Crazy at the end of the Ming Dynasty

"What's the matter?" Wu Shigong asked first.

"Young Master Fourteen. The younger one will cut to the chase. The expenses of the Hou Mansion have been getting bigger and bigger these years, and the wife's funeral needs to be done decently. The younger one is also in charge of the property of the Wu Mansion to make up for it. Seeing Lord Hou is always anxious, I really feel ashamed of my trust in Lord Hou!" Steward Hong said very evasively.

However, Wu Shigong understood Guanshi Hong's meaning as soon as he heard it.Although some felt that Guanshi Hong's eating was too ugly, Wu Shigong had already prepared: "Today is too hasty. When Mrs. Li comes to worship tomorrow, she will bring two thousand silver and some sacrifices. There are also some It is my filial piety to Lord Hou and a gift to my brothers and sisters."

Wu Shigong's move was already very generous, but he knew that since Guanshi Hong couldn't wait to find him, his appetite would definitely be great, so after speaking, Wu Shigong quietly waited for Guanshi Hong's next words.

As expected, Manager Hong struggled hesitantly for a while, then repeated the words: "Young Master Fourteen, this mansion is expensive!"

"Then how much do you want?" Wu Shigong simply went straight.He knew that it was actually his father Wu Weizhong who asked for the money, but it seemed that it was Guanshi Hong who asked for the money.However, Wu Shigong and Hong Guanshi were tacit about this anyway.

Wu Shigong's psychological price is 5000 taels, and now he is waiting for Steward Hong's offer.Unexpectedly, Guanshi Hong didn't answer the question at all, he suddenly said: "I heard that the Fourteenth Young Master has opened two saltworks in Yangzhou and Dengzhou!"

Wu Shigong's eyes narrowed immediately.Although I know that I have opened a saltworks, sooner or later it will spread to the capital.But Wu Shigong didn't expect that the news would spread so fast, and his father Wu Weizhong would take a fancy to these two saltworks.

Now for Wu Shigong, every tael of silver is precious, so Wu Shigong immediately became angry.Back then, Wu Shigong dared to merge with his allies for money.For the sake of Yinzi, he dared to fight with the coach Zhu Dadian and Gao Qi, so what is this manager Hong now?

But Wu Shigong still wanted to understand something: "Did the Lord Hou want it?"

"The young one was also just arranged by Lord Hou." Although the words were vague, Manager Hong affirmed that this was Wu Weizhong's idea.

After finishing speaking, Steward Hong gave Wu Shigong a guilty look.In fact, Wu Weizhong learned from various sources that Wu Shigong had two salt farms, and after making a fortune in the Denglai suppression rebellion, this time he just wanted Wu Shigong to bleed a little more.After all, Wu Shigong was the one who entered Xue's house, and Wu Weizhong claimed to be from a scholarly family, so he couldn't shame himself into extorting too much.

But Guanshi Hong took the initiative to persuade Wu Weizhong and personally invited Ying, wanting the Wu family to occupy the two saltworks.Guanshi Hong really felt Wu Weizhong's pulse, so Wu Weizhong asked Guanshi Hong to talk.

certainly.Wu Weizhong just asked Steward Hong to try to talk to him. It's okay if Wu Shigong really doesn't agree.But Hong Guanshi said to Wu Shigong so affirmatively that it was Hong Guanshi's own little thought.

Manager Hong was certain that Wu Weizhong and Wu Shigong would not confront each other face to face, and Wu Shigong didn't dare to be unfavorable to him, because beating a dog also depends on the owner's face!

In case this matter is negotiated.Steward Hong's status in the Wu Mansion will also be greatly improved.After all, Aunt Hong will always fall out of favor one day.Besides, after the saltworks are managed logically.How could Guan Hong not benefit from being in charge of himself?

Steward Hong really caught Wu Shigong's psychological weakness.But for Wu Shigong.But it is impossible to refuse the request of his father Wu Weizhong.

Wu Shigong quickly calculated the pros and cons in his heart.Wu Shigong's shares in the two saltworks can bring Wu Shigong five to six thousand taels of silver per year.Although this money is quite a lot, compared to all the income of the salt goods, it still occupies a small amount.Wu Shigong's biggest income from the salt cargo is the protection fee collected from the salt cargo.

The main reason why Wu Shigong wanted to own these two salt farms was to prevent Yangzhou salt merchants from controlling the supply of salt goods.You know, salt goods are the same as food.It is also a very important strategic material.

And this time Wu Shigong came to the capital, the key is to show his kind of filial piety.But what if Wu Shigong doesn't agree to his father Wu Weizhong's request?In the future, the Wu family will definitely spread this matter.

Moreover, it is impossible for Wu Shigong to live in the capital permanently, and the news that spreads is also up to the Wu family, and it is impossible for Wu Shigong to defend himself.Besides, what can be justified?Lao Tzu asked his son for some money to spend.If the son refuses to give it, then it must be unfilial!It doesn't matter what the reason is.

After that, it will be a bit disadvantageous to Wu Shigong.Ding You escaped and didn't want to resign from the official position, and he was unfilial to his father. Isn't this the crime of Wu Shigong's unfilial piety?If this is the case, then it would be better not to come to the capital for the funeral.

Therefore, the saltworks had to be handed over to Wu Fu.However, Wu Shigong can hand over the profits of the saltworks, but he certainly cannot hand over the management rights of the saltworks. This is Wu Shigong's bottom line.

But even if it is given, Wu Shigong has to bargain: "Since the Hou family is in trouble, I, as a son, can't stand by and watch. But Hong Guanshi also needs to let Hou Ye know that these two salt farms are joint stock companies. Occupy one share in it. Others’ shares cannot be moved, and my share will be divided into three. One for Wu’s House, one for Xue’s House, and one for myself.”

Seeing that things were going smoothly, Steward Hong immediately felt contempt for Wu Shigong, and he regarded Wu Shigong as the cowardly person before, so he immediately pressed: "Xuehou's share is easy to talk about. But fourteen The young master did not have a separate family in the Wu Mansion, so your property should all belong to the Wu Mansion."

"Grandma!" Wu Shigong yelled in his heart, "I am already a man of the Xue family, so it's a bit of a stretch to say that this property is the public property of the Xue family, how can it be said that it is the public property of the Wu family? "

But now Wu Shigong has no interest in entangled with Steward Hong anymore.Compared to his father-in-law Xue Lian who paid a lot to him, this father of his also left Wu Shigong speechless.

So Wu Shigong quickly agreed: "Okay! It's half of the two families. But I still need the help of the Wu family."

"Master Fourteen, please tell me!" Steward Hong immediately smiled.

"I brought a batch of goods worth 5 taels of silver to the capital this time, so I asked Guan Hong to sell them all. I don't want cash, but I buy horses. 25 taels a horse, and I don't want rough horses. At least [-]% War horse. Can Guan Hong do it?"

Wu Shigong also threw a troublesome matter to Wu Fu.But to the Wu family, dealing with those calligraphy and painting antiques is nothing at all. Which Xungui's family doesn't open a few pawn shops?And relying on Wu Weizhong's status in the Beijing camp and his elder brother Wu Shixun's relationship in Taipu Temple, it is still the Wu family who can handle this matter.

Steward Hong made rough calculations, and felt that Wu Shigong's condition was nothing, so he immediately said, "It should be fine. I'll report it to Lord Hou later."

Wu Shigong nodded and continued, "From now on, I will send people to send the money to the Wu Mansion every year, and the Wu Mansion doesn't bother to take care of these two salt farms. At most, I will send people to check the accounts every year."

"How can this be done?" Hong Guanshi blurted out.Of course not!If he didn't send anyone, where would Guan Hong get extra money?

"Hmph!" Wu Shigong said unceremoniously to Steward Hong, "especially you. Lord Hou must be very happy to get these two saltworks, but I must be very unhappy. If you insist on going, the saltworks are also close to the sea anyway. , you can have a try what is called nothing.” After speaking, Wu Shigong turned around and left.

Wu Shigong was quite annoyed in his heart, he was working hard for the safety of the whole family, while his father was poaching his corner.This thing is really frustrating!

Seeing Wu Shigong returning to the mourning hall with a sullen face, Wu Yunqing didn't dare to talk to Wu Shigong anymore.After a long while, Wu Yunqing seemed to have guessed what happened to Manager Hong just now, and said to Wu Shigong: "Brother Fourteen, when you entered Xue's residence, I always felt that our Wu residence was a little... a little...!"

Wu Shigong forced a smile on his face, and interrupted Wu Yunqing: "It's nothing! Your sister-in-law is also very good to me. Besides, I also have an official status, so it's not a disadvantage."

"But...but why did my brother want to be a military officer at that time? Both Master Hou and elder brother said that civil servants are much better than military officials!" Wu Yunqing asked.

Wu Shigong smiled again, thinking to himself: In this troubled world, the status quo is about to turn upside down!But this cannot be said to Wu Yunqing, so Wu Shigong said: "Civil officials are better than civil officials, and military officials are better than military officials. It is impossible to say who is good and who is bad. Besides, I was not as hardworking as my elder brother when I was studying, and I was not even good at juren. He might pass the exam, let alone a Jinshi."

"That's really a pity." Wu Yunqing really felt sorry for Wu Shigong.In the little girl's heart, she naively thought that at that time Wu Shigong's father-in-law Xue Lian belonged to Wei Zhongxian, so it would not be too difficult to arrange a civil servant.But she didn't know that without Jinshi or Juren's fame, she couldn't get a good civil official position at all, and even Wei Zhongxian's help was useless.

"It's not a pity. To be a military officer rides a tall horse, leading thousands of troops, it's very majestic." Wu Shigong coaxed Wu Yunqing.

At this time, the servant girl behind Wu Yunqing interrupted again: "But what did the Marquis and the prince say, no matter how old a military officer is, he will kneel when he sees a civil servant? Then what prestige does a military officer have?"

Wu Shigong hated this maid for telling the truth.So he immediately replied: "The prestige of a military officer is: spend money like dirt, kill people like hemp!" (To be continued...)