The Ming Dynasty started with caution

The imperial court issued an imperial decree that Liangxiang merchants in the capital can exchange silver bills.

Not many people came to trade.

Yan Chengjin expected that most of the gentry had deposited their silver and had no need to trade, so he summoned Li Zhaofan back to the capital.

"Sir, the island country's big ship has arrived in Tongzhou."

Yan Chengjin picked up his official hat and set off now. When he arrived in Liangxiang, the big ship also arrived.

He rarely exchanged letters with Li Zhaofan.

However, there is an inexplicable master-disciple friendship, and I always can't help but want to help him plan his career. I don't know if Li Dongyang has received the news.

I need to be one step faster than him.

I heard from the eunuch that Yan Chengjin slipped out of the palace, and Zhu Houzhao didn't have the heart to read the memorial. He left the hall and appeared again, already on the official road of Liangxiang.

"Lao Gao, do you think I should confer a title on Li Zhaofan?"

Zhu Houzhao rode faster than him.

This guy probably sent someone to turn the door and stare at him.

Yan Chengjin thought for a while, "I think he should be given a title."

Li Zhaofan was a captain of the Jinyiwei. He opened up the island country and garrisoned for many years. He brought back nearly 40 million taels and made great contributions.

It's a pity that he was a poor student of eight-legged essays and it was difficult for him to enter the civil service system.

It would be more appropriate to be a Confucian general.

"I gave Master Yang the title of Pingnan Bo, what title should I give Li Zhaofan?" Zhu Houzhao believed that the title was the most important thing and could not be named casually:

"Miyun Bo?"

Yan Chengjin did not answer. He was not entangled in the title, anyway, there was no fiefdom.

...

At Liangxiang Wharf, a large ship taller than a building was parked at the wharf.

When Li Zhaofan saw the sedan chair, a thin layer of mist appeared in his eyes. Lord Yan came to pick him up in person.

Although he was his brother-in-law, he heard that there was a difference between the first and the last...

"How can Zhaofan be treated well by my teacher?"

Brain teaser: My wife calls you the second brother, my son calls you the second uncle, you call me my teacher, what should I call you?

Yan Chengjin was afraid that it would reach Li Dongyang's ears, "I don't have a son like you... No, I don't have a disciple like you."

"..." Li Zhaofan.

Zhu Houzhao looked at Yan Chengjin, then at Li Zhaofan, with some sympathy in his eyes. Lao Gao finally said what he really thought.

A moment later, in the courtyard of Liangxiang Yamen.

Li Zhaofan shrank back. There was steaming hot tea on the wooden table, but he didn't have time to drink it. He bowed and said:

"I don't know why the new emperor and Lord Yan summoned me back to Beijing?"

I heard from my uncle Yang Yiqing that the court wiped out Wala, and now the north is pacified.

Yang Yiqing is in charge of the military power of the island country.

With Lord Yan's character, he would not recall him from the island country to the capital in vain, and he would come to greet him in person.

"I have nothing to do, Lao Gao, tell me."

"Liang Shang wants to establish a business overseas and issue silver bills. This official wants to order you to go."

Liang Shang needs to be protected by the local royal court when establishing a business in a foreign country.

Wang Bushui cannot represent the court, so he cannot do it.

Among the many candidates, Li Zhaofan is calm and capable of three things, and is known as the Liangxiang Wang Shouren.

Apart from Fang Xue, he trusts Li Zhaofan the most.

"I heard a little about him when I was in Tongzhou." Li Zhaofan said.

The court's order has been passed to various foreign countries, but envoys still need to be sent to establish a business in person.

Yan Chengjin handed over a manual on the order of establishing a business.

"Have you ever heard of the story of Dayu's flood control?"

Zhu Houzhao: "Lao Gao means that you don't have to go back to Li's house, just leave immediately."

Li Zhaofan: "..."

Yan Chengjin meant this. If he returned to Li's house, Li Dongyang would definitely keep him in the capital, but he really couldn't find a more suitable candidate than Li Zhaofan.

...

At Li's house,

Li Dongyang ordered the kitchen to prepare a banquet, and deliberately left two hours earlier than usual.

"Has the ship not arrived in Liangxiang yet? Why hasn't Zhao Fan come back?"

The old master was usually off duty and had never seen the capital at the hour of You. He hadn't seen the second young master for nearly three years. He must be anxious, and the housekeeper hurriedly asked me to go and see.

After waiting for half an hour, the housekeeper hurried back to the mansion with a letter.

"Master, the young master sent a letter and left again."

Li Dongyang took the letter and read it for a few times. He felt an inexplicable pain in his heart. He was just thinking about talking to Yan Chengjin tomorrow, but it was still a step too late.

"Call Yan Chengjin to me."

Another half an hour later, Yan Chengjin appeared in Li's mansion and said to Li Dongyang:

"Mr. Li is looking for me?"

Li Dongyang sat in the main seat in the main hall and was so angry that he couldn't eat.

"I'm asking you, where did Zhaofan go again?"

Yan Chengjin: "Didn't Li Zhaofan write a letter to you?"

Li Dongyang: "There's no mention of it in the letter."

Yan Chengjin: "How unfilial."

Li Dongyang: "………"

Yan Chengjin thought about it carefully, dismissed the servants around him, and told his father-in-law about Li Zhaofan's whereabouts:

Li Zhaofan set out from Annan Prefecture, entered Siam to establish a business and warehouse, and then entered Tang and Song, and probably entered the Ottoman Empire in a year.

One Belt, One Road, providing a supply station for Wang Shouren.

It will probably be six years before he returns to Beijing.

Li Dongyang looked gloomy, and took a sip of wine. He couldn't waste wine and food, "Sit down and have a drink with me."

After thinking deeply, he felt that it was wrong. Wang Bushui could go to build a business, why did Zhaofan go in person?

This kid gets drunk easily, maybe he can ask something.

Yan Chengjin hesitated for a moment and sat on the brocade stool. The wine on the table was white wine brewed in Nankang.

"This wine is strong. I can only drink half a cup. Lord Li, don't drink too much."

"It's not up to you." Li Dongyang picked up the wine glass and said solemnly: "Get a bigger bowl."

If I get you drunk today, I won't be able to find out any information.

A quarter of an hour later,

Yan Chengjin raised his glass and looked at Li Dongyang, who was half drunk and half awake next to him.

It seems that his drinking capacity is a little stronger than Li Dongyang's.

"What are you happiest about?"

Li Dongyang: "Mu Xiu."

Yan Chengjin wrote it down in his notebook and looked up at Li Dongyang: "What's the biggest advantage since becoming an official?"

Li Dongyang: "He helped his son-in-law commit adultery."

Yan Chengjin: "..."

My assistant son-in-law has crossed it out, but I still don’t write this...

Yan Chengjin: "Is Li Zhaofan your biological son or nephew?"

Regarding this matter, Yan Chengjin once suspected that there were other nephews in the Li family, so why did he only recognize Li Zhaofan?

Li Dongyang: "Nephew."

Yan Chengjin: "Who do you want to get rid of most?"

Li Dongyang: "Yan Chengjin."

Yan Chengjin: "..."

Are you really drunk or pretending to be drunk?

Another hour later, Yan Chengjin closed the thick notebook, stood up and looked at Butler Li next to him, "Bring your master into the house, and don't tell Mr. Li what happened tonight."

It was a large-scale social death scene. Many secrets had been included in the book. It was worth staying up all night. Li Dongyang would be very ashamed when he recalled it.

"...Uncle, what is this?" Butler Li was a little embarrassed.

Yan Chengjin: "I am doing this for Mr. Li's benefit. Mr. Li is thin-skinned. What will happen if he finds out?"

The housekeeper hurriedly said: "I know, I know, I won't say anything."

The next day, it was early in the morning.

Li Dongyang got up and got dressed, but he seemed to have forgotten something important, and the housekeeper couldn't tell.

When I came to the cabinet for check-in, I saw Yan Chengjin:

"When did you leave last night?"

"I had a drink and left drunk. Is there anything else wrong with Mr. Li?"

Li Dongyang lowered his head, feeling that he was not drunk yet.

A civil servant trotted over to report: "The new emperor has summoned all of you, and please come to Dongnuan Pavilion to meet the saint."

After counting the time, Yan Chengjin also knew what was going on. Jiang Mian understood clearly and walked towards Dongnuang Pavilion.

………

Book recommendations:

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