First Minister of Ming Dynasty

Kang Maocai frowned, his heart seemed to be quite turbulent, and finally he also raised his wine glass and said excitedly: "Thanks to Zhang's experience, he is so confiding. In the past, when Kang worked for Yuan Ting, he was confused. Going through life and death for your superiors, you'll be devastated!"

After a few words, the knot in Kang Maocai's heart was also loosened a lot. Zhang Ximeng took the small blade of meat with his own hands. Now that there is no pancake for roast duck, he got a womb cabbage, which is Chinese cabbage, and rolled it with vegetable leaves. The duck meat, with a little sauce, was passed to Kang Maocai.

Lao Kang took it, took a bite, and immediately his eyes lit up, "Experience, I have eaten roast duck several times in Jinling, and your way of eating it is the most unique! It's delicious, really delicious!"

Zhang Ximeng smiled faintly, "This is our family's habit."

"Your family...Mr. Zhang is young and knowledgeable, so he must be from a famous family?"

Zhang Ximeng nodded, "It should be counted. I'm from Jinan, but I don't count as close friends."

Jinan, Zhang Family!

Kang Maocai had read the book, after thinking for a while, he immediately understood, and when he looked at Zhang Ximeng again, the awe in his eyes suddenly increased by three points!

Don't look down on others because they are young!Maybe in a few years, when people mention the Zhang family, they will only know Zhang Ximeng.

Zhang Ximeng accompanied Kang Maocai and ate half a duck. Then he smiled and asked, "General Kang, you said that I want to deal with the chaos in Jinling. Where should I start?"

Kang Maocai cheered up immediately, and the key point came.

"Zhang Jing, there are some things that even a martial artist can't understand, but I know that there is a Huaixi native in Jinling who is quite famous!"

"From Huaixi? Could it be the lord?"

Kang Maocai smiled, "Of course not, he has been in Jinling for 40 to [-] years."

"so long?"

"Well! It is said that at the earliest time, he was singing flower drums, and he escaped from Haozhou. Later, he sang operas in this area, begging for rewards. Later, he met a Semu person and asked them to blackmail... other opera singers I was so scared that I had to pay money to save my life. But this man had the courage and insight. He saw that this color-eyed person had no foundation and was just bullying others by relying on his identity as a color-eye person. He took a decisive action and killed this person! His head was hung on the Town God's Temple... From then on, all those who sang flower drums and asked for money recognized him as the elder brother. For decades, before the Red Scarf Uprising, anyone who came from Haozhou, Dingyuan, Sizhou, etc. People from the West must pay him a visit first. No matter rich or poor, as long as he finds one, he can arrange a job for him. Not to mention, it’s still possible to fill their stomachs, so Huaixi people obey him.”

Zhang Ximeng took a deep breath, he didn't expect that Huaixi people had advanced to Jinling before Lao Zhu.

"What is this person's name, and what has he done in recent years?"

Kang Maocai said: "This man is also surnamed Zhu. Since the poor look for him, he will give a bucket of rice, so everyone calls him Zhu Yidou."

"What did he do?" Kang Maocai thought about it: "Originally, Bald Jian wanted him to take the lead, recruit militiamen, and wipe out the red scarves. But Zhu Yidou did not agree. However, he gave Chen Yexian, who is also a fellow Huaixi fellow, a disapproval." Less help, food, talents, whatever you want. Without Zhu Yidou's help, Chen Yexian would not have such a big influence."

"So he is a remnant of the Yuan court?" Zhang Ximeng asked.

Kang Maocai shook his head, "It doesn't seem to be counted. The superior entered Jinling, and Zhu Yidou led many Huaixi folks to welcome the superior, with tears streaming down his face. It seems that the superior is quite happy, after all, he is a fellow from Huaixi, and he accepted his contribution .”

Zhang Ximeng couldn't help chuckling, "There are more people in Huaixi, and there are more people who pull up big banners as tiger skins... I think this person is probably trying to use the name of the lord and wants to continue bluffing! No matter who it is, he They all stand still!"

Kang Maocai was a little surprised, Zhang Ximeng, who was so smart, had finally figured out something that he had been thinking about for a long time, and he actually explained it in one word.

"Zhang experience, are you going to attack this person?"

Zhang Ximeng smiled, "Since I'm a fellow of the lord, I'll go and see what tricks this fellow from Huaixi can do!"

……

Zhu Yidou is already 60 or [-] years old, but he is well maintained, with a burly body and the majesty of a superior.He chose to receive guests from all directions on a painting boat on the Qinhuai River.

There is an endless stream of people who come to Zhu Yidou to do business every day, especially when the dynasty changes and the king's banner changes on the top of the city, they flock to him.

He sat in the middle, and the people who came to see him lined up and went in one by one. A few words could make a frowning person into a happy one, just like a living Bodhisattva.

Zhang Ximeng didn't come too early, and waited until noon, and he was already going to have lunch, but today Zhu Yidou was in a good mood, and made an exception to meet one more person, so he called Zhang Ximeng in.

Walking into the cabin, apart from Zhu Yidou sitting in the middle, there are two middle-aged people beside him.

Zhang Ximeng took a look and went straight to the old man, "Mr. Zhu, I'm in a little trouble, and I want you to kill someone for me. The price is easy to negotiate, what do you want?"

Zhu Yidou shook his head, "No help!"

"Why? Do you think you have too little money?"

Zhu Yidou's eyes became sharp instantly, and he glared at Zhang Ximeng. After three seconds, he suddenly smiled, "Young man, look at the old man's boat... I have dozens of these kinds of boats. Will money do things for you? What's more, it's a matter of human life!"

"Then, what should I do? Add money?" Zhang Ximeng asked.

At this time, the two middle-aged men stood up, raised their big fists, and were about to beat Zhang Ximeng, and let you in without eating, so they didn't know the rules?

Zhu Yidou was also displeased, but considering Zhang Ximeng's Huaixi accent, he still maintained his demeanor.

"Young man, this old man doesn't take care of everything... Also, call the person behind you to come over and let him tell the truth. Also, this old man is not a killer who takes money to do things. If he really wants this old man to help , and there are indeed grievances that others cannot solve, for the sake of the folks, as long as he calls Big Brother is enough!"

"See off the guests!" Zhu Yidou said lightly, and then waved his hand, telling this reckless young man to leave quickly...

Chapter 172 Are you going to test me with this?

Zhang Ximeng came out of the boat, although there were unfriendly eyes all around, but no one did anything to him, at most they just laughed at him.

Fortunately, Zhang Ximeng was mentally strong enough. He got off the boat, walked out for a while, and then saw Kang Maocai who was pretending to be a coachman. He drove the carriage over, asked Zhang Ximeng to go up, escorted Zhang Ximeng, and left quickly.

"I'm talking about Zhang Jing, you are so bold! How dare you even venture into the Dragon's Pond? It really made you come out smoothly. I'm really overwhelmed."

Zhang Ximeng smiled lightly: "It's not as serious as you think, the world is not about fighting and killing."

Kang Maocai was startled, and couldn't help but said, "Then what is Jianghu?"

……

Among the painting boats, Zhu Yidou sat at the table, drinking a bowl of soup slowly, this bowl of soup was not a big deal, it just used a hundred tit tongues and a hundred carp whiskers, and it took three hours to boil it carefully made.

In Zhu Yidou's life, this kind of dish can only be regarded as a side dish worth mentioning.

"Father, that kid is so rampant, why did you let him go?"

Zhu Yidou paused for a while, his eyes froze slightly, and finally sighed softly: "The world is not about fighting and killing, it's about people's sophistication, it's about eating and drinking!"

He raised his head, looked at his two sons, and said in a low voice: "Just now that young man learned a very similar Huaixi accent, but I can still tell that he is pretending on purpose."

"Pretending? Then, what is his purpose?"

Zhu Yidou shook his head, "I don't know either... Now that Zhu Yuanzhang has occupied Jinling, the city has changed owners. Do you still remember what I taught you?"

The eldest son immediately said: "Remember! Father said, no matter who becomes the master of Jinling, we will control Jinling City forever!"

A smile appeared on Zhu Yidou's old face.

This point of truth is the experience he has gained from decades of wandering around the rivers and lakes.

The Yuan Dynasty was a dynasty that didn't respect literati so much, but in the Great Yuan Dynasty, there was still room for aristocratic families to survive, and even compared to the previous dynasty, the power might be even greater, and they could tax taxes openly and aboveboard!

Power is something that is never stipulated on paper.

The emperor needs his ministers, and the ministers need the small officials below, and the small officials also need someone to implement them.

Moreover, officials are like revolving lanterns, but local snakes are passed down from generation to generation, and they are endless.

Gradually, the aristocratic family became more and more stable, and the more acquainted the web weaved, the less space was left for officials, which was about [-]-[-] percent, and they had to kneel and beg for food.

If you want to stand up and earn money, people will find a way to sue you for a black case and transfer you away.Or kill you directly while you are in an open carriage, and then just find a scapegoat and let it go.

This kind of thing was not uncommon in the Yuan Dynasty.

This is the case in most places, where the gentry have an absolute advantage.

In fact, a person like Zhu Yidou is not qualified to enter the room. After all, he is just a gangster.But he happened to meet the end of the dynasty.

Long before the uprising of the Red Turban Army, the Yuan court suffered from natural and man-made disasters, and the treasury was empty. In order to search for the people, it did everything possible.

At this time, if you want to collect taxes from the people, the traditional gentry and merchants will not work, and you need a ruthless person like Zhu Yidou.

If the corruption of the Yuan Dynasty gave Zhu Yidou his first fortune, then the Red Scarf Army uprising made him directly prepare to ring the bell and go public.

Over the past few decades, he has accumulated a rich network of contacts, three teachings and nine streams, five elements and eight works, and everyone has received Zhu Yidou's favor.

To put it bluntly, the pork sellers at the door rely on Zhu Yidou's protection to make money smoothly.

Master Zhu doesn't want anything else, but when it comes to New Year's Day, half of the pork will do, and even Zhu Yidou will return a gift, which is more expensive than pork.

Nothing else, this face is what Master Zhu wants!

So what can you do if you have face?

There are too many things he can do, and he can intervene in businesses that others cannot intervene.

The painted boats on the Qinhuai River, private salt in Yangzhou, gambling houses, money houses, pawnshops... Since the rise of the Red Turban Army and the collapse of the Yuan court order, Zhu Yidou's property has increased tenfold!

Now that Zhu Yuanzhang has entered Jinling, as an outsider and a fellow from Huaixi, Zhu Yidou feels that the opportunity has come. As long as Zhu Yuanzhang can admit himself, he will really enter the house and soar into the sky.

"Listen, these days, no matter what happens, try to be patient, don't kill people, don't make trouble... Even if you have to kill, do your job beautifully. Just get through this time, and wait for Once my father has established a relationship with Zhu Yuanzhang, everything will be logical."

The two sons blinked and nodded together, "We all know what father taught us. We just don't know how father will get in touch with Zhu Yuanzhang?"

Zhu Yidou smiled, "I've already inquired. Under Zhu Yuanzhang, the most powerful person is Zhang Ximeng."

"Zhang Ximeng?"

"Yes! He was the earliest follower of Zhu Yuanzhang, and he is also a confidant. This person hasn't come here yet... I think he is young and a civil servant. Let's prepare a house for him and choose some good girls for him. If you want those who are clean, knowledgeable and polite, especially those who are perfect, we can't neglect them."

Zhu Yidou carefully calculated that he should have everything for basic necessities.

"Since I'm a literati, I must like books, Wenwan, treasures and so on... I also have the Chengxin Hall of Empress Li, and the Dongpo Brush Wash, Qingming Riverside Picture, all for Mr. Zhang Send it over."

The second son became anxious when he heard this, "Father, this is a treasure that our family has accumulated for decades, and we agreed to give it to your grandson."

"Fart!" Zhu Yidou snorted coldly, "It's just those idiots, are they worthy of these things? It's a waste of nothing! Send it to Mr. Zhang, and exchange our family for a bright future. Now that the dynasty has changed, Zhu Yuanzhang lacks officials, and no one can do it." If we have a chance, let's find a family background, and from now on, we are no longer people from the Jianghu, but officials, living in the temple, and become real superiors!"

"Hahaha! You two, put those presents in a box and get ready." Zhu Yidou planned to bribe Zhang Ximeng to achieve a leap in class, laughing until his brows were apart.

……

"General Kang, you said that this Zhu Yidou is kind and generous, and has helped so many people solve their problems. Where does he have the confidence and ability to do so?"

Kang Maocai smiled wryly, "I don't understand that."

Zhang Ximeng smiled and said: "It's not that you don't understand, but you are afraid of being wrong. In fact, I am very elegant and easy-going, so you don't need to be careful. If you ask me, Zhu Yidou must have a huge business and a huge amount of wealth. Big fish! You say yes or no?"

Kang Maocai shook his body, and he said in a low voice: "Zhang Jing, Zhu Yidou has helped the Yuan court to collect taxes in the past few years, but he has collected a lot of money. It stands to reason that killing him is also reasonable, but we can get rid of this person , who is going to collect taxes for the superiors? Jinling City is being fought like this, who else can do this?"

Zhang Ximeng couldn't help laughing, he pointed at Kang Maocai first, and then at himself!

"General Kang, don't you understand why I'm looking for you?"

The corner of Zhang Ximeng's mouth was smiling, and with just one look, Kang Maocai felt that he had been shocked and his whole body was shaking!

He really understood this time, Zhang Ximeng wanted to attack Zhu Yidou, and asked himself to help collect taxes, which was a step up to the sky.

"Zhang Ji, I, I don't know what to say... But don't worry Zhang Ji, I will do my best, and I will die!"

Zhang Ximeng smiled, "No need, as long as you enforce the law strictly and don't take possession of it, that's enough."

The standard was so low that Kang Mao felt that Zhang Ximeng was simply underestimating him.

"General Kang, don't be careless. Let me tell you, dealing with this group of people is ten times, a hundred times more dangerous than on the battlefield. On the battlefield, you are fighting the enemy, but tax collection is to fight yourself! They must have prepared something for you that is enough to impress you, if you don’t have a heart like iron and stone, you won’t be able to carry it.”

Kang Maocai nodded, "I know what Zhang experienced, but please rest assured, I can handle it!"

"it is good!"

Zhang Ximeng smiled and nodded, "Zhu Yidou should be the source of the chaos in Jinling. Most of those messy people are his disciples and grandchildren, and they are under his protection. You go back and prepare troops. I will take this person down in a few days!"

Kang Maocai nodded hastily, although he was not sure why Zhang Ximeng identified Zhu Yidou, but since Mr. Zhang ordered him, he couldn't be negligent.

Kang Maocai returned quickly. He was more careful, and in the name of training, he sealed off the barracks, and then selected [-] fellow villagers to come out.

A law enforcement team was formed, and the rest was to wait for Zhang Ximeng's orders.

And Zhang Ximeng didn't disappoint him, the order came when he was holding the lamp, and he set off immediately!

When Zhang Ximeng arrived at the Qinhuai River and blocked Zhu Yidou in the boat, it was only a matter of time.

"Go in and ask, my good brother is inside!"

The people under Zhu Yidou were quite surprised. After so many years, not many people dare to trouble our elder brother. Who is this young man?Why are you so arrogant?

At this time, Zhu Yidou in the cabin was also alarmed, he came out immediately, and was startled when he saw Zhang Ximeng.

But he is an old Jianghu after all, and then he bowed and said: "This little brother must have come to see the old man at noon, right? I just don't know what the old man did to make you so motivating? Can you go into the boat and talk about it in detail?" , what orders, the old man will follow!"

Zhang Ximeng glanced at Kang Maocai next to him, and said with a smile, "Did you hear that, he was more polite than at noon. But unfortunately, politeness doesn't work here! Take him to me!"

With a few words, Kang Maocai rushed forward immediately, and several of Zhu Yidou's thugs wanted to stop him, so Kang Maocai drew out his saber, chopped down several people with the back of the knife, and rushed straight at Zhu Yidou.

His two sons wanted to rush forward to protect the old father, Zhu Yidou saw that something was wrong, and hurriedly stopped the two sons.

"You all step back!"

He immediately set his eyes on Zhang Ximeng, "You little official, who are you? How did this old man offend you? We have something to talk about."

Zhang Ximeng smiled, "You didn't offend me, and it's okay if you offend me. But what you said at noon offended the law and the rules of heaven! You said that as long as you call your elder brother, you can settle the matter. Let me tell you, even my lord Don’t dare to say it. We lowly social tools don’t dare to say it...Zhu Yidou! You are so majestic! Are you a rule of Jinling City?"