Chapter 129 Shen Wansan's Descendants
Jinling City is not a regular figure. If you stand on a hot air balloon and look down, you will find that the outer city of Jinling City looks like a big duck pear, while the capital inside looks like a Buddha statue with a head resting northwest and sitting cross-legged. The left leg of the Buddha statue is a square imperial city, and the right leg is the area from Shuiximen to Jubaomen. It is said that this area was built by Chen Wansan to Zhu Yuanzhang.
As for the origin of the Jubao Gate, it is said that when the city gate was built, the project always had accidents, so Lao Zhu collected Chen Wansan's treasure pot and buried it under the door, which made the city gate built, and this city gate was named after it.
Of course, the so-called treasure pot is definitely nonsense, but Chen Wansan is really a good person. Unfortunately, his wealth aroused Lao Zhu's jealousy and was eventually exiled to Yunnan and died. However, many of Chen Wansan's descendants still live in Jinling City.
(Note: There is controversy about Chen Wansan's life. Some people say that he was from the Yuan Dynasty and died before Zhu Yuanzhang. However, according to the needs of this book, he still has the most widely circulated deeds.)
In the northeast of Jubao Gate, a mansion that covers a huge area but has a very low-key building is located there. The mansion gate is not big, and there is no plaque hanging on the door. It is just a palm-sized word "Gu" is engraved on the right side of the door, indicating the surname of the owner of the house.
If you are experienced people, you can guess what the owner of the house is doing from the Gu family. For example, this house covers such a large area. Obviously, the owner of the house is definitely not short of money, but the building is low-key and he dares not even hangs the plaque. Obviously, his status is relatively low, so the owner of the house is likely to be a rich businessman.
In the study room of the Gu family's inner house, two middle-aged people were discussing things in a low voice. One of them was of medium shape and an ordinary middle-aged man said happily: "Brother-in-law, Duke Xinguo and others have wiped out the Japanese pirates. The court seems to have relaxed the ban on the sea. Our overseas business is also easier to do, and it is estimated that the profit this year should be more than last year!"
The middle-aged man opposite has a slender figure and elegant appearance. If you only look at his appearance, it will even make people think that he is a scholar.
However, this elegant middle-aged man sighed and said, "Although the coastal business has improved this year, it is also very limited. The court's policies have changed three times a day. God knows whether the sea ban will be tightened again in the future. Compared to when my father-in-law was there, our overseas business is no longer ten. It's really a shame for my father-in-law's trust in me!"
When the elegant middle-aged man spoke at the end, he also showed guilt. His name was Gu Xuewen, Chen Wansan's son-in-law, and the middle-aged man opposite him was Chen Wang, who was Chen Wansan's son. When Chen Wansan was exiled, the Shen family's business was handed over to Gu Xuewen, the son-in-law.
Speaking of which, Gu Xuewen was once a scholar who was unsuccessful, but he was unable to get any fame since he was a child. Later, Chen Wansan saw that he was extremely smart and a business talent, so he recruited him as his son-in-law. Gu Xuewen also abandoned literature and business and was highly valued by Chen Wansan. The Shen family was hit twice before and almost fell into a split situation. It was because of Chen Xuewen that he could withstand it.
Seeing his brother-in-law sighing, Chen Wang immediately comforted him: "Brother-in-law, don't say that. The overseas business cannot continue. It is all because of the imperial seal. In this case, my father would not be able to do anything. Moreover, although the overseas business is not good, our other businesses are still there, and even more prosperous in my brother-in-law's hands. If my father knows it, he will definitely be very pleased!"
Hearing the comfort of his wife's brother-in-law, Gu Xuewen felt better. Back then, he only knew how to study, and his family was almost unable to survive. If he hadn't met his father-in-law, he would have starved to death, so he had already made up his mind to support the Shen family in any case.
"By the way, did he collect the money he gave to General Lan last time?" Gu Xuewen suddenly thought of something and asked.
"It's a contract, but I heard that Your Majesty seems to be dissatisfied with General Lan. He asked him to go to Shuzhong before, but in fact he was demoted to him. Now we are cursing General Lan, are we looking for the wrong way?" Chen Wang hesitated for a moment before speaking.
When Gu Xuewen heard his wife's brother's words, he smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty asked General Lan to go to Shuzhong, but instead he was protecting him. After all, he had forced the Yuanzhu's concubine before and led his troops to destroy Xifeng Pass. Many ministers in the court were waiting to study for him. As a result, Your Majesty asked him to go to Shuzhong, and others could not find anyone to participate."
"So that's it!" Chen Wang also showed a sudden enlightenment when he heard this.
"General Lan has a thick leg. He is the prince's wife and has great military achievements. Judging from His Majesty's attitude, he probably wants to leave him to the prince. To put it bluntly, with His Majesty's age, the day when the prince ascended the throne is not far away, so as long as we hold General Lan's thick leg, we will not worry about no one in the court in the future!" Gu Xuewen said at the end, and also showed a bit of fatigue. The most difficult thing in doing business is not the struggle in the business field, but whether there is anyone behind him.
"What my brother-in-law said is very true. I happened to get some rare treasures overseas. I asked me to pick them up and find some and send them to General Lan. He has been demoted to Shuzhong and needs support. It is the time to establish a good relationship with him!" Chen Wang nodded immediately after hearing this. He admired his brother-in-law's ability. After all, after two heavy blows at home, if it weren't for his brother-in-law's support, the Shen family would have been finished long ago.
However, just as Shen Wang finished speaking, he suddenly heard a burst of rapid footsteps from outside. Then an old servant rushed in in a panic and reported: "Master Qi, Jin... the commander of the Jinyiwei, Mao Xiang, is here!"
"Who is here?" Gu Xuewen and Chen Wang both stood up, but their faces looked in disbelief.
"Mao...Mao Xiang!" The old servant said with a look of fear. Now the Jinyiwei's name is at its peak, and Mao Xiang's name can stop the child from crying at night.
"Impossible, why did Mao Xiang come here!" Gu Xuewen said almost without thinking. Although he had a lot of wealth, he was still a businessman with a low status. People like Mao Xiang would not look at him directly, let alone visit him in person. To put it bluntly, even if their Gu family committed a death sentence, it would not be the turn of a big man like Mao Xiang to arrest him personally.
"It's true. Mao Xiang not only came, but also brought a team of Jinyiwei. Master, who dares to pretend to be the name of Jinyiwei now?" The old servant said anxiously again. He didn't believe Mao Xiang would come, but when he saw the fierce Jinyiwei, he couldn't help but believe it.
Chapter completed!