Hearing Zhu Yijun's words, Xu Wenchang was silent. Of course, he knew that there were many outstanding talents in the southeast, but from top to bottom, only a few of them had a good ending.
Speaking of these matters, Xu Wenchang was very sad.
"Your Majesty, can this subject ask why you are looking for someone?" Xu Wenchang pondered for a moment before asking.
Zhu Yijun sighed. There was nothing to hide about this matter, so he smiled and said: "We are going to build a shipyard!" Saying this, Zhu Yijun told Xu Wenchang about the shipyard.
Nodding his head, Xu Wenchang suddenly said: "So that's the case. If that's the case, then Wang Daokun is not suitable."
"First, Wang Daokun is a bit old, and second, Wang Daokun has no interest in becoming an official in recent years.
However, this subject has a suitable candidate to recommend to Your Majesty. I believe that he will not disappoint Your Majesty. "
Zhu Yijun was startled for a moment, then he quickly smiled and said: "Tell me, who is it?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, this person is the head of the Ministry of War, Song Yingchang." Xu Wenchang said with a smile.
"This Song Yingchang is very young, just over 30 years old today. However, this person is very steady and is quite talented.
He is also very knowledgeable about military affairs. This subject has been in the capital for 4 years and has talked with him many times. "
"This is a young man with ideals and ambitions. Moreover, he is very focused."
Listening to Xu Wenchang's words, Zhu Yijun was thinking about another question. After waiting for Xu Wenchang to finish, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but ask: "Does he have a younger brother called Song Yingxing?"
In the history of the late Ming Dynasty, the name Song Yingxing was absolutely resounding.
Zhu Yijun vaguely remembered that Song Yingxing had an older brother. Both of them were very outstanding and were called the two Song's.
Upon hearing Song Yingchang's name, Zhu Yijun subconsciously suspected that he was Song Yingxing's brother.
"No, Song Yingchang is the only son!" Xu Wenchang shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, who is this Song Yingxing?"
Zhu Yijun waved his hand. "It's nothing. I've forgotten where I've heard it before."
No, could it be that Song Yingxing had been blown away by his own wings?
Forget it, I hope that they have nothing to do with each other!
Thinking of this, Zhu Yijun continued, "Then I will meet this Song Yingchang. If it is really as you said, then I will let him do this."
Seeing that the business was over, Zhu Yijun directly gave the wine to Xu Wenchang. As for asking him to stay in the palace for dinner, it was not going to happen. Here you are, go home and drink it.
When Xu Wenchang returned home, before he poured out the wine, the old servant who served him came to tell him that the Wu Family had sent someone to send an invitation. The purpose was very simple, which was to invite Xu Wenchang to a banquet in the evening.
Looking at the invitation in his hand, Xu Wenchang suddenly hesitated.
What was the relationship between me and Wu Dui? It was not the first time that I went to him for a meal. This time, they actually sent an invitation directly, and it was so formal. Something must have happened!
Xu Wenchang instantly noticed the difference and understood Wu Dui's meaning.
Someone wanted to see me!
It was not easy for Wu Dui to refuse, so he used this way to remind me that this banquet was not invited by him, and that I should consider whether I should go or not.
However, this made Xu Wenzhang curious. Who was it that wanted to see him?
In the past three years when I was in the capital, no one insisted on seeing me. They even went to Wu Dui's place.
With Xu Wenchang's intelligence, he naturally understood that this must be for the emperor, or for him to go to the emperor's place.
Knocking on the invitation in his hand, Xu Wenchang said with a smile, "Then I'll go and see who is deliberately mystifying me!"
In the evening, Xu Wenchang went to a restaurant in the capital according to the address on the invitation.
He looked at the sign of the restaurant: Dingxiang Residence!
This name didn't seem to be an elegant restaurant, but Xu Wenchang didn't care at all. He stepped inside, and the waiter at the door greeted him with a smile. He said in Shaoxing dialect, "Mr. Xu, you're here!"
Hearing this, Xu Wenchang thought, Oh, this is my fellow countryman!
It seemed that the person who invited me had really put in a lot of effort. Xu Wenchang said to the waiter with a smile, "You know that I'm Xu Wenchang?"
"Look at what you're saying. You're a famous person in Shaoxing. Who doesn't know your name? Please come in!" As he spoke, he made a gesture of invitation and smiled as he led the way for Xu Wenchang.
Xu Wenchang followed the waiter in and found that there were no customers in the restaurant. It was obvious that the person who invited him had booked the entire place.
It seemed that this person was not only attentive, but also very rich!
After pondering for a while, a smile appeared on Xu Wenchang's face. "May I know if you're from Anhui or Shanxi?"
As soon as Xu Wei said this, a man upstairs said with a smile, "I've long heard that Xu Wenchang, Xu Wei, is a talent of the present age. Not only is he quick-witted, but his wisdom is also unparalleled. Seeing you today, you really live up to your reputation."
"I'm Li Zhonghang from Shanxi. Greetings, Great Scholar Xu!" As he spoke, Li Zhonghang smiled and cupped his hands at Xu Wenchang.
"So it's an old friend!"
Xu Wenchang also smiled. After seeing Li Zhonghang, Xu Wenchang said, "I see that you're in good spirits. Compared to when I was in Shanxi, you don't seem to have changed much!"
Li Zhonghang also said with a smile, "On the contrary, Wenchang, you're more carefree and high-spirited!"
After the host and guests were seated, Li Zhonghang pointed to his son and said, "This is my son, Li Xi. He's a good-for-nothing, so I brought him out to see the world. After all, I'm getting old, and there are some things that I can't do as I wish."
"Your son is a good-looking man. Good!" Xu Wenchang said while looking at Li Zhonghang with a smile.
Li Zhonghang also smiled and asked Li Xi to greet Xu Wenchang. After exchanging greetings, Li Zhonghang said with a smile, "I heard that Wenchang was in the capital the day before yesterday, so I shamelessly invited you. I hope Wenchang won't mind."
"I looked all over the capital and finally found this Dingxiang Restaurant. It's said that their Shaoxing dishes are the most authentic."
After the dishes and wine were served, the two of them began to eat and drink. Xu Wenchang didn't refuse anyone and enjoyed the food very much. Anyway, it was Li Zhonghang who was in trouble, not him, Xu Wenchang. Who was in a hurry would know. Not to mention, the dishes were quite delicious.
It seemed that he could come here often in the future!
After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Li Zhonghang put down his wine cup and said, "Wenchang, I invited you here today because I have a request!"
Li Zhonghang was a smart man. He knew that it was impossible for Xu Wenchang not to see through his purpose of coming here. Instead of beating around the bush, it was better to be straightforward.
On the contrary, it would be easier to handle things directly. If Xu Wenchang could do it, then he would do it. If not, then forget it.
"Tell me about it!" Xu Wenchang also put down his chopsticks and said with a smile.
"It's like this, I want to see His Majesty!"
Li Zhonghang didn't hesitate and said directly, "But I don't have any connections. Wenchang, please make a request on my behalf."
Xu Wenchang was stunned. He didn't expect that Li Zhonghang would ask for his help in this way.
After hesitating for a moment, Xu Wenchang said to Li Zhonghang with a serious face, "Although you are from a famous family in Shanxi, we all know that the Li family actually started as a salt merchant. You have a deep relationship with the royal family. Have you thought about the consequences?"
Of course, he had thought about it.
How could Li Zhonghang not think about it? Since ancient times, merchants had been lowly. Even scholars looked down on them, not to mention the royal family.
The Li family believed that merchants didn't stand out when they were rich. Now that they were close to the emperor, if they were not careful, they would be smashed into pieces!
Glancing at Xu Wenchang, Li Zhonghang sighed helplessly and said, "But if I don't do this, the Li family will be in big trouble now."
After thinking for a while, Xu Wenchang sighed and said, "Are you scared by the Qian family in Hejian County?
I can tell you that if the Li family doesn't commit crimes, the imperial court won't do anything to you, and neither will the emperor. "
After a moment of silence, Li Zhonghang asked directly, "I'm afraid that the salt business can't continue in the future, right?"
"To tell you the truth, the emperor has never told me about the salt business, and I've never asked about it."
Xu Wenchang directly waved his hand and said, "If you want to get any information from me, you're talking to the wrong person."
"If you want to see the emperor, I can help you report it to him. As for whether the emperor will see you or not, it depends on the emperor."
Li Zhonghang was silent. Although Xu Wenzhang didn't say much, he already told him that as long as he didn't commit any crimes or do anything bad, no matter if it was the imperial court or the emperor, they wouldn't touch him.
Li Zhonghang didn't doubt Xu Wenchang's words, so at this moment, he was a little hesitant.
"I still want to see the emperor. Wenchang, please help me report to the emperor!" Li Zhonghang thought for a while and finally said, gritting his teeth.
This time, Li Zhonghang decided to believe in his own judgment. Although he didn't know how things would go in the end, he was willing to gamble this time.
With Xu Wenchang's words, Li Zhonghang was even more willing to take this gamble.
If he succeeded, he would soar to the sky. If he failed, he would be beaten back to his original state. At least his family wouldn't be destroyed.
Taking a deep look at Li Zhonghang, although Xu Wenchang didn't know what information Li Zhonghang had gotten, he was very courageous.
After thinking for a while, Xu Wenchang said, "Okay, I'll help you."
After talking about the matter and eating, the two of them went their separate ways.
After sending off Xu Wenchang, Li Xi looked at his father, who was sitting dejectedly, and asked hesitantly, "Father, why take the risk? Didn't Xu Wenchang say that as long as we don't commit crimes, there won't be any danger this time?"
"Yes!
There won't be any danger. "Li Zhonghang said with a smile," There won't be any danger, but there won't be any opportunity either. "
"Do you know about Wu Qingbo's mansion?
These years, our family has helped them sell a lot of mirrors, especially to Wala. Most of them are our goods. I got a piece of news from Wu Qingbo's mansion. "
"This glass business, 50% of it belongs to the emperor, and 50% of the profit."
"It's not sent to the palace treasury, it's the emperor's own."
Speaking of this, Li Zhonghang said in a deep voice, "Coupled with the matter of salt this time, I'm sure that the emperor will use merchants, and he will use them a lot. However, before using them, he will definitely fight first."