The three of them sat down, and Shi Hao said to Fang Jinshi and Fang Jinshi, "If you want to eat anything, just ask. I'll treat you today."
Fang Jinshi knew that he was not actually a rich man, and for him now, a meal and a meal were nothing, so he said to Ji Changan: "This is my friend, let me do something today." Okay, Shopkeeper Ji is familiar with everyone here, please order some."
Ji Changan didn't want to be polite to him, so he called the waiter over and ordered a few ordinary side dishes. Shi Hao said a few polite words and that was it.
The food and wine were served quickly. After the three of them had two drinks, Shi Hao said, "I was looking for you, but I happened to meet you here."
Fang Jinshi stopped his cup and asked with a smile: "Looking for me? Is there anything special?"
Shi Hao said: "Last time at the Hundred Flowers Party, I mentioned to you that I could find me a bookkeeper or something in your business. Do you remember?"
Fang Jinshi said: "Are you serious?"
Fang Jinshi laughed and said, "That's one reason. I'm afraid there's another reason. You've already heard that Miss Baozhu was sent to my place, right?"
He was just joking. Shi Hao immediately blushed and put the wine glass in his hand heavily on the table. The wine spilled and splashed everywhere. Shi Hao pushed away the stool and stood up and said angrily: "Fang, what's going on? Such an insult to no one..."
Fang Jinshi said: "Why did I insult you? It was just a joke. Why did you take it seriously?"
Shi Hao said angrily: "I have studied the books of sages since I was a child, and I know all about etiquette, justice, and integrity. Yes, I used to admire Miss Baozhu's appearance and musical talent. That was when she was in the classroom, but now she has become a good person like you." My concubine, if I still have any evil thoughts, then I have read the books of sages for more than ten years in vain. Let alone do something so shameless, I feel like it has insulted my honor and integrity just thinking about it."
Seeing his excitement, Fang Jinshi stood up and said, "I was really joking just now. My words were inappropriate. Don't be surprised."
Shi Hao said: "A scholar's reputation is more important than his life. Can this be a joke?"
Fang Jinshi said: "Okay, I won't make such jokes next time."
When Ji Changan saw this, he also advised: "It's just a misunderstanding. Why should Mr. Shi be too concerned about it?"
Shi Hao was stunned for a moment, then sat down again. After a pause, he said: "I was too excited just now. Please forgive me." His attitude changed so quickly that even Fang Jinshi was a little surprised and said with a smile: "You are so excited." The excitement scares me."
Shi Hao turned around and smiled: "Think about it, everyone would know it was a joke based on your tone of voice, but I didn't expect it at the moment, not to mention that I am begging you."
Fang Jinshi said: "Brother Shi, why do you need to ask for help? I am short of manpower there. If you are willing to condescend, I will be happy."
Shi Hao said: "That means you agreed to take me in. When can I go?"
Fang Jinshi said: "If you have free time, the sooner the better."
Shi Hao said: "Okay, I will go to your cloth shop to find you early tomorrow morning."
Even though the matter was agreed upon, the three of them drank a few more drinks, and Shi Hao said again: "There are some things I want to say in my head."
Fang Jinshi asked: "What are you talking about?"
Shi Hao said: "Some time ago, King Xiu recommended me to two places, but I didn't go to either of them. But today, why do I have the nerve to come looking for you and want to work in your shop? Why do you think it is?"
Fang Jinshi looked at Ji Changan and said, "I don't know about that."
Shi Haodao: "Because I just learned a few days ago that the backers behind Sihai Company are actually Consort Cai and Prince Yun. No wonder everything is done with shocking generosity. With such a strong backing, who else is the world afraid of..."
Fang Jinshi said: "The truth may not be what the rumors say. Those two big shots won't ask about these things at all."
Shi Hao said: "I know that both of them were born in Prince Yun's palace and are both Prince Yun's people. If there is a chance, I wonder if I can recommend them to you."
Only then did Fang Jinshi and Ji Changan understand that this Shi Hao had this purpose, and it was not easy for this person to be so well-informed.
Fang Jinshi thought for a while and then said: "Prince Yun has lived in Bianliang for a long time. I am afraid that he will come to this place in Huaidong from time to time. If there is a chance, I will make arrangements for you."
After hearing this, Shi Hao stood up and bowed deeply to him. He toasted with a glass of wine respectfully and said, "Then thank you for the introduction."
Fang Jinshi smiled and said, "I don't know if it will work out. Besides, I don't know if Prince Yun will use you or not."
Shi Hao said: "This all depends on one's destiny, no one can blame anyone." He sat quietly for a moment, then walked to the door and closed the door of the private room. Fang Jinshi was surprised by his behavior, when Shi Hao stood up and said, "Don't Shi Talent, you dare to talk about the power of the world, just treat it as a joke in a drinking room, it cannot be true."
What he said was so strange. Fang Jinshi knew that he wanted to discuss state affairs arbitrarily, but he didn't want to take responsibility, so he was using excuses.
Shi Hao straightened his clothes, and then said: "With the current situation in the world, the Liao Dynasty has basically disappeared. A few years ago, I said I was afraid it would take several years, and I still argued with you about this matter. I didn't expect the Liao Dynasty to be defeated like this. In terms of speed, I am really not as good as you, Shi Mou is extremely impressed."
Fang Jinshi smiled and replied: "I was just talking nonsense. I didn't expect that I was actually right."
Shi Hao added: "Although Song and Jin are now in an alliance, the ambition of the Jin Kingdom is really unreasonable to form an alliance with it and make a long-term reconciliation. I expected that within ten years, there will be a big war between Jin and Song Dynasty. Our army of the Song Dynasty, Except for the armies of the northwestern armies and the Yan-Zhuo armies, all of them have been at a loss of war readiness for a long time, which makes people really worried. If we cannot work hard to improve our war readiness within these ten years, then our Song Dynasty will be in danger."
Fang Jinshi nodded and said: "Brother Shi has a high opinion, and this is the truth."
Shi Hao lowered his voice and said: "If one day the official family travels with cranes and immortals, then who can inherit the throne?"
Seeing that he suddenly raised such a big question, Fang Jinshi couldn't help but look outside, then looked at Ji Changan, and then replied: "Of course he is the Crown Prince of the East Palace."
Shi Hao said: "Is there any chance of something changing?"
Fang Jinshi looked at him and said, "I heard that it has been five or six years since the former King Ding was appointed crown prince. What changes will happen?"
Shi Hao said: "I heard that today's officials don't particularly like the prince. The one they like most is the third son, Prince Yun. I don't know whether it's true or not."
Fang Jinshi said: "No one knows what happens in the forbidden palace."
Shi Hao said: "If the rumors are true, Prince Yun is the variable in this. Prince Yun is ranked third, and the second brother died early. If there is a change in the East Palace, Prince Yun will be ranked first for his own benefit."
Fang Jinshi looked at Ji Chang'an again and said, "It would be better for ordinary people like us to talk less about these important matters concerning the succession of the crown prince."
Shi Hao said, "What are you afraid of, Mr. Fang? This is just a private conversation, and it can't be said to be an unreasonable discussion about the crown prince. Prince Yun has always been talented. He was able to reach the top three in the high school rankings in the imperial examination. Everyone knows this, which is another advantage. "He completely ignored Fang Jinshi's dissuasion and continued talking. Fang Jinshi saw that he was in a good mood and stopped talking.
Shi Hao continued: "Prince Yun has served as the military commander of the 11th Route Army in Fengning, Zhen'an, Zhendong, Hedong, Ninghai and so on. Now he is still the military commander of the Zhenxiong Army. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, I am afraid that It is also rare, not to mention that so many troops all support Prince Yun, at least he has more prestige in the army than the prince who never leaves the capital, which is another advantage."
Fang Jinshi said: "No matter how much profit Prince Yun has, the prince is the prince and the prince is the prince. Unless the official family is abolished and all officials in the court agree, this fact cannot be changed."
Shi Hao said: "It's hard to say whether the official family will abolish the crown prince, but who can guarantee that Chen Qiaoyi will not come again?"
After hearing what Shi Hao said, Fang Jinshi knew that he could no longer talk to him. Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin and Chen Qiaoyi mutinied, seizing power from Chai Zongxun of the later Zhou Dynasty and becoming emperor. Shi Hao actually wanted Zhao Kai to seize power through the mutiny. If outsiders heard what he said and reported it, it would be no small matter.
Fang Jinshi said hurriedly: "Brother Shi, thank you very much, but let's stop here. Eat the food, don't let the food get cold."
Shi Hao laughed, picked up the cup and drank it in one gulp, and then said: "I am talking to you two about these words. How could I talk nonsense to others? Alas... suddenly my head hurts, and I get drunk after just a few glasses of wine. I don’t remember anything I said.” He was fine just now, but now his face turned red while he was leaning on the wall. He immediately seemed to have drank too much. With the amount of alcohol he drank in restaurants every day, this would definitely not be the case.
Fang Jinshi asked with concern: "Is it okay, Brother Shi?"
Shi Hao pulled the collar with both hands, straightened his clothes, and then said: "Today, I suddenly felt a little drunk. I will be rude and not accompany you two to have fun, so I will leave first." He opened the room and walked down the stairs with heavy steps. Went upstairs.
After he left for a while, Fang Jinshi turned back to Ji Chang'an and said, "This friend of mine is acting strange today. Maybe he was irritated by his failure in the imperial examination."
Ji Chang'an said, "I think this person has unique vision, is extremely smart, and is a good person. Although what he said is bold, it may not be unreasonable, and we are sure that we will never talk nonsense."
Fang Jinshi said: "I also know that he does have some skills, otherwise I wouldn't have thought of asking him to help me."
Ji Changan said: "This person can be used, but he cannot be reused."
Fang Jinshi asked in surprise: "What does this mean?"
Ji Changan said: "Young Master Fang, you can use it as boldly as you like, but it's best not to introduce it to Prince Yun, otherwise it will cause huge trouble if you don't specify."
Fang Jinshi nodded and said, "I have my own sense of discretion."
Ji Chang'an said: "This person has some brains, but he is eager to advance and does not do things thoroughly. This is also the most fatal weakness. It's just a small matter. If something goes wrong in a big matter, it could kill tens of thousands of people. The young master is about the same age as him, but he is many times calmer than him in his work."
Fang Jinshi laughed and said, "You don't need to flatter me like this."
Ji Changan also smiled and said: "What Ji said are all facts, not deliberately flattering." He slowly stopped smiling and said: "Actually, he just talked about Prince Yun's several benefits, but he did not mention the most important one. .”
Fang Jinshi asked: "What benefit?"
Ji Chang'an said: "Nowadays, the ministers in the court, including the civil servants from the Cai family, and the military general Tong Guan, are especially active. Although these people have not said it explicitly, they all hope that King Yun can inherit the throne." The support of these powerful officials in the court is Prince Yun’s most important benefit.”
As a commoner, Fang Jinshi usually lives a comfortable life by himself without even thinking about these things. Fang Jinshi asked, "Is it possible that Brother Zhao is also interested?"
Ji Changan smiled slightly and said: "Who in the world doesn't want to be the supreme leader of the Ninth Five-Year Plan? The young master is familiar with Brother Zhao, so in fact he should know better than Ji. Consort Cai started a Sihai business, and Brother Zhao was undecided at first. , with the power of his palace, there is no shortage of money. If you want to do something big, you can't do it without a large amount of money and food of your own. This may be the important reason why Brother Zhao finally decided to open a business without fear of what others said. ”
After hearing this, Fang Jinshi suddenly felt that he had misjudged Zhao Kai before. He had always thought that Zhao Kai was fair and upright. Although he was very angry about book business, he had never thought about it. Think about it, Zhao Kai was born in the emperor's family. Zhijia is not like Xu Wang Zhao Di who only likes sex, how could it be so simple.
