My eunuch godfather

Chapter 85 A Triumphant Return

After listening to Xu Fo's report, Zhang Kun asked, "How do you think we should persuade the Duke of Wei's mansion?"

"Does this Buddhist servant think that, like Governor Xu, he's just giving away three thousand shares to the Duke of Wei's mansion for free?"

Xu Fo suggested to Zhang Kun, "The Fukang Company of the Duke of Wei's mansion is offering the most money for Su Jun Club; is it worth this price?"

"We won't give them away for free; we'll sell 10,000 shares to the Duke of Wei's mansion."

Zhang Kun shook his head and explained to Xu Fo:

"The Duke of Wei's mansion is different from Governor Xu's. If you give away three thousand shares for free, they will only feel ashamed."

After selling 10,000 shares, find a pretext to return most of the 30,000 taels; that would be proper.

Upon learning that the Duke of Wei's mansion was also going to purchase shares of the Red Eyebrows, Zheng Tuoniang, Ma Ruyu, and Zhu Wuxia immediately took action.

He spent a total of over 12,000 taels of silver to purchase more than 4,000 shares, and at the same time announced his withdrawal from the Su Jun Association.

After a series of battles between the Jin Yun Society and the Su Jun Society, the Su Jun Society now has a certain influence in Nanjing.

The simultaneous announcement of the withdrawal of three top members of the Su Jun Club has immediately sparked heated discussions.

Soon rumors spread that they had left the Su Jun Society because of their discord with Xue Susu.

Just as the discussion was in full swing, another major piece of news was released:

The Jin Yun Club announced its "dissolution," and Wang Wei, Zheng Tuoniang, Ma Ruyu, and Zhu Wuxia jointly established the Qinhuai Club!

The newly established Qinhuai Club has already received sponsorship from major Tamsui merchants such as Nanjing Jinyun and Fukang.

The first Qinhuai gathering, themed "Red Eyebrows," will be co-hosted by the four top beauties of Qinhuai!

......

After learning that Xu Fo was being kept by Zhang Kun, Yang Wan began to frequently visit Taoye Ferry.

The reason given was that the first Qinhuai Festival was to be held at Taoye Ferry, and they came to help.

In reality, they envied Xu Fo for being kept by a sugar daddy and rising to prominence, while simultaneously overseeing the Qinhuai Club and the Nanjing Hongmei and Guangwen ships.

In Yang Wan's heart, the Nanjing Guangwen Ship carries the most weight:

Some lesser-known scholars and writers wanted their poems published in Guangwen Journal.

Their attitude towards Xu Fo had actually become somewhat respectful!

Even my husband has been compiling something called "Wubei Zhi" (Treatise on Military Preparedness) in recent years, hoping that the Nanjing Guangwen Press will help publish it.

He also kept urging her to get closer to Xu Fo and speak on his behalf.

It's so annoying!

Xu Fo did not refuse Yang Wan; instead, he helped create opportunities for her.

Having another sister means that Zhang Kun, that beast, will cause her less trouble at night.

However, Zhang Kun was unwilling to have affairs with other men's concubines, even if the other woman didn't care.

As for Wang Wei, she felt a bit envious and even jealous.

But now that she is at the height of her fame, she plans to continue traveling and enjoying the scenery after the first few Qinhuai gatherings.

If Zhang Kun had taken the initiative, she would most likely have agreed, but Zhang Kun clearly wasn't interested.

In Zhang Kun's opinion, Wang Wei was too young and her body had not yet fully developed.

They were far less mature than Cheng Wenqing, Xu Fo, and Yang Wan, and their minds were also not mature enough.

......

The Nanjing Jinyun Admiral's Residence.

It is now early April, and Zhang Kun is about to set off to return north. Xu Bengao has arranged a banquet to see him off.

Zhang Kun spent more than three months in Yangzhou and Nanjing, collaborating with major salt merchants in the Lianghuai salt industry to establish the Nanjing Jinyun Company.

The company hyped up the stocks of Tambak and Nanjing Jinyun, ultimately organizing the Tambak Conference and establishing Nanjing Jinyun's dominant commercial position.

He revitalized the Nanjing Imperial Guard and successfully solved the major case of the rebellion at Shuixi Gate involving the male members of the Qi clan.

They also established the Nanjing Guangwenhao, Hongmeihao, and Qinhuai Club for their own businesses.

He was about to return to the capital with 400,000 taels of silver, of which 100,000 taels were earned by himself.

Three hundred thousand taels were received through the Tampagu Conference and were to be presented to the Wanli Emperor.

There are also 20 catties of raw bamboo shoots, which will be supplied as raw materials for the Jinyun ship in Beijing.

In addition, the grain promised to Shandong Governor Li Changgeng and Fengyang Governor Chen Jian for "relief purposes" to open shops has already begun to be transported north.

It can be said that the harvest was extremely rich—you should know that when Zhang Kun left the capital, he only took less than 3 taels of silver with him!

Zhou Zhong, who left the capital with Zhang Kun, will resign from his position as the garrison commander of the river engineering battalion and remain in Nanjing.

Because of his merits in the Battle of Shuixi Gate, Xu Bengao decided to appoint Zhou Zhong as the Chief Secretary of the Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The military personnel responsible for reorganizing and training the Nanjing Imperial Guards selected the strongest and most capable soldiers to be incorporated into standard battalions.

"Kun, Brother Kun!"

Zhou Zhong, who had drunk quite a bit, grabbed Zhang Kun's shoulder and drunkenly advised him:

"In the future, never again do what you did at the T-junction and personally charge to the front."

We brothers are all counting on... counting on you, Brother Kun, to help us get promoted and make a fortune. You can't let anything happen to you!

Xu Bengao has a considerable number of capable men under his command.

If Zhou Zhong only had merit in the battle of Shuixi Gate, he would not have been able to obtain the position of Vice Commander of the Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard.

To a large extent, this was because Zhou Zhong had once gone south with Zhang Kun to recruit river workers, and they had formed a close relationship, addressing each other as brothers.

"Don't worry, I won't be so reckless again!"

Zhang Kun patted Zhou Zhong on the shoulder and said in a low voice, "Old Zhou, you need to be careful of the Zhejiang people here in Nanjing!"

If there was anything unsatisfactory about this trip south...

That is, the Nanjing Jinyun has not yet completely subdued the Mingzhou in Ningbo, Zhejiang.

Behind the Mingzhou stood many Zhejiang officials and gentry, represented by Shen Yiguan.

Today, the Zhejiang faction is the largest faction in the imperial court, and Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe effectively controls the cabinet.

With the support of the Zhejiang Party, the Mingzhou could challenge the Nanjing Jinyun's status as a legitimate merchant ship at any time.

According to information Zhang Zhiyuan had gathered, some Zhejiang officials and gentry were already making moves around.

They wanted to separate Zhejiang from the jurisdiction of the Nanjing Jinyun ship and make the Mingzhou ship the main trading post in Zhejiang!

Zhang Kun had no good solution to this, and could only instruct Xu Bengao, Zhou Zhong, and others to remain vigilant against Zhejiang.

As the two were talking, Zhang Zhiyuan leaned over and said to Zhang Kun with a regretful expression:

"Brother Kun, it's a pity I can't travel north with you. Please be careful on your journey!"

Zhang Zhiyuan also needed to first establish the Nanjing Yingfu Company of the British Duke's Mansion to help maintain the price alliance after the Tambaku Conference.

He had to stay in Nanjing, and Zhang Jingzhen couldn't go back north with Zhang Kun alone, so the marriage couldn't be arranged for the time being.

Meanwhile, Taoye Ferry on the banks of the Qinhuai River.

Xu Fo was completely overwhelmed by Zhang Jingzhen's presence and could only follow behind like a maid.

How many shares of Red Eyebrow are left for sale?

Zhang Jingzhen wandered around the courtyard and suddenly asked Xu Fofa a question.

"Reporting to Young Lady, the Red Eyebrow Company has a total of 100,000 shares, and there are still 5,400 shares remaining."

After answering Zhang Jingzhen's question, Xu Fo suddenly thought of something and asked in return, "Are you planning to buy it?"

"right,"

Zhang Jingzhen nodded to Xu Fo and explained:

"I plan to invest in Hongmei under the name of Yingfuhao, acquiring all 5,400 shares. Is that alright?"

"Wouldn't it be better to ask your family first?"

Xu Fo smiled and asked Zhang Jingzhen:

"Five thousand four hundred shares cost sixteen thousand two hundred taels of silver, that's no small sum!"

"I've already asked, and if it's possible, the money will be sent over immediately!"

This is a new strategy that Zhang Zhiyuan and Zhang Jingzhen have come up with: to increase cooperation as much as possible.

Once the Duke of England's business partnership with Zhang Kun is substantial enough, he will have no choice but to marry Zhang Jingzhen!