Fenghou

Zhao Yingluo looked at the ancient stone steps, mottled walls, and lush trees protruding from the walls.

"Yes! It's here, watch your step."

Chen Qing held Zhao Yingluo's hand, walked up the steps step by step, and walked into this old house. This was Chen Qing's mansion in Lin'an, and it was closed most of the time.

His personal guards had cleared the scene beforehand to ensure safety, so Chen Qingcai came over to take a look.

"I heard my elder sister talk about this place, but she said she hasn't lived there much."

Chen Qing smiled and nodded, "She lived for a few days when she first got married, then left Lin'an and never came back."

Chen Qing took Zhao Yingluo's hand and walked around the back house, where birds were singing and flowers were fragrant, but for Chen Qing who was used to living in garden palaces, the place was too small and narrow, the place was too small.

"Husband, we need to fix it here!"

Zhao Yingluo found that many tiles in the corridor fell to the ground and fell into pieces. Moss grew on the broken tiles. It has been a year or two.

"Let them fix it later. I just want to take a look at the old residence for the last time, and I won't come here again in the future."

Zhao Yingluo pursed her lips and said with a smile: "My husband doesn't want this house anymore? It is estimated to be worth tens of thousands of dollars."

Chen Qing shook his head, "It's impossible for us to live in this house anymore. I plan to use it as the Sichuan-Shaanxi Guild Hall, as the permanent office of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Propaganda Envoy in Lin'an, and temporarily let them print newspapers here before the new building is built. .”

At this time, a female guard quickly stepped forward and said, "Jun Wang, they are here."

Chen Qing nodded and said to Zhao Yingluo: "You rest here for a while, when I come back, we will come back by boat together."

"Then I'll wait for my husband on the boat!"

"Alright, you go first!"

Chen Qing asked several female guards to take Zhao Yingluo onto the boat first, while he himself went to the front yard.

There is already a group of people sitting in the atrium, and the leader is Hu Yun, who is in charge of the "Beijing News" in Lin'an. They just learned that the imperial court has allowed them to publish newspapers in Lin'an normally, and they are gearing up to do a big job. This house was notified by intelligence leader Dong Qun to come here.

Chen Qing came out of the inner house with a few soldiers, and said with a smile: "Everyone has worked hard!"

Hu Yun knew Chen Qing, stood up in fright, and bowed to salute, "See the king of the county!"

Everyone followed suit and saluted. Chen Qing asked the soldiers to move out more than a dozen chairs, calling for everyone to sit down.

"Did Manager Hu bring these from Jingzhao?" Chen Qingxiao asked.

"Basically, there are 21 people in total. Before that, we all hid in Xiaoshan County and typed and printed in Xiaoshan County."

"So that's the case, I should send a copy of the "Beijing News" today!"

"Yes! To publish the imperial edict of the late emperor's abdication, Counselor Zhou had already ordered Beizhi yesterday. We printed [-] copies overnight, and Beizhi has handed over the newspaper to Director Dong. They are responsible for distributing it, and it is estimated that it has already been distributed."

"Okay! After we talk about it, Counselor Zhou must have told everyone that we have signed an agreement with the imperial court. The "Beijing News" will be officially published in Lin'an. No one will harass you, but there will definitely be strong competition. Opponents appeared, so I was thinking, you should run independent newspapers, current affairs, entertainment, life, literature, and of course serial novels, this is your most powerful competitive weapon."

Hu Yun said with a distressed face: "Independently running a newspaper requires a lot of resources. It needs a place, enough money, and a strong local network. These are our weaknesses."

Chen Qing smiled slightly and said: "Don't worry about these things. This house belongs to me. I plan to use it as the Sichuan-Shaanxi Guild Hall, but you can use it for a few months. Your newspaper office is not far to the south, along the small river. After walking three hundred steps, you will see a large open space, about ten acres, I have already got the land deed, and I will build a newspaper, and then I have found a new owner of the newspaper."

Speaking of this, Chen Qing waved to Zheng Tongquan who was standing at the door, "Duke Zheng, please come here!"

Zheng Tongquan came over to salute Chen Qing, and said with a smile: "I also said to go to the military camp to meet the county king, but I didn't expect to meet here."

"Uncle Zheng received the letter I wrote!"

"Got it, no problem. I will contribute [-]% of the money, and I must run the newspaper well."

"Let me introduce you to everyone!"

Chen Qing smiled and introduced to everyone: "This is the father of Zheng Ping, who is in charge of the capital. The emperor named him the Duke of Hejian County. He is currently the largest businessman in Lin'an. He will also become the proprietor of the newspaper in the future. He has enough connections and resources in Lin'an. , he will help everyone, we ask Master Zheng to say a few words!"

Everyone applauded together, Zheng Tongquan stepped forward and said with a smile: "The king of the county is too flattering to me. Since the king of the county thinks highly of Zheng, and handed over the Lin'an newspaper to me, there is nothing to say. I will do my best to run the newspaper well, and I will do my best." I agree with the idea of ​​the king of the county and make it a new newspaper, but I suggest to use the name "Beijing News", which will resonate with many people."

Hu Yun was overjoyed. He knew that Uncle Zheng Guo had a deep connection in Lin'an. He turned out to be Zheng Dutong's father. With his backing, he was confident in running the newspaper.

Chen Qing wanted to take a step first, Zheng Tongquan sent Chen Qing aboard, Zheng Tongquan said with a smile: "Those hundred seagoing ships originally belonged to the county king and Zheng Ping, you can use them anyway, we still have fifty seagoing ships, enough for us Overseas trade."

Chen Qing nodded, "If the imperial court wants to trouble Uncle Zheng, Uncle Zheng will go directly to the Sichuan-Shaanxi Guild Hall, and they will come forward to negotiate with the imperial court. I believe that after this trip to Lin'an, the imperial court will not dare to pinch Sichuan-Shaanxi at will. "

"Thank you for the love of the king of the county. Although I can't talk about high status and authority, but in Lin'an, I believe I have some connections. Even if Uncle Wei Guo wants to touch me, he should think twice."

Chen Qing knew that his backer was the Qian family, and he had a very good relationship with Xu Xiantu, so he really didn't need to worry about it.

"From now on, I will ask Uncle Zheng."

Zheng Tongquan knew the importance of newspapers to Chen Qing. Since the Zheng family bet on Chen Qing, there was nothing to say, and he must go all out.

"Don't worry, king! As long as we work hard, I believe we will succeed!"

……

That night, the Western Army began to pull out its camp and evacuate. Batches of supplies and soldiers began to leave by boat and headed for Xiaoshan County. The [-] army divided into two groups, and the [-] army temporarily stationed together with the cavalry in Jiangning Mansion.

And Chen Qing personally led an army of [-] to Quanzhou.

At four o'clock, Wei Tong was released, and he was sent back to the mansion by the carriage of the inner guard. The moment he walked into his mansion, he felt that everything in the world was so beautiful, and being alive was already his greatest luck. up.

In the morning of the next day, Lu Jin and Lu Qingshan came to the pier to deliver a letter to Chen Qing. Chen Qing had already negotiated with Lu Yihao that the Lu family would gradually move to Sichuan and Shanxi.

Finally, Lu Yihao himself will go to Jingzhao. This time the time is relatively tight. Lu Qingshan has no time to go with Chen Qing. He will resettle his family and set off for Sichuan a month later to serve as the chief secretary of Sichuan Lu Xingtai. The general manager of Xingtai Shangshu was concurrently held by Chen Qing. In fact, the administrative power was in the hands of Chang Shi.

"Did the king go directly to Sichuan Road?" Lu Qingshan asked with a smile.

"I'm going to go to Quanzhou first, and then go back to Sichuan."

"What are you doing in Quanzhou?" Lu Qingshan asked puzzled.

Seeing that there were no officials left and right, Chen Qing smiled and said, "There is a big island opposite Quanzhou, does second grandfather know?"

"Is it Penghu Big Island?"

Chen Qing nodded, "I want to take a look. If possible, I want to grow sugar cane there. The kapok over there is also very famous."

Lu Qingshan didn't take it seriously, so much land on Guangnan East Road and Guangnan West Road has not been developed, so what to do on the island?

But Lu Qingshan didn't say much, he smiled and said: "Then I wish the king a smooth journey."

Lu Jin next to him stepped forward and said, "Son-in-law, have a good journey!"

Chen Qing clasped his fists and saluted, "Father-in-law, take care, come to Jingzhao early!"

Lu Jin smiled and nodded, "Don't worry! I will come with my grandfather."

Chen Qing boarded the boat, and the boat started slowly, sailing towards the east estuary.

At this time, Chen Qing suddenly discovered that there were many officials in the distance who came to send him away, and they stood in the distance and waved goodbye to him.

Chapter 864 Quanzhou

A hundred ships left Qiantang Bay and continued to travel south along the coastline. In the cabin, Chen Qing drew a map of the big island of Penghu, and Chao Kun was amazed when he saw it. ?”

Chen Qing said with a faint smile: "I heard from others that I am very interested in the big island of Penghu, and I have asked many people who go to sea."

Chao Kun hesitated and said, "Actually, the king of the county will be disappointed when he sees the big island of Penghu."

"Why are you disappointed?" Chen Qing asked with a curious smile.

"Because the entire big island is covered with forests, which are very lush and extend all the way to the sea. There is very little open space. If tens of thousands of people go to the island, there may not even be a place to camp."

Chen Qing smiled slightly: "There are many trees, which means that there are many resources for building houses. This is a good thing. You can cut down trees and advance step by step."

Chao Kun was surprised and said, "Wouldn't it mean that the Year of the Monkey will go away?"

"Sanlang, why did you talk to the county king?" Chao Qing reprimanded dissatisfiedly with his face darkened.

Chen Qing waved his hand, "It's okay, we're just chatting now, not serious business!"

Chao Kun whispered: "I'm telling the truth! There are not only many trees on the big island, but also native people, who have a strong sense of territory. If you offend them, you will be shot to death with poisonous arrows."

Chen Qing said with a smile: "You may have misunderstood. I am not saying that the big island of Penghu will be developed in two or three years. What I am talking about is that the development is calculated in a hundred years. First, a village will become more and more populated, and then it will become several villages. There are also towns, the first county seat will appear in 20 years, and the second county seat will appear in more than ten years, and there will be four or five county seats in a hundred years to form a state capital."

"Hundred years!"

Chao Kun opened his mouth wide in surprise. He thought that the county king would soon garrison and emigrate, but he was talking about a hundred years later.

Chen Qing said again: "But I really want to garrison troops. I consider stationing troops on Penghu island first. The garrison is part of the Quanzhou army, a naval force. It also needs to immigrate to Penghu island. About 5000 people are willing to emigrate. People who go to Penghu Island or Penghu Big Island are exempt from tax for life, and their descendants are exempt from tax, at least for 100 years.”

Next to him, Chao Qing said: "I really don't understand the humble job. Is the county king wanting Quanzhou only for the big island of Penghu?"

Chen Qing shook his head, "The big island of Penghu is only part of the reason. The real reason is that we need a seaport, we need to conduct overseas trade, we need a place for the navy to station, and we also need a place to build large ships. Mingzhou is actually good, but it It is too close to Lin'an and it is not safe, so I consider Quanzhou, which has a good foundation in all aspects and is worth sticking to."

Chao Kun thought for a while and said, "Beizhi is willing to stay in Quanzhou and be responsible for emigrating to Penghu Island."

This is the reason why Chen Qing brought him here. It was rare for him to take the initiative to speak up. Chen Qing smiled slightly: "Your responsibility is still the Municipal Bureau of Shipping, but at the same time you are also in charge of Penghu immigration. I hope you can calm down and do it in a down-to-earth manner. In the past few years, as long as you have worked for five years, I will appoint you as the prefect of Quanzhou, or the Municipal Bureau of Shipping."

Chao Kun was overjoyed, "Five years from now, I'm afraid I will only be 24 years old, and the county king will keep his word."

Chen Qing smiled slightly, "Although I am not a man of words, I must keep my word!"

……

Quanzhou has always been an important seaport in the Song Dynasty, but it really became the largest seaport in the Song Dynasty in the middle and late Southern Song Dynasty. The court of the Southern Song Dynasty had no hope of going north and began to vigorously develop overseas trade in order to obtain huge benefits and taxes. The Maritime Silk Road was also in this period. time formed.

Most of the hundreds of large ships that Chen Qing took were transferred from Quanzhou to Jiangling, and most of the boatmen were from Fujian, and they were familiar with Quanzhou Port.

This morning, hundreds of sea-going ships sailed into Quanzhou Bay mightily. The big ships kept berthing, and [-] troops began to land one after another.

The officials in Quanzhou didn't know about Chen Qing's arrival in advance, so when the [-] troops appeared outside the city of Quanzhou, the officials in the city were frightened and thought it was pirates.

The name of the governor of Quanzhou is He Jing, a native of Jianzhou, a Jinshi background, in his forties, very dark and thin, and quite smart and capable.

When he heard that there were tens of thousands of troops at the harbor, his expression changed drastically, and he immediately thought of pirates. The imperial court had never sent tens of thousands of troops to Quanzhou, and the Privy Council had not sent any documents in advance.

He hurriedly ordered the city gates to be closed, and summoned a thousand soldiers from the countryside to defend the city. Although a thousand soldiers from the countryside couldn't stop an army of tens of thousands, it was better than nothing.

At this time, Cai Shouzhi, the county magistrate of Jinjiang, came running and shouted from a distance, "Governor He, they are not pirates!"

He Jing stepped forward and asked, "How does Caizhi County know?"

Cai Shouzhi raised the letter in his hand, "This is a letter shot into the city from outside. The Western Army is outside, but Chen Qing has arrived in person."

"Western Army?"

He Jing was stunned, of course he knew about the Western Army, and Chen Qing's name was already well known, but why did the Western Army from Sichuan and Shaanxi come to Quanzhou?

He quickly took the letter, which read, "King Yong of the Great Song Dynasty, Grand Master, General Hushi, and Sichuan-Shaanxi Propaganda Envoy Chen Qing to the officials and people of Quanzhou." '

He Jing quickly took out the letter, which clearly stated that Quanzhou had already come under the jurisdiction of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Xuanfu Envoy, and they had the court's jurisdiction transfer letter and the emperor's handbook.

"Governor, what should we do?"

He Jing sighed, "What else can I do, quickly open the city to welcome the arrival of King Yong."

……

Chen Qing's [-] troops did not enter the city, but set up a large camp outside the city. Chen Qing came down to the gate of the city under the escort of [-] soldiers. Qing's arrival.

Chen Qing asked Chao Qing to read the emperor's handbook aloud, officially announcing that Quanzhou was no longer under the jurisdiction of Fujian Road, but under the jurisdiction of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Xuanfu Envoy.

Of course, Quanzhou still belongs to Fujian Road, which is determined by its geographical location, but its jurisdiction has changed. It has nothing to do with Fujian Road or the imperial court, but belongs to Chen Qing's sphere of influence.

It's just that the court used various legal regulations and language to describe this matter, but the essence is that it was ceded to Chen Qing by the court.

The officials in Quanzhou were all shrewd and immediately understood this truth. Their future allegiance is not to the emperor, but to Yong Wang Chen Qing.

Chen Qing did not embarrass them, and gave them ten days to make a choice. If they are willing to be loyal to themselves, then they will stay in the post. With generous resignation money, they are invited to return to their hometowns.

Accompanied by officials, Chen Qing inspected Jinjiang County, which is a large county with a circumference of [-] miles and a population of more than [-]. There are also tens of thousands of merchants living here. Most people's jobs in the county are related to overseas trade.

Chen Qing climbed onto the city wall, and could clearly see the harbor and bay in the distance, as well as the densely packed ships moored in the bay.

"May I ask Governor He, how long does it take to take a boat from here to Penghu Island?" Chen Qing asked.

He Jing scratched his head, "May I ask whether King Yong is asking about the big island or the small island?"

Chen Qing smiled slightly: "Let's talk about the island first!"

"Depending on the wind direction, weather, current and the condition of the boat itself, it takes about three to four days for a normal [-] stone fishing boat. If you want to go to the big island, it will take two more days."

"Does Jinjiang County have jurisdiction over the Penghu Islands?" Chen Qing asked again.

He Jing was really not familiar with Penghu Island, so it took him a long time to search for some memories.

"We have a little jurisdiction over the small island of Penghu. There is a civil servant in Jinjiang County who will go there every two months. Check the situation on the island and come back after staying for a day. It seems to be like this. Caizhi County, that's right! "

Cai Shouzhi nodded, "That's right!"

Chen Qing nodded, "How many people are there on the island?"

He Jing really didn't know now, he turned his head and glanced at Cai Shouzhi, the county magistrate, Cai Shouzhi hurriedly bowed and said, "Reporting to King Yong, there are less than 2000 people, mainly fishermen, there is a small town, and there are people in the town. For some shops, the county even set up a school in the town the year before last."