By the time Lin Hongzhong came out of the Governor's Mansion, it was already dark outside.
The gates of Zhaoqing had already been closed, so he had to stay in the city for one night and took a boat back to the provincial capital early the next morning.
We sailed down the river very fast and arrived at Baietan Lake at dusk that day. We hurriedly entered Guangzhou City from the West Water Gate before the city gate was locked.
The journey was uneventful, and he carefully considered the order of visits, making a long list of who to visit first and who to visit later. After landing, he prepared to follow the list and visit Zhang Zihong, the Left Governor of Guangdong, tonight.
After a simple dinner at the trading house, he took a sedan chair to visit Zhang's residence in Sherenfang behind the Governor's Office.
Being able to visit at this time, he must have a very close relationship with Zhang Fansi. Lin Hongzhong also wanted to use this method to comfort his wounded heart.
Unexpectedly, the housekeeper of the Zhang Mansion came out to the hall and said that the master was not at home.
"Not at home?" Lin Hongzhong asked in surprise, "It's dark and you haven't come back yet?"
The housekeeper looked at him helplessly, obviously the question was inappropriate, but he still answered: "The master has asked for leave from the government office to meet an old friend. He will be back in three to five days at most, or one or two days at least. As for how long it will take, it depends on how long you have fun."
Lin Hongzhong saw that he couldn't wait any longer. He stood up helplessly and said, "Okay, I'll go back first. When your master comes back, please let him know that I have something important to discuss with you."
The butler glanced at the bag he left on the coffee table, and finally smiled, nodded and said, "Master Lin, don't worry, I won't forget it."
After leaving Zhang's house, Lin Hongzhong rushed to the home of the second person on the list, Liu Wen, the deputy envoy of the sea route.
Although Lord Liu was only a 4th-rank deputy envoy, he was in charge of the coastal defense of the province, and also managed the customs and foreign affairs. He could be said to be the most powerful official on the seas of Guangdong. As long as he could help speak a few words, no matter how powerful the Jiangnan Group was, they would have to give him some face.
Who knew that I came with high hopes and left disappointed again. Deputy Envoy Liu, who was highly expected, was not at home. After bribing the housekeeper, I found out that he was also meeting friends...
When he visited the third provincial official, he was still not at home and was also gone because of a church member. Lin Hongzhong finally realized that the situation was not good.
These high-ranking officials in the provincial capital made an appointment to meet friends, and 80% of them met alone!
What kind of good friend could be so attractive as to lure away all these officials?
He stood in the dark street, looking up at the cloudy sky, thinking hard.
He suddenly thought of Zhao Liben. His trip to Zhaoqing was ruined by that old man. Could it be that he had arrived in Guangzhou before him and invited all the officials to leave?
Lin Hongzhong suddenly remembered the "deep friendship" that Zhao Liben had formed with the provincial officials two years ago. It was really possible!
The Zhao family is really abnormal. It's fine if other people only have fathers and sons fighting, but they actually have three generations of grandparents and grandchildren fighting together. Even the coffin stuffing is haunting them.
He suddenly felt that the stars in the sky looked like the old man's blinking eyes, and he couldn't help but shudder.
Oh my god, what on earth is going on?
~~
One hundred miles east of Guangzhou City, there is a place called Dongguan County.
This place has beautiful scenery, abundant resources, outstanding views, delicious food and beautiful people. It is also connected to the provincial capital by the Dongjiang River, making travel very convenient.
Because the participants of the Hai Tian Sheng Yan were all well-known officials in the provincial capital, it was not appropriate for them to gather in Guangzhou to do shameless things. Therefore, the Hai Tian Sheng Yan in previous years was held by boat out to sea on the Lion Ocean.
But the situation this year is special. There are many pirates at the mouth of the Pearl River. If any gang catches the fat sheep, it will be a huge joke!
When big shots hang out, the three most important things are safety, safety, and safety!
Therefore, this year's Hai Tian Sheng Yan was held in an island in the middle of the river called "Jin'ao Island" two miles southwest of Wancheng. On Jin'ao Island, there is a vast fortress, which is the retirement manor of a retired governor. The interior is naturally very luxurious. Moreover, according to the custom in Guangdong, manors are built with high walls and towers, and there are granaries and wells inside. Once the gate is closed, no one can open it. It is not a problem for the people inside to guard it for a year or two.
At this time on Jin'ao Island, teams of tightly-dressed guards were patrolling outside the manor, holding lanterns and leading hunting dogs.
The gate of the manor was closed, and the huge back garden was full of lights and colors. The walls, eaves, and treetops were all hung with colorful lanterns and glass lamps, and even the lotus pond was floating with countless water lanterns, making it look like a night without sleep.
On the brightly lit stage, actors are performing seriously to the sound of music.
Under the stage, in the bushes throughout the garden, in the pavilions, under the rockery, and not on the boats, there were dozens of large beds with gorgeous covers, covered only by crimson curtains.
There were beautiful women of all shapes and sizes, who shuttled between the rooms, offering the most exquisite melon flowers, wine and food to the men and women playing in the bed, as well as various sexual tonifying and aphrodisiac items, all of which were available to help the guests get excited, so that they could not get tired and enjoy the feast.
In fact, most of the time, the guests were not doing that kind of thing. Those who could participate in this Hai Tian Grand Feast were at least 4th rank or above, so there were no people under 40 years old, and many were in their 50s and 60s. The old people just ate the tonic as candy beans, and they didn't have much fighting power.
Besides, which family doesn't have three wives, four concubines and twenty-five women? They come here not to satisfy their physical needs, but to play novelty and seek mental stimulation. So they have famous prostitutes, and more often they play cricket fighting, grass fighting, pot shooting, finger-guessing games, etc., which are very healthy games.
The only thing that is not normal is that everyone in the garden has taken off their hats and caps, and is naked, laughing and shouting, like wild people. This is the theme of this year's Hai Tian Sheng Yan, called "Colorful Lights", which is a new way of playing that Zhao Liben came up with based on the "crazy drinking" of the Tang Dynasty celebrities!
He said that a person's status and position depended entirely on his clothes. Wearing a dragon robe meant he was an emperor, wearing a patched robe meant he was an official, wearing a green collar meant he was a scholar, and wearing a short coat meant he was an old farmer. The difference in status was obvious at a glance, and the strict hierarchy was suffocating. Even those in high positions had to put on airs, and their words and actions had to match their status. Over time, they could no longer figure out whether they were living for themselves or for their status.
So why don't we all strip naked like entering a bathhouse, get rid of the shackles of identity, return to human nature, have fun for a few days, then put on that skin, go back and continue pretending...
This proposal was unanimously agreed by everyone, and after two days of playing, they were really relaxed and had a very pleasant time.
At this time, Right Provincial Governor Zhang Zihong, Deputy Coastal Defense Commissioner Liu Wen, and Wu Yangxing sent away the famous prostitutes, and a group of people surrounded Zhao Liben, drinking tea and chatting.
"How was it? Did you have a great time these past two days?" Zhao Liben made the shape of a 'wood', lying on the large pillow with his legs spread out.
"It's so exciting. It still takes the elder brother to organize it." Zhang Zihong, who was standing in the shape of a Chinese character '太', said with admiration: "Last year, when the elder brother was not around, I took the initiative to organize it. We spent a lot of money, but everyone always felt bored and tired."
"Because it's too monotonous." Wu Yangxing, with his big belly bulging, crossed his legs, and said in the shape of a Chinese character "存": "Playing is a great art. It takes many years for a grandmaster like our brother to appear. It's rare for us to meet one..."
"Lucky!" everyone said in unison.
“Hahaha.” Zhao Liben laughed loudly and said, “I am not modest. After the Bronze Pea, I am Zhao Damu!”
Oh, yes, Zhao Liben is now known as "Da Mu Shan Ren". The word "Da Mu" comes from one of the lines in Li Bai's "Three Fables":
"When a wise man encounters slander, he cannot avoid suspicion from his ruler. The wind from heaven uproots the big trees, and the crops wither."
It means "Even wise men will be slandered and defamed, and rulers will also be suspicious. The wind uproots the trees, and the crops are destroyed..."
This was the new name he gave himself after he was forced to retire in the first year of the Longqing reign. It was consistent with his mood at the time, fearing slander and ridicule, and his family's breakdown.
Well, just take it as it is.
~~
After chatting and joking for a while, Zhao Liben finally got to the point.
He smiled at Zhang Zihong and Liu Wen and said, "We are extraordinary good friends, so I won't be vague. I have good news for you this time."
"Oh, what good news?" The officials were all smarter than monkeys. Of course they knew that Zhao Liben came all the way here, it was impossible that he came here just to take everyone naked.
"Have you heard of the Xishan Group founded by my grandson?" Zhao Liben picked up a cigar, and Wu Yangxing quickly took it, cut off the head with scissors, and helped him light it.
"Of course." Liu Wen, the deputy envoy of Haidao, was tall and thin, lying on the side in a '夼' position. He smiled and said, "Now in the Ming Dynasty, people who show off their wealth don't say how much money they have, but how many shares of Xishan Group they have."
"I heard that it has increased hundreds of times from the beginning to now." Zhang Zihong also said with envy: "It's a pity that we are in the end of the world, eating shit can't catch up with the heat."
"Yeah, I can't afford it, I can't afford it anymore..." The other officials also shook their heads with regret. In fact, it's not that they can't afford it, but they feel that it has increased so much that it is no longer cost-effective to buy it again.
"Don't feel sorry, there are new opportunities in front of you." Zhao Liben, naked with a cigar between his legs, looked so domineering that it was really eye-catching.
"Is Jiangnan Group going to issue stocks too?" The officials were overjoyed when they heard this, and said they would be willing to spend all their wealth to buy shares.
"The situation of Jiangnan Group is quite complicated. There is no plan to go public for the time being." Zhao Liben said with a puff of smoke, "However, Jiangnan Group plans to set up a new Nanhai Group in Guangdong Province. Now there is an opportunity to subscribe to original shares. I have secured a few spots for you. I wonder if you are interested?"
"Will Nanhai Group also go public like Xishan Group?" Liu Wen asked anxiously.
"Of course." Zhao Liben said calmly, "And to put it bluntly, Xishan Group is just a coal seller, and its value has increased by hundreds of times. Nanhai Group wants to monopolize all overseas trade of Ming Dynasty. How many times can it increase?"
Zhang Zihong, Liu Wen and others have been with Lin Hongzhong for a long time, and they know how profitable maritime trade is. If it wasn't profitable, would the Portuguese come all the way to Ming? Would they want to trade even at all costs?
"Then it must be... a thousand times more?" Zhang Zihong asked in a trembling voice.
"Stop talking." Zhao Liben nodded and said arrogantly, "Be a shareholder of Nanyang Group or a shareholder of Wuyang Trading House. You can choose for yourselves!"
ps. Post first and modify later.