Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 102 The water's too cold; let's see if this pancake of mine is round or not~
The sky is clear and the sun is shining brightly.

The Qinhuai River, calm and still, is bathed in warm sunshine; the water temperature must not be too cold.

Qian Qianyi, wearing a Yangming headscarf, had a slight frown on his brow.

The person in front of me kept looking at the river and then at the hat on his head; it was incredibly rude of him.

"It was Mr. Muzhai in person."

Lin Dao cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and inquired, "Sir, why are you here instead of reading at Jiangyun Tower?"

Qian Qianyi frowned, feeling greatly dissatisfied.

We're complete strangers, yet you're meddling in my affairs.

"I do not need to report or explain my actions to others."

Upon hearing this, Lin Dao confirmed that the person in front of him was indeed Qian Qianyi.

One of the most famous figures of the late Ming Dynasty.

His most famous act was when Liu Rushi asked him to die for his country when the Ming Dynasty fell, but he refused, saying the water was too cold.

Later, Wild Boar Skin promoted the idea of ​​"keeping your hair but not your head," and he then took the lead in shaving his head by the haircut of a rat, claiming that his scalp was itchy.

Historical records show that last year, Qian Qianyi married Liu Rushi despite immense pressure.

Jiangyun Tower was built for Liu Rushi.

This incident caused a great sensation at the time.

Because he married the renowned courtesan Liu Rushi with great ceremony, not as a concubine carried in a sedan chair.

"To meet is to be destined."

Lin Dao quickly changed his mind, but on his face he put on a smile and said, "Mr. Muzhai, how about we have a drink together?"

Qian Qianyi simply shook his head. "I have other matters to attend to. Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, let's go our separate ways."

Logically speaking, for a retired official of his rank, if someone bumped into his sedan chair, a single report sent to the yamen would be enough to get that person arrested and imprisoned.

But Qian Qianyi was dismissed from his post.

Moreover, his marriage to Liu Rushi last year caused quite a stir.

He doesn't want to cause any more trouble.

Seeing that Qian Qianyi was about to leave, Lin Dao immediately stepped forward and said, "Mr. Muzhai, please don't be in a hurry. I have some rare items here that you like."

He knew very well that if he went through the normal channels...

Lin Dao, an unregistered resident, couldn't even get through the gate of Qian Qianyi's mansion.

Now that we've encountered him, we certainly can't just let him go.

The servants quickly gathered around, but Lin Dao didn't care at all and only said this one sentence.

Qian Qianyi raised his hand to stop the servants.

He observed that the man before him was imposing and tall, with a healthy and radiant complexion, making him appear extraordinary.

It's unlikely that he would commit such a crime in broad daylight.

"Although I am not a wealthy man," Qian Qianyi said with slight dissatisfaction, "my family is quite well-off and we don't lack anything rare."

Lin Dao smiled and said, "I've heard that Mr. Muzhai is fond of collecting books. I have an ancient copy of the 'Qi Lun' here. I wonder if you would be interested?"

Qian Qianyi, who was about to turn around and get into the sedan chair, stopped in his tracks.

He turned around and looked at Lin Dao, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"How can it be!?"

During the Han Dynasty, there were three versions of the Analects: the Lu Analects, the Qi Analects, and the Ancient Analects.

The "Qi Lun" section is unique because it includes two additional chapters, "Zhi Dao" and "Wen Wang".

However, the Qi Analects was gradually lost during the Wei and Jin Dynasties and was completely lost afterward.

Qian Qianyi was a descendant of Qian Liu, the King of Wuyue, and his family had been a family of nobles for generations.

He himself served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court.

He didn't care about valuables or jewelry.

I've seen quite a few rare and unusual imported goods over the years.

When Lin Dao talked about other things, he would at most give a wry smile and turn to leave.

But he becomes agitated when it comes to the lost Confucian texts.

This isn't about money!
At this moment, Lin Dao actually took a step back.

"Mr. Muzhai, would you mind sitting down for a chat?"

Recovering from his shock, Qian Qianyi looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Do you really have it? Do you know that the Qi Lun was lost as early as the Wei and Jin Dynasties?"

"Whether it truly exists or not, you will know when I present it to you."

Lin Dao wasn't lying to him; it really was true.

When they captured Ye City, Wang Meng was eager to collect all kinds of classic books.

When they conquered Jiangzuo and confiscated the homes of wealthy and powerful families, they found countless books and bamboo slips.

This includes Qi Lun.

Qian Qianyi stared at Lin Dao carefully, observing that he did not seem to be faking it.

He nodded and said, "Okay."

He looked around and gestured to the large pleasure boat beside him, saying, "Please."

In broad daylight, they boarded the pleasure boat. Lin Dao stepped forward and followed him onto the boat.

The high-end pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River are essentially pursuing fame.

Gentry and gentry people enjoyed engaging in lively discussions on pleasure boats.

Having a master performer by your side is an even more elegant affair.

Therefore, entertaining guests on a high-class pleasure boat is a trend in this era, not a trivial matter.

As for those who specialize in that business, they are usually on small boats similar to awning boats.

People with some status or position wouldn't go.

"Mr. Muzhai is here!" The madam, who had clearly just gotten up, hurriedly stepped forward to greet him. "I dreamt of magpies calling last night, and now it has come true."

It seems that Qian Qianyi is a regular here, and quite a few people know him.

"Today we are gathering with friends, and we would like to borrow your esteemed space for a moment."

Qian Qianyi spoke very politely, without showing any arrogance because of the other party's status.

"This young master is truly a handsome man," the madam said with a radiant smile and a melodious voice. "If the girls on the boat saw him, they would surely be unable to resist him!"

Lin Dao didn't understand, taking it as just polite talk.

Qian Qianyi, however, understood. He smiled and asked, "I still don't know your esteemed name, young friend?"

"His surname is Lin, his given name is Dao, and his courtesy name is Zihou."

"Mr. Muzhai, Young Master Zihou." The madam stepped forward to lead the way. "Please."

The cabins were spacious and had many partitions. We entered one of the private rooms, which was beautifully decorated with flowers and paintings.

Lin Dao glanced at the calligraphy and paintings and noticed that the signature on one of them was Tang Yin from Jinchang.

Along the Qinhuai River, a painting by Tang Bohu was displayed on any random pleasure boat.

Could it be a fake?
He misunderstood that.

This is no ordinary pleasure boat; it is one of the most prestigious pleasure boats on the entire Qinhuai River.

The forces behind it are even connected to a certain noble family.

Maids served fruits, snacks, and tea.

The madam was very good at reading people's expressions. She could tell that the two had something to talk about, so she said a few nice words and then took her leave.

The so-called private rooms on these pleasure boats are not actually enclosed by cabin doors; they are simply partitioned by screens.

Lin Dao glanced at the screen, which was painted with portraits of ladies.

I imagine that if it were taken to the modern world, it would easily fetch over a million dollars.

Now, we can finally get down to business.

"Mr. Muzhai".

Lin Dao spoke frankly, "I have returned from the sea and intend to do business in Jinling City, selling some overseas products."

Upon hearing this, Qian Qianyi understood.

They've come looking for a powerful backer.

The city of Jinling is a place where hidden talents and powerful figures gather, and where people from all walks of life converge.

If you want to do business here, without connections or powerful backers, you'll be eaten alive, leaving not even bones behind.

Thinking of this, Qian Qianyi's face clearly showed a more confident expression.

"Although I have retired from officialdom, I still have some influence in Jiangnan."

"If Zihou wants to do business in Jinling, I can certainly offer some assistance."

According to the rules of this era, Lin Dao should next pledge allegiance and register the shop under his name.

Afterwards, not only will you be able to obtain the lost "Qi Lun" (Discourse on Qi), but you will also have a stable income.

For Qian Qianyi, this was a sure-fire way to make money.

Unfortunately, Lin Dao's thoughts were not quite the same as his.

"I'm doing this to give you face, but you still want to take advantage of me?"

Now that they needed Qian Qianyi, Lin Dao remained expressionless and began to paint a rosy picture for him.

“Mr. Muzhai, the nation is now in decline, beset by internal strife and external threats from the Jurchens. We urgently need a capable minister like Mr. Muzhai to step forward, support the country, and turn the tide.”

He had done his research and knew that Qian Qianyi was obsessed with officialdom.

Compared to Qi Lun, returning to the public eye to revitalize the business is clearly more appealing.

These words truly resonated with Qian Qianyi.

He picked up his teacup and sighed deeply.

"I also wish to serve the country and share the emperor's burdens."

"Alas~ sigh~~~"

He was driven out of the court by Wen Tiren and Zhou Yanru.

Zhou Yanru is still the Grand Secretary, and the Emperor is even more dissatisfied with the Donglin Party.

He wants to revive the regime?
Totally impossible.

"Times change."

Lin Dao shook his head, neither confirming nor denying, "The court is currently in turmoil, and the emperor cannot sleep at night."

"If Mr. Muzhai can solve the Emperor's urgent problem, the matter of being reinstated and given important responsibilities will be within reach."

Qian Qianyi was greatly surprised: You understand the political situation?

"What is the most urgent matter for the emperor, as Zihou has mentioned?"

"Money, silver." Lin Dao picked up his teacup. "If Mr. Muzhai can raise a large sum of silver for the Emperor, the restoration will be a piece of cake, and he may even be highly valued for it."

“It’s not that easy.” Qian Qianyi shook his head repeatedly. “What the emperor needs is probably not even a few hundred thousand taels of silver, it must be at least a million.”

"Although I have some family wealth, how could I possibly have millions?"

“Mr. Muzhai may not have it, but I do,” Lin Daotu revealed his true intentions. “As long as Mr. Muzhai supports me, I can get the business going.”

"Let alone a million taels, even several million or tens of millions of taels is not impossible."

"When Mr. Muzhai presents several million taels of silver to the Emperor, he will surely be highly regarded by the Emperor and could be appointed as the Grand Secretary."

Lin Dao took a sip of tea, his heart filled with smiles.

Once I've established a foothold, the money I earn will be my military funds.

You want money from me?
Go ask the soldiers I've raised, and whether their weapons agree!
When the time comes, you, Qian Muzhai, can eat the big, round pancake I drew.

Qian Qianyi looked at Lin Dao as if he were a fool.

You're really making a big deal out of yourself!
"Zihou, what kind of business do you run that you dare to make such a boast?"

Several million taels!

The annual tax revenue of the Ming Dynasty was only a few coins!

Upstairs in the flower boat.

The madam hurriedly pushed open the door and entered.

"My dear daughter, the sun's already high in the sky, why are you still sleeping?"

On the embroidered cloud couch, a beautiful young girl with delicate, snow-white skin, exquisite features, and stunning appearance clung to the quilt and swayed back and forth.

"Last night, Young Master Pijiang and the others played drinking games and made a ruckus until very late."

"My daughter laughed all night, and her face was almost swollen from laughing, so I let her sleep a little longer."

"My dear daughter." The madam sat down by the bed. "It's not that I don't care about you, it's just that Mr. Muzhai has come."

The girl remained unmoved.

"Mr. Muzhai has already married Lady Hedong."

Having already married a renowned master, how could there possibly be any other opportunities to acquire a master?

These women have a very clear understanding of things.

"There is a young man beside Mr. Muzhai."

The madam continued talking, "I can tell he must be from a wealthy family, the kind that's extremely rich."

The girl, who was holding a cup with her back to the madam, suddenly sat up and greeted her.

"Cui Liu, come quickly and get ready~~~"

"Bring me my embroidered gold moon-flower dress~~~"

(End of this chapter)