Late Ming sea owl

Chapter 53 The world of gentry
Xu Yilong didn't sleep well last night, but he was used to socializing and could maintain a professional smile no matter how tired he was.

On the Bowang, he and Lin Hai chatted and laughed happily, quoting scriptures all the way. One moment he said that Lin Hai traveled across the sea like a man with a beard, and the next moment he said that his righteousness was comparable to Guan Yunchang.

Lin Hai naturally reciprocated the favor, praising Xu Yilong for being a scholar at such a young age, and that he would definitely be on the gold medal list and become a great minister in the future.

The two exchanged business blows, all the way from Fujian to Zhejiang. They were actually rivals in chess and would meet talented people, and they felt a bit sympathetic to each other for a while.

Five days later, when the ship arrived at Ningbo, Lin Hai suddenly pointed to the coast and said, "Brother Xian, who do you think belongs to this great world?"

Xu Yilong smiled and said: "The whole world is not the land of the king. This world naturally belongs to the emperor of the Zhu family."

Lin Hai shook his head and said: "This is certainly true. But in Brother Yu's humble opinion, at least in the Jiangnan provinces, the Great Ming Dynasty belongs not so much to the emperor of the Zhu family, but to scholars like Xiandi."

Xu Yilong laughed and said: "Brother Lin is too flattering to us useless poor people."

Lin Hai said sternly: "This is really not the praise of Brother Fool. Just like me, a businessman, located at the bottom of the four peoples. If I want to find a backer for my business, it is better to be appreciated by the emperor, or to have a deep relationship with the local gentry. Woolen cloth?"

Xu Yilong said: "Brother Lin is now an official and no longer a businessman."

Lin Hai waved his hands and smiled bitterly: "How can a military attaché of the Guards be better than a businessman in the eyes of the gentry? Brother Fool just asked, I hope Brother Xian can teach me."

Xu Yilong said: "Of course it is better to have the gentry as a backer. The emperor is at the ninth level. Even if he appreciates Brother Lin, Brother Lin will not bother the emperor just for the sake of a little businessman's profit."

"Unless Brother Yu is doing this business for the emperor, he has to fight his way out of the palace first." Lin Hai joked, and then said, "The gentry is different, especially the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River. Their hometowns and roots are all over the officialdom, and they often take over lawsuits and control Shangguan can truly be called a local emperor."

Xu Yilong took a deep look at Lin Hai and said, "Brother Lin is really a god. He has only returned from the West for more than half a year, and he already knows so much about China and Earth."

Lin Hai said calmly: "Although I was born in a foreign land, I have always been close to my homeland. My father taught me to read history since I was a child. My uncles often go to Haojing to purchase goods, so they still know a little about the world of the Ming Dynasty."

Xu Yilong praised: "It is rare for an overseas traveler to have a boxing heart."

Lin Hai said humbly: "My dear brother, you are ridiculous. I have returned to my hometown for the first time, and there are many things that I need to point out. My foolish brother has an idea. I don't know if it is feasible. Please correct me."

Xu Yilong said: "I am all ears to listen to Brother Lin's opinions."

Lin Haidao: "I heard that Jiangnan scholars like to form societies and study, but many literary societies lack financial resources. If Brother Yu is lucky enough to make his business big, he will find the leader of a well-known literary society to give him a large sum of money to help him recruit members and strengthen his reputation. If one day we can unite Jiangnan Literary Society into one family, what do you think of this supporter?"

Xu Yilong was surprised. Lin Hai's thoughts were so wild and unconstrained that it was a bit beyond his expectation.He thought to himself that what his father said was indeed true. This man was indeed capable, and he was by no means a reckless person like Li Dan and his son. However, this matter might have been oversimplified.

He thought for a moment and said, "Brother Lin's idea is a good one. Not to mention unifying Jiangnan Literary Society into one family, as long as it can form a large society with thousands of people, the momentum will be enough to make the government and the public look at it. Just imagine, thousands of people Behind him are thousands of gentry, not to mention the governor, even the senior ministers in the government do not dare to challenge him lightly."

He changed the subject and continued: "It's just that scholars look down on each other, and they can live up to the world's expectations and convince everyone. Today, there is no second person except Mr. Yushan. However, as the leader of the Donglin Party, Mr. Yushan can be said to be This is a thorn in Eunuch Wei's side, and openly forming a large society, doesn't it mean that he is giving others a hand?"

Lin Hai smiled and said nothing. Why does this matter have to be "the water is too cold"?Two of Lou Dong’s works are also fine, especially the Zhang Pu who wrote “Tombstones of Five People”.This man is the son of a servant. He is ambitious but has no wealth. Isn't he the most suitable candidate?

Zhang Pu is still not well-known now, but two years later, this man seized the window period when Wei Zhongxian was overthrown but the case of the Eunuch Party's rebellion was pending, and he led the movement to expel Gu Bingqian, the backbone of the Eunuch Party, in Suzhou, and he suddenly became famous all over the world.In the third year of Chongzhen's reign, he organized the world-famous Fushe, and the Jiangnan literary society was almost unified.In name, Fushe is just a large-scale exam preparation exchange class, focusing on discussing current affairs, but in fact it has a strong political meaning and has a certain degree of organization. Although it is loose, it is not organized at all like the Donglin Party.

Moreover, the Fushe was mainly composed of young scholars, and its scale was much larger than that of the Donglin Party. At the same time, it was in the same spirit as the Donglin predecessors. It can be said that it had unlimited glory during the Chongzhen Dynasty.Although they could not decide military and state affairs, in this three-acre area south of the Yangtze River, local officials would rather offend the emperor than offend Fushe.

Not to mention local officials, even Zhou Yanru, the chief minister of the cabinet, tried every means to establish a good relationship with Fushe. After being forced out of office by Wen Tiren, he even relied on Zhang Pu to manage his re-entry into the cabinet.

Ruan Dacheng, who had betrayed the Donglin Party, spent a lot of his own money on Zhang Pu's operation to restore Zhou Yanru to the prime minister in order to make peace with the restoration society. However, after the restoration of the society, Ruan Dacheng still did not appreciate it. Ruan Dacheng finally found it difficult to find an official position in the Chongzhen Dynasty. .Even when he was living in Nanjing to avoid the war, Fushe scholars openly posted big-character posters to drive him out of the capital.

Seeing Lin Hai smile and say nothing, Xu Yilong seemed to still want to make this plan, and continued: "Even if Brother Lin can really find such a person and help him form a large society of a thousand people, this person will definitely cherish feathers, how can he be willing to do it for Brother Lin’s business is running high and low?”

Lin Hai smiled and said: "Brother Xian is right, Brother Yu is just having a whim. Fortunately, Brother Yu's business is not big. It is more than enough to have Hong Daozun in Zhoushan to protect him. This is all thanks to Brother Xian. Brother Yu will definitely repay him in the future." Of."

Xu Yilong waved his hand and said: "Brother Lin is too polite. Since you are Brother Li Shi's sworn brother, you are just like my biological brother. Why should one family speak the same language?"

While talking, the Bowang had already landed under the guidance of the captain brought by Xu Yilong. Xu Yilong pointed to a small island not far away and said: "This is Meizi Island, commonly known as Meishan, so this place is called Meishan Port."

Lin Hai nodded with a sigh. In later generations, Ningbo Meishan Island became world-famous for its bonded port area, but 400 years ago it was just a small island with a radius of less than half a mile. It felt like a vast sea for a while.

He turned to look at the land and saw a small city northwest of the port. The city wall facing him was about a mile long.The city wall is made of rammed earth, not covered with bricks, and is about two feet high. It looks like it is old. There are several soldiers on the city tower looking at the Bowang.

Lin Hai asked Xu Yilong: "Are there officers and soldiers here? Is it okay for our ship to stop here?"

Xu Yilong smiled and said: "It's good to have officers and soldiers. Nowadays, the sea in Zhejiang is full of petty thieves. They don't dare to act wild here even if they have the courage to do so."

Seeing that he was confident, Lin Hai felt relieved and said, "Which garrison is this?"

Xu Yilong said: "This is the Wei Qu Suo Qian Hu Suo. You see, it is surrounded by mountains and faces the sea. It is inaccessible. We will park the boat here and transfer to the military ship of the Wei Qu Suo to go to Ningbo Fucheng."

Lin Hai felt convinced. It seemed that Zhejiang was not Fujian after all, and the foundation of the Xu family was far from that deep.This place is located in the southern part of the Chuanshan Peninsula and is separated from the hinterland of Ningbo by mountains. Smuggling here is relatively hidden.

He heard Xu Xinsu say that in the past, the Xu family used land and water routes to purchase goods from Zhejiang, which was extremely inefficient.Only since Hong Chengchou took charge of Zhejiang Sea Road did they obtain a reliable port.Now it seems that what Xu Xinsu is talking about is Meishan Port, but it is still necessary to use the warships of Fequsuo to transfer the goods here.

In order to avoid causing unnecessary trouble, Lin Hai ordered all crew members not to disembark and left a stone wall on the ship to prevent sailors from causing trouble ashore.

He himself and Xu Yilong boarded the Dongzi boat in Fequsuo. This is a small fortune boat. It is about seven feet long and has a draft of only six or seven feet. It is also known as the Haicang boat. It is the most common navy warship on the southeast coast. one.This type of ship is equipped with sails and oars, is light and flexible, and can sail both offshore and inland rivers.

Lin Hai took the Dongzi boat around the Chuanshan Peninsula and went up the Yongjiang River from the estuary to Ningbo Fucheng.Unexpectedly, when they arrived at the Haidao Yamen, Hong Chengchou was not there. The subordinate officials in the Yamen said they were going to Hangzhou, the provincial capital, on business and were expected to come back in a few days.

Xu Yilong then said to Lin Hai: "Since Hong Daozun is not here, we have to wait for a few days. I also have a few familiar friends here, and I just want to visit. I wonder what Brother Lin has planned?"

Lin Hai knew that it was inconvenient for him to take him with him, so he took the opportunity to say: "Brother, please help yourself. Brother Yu, I have heard for a long time that Shaoxing is a place where people gather together, so I just want to go and visit."

(End of this chapter)