After Su Chen arrived at the Han Mansion, the banquet officially began. Various delicacies were served by pretty maids. During the meal, the five people started talking while having a drink.

Given that Wang Yuechao was just a first to come to Runzhou City and was not familiar with the local customs and culture, Han Pei, as a landlord, took the lead in explaining the special nature of Runzhou's geographical location.

Since Runzhou City is close to the Yangtze River, there is the famous Jinling Ferry (Xijin Ferry). All merchant ships of all sizes need to enter the Yangtze River section. Whether they cross the river north to Song, or flow eastward along the river water into the sea, setting sail for a long voyage, they have to pass through this ferry.

Usually, there are 10,000 troops stationed in Jinling Dutch, which is to prevent the Song army from raiding or robbers from sea landing on the shore, and to check the prohibited items of import and export materials and traders, so as to avoid intrusion into the Song and Yue countries.

Runzhou City has a developed water system, rapid economic development, and rich people. It mainly relies on the supply from the port. Various materials are transported from here to ship for export, or shipped from outside, and local people can definitely earn some labor costs. Store goods, turnover transportation, buy low and sell high, etc., and merchants are very flexible in doing business, which is an advantage that other prefectures and cities do not have.

In terms of military position, Runzhou is the northern gate of Jinling City and the gateway to the east. It is of great strategic significance to defend against the attacks of Song troops in the north and prevent thieves from landing at sea.

In Runzhou, there are nine first-class merchant families, namely the Bai family, Du family, Ding family, Lu family, Fan family, etc. Among them, the Bai family and the Ding family have been hostile for many years because they both produce the ceramic industry, and they have fought and excluded each other. Finally, the Ding family used means to persecute the old man of the Bai family and steal secret recipes to suppress the Bai family. Unexpectedly, Su Chen disrupted the situation and helped the Bai family turn over. Bai Susu integrated new resources and defeated the Ding family in one fell swoop.

After hearing these things, Wang Yuechao couldn't help but look at Su Chen with admiration.

"I didn't expect that Mr. Su also studied porcelain making and could invent soap, salt, and strong wine. He was indeed a rare talent!" Wang Yuechao was amazed. When he heard about Su Chen's deeds in Han Xizai's study in the morning, he became particularly interested in this young talent he had never met.

A talented man who only knows how to write poetry can enter the Hanlin Academy after entering the imperial examination, write books and become a literary master and poet of a generation. Even if he is an official in the six ministries, he often talks about military affairs on paper and rarely pays attention to practice. It is not very useful for reversing the current situation.

This is also the reason why Han Xizai values ​​Su Chen. If he continues to create new things, foreign trade will greatly improve the economy, make up for the insufficient treasury of the Tang Kingdom, and have money, earn money from the surrounding princes, and use it to enrich the country and strengthen the army, so that there will be a chance to fight against the Song army.

Su Chen said politely: "It's all about studying things. When I was studying, my younger generation liked to study those, so I made some small innovations and could not enter the elegant hall."

Han Pei said, "Young Master Su, don't be humble! Do you know that it is precisely because of your little innovation that the Bai family turned over instantly. As soon as the blue and white porcelain was released and the soap was mass-produced, the Bai family's shops suddenly became rich and the orders were in batches, making all the big and small business teams in Runzhou active. Many people planned to order new goods from the Bai family and go directly to the sea to sell them to Khitan, Nanyang, Fusang, and Goryeo to exchange for gold and silver there, as well as pearl agate, spices and ivory, and strange fruits there."

Han Pei is responsible for the Han family's business, so he is full of business knowledge. He sees all economic benefits and speaks it full of business remarks.

Su Chen smiled slightly. After all, he was a scholar. He was not good at talking about business information in front of several court officials, so he just smiled and kept a low profile.

The books that Gong Gonggong had read for the rest of his life were considered a true Confucian official. He still regarded these techniques of studying things as a branch of the matter in his mind, focusing on the great principles of the article and the road to the imperial examination, so he asked: "Su Chen, have you reviewed and prepared for the autumn examination these days?"

Su Chen bowed and said, "Go back to the prefect, I am thanking guests at home and studying hard for the imperial examination books, classics, history, and collections of classics, history, and literature."

Han Xizai knew that he didn't read much about ancient articles, and was worried that he would not write well in parallel verses. He stroked his beard and said, "How about it, why not teach me if I take the exam?"

Su Chen was picking up a spoon and taking a sip of the fish soup when he heard this.

He was destined to make a fool of himself on the spot because he was taught the articles and the classics. Su Chen dared not respond.

"No, no...no, no." Su Chen shook his hand quickly and rejected the proposal.

Han Xizai showed suspicion, and she was still a little worried.

The others didn't know the details, so they didn't care. At this time, the prefect Peng raised his glass to toast the new governor, and Su Chen and Han Pei accompanied him to drink a drink.

Wang Yuechao was still a little excited about coming to the rich Runzhou and couldn't help but talk about the Daozhou thing to everyone.

That Daozhou is adjacent to the Southern Han Dynasty and close to the Lingnan area of ​​Guangdong, Guangxi. It is extremely hot and has a lot of miasma. Not to mention that the northerners were not accommodating the environment in the past, even if the Jiangnan people went there, they would feel uncomfortable.

The previous governor, named Liao Yan, was once a minister of the Ma court of the Chu State. Later, in the chaos in Chu, Liao Yan and Peng Shisong escorted the last emperor's prince Ma Xi'e to the Tang lord of Jiangnan and became a citizen of the Southern Tang Dynasty. Liao Yan was named the governor of Daozhou by Li Jing. After taking office, he did a lot of work. However, the Southern Han sent people to cause chaos in Daozhou. Liao Yan died when he led his people to suppress it. Only then did Wang Yuechao be transferred from his identity as the Minister of War in Jinling City, went to Daozhou to be the governor, and quelled the local chaos. This took five or six years.

After Wang Yuechao finished speaking these past events, he came to the wine and said earnestly to Su Chen: "Mr. Han recommended you, attach great importance to you, and regard you as a disciple. After you join our faction, you must be in the same mind as Mr. Han, cracking down on the treacherous and unrest, purging the court, saving the decline of the Tang Dynasty, and fighting against the threat of the Song army are all things that we loyal and patriotic ministers should do."

Su Chen admired his eloquence when he heard the other party’s argument so righteously.

Perhaps this is the remark used by every Sun Party member to brainwash. Only by believing in it can we have a common goal and work together.

Seeing that he looked abnormal and did not answer, Wang Yuechao thought he was resisting party struggles, so he explained: "Scholars, don't demonize party struggles! Mr. Feng Dao said well in the article "The Mirror of the Rest and Wind" that a gentleman does not have a party, and his misfortune will be helpless; a villain will benefit his money and help others. If there is no punishment for moral failure, there will be troubles in the absence of disasters. No gentleman can correct it, and a villain may be forgiven. You have read this article and you should know the meaning of it."

Su Chen was shocked and recalled Mr. Feng Dao in his mind. He seemed to have a real impression. He was a powerful scheming player in the Five Dynasties. He served in the early years of his life. He served in the Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou four dynasties. He served in Later Tang Zhuangzong, Later Tang Mingzong, Later Tang Mingzong, Later Tang Min Emperor, Later Tang Last Emperor, Later Jin Gaozu, Later Jin Xuandi, Later Han Yin Emperor, Later Zhou Taizu, Later Zhou Shizong, Later Zhou Shizong, and always served as generals, three dukes, and three divisions, and was able to be an evergreen in the career of the officialdom.

The article "The Mirror of the Rest and Wind" he wrote analyzed the relationship between the officialdom and came to a conclusion, which was the general meaning of what he said just now: A gentleman does not like to form cliques, but if there is a disaster, no one will help a gentleman. A villain formed a clique with a group of people for personal gain and because of interest, if something goes wrong, these people will help him.

Not being moral will not cause any actual consequences. If there is trouble, no one will help you, you will inevitably be unlucky. If you fail to be a gentleman, you can only bear the consequences. It is precisely because villains see this that they choose to be villains in order to protect themselves. This behavior is understandable and acceptable.

It is precisely because of this article that many literati and politicians in later generations criticized Feng Dao, thinking that he beautified party struggles and ignored the style of gentlemen, and was simply discrediting scholars who were studying in the imperial examinations. For example, Ouyang Xiu, a famous official in the Northern Song Dynasty, was very despised Feng Dao's "confrontation with Liang and Jin" and had no moral integrity. He scolded Feng Dao without shame. Sima Guang also criticized Feng Dao for "loyal ministers who do not serve the two kings", but Wang Anshi believed that Feng Dao was "a man in the position of Buddha", and Su Dongpo also praised Feng Dao as "a bodhisattva, and a man again."

In fact, Feng Dao was born in the chaotic times of the Five Dynasties, and he was surrounded by tigers, wolfs and leopards. He was able to move around and make a living for the people and save countless people. It is a great merit. Being a "loyal minister" who died is easy. When the people's lives are hanging over, he can only endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens, and think of saving things as his time. This is the heart of the Bodhisattva.
Chapter completed!