next day

The sky was bright, and the golden morning light shone in the entire courtyard. A few birds were chirping on the roof ridges, as if they couldn't stand the cool autumn wind. They fluttered their feathers and flew to the sky in the blink of an eye.

Following Sister Feng's previous words, Jia Heng, surrounded by more than a dozen palace guards in casual clothes, came to the place agreed by Sister Feng's brother Wang Ren.

Just when he raised his eyes, he couldn't help but be stunned, why did Wang Ren choose the place to talk in such a place where fireworks are waiting?

In fact, I really don’t blame Wang Ren. Who in the capital today doesn’t know Jia Heng’s reputation as a womanizer? But Wang Ren thought he had a plan and planned to do what he wanted.

It is worth mentioning that as Jia Heng left the Wucheng Bingma Division and led troops abroad for a long time, conquering east and west, the King of Wei gradually relaxed the restrictions on brothels after taking charge of the Wucheng Bingma Division.

Wang Ren's white, clean-bearded face was full of smiles, and he said softly: "The Duke is here, please come upstairs to talk."

Wang Ren originally wanted to blurt out "Brother Heng", but immediately, he almost broke out in a cold sweat on his back.

What is his identity? How can he be so trustworthy? The young man in front of him is the Grand Master of the current dynasty, Wu Xun of the Zhu Kingdom.

Jia Heng was not too polite to Wang Ren at this moment and said: "Brother Wang Ren, please come this way."

If Sister Feng really has his child...is the man in front of her really his child's biological uncle?

In the original work, Yu Qing is left as Xing’s mother’s cruel uncle.

Thinking of this, Jia Heng's eyes couldn't help but feel a little cold.

If he really lost his power, Wang Ren might not be able to survive this day.

Wang Ren didn't know Jia Heng's annoyance, so he said with a smile on his face: "My lord, please come upstairs."

While the two were talking, they reached the second floor.

When he sat down, Wang Ren still had a flattering smile on his face and said: "Duke Wei, it would be boring for you and me to drink like this. I have invited Duke Wei from the oiran from Zuiyue Tower to sing a song to help.

Drunk."

Jia Heng said in surprise: "The oiran of Zuiyue Tower?"

Wang Ren smiled and said softly: "Her name is Gu Ruoqing, and she is a very talented and beautiful woman in the south of the Yangtze River."

When Jia Heng heard this, he couldn't help but feel surprised. Gu Ruoqing had come to Shenjing City?

In the past two days, because Jia Heng has been lingering in the Jia Mansion, he did not know that Gu Ruoqing had previously used the token given by him in order to get rid of Gao Yong's troubles.

After a while, the sound of jingling rings was heard, accompanied by the fragrant fragrance.

Then, a graceful woman wearing a bamboo-leaf green dress appeared in everyone's sight with graceful steps.

Gu Ruoqing didn't want to come over before, and even felt a little angry when he suddenly heard that he was asked to accompany an honorable person.

But when Wang Ren mentioned that Jia Heng would come, he agreed.

Gu Ruoqing, with a beautiful face and picturesque eyebrows, looked at the young man and said softly: "Gu Ruoqing, a citizen girl, has met Duke Wei."

I don't know why, but I suddenly felt an interesting feeling in my heart.

And when he raised his eyes, he caught a glimpse of the young man's surprised expression out of the corner of his eye. For some reason, he felt a little proud of having succeeded in his mischief.

Jia Heng looked at the girl, chuckled, and said: "Miss Gu, we have been apart from Jiangnan for many years, but Miss Gu is still as beautiful and charming as ever."

When Gu Ruoqing heard this, she pursed her pink lips. For some reason, ripples appeared in her heart.

If the dandy next to him was speaking in such a "glib tone", Gu Ruoqing would not be able to say that he had a worried look on his face and a cold look in his eyes. However, when Jia Heng, an old friend, spoke, Gu Ruoqing could not feel the slightest feeling of disgust.

At this moment, when Wang Ren heard this, a look of surprise suddenly appeared on his face.

Sure enough, he made the right decision to invite this well-known courtesan in the capital this time.

Under Gu Ruoqing's eyebrows, which are as curved as black willows, he has a pair of narrow, clear phoenix eyes, the light of which is as bright as water, and he said: "The Duke of Wei led his soldiers to show his prestige overseas. Compared with the past, his prestige is three points higher."

Jia Heng said: "Ruo Qing, sit here."

As he said that, he stretched out his hand to signal to Xiudun on the side.

Gu Ruoqing said: "Since I promised to play the piano for Duke Wei today, I naturally have to fulfill my promise. In addition, I also want to repay Duke Wei for giving me the token."

Jia Heng nodded and said nothing else, with a thoughtful look on his face.

Gu Ruoqing was sitting behind the desk in front of the screen. Her elegant and bright jade face was as bright as jade under the bright light.

The slender hands, as thin as green onions, caressed the strings, accompanied by a "ding dong" sound like a mountain spring flowing through.

Jia Heng raised the wine cup, stared at the beauty who looked like bright jade, and thought to himself, no wonder Gu Ruoqing attracted all the talented scholars in Jiangnan to bend their waists. This kind of bright beauty and coldness can make many people feel greedy for possession.

Wang Ren looked on from the side, with a flattering smile on his face, and said: "Duke Wei, now that Japan has surrendered to me, the Han Dynasty, and merchant ships are coming and going incessantly, does Duke Wei think my caravan should be expanded?"

Jia Heng said: "How many fleets does the Wang family have now?"

Wang Ren smiled and said: "Mr. Wei, the Wang family currently has three fleets. Each fleet has twenty or thirty ships, large and small, and they take turns heading to Taiwan and Nanyang island countries."

Jia Heng said: "Then the Wang family is going to purchase sea-going ships and expand their fleet?"

In fact, the rise of maritime trade can also drive the rise of the marine insurance industry. In addition, there will be employment of a large number of port workers.

Wang Ren nodded and said: "That's what I meant, but the government has issued an order that ordinary merchants are not allowed to own a fleet of more than a hundred ships. Naturally, we and the Wang family are not allowed to stretch our hands."

This is a government regulation, mainly to curb the emergence of private armed forces. Otherwise, it would be a bit outrageous to have hundreds of merchant ships at once, more than the imperial navy's ships.

Jia Heng thought for a while and explained: "If there are too few ships and the volume of goods is large, you can rent official ships and it will not affect the goods."

If the imperial court engages in the leasing of cargo ships, it can also collect another portion of the leasing income, which can also be used as daily expenses for the government, and can also solve the livelihood problems of some people.

Wang Ren chuckled lightly and said: "Duke Wei, Mr. Xu, the chief envoy to the governor of Taiwan, currently proposes that the official ship is suffering huge losses, and the price of each ship needs to be increased by 20%."

Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said: "When sea trade flourishes and costs drop, the price of goods will be reduced. But now, since it affects private commerce, I will write a letter to the officials in Taiwan later to provide some guidance on pricing.

with more offers.”

At the beginning, the government was worried about losses and set the official ship rental fee too high, which in turn inhibited the prosperity and development of maritime trade.

At this point, Xu Kai obviously still lacks some skills.

In other words, this money-losing development idea of ​​"planting sycamore trees and causing phoenixes to come" in the early stage has not yet become a certain mainstream.

At this moment, while the two were chatting, Gu Ruoqing, who was playing the piano, was also listening to the conversation between the two, and his clear eyes looked at the young man in the straight blue shirt from time to time.

Wang Rendao: "Gong Wei, what I mean is whether to release the ban on the number of ships owned by private merchant fleets."

Jia Heng said: "It is not possible yet. The imperial court has its own laws and regulations to regulate the size of civilian ships. Otherwise, local people will use civilian ships to roam the sea and gather gangsters as thieves. We must be on guard against it."

Wang Ren nodded and said: "What Duke Wei said is not unreasonable."

It seems that it is impossible to get the court to relax restrictions.

Wang Ren's face paused slightly and he said in a low voice: "Now not only do I need to transport goods home, but many merchants also need to transport sea goods. I wonder if the imperial court can open up operations. Didn't the officials in Beijing say that we can't fight with the people?

Benefit? Besides, there are quite a few of these ships operating in land provinces."

Jia Heng was silent for a moment and said: "Now it is not a matter of competing for profits with the people. The ships on the sea are the main channels for the imperial court to transport goods. These are simply indispensable."

In fact, letting go of monopoly rights and allowing private capital to flood into the market in batches can indeed improve efficiency to a certain extent, but it also faces new problems, such as the capture of economic interests by private capital and the formation of new capital.

interest group.

Jia Heng said: "This matter will depend on the opinions of several court elders in the future. However, this matter cannot be forced."

In fact, if official ships are unsustainable, part of the shipping rights can be released and outsourced to private people, and naturally emerging forces will rise accordingly.

Then, out of nowhere, a great Han Dynasty shipping king emerged.

The two of them were chatting together, while Gu Ruoqing, who was not far away, was gently stroking the strings of the piano, with a hint of thinking in his clear eyes.

However, at this moment, the young man's cold and clear voice was heard, "Miss Ruoqing is distracted?"

Gu Ruoqing was stunned for a moment, and a slight blush appeared on both sides of her clear and beautiful jade cheeks, and said: "Forgive me, Lord Wei, Ruoqing was just distracted for a moment."

Jia Heng smiled and said in a low voice: "Miss Ruoqing, sit down here and we will talk together later."

Gu Ruoqing's face paused slightly, he responded softly, and said hesitantly: "Duke Wei..."

And Wang Rendao: "The Duke of Wei is chatting with Miss Ruoqing first. I'll come back as soon as I go."

Jia Heng looked at Gu Ruoqing, smiled softly, and asked, "Miss Ruoqing, what have you been doing these past few years?"

Gu Ruoqing said: "I have been traveling in the south of the Yangtze River during this period. In the past two months, I just arrived in the capital."

Jia Heng smiled, his eyes slightly dazed, and said, "Miss Ruoqing is really free and at ease, not bound by the world."

In future generations, this will be a new generation of independent women, waiting for the prince of Dubai at the age of sixty.

Gu Ruoqing's willow-leaf eyebrows were curved, her expression was faint, and she said softly: "It's just a wandering in the rivers and lakes."

She always felt that there seemed to be something else in this man's gaze.

While the two were talking, they heard noises coming from outside.

It turned out that Wang Ren left the private room and walked slowly in the corridor. When he raised his eyes, he saw Wei Ruolan, Gao Yong and his party.

Not long after Gao Yong was taken to the Yamen by the Wucheng Soldiers and Horses Division in a restaurant, not long after the King of Wei learned the news, he sent his servant to the Wucheng Soldiers and Horses Division and let Gao Yong go.

Wei Ruolan smiled and asked, "Isn't this the boss of the Wang family?"

Gao Yong looked at Chen Yejun standing aside with a surprised look on his face and said, "Who is the boss of the Wang family?"

Chen Yejun smiled and said: "That's the nephew of the prince's Teng family. His name is Wang Ren. The Wang family is an in-law of the Jia family. The Duke of Wei..."
To be continued...