My eunuch godfather

Chapter 3 Foreign Horses and Major Projects

Almost all of Feiduan's fertilizer was sold to large-scale buyers. These large-scale buyers generally do not default on payments, and most of them have powerful backers.

Small-scale farmers have difficulty buying fertilizer, and the prices offered by fertilizer suppliers are higher than those offered by large-scale farmers.

Therefore, smaller households have relatively less harvest and are more likely to go bankrupt due to natural disasters or man-made calamities, and are eventually acquired by larger households.

However, not many loans were issued at exorbitant interest rates.

That's so stupid. Selling fertilizer is nowhere near as profitable as lending money at exorbitant interest rates.

Zhang Kun shook his head, closed the account book, and suggested to Deng Wenqi:

"I think the price of fertilizer sold to small businesses should be lowered, and the interest rate on usurious loans should also be reduced."

In this way, small households feel that they can afford it, so they grit their teeth and borrow money from us at exorbitant interest rates to buy fertilizer.

What do you think of this idea?

Deng Wenqi scratched his head and smiled at Zhang Kunqian:

"Brother Kun, lowering the interest rate is against the rules. Other companies will come after us. Everyone in this industry has a powerful backer."

Moreover, in recent years, God has been unkind, with disasters of all sizes constantly occurring, making it increasingly difficult to collect the money that has been lent out...

Indeed, farming and working in the fields in later generations are two different things, and the income is very unstable.

You work hard all year, but if you encounter natural disasters or man-made calamities, there is always the possibility of total crop failure.

We are now in one of the worst periods of the Little Ice Age during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and natural and man-made disasters will only increase.

"Then let's proceed as usual."

With the account books and dividends in hand, Zhang Kun returned to Zhang Ye's private residence in Zhangjiawan, Tongzhou.

"...Sir, there is one more thing."

After reporting his work results to his eunuch godfather, Zhang Kun continued:

"There was a battalion commander surnamed Chen in the Southwest Police Station, who was also the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard."

He gave his student a two-courtyard house, hoping that through the student, he could become a disciple of the master.

"I see,"

Zhang Ye picked up his teacup, took a sip, and nodded to Zhang Kun, saying:

"My birthday is in ten days. Tell him to come over and have a drink."

It's already late afternoon; hurry back to the city to get to work, lest you miss your duties at the street office.

"Thank you, sir!"

Zhang Kun respectfully kowtowed to his eunuch godfather, then rose and quickly retreated.

"This child is truly exceptionally clever."

From behind a screen not far away, a beautiful woman in a fur robe with alluring eyes slowly emerged and smiled at Zhang Ye:

"At only eighteen years old, he can handle his job so well."

"He does have some cleverness."

Zhang Ye glanced at his cheap wife, raised an eyebrow slightly, put down his teacup, and said:

"Give him some more experience, temper his temperament, and then send him to work for the Eastern Depot, how about that?"

This doesn't mean cutting off Zhang Kun's manhood.

Most of the staff working at the Eastern Depot were officers borrowed from the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Lu Chan'er is petty and narrow-minded, why bother provoking her?"

The beautiful woman in the fur robe walked to Zhang Ye's side, refilling his teacup while offering him advice:

"Why not transfer this child to the West Bureau as a patrolman, and then move him back to Zhangjiawan in a few years to take over the job of the Nineteenth Prince?"

Like the Street Office, the West Office was one of the three offices of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, responsible for maintaining order in the capital.

Zhangjiawan in Tongzhou is a key hub at the northern end of the Grand Canal, a vital passage for grain transport, and a major source of revenue for the capital.

The Western Bureau of Justice has a chief of police in Zhangjiawan, currently held by Zhang Ye's nineteenth adopted son.

"We'll talk about it later..."

Back in Xuanbeifang, Zhang Kun met with Chen Jizong and told him the good news that his eunuch godfather had allowed him to celebrate Chen's birthday.

Chen Jizong was overjoyed, his face beaming. He grabbed Zhang Kun's arm tightly and laughed loudly:

"My dear brother, tomorrow night, I'll take you to a wonderful place!"

Jinchun Courtyard.

Not only in Xuanbei Ward, but also in the southern part of the city and even the entire capital, this brothel ranks first.

The brothel's signboard featured a group of Semu musicians originating from the Mongol Yuan dynasty, with high noses, deep-set eyes, yellow hair, green eyes, and curly beards.

It should be the Caucasian people, such as the Kipchaks, Alans, Georgians, and Armenians, who migrated to the Central Plains after the eldest son's westward expedition.

Musicians were considered of low social status and were forbidden from marrying free people. They often intermarried within their own community, which is why they retained their Caucasian features.

"The new moon shines little, and is obscured by floating clouds; the incense has burned out and the candles have been extinguished, and all is quiet."

The night is long, and I can't sleep. Outside the window, the rain is pattering on the banana leaves...

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Chen Jizong interrupted the foreign woman singing, frowning at her as he said:

"Why sing this melancholy tune when the master has a joyous occasion today?"

"I was wrong~ I will punish myself with a cup of wine~"

The foreign singer performed a curtsy, picked up her wine glass, tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp, then smiled sweetly at Chen Jizong:

"What tune would you like to hear, Master? Just tell me!"

"Little Stone Tune, how about a song called 'Green Apricot'?"

The tall, foreign singer performed another curtsy, waiting for the musicians to be ready, before beginning to sing:

"The wind and rain grieve for the flowers. When the wind and rain cease, the flowers should also rest."

Do not waste your time getting drunk among the flowers, for this year the flowers will wither, next year they will wither, and your hair will turn white in vain.

Enjoying a few drinks, we chose the best spots in the streams and mountains to explore.

"But as long as there is wine, there is no harm; whether there are flowers or not, what difference does it make which season or which season..."

Zhang Kun couldn't stand the ditty, so he looked toward the corner where a young foreign woman was playing the pipa.

This young lady is really pretty—she looks a lot like Jennifer Connelly!

"No problem with alcohol, no problem with alcohol, you sing well!"

After listening to Qing Xing'er's song, Chen Jizong shook his head a few times and grinned mischievously at the foreign woman singing the song:

"Any popular folk songs?"

"Yes, sir~"

The voluptuous woman singing approached, holding a wine glass, her hand on Chen Jizong's shoulder, leaning against him with one side, and giggling sweetly:

Who tore down my window veil? My eyebrows come, my eyes go, sending secret flirtatious glances~

How could I betray your kindness? I long to embrace you, but there are too many eyes to look.

I looked at my dear, and my dear looked at me...

"Great music!"

Chen Jizong, with a lecherous grin, embraced the beautiful foreign singer, pulled out a coin, slipped it into his pocket, and exclaimed in admiration:

"Deserves a reward!"

"Thank you for the reward, sir!"

The singing girl, Da Yangma, grabbed Jin Pingqian and snuggled into Chen Jizong's arms, kissing him with wine in her mouth.

After finishing his drink from the leather cup, Chen Jizong laughed heartily and gestured for her to look at Zhang Kun and the little foreign woman playing the pipa.

"Xuan'er, stop playing."

The singing woman immediately understood and ordered the pipa-playing woman, "Go over and have a drink with Master Zhang!"

The little foreign girl named Xuan'er, who plays the pipa, froze upon hearing this, her fingers tinkling with a sharp sound, her face filled with panic.

Zhang Kun was also taken aback for a moment, then turned to look at the foreign woman singing.

"My younger sister is still quite young and immature; please forgive her, Mr. Zhang."

The tall, foreign woman who was singing stood up from Chen Jizong's arms, gave Zhang Kun a deep curtsy, and frowned at Xuan'er, saying:

"What are you standing there for!?"

Xuan'er hurriedly stood up, walked over in a flustered manner, picked up a wine cup, and timidly said to Zhang Kun:

"I...I'm so sorry for my rudeness. Please, Master Zhang, have some wine..."

Zhang Kun smiled, reached out and took the wine glass, drank it all in one gulp, and said, "You played the pipa quite well."

Since they still had to work the night shift, Chen Jizong and Zhang Kun did not stay overnight.

Before leaving, Chen Jizong whispered instructions to the singing woman:

"Find your boss and ask him the price of this girl. I want to buy her and give her to this person."

"Sir, my sister is a highly trained courtesan, costing at least several hundred taels of silver!"

"I understand, just do as I say."

......

Xu Bengao, as the acting director of the Street Office, was the top official of the Street Office and the third-in-command of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

This official is the Vice Commander-in-Chief of the Rear Army Commandery, a second-rank official.

When Zhang Kun entered the street house, Xu Bengao was recuperating at home and had closed his doors to visitors.

Now that Xu Bengao has recovered from his illness, Zhang Kun, accompanied by his eunuch godfather who had instructed him on the gifts he had prepared, went to pay his respects.

Songjiang four-gilled perch cooked in fermented lees, freshly picked Sheshan orchids, dried water chestnuts...

That's right, Xu Bengao was from Songjiang, and came from the famous Xu family of Songjiang. He was the great-great-grandson of Xu Jie, a famous minister during the Jiajing era.

"Lieutenant Zhang, you're very kind. Please get up!"

Xu Bengao was very happy to receive the gift from his hometown and gestured for Zhang Kun, who was kneeling on the ground, to get up.

"Thank you, Grand Commander!"

Zhang Kun got up and heard Xu Bengao ask with a smile:

"What difficulties are you facing while serving in Xuanbei Ward? Please tell me."

"Reporting to the Grand Commander, I am currently in no difficulty in Xuanbei Ward. Thank you for your consideration!"

Xu Bengao cupped his hands in a respectful bow and said to Zhang Kun:

"I intend to request His Majesty's permission to, in accordance with precedent set by Emperor Shizong, extensively dredge the moats around the nine gates of the city."

The most demanding duties are performed at the first three gates, with the section around Xuanwu Gate falling within your Xuanbei Ward.

If you have any thoughts, just tell me.

The implication is that if Zhang Kun doesn't want to take on this heavy responsibility, he can apply for a transfer.

"This humble servant is of limited knowledge. May I ask, Grand Commander, how was the precedent set before the Temple of Emperor Shizong implemented?"

In the first year of the Jiajing reign, the imperial court ordered the dredging of the moat surrounding the capital.

It required at least 30,000 workers daily, took more than a year to complete, and cost more than 460,000 taels of silver; this was called Da Jun.

In the 29th year of the Jiajing reign, Altan Khan's Tatar army breached the border wall, reached the outskirts of the capital, and killed, burned, and looted for several days.

Residents from the outer suburbs and surrounding areas fled into the city, and with the hastily arriving reinforcements, the city became overcrowded.

This caused epidemics and famines, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians from disease and starvation.

The following year, the imperial court ordered the construction of the outer city wall of the capital.

Limited by financial constraints, only the southern outer city was completed, which is now the southern city.

Residents from the eastern, western, and northern parts of the city, as well as the surrounding areas, moved in large numbers to the southern part of the city.

The moat outside Xuanwumen, Zhengyangmen and Chongwenmen, known as the "Three Gates Moat," has become an inland river, greatly increasing the pressure on sewage discharge and causing severe siltation.

Xu Bengao wanted to dredge the moat around the nine gates of the city, with a focus on the moat around the first three gates.

Big project, great opportunity to make money!

After meeting Xu Bengao, Zhang Kun immediately went to Zhangjiawan in Tongzhou to report the matter to his eunuch godfather.