Fuchun County.
In a shipbuilding workshop near the river, Xu Ziyuan was repairing a small boat docked.
Many people in coastal areas rely on the sea to eat, and every household has a small boat to fish near the coast. Small boats like that were repaired by the common people themselves. When they were no longer usable, they were sent to workshops for overhaul.
The boats repaired by the workshop are mainly large boats used by large families specializing in fishing, as well as rebuilt boats.
Xu Ziyuan is a master in this area.
In the workshop, he is the leading talent, proficient in the manufacture of various large ships, and is best at mortise and tenon structures.
The boat manufactured by Xu Ziyuan not only has a stable hull, but also has very good waterproof performance. However, in his heart, he wanted to build a bigger and more powerful warship, but unfortunately no one used it, and even if he had ideas, he couldn't put them to use.
Xu Ziyuan is in his thirties, not tall but very strong, with a dark face, short and thick arms, calloused palms, and a very honest face.
His appearance has always been ordinary.
In other words, he's not even ordinary, he just looks like a farmer.
In the past, Yangzhou scholars paid great attention to their family background. Xu Ziyuan was not from a big family, but was just a child from a poor family. He read some books and studied with Yan Xuanqing. On the other hand, just look at the face and whether he is handsome or not, but Xu Ziyuan's appearance is also bad.
So Xu Ziyuan had no chance to become an official.
In desperation, Xu Ziyuan turned to his hobby and studied the manufacturing of various equipment. Especially in the construction of boats, he showed unparalleled talent.
Many people are unable to use the mortise and tenon technique flexibly in shipbuilding, but Xu Ziyuan used it just right, making the boat stable and reliable and able to withstand wind and waves.
At this moment, Xu Ziyuan was busy repairing the ship.
Under the sunshine, Xu Ziyuan's upper body was bare, his strong arms exposed, and he kept knocking on the boat to repair the broken parts on the boat.
"Old Xu, Old Xu..."
Suddenly, urgent shouts came.
When Xu Ziyuan heard the sound, he stuck his head out of the boat, looked at the person running outside the boat, and recognized him as Niu Zhuang, his good brother in the workshop. In the workshop, there are many craftsmen, all of whom were recruited by Xu Ziyuan, so that the current scale of the workshop can be achieved.
Xu Ziyuan asked: "Daniu, what's the matter?"
Niu Zhuang ran under the boat and beckoned: "Come down quickly. There is a letter from you. It says that it is from your teacher and that he wants to see you if there is something urgent."
Xu Ziyuan was stunned.
teacher!
His teacher was Yan Xuanqing, a great scholar from Yangzhou.
Yan Xuanqing has always taught without distinction. Whether he is a child of a big family, a poor family, or an ordinary person, Yan Xuanqing is willing to teach him.
Xu Ziyuan is a disciple of Yan Xuanqing.
Xu Ziyuan felt that he was ashamed of his teacher and his teachings, because he was just a ship repairer and builder, without any attainments in Confucian classics, let alone as famous as Yu Song in Yangzhou.
Xu Ziyuan came to his senses, took the letter from Niu Zhuang, and read it quickly.
Niu Zhuang asked: "Old Xu, what did your teacher say?"
Xu Ziyuan did not hide anything and said: "The teacher said that the emperor put down the rebellion of King Wu Zhaogou in Wu County and invited the teacher to serve as an official. After talking with the emperor, the teacher personally recommended me to the emperor for shipbuilding and asked me to go to Wuxian to meet the emperor."
ah! !
Niu Zhuang exclaimed in surprise.
His face was full of disbelief, and he immediately became happy for Xu Ziyuan. After all, he knew that Xu Ziyuan was Yan Xuanqing's disciple.
Niu Zhuang was happy in his heart and said eagerly: "Old Xu, this is your chance. I knew you were extraordinary, and now the opportunity has indeed come."
Xu Ziyuan said: "Daniu, I'm still a little hesitant."
Niu Zhuang was stunned for a moment and asked, "Why are you hesitating?"
Xu Ziyuan said: "The reason why I hesitate is that I am worried that I will live up to the teacher's high expectations. Besides, I can build ships and nothing else."
Niu Zhuang said: "You are stupid. Your teacher recommended you and asked you to build a ship. Do you still care whether you live up to this or not?"
"Have you forgotten that you are always being squeezed by Cao Mang, a black-hearted carrot here? Every once in a while, Cao Mang will find trouble for you and deduct money, so you are the only one who endures it."
"Now that the emperor has taken a liking to you and has the opportunity to rise to fame, why are you still hanging around?"
"Let's go see Cao Heixin."
Niu Zhuang pushed Xu Ziyuan and said, "Go to the emperor's side first. Once done, the brothers will rely on you for help."
Xu Ziyuan said with emotion: "You and I, brothers, will never live without you if I have something to eat."
Niu Zhuang pushed and Xu Ziyuan went to Gongfang Cao Mang's residence.
When he came outside the house, Niu Zhuang pushed. Xu Ziyuan no longer hesitated and knocked on Cao Mang's door. When he heard the answer of "come in", Xu Ziyuan entered the room.
Cao Mang was in his early forties and had already gained weight. His little eyes were slightly narrowed and he was drinking tea.
He stroked a little mustache under his chin, and with an impatient look on his face, he said, "Xu Ziyuan, what brings you here? Why are you always running over to me instead of repairing the ship?"
"Are you here today to ask for wages from Niu Zhuang? Let me tell you, no! Whether it's Niu Zhuang or Zhang Mazi, wages have to be temporarily suppressed. I'm not a charity, so how can I just go with it? Settle money as you please."
Cao Mang said angrily: "Do you really think that the workshop can't move around without you? Don't come here if you have nothing to do."
Xu Ziyuan said: "Shopkeeper Cao, I'm here to resign."
"What?"
Cao Mang was so startled that he tore off a beard, which made him grimace in pain. He stared at Xu Ziyuan and said, "Who is this blind person who wants to poach me?"
Xu Ziyuan said: "No, I want to leave on my own."
Cao Mang asked: "Where are you going?"
Xu Ziyuan was more honest and did not refuse. He replied: "My teacher wrote a letter saying that the emperor needs a shipbuilder and recommended me to work in Wuxian County."
"Hahaha……"
Cao Mang couldn't help laughing.
Laughter freely.
I don’t even believe it.
Cao Mang laughed heartily and stopped after a long while, mockingly saying: "Xu Ziyuan, Xu Ziyuan, if you don't take a pee and look at yourself, how can a person as high as the emperor use you?"
"Look at yourself, you are dark and short, how can the emperor use you? Even if you have read books and can read, can you speak well? Can you recite poems and compose poems? Can you write classics?"
"You are just a shipbuilder."
"Even if the emperor is looking for you, you can't find a suitable reason."
Cao Mang snorted and said, "The emperor is so high up and busy with everything. He can't even sleep with the women in the harem, so why would he want to find you? Well, don't wait any longer and hurry up and repair the ship."
Xu Ziyuan's cheeks twitched and he said again: "I really want to resign. The teacher recommended me to the emperor."
Cao Mang's face fell.
He walked up to Xu Ziyuan, stretched out his fat and short fingers, poked Xu Ziyuan's chest, and said contemptuously: "Xu Ziyuan, have I given you any shame? You are still breathing."
"The emperor wants you, just dream."
"piss off."
"It makes me angry and makes you walk around without food. Don't make this mess for me."
Cao Mang slapped Xu Ziyuan on the shoulder and said loudly: "Be honest with me, otherwise don't blame me for being rude. Do you really think you are a green onion and want to kick me?"
Xu Ziyuan frowned and said, "I must leave, I won't stay."
"court death!"
Cao Mang kicked Xu Ziyuan on the body, knocking Xu Ziyuan to the ground, and continued: "You are so fucking shameless. Do you think I am running a charity here, and you can come and leave whenever you want?"
Xu Ziyuan was not a coward, he stood up and said, "I want to leave."
"If you want to die, I will make it happen for you."
Cao Mang punched out again, but as soon as his fist reached in front of Xu Ziyuan, Xu Ziyuan grabbed his wrist.
Xu Ziyuan twisted with his backhand, Cao Mang's arm was pulled up, his back was bent, and he couldn't break free even if he tried.
Cao Mang was furious and gritted his teeth and said: "Xu Ziyuan, you bitch, you dare to take action. I tell you, you are finished. Not only are you finished, Niu Zhuang and Zhang Mazi will not be able to escape, I will deal with them one by one." Even if the King of Heaven comes, it won’t be of any use.”
A cold light flashed across Xu Ziyuan's eyes.
In his heart, a trace of murderous intention grew.
Cao Mang deceived people too much.
"The imperial edict arrives, Xu Ziyuan receives it"
Just at this moment, a slightly shrill shout came from outside the room.
Xu Ziyuan heard the shouting, let go, turned around and left the room.
Cao Mang looked unbelieving and rushed out of the room. He was used to being domineering and did not believe it was an imperial edict at all. When he saw the eunuch delivering the edict, he mocked: "Oh, Xu Ziyuan, you are really promising."
"In order to leave, I actually found someone to pretend to be a male and female eunuch, and also pretended that the emperor was delivering the order."
"I didn't expect you to have such a thoughtful mind."
"Unfortunately, that's useless."
"I'm telling you, do you think you can threaten me to let you go? It's absolutely impossible. I'm going to break your legs and hands and make you regret today's decision."
Cao Mang's eyes were fierce and he said, "Even if the emperor comes, it will be useless."
Yang Bao, the eunuch who delivered the order, instantly looked at Cao Mang and said coldly: "Noisy, here comes someone with twenty palms."
