Steam Daming: Stop calling me to supervise the country

Chapter 90 The Undead

The arrival of Chen Xuan gave Zhu Zhanchang less time to rest.

"Chen Zongbing, why are you here?"

"Today, I went to His Royal Highness to continue to discuss the shipping tax, and the Fifth Highness, you said last time that you want to go to the field to see silkworm production. Tomorrow is going to Huzhou Prefecture. If your Highness is willing, you can go with me. ."

"That's good, when will you leave?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"Okay, let me tell my father."

Zhu Gaochi really agreed with him to leave the palace. This time, he was going to go out for a few days. Five guards were sent to follow him. Xiaosheng and Chuer also followed.

Early the next morning, Zhu Zhanchan got up early and came to the ferry port. This trip was by boat.

At the ferry, you can still see many people holding newspapers, and it seems that this business can still make some money.

Chen Xuan came by boat. It was his own boat. It was not big, but it was luxurious. After all, he was the commander of water transportation and had a title of honor.

Standing on the bow, Chen Xuan greeted Zhu Zhanchang: "His Royal Highness."

After welcoming Zhu Zhanchang to board the boat, Chen Xuan exchanged a few words and ordered the boat to move.

This trip still has to walk a section of the canal, and Zhu Zhanchang finally had the opportunity to experience the canal of this era.

The modern canals are still transported by ships, but they are not as busy as in this era. There are many modes of transportation in modern times, and there are also many modes of transportation. In this era, if the canal is within the range on both sides of the canal, it is always the most convenient to take the canal.

Merchant ships will also carry passengers. This is called mixed passenger and cargo loading. Of course, the investigation is not strict in this era.

After the boat entered the canal, the two sides of the river were lively. The water system of the Jiangnan water town was developed. There were floating markets and merchant ships. Of course, there were also a lot of flower boats. The small flower boat is usually a girl. This is also a business. Even many young peasant women go aboard in order to survive.

"His Royal Highness, is there any discomfort in the boat?" Chen Xuan came over and asked.

At this time, Chu'er had already vomited in the dark. He didn't expect such a smooth canal to be seasick like this. Fortunately, no one else had anything to do.

"This time, you are going to the Cao family in Huzhou Prefecture?"

"Yes, Cao Yangshan is a well-known big family in Huzhou Prefecture. His grandfather was an official to the household minister during the Hongwu period, and he was also one of the most staunch supporters of Emperor Taizu during his northern expedition. The family has a lot of in-laws in the three provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, and the silk of Hangzhou Weaving Bureau basically belongs to his family.”

A big family with intertwined roots is the most difficult to deal with, either ignore it or catch it to death.

"Speaking of which, Cao Yangshan has lost the prestige of his grandfather and father. Both his father and grandfather are famous people. The business of Cao's family has been lost in the hands of Cao Yangshan, which is related to his lack of business acumen. , the big taxpayer mentioned in the newspaper this time, their family is only ranked ninth, if his parents are still there, no matter what, he will be in the top three."

"Is it a serious leak?"

Zhu Zhanchang's question surprised Chen Xuan. Can this be asked casually?It is true that the Fifth Highness has a perverse character.

"His family is in the best situation. Cao Yangshan is devoted to the scientific examination. The eldest son of the family is talented and intelligent. He has been placed with high hopes since he was a child. However, he has failed in the examinations since the beginning. He is honest and good at business affairs. If it wasn't for his wife's support, the head of the Cao family would probably have been replaced long ago."

"Chen Zongbing, you seem to be quite familiar with this Cao Yangshan."

Chen Xuan sighed and said without shyness: "When I was a teenager, I used to play by the canal every day, and he followed me when he was young. This person is too bookish."

Now it was Zhu Zhanchang's turn to be stunned. He didn't expect that he was a family friend and played together since childhood.

But Chen Xuan dared to speak out with a clear conscience. He had a short-term intersection with Chen Xuan. His first impression of Chen Xuan was excellent, but he couldn't trust people, and he didn't get along for a long time.

But he is 100% sure that Chen Xuan will not harm himself, because Chen Xuan has no reason to harm himself. Although the Ming Dynasty wants to revive shipping because of the appearance of steam engines, Chen Xuan is now the appointed future naval commander. , promoted.

If something happened to him this time, Chen Xuan would not be able to eat and walk around, and he would have to pay for his life, unless the strict investigation of the Caoyun would find him to the Zhu Jiu clan, and he would only take action against Zhu Zhanchang as a last resort.

But in history, Chen Xuan has a very good reputation, which is unlikely.

It's just that Zhu Zhanchang wondered why he was going to find this unqualified businessman, Cao Yangshan, now.

"Chen Zongbing, this trip is not just to show me."

"Well, Cao Yangshan passed away a few days ago, and I'm going to mourning."

"what?"

"His wife is my sister Chen Xu. When his grandfather saved my father's life, he gave my sister to him as a marriage."

Sure enough, the big family is far more intertwined than imagined. Chen Xuan is outspoken, and there is no need to hide this kind of thing. There are many people who know it.

"Cao Yangshan and my sister have been married for 14 years. Unfortunately, they have never had a son. They only have one daughter. The son who adopted his younger brother is raised under his knees. Although he has a concubine, he is not pregnant. He treated my sister well before his death. good."

Not having a son was a taboo in ancient times. Fortunately, the other concubines in Cao Yangshan also had no heirs. Although there were accusations, they were not too much.

However, his wife is Chen Xuan's younger sister. She doesn't look at the monk's face and looks at the Buddha's face. No one can touch her even if the mountain is her parents' home.

Chen Xuan sighed: "I received the news yesterday. A few days ago, Cao Yangshan was seriously ill and his health was getting worse. The servant who went to Jinan to report to me and I missed it. We only got the news yesterday that Cao Yangshan had passed away a few days ago. "

"Mr. Chen's condolences."

I didn't expect that this trip was to go to mourning. No wonder a high-ranking person like Chen Zongbing had to go in person.

Cao Yangshan died at a young age, but at the age of 36, the huge family business will inevitably lead to competition. Although Chen Xuan's younger sister adopted a son, she has no real heir after all, and this son is only ten years old. I can't be the head of such a big family.

Chen Xuan also went to the platform for his sister, to let everyone know that Chen Xuan, the general soldier of the water transport, was still there.

"When your fifth highness arrives, I will arrange for you to stay in an inn and have a funeral tomorrow. After I deal with it, I will accompany you to visit various places. I hope your highness will forgive you."

"It's okay, just stay at Cao's house."

"This..." Chen Xuan did not expect that Zhu Zhanchang was not at all taboo.

Zhu Zhanchang wanted to take this opportunity to take a good look at the aristocratic family.

The boat crossed the canal and arrived at the ferry in the evening. On the ferry, a woman in white mourning clothes led a child wearing sackcloth and filial piety, looking forward to it, and there were many people behind her.

As soon as the boat docked, Chen Xuan walked down quickly, and Chen Xu took the child to meet her. The woman in her thirties had fair and delicate skin and was wearing mourning clothes. As soon as she saw Chen Xuan, her red eyes could not stop. shed tears.

The river in the water town in the south of the Yangtze River is gurgling, and the bluestone bridges are scattered. Under the setting sun in the evening, the white linen clothes are particularly desolate, and the others behind her keep a certain distance from her.

"Big brother." Chen Xu said that big brother seemed to have thousands of words.

"It's okay, it's okay, big brother is here."

Chen Xu wiped away tears and pushed the little boy beside him forward: "Xiaojie, I have seen Uncle."

"Uncle."

The childish child looked haggard, thinking that he hadn't slept for a few days.

Chen Xuan quietly said two words to Chen Xu, and Chen Xu quickly took his son to salute in front of Zhu Zhanchang with a startled expression: "People's daughter Chen Xu and her son Cao Jie have seen the Fifth Highness."

As soon as His Highness's words came out, the people behind them were already talking about it.

The autumn in Jiangnan is a little colder this year. The woman in mourning clothes has red eyes and red hands. Zhu Zhanchang reached out and stopped Chen Xu, who was about to salute, and said softly.

"Don't be too polite, Madam Cao."

　Today's third update, ask for a monthly ticket, ask for a recommendation ticket

　　
　
(End of this chapter)