Soldiers come to the world

In the afternoon, under the escort of a dozen soldiers, Liu Jing came to Fancheng on the other side of Xiangyang. Compared with a few months ago, Fancheng's changes were quite obvious, and the population gradually returned to the 3 population at the end of the war. The population has rapidly increased to 10. Although it is difficult to return to the 20 population at its peak, it is quite different from the desolate and deserted one at the beginning.

Fancheng is positioned as the attached city of Xiangyang, which concentrates [-]% of the commercial activities in Xiangyang City. It is the gateway of Jingzhou's trade with the Central Plains. A large amount of goods and materials flow from south to north, and the business is prosperous. It gradually regains its former prosperity.

Liu Jing did not come to Fancheng today for inspection. He sat in a carriage and did not show his face. He entered Fancheng very low-key without attracting anyone's attention.

Liu Jing came to Fancheng to pay respects to Tao Lie. The old patriarch Tao Lie passed away two months ago, which caused the Tao family to fall into a low ebb during this period. The Tao family has been busy with funerals for two months, and it has gradually returned to normal recently. Including Tao Zhan has also come out of grief.

This is also the difference between ancient and modern times. Perhaps it is because people's lifespan is not long, and children are prone to premature death. The ancients took life, old age, sickness and death lightly. The next sacrifice is their memory of their loved ones in another world.

The Tao family firm in Fancheng is also the center of the Tao family in Jingzhou. The Tao family naturally followed the power center and moved from Chaisang to Wuchang, and then from Wuchang to Xiangyang. Although Liu Jing did not want the Tao family to be too strong, but at present The Tao family is still the largest businessman in the south and even in the world.

It's just that the Tao family is very low-key now, strictly restraining the children of the Tao family from making publicity, and their business is scattered all over the place. They are no longer simply buying and selling goods, making money from the price difference. A large number of ordinary businesses such as livestock, daily groceries, etc., only do grain, salt and iron, and freight business, so that.You can't feel the scale of the Tao family, and the Tao family gradually fades out of people's sight.

At the same time, Tao Zheng was promoted to the prefect of Qichun, Tao Yun, another uncle of Tao Zhan, was appointed as the county magistrate of Chaisang, and five children of the Tao family were studying in Jingzhou Academy. This made the Tao family gradually change from business to politics. .

Liu Jing's carriage stopped in front of Tao's Commercial House. At this time, Tao Li was already waiting in front of the gate. He hurriedly stepped forward to salute and said with a smile: "I heard that there was an army coming over last night, so I wondered if the state shepherd came back. I didn't expect Zhou Mu to come to the Tao family today, the Tao family is really honored and flourishing."[

"Okay! Okay! Second Uncle doesn't have to be so polite."

Liu Jing got off the carriage and said with a smile: "They're all from my own family, what an honor. I'm here in a private capacity, and it's related to business, so don't think too much about it."

Tao Li also smiled. He is easy-going and has a good relationship with Liu Jing. He glanced at the carriage again and asked a little strangely, "Didn't Zhaner come with you?"

"I didn't tell her that I was coming to the Tao Mansion. I made a temporary decision. Today I came here specially to pay homage to my grandfather. I also have some other matters to discuss with my second uncle."

Liu Jing knew that his father-in-law Tao Sheng was "handling" his grandfather's funeral in Wuchang, and he hadn't come back yet. Most of the Tao family's children had gone to Wuchang, and only his second uncle stayed behind in Fancheng. He followed Tao Li to the sacrificial shed in the outer courtyard. , changed into mourning clothes, and walked into the shed.

There is Tao Lie's coffin in the sacrificial shed, mainly for the convenience of relatives and friends in Xiangyang to worship the spirit. For two months, there has been an endless stream of people who have come to offer sacrifices. It was not until these days that it gradually calmed down. Kneeling in front of Tao Lie's spiritual seat, thinking of Tao Lie's kindness to him in the past, he felt quite sad.

"May my grandfather rest in peace in heaven, and Liu Jing will protect the Tao family, as always."

He kowtowed three times and burned a few strings of paper money before standing up. Tao Li stepped forward and said, "Please come with me!"

Liu Jing nodded, went out of the shed, took off his mourning clothes, and followed Tao Li to the inner hall.

The two sat down in the inner hall, and Tao Li said sadly: "Father passed away in his sleep, and he walked away very peacefully, and he had already arranged for the future life, so he didn't have any regrets or concerns. A lot of big decisions are made."

"I know!"

Liu Jing smiled slightly and said, "The Tao family supports Jingzhou Academy with 5000 million yuan every year, and at the same time contributes 5000 million yuan to support Jingzhou to run government schools. It is very far-sighted!"

Tao Li also sighed, "The state herdsman called on Jingzhou to advocate simplicity, and the Tao family also responded positively. The restraints on the children of the family are extremely strict. Extravagance and waste are not allowed, sex with prostitutes is not allowed to fight for wealth, and it is not allowed to make publicity. There will be severe punishment, and the Tao family will also transform from a merchant to an aristocratic family, and money is just a means of transformation."

"Second Uncle said it very well. I have no prejudice against businessmen. Businessmen can enrich the country and improve people's livelihood. As long as the Tao family remembers the words 'low-key and modest', they will not be envied by others, and they will not commit suicide. disaster."

Tao Li nodded silently, "I remember." [

At this time, Liu Jing changed the subject and said with a smile, "I came to Tao's house today. Besides paying homage to my grandfather, there is one more thing I want to ask Tao's for help."

"It's okay for Zhou Mu to say no, the Tao family will definitely do their best."

Liu Jing pondered for a while and said: "I hope that the Tao family will open taverns in various counties of Jiaozhou with a hidden identity, and collect information about Jiaozhou for me for a long time. There is no need for confidentiality, just ordinary information, such as running schools in Jiaozhou, Sinicization, and land reclamation , Tuntian, etc. In short, I want to know about Liu Bei's governance in Jiaozhou, does Second Uncle understand what I mean?"

"I know!"

Tao Li smiled and said: "The state shepherd does not want to attack Jiaozhou, but wants to understand the changes in Jiaozhou in various aspects. There are a few managers in Tao's firm who are from Jiaozhou. I can let them go back to Jiaozhou to take root. Write a letter to Wuchang and ask my elder brother to arrange this matter."

Liu Jing nodded. With such a well-connected relative doing things for him, many things are much easier to handle.

Liu Jing had a lot of things to do. He only stayed in Tao's firm for half an hour before leaving Fancheng and returning to Xiangyang. As soon as his carriage arrived at Fancheng Wharf, he found that there were many soldiers on the wharf, including Cao Jun soldiers and Jingzhou soldiers. Liu Jing was startled slightly, what's going on?

He immediately asked a soldier to inquire about the situation. After a while, the soldier rushed over with an official. It turned out to be Ma Liang. He is in charge.

Liu Jing opened the car curtain and smiled, "Ji Chang, what happened?"

Ma Liang stepped forward and bowed and said, "Report to Zhou Mu that it's the envoy from Yedu."

"Who is it?" Liu Jing asked again, the envoy from Yedu came as he expected, he captured Yizhou and Hanzhong, it is strange that there is no movement from Cao Cao's side.

"There are two people here, one is the eunuch Xuanzhi, and the other is Cao Zhi, the son of Cao Cao."

It turned out that it was Cao Zhi who came, and Liu Jing immediately became interested. Although Cao Zhi also participated in the Battle of Chibi, he had never met this famous Jian'an talent in history, so Liu Jing smiled and said, "Please come here!" see me!"

Not long after, an eunuch hurried over, he was white, fat, and handsome, Liu Jing immediately recognized him, isn't this the eunuch Mi who came to Xiangyang at the beginning of the year?

Liu Jing smiled and said, "Eunuch Mi, we meet again."

Eunuch Mi's name was Mi Ying, and he was white and fat, so he was nicknamed "Mi Chong" in the palace. He was the favorite eunuch of Emperor Liu Xie. It is to deliver news for Liu Xie.

With a flattering smile on his face, Mi Ying stepped forward and saluted respectfully: "This old slave is ordered by the Holy One to confer the state shepherd as the Duke of Chu. Congratulations to the state shepherd."

Liu Jing nodded, "Eunuch Mi has worked hard all the way."

The canonization was within his expectation, the title was promoted by one level, from Marquis of Chu to Duke of Chu, but he didn't know whether his position was increased to Yizhou Mu. This was what Liu Jing was most concerned about, and he was not in a hurry to ask about it. He turned his attention to the young master behind Mi Ying, and that was Cao Zhi.

Cao Zhi was about 20 years old. He was tall and handsome. He wore a beautiful white robe, a jade belt around his waist, and a golden crown on his head. "Cao" even wanted to pass on the mantle to him, not the eldest son Cao Pi.

Cao Zhi stepped forward unhurriedly and saluted, "Cao Zijian sees the State Shepherd!"

Liu Jing nodded and asked, "Excuse me, Mr. Zhi, is your father well?"

"Thank you Zhou Mu for your concern. My father is in good health, and he also cares about Zhou Mu very much. I am specially ordered by my father to send Zhou Mu a personal letter."

After speaking, he took out Cao Cao's autographed letter from his bosom, and presented it to Liu Jing, Liu Jing took the letter and said with a smile: "Let's go back to Xiangyang first! Both of you rest first, and then we can talk about business slowly. "

He told Ma Liang, "Ji Chang can send them to the expensive hotel and let Guan Cheng take care of them."

"Don't worry, Zhou Mu, Weichen will make arrangements."

Liu Jing kept watching them go, then put down the curtain of the car, picked up Cao Cao's letter, opened it, and read it carefully. Qianjin also said that he was getting old, his body and energy were not as good as before, and he could not come to congratulate him in person on his promotion to Duke, so he sent his son Zhi to congratulate Liu Jing on his behalf.

The tone and tone of writing were very sincere, as if two old friends were saying goodbye, but the actual things were not mentioned. Liu Jing pondered for a moment, and ordered the soldiers outside the car: "Go to Jia The military mansion!"

Jia Xu has been sick for the past two days, so he didn't come to the state office today. Jia Xu is also over sixty years old, and pays special attention to maintaining his health. Because of the hot weather, he also tries to stay indoors and read as much as possible. At this time, his second son Jia Fang hurried into the courtyard and reported in the courtyard: "Father, Liu Zhoumu is here."

Jia Xu had two sons, both of whom were officials in other places. After Liu Jing brought Jia Xu’s family to Jingzhou, he sent someone to inform his two sons. Both of them abandoned their official positions and fled to Jiangxia. Yangjun Cheng, the second son Jia Fang was sent by Jia Xu to study in Jingzhou Academy, and he happened to be at home today.

When Jia Xu heard that Liu Jing was coming, she put down her book and said with a smile, "Did you invite Zhou Mu to my study for my father?"

Jia Fan hurried away, Jia Xu also put on his hat, came to the gate of the courtyard to meet Liu Jing, and saw Liu Jing walking quickly from afar, Jia Xu saluted deeply, "The old minister sees the lord!"

Liu Jing replied with a smile: "I heard that the military commander is sick, so I came to visit him. By the way, I have something to discuss with the military teacher."

Jia Xu nodded, waved his hand and said, "Master Zhou, please talk in detail in the room!"

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