The most unlucky crossing in history

As soon as the Mid-Autumn Festival is over, within half a month, as long as it is the city where Chengfeng Station is located, it has spread the news that the Zhong family fleet has a generous monthly fee, and Boss Zhong treats people very well. And so on, things gradually spread.

"When it comes to work, Boss Zhong has very strict requirements. Whether it's the accountants, clerks, stewards on the fleet, and the head of each store...all must follow the regulations. If they violate it, they will be severely punished, but with On the other hand, as long as you do your job well and don't think about stealing and playing tricks, the monthly money he gives is four or five times that of others!"

"Yeah, who do you think the boss will pay for banquets on Mid-Autumn Festival today?"

"It's still the Cuiwei Building! I heard that on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, they got ten taels of silver for a table of dishes!"

"Is Boss Zhong so willing?!"

"What is this? The second elder brother of my family went sailing with Boss Zhong years ago. He said that Boss Zhong gave the boatmen a red envelope of 20 taels of silver on New Year's Day!"

"20 taels!? My mother, I work hard for a year, and at most it's only ten taels... This is really... hey."

Such sighs, too many to enumerate, spread across the north and south in a short period of time. Zhong Qiyun's handwriting was among them, but it is a fact that the Zhong family fleet has a generous monthly fee. He arranged people everywhere to do positive publicity early on. When the wind blew, Zhong Qiyun took the opportunity to recruit accountants, delivery workers, boatmen, handymen and so on.

Sure enough, there were so many recruits everywhere, and Zhong Qiyun asked the people in charge in various places to choose the best from the best according to the questions he gave, and indeed recruited many capable people.

In October, after He Minqing opened up the land business route leading to Zhucheng, Chengfeng Station also expanded to Xuancheng, Zhucheng, Wuzhou, and Luzhou. The store managers in the four cities, except for a newly recruited person , and the other three were selected from Zhong Qiyun's trustworthy people.

In this way, the four cities and Jiangnan Liancheng took the first step in the westward development of the caravan riding the wind and waves.

In this way, the wood from the Zhang family in Luzhou, the freshwater pearls from Zhucheng, the Liubao tea from Wuzhou, the famous pen and paper from Xuancheng... all the goods can be sent to various places along the coast through the Chengfeng post. delivery.

At the same time, Chengfeng Pavilion was opened next to Chengfeng Posts in various places, specializing in the exhibition and sale of foreign goods that cannot be bought locally, and Chengfeng Posts, whose business is becoming more and more prosperous, concentrate on accepting business.

When the construction of Songjiang Port was gradually taking shape, before people noticed it, the large ships of the Zhong family fleet also slowly moved from Hangzhou to Songjiang Port, which is Dajiang.

estuary.

Zhong Qiyun took the coast as the center, the south of the Yangtze River as the heart, and the four cities as the arrows, and without a trace of hesitation, he opened the arrow towards the inland.Xie Wenyuan thought of this after hearing the words of Shui Si Cheng Linghu who had just returned to Beijing from Lianghu the day before yesterday.

"It's terrible, it's terrible. It was originally for business affairs, how could I expect it..." Linghuqing sighed again, "It's only four or five months since I went up to the Yangtze River. In a short period of time, people are talking about it. It’s all about the Chengfeng Station that ‘everything can be sent’, and even in many cities where the Chengfeng Station has not been opened, there are people who hope that the Chengfeng Station can be opened in that city.”

"Oh? Why?" Xie Wenyuan raised his eyebrows when he heard the words. What Linghuqing said made him a little curious. Although he didn't know much about business, Xie Wenyuan knew exactly what Zhong Qiyun did. , can get so many favors?

"I was also extremely confused at first," Linghu sighed, "Later, I found someone to ask, and only then did I know that there is a rule in Chengfeng Station. , the team dropped by and transported letters from home for them free of charge.”

Xie Wenyuan was taken aback when he heard the words, and then couldn't help shaking his head and laughing, he really put a lot of thought into it.

No wonder, no wonder he was able to win the hearts of the common people in a short period of time. In addition to the officials in the Great Late Dynasty, he knew exactly how difficult it was for the common people to send family letters. It is not difficult for Chengfengyi to settle down and take root, and it is not difficult to transport family letters along the way. For Zhong Qiyun today, it is "winning a great reputation by making small profits", but for the common people, this is really "giving a lot of money".

After all, this is really a matter of benefiting the people...

Xie Wenyuan's eyes twitched slightly. In the late Qing Dynasty, land commerce can be regarded as flourishing. Escort bureaus and goods merchants go to and from countless places, but no one has ever done this before...

"I have stayed in Quanzhou for many years, and I have traveled to and from Quanzhou Jingzhao dozens of times. There are so many caravan merchants on the road, and I have seen countless..." Linghu Qing said aside: "Businessmen are all interested in profit, I can see It's clear, but Boss Zhong still has the heart to bless others."

Linghu smiled affectionately: "For such a person, I think the road will only get wider and wider..."

Xie Wenyuan didn't speak any more, not knowing what to think.

The autumn wind gradually picked up, blowing away the lingering climax. The first autumn rain fell in Jingzhao City this year. It hit the Daiwa with a crisp sound. In the courtyard, the small koi pond was dripping of ripple.

Soon, Yan Zhi came here along the corridor, and said that the prince and father-in-law of the palace had come, and he also brought the sage's oration.

Xie Wenyuan and Linghu Qing didn't delay after hearing the sound, and walked quickly into the main hall.

Seeing the two people coming, Wang Gonggong raised his eyes and said in a high voice: "Lord Linghu is also here."

Linghu squinted his eyes and cupped his hands with a smile: "Good afternoon, Father-in-law, I'm just here to talk about some poems, books and inks, Mr. Xie. avoided."

Wang Gonggong nodded slightly, and said: "It's okay, it just so happens that this matter is also related to you, Master Linghu, and the miscellaneous family will tell you by the way, so you don't have to go to the Ministry of Officials anymore."

Xie Wenyuan also guessed [-]% of what the emperor wanted to say when he heard the words, and the matter of looking for him could be related to Linghu's love, that's the only thing I think...

Thinking of this, Xie Wenyuan opened his mouth and said, "My lord, please tell me."

Wang Gonggong raised his head and said: "The emperor ordered the miscellaneous family to bring a message to the two of you. Shendu Kingdom has come to invite the monarch's birthday letter. Tomorrow the emperor will mention in the early court that he will send an envoy to Shendu Kingdom to celebrate Shendu King's birthday. The new Ministry of Rites Although the Shangshu has been appointed, but last year when he was also the Minister of Rites, he was in charge of sending an envoy to the court, so you will definitely go this time, and Linghu Sicheng understands Shendu Mandarin, so naturally you have to go together, so... ..."

Wang Gonggong looked at the two people who folded their hands and bowed their heads, frowned and said: "So, the emperor told you two not to say anything tomorrow, just agree."

The two of Xie Ling replied: "I understand."

After the prince finished speaking, he didn't stay any longer and went back to the palace.

After Linghu Qing waited for people to leave, the smile on his face could no longer be held back, and he said anxiously: "Why did Shen Duguo not come sooner or later, and a letter came at this time? Now that the situation in the court is so chaotic, Prince Uighur just left. Wei Hechao promoted his subordinates again and again, and made it clear that he wanted to win the position of Shangshu Ling before you! How far is it to be cautious, and you will go fast for at least half a year! Hundreds of days in half a year, how many variables? We And how can Lao Shizi, an envoy, be careful to visit the country at this time of the year?!"

Compared to Linghuqing's emotional agitation, Xie Wenyuan's face was calm, without any emotion, he just said calmly: "He knew you would object so much, so he came to beat you first."

"How can I agree!" Linghu Qing looked at Xie Wenyuan in surprise, "Shendu Kingdom is more ambitious than that Uighur, Yingshu doesn't know about it?!"

Xie Wenyuan didn't answer, but said: "Since the emperor has made a decision, what's the use of you talking about it, let's see it tomorrow."

In a small but rather elegant house in Hangzhou City, He Minqing brought the steward of Pei's family in Jincheng to find Zhong Qiyun.

The Pei family in Jincheng, one of the five great families of the Great Qing Dynasty, began to

Feizi, the first ancestor of the Qin State, said that there is no other Pei in the world, and he was talking about this family. Today's Pei family is mainly engaged in salt production, controlling the salt supply of half of the people in the Great Qing Dynasty, and because salt is controlled by the government, this Pei family It is said that among the five rich families, they are the most merchants with officials.

However, Zhong Qiyun originally thought that this person asked him to give him salt, but how could he have thought that...

"You want me to send fireworks to Shendu country?!" Zhong Qiyun looked at the steward in front of him in amazement, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "Boss Pei, are you right? Let me deliver fireworks? Does Shendu have no fireworks? You still need to send them from the university. How about transporting it so far?"

"Indeed, after Sun Simiao, the 'King of Medicine' in the early Tang Dynasty, made fireworks. It was also in the early years of my dynasty that fireworks were made. A few years ago, someone came to Shendu Kingdom. , This time, the [-]th birthday of the king was solemnly celebrated, and the whole country was celebrating, so some merchants who had frequent contacts with the Pei family proposed to buy fireworks." He Minqing said from the side: "In addition to the salt industry, the Pei family also has a special production line. Fireworks are supplied to the imperial city and the neighboring cities."

Zhong Qiyun really didn't know there was such a thing. After thinking about it, he looked at the middle-aged steward again: "Even so, can the fireworks be transported across the sea? Butler Pei, you are not afraid that these fireworks will all be wet, even if they go everywhere Can’t let out a sound, and then missed the contract?”

"What's more," Zhong Qiyun paused, "it's not safe to transport fireworks, you might as well send a group of people who can make fireworks there."

"Hey, my master thought about it too, but after talking with the Shendu merchant for a while, he found that it was a foreign country after all, and he couldn't understand the language, so he didn't know if he had the necessary materials there, not to mention, this method of making fireworks. Ziben is something that I only had when I was young, so I can’t let foreigners learn it.”

"Speaking of which, if you want to transport fireworks to Shendu, wouldn't it be closer to go to Jincheng and go overland?"

"Boss Zhong, you don't know something. This land route is too slow. The Lord Shendu's birthday is that day. My master is afraid that walking by land will delay the time, so he asked me to look for you."

Seeing that Zhong Qiyun was silent, Steward Pei hurriedly said again: "My master also knows that this trip is a long way away, and he only accepted this order because he didn't want to lose Shendu's business..."

And if Boss Zhong can deliver it, then it's..."

As he spoke, Butler Pei dipped his finger in the tea and wrote a number on the table.

Zhong Qiyun's eyes moved slightly.The head of the family is indeed different from a young master like Zhang Zhenfeng, the generous spending is amazing.

Thinking that next month he will deliver the goods to Maojiang, and by the way, the Zhang family will send furniture and utensils to Zhancheng...

In fact, Zhancheng is very close to Shendu Kingdom, just need to cross a strait...

Zhong Qiyun pursed his lips, "You know, Steward Pei, that shipping depends on the weather most. If the time is wrong, the wind direction and the current are not right, even if you give me 100 years, I can't make it through. So, I want to ask first, Pei's side When do I need it delivered?"

Butler Pei said happily: "A year ago! Just a year ago!"

The author has something to say: continue tomorrow!