Do you know: I have a different surname: Wang, uncle Minglan

Chapter 194 Noble Man, Hangzhou Tea Show

Three days later, Mrs. Sheng, Minglan and others left the capital and headed to Youyang's hometown.

Sheng Changbai was originally scheduled to participate in the Spring Festival this year, but when Wang Anshi became the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, he wanted to reform the officialdom this year.

So it was announced to the world that the Spring Festival, which takes place every three years, would be postponed for one year.

Otherwise, adding hundreds more Jinshi would not be beneficial to Wang Anshi's next reform measures.

This matter made a big fuss among Shilin people. Fortunately, the imperial court has been publishing news about the battle with Japanese pirates, which has attracted people to talk about it.

The popularity of delaying the Spring Festival ceremony for one year has naturally declined.

Since there was no spring this year, Sheng Changbai simply followed the old lady to Youyang.

In addition to him and Minglan, Rulan also wanted to go.

Sheng Hong had no choice but to agree. When Ru Lan left, he simply asked Chang Feng and Mo Lan to follow him.

It's just right for them to get familiar with the children of the eldest family.

Lin Zhaoyuan had to escort the money and food allocated by the Ministry of Household Affairs, and it would probably take some time before he could return to the southeast.

at the same time.

Wei Yuan also received the order to form a navy army.

At this moment, in the coastal defense camp of Fuzhou.

Yang Huairen said with a look of surprise:

"I originally thought that setting up a navy army would be difficult, but I didn't expect that the officials would agree so quickly."

Wei Yuan said: "If the officials want to develop civilized and martial arts, developing maritime transportation and building naval forces are exactly what the officials need."

Yang Huairen said: "It's just a matter of forming a navy army. There are many things involved. Commander Wei, do you have an idea in mind?"

Wei Yuan said: "It's the same as building a Danglu army, half of them are old soldiers and half of them are new soldiers."

"The old soldiers were selected from the coastal defense camps along Fujian Road. As for the new recruits, some young and middle-aged people were selected from various areas along the southeast coast, totaling 30,000 people."

"I have ordered Hu Yanzhong to select suitable candidates for the coastal defense camp. Once the money and food from the Ministry of Household Affairs arrive, we can start setting up the camp."

Yang Huairen nodded and said: "A few days ago, the warships manufactured by the Ministry of Industry and the Ordnance Supervision have been transported to the southeast. Counting the obsolete warships along the coast, there are thousands of them in total."

Wei Yuan said: "I have written to the Ministry of Industry and the Ordnance Supervisor to build another thousand warships for one year and send them to the southeast in batches."

"At the same time, I have asked His Majesty to ask Guo Hao to come. The results will be received by the time Zhaoyuan comes back."

Xiao Yuming, who was standing aside, said in a deep voice:

"It's best that Brother Guo can come, but Brother Guo has always been very independent."

He was implicitly saying that Guo Hao was ambitious and might be difficult to control.

But for now, Guo Hao still listens to Wei Yuan.

Wei Yuan also thought about Xiao Yuming's worries.

He asked Guo Hao to come simply to check and balance Hu Yanzhong, but in the future whether the naval force would be named Wei or Guo, Wei Yuan had to take precautions in advance.

While Wei Yuan was thinking, Yang Huairen said bluntly: "Your Majesty asked Commander Wei to form a navy army. Now that you have written a letter to invite General Guo to come, in the eyes of Your Majesty and those scholar-bureaucrats, will Commander Wei be suspected of nepotism? "

He was worried that sooner or later, Wei Yuan would become too powerful and would be feared by the court.

How could Wei Yuan not know this?

But officialdom is like sailing against the current. If you don't advance, you will retreat.

If he didn't fight for it, he would be more likely to be beaten to the end by the emperor in the future.

Moreover, if he takes one step back, some people will take ten or a hundred steps forward.

If he retreats to the bottom, some people will step on his bones and rise to the top.

Now that his status has reached this stage, he alone has the final say whether to retreat or advance.

For example, the forces involved behind the scenes include the Wei clan in Liangzhe and Hedong, as well as many merchants from aristocratic families who gave him benefits.

Even if he wants to retreat, those people will push him away. At that time, it will be even more dangerous.

"The commander-in-chief has selfish motives for building a navy, but more importantly, he hopes that the country can have a powerful navy to stabilize the situation in the southeast."

"As long as you have a clear conscience, just keep your head down and do things. As for the future, let's leave it to the future."

Only today did Wei Yuan finally understand why those generals with outstanding merits could not retreat bravely.

It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s that I can’t.

For example, among the founding generals, which one of those people doesn’t have a group of brothers behind them?

If they don't fight, what should the brothers behind them do?

If you really resign and leave everything behind, it won't be a problem to become a rich man.

But after years of marching and fighting, who doesn’t have a few enemies or political opponents?

Today, Wei Yuan does not need to build a naval force. One day, if there is a problem with shipping and the situation in the southeast becomes unstable, who should be blamed for this debt?

If Wei Yuan didn't covet the navy and didn't firmly control the navy, wouldn't his whole plan be in vain?

"When Zhaoyuan arrives, it will be the day when Fuzhou starts shipping."

"Before that, I will set off to Guangling County, Yangzhou to worship my ancestors."

"Huairen, you stay in Fuzhou and take charge. Danniu, Yuoming, you two each select a hundred personal guards, and together with the Manjia Battalion, follow me to Guangling."

A few days ago, Wei Yuan wrote a letter to the chiefs of the Wei clan in Zhejiang and Hedong.

The matter of worshiping ancestors in Guangling asked them to send more trustworthy young people.

Wei Yuan wanted to select a dozen people from them to join the navy.

The reason why people from the Wei family were arranged in the Danglu Army was because the Danglu Army was at the feet of the emperor.

The censor watched closely, making sure there was no mistake.

After all, he appointed Chen Daniu and others as commander-in-chief, but they were all reported to the imperial court by the censor.

If the Wei clan members are arranged again, they will really die.

But the navy is different.

The navy is far away in the southeast, and the censors cannot reach here. Except for the Imperial City Department, no one will know the exact situation of the navy.

And he is now a political ally with the commander of the Imperial City Department, so he naturally does not have to worry about this factor.

Selecting Wei clan members to join the navy is also to guard against the possibility that Guo Hao will become stronger one day.

Guo Hao is not like Chen Daniu and others, who are always by his side.

He has been the leader of Daizhou for a long time, and I am afraid he will not be willing to be the second in command.

Now Wei Yuan is only an earl, and he still doubts his brother who has been through life and death before.

If he becomes the emperor, he dare not even think about it.

I am afraid that if Chen Daniu does something out of the ordinary, he will be suspicious.

Therefore, it is no wonder that many emperors have the "hobby" of killing meritorious officials.

Of course, being suspicious is one thing, and stabbing a brother is another.

Wei Yuan is just taking precautions.

——

Since coming to the southeast, Wei Yuan has not had a good stroll in Suzhou and Hangzhou.

He reserved about half a month for himself to worship his ancestors this time, so he could take some time off.

The first stop was to visit Hangzhou.

Wei Yuan and Chen Daniu came to Hangzhou in disguise and did not alarm the local government.

The governor of Hangzhou and Zhang Xia, the transport envoy of Liangzhe Road, only knew that Wei Yuan's army had set up camp outside Hangzhou.

They wanted to pay a visit, but they only saw Xiao Yuming. After chatting for a while, they did not ask the truth.

Because Xiao Yuming only told them eight words, "Military secrets, no comment."

Wei Yuan and Chen Daniu strolled around Hangzhou, and the latter couldn't help but sigh with emotion, "It is said that there is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below. I have seen it this time." "Even the women in Hangzhou are different from those in other places. They are beautiful and smooth. Tsk tsk." Hearing this, Wei Yuan patted him on the back of his head and scolded him with a smile: "If you say such things again, don't come out with me in the future." Chen Daniu touched the back of his head aggrievedly and asked puzzledly: "Why?" Wei Yuan said unhappily: "Shame on you." While talking, Chen Daniu's eyes were fixed on a pretty woman walking by. When the woman saw Chen Daniu full of murderous aura, she was very scared and lowered her head and dared not look at him. After the woman passed by, Chen Daniu smiled and said: "Looking at these gentle women, I suddenly feel that it is not bad to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy and protect these women so that they can marry a good family." Wei Yuan shook his head and smiled. Chen Daniu, this guy, is said to be lustful, but he never does anything beyond the rules. He is said to be not lustful, but he can't control his eyes.

It seems that it's time to find him a wife.

The two strolled around the city for a while, and then took a boat to tour the lake.

Hangzhou is a water city with extensive water transportation. It is faster to tour the city by boat than to walk.

The old man on the boat saw that the two people's words and deeds did not seem like those of Hangzhou people, and asked curiously,

"Where are the two nobles from?"

Wei Yuan smiled and replied, "From Daizhou."

Daizhou?

The old man was slightly startled, and while rowing, he said, "Daizhou is very far away. The two nobles have been tired all the way by boat and car. It's hard."

Wei Yuan nodded and said nothing more.

He looked at the green mountains and green waters not far away, the small bridges and people, and felt relaxed and happy. The so-called deep love and poetic life are just like this.

No wonder literati and poets from ancient times to the present have left their calligraphy in the ancient city of Hangzhou without hesitation.

"I heard that the current frontier official in our southeast area, General Wei Yuan, the Loyal and Brave Earl, once guarded Daizhou for many years?"

The old man suddenly asked.

Hearing this, Wei Yuan smiled and said, "Have you also heard of General Wei?"

The old man said, "The name of the Loyal and Brave Earl is known to everyone in the world."

"Isn't it thanks to General Wei that I can meet the two nobles here today?"

"If it weren't for him, the Liao and Xia countries might have crossed the Yanmen Pass long ago. We ordinary people admire this kind of hero who defends our country the most."

After a while.

Wei Yuan asked, "What is the most famous food and drink in Hangzhou?"

The old man smiled and said, "People from other places who come to Hangzhou must try the vinegar fish, but I think the most unpalatable food in the world is the vinegar fish."

"Speaking of drinks, my Hangzhou tea and acrobatics are famous all over the world. You may as well try it."

Wei Yuan asked curiously, "Tea and acrobatics? Do you know where the tea and acrobatics are the most authentic?"

The old man pointed to a small teahouse built by the lake not far away and said, "It's not bad there. I often go there to drink. The price is fair and they don't cheat customers."

"You two nobles are obviously from other places. If you go somewhere else, I'm afraid you will be charged a high price."

Wei Yuan looked at the four big characters "Zhao's Tea Shop" written on the teahouse not far away, and murmured, "Since you are here, just go with the flow."

"Well, let's try this tea and acrobatics."

As he said that, Wei Yuan threw a golden bean to the old man.

The old man took it quickly, took a look, and was immediately shocked.

"My dear, it's too much."

Chen Daniu laughed and said, "You old man, I'll give it to you, just take it, what? Do you think the money is not enough?"

The old man laughed bitterly, "My dear, I'm joking, I don't think the money is not enough, I have never seen what these golden beans look like in my life."

Wei Yuan said, "Take it, you called me a dear all the way, I can't let you call me for nothing."

The old man carefully put the golden beans into his arms and laughed:

"I have been rowing all my life, and today I have met a truly noble person!"