The Grand Void – Becoming a Dragon

East of Fengcheng.

On Bailing Lake.

It was night.

But the lake is brightly lit.

And there are three building boats in the lake, moving in parallel.

The people on the upper boat chatted and laughed happily, drinking and drinking.

My lord Zhao is really rich tonight. Now there are all the famous people in Fengcheng, and they are almost here. I don't know what's going on?

I don't know what's going on? Could it be that you haven't heard of it?

Brother Li knows, what is it?

Today, the government issued an order to strictly investigate prohibited items and tax evasion.

I've heard of that.

But in the Sixteenth Mansion of Huai'an, only one Zhuang's firm has been investigated so far.

What?

Either the Zhuang's firm has prohibited items or tax evasion, and the evidence is convincing, it will be killed this time. Or, the thirteenth gentleman of the Zhuang's firm has offended the newly appointed prince. Now the new official If he takes office three times, the prince will destroy him.

This... The person before couldn't help being a little bit astonished.

No matter what kind it is, in short... Mr. Thirteen, I'm afraid he won't be able to turn over. The person who spoke could not help but gloated, No matter how huge the Zhuang's firm is, how can it be a mere merchant? Enemy against the power of officials?

Speaking of this, when the prince came to Fengcheng before, he didn't hold a banquet that night. From this point of view, it seems that Mr. Zhao made up for the night banquet on the boat tonight?

That's why, I don't know about the banquet for the lord to cleanse the dust, does he, Zhuang Ming, dare to come?

Wait, is that young man on the escorting boat Mr. Thirteen?

It seems to be him. The man who spoke just now had a complicated expression, and murmured: He is really here.

——

Zhuang Ming came a little later and did not board the boat on the shore, so he had to be escorted by a small boat before boarding the upstairs boat.

Qian Yang and Yin Ming supported him respectively, boarded the boat, and put the wooden wheel chair on.

Bai Lao followed behind.

The people on the building boats, including the people from the two surrounding building boats, cast their gazes one after another.

Today, the government took action, and under the order of the prince, it targeted Zhuang's business and sealed up hundreds of stores and warehouses belonging to Zhuang's business in nearly a hundred cities in the sixteen mansions of Huai'an. In Fengcheng alone, six places were seized.

Zhuang Ming sat in a wheelchair and glanced over.

Someone averts his gaze.

Someone met his gaze.

Someone nodded slightly.

Someone showed a mocking smile.

Human feelings are warm and cold, this is only the first day.

Zhuang Ming laughed and shook his head.

Not only Fengcheng, but looking at the whole of Huai'an, there are hundreds of cities in the sixteen mansions, everyone must think that Zhuang's business will collapse, and Zhuang Ming will not escape this catastrophe.

At this moment, among the people around, some had sympathy and pity on their faces, while others showed concern.

It's hard to say whether the expressions of compassion and concern they showed were true or not, but at least at this moment, they were still in front of Zhuang Ming, showing some kindness.

But there are still some people who, because of disputes over interests, or because they had a bad relationship earlier, do not hide their faces of gloating at all.

In the past, even if these people were dissatisfied, they would not dare to show it, and would even greet them with a smile and seek opportunities for cooperation. But at this time, they believed that the Zhuang's firm was doomed, so they didn't bother to hide it. up.

After today, merchants who previously cooperated with Zhuang's firm may not cooperate again.

It's not like adding insult to injury, but I will definitely wait and see what happens.

This is the general trend.

——

Those who came here could all be regarded as prominent figures in Fengcheng.

There are both literati and scholars as well as local gentry attending the banquet tonight, so they are divided into three buildings and boats.

In terms of financial resources, Zhuang Ming may have the most, but in terms of status, he is not too high.

Therefore, his seat is not at the forefront.

Young master, here.

Zhuang Ming sat down upright.

Many eyes around, all looked over.

Today's news that the government seized Zhuang's firm is really not small.

There was a lot of discussion around.

And Zhuang Ming looked as usual, just asked: When will the prince arrive?

Someone nearby replied: My lord is in the building boat next door, talking about new poems and poems with the local Confucian scholars and those famous talents.

——

On another ship.

The atmosphere was more peaceful.

Here are all literati and scholars, the words used, the tone of voice, all seem gentle.

The person in front of him who is chatting with Lord Chen is a local Confucian.

And those who sit at the front are mostly talents who have obtained fame.

As for the rear, there are some ordinary scholars. Although they have no fame, most of them are famous for their works, so they are invited. name.

Lord Chen was in the midst of discussing poetry and writing with all Confucian scholars. At this time, he was about to write an impromptu poem, and then let these literati and scholars show their talents and knowledge and promote their fame.

But at this moment, someone came in a hurry, and whispered in the prince's ear.

oh?

Lord Chen raised his head, showed an apologetic expression, then restrained himself, and said with a smile: I will write this poem when I come back, everyone, don't lose interest. When I come back later, I will appreciate the poems one by one. of.

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, they didn't expect that the prince who was talking about Zhenghuan seemed to be in some urgent situation and wanted to leave in a hurry.

Just then the old man stroked his beard and asked: Since the lord has something to do, he can do it first. It's okay for me to wait.

When everyone heard the words, they all agreed.

Lord Chen said: It's not urgent, but Mr. Shisan from the Zhuang's Commercial Company has arrived on the boat over there. Today, the king has obtained some evidence, so he ordered a strict investigation of prohibited items and tax evasion, and Zhuang's Commercial Company The suspicion is the biggest, so I investigated first. This Mister Shisan, as the owner of Zhuang's business, has come here with anger, and this king should give him an explanation.

What? Just then the old man frowned and said, Is he just a merchant? What qualifications does he have to ask the prince to explain?

Although he is white, he is also a commoner in our Dongsheng Dynasty. He is a businessman, and this king has sealed up his business today. He really should give an explanation.

When the prince said this, he stood up, gave a salute, and said: I will go first, and I will come later.

The old man paused for a moment before he said: Forget it, this tyrannical man must be relying on some financial resources to be arrogant, so the prince went to see him, so as not to be nailed by him with a reputation of being arrogant and unruly, and polluting you. virtuous name.

Lord Chen just gave a wry smile, and left.

No one dared to stop them.

But when the prince left, the old man shook his head slightly.

Dongsheng Dynasty, in recent years, has been too tolerant of these profit-seeking businessmen.

And as the old man spoke, the scholars below also spoke immediately.

Previously, they were also dissatisfied with the Mr. Thirteen who broke the atmosphere of reciting poems and composing Fu here.

It's just that because the prince is here, and due to etiquette, I dare not speak rashly, fearing that if I speak too much, I will lose it and make the prince unhappy.

At this moment, the local Confucianism is so dissatisfied with Mr. Thirteen, which is in line with everyone's wishes.

Even if there were many people, they echoed their voices.

This businessman dares to come here with anger, he thinks too much of himself! A white-clothed scholar flicked his sleeves with disdain on his face, and said, It's thanks to our prince's kindness, otherwise, who can treat him like this? Disabled merchants in your eyes?

For prohibited items and tax evasion, if he has no ghosts in his heart, the one who cleans up will clean up by himself, so what's the problem? Another poor scholar replied: I think he has illegal tax evasion, and that's why he's in such a state of affairs!

The prince acts in accordance with the laws of the Dongsheng Dynasty. How dare he be dissatisfied? the white-clothed scholar just said in a cold voice.

Seeing that there was a trend of discussion among the crowd, the old man coughed lightly, and the scene fell silent.

But in the field, there are many people with sensitive minds, who secretly observe the doorway, and they can't help but feel powerful in their hearts.

On this building boat, with just a few words from Lord Chen, the talented and learned scholars in Fengcheng became disgusted with that thirteenth gentleman, Zhuang Ming.

In fact, in the hearts of scholars and literati, the so-called everything is inferior, only reading is high.

Those merchants were placed in the Dongsheng Dynasty, and they were also inferior.

No matter how rich Zhuang Ming is, in their eyes, he is just a mere merchant who doesn't know the elegance of poetry, doesn't know the important affairs of the court, and is just an ordinary person in the market.

In six years, starting from nothing and becoming the richest man in the sixteen prefectures of Huai'an is like a legend, but in the eyes of many literati, it's just that they are devoted to their official career and don't want to wrong themselves, otherwise they choose the way of business, so where would it be for that villager? Ming won the title of the richest man?

As for those humble scholars, in all likelihood, it was out of jealousy.

It is said that Zhuang Ming was extremely extravagant, just to take a bath every day, he had to wash his body with medicinal baths, which cost a huge amount of a hundred taels.

Such a sum of money is enough to replace many maids, and it is enough to support poor scholars like them for a long period of time.

For the poor family who did not dare to eat meat for three meals, and did not dare to light lamps at night, Zhuang Ming was simply a vicious person.

What's more, Dang even wrote a sentence in anger.

While the rich wine and meat smell, the road with frozen bone.

——

And on the other ship.

The corner of Zhuang Ming's mouth curled up into a smile, with a hint of sarcasm.

The young dragon in his sleeve had twinkling eyes.

In terms of induction, the young dragon is more sensitive than the martial arts master of the Dongsheng Dynasty.

The movement on the big boat next to it was hidden from the eyes and ears of the martial arts master, but not from the young dragon's perception.

In the Dongsheng Dynasty, scholars have a very high status and their pens are as sharp as knives. If you feel disgusted by this, or even smear them with words, fabricate stories, and pour dirty water on them, then from now on, the reputation of Zhuang's firm will definitely decline. , the notoriety has spread far beyond Huai'an, and spread throughout the Dongsheng Dynasty, but it is really difficult to wash away the stigma.

Zhuang Ming sat in his seat, his expression as usual, and a thought flashed in his mind: Just these few great scholars, in Fengcheng, have extremely high status, reputation, and connections... This king with a different surname, there are only a few of them. That's enough to get me so far, from this point of view, even if he is not as good at calculating as Song Tianyuan, he is not an ordinary person to be able to sit in this high position.