Great Ming Dynasty Wen Chao Gong

Chapter 200 Old friends are no longer what they used to be
Zhang Xiao and his party arrived at Songjiang Fucheng. Seeing Songjiang Fucheng was nothing, but after seeing the city wall of Shanghai County, Zhang Xiao was suddenly surprised.

After walking around in Shanghai County, everyone found a restaurant that looked pretty good in the county town and got a good private room at a high price.

"Shanghai is just a county town. I didn't expect that the city of this county town would be so luxurious." Zhang Xiao sighed as he recalled the rather grand city walls of the Shanghai county town he had just seen.

"The guest officer didn't know something, and Shanghai County didn't know something. Shanghai County had never had a county seat before, and the city walls of the county seat were only built during the Jiajing period. The Japanese pirates were rampant at that time, and the Shanghai county seat was looted by the Japanese pirates, and the people suffered heavy casualties. Later, we learned the hard way and built the city wall in Shanghai County. Although the city wall was indeed grander, it did not cost too much money from the court. It was all money raised by our local gentry merchants." The shop owner came up to deliver it in person. Cai, after hearing Zhang Xiao's question, couldn't help but come out and answer.

"Is the store manager a local? I think this Shanghai County is indeed a prosperous holy place. It is always good to build a city. But you said that such a large city wall was raised from local donations in Shanghai County. This is the first time for me knew."

"There is nothing we can do. Although the imperial court also drove away the Japanese pirates, after experiencing the massacre of the city by the Japanese pirates, we people in Shanghai County are really afraid. If the city is not built better, business will not be safe. Former In the past few years, the imperial court and the Japanese had been fighting in Korea, and the Japanese had been beaten to a pulp, which greatly boosted their ambition. Unfortunately, they could not kill more Japanese pirates. The Japanese pirates had been ravaging the coast of the Ming Dynasty for many years. After finally reunifying their country, they wanted to invade Korea again. , It is really ambitious to invade the Central Plains. I think some of them have northern accents. I am afraid they are not from the capital. Have you heard about the war in Korea? "

"There were newspapers published in the capital at that time, and battle reports of the Korean War were often published in newspapers, so the people in the capital knew a lot about the Korean War."

"The capital is indeed well-informed. There are also newspapers here in Shanghai. They are full of weird stories. I really don't like to read them. A Zhang Minglue came to the capital before and wrote several novels and many foreign stories. I really like reading that one. I also made a few of the Western dishes mentioned in this book, and they were sold well, which shows that this book was not written randomly. I heard that Zhang Minglue was later recruited as a consort. Yes. It seems that he is indeed a great talent."

I have to say that the shopkeeper's compliment to Zhang Xiao was very useful, but Zhang Xiao was not so shameless as to praise himself in front of the boss. But after all, it had been a long time since I heard such a sincere compliment, so Zhang Xiao decided to give the shopkeeper an idea.

"Shopkeeper, I have a business idea here. I wonder if you are interested." Zhang Xiao said.

"Since your guest is from the capital, I naturally want to listen to any ideas he can come up with." The shopkeeper said quickly.

"Since the shopkeeper is dissatisfied with the newspapers you see now, are you interested in starting a newspaper of your own?"

"Sir, this newspaper can only be run by the imperial court. How can I, a merchant, run the newspaper?"

"My boss, you don't want to run the same newspaper as the imperial court. The newspaper you want to run focuses on economics. It mainly publishes some price changes, products from various places, and specialties from foreign countries. Of course, what is happening now You can also write about major events, but not only about the matter itself, but also about the impact behind the matter and the impact it will have on the industrial and commercial industry in Shanghai County and even the country. If you, the shopkeeper, are really worried, you can also base the newspaper in Shanghai. The court has not said that the county or even the Songjiang Prefecture will not allow local newspapers to run newspapers. If the newspaper can be run, you, the shopkeeper, can be among the celebrities." Zhang Xiao suggested.

The shopkeeper's eyes lit up when he heard this, but suddenly he realized something, his face suddenly froze, and then he regained his shrewdness.

"May I ask who the guest officer is?" the shopkeeper asked Zhang Xiao in a low voice.

"I am the consort Zhang you just mentioned."

Zhang Xiao saw his boss staggered and almost fell. Zhang Xiao's eyes were quick and his hands were quick to catch him.

The shopkeeper calmed down and took a while to recover.

"Prince-in-law, why are you here? I'm just a small business, why have you taken notice of me?" The shopkeeper was on the verge of crying.

"I don't have anything to do in the capital now, so I just want to go out for a walk. You can really think about my suggestion from the shopkeeper. Although I am not a big official, I still have no problem asking local officials for the convenience of running a newspaper. Even I don't have any problem. You can contribute to you.”

"Wu is willing to work for the Prince Consort." The shopkeeper dismissed the rest and directly swore his loyalty to Zhang Xiao.

After walking around Songjiang Prefecture and finishing sightseeing in Shanghai County, Zhang Xiao and his group went to the fields and started wandering around.

"Teacher, why do you fall in love with that shopkeeper Wu? Running a newspaper is a big deal. If you let such a common man do it, will it not be done well enough? After all, not everyone can write Jinxiu articles. Even in the Hanlin Academy, not everyone can write beautiful articles, let alone run a newspaper and other important matters," Li Zhizao said.

"Zhenzhi, in fact, newspapers don't have to write too many beautiful articles in the first place. I don't like to read the newspaper now managed by the Hanlin Academy less and less. The writing is uneven and it is not interesting to read. I asked Wu in detail just now. Shopkeeper Wu became a shopkeeper due to livelihood constraints after failing in the imperial examination. In fact, his talent and learning were quite good, and he also understood the ways of business. "My speech and writing will be more concise and to the point. After all, this newspaper is for everyone to know how to make money and invest their money in areas that the court needs. People don't like to read it because it is too written." Zhang Xiao replied. explain.

"Boss, if this newspaper can really be run, what articles do you plan to contribute to this newspaper?" Lu Zhang asked.

"Wenhua, your question is very good. Although this newspaper talks about economics, there must be something attractive at the beginning. So if this newspaper really needs to be started, I will give this Serialize novels in newspapers and write some short articles. Of course, this alone is not enough. John, you can also help draw a few paintings. You can not only draw houses and landscapes, but also draw people. You are engaged in the Renaissance. "You can draw some pictures of Western women." Zhang Xiao arranged for John.

John was still looking puzzled, but Li Zhizao couldn't help but ask: "Forget this newspaper serial novel, why do you still need to draw pictures of women? Is this against etiquette?"

"It's nothing. It's just a newspaper. If it's as serious as the sage's classics, people won't like to buy it or read it, so let's leave it at that." Zhang Xiao made the final decision.

Several people were chatting, and there was a noise in the field, which immediately interrupted everyone's chatting.

It would be impossible not to interrupt, because the two groups of people in the field were about to start fighting.

Zhang Xiao and his group also stopped to watch the excitement.

"Don't go too far, you Dong family. This piece of land has been our Liu family's land since the Song Dynasty. Where did you forge the land deed and dare to say it is your land?" "This land belongs to our Dong family. . Besides, our head of the Dong family is the teacher of the eldest prince. If the eldest prince becomes the prince and inherits the throne in the future, the head of the family will be the teacher of the emperor. How can you compare with it? "

"This is really unreasonable. Someone from your Dong family is serving as an official in the court. Is it possible that in Songjiang Mansion, you are the only one who can take the imperial examination career? Are we still afraid of you?"

Zhang Xiao felt that the more he listened, the more wrong he became. Impersonating a court official has always been a felony. After all, it is a huge blow to the operation of the entire system. So if this Dong family mainly taught the prince, it could only be his old colleague and old friend Dong Qichang.

"Where are the foreigners from? How dare they stop and watch the show?" The head servant of the Dong family shouted to Zhang Xiao, who was watching the fun.

Zhang Xiao didn't bother to pay attention to such a little brat, and just clapped his hands. The guards had already appeared from the side. The guards didn't say a word, but just stared at the shouting servant.

The servant was looked at with fury by several guards, but he was still unconvinced. He gave a few instructions to the attendant next to him, and the attendant quickly accepted the order and left.

……

The next day, Dong Mansion.

The servant who was still chattering the day before had been arranged to kneel outside to apologize.

"Zhang Prince Consort, I'm really sorry. These servants of mine are really ignorant. Even you don't know it, so they dare to talk nonsense and make arrangements. Look at my servant, it's really too much to treat you like this. "You see how you want to deal with him." Dong Qichang explained politely.

"Oh? I don't think it's necessary. This servant of yours is quite capable. Seeing that my subordinates are not easy to deal with, he summoned the yamen servants from Shanghai County. Do you think the yamen servants are so idle? What if I was just an ordinary person? , I’m afraid that now I’m squatting because I don’t dip the dumplings in vinegar.” Zhang Xiao said lukewarmly.

"Consort Prince Consort, what do you want to do with this entourage of mine?"

"You can do whatever you want with him. After all, he is a member of your family, so there is nothing special about him. I didn't ask him to kneel there. He can get up at any time now, and I don't need him to kowtow to me."

"Okay, I, Dong, am not strict in running the house, which makes Brother Zhang Xian laugh. Come here, take this colorless guy out and give me a few good beatings."

Just like that, in the surprised eyes of this follower, he saw a very thick whip, and he fainted from fright. But before he could faint for long, the first whip struck him.

Just like that, while there was a banquet in Dong's Mansion, the screams of the servants could be heard outside. Zhang Xiao ignored it and continued eating as usual, treating it as background music.

"Brother Zhang Xian, what will happen to the court after I leave the court?" Dong Qichang asked.

"It's not a big deal. The bigger thing is that I was thrown out. Now I am idle, so I have time to come to Songjiang Mansion to take a look." Zhang Xiao replied.

"Brother Zhang Xian, now that you are the consort, do you really have no other errands?"

"Yes, since the appointment of Princess Shang, His Majesty has basically removed all my original positions. Now I am no longer an attendant of the Hanlin Academy, and I have stopped taking courses. Later, I went to Henan for inspection. , there have been criticisms from villains since I came back, so now I have to go to the south to be quiet for a while," Zhang Xiao explained.

"Brother Zhang Xian, you are a great talent. His Majesty will make use of you sooner or later. Unlike Mr. Dong, who is just a small artist who specializes in calligraphy and painting, I am afraid he will end up here in the future."

"Brother Dong, it's not that Zhang wants to gossip. The house you live in is already quite luxurious, and the land should be enough. Then why can't the neighbors understand each other and insist on making such a fuss? If this spreads out, how many It doesn’t sound good.” Zhang Xiao couldn’t help but remind him.

"Brother Zhang Xian, you don't know something. These lands used to be the property of my Dong family. However, the Dong family did not produce any high-ranking officials for a while, so a few neighbors silently occupied many fields. Now Dong is considered unemployed. For the court officials at home, what would happen if someone secretly took away the Dong family's land like before? My family's property cannot be usurped by outsiders. I can't be the head of the family. I might as well do it. In the past, what was the point?"

"Well, Zhang mistakenly believed one side of the story and wrongly blamed Brother Dong."

"Now the imperial court is still conquering the southwest. I heard that there have been several battles. If Yang Yinglong can also be pacified, there won't be any big chaos in the world."

"Yes, the Northeast defeated the Japanese state, and the Southwest suppressed Yang Yinglong. In this case, except for the Mongols, no tribal country would dare to challenge the authority of the Celestial Empire. What does Brother Dong do now that he is idle at home?"

"It's just the same as before. Apart from eating and drinking, when I'm at home, I just paint a calligraphy and painting, or practice calligraphy. I can't neglect these skills. I've painted a lot of paintings these days, and I'm thinking of finding someone to comment on them. Unexpectedly, a distinguished guest came to visit. Is Zhang Xiandi interested in seeing Dong’s calligraphy and painting?”

"Then Zhang will naturally be disrespectful. If your comments are not accurate later, please don't blame Brother Dong."

"It doesn't matter, it's an honor for Dong to get Zhang Xiandi's comments. Has Zhang Xiandi written novels or other articles now? Is there anyone who can help draw the illustrations? Do you need Dong's help to introduce it?" Dong Qichang asked.

"I went to find a foreign painter named John, who is also Italian. He was introduced by Matteo Ricci and he is good at painting. Because the protagonist of my latest novel is an Italian, and many stories also take place in Italy, so I just let him paint well. His painting is pretty good.”

(End of this chapter)