Ji Tang

Chapter 358 The Zhang family’s way out (Thanks to the [-] reward from 'Happy Years'!)
"This is You Ning's grandfather, and this is You Ning's uncle!" Xie Lian introduced.

Ji Song didn't dare to neglect him. After all, he was You Ning's elder, and he was also his elder. Now was not the time to show off the power of the Marquis.

"Ziyi has met his grandfather and uncle!"

Facing Ji Song's gift, they didn't dare to show off. Although they were his elders, where did their status lie?

"Get up quickly!"

Mr. Zhang helped Ji Song up and said with a smile: "I have long heard that Ji Song is an outstanding figure of our generation. Today I saw that he is indeed a worthy scholar with great reputation. Okay, okay!"

"It's her blessing that You Ning can marry you. I hope you will love each other and grow old hand in hand in the future."

After speaking, he took a brocade box from his son and said to Ji Song: "This is a little thought from my grandfather. It can be regarded as a wedding gift for you."

In Ji Song's confused eyes, he slowly opened the box. To Ji Song's surprise, what was inside was not gold and jade, but a hand stick.

Mr. Zhang took it out, rubbed it back and forth on his hand, and then handed it to Ji Song.

"This is Wang Youjun's calligraphy collected in my family. I heard that you like these things the most. In this case, rather than letting them collect dust in the warehouse, I might as well give them to you."

He handed it to Ji Song and sighed: "Leave it to me!"

When Ji Song heard that he said this was Wang Youjun's calligraphy, he was already shocked. This was such an incredible thing!
The emperor was already ecstatic for a book annotated by Wang Youjun a few years ago, let alone a letter written by him?
Courtesy to people, there must be something to ask for.

Although he really wanted this thing, he would not blindly accept it.

Ji Song put the brocade box on the stone table, knocked on the table, and said, "I wonder what my grandfather asked for? Otherwise, I won't be able to hold this thing securely!"

Ji Song is ready to speak openly about this matter. Compared with these people who live forever and play tricks, Ji Song is not that big-hearted yet, so it is better to announce it openly.

Although he was a little rude, Mr. Zhang didn't mean the slightest bit of displeasure.

"As expected of a good Marquis, it is commendable and commendable that he can be so indifferent!" Mr. Zhang sighed.

Shaking his head, Ji Song said: "It's not that I don't want it, but I'm worried about burning my hands. Don't beat around the bush. As long as I can agree to it, I will never refuse!"

"Okay, let me just tell you this."

He paused for a moment and sighed: "I think my Zhang family was full of talented people back then, and they were well-known on the ground in Jiangdong, but their unworthy descendants have almost completely ruined the foundation of our ancestors."

"To put it shamefully, we came to Chang'an this time just to see if there are any opportunities."

"Father."

You Ning's uncle said anxiously.

The old man waved his hands and said with a wry smile: "What can't be said now? We have reached the end of our rope. If we don't catch up, our family will be completely ruined!"

He raised his head and looked at Ji Song with vigour, and said: "Others have turned to Xiao Yu, but I have not. It's not that I look down on the Xiao family, but that he simply does not have the ability to lead our Jiangdong family to rise."

"So you chose me?" Ji Song pointed at his nose and said.

Seeing the old man smiling and saying nothing, Ji Song said bitterly: "Then you made a mistake this time."

Meeting the old man's puzzled look, Ji Song said, "You may not know that I plan to resign from Your Majesty in a while. I'm going to go home to teach."

"This"

Not only Mr. Zhang, but Xie Lian was also a little surprised!
But before Xie Lian could ask questions, the old man said solemnly: "Is the court really so dangerous now? Do you even have to avoid its sharp edges?"

Ji Song was a little surprised. He didn't expect that the old man could sense the situation in the court just from his own words?
Facing Ji Song's surprise, Mr. Zhang stroked his beard and smiled and said: "I have been in the officialdom after all. Although my ability is not good, I am still sober here!" After speaking, he pointed to his head.

Ji Song nodded secretly, surprised by the old man's judgment!

After pondering for a moment, Ji Song raised his head and said, "I wonder what you think of the sea?"

He must ask this clearly. This is the next focus.

The old man was stunned. He didn't expect that he was talking about the court just now. Why did he suddenly jump into the sea now?
He lives in Jiangdong, how can he not be familiar with the sea?With the development of maritime trade in recent years, Mingzhou, as the only foreign trading lane, has seen its annual tax revenue rise sharply.

The court also paid more and more attention to Mingzhou, and even the governor of Mingzhou and the magistrate of Luan County were half a rank higher than those in other places.

He was a little puzzled. He didn't understand that Ji Song would suddenly ask this question?

"You mean?" He seemed to have thought of something, his eyes lit up, and he asked Ji Song.

He was a little upset. It had been three years since Chang'an Xungui went to Jiangnan to build ships.

I originally thought they were jealous of the dividends from sea trade, but now it seems there's more to it than that!

In recent years, the people of the Jiangdong family have not failed to see the huge wealth in this, but due to the difficulties of sea ships and sea navigation, they have all given up.

However, the nobles who gathered shipbuilding craftsmen on the Jiangdong coast and frequently went to sea had no intention of evacuating. Even if there was nothing wrong here, they would not believe it even if they were killed.

Some words don't need to be said clearly, not to mention that Ji Song has already said it very clearly.

He had just said that he was going to resign from his job and go home to teach, and then he asked him what he thought of the sea. This is the rhythm of marching into the sea!
"Father-in-law, you may not know that some time ago, Song Geer's students have started building sea ships. Although it is only experimental, they have made great progress."

Xie Lian saw that his father-in-law didn't quite understand, so he reminded him.

"Seriously?" The old man was overjoyed. If this was true, then with a reliable ship, there would be hope for going to sea.

Xie Lian nodded and said: "It's true. As long as there are no major problems in this trial voyage, they can build a bigger ship at any time."

"Other people have not been idle these years. They have obtained many nautical charts through various methods. As long as everything is in place, it will become possible for us in the Tang Dynasty to go to the sea."

Things were already very clear at this point, but when he saw Ji Song's half-smiling look, he gave a wry smile.

"Tell me, you have wasted so much human and financial resources, how could you easily let us participate? Tell us what conditions you have!"

Ji Song smiled, but he didn't have any embarrassment. After all, after wasting so much effort, some people are not allowed to just sit back and enjoy the results.

"For the sake of my father-in-law, I am here to tell you everything." Ji Song said.

"Oh?" The old man immediately sat up straight.

"There are people from His Majesty in the team heading south."

Seeing Mr. Zhang's expressionless expression, Ji Song didn't care. If he didn't even have this ability, he would be very disappointed.

"Furthermore, I heard that the palace has invented something that can quickly popularize books, and the cost of making paper will also be greatly reduced."

Ji Song looked at the ugly old man and continued, "Do you know what this means?"

After saying that, he held the brocade box on the stone table in his arms, bowed to everyone, and turned around and went out.

(End of this chapter)