This Northern Song Dynasty is a bit weird

Chapter 192 You are all black

The Northern Song Dynasty was short of silver, very short.

Not to mention the silver mines in the territory, the purity is still extremely low, and it is quite powerful to refine tens of thousands of catties a year.

But this is far from enough. The business in the Northern Song Dynasty was very dynamic, and the large-scale goods transactions all required gold and silver as the backing, and silver was not enough at all.

What's more terrible is that the Northern Song Dynasty had to offer regular coins to the Liao Kingdom, and in addition to some real objects, they also needed silver.

This made the already insufficient silver even more scarce, and if you want to mine and smelt silver, you can't find a good mine... So now the Northern Song Dynasty can only desperately try to find a way to get copper, and even the copper coins are not enough.

Moreover, there are too many copper coins and they are very heavy, which is extremely inconvenient.

So this led to the birth of Jiaozi banknotes... However, Jiaozi has only appeared for more than ten years now, and it has not been widely spread and used. For the time being, it is only circulated on a small scale near Chengdu.

And silver is still the best choice for bulk goods transactions.

So when he heard that the small box in front of him contained 10 taels of silver, the King of Runan County was stunned and then excited.

As for silver, it can be said that the more the better, as long as it does not flow out in large quantities at one time, slowly controlling the speed at which silver enters the market can completely stabilize the market.

Although the King of Runan County is not a court official of the third envoy, he himself has commercial assets all over the country and knows the importance of silver very well.

Anyway, he was fed up with the helpless scene of pulling out carts of copper coins during bulk commodity transactions.

Not to mention the waste of manpower and material resources, it is still very troublesome to calculate.

If there is enough silver, a dozen carts of copper coins can be worth as much as half a cart of silver, wouldn't it be much more convenient!

"My son-in-law, what do you want to exchange for this thing?" Runan County King stretched out his hand to touch the box, and then felt what was hidden inside: "You should also know the value of 10 taels of silver. Yes. I know you are not short of money, you must have what you need before you come here."

Lu Sen said with a smile: "It's just some rare medicinal materials and rare treasures, such as Polygonum multiflorum multiflorum, or Poria cocos, which are thousands of years old, just send them here."

"I'll help you to pay attention." Runan County King smiled, he patted the little turtle spirit beast on his shoulder, and said with a smile: "If you still have a lot of silver in the future, feel free to send it to me, you won't suffer. "

"no problem."

Weng and his son-in-law are happy, Lu Sen has released a large amount of silver, and will be able to get a large amount of medicinal materials in the future.

The King of Runan County received a large amount of silver, and from then on, his business transactions will be smoother.

For the same large transaction list, if gold and silver are used as the base, the price can be lowered.

After all, no one likes to build a big warehouse for copper coins to store them.

Lu Sen lived in Tianbo Yang's residence for another two days, and the most interesting thing every day was watching Yang Jinhua and Mu Guiying fight.

Women fighting are very good to watch, especially beautiful women fighting are even more beautiful.

Recently, Yang Jinhua's strength has soared, and she dared to challenge her mother.

But I have to say, drinking honey every day and nourishing her spiritual energy, the speed of her progress is indeed obvious.

In the past, Mu Guiying beat her daughter with one hand, but now she needs two hands to beat her.

And every time at this time, Madam She would also watch the battle from the sidelines, happily.

On the third day, Lu Sen took Yang Jinhua out.

March [-]rd, Peach Blossom Festival, Shangsi Festival!
In the Tang Dynasty, March [-]rd was considered a big festival, and the Han people from both the north and the south celebrated it.

But at this time in the Northern Song Dynasty, for some reason, the Han people in the Central Plains and the North were no more than March [-]rd, and only the Han people in the Nanman area still celebrated the March [-]rd festival, which later evolved into a day for ethnic minorities.

Thanks to this, March [-]rd in the Northern Song Dynasty is no longer considered a ghost festival, and there is a saying that it is suitable for marriage on this day.

In addition, according to the birth dates of Zhan Zhao and Ding Yuehua, it is most suitable for the two to get married on March [-]rd.

The Zhanfu is decorated with lanterns and festoons, and red tassels surround the courtyard.

Many people carried gifts and brought their family members into the Zhanfu, and the ceremonial staff at the door received the guests. After asking their identities and accepting the gifts, the person who sang promises next to them would shout: "Chengbei so-and-so member (official name), top grade Three volumes of calligraphy and painting, a string of pearl chains and so on.

Of course, this is only read out when receiving a big gift. Some folks who follow the elders will not read it. It is also a way to avoid embarrassment.

When Lu Sen got married, there was no such process, because he was a "real person". In the eyes of the world, practitioners are quiet and will not make such troubles. Besides, gifts given by ordinary people are in front of a real person like Lu Sen. It's just a mortal thing, and it doesn't make much sense to read it.

But Zhan Zhao is different. Even though his reputation as a chivalrous man is widely spread in the world, he is still an ordinary person.

So this kind of singing promises in front of the door is still very necessary.

Lu Sen brought Zhao Jinhua forward, handed over his gift, and wrote his name on it.

Lu Sen.

The male etiquette in charge of receiving guests didn't know Lu Sen. Seeing this young man's handsome appearance, extraordinary temperament, and good handwriting, he couldn't help asking: "May I ask where is the gentleman?"

On the other hand, the singer who sang Nuo turned around to look at Lu Sen, his body shook, and then he looked at the name Lu Sen left behind. After taking a breath, he shouted with excitement, "Master Lu, the short mountain in the west of the city, Lu Tianzhang came to congratulate him, and the congratulatory gifts are some artifacts from the Xian family!"

The promise singer was very smart, he didn't read out the gift from Lu Sen, because he knew that everything in it was extremely precious to ordinary people.

But with a shout, the already noisy environment immediately quieted down.

Almost everyone looked at Lu Sen, and Lu Sen led Yang Jinhua to the door calmly.

Along the way, many people clasped fists at Lu Sen, and a few people they had met wanted to come up to chat, but they hesitated for a while, and still stood still.

When Lu Sen entered the front hall, Zhan Zhao, who was wearing the bridegroom's red robe, came out of the inner hall quickly. He walked over a few steps, saw Lu Sen's face full of joy, clasped his fists and smiled and said, "Lu Xiaolang, you are finally here, waiting for you For a long time, please come with me."

After all, Zhan Zhao is a public servant, from a third-rank military position, the head arrester of the Kaifeng Mansion, and the confidant and right-hand man of the Privy Envoy Bao Zheng, so there are quite a few dignitaries who came to his wedding.

Therefore, the banquet hall was divided into two parts, ordinary people and quacks were in the west hall, and officials were all in the east hall.

After Zhan Zhao brought Lu Sen to the west hall, he said, "Lu Xiaolang, please sit at the east table."

Lu Sen looked over there, heh, that round table is quite big, there are already several people sitting beside it, all of them are big shots.

Bao Zheng, Ouyang Xiu, Pang Taishi, Di Qing, Yan Shu, etc.!
These people also looked over. In fact, not only them, but the entire East Hall were looking at Lu Sen eagerly.

And just at this time, the voice from outside came in again: "Chinchina Baiyutang, bring a thousand-year-old ginseng..."

Zhan Zhao was stunned for a moment: "Why is he here?"

Then he looked at Lu Sen and said, "I'm sorry, I have to go and see this Bai Yutang, lest he cause trouble."

Yumao Zhanzhao couldn't be more clear about how the Five Rats behave.

"Okay, go get busy."

Lu Sen patted Zhan Zhao's shoulder, and then took Yang Jinhua to sit at the east round table. After sitting down, he cupped his fists and said with a smile, "Long time no see, gentlemen."

The word Xianggong used to refer to both civil and military ministers in the early Northern Song Dynasty, but it is no problem to describe high-ranking officials now.

Besides, more than half of the people at this table have called each other before, so there is nothing wrong with calling these people "mister".

These people all sat down and clasped their fists to return the salute, and all of them had weird expressions.

Lu Sen looked at the crowd generously, and finally his eyes fell on a middle-aged literati, and he asked with a smile, "Who is this gentleman?"

"A certain surname is Han, and the single name is the word Qi." The middle-aged scribe smiled kindly: "I've heard of Master Lu's name a long time ago, and I will meet you today, and finally get what you want."

Han Qi?

Is it the talent who killed 10,000+ soldiers and said, "Donghuamen is a good man by calling out his name"?

Lu Sen looked the other party up and down, and said with a smile: "I have admired your name for a long time, I have admired your name for a long time."

As soon as these words came out, the expressions of several people sitting beside them became even more strange.

They had been with Lu Sen before. After all, they were ministers in the same palace, and they knew Lu Sen's character, so they could hear a few traces of yin and yang from the repeated words.

Han Qi seemed to recognize it too, but he wasn't quite sure.

On the contrary, Di Qing's expression became a little happy. His face was quite ugly.

The atmosphere at this moment seemed a bit stiff, Bao Zheng took the initiative to ask: "Really Lu, when will you return to the capital?"

Lu Sen shook his head: "I have already resigned from the official position, what are you doing when I come back?"

"The government didn't approve it." Bao Zheng folded his hands in his sleeves, and said in a light but irrefutable tone: "The Zhongshu sect didn't approve it either."

"It's none of my business if you don't approve it?" Lu Sen laughed.

These words seemed very rebellious, but Lu Sen's expression was very flat, which made people feel arrogance beyond bounds.

Most of the officials showed an expression of 'as expected'.

It was Han Qi who saw Lu Sen for the first time and was shocked by Lu Sen's arrogance.

Bao Zheng didn't get angry either, he said kindly: "One must have a beginning and an end in doing things."

"Being an official has a beginning and an end? Bao Xueshi, what you said is meaningless. How many people have you peeled off?" Lu Sen's smile was peaceful.

Bao Zheng said sternly: "Those people should be stripped of their official status. The old man's verdict must be based on ironclad evidence."

Lu Sen smiled even more happily: "Then my official status will definitely be stripped. The boy does things, but I hope I have a clear conscience and a clear conscience."

Bao Zheng looked at Lu Sen quietly for a while, then sighed leisurely.

Lu Sen's meaning is already obvious. Combined with the words he left when he resigned, it means: you officials are disgusting, and when I'm with you, I can't think clearly.

That's roughly what it means.

The atmosphere in the venue became more and more tense. The east hall was quite noisy, after all, there were more than a dozen tables.

But now it became very quiet, except for Lu Sen's table, no one dared to speak. Other officials or nobles and wealthy businessmen all lowered their heads, pretending that they hadn't heard anything.

When big shots are fighting, it's best not to make a sound, as if any attention is drawn, it's because the city gate catches fire and brings disaster to the fish in the pond.

The atmosphere became more and more tense. Grand Master Pang spoke at this time. He smiled and said, "Son-in-law, can you give me one of the 'auspicious clouds' you created?"

Xiangyun is an aircraft, as it is called by outsiders.

Lu Sen shook his head: "I'm sorry Taishan, the materials needed for that thing are rather troublesome, and there are no extras for now."

"It's a pity." Grand Master Pang smiled.

In fact, he didn't really want the flying machine, he just used this topic to break the awkward and stiff atmosphere just now.

Sure enough, as he expected, after the topic was diverted, the atmosphere among the crowd improved a lot.

Relying on his familiarity with Lu Sen, Di Qing took the initiative to ask: "Really Lu, can you share some fairy rice seeds with me?"

Lu Sen was a little surprised: "You didn't grab it?"

Di Qing showed an embarrassed expression: "I'm in Hangzhou City, and there's no one there!"

Oh, that's right too!

As an important economic center, Hangzhou City is not only the territory of King Xiangyang, but also the ticket warehouse that civil officials value.

Of course, a general would not be allowed to place his forces and cronies there.

Lu Sen whispered, "I'll give some to General Di after the banquet."

"Thank you."

Now is the season of spring plowing, although seedlings have been planted in the Di family's land, but with the seeds of immortal rice, the seedlings that have been planted must be pulled out and planted again, which is just tiring.

Farming is an instinct rooted in the blood of every Han Chinese. Even a military official like Di Qing values ​​his own food production very much.

With Grand Master Pang and Di Qing speaking, the atmosphere in the hall became much more cheerful again.

Han Qi has been looking at Lu Sen. He is using his life experience to estimate what kind of person Lu Sen is and how he should deal with it.

At this moment, a young official stood up from the side. He walked to Lu Sen, bent over, and said loudly and seriously: "This official is Mo Shaocong, the secretary of the admonishment court. I have seen Lu Tianzhang. .”

Lu Sen turned around, clasped his fists, and said with a smile, "Mo Siyan, we meet again."

This young man was recorded from the local area when Lu Sen was about to resign. Lu Sen had seen his face, but he had no impression of him.

And Siyan is an official title of Yanguan, usually at the seventh rank.

This Mo Siyan bowed again and said: "Really Lu, do you know that you have killed five pillars of the imperial court in the past two years?"

Ok?
Lu Sen felt baffled: "What do you mean by that?"

"In the early autumn of the previous year, after Zhenren Lu left, Luo Geng, the doctor left to advise, died of a stroke; the next month, Zhang, an old member of the household department, died of a chronic cough; in the early spring of last year, Luo Zhongzheng, the envoy of the third division of salt and iron, immediately wind……"

After explaining the cause of death of the five imperial court officials, this person looked directly into Lu Sen's eyes and said solemnly: "If the real Lu Sen is still in Bianjing, they will not die, and the imperial court will have less loss. Why don't you understand?" ?”

After shouting these words, everyone in the East Hall stared at Lu Sen with burning eyes.

Lu Sen understood that the other party was putting a hat on himself.

And depending on the situation, he seems to be just a scapegoat pushed by others.

Young people are still young... But maybe the other party knows that he is being used and is willing to do so. After all, the speaker just wants to get a 'clear name', which is normal.

"Why do I need to understand?" Lu Sen looked into Mo Shaocong's eyes: "Whether they are dead or alive, what does it have to do with me? If you want to add a crime, why don't you have any excuses? Your heart is very dark... No!"

Lu Sen looked around the entire east hall, and suddenly said with a smile: "All of you, your hearts are very dark."

(End of this chapter)