The arrival of the eighth eldest son of the Shen family made Shen Yi overjoyed.
It’s not just because of these 50,000 shi of food.
One stone of grain weighs more than one hundred kilograms. Although these 50,000 stone of grain are quite a lot, almost enough to feed 50,000 people for a whole year, it is not critical on a battlefield like this.
because…
Although the entire Huai'an Army has only more than 100,000 main combat personnel, there are also many "auxiliary" personnel.
Not to mention other things, the number of civilians transporting food and building fortifications may exceed this number. There are also some miscellaneous personnel, such as horse breeders and craftsmen in firearms camps. Together, the number is almost double that of the main army. combat personnel.
If all relevant personnel were counted, the number of people involved would be even more terrifying.
This is the reason why Shen Yi is short of food.
Even if these 50,000 shi of food were only supplied to the vanguard army, they would probably only be able to last for four or five months.
Compared with these grains, Shen Yi values other things more.
In a restaurant in Zhaoyuan, two brothers sat face to face. Master Shen looked at Shen Xu with a smile, a kind and kind expression on his face.
"Old man, your family..."
"Do we need to transport food from the sea?"
"yes."
After Shen Xu answered, he looked up at Shen Yi. Seeing Shen Yi's expression, he immediately understood Shen Yi's purpose.
The cousin in front of me, whom he has never met before, is not only interested in the 50,000 shi of grain, but also the channel to transport the grain!
As soon as he thought of this, he heard Mr. Shen say with a smile: "After these fifty thousand stones of grain, how about Brother Yu paying to buy grain from your family?"
Master Shen said with a serious face: "Brother, don't worry, we have the same surname Shen, I won't let you suffer. As long as it can be shipped, the price will be higher than the market price."
Shen Yi added: "The travel expenses brought here also belong to Brother Yu."
Shen Xu reached out, poured a cup of tea for Shen Yi, and said, "Brother Qi..."
After he said this, he looked up at Shen Yi and said with a smile, "Can you shout now?"
Mr. Shen smiled broadly.
"Brother, what are you talking about? You and I are related by blood, what's the point?"
Shen Xu filled Shen Yi's tea, and then said softly: "Seventh brother, most of my father, mother, and family members are in Taiyuan now."
"Our family is helping us now, just for your sake, Brother Qi."
"And Seventh Brother should understand that since my family members are all in Northern Qi, the food cannot be transported from Qi."
Shen Yi was startled, then understood, and frowned slightly: "It was shipped from the south?"
"Um."
Shen Xu said softly: "My family's business has become bigger. A few years ago, when the two countries were relatively peaceful, there were some small businesses in the south. My family is a grain store and doesn't do anything else. Therefore, in In the south, several grain stores have also opened.”
He looked at Shen Yi and said helplessly: "My younger brother was in charge of these businesses in the south before. Even now that all the grain stores in the south have been closed, all the grain is sent to Brother Seven."
"Except for the 50,000 dan of food that will be delivered, I'm afraid it will only be 30,000 to 40,000 dan more at most."
Hearing this number, Shen Yi frowned slightly.
It cannot be said that it is a drop in the bucket, but the effect is not as great as imagined.
Shen Xu looked at Shen Yi and said, "If Brother Qi can conquer Taiyuan in the future, my family can ensure that Brother Qi will not be short of food."
When Shen Yi heard this, he smiled dumbly.
"If Taiyuan is captured, it means that Yandu is not far away. At that time, without the help of Sanbo's family, countless northern merchants will rush to send money and food."
Shen Xu also nodded and said with a wry smile: "My father is already a little prominent in Taiyuan. It is not convenient for the whole family to run away. Otherwise, most of his old people will find a way to escape to Shandong."
Mr. Shen lowered his head, took a sip of tea, and chuckled, "Understood."
He has checked the details of his third uncle, and now he can be said to be one of the most wealthy businessmen in the entire Northern Qi Dynasty. It cannot be said that he is inconspicuous, but he is simply dazzling.
Shen Yi lowered his head and thought for a while, then suddenly asked.
"Eighth brother, who is your family's backer in Northern Qi?"
Shen Xu was stunned, and after being silent for a long time, he lowered his voice and said, "Prince Zhao Xiong of Jin."
"Brother of the late Emperor."
Hearing this, Shen Yi nodded slightly.
The word "Jin" is a popular royal title. It is not surprising that there was a Jin king in the Southern Dynasty and another in the Northern Dynasty. Moreover, the land of the Three Jin Dynasties is now in the hands of the Northern Qi Dynasty. Maybe the Prince of Jin in the Northern Qi Dynasty is relatively justified.
As for the Shen family in the Northern Dynasties, it was even more normal to have a prince as a backer. Without a backer, not to mention whether the business could grow bigger, even if it did, it would have been wiped out by those Zhuli masters long ago. .
Speaking of which, the third uncle, Shen Ming, defected to the Jin Dynasty in the north. Shen Yi's father, Shen Zhang, worked in the Jin Dynasty in Jiankang in his early years.
It's quite a coincidence.
Shen Yi lowered his head and took a sip of tea, thought seriously for a while, and then asked: "Is your family related to the family of Prince Jin...Jin?"
Shen Xu looked troubled and did not answer.
Shen Yi frowned slightly and said softly: "In this case, your family may have to change their names in the future."
Shen Xu whispered: "Seventh brother, our family is in Taiyuan, and we have never used our real names."
While he was talking, the food was already served.
The two brothers were eating and talking.
After the meal was finished, Master Shen and Shen Xu stood up and left together. When they walked to the door, he patted Shen Xu on the shoulder and said, "I owe the third uncle's favor for these 50,000 shi of grain."
"If Taiyuan City is taken down in the future, Sanbo's family will have a special identity."
Shen Yi paused and said, "The identity of the inner guard."
Shen Xu was excited. He looked up at Shen Yi, took a deep breath, and said, "Brother, if you can really hit Taiyuan City."
"I dare not say that I can open the gate of Taiyuan City, but at least it can make you feel more relaxed."
He continued: "In two months, I will bring you all the remaining grain from the south, and spend some money to buy some more, and I will get you another fifty thousand shi!"
He looked serious: "I won't take any money."
Shen Yi shook his head slightly: "I want the food, but I have to give you the money."
Shen Xu smiled and said, "You can't ask for this money."
"We have the same surname, Shen. If my family hadn't gone to the north, we would have been a family with blood thicker than water. When it came to the Jiankang court, if the seventh brother bought food for his family, no matter how much money he spent, there would be someone behind his back to make a fuss about it. .”
"I've already done this favor, so I won't let Seventh Brother have any more excuses."
Mr. Shen gave a "tsk" sound and gave Shen Xu a thumbs up.
"As expected of a businessman, brother, you are thoughtful and tactful in your thinking."
Shen Xu shook his head slightly and sighed: "In my early years, I also wanted to be like Seventh Brother."
Shen Yi smiled: "How about I take the exam to become an official? Should I go to Jiankang to take the exam, or go to Yandu to take the exam?"
Shen Xu sighed: "Because of this, it is just a dream."
"I heard that my ninth brother from my hometown..."
Shen Yi's face was calm: "He was born in the Han Dynasty, and now he is a member of Zhongshushe, serving as a close servant to the emperor."
Shen Xu became even more envious, lowered his head slightly and said, "After hearing this, my father really doesn't know how much he should envy his fourth uncle."
He raised his hands to Shen Yi and said, "Brother Qi, that's all for today. I'm going to help you with food."
"Try to get a little more for you to make it easier for you."
Shen Yi returned the favor and said with a smile: "Then I will shamelessly accept the eighth brother's capital."
Shen Xu smiled, turned around and strode away.
Yes, the food their family sent to Dengzhou was indeed their investment.
Now, after Master Shen's words, he, the eighth eldest son of the Shen family, decided to invest more.
………………
The battle in Dengzhou changed almost every day.
Ten days after Shen Xu left, Wan Zhong's troops had surrounded Penglai City. It was only a matter of time before the city was broken.
At this time, Shen Yi, as the coach, did not stay in Dengzhou. Instead, he took a group of followers and rode westward, heading straight to Qingzhou where the war was raging.
It is worth mentioning that this time Ye Chan was able to keep up with her on horseback.
Firstly, the weather has warmed up a lot, and secondly, she has gradually adapted to the process of traveling.
After running for three or four days, the group finally arrived in Qingzhou and arrived at the Huaian Army Camp in Qingzhou.
Su Ding, the general of the left army, led a group of generals out of the camp to greet him. They were still standing on both sides, shouting at Shen Gong, and the queues were full.
Mr. Shen jumped off his mount, helped Su Ding up, and asked with a smile: "We haven't seen you for a few months. General Su seems to have gained some weight."
"How's the fight going in Qingzhou?"
Su Ding looked up at Shen Yi, then lowered his head again, his face calm.
“It went surprisingly well.”
(End of chapter)
