"Sea trade, food, trading houses...!" Qi Ning leaned on his chair and smiled: "So, the economic lifeline of the East China Sea is really controlled by the three major families."
Qin Yuege said: "However, Donghai pays a lot of taxes to the court every year. These years and the Northern Han people have been consuming it. The court raises grain and grass from various places. The money and grain provided to the court by Donghai is mainly collected from the three major families. . It is said that nearly half of the taxes in the East are paid by the three major families. This is not an exaggeration, and the three major families have never defaulted on taxes. "
Qi Ning rolled his eyes, thinking that the imperial court was indeed very surprised in terms of finances in the past few years, especially the Qinhuai War. The consumption of both Chu and Han countries was extremely heavy. The three major families in the East China Sea have been providing taxes to the court, which can be regarded as the East China Sea. From a financial perspective, the imperial court would not easily touch them. What's more, the imperial court had promised to treat these three major families well. Now that the Northern Han Dynasty is not at peace, the Chu imperial court will certainly not break its promise.
"Yes, after the East China Sea is pacified, what will be the relationship between these three major families?" Qi Ning pondered for a moment, and finally asked: "Are there still any in-law relationships?"
Qin Yuege shook his head and said: "As far as I know, except for the marriage relationship between these families decades ago, since our country, Chu, regained the East China Sea, the three major families have never been married to each other, and they have never been married to each other since the Great Chu regained the East China Sea. There’s not much movement between them.”
Qi Ning nodded slightly, thinking that these three major families are not too stupid. If they continue to communicate and have a close relationship, the court will see it and will naturally pay close attention to these three families.
Although the combined wealth of these three major families is indeed huge, with the Donghai Navy stationed nearby, like a big knife hanging over the heads of the three major families, the three major families will naturally not pose much of a threat.
"Master Marquis, I still have some official duties in my humble position. Please excuse me first." Qin Yuege stood up and saluted with his hands in hand.
Qi Ning smiled and said, "If Qin Facao has something to do, just go and do it."
Qin Yuege bowed deeply, said goodbye and stepped away. He took a few steps and paused. Qining saw this and asked, "Is there anything else?"
Qin Yuege turned around, saluted again, and retreated without saying anything.
Tian Xuerong breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Brother Qin Yue leaving. Just now, there was an outsider present, and he was an official, but she felt very uncomfortable. Seeing her relax, Qi Ning said with a smile: "Why, you can't adapt to this kind of situation." ?”
"No." Tian Xuerong shook his head slightly and said with a little doubt: "Master Hou, you want to see this Lord Qin, why... why do you let me here?"
"I just want you to stay by my side." Qining chuckled and then said, "Madam, what impression does she have of the Donghai Jiang family?"
"Donghai Jiang family?" Tian Xuerong smiled slightly and said: "Of course you know it, but not many people who are doing business don't know that Donghai Jiang family."
"Oh?" Qi Ning stood up and came over, sat down on the chair next to his wife, and asked, "What do people say about the Donghai Jiang family?"
Tian Xuerong shook his head and said: "I don't know how to evaluate it, but when you mention the Donghai Jiang family, you will think of the Donghai Jiang family's fleet. It is said that the Donghai Jiang family is engaged in maritime trade, and there are many cargo ships. One trip is a day's work. Jin, there are many shops in the capital that sell goods from the Jiang family, and the prices are not cheap."
"Restocking?"
"The Marquis has never been to the antique treasure house?" Tian Xuerong blinked her eyes and said charmingly: "In many big treasure houses in the capital, there are treasures brought back from overseas by the Jiang family, and many of them were obtained from the bottom of the sea. , as far as I know, as long as the Jiang family’s treasures are put on the cabinet, they are almost immediately taken care of.”
Qi Ning said "Oh", and Tian Xuerong continued: "There are many things among seafood that can be used as medicine, and the Jiang family's seafood is the most authentic, just... Even our Tian family medicine shop has also been to the Jiang family. Seafood, yes, and pearls...!" At this point, he suddenly paused and did not continue.
Qi Ning listened to what she said with great interest and asked, "What happened to Pearl?"
"No... nothing!" Tian Xuerong's cheeks were slightly red.
Qining leaned slightly and lowered his voice: "Is there anything else we can't say between us?"
Tian Xuerong hesitated for a moment and then said softly: "Pearls... Pearl powder is used to apply on the face. It can... delay aging, and... it can also make the skin fairer. The pearls shipped back by the Jiang family are all top quality and have the best effect. Okay, I...I've used it too."
Qining laughed. Tian Xuerong felt a little hot on her face and glared at Qining: "You... why are you laughing."
"No wonder Madam's skin is like jade, even more delicate than that of a little girl. It turns out she uses pearl powder on her face." Qining said with a smile: "It's just that Madam has always been thrifty. I remember the first time I went to your Tian's house, even the tea was... Hehe, I can’t believe I’m willing to spend money on my face.”
Tian Xuerong was even more embarrassed and said softly: "I... I don't have any other preferences. I just... I just spent some money on this."
Qining also knew in his heart that Tian's Pharmacy was a big pharmacy after all, with a lot of profits every year. It was not an ordinary wealthy family. Tian Xuerong could afford to buy some pearls and grind them into powder to apply on her face.
He didn't have much impression of the East China Sea before, and he never paid attention to the East China Sea. He knew a little about the East China Sea only because of Jiang Suiyun.
Jiang Suiyun is the son of Jiang Mantian, the head of the Jiang family. Jiang Mantian and Zhuo Qingyang, the dean of Qionglin Academy, are old friends. Zhuo Qingyang recommended Jiang Suiyun to the court, so Jiang Suiyun went to the capital as an official. Qining He was deeply impressed by Jiang Suiyun. When the Black Scale Camp was to be rebuilt, the Huainan King almost used Jiang Suiyun to seize control of the Black Scale Camp. Although he failed, Jiang Suiyun still found a job in the Ministry of War.
Qi Ning was about to ask again, but Wu Dalin had already appeared outside the hall and said respectfully: "I would like to inform the Marquis that someone has come to pay homage and beg the Marquis to meet him."
Qi Ning stood up and asked, "Who is it?"
"There are two people who came to pay homage." Wu Dalin replied: "One calls himself Jiang Mantian, and the other calls himself Lu Feihang!"
Qi Ning looked back at Tian Xuerong and said with a smile: "Madam, we should solve the issue of setting up an account for Tian's Pharmacy." He went to the main seat and ordered: "Let them come in!"
After Wu Dalin retreated, Tian Xuerong stood up quickly and said to Qining: "I... should I avoid it?"
"No need to avoid it, the rest is mainly your business." Qining said: "I don't know anything about business, so you are more suitable here."
Tian Xuerong hesitated and thought to herself that after all, it was not a trivial matter for the Tian family to set up an account in the East China Sea. Jiang Mantian was the president of the Donghai Chamber of Commerce. If Qining came forward, Jiang Mantian would naturally properly arrange the affairs of the Tian family medicine store. Although Jiang Mantian was the richest man in the East China Sea, , but a mere businessman is really nothing in front of Qining, and his status is completely different.
Without waiting too long, Wu Dalin had already led several people in.
The person at the front was wearing a green gown, a gray belt around his waist, and a gray crown on his head. He was slim and had a long beard under his chin. He looked to be about fifty years old, but he exuded an elegant temperament. Next to this person is an old man who is nearly sixty years old. He is tall and fat. He is wearing a purple gown and has a big belly, as if he has been pregnant for ten months.
Behind the two people were five or six followers, all carrying gift boxes.
Qi Ning didn't get up when he saw them coming in. Just as Tian Xuerong was about to get up, Qi Ning coughed. Tian Xuerong glanced at Qi Ning and saw Qi Ning wink at him. He understood and didn't get up.
The man in green shirt looked energetic and brisk. Although he appeared outside the hall door together with the fat man, after entering the hall, he had already opened up the distance between him and the fat man in a few steps. When he arrived in the hall, he was already there. He saluted and said: "Jiang Mantian, a common man, pays homage to the Marquis!" He actually knelt down. The fat man quickened his pace to catch up, and knelt down next to Jiang Mantian. He said out of breath: "Caomin... Lu Feihang, a common man, pays homage to you!" …Greetings to the Marquis…!”
Qi Ning did not immediately let the two of them stand up. He looked around for a few times and then said slowly: "Jiang Mantian... but the head of the Jiang family who is engaged in maritime trade?"
"It is the Cao Min." Jiang Mantian's voice was clear: "Thanks to the favor of the imperial court, Long Enhao has given the Cao Min the right to trade at sea. The Jiang family is extremely grateful and is willing to serve the imperial court to the death!"
Qi Ning laughed, and then said: "Get up, you two are old. If you kneel for a long time, I will be disrespectful of etiquette."
The two thanked him, stood up and stood in front of Qi Ning. Qi Ning then pointed to Tian Xuerong and said, "This is Mr. Tian from Tian's Medicine Store in the capital. You two must have heard of it."
Jiang Mantian and the other two turned around and saluted Tian Xuerong, showing great respect. Tian Xuerong thought that after all Jiang Mantian was also the president of the East China Sea Chamber of Commerce, and he was nearly twenty years older than himself. Qining was a nobleman, so he could naturally treat the two businessmen honestly. Although he was using words, he still couldn't lose his etiquette, so he stood up and returned the greeting to the two of them.
"I wonder why you two have come to see me?" Qin Ning asked straight to the point without letting them sit down.
Jiang Mantian and Lu Feihang looked at each other. Lu Feihang had already taken two steps forward and knelt down on the ground again: "The common people came here to apologize to the Marquis. The traitor is blind and does not recognize the true appearance of the Marquis. He actually... actually offended him. The Marquis deserves the death penalty. The common people... The common people only hope that the Marquis can be given a lighter sentence!"
"Oh?" Qi Ning frowned and said, "You are doing it for... Well, your son is Lu Ziheng, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Lu Feihang said anxiously: "The traitor Lu Ziheng is willful and reckless. He doesn't know where the sky is from the sky. He has offended the Marquis. He is extremely confused. What else can I ask for...!"
"Lu Feihang, your son is confused. It seems that you are not much better." Qi Ning sighed and said: "You still think that Lu Ziheng just offended me? I am not a carefree person, and Lu Ziheng didn't know that I Given his status as a Hou, even if there is some friction, I won’t really blame him. Now you don’t even know where he went wrong?”
Lu Feihang raised his head and said "Ah". Seeing Qining looking at Tian Xuerong, he immediately understood. He knelt on the ground and turned to Tian Xuerong. He said with a mournful face: "Tian... Mr. Tian, the traitor has offended you. I already know the matter. He is. He is an extremely stupid person, please don’t forget the faults of others, please be tolerant.”
Although Lu Ziheng is a bastard, it does not mean that his father is also a bastard, and Tian Xuerong also knows that Lu Feihang is also a well-known figure in the East China Sea. At such an old age, he is actually kneeling in front of him. He can't bear it, so he hurriedly stepped forward to support him. Said: "Master Lu, don't be like this, you... you get up and speak!"
"Tian Dongjia, Mr. Lu has come here to apologize to you and the Marquis sincerely today." Jiang Mantian said from the side: "It is the father's fault that the son did not teach. Mr. Lu blamed himself all the way. I also apologize to you here. I beg you, please forgive Lu Ziheng this time." When he spoke, he was calm, neither humble nor arrogant, with a calm temperament that could not be shaken by all the winds. Qi Ning saw it in his eyes and thought to Jiang Mantian With a refined temperament and well-spoken words, it is no wonder that he once became close friends with Zhuo Qingyang.