyu really had to train servants, pick up a knife to kill people, and become General Yinghuan?