Chapter 443: Five Thousand Becomes Fifty Thousand, Arousing the Duke's Soul

Xu Pengju only felt that his current actions were just to vent his anger and to make them take the blame in public.

Yan Shaoting naturally followed the advice of this incompetent Duke.

Straw bag...

wrong!

It was Xu Pengju who got annoyed when he heard such a bachelor's answer.

He stamped his feet fiercely, his face full of anger.

"I say, Lord Yan, even if you feel that you have suffered a loss during your trip south this time and you are still angry, you still have to face the consequences, right?"

"Everyone knows now that you are using the excuse that the accounts sent to West Garden by various departments in Nanjing are old and unsightly to be sent back to various places, just to make us bear the blame."

"Yes! Although people outside know that this is what you want to do, the excuse is provided by us, so the criticism will definitely be directed at us."

"But I, Xu Pengju, should at least be worthy of you, Lord Yan. Even if you want to dig a hole to bury someone, you have to pull me out first."

"I don't care whether they live or die, but you have to care about my life or death."

"otherwise……"

"Otherwise I will write a letter and cry to Lord Yan!"

After saying that, Xu Pengju sat aside with his butt twisted.

Now it was Yan Shaoting's turn to be dumbfounded.

want to laugh.

But the scene at the moment was not funny.

Bear it.

He turned his eyes and glanced at Zhang Juzheng who was sitting there.

The two looked at each other silently, and finally figured out what Xu Pengju was trying to do.

This idiot Duke was just trying to avoid being blamed. He didn't care whether other people lived or died.

in this way.

This Duke could use some more training.

Yan Shaoting hurried forward and bowed to Xu Pengju.

This has to be done.

After all, Xu Pengju was much older than him, and he was also the hereditary Duke of Wei.

Proper etiquette still needs to be observed.

Yan Shaoting smiled and said, "Duke, what are you talking about? No matter how foolishly I act, I will never let you, the elder, be scolded by outsiders."

Xu Pengju snorted twice in displeasure, looking sideways.

"really?"

He took the teacup handed to him by Zhang Juzheng and took two sips slowly.

Yan Shaoting stood up straight immediately and patted his chest. "What my nephew said was never false. Let's just say this time, no matter what people say outside, when I sent a letter to Nanjing to fill the vacancies in the Nanjing Guards, it was for your own good. How could I drag you into this situation and mix with those people who have dirty hearts and do many illegal things behind the scenes?"

Seeing Yan Shaoting say this, he even mentioned the original request for the Nanjing guard camps to fill the vacancies.

Now that he had a stepping stone, Xu Pengju had calmed down a lot.

then.

He immediately asked curiously, "For our own good? How can it be for our good to fill the vacancies in the various guard camps?"

Without waiting for Yan Shaoting to explain.

Zhang Juzheng had already started to speak slowly: "The Duke is the chief of the meritorious officials who stayed in Nanjing?"

Xu Pengju nodded: "But what does it matter? Since Emperor Chengzu, my family has always been the head of the Jiangnan nobles."

Zhang Juzheng shook his head. "It's just that the guards in Nanjing are in disarray. I think you know that, Duke. But now the suppression of the Japanese pirates in the five southeastern provinces, led by the Minister of War Hu Zongxian, has reached a critical juncture. Soldiers are being deployed everywhere along the coast. And I dare not hide it from you anymore. As the Governor-General and Minister of Maritime Affairs, I will take our navy and Jiangnan warriors out to sea to build outposts for our dynasty and protect our official and civilian ships from traveling thousands of miles away, just to eliminate all the Japanese pirates along the coast."

A glance was enough to get the signal, and they started to cooperate.

Yan Shaoting immediately echoed and asked, "Duke, I think you should understand what Governor Zhang meant..."

At this moment, Xu Pengju looked left and right with a hint of trance on his face, and then slowly seemed to really react.

He exclaimed, then immediately looked around and whispered in a low voice, "Has the court decided to send the troops from Nanjing to fight at sea?"

Without waiting for Yan Shaoting and Zhang Juzheng to speak.

Xu Pengju, who had obviously been fooled by the two men, stretched out his left and right hands and grabbed the two men.

Xu Pengju's face was full of excitement: "Yes, yes! Only for this reason would the court go to such great lengths. First, they pacified the Japanese invasion in the southeast, then opened the sea, and Governor Zhang personally took charge of all maritime affairs. Now my nephew Shao Ting has also come to the south, and he wants us to fill the vacancies in the Nanjing guard camps before entering the city. It must be as you said! The court wants to use troops. If we are the ones who stay behind and watch the Nanjing troops slack off, we will definitely be punished. In this way, my nephew is really doing it for our own good..."

This incompetent Duke connected all the events that happened right before and after in a short period of time, and spontaneously gave a legitimate reason and explanation.

Yan Shaoting smiled but said nothing.

Generally speaking, what Xu Pengju said was not wrong, but he could not decide how far the balance should be drawn.

After some self-deduction.

Xu Pengju couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, but then frowned and looked at Yan Shaoting, saying in a reproachful tone: "If that's the case, why didn't you tell us in advance? If you had told me, I would definitely not let them do such a thing and pile up all those accounts here. I would definitely stop them for you!"

This is just nonsense.

Yan Shaoting still had a smile on his face as he stared at Xu Pengju who was speaking with great confidence.

Even if you really knew, could you, Xu Pengju, give up He Guang Tong Chen and stop others?

Yan Shaoting smiled and shook his head: "It was precisely because I didn't want to drag the Duke into this that I didn't tell him in advance. Just like this time, if I told him in advance and let him stay out of it, do you really think that's for your own good?"

Xu Pengju frowned.

These words really touched his heart.

After thinking for a while, Xu Pengju nodded, stood up, and patted Yan Shaoting on the shoulder: "Good boy! If I had known in advance and had not been involved in this matter, I'm afraid those people would have troubled me now! In the future, if you have any trouble in Nanjing, just tell me!"

Yan Shaoting bowed his hands and bowed his head: "With the support of the Duke, whatever I want to do in Nanjing will surely be smooth sailing!"

After saying that, he immediately looked at Xu Pengju.

really.

After hearing this, Xu Pengju raised his eyebrows immediately, and glanced at Yan Shaoting casually: "Then I wonder what my nephew wants to do by making such a big fuss this time?"

"Of course it's..."

Yan Shaoting opened his mouth immediately, but suddenly closed it and turned his head to look away.

Xu Pengju smiled: "My dear nephew, is this a way to make a fortune?" Yan Shaoting immediately turned his head to look at Xu Pengju with his eyes wide open, then shook his head repeatedly: "Please understand, my nephew was sent by the emperor to supervise all matters in the south. What I want to do is naturally to make things good for the people in Jiangnan. If we talk about making money, then naturally everyone, from the people to the Duke, can make money!"

After finishing speaking.

Yan Shaoting's eyes became a little uncertain.

His actions only aroused Xu Pengju's suspicion and curiosity.

But at this moment.

However, Liu Wan came in from outside and reported: "Guest, there is a man outside who calls himself Zhang Xialing from Shanxi. He said he came to thank you for your gift in the past and said he is willing to serve you in any way."

Yan Shaoting pretended to be surprised and said in astonishment: "Why is it him? But now I have to..."

Don't wait for him to finish speaking.

Xu Pengju, who had been completely aroused, grabbed Yan Shaoting.

"It's not a big deal, my dear nephew, don't worry about it."

After saying that, he looked at Liu Wan and ordered, "Go and invite the person over."

He took charge.

Liu Wan looked at Yan Shaoting with an embarrassed look on his face.

Yan Shaoting had no choice but to continue pretending that this was the only thing he had to do. He nodded and said, "Go ahead, just do as the Duke said and bring that person here."

Not long after.

Zhang Xialing, dressed in the style of a Confucian businessman that was common to everyone in the Ming Dynasty, appeared in front of everyone.

In the public eye.

Zhang Xialing, whose face was full of excitement since he came in, didn't say a word. He just recognized the people present and went straight to Yan Shaoting.

Under Xu Pengju's gaze, Zhang Xialing bowed with both hands, then bowed all the way down with his head lowered deeply.

"I am here to meet you today to thank you for the 50,000 acres of land you gave me. My family has sent me a letter saying that it is all top-quality land. The surrounding area is all wilderness, and we can cultivate it as long as the Zhang family sends people over. When you saw me, you gave me such a generous gift. I have no way to repay you, so I am willing to serve you."

Not to mention that 5,000 acres became 50,000 acres.

In order to cooperate with Yan Shaoting, Zhang Xialing said these words which attracted great attention.

Xu Pengju, who was in the situation, was even more stunned.

He kept looking at Yan Shaoting and Zhang Xialing who was bowing down, his eyes full of disbelief.

Good guy.

I didn't expect that my nephew would be so generous and give away 50,000 acres of land at once!
Although I heard from Zhang Xialing that the place was not in the country, but overseas. But since their Zhang family can send people there to continue to open up wasteland and cultivate the surrounding area.

That means that although this place is located overseas, it is not a remote place.

Xu Pengju suddenly became jealous.

It was just the first time they met, but he gave him 50,000 acres of land as a gift.

He called him his good nephew and gave him the west garden of his home to live in.

At least we need two 50,000 acres of fertile farmland, right?

Xu Pengju, who was full of envy, looked at Yan Shaoting again at this time, but suddenly thought of the elegant title of the God of Wealth that was spread in Beijing.

Yan Shaoting had already stood up and lifted up Zhang Xialing who was cooperating with him in the play. "Brother Zhang, why do you need such a big gift? It's just some floating wealth, which is inexhaustible in the overseas territory. I dare not even say that I want Brother Zhang to serve me. I just hope that Brother Zhang can mention me to his family. It would be best if Minister Yang of the Ministry of War or... Elder Gao knew about it, that would be the best!"

Zhang Xialing also nodded in agreement: "Of course, of course. This time I have sent someone to send a letter home, asking them to quickly organize manpower. I will buy a ship in Jiangnan and then transport people and things over. After that, we just have to wait for the mountains of gold and silver given by the guests to be transported back!"

People have already started taking action!

Although Xu Pengju didn't know the details, he couldn't help but feel anxious.

Every moment of delay is like giving up a lot of money.

Xu Pengju waited and waited, only to hear Yan Shaoting and Zhang Xialing chatting for a while. Their words were mostly about reminding the Zhang family of things to pay attention to when going out to sea, as well as the customs and practices overseas.

Zhang Xialing wrote down everything and said that all the manpower and material resources of their family in Jiangnan would be used by Yan Shaoting in the future. After that, under the anxious gaze of Xu Pengju, he bowed and left.

Seeing Zhang Xialing finally leave, Xu Pengju, who had long been curious, could no longer hold back.

"My dear nephew!"

"Why didn't you tell me about this fortune-making thing? Isn't that too polite?"

now.

Xu Pengju's soul had already floated out, and he wished he could float to the 50,000 acres of land to see what was going on.

Finally took the bait!

Yan Shaoting raised his eyebrows and was about to speak.

However, Zhang Juzheng said in a deep voice, "Runwu, I'm afraid it's not appropriate to say more about this matter. After all, it is related to what we are going to do next!"

Xu Pengju frowned and looked back at Zhang Juzheng unhappily, then smiled and said, "My dear nephew, just tell me, as long as the benefits of this business can allow our family to share a share. Don't say anything, as long as it is a matter in Nanjing, I will listen to you! If you want people, I will give them money. I will definitely do things for you beautifully!"

First, make a big promise.

Then, Xu Pengju walked forward with a smile and poked Yan Shaoting with his hand.

"My dear nephew, you gave that man 50,000 acres of land for no reason, so we can't be left out!"

Yan Shaoting frowned: "My Lord, it's not that I don't want to do this with you, but I'm afraid that not only will you not want to do it, but you will also scold me. And if I really do this, I'm afraid that my Lord will really have to bear a solid black pot and a lot of scolding..."

Although he knew that Xu Pengju had taken the bait.

But the more such things happened, the more Yan Shaoting dared not take it lightly, and the more he had to pretend to be unrestrained.

Xu Pengju was extremely anxious.

When he thought of what Zhang Xialing said, that he could get 50,000 acres of land without doing anything, and could openly reclaim it without restrictions, this was extremely attractive to Xu Pengju, who had transformed from a military-industrial family in the early years of the Republic of China into a landlord and meritorious official family.

Seeing Yan Shaoting's hesitation, Xu Pengju got anxious and patted his chest and shouted, "I swear on my Xu family's ancestors that no matter how big the blame or infamy this incident brings, I, Xu Pengju, will bear it! But my dear nephew, you must not miss out on this benefit!"

at last.

Yan Shaoting raised his eyebrows.

He and Zhang Juzheng looked at each other silently.

The time has come!

He immediately said quietly: "My Lord, do you know what we are going to do now?"

…………

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　There will be another chapter later

　　
　
(End of this chapter)