Bright Spring

Everyone responded: "Decree!"

Mr. Wang Qian listened to them and understood that these people were all from the army.Just now the man said again: "Second boy, I know you've been thinking about that girl in Clothes and Hats Lane all day long. Well, this time it's hopeful."

Several people burst into laughter and turned to look at the "second child".The so-called second child, but buried his head in a bamboo hat, did not respond, as if he was afraid of being seen by others, and was a bit sneaky.

Mr. Wang Qian had an intuition that that guy had something to do with today's events.But Mr. Wang Qian has lost interest in exploring, because he understands that everything is over.

The next day, when the army from the capital entered the city, they marched and marched through the city gate without any disturbance.Except for the people who were watching, the officials who came to greet them were sparse and unruly, as if no one had arranged a ceremony for the welcome.

He Hao, the guard of Daning City, didn't leave the house at all today, so naturally he didn't pay attention to etiquette.

After a while, the house slave opened the curtain and came in.When the house slave saw He Hao, he was taken aback.At this time, He Hao was wearing a bright red official robe and black gauze, and was very neatly dressed, sitting on a chair in the middle hall.The official seal is also neatly placed on a piece of silk handkerchief.

"Old, master." The servant said not too quickly, "The men from the Jinyiwei came to the door, but the villains didn't dare to stop them, they have already entered the yard."

He Hao nodded his head: "Go down."

The servant bowed down, glanced at him again, and exited the middle hall.

After a while, sure enough, a group of armored men rushed into the nave, followed by a general.The military general glanced at He Hao and said: "Seeing that General He knows it well, there is no need to waste your words, let's go."

The two sergeants walked up with the iron chains, and the general just raised his hand again and said: "No need, please go to the camp of the Chinese army. We still have a lot of things to ask General He. It would be best if we could talk about it carefully." .”

The sergeant bowed: "Yes."

He Hao picked up the official seal, stood up and walked to the door.He stepped outside the door, turned his head left and right to look at the snow scene in the yard, raised his head and sighed dejectedly.

The snow in Daning City was particularly heavy today.

Chapter 972 The Mirror

It was also snowing in the capital, and it was falling heavily.

Zhu Gaoxu had to leave the palace today because he had made an appointment with someone beforehand.Of course the emperor could change the time, or even miss the appointment, but he thought it was unnecessary, so he went to the meeting in the afternoon according to the time.

The person he wants to meet is a businessman from the Xue family in Huzhou.

Previously, Du Erlang, the Fushi of Beizhen, tried to contact the famous businessman who made the mirror. The matter has been settled, and he will discuss cooperation with the Xue family in the name of the Southern Office of the Imperial Guard.This matter is not a big deal, Zhu Gaoxu can leave it to the officials; but he has lived in the palace for a long time, sometimes he just wants to go out and see some people other than palace people and ministers.

In the Liaodong campaign that will be launched next spring, he gave up his personal conquest, and it is still possible to go out for a walk in the capital city at the moment.What's more, when it comes to new things about glass making, he feels that talking with the businessman in person may be more clear.

The meeting place was in the Shen Family Pear Garden.It's business, and Zhu Gaoxu doesn't use his real identity, it's best to be in that kind of place.

Shen Xu, who owns multiple businesses and business gangs, came to Liyuan in person and waited outside the door.When Zhu Gaoxu's carriage arrived, she stepped forward to greet him, "My concubine welcomes Mr. Hong."

Zhu Gaoxu got off the carriage and said with a smile, "My surname is Hou today."

Shen Xushi covered her mouth and smiled sweetly, leaned over and said, "Young Master Hou, please come upstairs."

A few people walked into the hall first and went straight up the wooden stairs.There were a lot of people in the hall, it was a bit noisy, and there was an actor singing on the stage; Zhu Gaoxu, of course, did not wear a dragon robe when he left the palace, but only a blue satin robe and a square scarf on his head.So almost no one noticed him.

When they arrived at a door next to the corridor upstairs, Shen Xu said: "The person Hou Gongzi wants to see has arrived." She then chuckled meaningfully, "I won't disturb you today, please take your time." talk."

Her smiling expression was a little strange.

Zhu Gaoxu said casually: "Let's meet again after I finish talking about the business."

Shen Xu smiled and said, "Next time."

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but glanced at her again, and when she gently opened the door, he stepped in.Zhang Sheng, the commander of Jinyiwei who accompanied him, also stayed outside.

As soon as he walked in, Zhu Gaoxu immediately understood the meaning of Shen Xushi's expression just now.I saw a person standing up from the chair. That person was wearing a net scarf with his hair tied up, and a light gray round-neck cloth robe on his body.But she was a woman, young and beautiful, a blind man could see it.

The woman made a bow and said, "Xue Pingniang, my servant, I have seen Master Hou."

Zhu Gaoxu said: "I'm sorry for making Mrs. Xue wait so long. Let's sit down and talk."

Xue Pingniang raised her head and said softly, "Are all adults as friendly as you?"

Zhu Gaoxu smiled and said, "It's hard to say."

He took a seat on the chair opposite, took a little look at Mrs. Xue, and saw that she was very simple in disguise.There is no trace of makeup, but the makeup is very fair, and the hair on the temples is black, which looks very attractive.The round-neck gown on her body is made of a whole piece of cloth, which makes the curve of her breast more obvious than women's clothes, and the curve is very smooth and beautiful.

Lady Xue noticed his gaze, and frowned at him.

Zhu Gaoxu hurriedly looked around and said: "I didn't expect the Xue family to come, it's a woman."

Mrs. Xue's voice was soothing and even, and she explained: "The shopkeeper is a bit old, and I'm afraid that he won't be able to withstand the tossing of cars and horses. When I heard about this, I invited myself to Beijing and came with my husband. My late father and the shopkeeper We are from the same clan, but we only gave birth to a woman from the Nu family, and we recruited a husband-in-law to come to our house. Normally, the business of the family for our family is managed by the Nu family. Don’t worry, Lord Hou. Although the Nu family is a girl, they understand How to make a mirror."

"I see." Zhu Gaoxu nodded.This lady Xue spoke clearly and spoke in such detail, she seemed to be a relatively honest person.

Mrs. Xue said: "I didn't expect Master Hou to be admitted to Jinshi and become an official at such a young age."

Zhu Gaoxu soon realized that her words were somewhat similar to what he said just now, and the two immediately looked at each other.

"Is your husband?" Zhu Gaoxu asked casually.

A trace of displeasure flashed across Mrs. Xue's face, but she didn't know if it was because Zhu Gaoxu shouldn't have asked this question.She curled her lips lightly, "I waited in the shop and called him to come with me, but he was afraid of seeing an official. I don't know what to be afraid of? I usually only polish mirrors, and don't care about anything." Although she said so Said, but she could tell she was a little nervous.

Zhu Gaoxu said in his heart that the life of his son-in-law seems to be difficult. In this world where men are superior to women, Mrs. Xue seems to have no respect for her husband at all.But she is a straightforward person, and she has nothing to hide.

She picked up a justice cup, poured tea into the small white porcelain cup on the table, looked at the cup and said: "The people in this teahouse told my family earlier that Mr. Hou is coming soon, so my family made a cup of tea." Pot of tea."

Lady Xue handed over the small cup with both hands: "Look at this cup, isn't this place cheap?"

Zhu Gaoxu smiled and said: "My boss is my friend, so I don't need to give money. But Xue's mirror is so famous, you should have earned a lot, are you afraid of being expensive?"

Mrs. Xue said: "How can it be so profitable to buy and sell? Besides, Dali is all owned by the head of the Xue family who is the shopkeeper."

"Really?" Zhu Gaoxu looked at her with a smile on his face.After all, businessmen are a little wary of the government.

Mrs. Xue said: "Ming people don't speak dark words. If it weren't for the fact that our family's business is getting more and more difficult, and the servant's family is a girl, why would you take the initiative to take this errand and come all the way to the capital?"

Her bright eyes looked at the clothes on Zhu Gaoxu's body, and then at the suet jade hanging on his waist.Zhu Gaoxu usually hung the "natural match" imperial green jadeite, and he just grabbed a piece and changed it when he went out.She said softly again, "It's still rich to be an official."

If it was an ordinary civil servant, he would probably have to refute the explanation, for fear of ruining Qingyu.Zhu Gaoxu said without pressure, "Didn't the world say that everything is inferior, only reading is high."

The two of them drank a cup of tea, and Mrs. Xue said, "Master Hou, the yamen named 'Shouyu Sinan Office' wants to order a batch of mirrors from Xue's family? "

Zhu Gaoxu shook his head and said: "It's not to order mirrors, but to let you try to make new mirrors and start a new business. The government can cooperate with Xue's family, and the government will pay a sum of money to buy shares, and control 50.00% of the shares of this business. Usually You are still in charge of the affairs, but the imperial court holding company has the right to supervise and make decisions.”

"What kind of new mirror?" Mrs. Xue asked seriously.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "It's very simple. Use quartz to calcine and condense it into glass; stick a metal sheet on the back or coat it with something to make a mirror that is brighter and clearer than a bronze mirror. In the past, the tribe chose it to make stone knives, The stones of Shijian and the semi-transparent gravel in the sand are all quartz. You just try to make it, and the government will help you with money, and you won't suffer any disadvantages."

Mrs. Xue pondered for a while, and then asked: "Master Hou believes that this thing is very profitable, so he took care of the business?"

Zhu Gaoxu said calmly: "The imperial court does not rely on this business income, what it wants is the craftsmanship of making glass, which is a strategic technology. Therefore, when you try to make mirrors, even if you lose money, we will invest money."