This time Xu Fu brought a lot of good news to Shen Yi. sting
The smooth flow of Western trade routes was just one piece of news.
The more important good news is that although the Western caravan did not bring Western gunsmiths this time, it did bring glass craftsmen to Shen Yi.
Glass…especially fully transparent glass.
This is very important stuff.
If the merchants brought back by the Western caravans can really make transparent glass this time, it will bring huge help to the entire Eastern civilization!
Because glass can not only make mirrors, but also telescopes, even astronomical mirrors, and more importantly, it can make "test tubes"!
In fact, a large part of the bud of modern science originated from glass. sting
Even leaving aside these long-term uses, for now, as long as there is transparent glass of the appropriate size, Shen Yi can easily build a batch of military telescopes.
This thing is very useful on the battlefield.
Of course, the two Western craftsmen are still in Lin'an Mansion, and Mr. Shen still doesn't know whether they can make pure transparent glass.
But it doesn't matter even if you can't make transparent glass.
As long as they can make glass, Shen Yi will arrange a dozen or so apprentices to follow them and learn all their skills. At that time, Mr. Shen will set up a glass workshop to provide some ideas and let them slowly study transparent glass. Just come out.
After withdrawing his thoughts from the two Western craftsmen, Shen Yi lowered his head and took a sip of tea, looked at the little guys around Xu Fu, and said with a smile: "You guys go out first, I will say a few words to Brother Xu."
Xu Fu turned around and glanced at everyone. Everyone, including Xu Liuniang, carefully exited the private room. sting
After they left, Shen Yi thought for a while and then said, "After you meet Eunuch Gao, His Majesty may take time to meet you."
"When the time comes, he will ask you about your business outside in the past few years."
Xu Fu lowered his head slightly and said, "Don't worry, Master. I understand. I will say whatever you ask me to say."
"Nonsense."
Mr. Shen frowned and said, "Just say whatever I ask you to say. Just say whatever happens to you. You must seek truth from facts."
"This time, it's very important for you."
Shen Yi whispered: "Your Majesty is very short of money right now." Zhe
"As long as you answer well, you can continue to maintain your status as an imperial merchant and even get some more resources."
At the beginning, the emperor gave Xu Fu the property that Li Mu had confiscated from his house to manage. In the past few years, although Xu Fu did not have any exaggerated "performance", his assets had also expanded a lot, and in the previous two years, Here, Xu Fu was almost always supplying blood to the anti-Japanese army.
This is already very good.
Mr. Shen continued: "The better you do as an imperial merchant, the more stable Eunuch Gao's position will be in the palace. The more stable Eunuch Gao's position will be, the better you will become as an imperial merchant."
This is what Shen Yi just said.
Now Xu Fu is no longer relying on Gao Ming unilaterally.
Because of the appearance of the eunuch Sun Jin, Gao Ming's position in the inner court has been threatened and even feels shaky. However, if Xu Fu can handle errands outside well, then Eunuch Gao can also rely on him in the palace. If the emperor says to kick him away, he will be kicked away. sting
Xu Fu bowed his head respectfully and said, "Thank you, Master, for your teaching. I understand."
Mr. Shen took another sip of tea, looked at Xu Fu, and said calmly: "Also, I told you last time that I wanted you to get married and have children as soon as possible. Have you thought about it?"
"How are you doing, little sister?"
Xu Fu lowered his head and was silent for a long time.
After a while, he looked up at Shen Yi and said, "Sir, the third and fifth sons..."
"They all seem to be in love with my little sister..."
A few years ago, when Xu Liuniang was begging with Xu Fu in Jiangdu, she was a dry little girl who looked extremely weak.
How attractive she is, but as she entered puberty in the past few years, various nutrients have also followed, and both her appearance and figure have undergone earth-shaking changes. sting
Now, this little rich woman from Jiankang cannot be said to be a stunning beauty, but she can still be said to be a beautiful little beauty.
Childhood sweethearts, the little boys who grew up with her, it would be natural for someone to be attracted to them.
Shen Yi frowned, glared at Xu Fu angrily, and said in a deep voice: "This is a matter between you and my little sister, what do you say to others?"
"Now, little sister, she is in love with you. As long as you nod, I will help you two make the decision on this matter. If others are unhappy, just let them come to me."
Shen Yi groaned: "A real man, how can I be a mother-in-law like you? You think about this and that all day long. When have you ever thought about yourself?"
"If your two brothers fall out with you because of this matter."
Mr. Shen muttered: "That's not a good thing either."
Xu Fu stood up silently, bowed deeply to Shen Yi and said, "Young master taught me a lesson."
"Please, sir, allow me to think about it for two days..."
"I said you were worried, but you still didn't take it seriously."
Mr. Shen stood up, sighed silently, patted Xu Fu on the shoulder, and said, "This is your personal matter, I won't get involved, but if you don't agree, you have to make it clear to Liu Niang. "
"If you succeed, just tell your two brothers in private."
"The most important thing is."
Master Shen said slowly: "Don't have the stupid idea of giving up my little sister to your two brothers. If you don't marry my little sister, she will probably not look down on anyone else." Zhe
Xu Fu lowered his head slightly and said, "Yes, I have written it down."
After saying this, he took out a golden lock from his arms, placed it in front of Shen Yi, and said, "Sir, this is the longevity lock made from a golden Buddha that has been enshrined for many years at Kaiyuan Temple in Fuzhou Prefecture. I spent a lot of effort to get it, if the young master doesn’t dislike it, I can take it back and give it to the young master.”
Shen Yi glanced at the golden lock and was a little curious: "How come the golden Buddha you enshrined melted?"
"The incense in Kaiyuan Temple is flourishing, and a larger golden Buddha has been cast."
Xu Fu answered honestly: "After the old golden Buddha was melted, ten longevity locks were cast and given to pilgrims in Fuzhou Prefecture as Buddha's blessings. They were then snapped up by the Fuzhou gentry. This longevity lock was also paid for by my trustee. It took a lot of thought to get it done.”
Mr. Shen touched his chin, then smiled hoarsely: "Since you are going to give such an expensive gift, you can just come and give it to that boy one day, and let him remember you as Uncle Xu."
As a materialist warrior, although Mr. Shen does not believe in these gods and Buddhas, he also knows that this thing should be very valuable according to the values of this era. sting
In addition, as a parent, you always want your children to be happy and healthy.
Therefore, he did not refuse this longevity lock.
However, the favor should be given to Xu Fu.
Xu Fu lowered his head slightly and said, "Yes, after I finish what I am doing these days, I will visit the old man, his wife and the young master."
Shen Yi nodded, stretched and said, "Well, that's all for today. You two are reunited after a long separation. I think you have a lot to say, so I won't disturb you here."
Xu Fu asked Shen Yi to stay for dinner, but Master Shen shook his head and refused and went home.
As soon as he got on the carriage and arrived at the door of his house, Shen Yi saw a man in shorts in his early thirties standing in front of his house and talking to the concierge at home. sting
This man was holding a box in his hand, and it looked like he was going to the Shen family to give a gift.
However, since Shen Yi took office as the doctor of the Martial Arts Department, countless generals have come to the Shen family to give gifts, so the Shen family's concierge did not let this person in.
Holding a wooden box in his hand, this man stood stubbornly at the door of Shen's house, refusing to leave.
Shen Yi got off the carriage and was immediately greeted by the concierge.
Come, salute to Shen Yi and call him Young Master.
Shen Yi glanced at this man and asked, "Who is this?"
The concierge was a man in his thirties. He lowered his head and replied: "Sir, this man claims to be Qianhu from the Mingzhou Guard. He insists on seeing you..."
Mr. Shen was stunned for a moment, and then he remembered something. He stepped forward and looked the man up and down, and asked, "What's your name?"
The man looked Shen Yi up and down and refused to answer. He just said dryly: "I am Mingzhou Wei Qianhu, and I want to see Mr. Shen Yi."
Obviously, he had no way of believing that the young man in front of him was Doctor Shen of the Ministry of War.
Mr. Shen smiled dumbly.
"I am Shen Yi."
Looking at the man's wide eyes, Master Shen looked calm.
"If I remember correctly, you came to my house years ago."
He looked at the man and asked, "What do you want from me?" Zhe
The man was stunned for a moment, then he knelt on the ground with a plop and kowtowed to Shen Yi.
"Su Ding, a humble official, would like to pay my respects to Mr. Shen!"
