The ministers begged me to ascend the throne

The situation in Jinling is more complicated than Zhao Yao imagined.Another meaning of complexity is danger, the more complex the more dangerous.

The more Zhao Yao thought about it, the more he felt that it was a mistake to go to Jiangnan this time, and he felt more and more like he had come to a wolf's den.

Alas, it's useless to regret now.It's all here, just go with the flow.If something really happened, it could only be done by tricks.

The most important thing right now is to accompany Mr. Meng well.As for other things, he doesn't want to interfere, and it's beyond his control.

Because of Zhao Yao's arrival, Mr. Meng's spirit and complexion are getting better day by day, and his physical condition seems to be getting better.It's only slightly better than before, but still very weak.

Every day Mr. Meng woke up, Zhao Yao would talk to him for a while.When he was tired and fell asleep, Zhao Yao quietly withdrew.

Because he was here to visit Mr. Meng, it was not easy for Zhao Yao to take Song Jicai and the four of them to visit Jinling City in a big way.

Although Mr. Meng didn't care, Zhao Yao felt that if they did this, it would be a bit too much. After all, they didn't come to Jinling for pleasure.Besides, there are hidden dangers everywhere in Jinling City, so it's better to be safe.

In the past two days, it has been raining in Jinling City, even if they wanted to go out to play, they couldn't.

Jiangnan in early spring is not warm, especially after it rains, Jinling City returns to the deep winter of last year in an instant, and people are shivering from the cold.

Mr. Meng, who finally got better, became worse again because of the rain and cooling down.

After feeding Mr. Meng and drinking the medicine, Zheng Xilin took Zhao Yao out.

In Zheng Xilin's room, a pot of fire was burning.The uncle and nephew sat in front of the brazier, drinking tea and warming themselves by the fire.

"Third uncle, why doesn't Mr. Meng have any disciples to serve him?" It's been a while since Mr. Meng came here, and Zhao Yao and the others saw those few people every day.Apart from Zheng Xilin, there was a middle-aged butler and two bookboys, there was no one else.

"He didn't have a direct disciple." Zheng Xilin just finished speaking, realizing that what he said was not right, and said again, "Many years ago, he had a direct disciple, but he was betrayed by his disciple. Since then, he has I have never accepted a direct disciple again."

Hearing what Zheng Xilin said, Zhao Yao remembered that Mr. Meng had left the mountain to serve in the court in the previous dynasty. Later, because of certain things, he was demoted, and then he went back to the mountains in a fit of anger, and then he did not leave the mountain for decades.It seems that certain events of that year were related to Mr. Meng's former disciples.

Zheng Xilin said again: "He also said that he can't teach his disciples well, and if he accepts disciples, he will only mislead his disciples."

After Zhao Yao heard this, he nodded, but he suddenly remembered something, and said with a look of surprise: "Hey, Mr. Meng wanted to accept me as a student before."

Zheng Xilin smiled and said: "That's because he wants to support you, didn't you refuse?"

"I refused."

"You are the first person to refuse to be his student." Zheng Xilin teased Zhao Yao, "Scholars in this world want to be his student by any means. You are good, but you dislike him for being too famous and refuse to be his student."

"I'm not material for studying, and besides, I don't want to be famous, so I can only decline Mr. Meng's kindness." Zhao Yao didn't regret refusing to be Mr. Meng's student.Give him another chance, he still won't agree. "I think Mr. Meng should still accept a disciple, let the disciple inherit his mantle, and carry forward his knowledge."

"He gave a lecture last year because he wanted to share what he had learned with everyone, and the students who listened to him can be regarded as inheriting his mantle." Zheng Xilin said with emotion, "He has studied and studied knowledge all his life, not for fame or for It is a pity that he has always felt that he is a failure and has not helped the people."

After hearing this, Zhao Yao said with a look of astonishment, "Why would the old man think so?"

"He thinks that you are the one who really benefits the people. The things you do have changed the lives of the people, so he likes you very much and admires you very much." Zheng Xilin thought of Mr. Meng's constant praise for Zhao Yao's things. He couldn't help laughing, "Seeing that you are not loved by the emperor, that's why he wanted to accept you as a student and use his false name as a Confucian to support you."

"Old Meng is too self-deprecating." Zhao Yao felt that Mr. Meng misunderstood him a lot. "The things I make can change the lives of the people, but the knowledge of his old man will not only change the lives of the people, but also change the development of social civilization, which is much more powerful than what I make."

Zheng Xilin has long been used to hearing such novel words as "the development of social civilization".Like He Lianfang, he has long been numbly used to Zhao Yao uttering strange but very appropriate words and words that they have never heard of before.

"When he wakes up, you can talk to him about the development of social civilization."

Zhao Yao nodded seriously and said, "I will definitely tell him well."

Zheng Xilin warmed his hands with teacups in both hands, and looked at Zhao Yao who was sitting opposite him kindly: "When the weather clears, you take your four good brothers down the mountain for a walk."

"That's not good."

"The old man is still alive, so what's wrong." Zheng Xilin said, looking out of the window, "It's rare for you to come to Jiangnan, so you should go out and have a look to learn about the lives of the people in Jiangnan."

Since Zheng Xilin said so, Zhao Yao did not refuse.

"Okay, when the weather clears, I'll go out and have a look."

Zheng Xilin put down the teacup in his hand, and his charitable expression instantly became serious: "Come on, let's talk about water transportation and salt in the south of the Yangtze River."

"Are these two things I should know?" Zhao Yao wondered what the water transport and salt in the south of the Yangtze River had to do with him.

"As the prince of the Great Zhou, shouldn't you care about the people?" Zheng Xilin naturally knew Zhao Yao's careful thoughts, "You will face these two things when you go to Lingnan in the future, maybe in Lingnan, these two things Things get more complicated."

Hearing what Zheng Xilin said, Zhao Yao thought of the complicated situation in Lingnan.According to investigations, the most profitable trades in Lingnan are controlled by chieftains of various tribes.When he went to Lingnan in the future, he had to take these two things back.

"Third uncle, tell me." Zhao Yao put on an attitude of listening attentively.

Zheng Xilin told Zhao Yao in detail about Jinling's water transportation, salt, and iron smelting.The families in Jinling are no gentler and kinder than those in Yangzhou back then, on the contrary they are just as greedy and selfish, but they are smarter than those in Yangzhou.They have long secretly colluded with the Duke of Zhen's Mansion and the East Palace.This is also the reason why Zhen Guogong refused to cooperate with those aristocratic families in Yangzhou.

Jinling City has been the most prosperous state capital in the south of the Yangtze River since ancient times. It was also set as the southern capital in the previous dynasty, and it was very prosperous at that time.It is surrounded by large and small rivers, and water transportation is very developed.Not to mention anything else, let's just talk about water transportation. It has supported many people in Jinling City and brought wealth to many people.

The interests involved in water transportation are too great. No matter in the previous dynasty or in the Chen Dynasty, the emperors did not dare to easily touch the water transportation in the south of the Yangtze River.If you want to make a move, you will make a small fuss, and you dare not make a big move, because the Cao Gang in Jiangnan is a group of lawless, cruel and ruthless people.They only care about money, not life.In the previous dynasty, people from Water Transport rebelled once, and it was particularly serious.

After listening to Zheng Xilin's analysis of Jinling's water transportation, Zhao Yao's brows were tightly furrowed, and his expression was very solemn: "Are these people from the Cao Gang so crazy and domineering?"

"It's always been like that with them and those guys from the Salt Gang."

"The crown prince and Dai Wang actually colluded with these lunatics, aren't they afraid of being backlashed by them in the future?"

Zheng Xilin sneered: "Who can refuse the temptation of money?"

"No wonder my father repeatedly told me not to be brave." Zhao Yao sarcastically said with a sullen face, "Jiangnan is really Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

"If the water transportation and salt gangs in Jinling and Suzhou are not eliminated, the south of the Yangtze River will be in chaos sooner or later." Zheng Xilin said with a stern expression, "These have always been the two major moths in the south of the Yangtze River. If they are not eliminated, they will be restless."

Zhao Yao suddenly thought of what happened in Yangzhou before.At the beginning, the father planned the layout and design several years in advance in order to take care of the family in Yangzhou.Then Jinling and Suzhou, it is impossible for the father to have no action, and it must have been secretly deployed.

"Father should have planned it long ago, and I don't need to do anything."

After Zheng Xilin finished speaking, he stared sharply at Zhao Yao's eyes and said, "No, there is something you need to do."

Old irons, sorry, there is a very important character in the new chapter, but I wrote and revised, revised and rewritten, but I still feel that it is not well written, and it has not been updated until now.This character is too important. If it is not well written, it will affect the following plot. Tonight's update can only be temporarily canceled, and the update will resume tomorrow.