The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

Xue Pan looked at Xue Biao's handsome face, which was slightly distorted because of excitement, and felt a headache.Couldn't help asking: "Second Uncle just passed by so recklessly? Do you know how dangerous the sea is, what should we do if something happens? The honor of our Xue family has reached its limit, as long as we enjoy it, Why take any more risks? What kind of glory and credit can be greater than human life, I am just such a second uncle, if something happens, it will not be worth the loss."

Xue Biao looked at Xue Pan movedly, and nodded again and again: "No wonder my father didn't let me tell you before, saying that you would definitely oppose his actions because you were worried about his safety. But big brother, do you know that since you were eight years old? Nian told us about the Western Outlands, both my father and I had already made up our minds. Because of Conglong, the Xue family was granted the title of marquis, and even the upper and lower households of the Xue family were eligible for the imperial examination. But this is still not enough--"

Xue Biao seemed to think of something, and his breathing gradually became heavier. "It's not easy for our merchants to be named Marquis. We have paid so much money since our ancestors without even making a sound, which shows that the Tian family's affection is weak. Uncle supports the four princes to seize the heir, and pours all the power of the family, and now it is considered to be prosperous. But even so, only the uncle of the entire Xue family is an official. There are many other families, or poor families, and my Xue family's first-class merchants have no power to help each other in the court. Now that the new emperor has just ascended the throne, there is nothing to see Come on. But in the long run, the Xue family must be weak. At that time, there will be limited things that can be done for the Holy One..."

Hearing this, Xue Pan frowned and retorted: "Fourth Master is not that kind of person—"

"What kind of person he is has nothing to do with us. After all, we can't pin all our hopes on him." Xue Biaoyu said earnestly: "Big brother, do you still remember the story you told me when I was young?" ?”

Xue Pan raised his eyebrows, unable to deny it.

"Brother, you said that in the country founded by the Yi people, many sea explorers were conferred the title of marquis by their lords because they discovered unprecedented territories... If we talk about maritime trade, who dare to call us the second of the Xue family? Do you dare to be number one?" Xue Biao looked at Xue Pan with sparkling eyes, and thought softly, "Dad will definitely be rewarded for this accomplishment, and if he has the ability to enter the court, he will be able to help Uncle. And since last year, we have also opened an ethnology study in Jinling, and invited the most famous gentleman to give lectures to the Xue family's children. However, after ten years of hard work, the Xue family will have more and more fresh blood entering the court... ...In this way, our Xue family can truly gain a firm foothold."

Xue Pan was silent for a while, then sighed and said, "No matter what you say, I always feel that human life is the most important thing. Even if Second Uncle wants to explore, he can just send a steward. Why go to battle in person?"

"Big brother has a good saying, if you want to accomplish something unprecedented, you must do something you have never done before." Xue Biao looked at Xue Pan with admiration, and said firmly: "I It’s like this when taking the imperial examination, and it’s also like this when Dad goes on a sea adventure.”

Feel Xue Biao's indomitable momentum.Xue Pan hesitated for a long time, and finally said: "Forget it, that's it. You came to tell me after everything happened. What else can I do? It's just that the second uncle told you to come to me with a map. What can I help you with. Tell me quickly, so that I can feel at ease. "

Xue Tada smiled, rubbed his head embarrassingly, and said softly: "Brother, don't worry, my father has been preparing for this action for six or seven years before he actually did it. Naturally, he is fully sure. And my father said, if you don't If there is an accident, his two years of hard work will come back. It's just that my father is not afraid of the storm at sea, but he is afraid of people with evil intentions."

Speaking of this, Xue Biao took out another piece of silk from his bosom, and said in a low voice: "Father said that he would follow this route. Although he took away most of the Xue family's private soldiers, he didn't care about it along the way." Compared to the few pirates, it is still a little thin. Although the gunboats used by the father are the best, the tiger can't hold back the wolves. If the elder brother can persuade the holy majesty to dispatch the navy to escort... that would be great. "

"Navy master?" Xue Pan pondered for a long time, and then said: "Most of the military power in the court is in the hands of the emperor. If the emperor knows this, he may not be happy. I'm afraid that not only will he not help, but it will be bad if he obstructs it."

Only then did Xue Biao ask eagerly: "Then what should I do?"

Xue Pan glared at Xue Biao viciously, and said, "I'm in a hurry now, why didn't you want to discuss it with me back then."

"Firstly, I am afraid that you will not agree, and secondly, I am afraid that you will complain to Uncle... If Uncle finds out, this matter will definitely be over." Xue Biao paused and said with a shy smile: "Actually, my father is currently resting in the Ryukyu area. If it is really impossible to borrow a navy...Father can go to Persia instead."

Xue Pan was so choked that he almost didn't come up, and reprimanded angrily: "You just said so vigorously, but it turned out to be nothing more than a silver gun. You are wasting my feelings."

"No, great achievements can only be achieved with courage and strategy." Xue Biao said with a grin: "Isn't this a multi-faceted consideration! Although my Xue family is weaker now, but the old saying goes that if you stay in the green hills, you will not worry. There is no firewood. That... Do what you can, and build momentum according to the time is the right thing to do."

"Interesting?" Xue Pan rolled his eyes and cut several times.Then he said reluctantly: "If you want to talk about the navy, I remember that the fourth master told me that the southeast navy in the hands of the king of Dongping County happened to be patrolling the border. I will go to the palace tomorrow to discuss with the fourth master. If possible, let’s see if we can find a way from the Southeast Navy.”

Xue Biao was overjoyed when he heard the words, and immediately smiled and said: "Don't worry, these sailors are borrowed by us. We will pay them on a daily basis, and we have the best gunboats and firearms. As long as there are people, everything else is fine. "

"I still feel a little unreliable. Oceania is so far away—"

"What Oceania?" Xue tadhu asked.

"Ah?" Xue Pan was startled, and blinked his eyes pretending to be blank. "Did I say anything, didn't I?"

"You just said clearly—"

"You didn't hear me right." Xue Pan waved his hand impatiently, "Okay, I'm already tired today, not to mention that you just came here, and you must be very uncomfortable. I won't talk to you anymore Hurry up, wash up and go to bed! I have to go to the palace tomorrow to ask you about the navy!"

Some interruptions finally made Xue Biao forget the previous "Oceania".

After washing, everyone went to bed, so naturally there was nothing to say all night.

Early the next morning, Xue Pan thought about his second uncle's entrustment, and got up very early.After washing and washing, Hongxiu, who waited on the side to dress, smiled and said, "Master, I haven't stayed in bed for a while! We've been working hard for a while, and we're not used to it."

"Who said it wasn't!" Xue Pan sighed, "I thought I could have a good night's sleep today, but he came to give me such a problem again. Not to mention getting up early, I hardly slept much last night .”

"Him?" Hong Xiu tilted her head and asked suspiciously.

"It's nothing." Xue Pan shook his head, stood obediently and let Hongxiu tie a belt for him, and hung up an assortment of sachets, jade pendants and necklaces, dressed just like the lucky boy in the painting.

Tian Xiang dug out a brand-new autumn-colored feather gauze veil and a white fox fur cloak from the cage, and wanted to put it on Xue Pan.Xue Pan stretched out his hand to block it, then took a step back and said, "It's spring, it's so cold. Just find a thinner cloak for me to wear."

Tian Xiang persuaded with a smile: "Although it is spring, the wind is tight in the morning and evening and the sky is cool, which is the season when you are most likely to catch a cold. The uncle wears thick clothes, even if it is hot, it will not go anywhere. If it is cold, isn't it Worse?"

Xue Pan shook his head and insisted not to allow it: "No, this fox fur is too thick, and I can't breathe under the weight. You should change to a lighter one!"

The red sleeve on the side looked up at the sky, and said to Tian Xiang: "The left and right masters enter the palace in a carriage, can you still have silver carbon carbon in the palace? You just follow the uncle's words and change to something lighter. "

Tian Xiang frowned and said, "You just know to follow him. I'm afraid it's going to snow again today. Grandpa is running outside for a whole day now, what if it's cold?"

"This..." Hearing this, Hongxiu felt a little embarrassed.

"The weather outside is so nice, and now that it's spring, how can it snow." Xue Pan waved his hand and said, "I haven't worn the newly made green cloak last time, so I'll wear that!"

"Isn't that a little thin—"

Seeing Xue Pan's impatient expression, Hong Xiu could only shut up embarrassingly.Entering the house, he took out the green cloak from the cage and put it on for Xue Pan.At the end, he still didn't feel at ease and ordered: "I will wrap this autumn-colored feather veil and white fox fur cloak for the uncle and put it in the carriage. If the uncle is cold, please change it quickly."

Xue Pan nodded again and again, and walked out of Wenrouxiang without stopping.

There was nothing to say all the way, and when he entered the palace, he happened to catch up with Tu Zhen who had just gone to court.Seeing Xue Pan's positive appearance, Tu Zhen couldn't help raising his eyebrows and asked, "It's rare that you don't have a lazy bed today, but what trouble have you caused?"

Xue Pan chuckled and said, "The parents who gave birth to me are also the fourth master who knows me."

Tu Zhen was speechless for a moment, sighed and said, "I'm just talking casually, why are you so honest?"

Xue Pan stepped forward, obsequiously took the tea tray from Dai Quan's hand and handed it to Tu Zhen, and said softly, "Your Majesty, please drink tea."

Tu Zhen glanced at Xue Pan, and said with a half smile but not a smile: "There is nothing to be courteous about, either adultery or robbery."

"There is really a problem, only the Holy One can help solve it." After Tu Zhen took the teacup, Xue Pan immediately went around behind Tu Zhen and held his shoulders for him.On the one hand, he flattered: "The sage is wise and powerful, so naturally everything will be unimpeded. I am just a humble man, and it is expected that things will be difficult every step of the way."

"Are you still struggling?" Tu Zhen laughed out loud, reached out and tapped Xue Pan's forehead, only to feel that his fingertips were slippery and soft. "If you are still struggling, others may not be able to survive."

"It's all thanks to the great blessing of the Holy Majesty that the wind and water are going smoothly now. Otherwise, who would take care of me, a vulgar merchant!" Xue Pan said with a smile.

The curve of Tu Zhen's lips condensed slightly, and he asked in a deep voice, "What did someone say about you?"

"That's not true, I just begged His Majesty to save someone's life." Xue Pan gathered his thoughts and told the whole story about his second uncle's plan to explore Oceania.At the end, he said worriedly: "If the Holy Majesty does not help, my uncle's life will be in danger."

Tu Zhen was silent for a long while, and said with emotion: "The thing about the vast continent you said is true?"

"Of course it's true." Xue Pan nodded repeatedly and said, "I swear, it's the puppy who lied."

"If it's true, we can't use the Southeast Navy." Tu Zhen said thoughtfully.

"Why?" Xue Pan's eyes widened suspiciously.

"Because the king of Dongping County is a king with a different surname." Tu Zhen said meaningfully, and then comforted: "Leave this matter to me, so you don't have to worry about it."

"Oh." Xue Pan replied blankly, then took out a stack of rice paper from his bosom and handed it to Tu Zhen.The above records are all the contact information of Xue Pan and the second uncle.After all, the Ryukyu area is not small, and it would take a long time to find someone if there were no rules.

Tu Zhen took the rice paper, just glanced at it twice, and heard Xue Pan say: "There is one more thing to tell the Holy One..."

Tu Zhen's face darkened, he sighed helplessly, and asked, "What's the matter?"

So Xue Pan told the whole story about opium with trepidation.

This time Tu Zhen didn't respond immediately.He furrowed his thick eyebrows, pondered for a while, and then said: "Of course the opium you mentioned has such power?"

Xue Pan nodded obediently.He opened his mouth and added: "I am not dumping opium in all places, only some of them I don't like..."

"There is no need to make a lot of noise about this matter. As you said just now, it's better to do it in secret." Tu Zhen thought for a while, then said, "Write down the method of refining opium."

"Ah?" Xue Pan looked up at Tu Zhen with a dazed expression.

"Since opium is very harmful, we can't let the common people know about it. It's better not to even make opium in the Yong Dynasty." Tu Zhen looked at the confused Xue Pan and explained: "We also have Ryukyu around us... just Just sell this opium to the Yi people in the form of pirates selling stolen goods. Of course, if there is any problem at that time, it has nothing to do with my Yong Dynasty."

As soon as these words were spoken, the way Xue Pan looked at Tu Zhen was no longer enough to be described by the word admiration.

……

After finishing the opium and the important matters related to the life and honor of the second uncle, Xue Pan felt much more relaxed in a moment.Stretching his waist, he walked slowly to the low kang beside him, and lay down on his side.The warm temperature passed along the mattress, Xue Pan squinted his eyes in enjoyment, took off his coat and shrank into the kang, and covered his body with the coat.With his head resting on the golden beaulieu soft pillow, he said with a comfortable expression: "The quilt is the warmest on the Holy Majesty's bed."

Tu Zhen is very used to Xue Pan's practice of employing people forward and not backward.Just listening to what Xue Pan said just now, my mind fluttered for some reason.He even put down the memorial in his hand and walked to Xue Pan, and said with a smile: "In this case, you lie down and let me feel comfortable."

Xue Pan groaned twice and moved inside.Tu Zhen took off his boots and got on the kang, leaning beside Xue Pan.It really felt a lot warmer.

Tu Zhen couldn't help squinting his eyes comfortably, and ordered Dai Quan, who was waiting next to him, to say, "Bring the memorial brush over here. I'll review it here today."

Dai Quan bowed in response, and immediately led someone to move the memorial over.Seeing Xue Pan tilted on the kang, Dai Quan blinked, and ordered the maid to bring over two stacks of pastries and a glass of milk.

Xue Pan's eyes lit up when he saw Chi Shi.Tu Zhen ordered indifferently: "Eat carefully, and don't get it on the memorial."

Xue Pan nodded, and Dai Quan immediately put a small black lacquer table in the shape of plum blossoms engraved with golden auspicious clouds and patterns on the kang.Xue Pan moved the two small plates of pastries and milk that he had already eaten to the small table, and thanked Dai Quan softly, "Please, father-in-law."

Dai Quan bowed, and replied softly: "Don't dare, if the young master thinks it's not enough, how about I get another two dishes?"

Tu Zhen glanced at Dai Quan lightly.Dai Quan's expression froze, and he immediately retreated silently.

Tu Zhen turned back to Xue Pan with a gentle smile and said, "The imperial dining room has newly made some seasonal cakes, which are soft and sweet. If you like this taste, how about I ask them to present some?"

"Forget about the pastry, the sweet taste is almost the same. It's just that I like the beef jerky offered by Mongolia last time..."

Tu Zhen immediately ordered: "Serve two more plates of beef jerky."

Dai Quan replied respectfully.When he turned around and went out, Nei Niu said with a full face of self-criticism: "Sure enough, accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger. The ancients were sincere and never deceived me."

After a while, Dai Quan came in with a plate of beef jerky.As soon as he put it on the small table in front of Xue Pan, he heard Tu Zhen's order: "Pan'er doesn't like milk, so you give him a cup of milk tea powder."

Dai Quan immediately agreed.

Xue Pan chomped on the beef jerky and thanked inarticulately: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Tu Zhen turned around, looked at Xue Pan whose mouth was covered with milk stains and snack residue, and shook his head amusedly, reached out and took out the brocade handkerchief in his arms to wipe Xue Pan's face, and said softly, "It will be fifteen in the new year. Why does it look similar to Xuan'er?"

Xue Pan curled his lips disapprovingly, and the next second, his eyes widened in astonishment——