Chapter 768: The Rich

Wenjing Pavilion was still as warm as spring. Zhao Ji took a sip of hot tea slowly. The warm Wuyi tea flowed into his heart and became energetic. He couldn't help but smile and said, "To put it this way, was the conflict caused by Zheng Shuang who bought Chen Ao's chicken but did not pay the bill. Chen Ao went to collect the bill?"

Yang Jian had already explained the whole story clearly and said with a smile: "That's right, if you don't pay back the debt, you should be beaten. Although the debt in this world is not considered a violation of the criminal law, the person who asks for the money must always use some extreme means to get the money back."

Zhao Ji couldn't help but frown: "The Zheng family is so rich. I may not be able to buy a chicken with 250,000 guan. Even if I don't have the energy to take it out."

Although Hua Shigang was extravagant and extremely desirable in the past, the people under him concealed the reports, saying that the people were grateful to His Majesty and presented the heirloom. If Zhao Ji really wanted to use the money to redeem it, he would certainly refuse to do so according to Zhao Ji's temperament.

After all, no matter who is in his eyes, 250,000 jin is not a decimal point. It is simply nonsense to buy a chicken, but what really happened actually happened, and such a big thing happened.

If Zhao Ji had not trusted Yang Jian very much, he might not have believed his words. This fact is too incredible and simply unreasonable.

Yang Jian laughed and said, "It is common for a wealthy family to fight for wealth. What's more, the Zheng family has always been generous. Usually, the two masters of the Zheng family set up a table for dinner. There are 48 hot dishes in total. Often, one dish can be picked up and fed to the pigs. 250,000 people dare not buy a chicken. It is not sensational to buy the Zheng family. I also heard that the Zheng family also feeds pigs with several buckets of pearl powder."

Pearl powder feeding pigs... This allusion comes from the Zheng family fighting for wealth with the Zhang family in Huaizhou twenty years ago. Both families were the richest people in Huaizhou. In order to compete for the reputation of a Huaizhou No. 1 businessman, the Zhang family used gold to make a archway and placed it at home. After the Zheng family simply poured it into the pig trough with several buckets of pearls. From then on, the Zhang family dared not fight with the Zheng family again. The merchants around Huaizhou followed the Zheng family's horse.

In fact, the Zheng family did this not just a simple waste. Behind this matter, it was related to a dispute over interests. Although there were fewer bets of pearls, the money was gained back, and several trade routes were monopolized. As long as they were merchants in Huaizhou, if they wanted to go on business, the Zheng family had to nod their heads to get permission.

However, to Zhao Ji heard these words, he was extremely surprised. Several buckets of pearls were worth more than ten thousand yuan, so he took them directly to feed them to pigs, which was really a waste.

"It seems that the Zheng family is really rich and can rival a country. This is the first time I heard of it." A trace of dislike passed through Zhao Ji's eyes. It's nothing if the wealth is rich and can rival a country. After all, the Zheng family is a relative of the foreign country. Of course, Zhao Ji would not hate this. For example, Chen Ao is rich now, but Chen Ao is different. Chen Ao confiscated the house and knew that he would move the money to the palace. This is called loyalty, but the Zheng family made a fortune silently, without revealing a word, hiding it. The whole world knows that his family is rich, but he just hides it from the palace. Zhao Ji and Concubine Zheng are together day and night, but they never heard Concubine Zheng say anything.

In fact, this is no wonder that the Zheng family has reached the level of the Zheng family. Where wealth should be revealed, we should be exposed, and where we should not be exposed, we must never be exposed. Otherwise, who knows when a disaster will be born. Showing wealth to others is a demonstration to others, hiding wealth to others, and avoiding disasters.

At this time, Zhao Ji felt very uncomfortable. In previous years, he was afraid that Concubine Zheng's family would live a hard life, so he also gave one more gift every year to show the favor of the Tian family. Who knew that this gift was not even a chicken claw in the Zheng family's opinion, which was really embarrassing. Thinking of the Zheng family's father-in-law who came to thank him for his gratitude after the reward, Zhao Ji felt a little blushing. Perhaps the father-in-law was coming to thank him for his gratitude, but he was saying that the Tian family might not be stingy.

Zhao Ji said lightly: "It is natural to pay back the money from debts. This is not wrong. It seems that I have not asked about this matter well. The Zheng family has a great career and is willing to buy this chicken, so of course I have to pay for it."

Yang Jianhe nodded and smiled, "Those who rely on the debt and don't pay back deserve it. Is this a slave taking advantage of this?"

Zhao Ji said with a cold face: "I would rather feed the pigs with pearl powder, but I still have to pay back the debt. I deserve it if I get beaten. But..." Zhao Ji felt that it should be taught a lesson to Chen Ao. No matter what, the Zheng family is also a relative of the foreigner, and rushed over and shouted to beat and kill. What kind of words did he say, "But Chen Ao even asked someone to smash the shop afterwards, which was a bit too much. I drafted a decree and scolded me."

Yang Jian thought to himself that he had scolded him many times, and he had not seen him change it. His Majesty seemed to be happy with it. He responded: "Your Majesty is wise."

Zhao Ji called him again and said thoughtfully: "Why is the Zheng family so rich?"

Yang Jian was silent and said, "Report to Your Majesty, the Zheng family's business is spread all over Jiangbei, and he is the richest man in Jiangbei. His family's wealth is said to be around 400 million yuan. Of course, this is just a rumor in the market. No one knows how many, but only knows that the friends under the Zheng family are already spread all over the world, with tens of thousands of people."

"So many..." Zhao Ji was shocked. It was already a huge difficulty for the imperial court to raise so many soldiers and horses. Unexpectedly, a Zheng family could support tens of thousands of friends. After all, the mates were different from the big-headed soldiers and could not support their families. Who would work hard? Most of the soldiers and horses in the Song Dynasty were still the Xiang army. The Xiang army was only considered to be in labor service, and did not count military pay, but only provided food. A brief calculation of this account was enough for Zhao Ji to be amazed.

At this moment, a little eunuch came in outside and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Zheng's eunuch Liu Xi asked for a meeting."

Zhao Ji picked up a cup of teacup and took a sip, and said slowly: "Why don't he accompany Concubine Zheng, why are he here to do?"

"It was said that it was a saying on behalf of Concubine Zheng."

Zhao Ji seemed to have a headache. He had indeed promised Concubine Zheng to teach Chen Ao a lesson just now, but he had always been soft-hearted and had been overwhelmed with resentment. He thought he had to cure this guy who had no kingship. But now after hearing Yang Jian's words, he was troubled. Chen Ao was indeed not wrong. It is a matter of heaven and earth to ask, and it is understandable that he would occasionally have conflicts. However, at this time, Concubine Zheng came to ask, wouldn't it be difficult to explain him?

From the heart, Zhao Ji certainly did not want to deal with Chen Ao. Although this guy was nonsense, he was still his person. His son-in-law and his right-hand man. The two of them were old friends and friends in running scripts and painting. However, when his mind was hot, he only heard Concubine Zheng say that Chen Ao beat the relatives for no reason and got angry. But now the fire was extinguished before it was ignited. Now Concubine Zheng came to ask again. If it were another emperor, he might scold Concubine Zheng or teach Chen Ao a hard lesson. But he was Zhao Ji. At this time, Zhao Ji was a little helpless. He looked as if he was free to restrain himself, with a calm look on his face, but he was a little afraid in his heart.

He is afraid of trouble.

"Call him in." Zhao Ji's tone was a little short of breath.

After a while, the eunuch named Liu Xi came in, saluted Zhao Ji, and said, "I have met Your Majesty."

"No need to be polite, flat-handed, what does Concubine Zheng ask you to do?"

"Your Majesty, Concubine Zheng said that the Zheng family's affairs are that the unworthy cousin of the empress is not good, and it is because the Zheng family is wrong first. As Your Majesty's concubine, she has received holy grace and cannot protect her family. She also asks Your Majesty to make a clear decision and never make things difficult for King Pingxi. King Pingxi has made great contributions to the court, and is a rare talent in my Song Dynasty, and his Majesty's right-hand man. The Zheng family owes him money, and the Zheng family deserves to die, and it has nothing to do with King Pingxi."

Zhao Ji was stunned: "Is this what Concubine Zheng said?"

Liu Xi said: "Your Majesty, the Empress was so angry at first that she instigated His Majesty to say a lot. Later, when she knew the whole story, she felt wronged by King Pingxi, so she specially asked the slave to come and pass the message to His Majesty, asking Your Majesty not to blame King Pingxi, and to blame the Zheng family for being unlucky, and the sons and nephews like Zheng Shuang were born. I also heard that the father-in-law had driven Zheng Shuang out of the house. From then on, he had no relationship with him. If the Zheng family remembered this lesson in the future, they would definitely be a good family and would not have such a thing again."

Zhao Ji couldn't help laughing: "Haha... This is the role model for concubines, Concubine Zheng is still virtuous." He seemed in a good mood and said to Yang Jian: "Since that, let's give up this matter and tell that boy Shen Ao that peace is the most important thing in the future, and no one is allowed to *** anymore."

A trace of surprise flashed in Yang Jian's eyes. He really couldn't understand why Concubine Zheng suddenly changed her tone. According to common sense, Concubine Zheng's temperament would never be like this. Could it be that something happened?

However, he thought immediately that Concubine Zheng's move was exquisite. First, she was aggressive and created a momentum that was about to come. She told everyone that the Zheng family was not easy to bully, and even His Majesty was on their side. As a result, she came out to ask for good deeds and made Zhao Ji think that they were not unreasonable people. In this way, others would only say that the Zheng family was arrogant and let King Pingxi go. Who would know that Zhao Ji didn't want to blame King Pingxi?

Yang Jian was only briefly lost his mind, and soon woke up and said lightly: "I will definitely pass on Your Majesty's words to King Pingxi."

Liu Xi retreated, and Zhao Ji couldn't help but say, "Shen Ao, will he go to Huaizhou the next day? I guess he will come to the palace tomorrow. At that time, I will say a few words to him. After all, Concubine Zheng is a woman, and is a generation older than him. He does this to make it difficult for Concubine Zheng. Well, since everyone is happy, it's all forgot."

At this time, another eunuch came in and said, "Your Majesty, Shen Ao, the King of Pingxi, asked for a meeting."

Zhao Ji looked at the sky. It was getting late at this time, so there was no such thing as meeting at this time. He couldn't help but say, "Let him come in and see what he wants to say."

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Chapter completed!