When Mrs. Shang received the news that Xi Fuwei asked for an audience, she was talking to Zou Zhihan: "Before, you always said that you haven't thought about it yet. Now you have offended even the Duke of Dingguo and the Minister of Rites. If you haven't, If we make a decision, our family’s future will be uncertain!”
Zou Zhihan frowned and said, "This is such a serious matter... Let me think about it again!"
"Husband, we really can't put off this kind of thing any longer!" Mrs. Shang looked at him suspiciously, "Husband, don't you understand this, and you are not usually an indecisive person, why are you confused at this time? Or... "
At this time, someone came to report that a message came from Fenzhilou, and Xi Fuwei hoped to meet Mrs. Shang privately.
Zou Zhihan took the opportunity to say: "In that case, why don't you meet with Mrs. Xi now and see what she has to say? Maybe it can also serve as a reference for our next choices?"
Mrs. Shang saw that he was deliberately avoiding it, she frowned and wanted to say something. After thinking about it for a while, she sighed and said, "Okay!"
So after a while, Xi Fuwei was invited over.
Of course Zou Zhihan was gone when she arrived, and everything was clear, so after sitting down, the maid served tea, exchanged a few words, and then got to the point: "Shuntian Mansion is where the emperor's dormitory is, and now the north is not peaceful. , the emperor is still on his own campaign, and although there are objections to moving the capital, at least for now, it seems inevitable. Zou Mansion is adjacent to the canal, and the opening of the river will definitely have a profound impact on the mansion... I wonder what Madam thinks? "
Mrs. Shang raised her eyebrows and said, "Everyone knows these."
"It has only been a few decades since the founding of the country. When the country was founded, some places were full of hungry people." Xi Fuwei said, "So the national treasury has accumulated so far, but it is not very rich after all. There is no place in the government and the public that does not use silver. In the north, The war is a big expenditure. Therefore, some people are opposed to moving the capital, and they are also worried that money will not be enough. Now that the DPRK and China are determined to start the construction, in addition to the allocation from the national treasury, they must also hope that the local governments, especially the families along the river like Zou Mansion, will share the burden. One or two. This point is simply unavoidable."
"It is the duty of the Zou Mansion to be able to share the worries of the imperial court." Mrs. Shang became agitated when she thought of her husband's vague attitude and delay in making a decision, because if the Zou Mansion heard the news about dredging the canal, As far as placing a bet is concerned, not to mention the attention he will receive and the future benefits, his status in Yanzhou Prefecture will definitely be preserved and he will not be challenged because of this matter.
But the head of the family, Zou Zhihan, didn't know whether he had taken any medicine this time or not. In short, the Wen family had already carried them to Duke Dingguo's mansion, but Zou Zhihan was still fussing about it!
If this continues, if other wealthy families in the Yanzhou Prefecture secretly take refuge with a certain big boss, they may take advantage of the construction work to suppress the Zou Mansion!
Wouldn't this situation, which had been managed by generations of talents in the Zou Mansion, be destroyed in one day? !
Moreover, Mrs. Shang and Zou Zhihan have been married for many years. They have several rooms for concubines in the backyard, but there is only one male heir, Zou Yiang. Zou Yiang is not the kind of person who can revitalize the family. In order for this son to have a better life in the future, instead of experiencing the misery of family decline when he grows up, Mrs. Shang cannot accept that her husband is muddleheaded in this matter. !
With this in mind, she stopped going around in circles with Xi Fuwei, "It's just that Zou Mansion has lived in a small town for a long time and knows nothing about the court. How can he share the worries of the court, but he still has to figure it out."
This is an indecision between the various forces.
Xi Fuwei didn't know that this was mainly Zou Zhihan's problem. She just said that the whole Zou Mansion was pondering, and said: "This world belongs to the Zhu family. If you want to share worries, of course you must follow the holy order! However, I tell the truth, Dredging Whether it is a canal or moving the capital, it is not a trivial matter. Even if the Zou family has a great cause, the performance at this moment will definitely not be a casual payment, but more or less hoping to get some recognition. But His Majesty has many things to do and is busy with everything. Now the Holy I am still in the midst of my own expedition, so I will entrust the prince with matters concerning the court. Only important matters that the prince cannot decide will be reported to the army!"
Mrs. Shang pondered, this was a hint to herself that since she had to pay, it should be worth it. For example, let Emperor Yongle know what Zou Mansion had paid
At that time, even if the emperor just said "good" casually, it would be enough for the Zou Mansion.
The problem is that Emperor Yongle is very busy. If a local noble family donates a large sum of money, if he just takes the route of a courtier, he may not mention it in front of him... After all, Emperor Yongle is on the front line now, and he is reporting to him from the rear. Everything is important or urgent.
How much does it cost to make the minister not forget to mention it at such a time
From this point of view, Jinyiwei and eunuchs have a natural advantage, because they are both directly responsible to Emperor Yongle.
Emperor Yongle summoned them, and asking about state affairs was secondary... After all, these were the responsibilities of the courtiers, and asking about some secret and private matters was the focus.
When the time comes, they will casually add a few words to let the emperor know the Zou family's loyalty.
"But what the eunuch said..." Mrs. Shang narrowed her eyes, thinking that this Xi family really knew how to speak for the people behind her.
After all, eunuchs and royal guards can do whatever they want to hear from Datian.
Even eunuchs are more convenient.
However…
Since ancient times, the reputation of eunuchs has been despised.
The Zou Mansion is not the kind of person who has settled down, and he no longer cares about his reputation in order to turn around.
They have lived in Jining for a long time and are a prominent family in Yanzhou Prefecture. The only male heir, Zou Yiang, even invited the young scholar Ouyang Yuanshui to teach him in order to glorify his family in the future.
How can this be related to eunuchs
Doesn't this ruin your own reputation, and might it also drag down the future of your children and grandchildren
Nowadays, apart from those who are opposed to the matter of dredging the canal, the forces that support it are divided into three parties: Jinyiwei, courtiers and internal officials.
The only option left was Jin Yiwei.
After all, although Jin Yiwei's reputation is not very good, he is a sound person and a serious soldier of the emperor.
"And after the canal is dug, freight traffic will inevitably be monitored by Jin Yiwei." Mrs. Shang thought, "If we establish a relationship with them now, it will be more convenient to carry something back."
She now thought of entrainment, not because she was jealous, but because of the experience of the canal family: such a long waterway, with layers of levels of exploitation, there will inevitably be water bandits in bad times in the future, plus cargo ships, personnel Accidents such as car accidents, losses on the road... sometimes it would be a loss if not carried.
Xi Fuwei observed her words and reminded her tactfully: Although courtiers are the most high-sounding, the risks are not small. Party strife and angering the emperor can lead to demotion. The key is that people who have reached the status of important ministers are not young.
Because he worked too hard in his early years, he still suffered from some chronic illnesses.
If one day someone becomes ill and has to return to his hometown to recuperate, and his descendants are unable to take over, the Zou family will inevitably have to find another supporter.
At that time, all the efforts would be in vain. If this family starts to get entangled, they may even fall into the trouble of betraying the master.
Mrs. Shang thought for a long time and finally changed the subject. She chatted with her about seasonal food, asked someone to pack a box of pastries, and then sent her away.
Xi Fuwei knew that such a big matter would definitely need to be discussed by the entire Zou family, so she left quickly.
After she left, Mrs. Shang immediately called for her husband, and repeated what Xi Fuwei said in detail, and finally said: "Although she meant to speak for Jin Yiwei, I think what she said makes sense? "
"The truth?" Zou Zhihan said disapprovingly, "Do you know how the Jinyiwei are selected? In the final analysis, they are not the queens of heroes? How many of those heroes are not powerful and do not serve in the court? Therefore, the emperor's personal army belongs to the emperor's personal army, and the Jinyiwei himself How can there be no family ties behind it? People have time to include personal information in the report, and they don't even have time to say good things to their own family. How can we, who are not relatives, get the turn? Or the little girl doesn't understand and was fooled by the superior officer. You; or she is deliberately trying to trick you! Just listen to these words, how can you take them seriously? "
Moreover, "For a family like ours, we are still a big figure in Jining, but what if we go to Yingtian Mansion? Is it a good thing to be remembered by the superiors? Apart from other things, the dredging of the canal this time is, after all, related to our vital interests. , it’s okay to contribute money and effort. If we encounter other things in the future, such as floods in the south, drought in the north, wars, locusts, etc., after being remembered, people will be the first to think of our family... If the higher-ups have issued a message, can you obey me obediently? Go up? Once or twice, we can grit our teeth, twice, three times, four times, five times... We can’t survive on our own?!"
Mrs. Shang said: "Although there are many things to do after being remembered, it will definitely be a lot more convenient to do business."
"That depends on the appetite of the superiors!" Zou Zhihan sighed, "Although our family has accumulated few assets over generations, we are not considered rich enough to rival the country! If we don't have the ability to bear the expenses of a country, we must not Be the leader! Otherwise, you will regret it later!"
"Then what you mean is that we find an important minister to take refuge with?" Mrs. Shang said thoughtfully, "Then we have to apologize to Miss Xu and Miss Song first! After all, the father and brother of these two are very important in the court. Yes, even if we don’t choose these two families, we can’t have any grudges, so as not to make our backers look bad in the future.”
She thought for a while and then said, "Actually, if you are looking for courtiers to take refuge, I think it is best not to choose the Duke's Mansion and the Minister of Etiquette! After all, the Wen family has already taken the lead and left the travel of their legitimate daughter to these two families. He escorted us. With such trust, our family has no obvious advantage over the Wen family. If we rely on it any further, wouldn't it mean that we would fall behind the Wen family?"
"..." Zou Zhihan was silent.
Mrs. Shang was startled when she saw his situation. Then her expression changed and she said in disbelief: "Don't tell me, do you want to see it again?!"