Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather

After confirming the categories of goods to be shipped back and forth, Yang Zhengshan said: "Then over in Jiangnan, you can help prepare it first!"

Before going to sea, it is natural to contact the source of goods and buyers in advance. Yang Zhengshan can handle it personally on Tenglongwei's side, but Luo Shang's help is needed on Jiangnan's side.

In recent years, Luo Shang has purchased many properties in Jiangnan and met many wealthy businessmen, so she does not feel embarrassed about this.

"Don't worry, sir, I will go to Jiangnan to prepare for this matter after the new year?" Luo Shang said.

"Yeah!" Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly.

Luo Shang then said: "Sir, can I buy two ships and go to sea with Tenglongwei's ship?"

Yang Zhengshan was slightly surprised, but he soon felt relieved.

Sea trade is definitely profitable, there is no doubt about it.

Although the sea trade from Tenglongwei to Jiangnan is relatively profitable, and the profit is probably the saved land transportation cost, but if sea trade relations can be established with several dynasties around Da Rong, the profits will be ridiculously high.

Therefore, Yang Zhengshan sent the fleet to Jiangnan first, just to accumulate experience. When the merchant ships and navy accumulated enough experience, they would definitely open up the route with the Li Sheng Dynasty and the Desheng Dynasty.

How could Luo Shang not see Yang Zhengshan's plan, so he also wanted the Luo family to make money with him.

"Okay, actually you don't have to go to sea with the Yamen's fleet, you can just form your own fleet and go to sea yourself!" Yang Zhengshan naturally had no reason to refuse Luo Shang.

Not only would he not prevent Luo Shang from developing maritime trade, he would even encourage him to participate in maritime trade.

Not only him, he also plans to recruit other wealthy businessmen to join him in the future.

He has plans for all these, but that will only happen after Tenglong's vanguard navy has grown up.

There are many dangers on the sea, and natural and man-made disasters occur one after another.

Natural disasters cannot be avoided, but man-made disasters can.

The purpose of forming a navy is to avoid man-made disasters. Only with a strong navy in hand can the safety of merchant ships be ensured.

Therefore, Yang Zhengshan's original plan was to wait for Tenglong's vanguard navy to gain a certain level of combat effectiveness before recruiting other merchants to participate in maritime trade.

But now that Luo Shang has brought it up, it is not impossible for the Luo family to prepare in advance.

…

Luo Shang stayed in Tenglong Wei for two days, chatted with Yang Zhengshan about sea trade, and bought a house and shop in Weisi Yamen before leaving.

But he kept Luo Zhen, and from now on Luo Zhen will be the person in charge of the Luo family's hygiene in Tenglong Health.

Luo Shang knew very well that the Yang family was their Luo family's biggest backer, so he had always asked Luo Zhen to follow the Yang family.

After Luo Shang left, Yang Zhengshan sent out invitations, inviting families, wealthy businessmen, and even Jianghu sects who were familiar with him to visit Tenglong Wei.

Yang Zhengshan wanted to hold an investment conference, with the purpose of letting many families, wealthy businessmen and Jianghu sects settle in Tenglongwei and participate in maritime trade.

The date of the investment conference is set on the first day of the twelfth lunar month.

On almost the eighth day of November, the Zhang family of Liao'an Prefecture first received Yang Zhengshan's invitation.

In the study room of the Zhang family, Zhang Maosheng, Zhang Qingsong and Zhang Qingyun and their son looked at Yang Zhengshan's invitation and were a little confused.

"What does General Yang mean? Why did he invite us to Tenglongwei again? He also set the time on the first day of the twelfth lunar month!" Zhang Qingsong said with a frown.

His impression of Yang Zhengshan was not very good, because Yang Zhengshan rejected their Zhang family's kindness last time and bought their Zhang family's merchant ship.

Although Yang Zhengshan paid very well when he bought the merchant ship, he somewhat meant to take advantage of the Zhang family.

Zhang Maosheng pondered for a while and said: "Tenglong Guard has been training the navy recently. Inviting us there may have something to do with it!"

In the past, Tenglongwei was poor and belonged to the Lan family, so the surrounding forces would not pay attention to Tenglongwei's affairs.

When Yang Zhengshan came to Tenglongwei, he did not attract the attention of the surrounding forces. It was not until the last corruption case in the Salt Transportation Department that Tenglongwei came into the sight of the surrounding forces.

Many people began to pay attention to Tenglongwei's movements and development.

The Zhang family will naturally not ignore the Tenglong Guard, and the Zhang family is even one of the forces that pays the most attention to the Tenglong Guard.

"What does the navy have to do with us?" Zhang Qingsong asked in confusion.

Zhang Maosheng thought for a while and couldn't guess what Yang Zhengshan wanted to do. He could only say: "Forget it, you can go and have a look when the time comes. As long as General Yang's request is not excessive, our Zhang family will agree to it!"

In line with the principle of not offending Yang Zhengshan, Zhang Maosheng thought it would be okay to give some benefits to Yang Zhengshan.

…

The Shang family of Jing'an Prefecture.

Shang Mingde also received Yang Zhengshan's invitation.

Although the Shang family is a martial arts family, the Shang family also has many properties. After all, practicing in a martial arts family also requires a lot of money.

"Invite me to Tenglongwei as a guest?"

Shang Mingde was also confused, but he didn't have too many worries.

Because he had a very good impression of Yang Zhengshan, and Yang Zhengshan was synonymous with benevolence and righteousness in his heart.

Just because Yang Zhengshan took back the Wang family's cotton and paid the Wang family the full amount of money without taking advantage of the Wang family, this is enough to be called benevolence and righteousness.

"Put it away for me and remind me when the time comes!"

Shang Mingde even felt that it was an honor to receive Yang Zhengshan's invitation, so he would not be careless, so he asked his servants to keep the invitation.

…

The Lu family in Anning County.

In a quiet little courtyard.

Second Master Lu sat in the tea room, holding a book in his hand, sipping a sip of tea, looking particularly relaxed and contented.

Now Second Master Lu is over 60 years old and his health is not as good as before, so he handed over the family affairs to the younger generation and hid in the small courtyard to have some leisure time.

Just when Second Master Lu was hiding, there was a sound of footsteps outside the tea room.

"Second Uncle!"

A voice came from outside the door.

"Come in!" Second Master Lu said casually.

Lu Qi pushed the door and walked into the tea room. It was cold outside. After entering the door, he quickly closed the door and shook off the cold air on his body.

Second Master Lu looked up and glanced at him, "Is there something?"

"Yes, there is something I want to ask Second Uncle to make a decision on!" Lu Qi bowed slightly and sat next to Second Master Lu.

"What is it?" Second Master Lu put down the book in his hand and asked curiously.

Now most of the affairs of the Lu family are managed by Lu Qi. The eldest son of the Lu family has three legitimate sons and four illegitimate sons. Among them, the eldest son Lu Zhi is already a fifth-rank prefect, and the second son Lu Yue has the title of Juren, and has been preparing for the imperial examination. However, Lu Yue has participated in the imperial examination twice and failed.

Among the three legitimate sons, only Lu Qi is the worst, barely getting the title of Xiucai.

So the housework of the Lu family fell into the hands of Lu Qi.

"General Yang sent an invitation!" Lu Qi handed the invitation in his hand to Lu Erye.

Lu Erye opened it and took a look, "Since General Yang sent someone to deliver it, you just go!"

Lu Qi picked up the tea, lowered his head and sipped it, and remained silent.

Seeing him like this, Lu Erye couldn't help but smile a little, "If you have something to say, just say it. What else can I hide from my second uncle!"

His relationship with Lu Qi is closer than that of uncle and nephew. Since Lu Qi returned to Anning County to participate in the county examination at the age of fifteen, he has been taken care of by Lu Erye, and it has been almost ten years now.

"Dad wrote to say that he might retire next year!" Lu Qi said softly.

Lu Zhongdao, the head of the Lu family, has served as the Minister of the Honglu Temple in the court for more than ten years. He has not made any progress in more than ten years, which proves that his career has come to an end.

Now Lu Zhongdao is 68 years old. This age is not old among the high-ranking officials in the court, but Lu Zhongdao's health is not very good, and he is somewhat unable to do his job.

So Lu Zhongdao has already thought about resigning and returning home.

He plans to write a letter to beg for his bones next year.

"What? Do you have other ideas?" asked Master Lu.

Lu Qi shook his head slightly, "No, Dad has been busy all his life, and it's time to come back and enjoy his life. It's just that as for my eldest brother, I want to help him make another step!"

Lu Zhi is only a fifth-rank prefect now, and he has served as a prefect for two terms. If he continues to sit in the position of prefect, he may never be able to enter Beijing in this life.

The Lu family needs someone to support it. At present, Lu Zhi is the best candidate for the next generation.

But Lu Zhi's promotion speed is too slow.

Master Lu fell into deep thought, and after a moment, he said helplessly: "It's difficult!"

Although the Minister of the Honglu Temple is one of the nine ministers, he actually does not have much power in his hands, and the Lu family's foundation in Kyoto is also very shallow.

In Anning County and Jing'an Prefecture, the Lu family is considered an official family, but in Kyoto, the Lu family is really nothing.

If Lu Zhongdao really has the ability to promote Lu Zhi, Lu Zhi would not have sat in the position of prefect for six years.

"I heard that General Yang and Old Master Liu are close friends. I wonder if he can help?" Lu Qi expressed his thoughts.

However, Master Lu shook his head without thinking, "No!"

"Why?" Lu Qi asked.

"Haha, because it's not worth it!" Second Master Lu laughed and said, "I've had this idea before, and your father should have had it too, but we didn't mention it!"

"When General Yang started from humble beginnings, our Lu family helped a lot, but those were small favors, not worth mentioning at all."

"And we also asked General Yang for help before. General Yang helped us get in touch with the Ningguo Mansion. Your father has lived so peacefully in Kyoto these years, and he also borrowed a lot of power from the Ningguo Mansion!"

"So General Yang doesn't owe our Lu family anything. Although our Lu family has a close relationship with the Yang family, , but this kind of relationship cannot be relied on!"

"In short, these relationships will be used once, and they can only be used at critical times!"

Lu Qi frowned, "Isn't it critical to help my elder brother get promoted?"

"Of course not!" Second Master Lu smiled, "In fact, it is enough for our Lu family to have your elder brother now. Even if your elder brother cannot enter Beijing, it can guarantee the continuation of our Lu family!"

"For a family, only life and death are the most important!"

Although Lu Zhi is only a fifth-rank prefect, he is enough to support the name of the Lu family as an official family.

After Lu Zhongdao retired, it was inevitable that the Lu family would decline, but as long as Lu Zhi was still in the officialdom, the Lu family would not completely decline.

It's nothing more than lying dormant for a while, waiting for Lu Zhi to grow up, or waiting for the next generation of the Lu family to grow up.

And Lu Zhi is not completely without opportunities. Perhaps he will have his own opportunities in the future. After all, he is still young and there is no need to be too anxious.

"We can't use our relationship with the Yang family now. The commander of the Tenglong Guard is not the end of General Yang. General Yang's future is broader than our Lu family!"

"If you use this favor now, you will lose it!" Mr. Lu said with a smile.

The value of a favor does not lie in the depth of the affection, but in who the favor is for.

Now Yang Zhengshan is only a guard commander, what about the future?

Commander-in-chief?

Or general of the border town, or join the Five Military Governor's Office?

Lu Qi thought about it, and understood what Master Lu meant, and said a little embarrassedly: "My nephew is short-sighted!"

"Haha, it's nothing, you can think about your elder brother, this is the blessing of our Lu family!"

Master Lu smiled with relief.

Brothers are united, and the family is the way to last long.

"Then this invitation!" Lu Qi looked at the invitation again.

Master Lu thought about it, "Forget it, I'll go with you when the time comes!"

He hadn't seen Yang Zhengshan for two or three years, so he could just go over and reminisce about the past.

Hearing this, Lu Qi felt relaxed.

To be honest, he was still a little nervous when facing Yang Zhengshan.

Thinking back to the time when he first met Yang Zhengshan, it was still in Yangjia Village.

At that time, Yang Zhengshan was just a country bumpkin. Although he was about to go to Chongshan Town to serve as a trial centurion, he was really nothing in front of him, the seventh young master of the Lu family.

But now, Yang Zhengshan is the general of Dingguo appointed by His Majesty himself, the commander of the third-rank Tenglong Guard, and he is still the seventh young master of the Lu family.

His status has undergone a huge reversal, which makes him always feel uncomfortable when facing Yang Zhengshan.