Chapter 46: Zou's choice

Mrs. Shang was talking to Zou Zhihan when he received the news that Xi Fuwei’s request to see him: "Before you always said that you hadn’t thought about it. At this moment, even Dingguo Gongfu and Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites are offended. If we make a decision, our family can't say that the future is unpredictable!"
Zou Zhihan frowned and said, "This is a big deal... You let me think about it again!"
"Husband, this kind of thing really can't be delayed!" Madam Shang looked at him suspiciously, "Doesn't the husband understand this, and you are not usually an indecisive person, why are you confused at this time? Or... …"
At this moment, the people underneath came to report that it was a message from Fenzhilou, and Xi Fuwei hoped to meet with Madam Shang in private.
Zou Zhihan took the opportunity to say: "In that case, why don't you meet with Na Xi now and see what she has to say? Maybe you can give us a reference for our next choice?"
Mrs. Shang saw that he was deliberately avoiding it, she raised her eyebrows, thought about what she wanted to say, and sighed after thinking about it, and said, "Okay!"
So after a while, Xi Fuwei was invited over.
When she arrived, Zou Zhihan was of course no longer there, and the whole scene was cleared. So after she took her seat, the maid offered tea, and after a few words of greeting, she cut to the topic: "Shuntian Mansion is where today's son's buried residence is located. Now the north is not peaceful. Although the emperor is still conquering and moving the capital, although there is opposition, at least for the moment, it is imperative. The Zou Mansion is adjacent to the canal, and the opening of the river will inevitably have a far-reaching impact on the mansion... I wonder what my wife thinks? "
Mrs. Shang raised her eyebrows and said, "These are all well-known."
"It has only been a few decades since the country’s dynasty has settled on the tripod. When the country was founded, some places were still hungry." Xi Fuwei said, "So the treasury has accumulated so far, but it is not very rich. There is no place in the government and the wild to not use silver. The north The war in China is even more a big expenditure. Therefore, some people are opposed to moving the capital, and they are also worried that the money will not be financed. Now that the DPRK and China are determined to start construction, apart from the national treasury funds, they must also hope that the local, especially people along the river such as Zou Mansion, will share the burden. One or two. There is no way to avoid this."
"It's Zou Mansion's responsibility to share the worries for the court." Madam Shang felt impetuous when she thought of her husband's vague attitude and slow decision, because if Zou Mansion heard the news of the dredging of the canal As far as betting is concerned, not to mention the importance it receives and the benefits in the future, it is said that the position that has always been in Yanzhou Fuzhong must be preserved and will not be challenged because of this matter.
But the owner of the family, Zou Zhihan, didn’t know whether he took the medicine or not. In short, the family Wen Jia had already carried his thigh to the Dingguo Prince’s Mansion, but Zou Zhihan was still detaining him.
If this continues, if other big clans in Yanzhou prefecture secretly take refuge in a certain tycoon, they will take advantage of the effort to start the work and suppress the Zou mansion!
Isn't the situation created by several generations of talents in the Zou Mansion ruined? !
Moreover, Mrs. Shang has been married to Zou Zhihan for many years, and there are several concubine rooms in the backyard, but Zou Yiang has only one male heir. Zou Yiang is not the kind of person who can rejuvenate his family. In order for his son to be better in the future, instead of suffering from the misery of the family when he grows up, Mrs. Shang can't accept her husband being confused on this eye bone. !
She thought so, and stopped going around with Xi Fuwei, "It's just that Zou Mansion has lived in the small town for a long time, and she doesn't know anything about the court. How to divide the worries for the court, but still have to explore."
This is the hesitation between the various forces.
Xi Fuwei didn’t know that this was mainly Zou Zhihan’s problem. He only said that the entire Zou Mansion was pondering, and said:
This world is the world of the Zhu family. If you want to divide your worries, of course you must follow the Holy Mandate! But let me tell the truth, dredge. Whether it’s the canal or the relocation of the capital, it’s not a trivial matter. Even if the Zou family has a big business, it’s certainly not a casual effort, and I hope to get some recognition. But your Majesty is always busy with everything. The driving is still in the process of personal conquest, the affairs of the court, entrust the prince, and only major events that the prince cannot decide will be reported to the army!"
Mrs. Shang pondered, this is to imply that since she wants to pay, she should be worth it. For example, let Yongle Emperor know what the Zou Mansion has done?
At that time, even if the emperor simply said "good" casually, it would be enough for the Zou Mansion.
The problem is that Emperor Yongle is very busy. If a prominent family in a place donated a large amount of money, if it is only a courtier's route, it may not be mentioned in front of him... After all, Emperor Yongle is on the front line, and the rear reports to him. The things ahead are all important or urgent.
How much does it cost to make the minister never forget to mention something at this time?
From this point of view, Jin Yiwei and the have a natural advantage, because both are directly responsible to Emperor Yongle.
Emperor Yongle summoned them and asked about the major issues of the country...After all, these are the courtiers' responsibility, and asking about some secret and private matters is the focus.
At that time, they would add a few sentences casually, let the emperor know the loyalty of Zou Mansion.
"But the eunuch's words..." Madam Shang squinted her eyes and said in her heart that Xi Shi would really help the people behind her.
After all, although the and Jin Yiwei can do things that Datian listens to.
Even the is more convenient.
however……
Since ancient times, the reputation of eunuchs has been despised.
The Zou Mansion is not the kind of shabby settlement, because it can no longer control its reputation in order to stand up.
They lived in Jining for a long time, and were the first-class noble family in Yanzhou Prefecture. The only male heir, Zou Yiang, even invited the young Juren Ouyang Yuanshui to teach, in order to be able to shine in the future.
So how can you get involved with the eunuch?
This is not a bad reputation, maybe it will drag down the future of our children and grandchildren?
Now, in addition to opposing forces, the forces involved in dredging the canal are divided into three parties: Jinyiwei, courtiers, and internal officials.
The only thing left is Jin Yiwei.
After all, although Jin Yiwei's reputation is not very good, after all, he is a sound person, a decent emperor and a military.
"Furthermore, after the canal is excavated, freight traffic must be supervised by Jin Yiwei." Mrs. Shang pondered, "If you have a relationship with them now, it will be more convenient to bring something back."
She thinks of entrainment now. It’s not the heart and soul, but the experience of the canal family: such a long waterway, layer upon layer of checkpoints, there will be water bandits in the future, plus cargo ships and personnel. Accidents such as accidents, losses on the road...Sometimes you simply lose money if you don't entrain it.
Xi Fuwei watched her words and thoughts and reminded her euphemistically: Although the courtiers are the best-sounding, but the risk is not small. Party disputes and offending the emperor lead to relegation. The key is that people who have reached the position of heavy minister are not young.
Because of too much fighting in the early years, I am still a little sick.
If one day is not good, he can only return to his hometown to recuperate, and his children and grandchildren cannot be picked up.
At that time, it took a lot of effort not to say, if this family became entangled, it might be caught in a storm of betrayal.
Mrs. Shang thought about it for a long time, and finally turned off the topic, chatted with her a few words about seasonal food, asked someone to put a box of pastries, and sent her away.
Xi Fuwei knew about such a big thing, Zou Mansion would definitely have to discuss it, and left immediately.
After she left, Mrs. Shang immediately called her husband to come over, repeating what Xi Fuwei had said, and finally said: "Although she is deliberately helping Jin Yiwei to speak, but I think what she said is reasonable? "
"The reason?" Zou Zhihan said disapprovingly, "Do you know how Jin Yiwei was selected? After all, it is not after the heroes? How many of those heroes are not powerful and not serving in the court? So the emperor's army returns to the emperor's army, and Jin Yiwei himself How can there be no family fetters behind? People have time to entrain private goods in the report, and it is too late to help their family members. Where can we get people who are not relatives? Or the little girl doesn't understand, and she is fooled by the Shangguan. You; or she is deliberately deceiving you! Just listen to this, where can you take it seriously?"
Moreover, "For people like us, Jining is still a number one, and when I went to Yingtian Palace, what would it be? It was remembered by the above, is it a good thing? Other than that, the dredging of the canal this time is related to our immediate interests. You should pay for it, and you should. In the future, if you encounter other things, such as floods in the south, droughts in the north, soldiers and locusts, after being remembered, the first people to think of our home... Give it? You can grit your teeth once or twice, twice, three times, four times, five times...We can't make it by ourselves?!"
Mrs. Shang said: "It is remembered that although there are many things, it will definitely be more convenient to start a business."
"That depends on the appetite from above!" Zou Zhihan sighed, "Although our family has accumulated for generations, it is considered to be weak and wealthy. At the end, it is not a rich or enemy country! If you don't have the ability to carry a country's expenses, don't Be the first rafter! Otherwise, I must regret it!"
"Then you mean let's find an important minister to join us?" Mrs. Shang muttered, "Then we have to make amends with Miss Xu and Miss Song first! After all, these two fathers and brothers are very important in the court. Yes, we just don’t choose these two companies, and we can’t let down our grudges, lest our backers don’t look good in the future."
She thought for a while and said, "Actually, if you are looking for courtiers, I think it's best not to choose the Guogong Mansion and the Book of Etiquette! After all, the Wen family has already taken the first step, so that the two families will hand over the trips of the daughters He escorted him. With this kind of trust, our family has no obvious advantage over Wen's family. If we rely on it, doesn't it mean we will fall behind Wen's family?"
"..." Zou Zhihan was silent.
Mrs. Shang saw his situation, she was startled, and then her face changed, incredible: "Don't tell me, do you want to see it again?!"