It was late autumn, and the golden osmanthus fragrance filled the air in the Governor-General's Mansion in Zhaoqing, and the ground was covered with flowers.
It had just rained yesterday, and the weather was rarely so hot. The luxurious living room in the backyard of the Governor's Mansion was even more windy, but Lin Hongzhong kept wiping his forehead with a handkerchief and stretched his neck to look behind the screen from time to time.
He arrived early this morning. He could have taken a boat up the river from Macau and come to Zhaoqing comfortably. But he rode a horse all night in a hurry, and his pampered body was about to fall apart.
Because Master Lin was almost dying of anxiety. There had been a lot of bad news recently. First, Lin Daoqian sent a message saying that the fleet of Jiangnan Group had already moved south. He ordered his men to fight back, but they were outclassed and were defeated. The enemy was currently stationed on Nan'ao Island and could attack Xiawei at any time.
This shocked Lin Hongzhong and the Portuguese in Macau. They originally thought that Zhao Hao would need at least one or two years to go south after eating Ryukyu. Unexpectedly, Master Zhao not only had a strong digestive ability, but also had an amazing appetite. He actually went south to Fujian and Guangdong without stopping.
Fortunately, since learning that Zhao Hao had captured Ryukyu, the Portuguese began to actively prepare for war. After losing Japan's trading port, Naha Port became extremely important, and they had to fight at all costs to defend the freedom of navigation and trade in the East Asian waters.
Next came the Governor's Office. In view of the large number of pirates gathering outside the Pearl River Estuary, which might lead to chaos, Lin Zhongcheng decided to quickly transfer Lin Daoqian, who had been in the limelight some time ago, to Tuen Mun to prevent pirates from entering the Pearl River Estuary and invading the surrounding areas of the provincial capital.
Lin Hongzhong was the first to learn of the bad news through his spy in the governor's office. For the Wuyang Trading House, which had been actively seeking to seize Tuen Mun Island, this was a bolt from the blue.
Originally, Lin Hongzhong planned to change the current situation in Macau dominated by the Portuguese to one dominated by the Wuyang Trading House after arriving in Tuen Mun. This would be of great benefit to him in terms of public opinion pressure, business environment, and the distribution of interests with the Portuguese.
After all, in this extremely proud Ming Dynasty, if he was labeled a traitor, he would always be inferior to others.
Who would have thought that the thing he had spent so much money planning for would be reaped the benefits by Lin Daoquan!
After hearing the news, Lin Hongzhong immediately realized that the reason why Lin Daoquan had an ambiguous attitude when he went to Xiawei last month was because he had already established contact with the Governor of Guangdong!
Although Lin Hongzhong wanted to win over Lin Daoqian to join forces to deal with Jiangnan Group, Tuen Mun was the most important. If Lin Daoqian occupied it, facing Macau across the Pearl River Estuary, not only would his plan fail, but the existing business with the Portuguese would also be greatly affected.
So he could no longer sit still after hearing the news, and rushed to Zhaoqing overnight to meet with Yin Butang, hoping that this powerful backer who had taken a stake in the company could prevent these things from happening.
However, after waiting for a long time without seeing the Governor, his bad premonition became stronger.
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, he finally heard footsteps and quickly stood up to greet them. Just as he was about to bow his head to the ground, he saw that the person who came out was not Yin Zhengmao, but his aide, Master Jin.
"Ah, it's Brother Yukun." Lin Hongzhong quickly concealed his disappointment and said with a smile, "It's been a while since we last met. How are you?"
"Master Lin, long time no see." Master Jin was wearing a pair of tortoise-shell glasses. His eyes were hidden behind the thick lenses, which also concealed the message in his eyes.
After he and Lin Hongzhong sat down, he said directly: "Master Lin, you are here to ask to see the Minister today, right? Unfortunately, the Minister is out with the distinguished guest."
"Oh?" Lin Hongzhong was slightly surprised and asked, "May I ask who is this distinguished guest? How can he be so honored?"
"Hehe..." Master Jin smiled teasingly and did not answer.
"Look at my memory." Lin Hongzhong slapped his forehead, took out a gift list from his sleeve and said, "It's time to buy rare foreign things again. I have picked up a few exquisite and interesting ones and sent them to Brother Yukun's house."
Master Jin took it, opened the gift list and took a look at it. In addition to a Western clock, a glass mirror, and various South Sea gems and spices, there was also a Burmese bell, a treasure he had been looking for for a long time.
"I heard that most of the Tai Chi pills sold in China are fakes. How can we distinguish them?" That was the only question Master Jin asked.
The Burmese bells are called "Tai Chi Pills" by respectable people. They have always been a good gift between officials and even seen in official documents. Because of the great demand from scholars and officials, fakes are flooding the market.
Master Jin seemed to have been fooled before, and he seemed to know the business very well: "I heard that Burmese men embed it into their weapons to enhance their masculinity. Only when you kill the Burmese barbarians alive can you ensure its authenticity..."
"Brother Yukun, rest assured, it is absolutely authentic." Lin Hongzhong patted his chest and said, "It was taken from the living Burmese man by the Portuguese who cut off his penis!"
"They really do this kind of thing?" Master Jin asked in surprise.
"As barbarians, of course they will do whatever they can to make money. They also hunt and trade slaves, so what's the big deal about cutting off a penis?" Lin Hongzhong nonchalantly made a monkey stealing peach gesture and said, "Now when they see the natives of Southeast Asia, they start by searching for treasures in their crotches..."
Master Jin felt a chill in his crotch and started to sneer at him.
After laughing, he said softly to Lin Hongzhong, "He is an old senior from the same hometown as the Minister, Mr. Zhao Liben, who once served as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing."
"Oh?" Lin Hongzhong immediately became alert and asked, "Is it the father of Chaozhou Sima Zhao?"
"That's right." Master Jin nodded and said, "Minister is from She County, Huizhou Prefecture, and Mr. Zhao is from Xiuning. The two counties are neighboring counties. Mr. Zhao is older than Minister, and he is an old friend of Minister's father, so Minister treats him as an elder and accompanies him to visit Qixingyan."
“But isn’t the Minister of the Ministry on the same side as Lord Gao? Doesn’t he get along with Lord Zhao?” Lin Hongzhong said bitterly.
"The one we're dealing with is Lord Gao, not the Minister." Master Jin said calmly, "Don't you have this little freedom at the level of a Minister?"
"Is that so..." Lin Hongzhong nodded heavily. He had always thought that the Zhao family was following the governor's route. According to his knowledge, he could only cling to one of the thighs. Especially when the two thighs were not getting along, it would be a dead end to try to please both sides.
But the Zhao family could actually hold two thighs at the same time? This was beyond his cognition.
"Then why don't you come back tomorrow?" Master Jin thanked the other party and stood up to leave. "Wait for the minister to come back, I will make an appointment for you."
"I'll wait for the minister to come back here..." Lin Hongzhong shook his head slowly, revealing a ruthless look. He has been in the martial arts world for many years, and believes in taking money from others and helping them get rid of disasters. He has already paid so much tribute to Governor Yin, so he must do this for himself!
"Then you wait." Master Jin showed an unhappy look on his face, and said in a hard tone: "I have official business to attend to, so I will not accompany you."
"Brother Yukun, please go ahead." Lin Hongzhong hurriedly stood up to see him off, thinking to himself, what official business do you have? Aren't you just in a hurry to go back and try Mian Ziling?
~~
Qixingyan is located in the north of Zhaoqing. On the mirror-like lake, seven jagged rock peaks are arranged like the Big Dipper. The peaks and lakes are integrated into one, which is breathtakingly beautiful. It is known as the first wonder of Lingnan and has always been crowded with tourists.
However, today was a rare day of good weather, and the huge lake was completely quiet. The pleasure boats that were usually scattered all over the lake were gone.
This was because the Governor-General was going to entertain distinguished guests here, so he ordered the prefect of Zhaoqing to clear the place in advance.
Therefore, at this moment on the lake, apart from the speedboats responsible for surveillance, there is only one luxurious double-decker pleasure boat, enjoying the mountains and waters alone.
At this time, there was the sound of stringed instruments in the pleasure boat. It was the prostitutes hired by Governor Yin who were playing to liven up the atmosphere.
Governor Yin, dressed in brocade robes, and his wife Zhuang were on the platform outside the second-floor cabin, entertaining Zhao Liben and Ye who had come from afar.
After traveling around for more than a year, the old man not only did not look tired, but he looked younger and younger...
This is not surprising, you feel tired when traveling because you are traveling on a budget. But Mr. Zhao is traveling as a rich man, and he is a very rich man.
He and Ye were accompanied by more than 400 servants and guards, and this was after the reduction of the number of people. When they went to various places, they would give gifts to local officials and gentry, buy livestock supplies from merchants, and hire a large number of local people as guides and porters... In more than a year, these travel-related expenses alone exceeded 200,000 taels.
So when he climbed Guangmingding and Tiandu Peak of Huangshan Mountain, and climbed Zhurong Peak and Huiyan Peak of Hengshan Mountain... he was sitting on a stretcher and was carried up by others. You wouldn't feel tired either.
Of course, the old man was not carried throughout the whole journey, he also walked a lot. For example, in places with beautiful scenery and good roads, he always walks by himself to enjoy the experience. So it can be considered as exercise... In addition, he didn't have many carnival parties this year, so of course his physical condition is very good.
The same thing happened to Ye. With the nourishment of love, she looked a few years younger, and she really had some of the charm of a middle-aged woman. Zhuang, who was about the same age as her, was very envious and insisted on asking her for the secret of beauty.
Zhuang was also from She County, and was a distant relative of Ye. In this remote southern country, this little bit of family affection was infinitely magnified, and the two were as close as their own aunts.
At this time, the banquet was over, and the servants replaced the tea and fruit plates. Zhuang ordered a table of snacks to be set up indoors, and took Ye in to chat about some private topics between women...
Zhao Liben and Yin Zhengmao can also talk about some private topics of men...
"Zhaoqing is truly a treasure land. The beauty of its landscapes is no less than that of Guilin." Zhao Liben, wearing large sunglasses, lay on a bamboo chair and smoked a cigar comfortably.
Because of Lin Hongzhong's filial piety, Yin Zhengmao also developed a smoking habit, but he smoked hookah. He took a couple of puffs after meals and felt very comfortable.
"It has been said since ancient times that 'If you don't take a boat to travel on the lake, you don't know the beauty of the lake, and you have come to Xingyan in vain.'" Yin Zhengmao also lay comfortably on the bamboo chair, taking a few puffs and said, "But compared to the endless beauty that my uncle and his fairy couple saw while traveling around the world, it is definitely far inferior."
"The vast land of China is really worth a visit, with its beautiful landscapes." Zhao Liben said with a smile, "But if you are successful in your career, you won't have this freedom for another ten or twenty years."
"Hey, I don't know when I will be dismissed and investigated." Yin Zhengmao half-jokingly said to himself: "My uncle has not been in the officialdom for a long time. He may not know that the impeachment documents against me are piled up higher than me. They even gave me a nickname, called 'Leave Half'!"
"Really?" Zhao Liben said indignantly, "A bunch of vicious dogs who only know how to clamor, they have no idea how difficult it is to be the master of the house in the Ming Dynasty. Nothing can be done by following the rules!"
ps. I was extremely hurt today. I felt terrible after reading chapter 139 of Attack on Titan. As a fan and writer of Attack on Titan, I have always admired Isayama's writing style. In the past few years, I invested a lot of energy in studying this work, but the result... Hey, it also made me alert and never feed shit to readers! The next chapter has not been written yet... Shit! Don't wait...