The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 399 Planning in advance
Jia Huan frowned and said, "I provided the start-up capital, I provided the connections, and I also had to open up the sales channels. Doesn't Inspector Qin think that a 50-50 split is too much?"

Qin Hongyu curled her lips and said, "I still provide the venue and manpower, so many brothers don't need to be supported?"

"Sanqi!"

"Fourty six!"

"Sanqi!"

"Fourty six!"

——Bang!

Jia Huan slapped the table hard, making the cups and plates clatter. Tiehu and Shitou were startled, and Qin Hongyu's face changed drastically, thinking that Jia Huan was angry out of shame. However, the latter smiled and said, "Deal, I will take 60% of the shares of the shipyard, and Miss Qin will take 40%. It's a pleasure to work with you."

"Happy... happy cooperation?" Qin Hongyu was a little dumbfounded. It was not that she felt she had suffered a loss, but Jia Huan agreed so readily, which was beyond her expectation.

Little did she know that Jia Huan had already designated her as Tiehu's wife. This was one of the reasons why he sought cooperation with Qin Hongyu. He wanted to keep the wealth within the family and just consider it as giving benefits to his brother.

Jia Huan also acted decisively, and immediately signed a contract with Qin Hongyu, and then roughly discussed the steps for building the shipyard. It happened that he learned from Xue Ke some time ago that the Xue family was going to sell the Jinling shipyard at cost price, and Jia Huan planned to spend money to buy it, or in fashionable terms, to acquire it. In this way, he would have the shipbuilding technology and workers, and then he could just "copy" a copy to Dulong Island.

As for the funds to acquire the Xue family shipyard, Jia Huan himself had over ten thousand taels of silver, and he was probably short of about ten thousand taels. He could borrow it temporarily from Lin Daiyu, without any problem at all.

Qin Hongyu was originally a little worried that Jia Huan was just playing around, but after hearing Jia Huan's plan, she was completely relieved and invested more than 20,000 taels of silver at once. It was obvious that Jia Huan was serious and it was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. Moreover, with mature technology and craftsmen as a foundation, he would naturally get twice the result with half the effort.

At that moment, Jia Huan discussed some details with Qin Hongyu before leaving the restaurant.

On the way back, Tiehu asked in confusion: "Why did Third Master suddenly want to start a ship business? Is Third Master still short of money?"

I remember that the Third Master once said that he wanted to take the imperial examination and become a scholar, and become an official in the court in the future, while he himself would seek development in the army. One is civil and the other is military, one is inside and the other is outside, and they can support each other in the future. But the Third Master is now keen on business affairs. Isn't this putting the cart before the horse?

In Tiehu's opinion, Jia Huan is no longer short of money and should concentrate on his official career.

Jia Huan obviously saw Tiehu's confusion and said with a smile: "I want to build a shipyard not just to make money. You will understand the deeper meaning of it slowly in the future, Huzi."

Tiehu's heart moved and he looked thoughtful.

Shitou was playing with the axe while saying, "I'm too lazy to think. I just do whatever Master San tells me to do. But Master San obviously suffered a big loss in this matter. Why did he still seek cooperation from Qin Hongyu?"

"Oh, where's the loss?" Jia Huan asked back.

"Isn't it obvious? If Third Master wants to do the shipbuilding business, he only needs to buy the Xue family's shipyard and find someone to manage it. Why bother to spend time and energy to build another shipyard on Dulong Island? Besides, the funds, connections, and sales channels all belong to Third Master. Is there really any need to give Qin Hongyu 40% of the shares for nothing? Unless..."

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Unless what?"

"Unless this is the betrothal gift that the Third Master prepared specifically for Brother Tiger!"

"Get—out!" Tiehu kicked towards Shitou's butt, but the latter seemed to have eyes on its butt and bounced forward with a swish, and Tiehu's kick missed.

Jia Huan laughed and said, "It turns out that Hu Zi can also blush."

Tiehu said awkwardly: "Although I like that woman, there is no need for you to give in to her. Just do what you have to do. Brothers should settle accounts clearly."

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will never do a business that will lose money. I am interested in the Dulong Island. The shipyard there may be of great use in the future."

As mentioned above, although there is no Ming Dynasty in this world of Red Mansions, there are people like Nurhaci and Sun Chengzong. Now the Great Jin Kingdom is increasingly overlapping with the late Ming Dynasty. The wheel of history turned a corner for more than 200 years at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, and it seems to have a trend of returning to the original track. If the Great Jin Dynasty really took the old path of the late Ming Dynasty, then the Manchu Qing Dynasty entering the pass is a high probability event. Therefore, Jia Huan felt that he must be prepared to see what Zheng Chenggong did. The reason why Zheng Chenggong was able to hold on for so long was that a strong navy was the key, and building a navy naturally cannot be separated from warships.

Dulong Island is at just the right distance from the mainland, so it can be used for both offense and defense. We will build civilian ships first, and if necessary, we can modify the blueprints and build warships immediately.

Of course, the Great Jin Dynasty might not necessarily reach the stage of the late Ming Dynasty, but it is always good to prepare for a rainy day. Moreover, for Jia Huan, if he can no longer make it in the court in the future, he will undoubtedly have an extra way out. As the saying goes, "to serve the king is like to serve a tiger." If he really has to be away from the king, he can immediately lead a fleet to set sail and take his family to live freely around the world.

As a time traveler, Jia Huan's thinking is incomprehensible to others. This is the so-called strategic vision. In terms of pattern and foresight, who in this world of the Red Mansion can compare with Jia Huan? After all, he is familiar with the historical trend, which is equivalent to opening a God's perspective.

Let's get back to the story. When Jia Huan returned to the Salt Inspectorate's Office, he happened to meet Feng Ziying getting on his horse and preparing to leave.

When Feng Ziying saw Jia Huan, he immediately rode up to him and said with a smile, "What a coincidence! Just when I was about to go to the restaurant to look for you, Brother Huan came back."

Jia Huan exclaimed, "Could it be that Brother Feng also wants to treat me to a drink?"

"You guessed it right. Let's go. Brothers Huzi and Shitou should go with us. We won't be able to drink after today." Feng Ziying took Jia Huan's reins without saying anything.

Jia Huan understood the hidden meaning of Feng Ziying's words, and thought to himself, "Could it be that Brother Feng is going back to Beijing?"

Feng Ziying smiled bitterly and said, "This guy is too smart, but also so boring!"

Jia Huan laughed and said, "Did I guess it?"

Feng Ziying nodded, and Jia Huan bowed and said, "Congratulations, Brother Feng, on your promotion. We must drink this wine."

Feng Ziying, as the eldest son of the mighty General Feng Ziying, was a centurion when he first joined the army. Later, he was transferred to the deputy centurion of the Yunti Pass. It was just to gain experience. Even if he had not met Jia Huan, he would have been transferred back to Beijing in a few years. However, he met Jia Huan and his repeated meritorious services in the past six months, which undoubtedly accelerated the process. Now that Tiehu has been promoted to centurion, how could Feng Ziying not be promoted? It is natural for him to be transferred back to Beijing to take up the post.

Then everyone returned to the restaurant and started a new banquet, which lasted until the evening. Everyone was about 80% drunk.

When everyone walked out of the restaurant and prepared to go their separate ways, Jia Huan asked, "What position will Brother Feng take when he returns to Beijing?"

Feng Ziying's face flashed with excitement, and he replied with a big tongue: "It's not clear yet, it's most likely the Shenji Camp."

The Shenjiying is the trump card of the Beijing Army, no wonder Feng Ziying is so excited.

Jia Huan bowed and said, "Congratulations, Brother Feng. If you become rich and powerful, please don't forget me!"

"Hey, look at what you said. In the future, Brother Feng may need your help. I wish you success in the next spring exam."

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Okay, okay. I will leave for Suzhou tomorrow, so I'm afraid I won't be able to see Brother Feng off."

"That's why I was in a hurry to find you for a drink. Let's make an appointment to meet in the capital and say goodbye now!" Feng Ziying was also a chivalrous and generous man. After saying this, he kicked his horse's belly and left without looking back.

When Jia Huan returned to his residence drunk, Lin Daiyu happened to be there, talking to Ping'er and others. Seeing Jia Huan so drunk that he could barely walk, she felt a little angry, but more distressed. She frowned and said, "It's unbelievable! How could he be so drunk?"

He then hurriedly had someone prepare some sobering soup and personally fed it to Jia Huan. He then watched him fall asleep with his own eyes before leaving with peace of mind.

On the second day, Jia Huan woke up early, looking refreshed, which surprised the girls.

After daybreak, a huge convoy set out from the Salt Inspectorate's Office and went out from the south through Tongji Gate. They first went to the temple to ask for Lin Ruhai's coffin and spirit tablets, then boarded a boat and sailed downstream, through the Yangtze River, into the canal, and headed straight for Suzhou Prefecture.

(End of this chapter)