Chapter 394

Jin Ling, Ministry of Works Yamen, Firearms Office.

Among the six ministries of the auxiliary capital, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Rites are two idle yamen.

These two yamen not only have vacant positions for Ministers, but also have many reductions in regular official positions to reduce the number of people doing nothing.

Therefore, although these two yamen are not considered to be deserted, their popularity is light, and there are not many people coming and going to be busy all day.

Compared with the busy official yamen with real power such as the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue in the auxiliary capital, the two are like ice and fire.

But since Jia Cong arrived in Jin Ling, the originally very deserted Ministry of Works Yamen seemed to have suddenly changed its decline and became increasingly popular.

Not only are there often barbarians with golden hair and blue eyes, strange clothes, and strange skin colors entering and leaving the Firearms Office office every day.

Even officials from the Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue, and Jin Ling Regional Military Commission in the auxiliary capital often come to hand over official business.

This made those idle hall officials in the main hall of the Ministry of Works couldn't help but look sideways, and even felt a bit ashamed.

They all felt that this Jia Supervisor, who was not yet twenty years old, was able to enjoy a great reputation in his youth because he indeed had his own ability.

How long has he been in Jin Ling? The small Firearms Office, which only had four clerks, was actually managed by him into a scene of internal and external communication and hot fire.

It is no wonder that such a person who can toss is so fast and smooth in his official career at a young age.

But early this morning, a Brocade Guard Hundred-Household wearing a flying fish suit and a embroidered spring knife appeared in the courtyard of the Ministry of Works, which surprised these Ministry of Works hall officials.

And the place where this Brocade Guard Hundred-Household went was the east small courtyard where the Firearms Office was temporarily established.

The eagle-dog generation of the Brocade Guard, which is insidious and ruthless, has always been feared by civil officials. Under normal circumstances, the Brocade Guard and the six ministries have no official business dealings.

If there are dealings, it is mostly to come to the door to take people....

The Ministry of Works hall officials who saw this scene were all guessing in their hearts that being found by these eagle-dogs was mostly not a good thing.

Ministry of Works Hall East Small Courtyard, Firearms Office Office.

Jia Cong met the person from the Brocade Guard, and it was even his old acquaintance.

Liu Hai, a Hundred-Household of the Brocade Guard Thousand-Household Office, who once guarded the construction site of the Daci'en Temple and assisted Jia Cong in wiping out the Japanese ronin.

After the two met and exchanged greetings, Liu Hai took out the official document issued by the Love Shenjing Brocade Guard Command to the Jin Ling Brocade Guard Thousand-Household Office and asked Jia Cong to browse it.

This made Jia Cong feel slightly strange in his heart. According to common sense, the Brocade Guard official document had no way to let a Ministry of Works official look at it.

After he quickly read the content of the official document, he couldn't help but feel awe in his heart.

The Brocade Guard's official document said that last month, in the armory of Yafu Pass in Liaodong, nine damaged and faulty improved Lumichong guns suddenly disappeared.

Armory official Zhang Haodong left his post without authorization, and his body was found 50 miles west of Yafu Pass, having been assassinated in the back.

The current Emperor was furious and asked the Brocade Guard and garrison troops in various places to check the passing roads and checkpoints, but after more than half a month, there was still no gain.

The nine stolen improved Lumichong guns are still missing.

The Emperor also asked the Love Shenjing Brocade Guard Command to issue an edict to strictly check the private transportation and circulation of firearms in various places, hoping to find clues to the stolen firearms.

Jia Cong was clear about the reason why Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao made such a big move. The improved Lumichong gun was developed by himself and represented the most leading firearm technology in the Great Zhou.

If those stolen firearms were not found, the principle of the improved Lumichong gun would soon be disassembled and imitated, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

However, the nine improved Lumichong guns had been stolen for more than a month and had not been found yet. Perhaps the principle of the Lumichong gun improvement had already been decomposed and studied, and there was no secret at all.

Liu Hai said: "The Jin Ling Brocade Guard will strictly check the private transportation and hiding of firearms in the city according to the edict.

We have already transferred relevant documents from the Shipping Office, recording 21 cases of illegal private transportation of firearms in various ports of Jin Ling in the past six months.

Although the privately transported firearms have been confiscated on the spot, according to the description of the Shipping Office officials, all the Shipping Office officials before the rotation existed the act of covering up the private transportation of firearms.

The wealthy in various parts of Jiangnan like Western strange skills and techniques the most, and have always had the hobby of using firearms to hunt for fun. The real private transportation of firearms is definitely more than these.

In addition, the Love Shenjing is located in the north and is the hub of the world. Someone stole new firearms from the north, and they must know that the government will check the north strictly to ensure the safety of the Love Shenjing.

Therefore, the person who stole the new firearms is likely to carry the stolen goods south. The south is wealthy, densely populated, and has several states that can pass to the outer sea, which is a good place for hiding and escaping.

And Jin Ling is a big port in Jiangnan, with a mixed flow of people, and it is a place where the north and south meet. If these stolen firearms pass through Jin Ling, it is not impossible.

Therefore, Ge ordered the Brocade Guard to check the personnel involved in the private transportation of firearms one by one.

One is to deter the act of private transportation and hiding of firearms, and the other is to hope to find clues related to the theft of new firearms.

But there is no one in the Brocade Guard who is familiar with firearms, and they know nothing about the stolen improved Lumichong guns.

So Ge ordered me to find Supervisor Jia and ask the Firearms Office to send personnel familiar with firearms to cooperate with the Brocade Guard to search and question suspicious people.

Ge also explained that Supervisor Jia is a firearm expert, the first person to advocate for the Great Zhou Firearms Strong Army, has always been resourceful, and is deeply trusted by the Emperor.

For this firearm private transportation investigation, all secrets must be open and honest to Supervisor Jia, and please give more guidance."

Liu Hai handed a list to Jia Cong and said: "This is the list of personnel involved in the private transportation of firearms extracted according to the Shipping Office documents, and it is also the investigation object of the Brocade Guard this time."

Jia Cong felt a move in his heart. Ge Ge Zhi Cheng, the Thousand-Household of the Jin Ling Brocade Guard, was so frank and unreserved to him in the investigation of the stolen firearms, which was a bit unexpected.

It is also possible that the Love Shenjing Brocade Guard Command had received permission from the palace to let the Jin Ling Brocade Guard adapt to local conditions and borrow the energy of himself, the Firearms Office Supervisor, which is unknown.

After all, even the improved Lumichong gun was developed by himself. In terms of familiarity with firearms, very few people can surpass himself.

Jia Cong said: "This is no problem. The guards I brought from the Love Shenjing this time are all musketeers of the Firearms Camp and are familiar with the use of the improved Lumichong gun.

It is most appropriate to draw a few and cooperate with you to investigate those who illegally transport firearms."

Jia Cong looked at the list Liu Hai gave him a few times, and one line of words caught his attention.

"Jin Ling Zhen clan, donated Grade 5 Vice Prefect, Zhen Shiwen."

Jia Cong asked: "Is this Zhen Shiwen a disciple of the Jin Ling Zhen family?"

Liu Hai replied: "This person is indeed a disciple of the Zhen family.

Zhen Yingjia, the president of the Tiren Academy in Jin Ling Province, has two sons. The eldest son is Zhen Shiwen, because he is the third, everyone outside calls him Cong Sanye Zhen.

Zhen Yingjia also has a youngest son, Zhen Baoyu, who has been raised in the hands of women in the inner chambers since childhood. He usually does not go out, but he is a dandy and spoiled son, not worth worrying about.

This Cong Sanye Zhen, however, is quite extraordinary.

Ever since the second master of the Zhen family, Zhen Yingquan, met with trouble at sea, Cong Sanye Zhen began to intervene in the management of the Zhen family's business.

In the past two years, he has been very active in the field outside.

At the beginning of this month, the merchant ship under his name entered Longtan Port and was searched by Wang Weian, an official newly transferred to the Shipping Office, who found three brand-new foreign Lumichong guns privately transported on the ship.

Therefore, Zhen Shiwen is also among the search and questioning objects of the Brocade Guard this time."

Jia Cong frowned when he heard this, and didn't know why he suddenly thought that Jia She had once instigated Jia Qiang to enter the Firearms Workshop.

Although this matter was sternly rejected by Jia Cong and did not cause any bad consequences, it left a deep impression on him.

It seems that every big clan will always have one or two guys who are not very law-abiding....

Jin Ling, Fenghejie.

In the core position of this street, a new shop called Xiuwen Pavilion opened. It had three rooms in a row, a very large storefront, and the shop hall was decorated exquisitely and elegantly, and all the items were exquisite.

At the beginning of the shop's opening, it attracted guests from all directions. The shop entrance was crowded with people, and carriages and horses followed one after another, becoming the most eye-catching scenery on Fenghejie.

The owner of this shop is Miss Zhen San, who is quite famous in the second branch of the Zhen family.

Nowadays, which of the major noble families in Jin Ling city does not know the extraordinary nature of this Miss Zhen San? The prosperity of the Zhen family's sea trade business is all managed by this Miss Zhen San.

I don't know for what reason, Miss Zhen San suddenly opened a new shop on Fenghejie. In addition to selling exquisite foreign goods, there are also many exquisite local goods in Jiangnan.

There is even top-grade perfume that is a hot seller of the Xinchun Firm.

The streets are rumored that Miss Zhen San opened a new shop because she had established a business path with the Xinchun Firm in Jin Ling city, and might cooperate in distribution and operation in the future.

As for the details, outsiders don't know, but it must not be groundless, because 40 bottles of top-grade Xinchun Firm perfume were actually placed on the display cabinet of Xiuwen Pavilion.

You know, ordinary merchants go to the Xinchun Firm for bulk procurement, and the quantity of top-grade perfume each time cannot exceed 20 bottles, and the number of procurement times per year is also strictly limited by the Xinchun Firm.

The purpose of the Xinchun Firm's operation is to prevent bulk purchases of top-grade perfume by retail customers, which will impact and weaken the sales of the Xinchun Firm's special branch shops in various places.

Therefore, Xiuwen Pavilion has the energy to place 40 bottles of top-grade Xinchun Firm perfume at one time.

According to insiders, Miss Zhen San must have signed a large cooperation contract with the Xinchun Firm.

In the past two years, the Xinchun Firm has laid out business paths in various states in Jiangnan, and has the protection of the Imperial Household Department's imperial merchant status, and its business is becoming more and more prosperous.

Nowadays, the Xinchun Firm has become the leader of the fragrance industry in Jiangnan and the famous imperial merchant gold signboard in Jin Ling city.

Miss Zhen San's newly opened Xiuwen Pavilion is vaguely endorsed by the imperial merchant Xinchun Firm.

Such a strange momentum-building move brought unexpected hot popularity to the opening of Xiuwen Pavilion!

Xiuwen Pavilion, second floor inner room.

Miss Zhen San, who was disguised as a man, wore a green men's soft robe, her hair was like ink, her jade hairpin was lustrous, she was dashing and stunning, her style was graceful, and she was hard to compare.

A pair of slender jade palms, ten fingers slender and delicate, soft and white like jade, flawless, had an unusual beauty, took the fragrant tea served by the maid Bei'er, and took a sip with an elegant manner.

She said to Liu Xian, who was standing by her side: "Uncle Xian, starting from next month, the dividends and surplus silver of the five shops that the first branch has invested in will be slowly allocated to the account of Xiuwen Pavilion."

Liu Xian's face became slightly solemn. As the chief steward of the second branch, he knew those five shops very well.

They were all founded by the second master, and they were the shops that made the most money for the Zhen family, no different from five geese that would lay golden eggs.

Ever since the second master of the Zhen family, Zhen Yingquan, met with trouble, Miss Zhen San, relying on her daughter's body, relying on her closeness with the Old Empress Dowager Zhen, and her own outstanding talent.

Successfully took charge of the business left by her father, but she also inevitably paid some price.

Because, no matter how capable she is, she is ultimately a woman, and one day she will marry someone else's wife.

Although the Zhen family's business was all founded by her father, she could take at most a few storefronts as a dowry when she married.

The business founded by her father, eight or nine out of ten, must remain in the Zhen family as a guarantee for the Zhen family to continue its wealth and glory.

Whether it is family property or family property, it is passed on to sons and not to daughters. This is the iron rule of the clan.

Although Miss Zhen San fought for the right to manage her father's business, she had to share 30% of the equity of the five best shops under her father's name with the first branch of the Zhen family.

In the eyes of outsiders, this is not an excessive thing. The Zhen family's second branch has already died out, leaving only one girl.

Now that the Old Madam of the Zhen family let the Third Miss manage the business on behalf of her father, it is already a great favor to a girl.

Letting her give up 30% of the equity of these shops to the first branch as a capital for the first branch's descendants to participate in managing the business seems to be a matter of course.

Because the Zhen family's first branch has two legitimate sons, after she marries in the future, these business shops must be managed by the first branch, not to mention giving up 30% first.

Although this matter was mentioned by the Old Madam in the family, the Madam of the first branch must have spoken behind her back, and the first master Zhen Yingjia did not say a word about this matter, and seemed indifferent.

But not speaking and not expressing an attitude means that Zhen Yingjia, as the head of the family, acquiesced to this matter. He didn't open his mouth personally, just because he was worried that his face would not look good.

As the trusted steward of the second branch, Liu Xian was very loyal to the Zhen Yingquan father and daughter. Although he was dissatisfied with this decision of the Zhen family, he was helpless with his status.

In the final analysis, no matter how outstanding and capable the Third Miss is, she is only a daughter. This world is like this.

Now, hearing Miss Zhen San make such a request, he naturally understood the meaning.

He said: "Third Miss, this matter can be done, but if you withdraw the old shop's silver flow, the Cong Sanye will definitely have something to say, I am afraid it will be a bit passive for the Third Miss."

Miss Zhen San smiled slightly and said: "If the Third Brother of the first branch asks, or makes things difficult, you just say that Xiuwen Pavilion has just opened and needs silver to operate.

Moreover, Xiuwen Pavilion has signed a contract with the Xinchun Firm and will open up business paths in Jiangnan in the future, communicating and selling business goods, so it also needs a lot of silver investment."

Liu Xian's eyes gradually brightened when he heard this. He suddenly understood some recent things.

Chief Manager Qu of the Xinchun Firm wanted to buy the idle farm in the east of the city of the Zhen family. According to common sense, the Zhen family's ancestral property is not easily sold.

At that time, the Third Miss ignored the opposition of the Cong Sanye of the first branch and sold it to the Xinchun Firm at a fair price. The only condition she fought for was to sign a perfume sales contract with the Xinchun Firm.

The quantity involved in that contract was very insignificant in Liu Xian's eyes.

This made Liu Xian once very confused. How could the Miss Zhen San, who was always shrewd and powerful, do such a business that was obviously unprofitable?

Because the contract clearly stated that Xiuwen Pavilion could only purchase 20 bottles of top-grade perfume from the Xinchun Firm per month.

The 40 bottles of perfume on the display cabinet were accumulated for two months in advance, and then displayed on the display cabinet at one time.

So our Third Miss had a plan for this matter early on....

But Liu Xian had stayed in the Zhen family for a lifetime and knew too well how many twists and turns there were in the big mansion, not to mention that the first branch was now eyeing the second branch's industry.

So he reminded: "Miss, even if the Cong Sanye can't stop us, I am afraid that the words will be passed to the Old Madam and the First Madam, and then things will be difficult to handle...." (End of chapter)