Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 77 Hao Ren and the Black and White Impermanence

It was early morning three days later.

The fog over the Bohai Sea was about to dissipate and the temperature had not yet risen. A fleet of more than a hundred ships loaded with cargo left the port of Tianjin.

Hundreds of ships moved together like a dragon in the sea, frightening the fish on both sides and causing them to retreat.

On the treasure ship in the middle, Zhang Yunxiu stood at the bow, looking at the azure blue sea, smelling the cool sea breeze with a fishy smell, and letting the rising sun shine on his body.

The sun shines on my shoulders, making me feel like a free man.

"Sir, Boss Hao is here." Just as he was about to continue admiring, Han San walked onto the deck with a man dressed as a wealthy businessman.

Zhang Yunxiu looked back and saw that the man was about forty years old, short and stocky, with a strawberry nose, bulgy eyes, and a protruding belly. He walked like a walking toad.

He was wearing a round-necked silk robe with gold thread, a pair of black boots inlaid with jade beads, and three jade rings on his ten thumbs.

Just one look at it makes people feel very heroic.

This man is Hao Ren, the owner of "Qicaixia", the most famous cloth shop in Beijing.

This man had no family background to rely on, and his business was not very big at first. The real turning point came in the early years of the Wanli period, when Feng Bao became the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department.

He spent a lot of money to befriend Feng Bao's steward Xu Jue early on.

The two became good brothers who dug holes, stank together, and wore the same pants. From then on, with the help of Feng Bao's power, he could get whatever he wanted.

In just ten years.

He turned a small shop into the largest cloth store in the capital.

It has branches in Suzhou, Nanjing and other places.

In his words, judging people is like doing business.

The better something is, the sooner you should get it while it's cheap.

Therefore, when he learned that Zhang Yunxiu was working for the emperor, he voluntarily paid out ten thousand taels of silver to buy the goods. Afterwards, the two of them would split the profits in half, just as a way of showing support.

The two of them continued, and Zhang Yunxiu smiled at the sponsor: "Boss Hao, you have helped us a lot. Don't worry, after we go back, we will definitely tell the emperor about your generosity."

"Then I would like to thank you, Mr. Zhang." Hao Ren smiled and saluted.

He was very clear about his identity, and when he responded to Zhang Yunxiu, he used "little one" instead of "we".

After hearing this, Zhang Yunxiu felt even more pleased with this local tyrant.

He knows when to advance and when to retreat, and he has a sense of propriety. Although this person may seem boastful, his ability and courage in life are really likable.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu's goodwill, Hao Ren also warmed up and said tentatively: "Master Zhang, I heard that what you are selling this time is mainly salt? That thing is indeed very profitable, but I'm afraid it's not a good idea to sell it all at once."

Besides, selling salt in North Korea is not that easy.

"Don't worry about it. You will know it when the time comes." Zhang Yunxiu said mysteriously.

"Well then, I'll just wait for Master Zhang's brilliant plan to come into play." Hao Ren smiled ingratiatingly, and his three big golden teeth emitted a dazzling light under the sunlight.

While the two were talking, Han San also started chatting with the black-faced man: "Boss Zhao, don't say that we don't help you, my old brother. You helped me back then, and now I will help you too."

"Don't worry, we can save it." Boss Zhao nodded calmly. Originally, when Han San was still a small flag, he was a trial centurion.

As a result, Han San was lucky enough to first find Zheng Guotai, the brother of the current Concubine De.

He caught the eyes of the Zhang brothers and was promoted to a higher level.

Following Zhang Yunxiu, he rose rapidly in the span of more than a year and now wears the official robes of a deputy captain.

He moved into a bigger house and married a beautiful concubine.

However, he is still wasting his time on the position of trial centurion.

Seeing Han San enjoying such great success, he wanted to bite his back teeth to pieces.

Fortunately, this guy still has some conscience. He never forgets me, his big brother, when there is a benefit. This time he specifically asked to go with me when going out to sea.

As long as he gets on this ship, when he comes back, there will be no way he can escape, not to mention being a deputy captain, but a centurion.

As Boss Zhao was thinking, Han San patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile: "As long as you look after yourself, the young master will not let us down. In the future, not to mention a thousand households, you can even be the governor of a town."

"Then we have to rely on you, Mr. Han San." Boss Zhao smiled and said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Puh, puh, puh, Boss Zhao, you are embarrassing me." Han San spat a few times and said in a panic, "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be where we are today. From now on, you can still call me Lao San."

"Look how scared you are." Boss Zhao waved his hand.

"Han San! Han San." The two were chatting happily when Zhang Yunxiu's voice suddenly came up. Han San didn't dare to neglect him, and hurriedly said goodbye to Boss Zhao and ran to Zhang Yunxiu's side.

The two looked at each other, and Han San bowed his hands. Zhang Yunxiu motioned him to excuse himself, and then asked, "Have you sent someone to take away the things we asked Wang He to get?"

"I've brought them all." Han San nodded, and then said, "Master, how dare I forget what you told me? As long as they are fake things in Wang He's hands, I'll bring them all out and sell them all while I can."

"I'm confident in your work." Zhang Yunxiu smiled and glanced at Boss Zhao who was feeling uneasy behind the deck. He saw that he was as strong as an ox, with a face as black as charcoal and a fierce air.

I couldn't help but secretly admire him in my heart, what a brave man he is.

It's a pity for this man to be a Jinyiwei and torture prisoners. It would be better for him to be a pioneer, charge into battle, and get credit immediately.

Following Zhang Yunxiu's gaze, Han San was delighted and introduced, "Sir, that man is Zhao Dazhuang, whom I recommended. Because he is dark-skinned, the brothers in the Jinyiwei call him 'Black Boss'."

"Black boss?"

Zhang Yunxiu frowned, feeling something was not right.

Clicking his tongue, Zhang Yunxiu looked at Han San, then at Zhao Dazhuang. Seeing that one of them was black and the other was white, he couldn't help but tease, "Look, you are white, and he is black. When the two of you stand together, they really look like the Black and White Impermanence."

"Yes, we two are the Black and White Impermanence who take people's lives." Han San smiled and took the opportunity to show his loyalty, "Young Master is the King of Hell in the underworld. Whoever the King of Hell wants to die, we two little ones will take his soul away."

Zhang Yunxiu laughed loudly, and Hao Ren beside him couldn't help but click his tongue and said, "Third Master is loyal and devoted. With a Bai Wuchang like you, who would dare to harm Master Zhang in the future?"

"Boss Hao, I can't stand you calling me San Ye." Han San hurriedly declined with a smile.

"What's so unbearable? This is the prime minister's retainer, a seventh-rank official. I am a commoner, and you are a great thousand households. What are you afraid of?"

Hao Ren's expression changed and he answered seriously. Zhang Yunxiu didn't want to listen to Hao Ren's flattery anymore, so he urged him directly, "Okay, take a good rest these few days. If you have any skills, show them off when you get to North Korea."

(End of this chapter)