The days when I ransacked the house in Jinyiwei

Chapter 225

At night, Fujian Chamber of Commerce.

Since the Chenghua Dynasty, the five major merchant gangs have risen.They are Hui merchants, Shanxi merchants, Zhejiang merchants, Lu merchants, and Fujian merchants.

The biggest advantage of Fujian merchants was their coastal location.It can be said that the imperial court's sea ban has fattened Fujian merchants who are good at smuggling.

The original intention of Grand Ancestor Taizu in establishing the tribute system and sea ban was good.

Stupid businessmen, the waters of overseas trade are too deep for you to grasp.

Overseas trade is all handed over to the imperial court.You see how the court handles it.

Grandpa overlooked one thing.In the face of huge profits, more courageous businessmen dare to take the risk of beheading.

They often colluded with scholar-bureaucrats to engage in smuggling trade along the coast.

It has been more than 130 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.The sea ban became the wealth code for the collusion between scholar-bureaucrats and maritime merchants.

Whenever someone in the imperial court suggested opening and closing the sea.The scholar-bureaucrats always held high the banner of "the ancestral system cannot be violated".

When the switch is connected to the sea, the huge profits of the smuggling trade will be gone.What shall we eat?
After so many years since the founding of the country, the scholar-bureaucrats have figured it out.When safeguarding one's own interests, the ancestral system is sacred and inviolable.

When it is not beneficial to self-interest, the ancestral system is a piece of paper to wipe the ass.

To make a digression, Emperor Longqing, who opened the sea under the pressure of scholar-bureaucrats more than 60 years later, was a great man.

Closer to home, let’s say that the Fujian Chamber of Commerce is brightly lit tonight.

Countless businessmen and officials poured into the Fujian Chamber of Commerce to meet Lin Sheng, the head of the Lin family in Quanzhou.

Chang Feng followed Qian Neng into the clubhouse and saw countless familiar faces.

He even had the illusion that this was not a night banquet for merchants, but an early imperial court.There are too many civil servants, military generals, and nobles.

After following Qian Neng into the hall, Chang Feng felt a little lucky again.

Most of the officials sitting in the hall are minor officials of the fifth and sixth ranks.There are no important ministers.

In the hall stood a young man of seventeen or eighteen, dressed in commoner clothes, greeting the guests one by one.

Qian Neng lowered his voice and said to Chang Feng, "That man is Boss Lin."

Chang Feng secretly laughed in his heart: Daming's No. [-] maritime merchant also knows how to keep a low profile.Dressed in commoner clothes, plain clothes, did not violate the ancestral rule that merchants are not allowed to wear silk.

Lin Sheng walked up to Qian Neng and cupped his hands courteously: "Eunuch Qian."

Qian Neng said with a smile: "It's been a long time, Boss Lin. The last time I saw you was three years ago. You were 14 years old then."

Lin Sheng turned his head and glanced at Chang Feng: "Who is this?"

Chang Feng, like most officials, came to the Fujian Chamber of Commerce in plain clothes, not flying fish suits.

Qian Neng recommended: "This is Zuo Tongzhi, commander of Jin Yiwei, and Chang Feng, the emperor's favorite minister."

Lin Sheng hurriedly cupped his hands: "Ah, so it's Mr. Chang. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please go to the second floor."

It turned out that the banquet at the Fujian Chamber of Commerce was divided into two places, the first floor and the second floor.

The little people have a banquet on the first floor.The big shots are on the second floor.

Chang Feng was puzzled: Lin Sheng, as the protagonist of the banquet, why didn't he go to the second floor to entertain the big shots?But has been on the first floor?
Could it be said that there are people with higher status in the Lin family who are accompanying guests on the second floor?

Qian Neng seems to be very familiar with Fujian Chamber of Commerce.Lead Chang Feng to the second floor.

At the stairs, Chang Feng heard a conversation.

"Ah, the big boss is really generous!"

"No wonder the big boss can support such a big family business of the Lin family."

Chang Feng was confused: Big boss?Isn't the so-called big boss Lin Sheng on the first floor?Could it be said that Lin Sheng was to the Lin family like Qian Ning was to Jin Yiwei?Just a stand-in for the real person in power?

Right.The Lin family's wealth is said to be greater than half of the national treasury.His connections are all over the officialdom.How could a boy of [-] or [-] support such a huge family fortune?

I think the real big boss must be an older member of the Lin family who is well versed in the ways of the world.

I went up a few more steps.Chang Feng was shocked by what happened next.

There are only two seats on the second floor.They are all acquaintances of Chang Feng.

On the second seat, there were several hall officials from the Six Departments, and Ye Guang from the Dudu's Mansion.

At the top of the chair sits Xie Qian, a member of the cabinet; Xiao Jing, the supervisor of ceremonies; two uncles Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling;
There was another person Chang Feng didn't know.This man was in his forties, with a white face and beardless, extremely handsome, and dressed in white.

Beside the middle-aged man in white, stood a woman in her thirties.

This woman's skin is so white and glowing that it can be called round and smooth.The whole body exudes charm.

Her clothes are extremely refreshing, quite Tang style.

At first glance, Chang Feng thought she was a brothel oiran invited by the Lin family to accompany her for a drink.

He still laughed secretly in his heart: The Lin family is too stingy.How about more than a dozen people at two tables, and just find an oiran to accompany the wine?No matter what, there must be one person.

When Qian Neng saw the middle-aged man in white, he fell to his knees directly: "Junior Qian Neng, pay respects to Old Senior Wang!"

It turned out that the middle-aged man in white clothes in his forties was Wang Zhi, a powerful official of the generation.

Wang Zhi was only 16 years old when his options were turned over in Chenghua.I just turned 40 this year.

Qian Neng is 60 years old and nearly two rounds older than him.But still kowtow to him.

You must know that the guarding eunuchs and supervising eunuchs in various places in the middle of the Chenghua Dynasty were all disciples and grandchildren of Wang Zhi.

In theory, Qian Neng was just a subordinate of Wang's direct subordinate.

The old inner minister Huai En had called Wang Zhi brothers and sisters before his death.

The camel fell, but the shelf was still there.To this day, many of the management boards in the 24 yamen in the palace are Wang Zhi's disciples and grandchildren.

With these people around, Wang Zhi, who has lost his power, still has a decisive influence among the inner officials.

Chang Feng groaned in his heart: Just now at the stairs, he heard the people on the second floor open and shut "Big Boss".

The real "big boss" of the Lin family is Wang Zhi, right?
If the boss of the Lin family is Wang Zhi, then things will be difficult.

Wang Zhi smiled and said, "Qian Neng, good monkey bastard. I haven't seen you in 20 years. Why are you so old? Sit down."

A 40-year-old person calls a 60-year-old person a monkey cub, let alone a 60-year-old person is Bingbi, the supervisor of ceremonies, and the governor of Dongchang?
Not only was Qian Neng not angry, but he said with a smile, "Thank you, Senior Wang, for your seat."

It should be said that Wang Zhi is the idol of all eunuchs in the palace.

Every eunuch hopes to become someone like Wang Zhi in the future.

Wang Zhi glanced at Chang Feng: "Who is this person?"

Qian Neng quickly recommended: "This is Chang Feng, the righteous grandson of old inner minister Wynn."

Qian Neng did not introduce Chang Feng's official title, only his seniority.Introducing official titles in front of Eunuch Wang, who was in power at the time, would appear to be out of line.

Wang Zhi said: "Chang Feng? I remembered. That old man Wynn mentioned him to me when he was demoted to Jinling. "

"Heh, a small general flag that pried the court bureau. Now it seems to be promoted to Jinyiwei, right?"

Wang Zhi actually called Wynn an "old thing".But this is not an insult, more like a kind of close joking.

Chang Feng cupped his hands: "Exactly."

Qian Neng hurriedly said: "Why don't you kowtow to Senior Wang?"

Xiao Jing also said: "Wang Gong is your godfather's equal. As a grandchild, when you see him for the first time, you should kowtow and salute."

Wang Zhi waved his hand: "No need. I'm just a grassroots citizen with no official position. Please sit down."

Changfeng takes his seat.

Wang Zhi asked Chang Feng casually: "How about that little fat girl in your family who likes to eat pork head mixed with garlic?"

When Wynn was demoted to Jinling, in order to protect Tangtang, he took Tangtang with him.

Tangtang has met Wang Zhi before.Wang Zhi liked that innocent little girl very much.

Chang Feng replied: "Back to Old Senior Wang. The little fat girl is already married as a wife and mother. The children are four and a half years old."

Wang Zhi sighed: "The dead are like husbands, and they never give up day and night. The days go by so fast."

After speaking, Wang Zhi took the hand of the 30-year-old beautiful woman and said, "Brother Chang, this must be your first time coming to the Fujian Chamber of Commerce. I don't know her."

"Let me introduce you. This is the big boss of the Lin family in Quanzhou, Yan Pan'er. He is the widow of Lin Sheng's father."

Yan Pan'er, Mrs. Lin Sheng's father's continuation.A woman with artifice, courage, and the ability to be cruel at critical moments.

For more than ten years, the affairs of the Lin family have been handled by Yan Pan'er.She is the real head of the Lin family.

Her nominal son, Lin Sheng, was just a stand-in at the front desk.

Chang Feng correctly guessed that Lin Sheng was a stand-in, but he didn't expect that the real big boss of the Lin family was a beautiful woman who looked like she wanted to make people violate the laws of Ming Dynasty.

Chang Feng noticed that when Wang Zhi introduced her, he called her by her real name instead of "Mrs. Lin".

Wang Zhi continued: "Pan'er is my goddaughter. Chang Feng, you are no longer the general banner who is not as big as booger. You are the emperor's favorite minister, the boss of the factory guard."

"You have to take good care of her from now on."

Chang Feng was silent at first.

Qian Neng pulled off his left sleeve, Xiao Jing pulled off his right sleeve.

Chang Feng had no choice but to say: "Yes."

Yan Pan'er, who is round and jade-like, with a beautiful body, smiled and said, "Hey, Chang Tongzhi first came to the Quanzhou Guild Hall. The daughter of the people respects you for twenty glasses of wine."

Chang Feng thought he had heard wrong.Twenty cups?Don't be so drunk as a dead dog after drinking?Then this beautiful woman may be cheaper tonight, some of the big shots here.

Wang Zhi clapped his hands: "Okay. My goddaughter is worthy of being a hero in the female high school! Come on, have a drink."

Several servants stacked twenty cups into a small golden tower.

Yan Pan'er said: "Daughter's red wine is too weak. I don't know if I'm respectful or not. Change to Liaodong knives."

The servant brought another large pot to cook the knives.

Yan Pan'er parted her red lips lightly, biting off the cork wrapped in red cloth with her teeth.

She poured the wine into the cup at the top of the urn.The wine poured into the wine cup below like a waterfall.

After pouring out the pot of roasting knives, twenty wine glasses were just full.

Chang Feng said: "Mrs. Lin, this knife-burning is too strong. Just drink three cups and it will be done."

Yan Pan'er didn't say anything, picked up the wine glass and started drinking.One glass after another, like a Bacchus.

Everyone on the second floor applauded: "Okay, the big boss is worthy of being a hero among girls!"

"Wonderful! Boss drinks burning knives like drinking water."

"The big boss is really a heroine like Hua Mulan and Liang Hongyu."

Twenty cups of burning knives, Yan Pan'er drank them all in just a short while.

Wang Zhi said: "Chang Feng, Pan'er respected you with a pot of burning knives, you should return the pot."

Chang Feng was a little dizzy when he heard this.Don't drink it, don't give Wang Zhi face.

Even Xiao Jing and Qian Neng respected him.How can I, a junior, refute his face?

drink it.I'm afraid a pot of burning knives went down and got under the table directly.

Unexpectedly, Yan Pan'er picked up another pot of burning knives: "Mr. Jin Yiwei is a new guest of the Fujian Merchants Association."

"Godfather, he's back for the first time, don't make things difficult for him. I drank this wine for him."

After finishing speaking, Yan Pan'er opened her red lips lightly, pointed at the spout of the pot and drank it down in one gulp.

Zhang Heling was itching to see this scene: I wish the big boss had put mine instead of the jug in his mouth.

After drinking two jugs of wine, Yan Pan'er was not drunk.Only the complexion turned reddish, showing a more mature charm.

The crowd applauded again.

Yan Pan'er smiled and said, "Godfather. We've finished the welcome wine. Shall we have a banquet?"

Wang Zhi nodded: "Okay, let's start the banquet."

Chang Feng believes that the banquets at the Fujian Chamber of Commerce must be full of delicacies such as bear paws and flying dragons, no less than the banquets at the Confucian Mansion.

Unexpectedly, the dishes served were all stir-fried pork, blanched vegetables, tofu soup and the like.

Yan Pan'er saw Chang Feng's doubts, and took the initiative to explain: "Chang Tongzhi, the Taizu ordered the merchants to be diligent and thrifty, and not to be extravagant."

"Our Lin family is a law-abiding businessman. Always remember the great ancestor's teachings."

"The food is vulgar, don't mind. Giggle."

Yan Pan'er's voice was charming to the marrow.Any man would probably tremble when he heard this.

Chang Feng thought of a word "fragrant bones".

There is a kind of woman who is naturally charming.The man seemed to lose his soul when he saw it.It seems that the big boss of the Lin family in Quanzhou is such a woman.

Three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.

Yan Pan'er started to talk about the topic.She said to Hu Chuande, the right servant of the Ministry of War, who was sitting on the second seat: "Hu Butang, the Lin family has already obtained the ten sample Western cannons requested by the Ministry of War's Manufacturing Office."

"I have sent someone to the manufacturing office."

Hu Chuande cupped his hands: "Thank you, boss."

Chang Feng was amazed: The mighty Ministry of War wants to ask a sea merchant to help, what kind of Western fast gun?
Wang Zhi glanced at Chang Feng, saw the doubts in his heart, and explained: "Westerners are not included in the court's tribute system."

"No matter how good the Westerner's things are, the Ming government can't buy them. I have to trouble the Lin family for help."

Chang Feng was stunned: "Oh, so that's what happened."

Even if it is to help the Ministry of War, it is a taboo for maritime merchants to privately buy Western artillery, and they will be beheaded.

Yan Pan'er did not shy away from Chang Feng, the butcher of Jin Yiwei.

Yan Pan'er said to the Zhang family brothers again: "You two uncles. The goods you want are ready. I will go to your mansion to pick up the money in person in another day."

When saying this, Yan Pan'er stared closely at Zhang Heling with a pair of winking eyes.

When talking about the "day" of the next day, Yan Pan'er deliberately emphasized her tone.

Zhang Heling secretly rejoiced: Hey, everyone calls her the big boss.But this big boss is still a little widow!This little widow is really on the right track!
Cabinet member Xie Qian has been silent.

Yan Pan'er poured Xie Qian a glass of wine and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Xie Ge, the matter has been settled."

She only said that it was done, but did not specify what it was.

Xie Qian nodded: "Thank you."

Xiao Jing smiled and said: "My incompetent apprentice is serving as the eunuch of the Shipbuilding Department in Ningbo. All these years, he has been taken care of by the big boss. I offer you a toast."

Hearing this, Chang Feng was shocked again.Xiao Jing's words revealed a message.

The majestic eunuch in charge of the shipping department in Ningbo needs a widow from a merchant in the sea to take care of him!
Yan Pan'er smiled and said: "It should. There is no need to thank the inner minister."

After eating this meal in the Hokkien Chamber of Commerce, Chang Feng deeply realized the huge power of the Lin family and the intricate network of relationships.As well as the ability and skill of the leader of the Lin family.

Yan Pan'er, this little girl, is not easy!

(End of this chapter)