Along the way, you can see many nameless islands on the lake in the distance, but although these islands are still green, various water villages have been built, and several warships are stationed on the edge of the islands. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

These small islands usually vary in size and height, and many of them are submerged under the lake during the season when the water is abundant. And during the dry season, most of these islands may be half exposed.

Therefore, the Southern Tang Kingdom generally chose to build a water village in May and June when the water was prosperous, and now it is the time when the water source of Poyang Lake is the most abundant. These water villages, which have been built long ago, are parallel to the lake, just like the wooden warships that float on Poyang Lake, which are particularly magnificent and eye-catching.

The people I saw along the way would not be surprised that they often went back and forth in Poyang Lake, and they would proudly introduce themselves to the people around them to show off their knowledge and experience. And those who have not seen it, naturally they can't help but be sighed by the atmosphere and majesty of these water villages, and listen to the stories of these water villages introduced by the people around them with relish.

Xiao Jiulang sat next to Su Hou, and seemed to feel that this uncle was not difficult to get along with, not only took out a wine gourd, but also let himself take the gourd in his hand from time to time and take a sip of the gourd. Xiao Jiulang originally wanted to refuse Su Hou's kindness when he just entered the school, but when he saw Su Hou's faint eyes, he didn't mean to refuse Su Hou. While listening to a few people around him chatting about the water village, he took a sip from time to time, and he seemed to be very engrossed.

It was two or three scholars, it is said that they went to Jinling City to catch the exam, and they were afraid that they would miss the autumn exam, and maybe their family was not too poor, so they took this merchant ship to Jinling City. They were listening to the droplets of a man in the government, the man surnamed Yan was said to be a household in Raozhou, and he was going to Jinling City on business.

Xiao Jiulang didn't want to hear it, but the man surnamed Yan was more friendly, and he was extremely good at talking. He heard that the three scholars said that they were going to Jinling City to take the exam, so he took the initiative to go over and chat with the scholars. After the three scholars heard the identity of the man surnamed Yan, they first complimented them politely, and then saw that there was a messenger following him, so they were even more respectful.

Su Hou looked at Xiao Jiulang listening with relish, and looked a little disapproving, but he didn't interfere with Xiao Jiulang sitting aside and listening. Xiao Jiulang is also a discerning person, and when he saw Su Hou's expression, he knew a lot about his uncle.

So after the man surnamed Yan said something, he immediately relayed the key to the question and came to ask Su Hou's opinions and opinions. Sure enough, although Su Hou still didn't seem to think so, he was still very impressed by Xiao Jiulang's cleverness, and responded lightly from time to time.

What's more, as one of the most famous elders of the Carefree Sect, he naturally didn't need to say anything about his advanced cultivation, and he listened more carefully to the words of these ordinary people than Xiao Jiulang. But Xiao Jiulang is a new disciple of his senior sister, although he has not taught him any mastery, but he is obviously a relatively talented person, and the most important thing is that after he let Xiao Jiulang drink, he readily did not refuse, Su Hou obviously felt that he had a great appetite.

Originally, as a master of the innate realm who had practiced for more than a few decades, food was actually dispensable. But this Su Hou has a hobby in his life, and that is his dedication to fine wine and food. Seeing Xiao Jiulang's temper with him, the original care in his heart naturally gave him a little more weight.

This merchant cargo ship was hung with a big flag, with the name of the Daoguang Trading Company written on it, and the flag with big gold characters on a black background fluttered in the wind, which was extremely eye-catching from a distance on the lake. Daoguang Commercial Bank is a well-known commercial bank in several places in the south, not only in the states of the Southern Tang Kingdom, but also in the neighboring Wuyue Kingdom and several large states in Chudi, which are all where there are branches.

What is surprising is that Hanyang on the west bank of the Yangtze River, Xiaogan in the northwest, Shouzhou in the north, Chuzhou in the east and other places. Now because of the dispute between the two countries, it has become the territory occupied by the Zhou State, but this Daoguang Commercial Bank still has its own branch. This is surprising and curious, and this is completely beyond the scope of the power of the feudal town.

Not to mention the place of Poyang Lake, that is, in the entire Yangtze River Basin, the business of Daoguang Commercial Bank has reached as far as Shuzhong region. This kind of behemoth is not simply a matter of making money, and it is obviously related to the local feudal towns.

Xiao Jiulang listened to Su Hou's intermittent interspersed words, and the introduction between the man surnamed Yan and the scholar chatting was really eye-opening. But it was even more surprising to hear that even such a bullish trading house was now driving in Poyang Lake, and the merchant cargo ships were still far away from these small islands, and they did not dare to contact these warships of the imperial court.

Generally speaking, a commercial house like that has achieved such a large industry, which one does not have the foundation of the imperial court and various feudal towns. Obviously, they usually made a lot of efforts to circulate and operate materials between various places, as well as to increase the tax amount of the forces of the feudal towns in various places.

Just like the reason why many commercial banks dare not go to Jingnan to open a branch, because the shamelessness of the father and son of the Gao family in Jingnan is really famous in the world. Not only did they pluck the feathers of various forces, but most of the commercial banks that opened branches in Jingnan at the beginning became the property of the Gao family and his son.

It is said that this firm was founded by the children of the Shen family of Wuxing Gaomen, and it was a shame for the family to be in business. But with the changes of the times, it is not necessary for every family to survive. As a result, some big families will use their connections to let the collateral children of the family, or the slaves of the family, run some industries, and accumulate wealth and family wealth.

Whether this collateral descendant of the Shen family was hinted at by the family back then, no one studied the cause and effect. However, the business house he runs is doing a good job. Moreover, the industries operated by the firm completely covered all the daily industries, and it once became one of the most famous commercial houses in the Jiangnan area.

Later, I don't know why something changed, how did it change to the property of the Xiao family, another southern high-ranking family. For this kind of huge change, it may become a topic of conversation after tea and dinner for the people at that time, but as time passes, it will gradually be forgotten.

What's more, in recent decades, the Central Plains has been torn apart, and the owners of various feudal towns have been constantly changing. Every time there is a change of power and strife, it may be these high-ranking lords who suffer the most. Nowadays, no matter whether it is Jiangnan, Jiangbei, or the Central Plains, no one dares to say that he is a high-ranking lord, in order to prevent himself from becoming the object of the eyes of the feudal towns in various places.

Xiao Jiulang was able to easily sit on this merchant cargo ship this time because when he was approaching the ship, he occasionally heard the surname of the owner of the merchant house Xiao. When negotiating with Ma Yun, he deliberately revealed in advance that he was also surnamed Xiao. It was because of this surname, although I didn't know if it had anything to do with the owner's family, but after the steward Ma Yun heard about it, he didn't hesitate too much, and he agreed to Xiao Jiulang very well.

Hearing Su Hou say that Guangshang Bank has a wide range of contacts, and there is a head office stationed in Jinling City, it is said that Xiao Zhen, the current head of the family, is often received by Emperor Li Jing, Xiao Jiulang can't help but be extremely envious. But seeing that the ships were far away from those water villages, and listening to Su Hou talk about the cause and effect, Xiao Jiulang knew that it was not so simple.

Just to say that now the power of the Southern Tang Dynasty is now a faction and a private faction, although Song Qiqiu, who was the best at the beginning, has fallen, and the five ghosts who belong to him have also suffered a huge blow. But these forces are like a big net, the network is connected and entangled, where will it be so easy to clean up, and one carelessly does not know when it will offend people.

What's more, it is said that the person who is now in charge of the naval army in Poyang Lake is Lin Renzhao, the envoy of the Wuchang Festival, who is not only the envoy of the Jiedu stationed in Wuchang, but also the history of the Ezhou Thorn. Some people say that he is the other strongest military general in the Southern Tang Kingdom after Bian Hao.

This person is a military general from Fujian, and he is a native of Jianyang (Nanping) in Fujian. On the same day, the Zhou State attacked Huainan of the Tang State, and the emperor Li Jing sent Pan Chengyou, the Hongluqing, to Fujian to recruit warriors. Because Fujian nominally belonged to the Tang Kingdom, Pan Chengyou did not live up to his mission and recruited several warriors in Quanzhou and Jianzhou.

Among them, the most famous are Xu Wenzhi, the former Yong'an Jiedu envoy in Fujian, and Chen Decheng, the commander of Jingjiang, and the other famous are Zheng Yanhua and Lin Renzhao, the military academy. It is said that this Lin Renzhao is strong and brave, burly, and strong in martial arts.

Some people rumored that he was the younger brother of Xiaowenhou Chen Hongjin, although he didn't know the truth of the matter, but when he was in Fujian, he was as famous as Chen Hongjin's junior brother Goshawk Chen Tie. Because he has a tiger tattooed on his back, known as Lin Huzi, he and Chen Tie are jointly known as Fujian Eagle Tiger.

What is strange is that although he has some reputation in Fujian, he is not known by many people. However, after being recruited to the Tang Kingdom, he was first appointed as a general by Emperor Li Jing and led a team of partial divisions to rescue Shouzhou at that time. First, he successfully broke through the Dazhai of the Zhou State in the south of the city, and then took advantage of the victory to break through the Haozhou water gate for a long time, and was promoted to the Huainan camp of the Tang State to support the envoy.

After he became famous in the Tang Kingdom, another opportunity pushed him to the height of a senior general in the Tang Kingdom. In August of that year, the army of the southern prisoners of Zhou built a pontoon bridge in Zhengyang to stop the reinforcements of the Tang State to rescue Huaibei at that time. When the Tang State had nothing to do, he wanted to burn the pontoon bridge and sent Lin Renzhao to lead a thousand soldiers to act.

Who knew that the sky would not help the Tang State, and the wind direction changed that day, and the general of the Zhou State at that time was Zhang Yongde, a young man of Qing'an, who was a brave and resourceful general, and naturally took the opportunity to lead his troops into the battle, which led to the defeat of the Tang army. At this time, Lin Renzhao was behind the palace alone, with a half-moon halberd in his hand, not only blocked all the arrows shot by the pursuers, but also completely shocked the Zhou army.

This battle not only made Lin Renzhao famous, but also stopped Guo Rong, the pro-conquest Zhou lord. Later, although the Tang State ceded land to the Zhou State and sued for peace, Lin Renzhao was also appointed as the envoy of the Zhenhai Navy. This is the festival envoy close to Jinling City, and it is conceivable that Emperor Li Jing attached great importance to Lin Renzhao.

Although the governor of the state capital near Poyang Lake on the Yangtze River, the imperial brother and the crown prince left one after another, because of the cession of Huaibei, the Yangtze River has now become a lonely line. In order to ensure his own safety, Emperor Li Jing vigorously developed the naval army and transferred Lin Renzhao to Nanchang. While training the naval army at Poyang Lake, while defending along the Yangtze River.

This Lin Renzhao is not only a talented general, but also has been resolute since he took office, not only rectifying the garrison in Nanchang, but also not letting go of several nearby state capitals, and Poyang Lake, as a military powerhouse, will naturally not have the slightest slackness. Ren is the behemoth of Daoguang Commercial Bank, and in the face of a strong boss like Lin Renzhao, no one dares to guarantee that no one dares to move.

However, in the Southern Tang Dynasty, there is an emperor who remembers, and ordinary people may not dare to move easily, but when the emperor is far away, no one dares to guarantee it. Therefore, even if there are merchants with this kind of relationship, most of them will skillfully let themselves maneuver between the various forces of the imperial court, and will not easily offend people, or openly have a relationship with the imperial court or warlords.

Xiao Jiulang has been in Raozhou Xiongshi Village for nearly a year, although there is a short distance from Poyang Lake, but he usually hears more or less people talk about the new Wuchang Festival Envoy. What's more, what others don't know is that the real reason why he fell into Xiongshizhai is actually a secret that has been hidden in his heart.

Shi Gandang took in Xiao Jiulang at the beginning, and it seemed that Xiao Jiulang was a person in the territory with an accent, so he didn't care too much about Xiao Jiulang's background. However, Xiao Jiulang himself knew that he had a task on his shoulders, that is, to collect all kinds of information and materials near Raozhou Xiongshi Village. Therefore, I also pay great attention to this side of Poyang Lake, so it is naturally reasonable.

But since he followed Shi Gan as a tooth soldier, except for following him to Raozhou a few times, he didn't have the opportunity to come to the vicinity of Poyang Lake. At this time, seeing the majestic posture of Poyang Lake, my heart couldn't help but suddenly brighten.

This time, because of Feng Biwei's accident, he left Xiongshi Village and went to Jinling City, although he didn't know what variables would happen to his task, but after Xiao Jiulang was entangled in his heart for a long time, he still left a letter for Shi Gandang, and chose to follow Feng Biwei.

Although I made a vow to complete the task I accepted, it was an honor and a responsibility.

And his organization has a strict system, I don't know if my behavior is considered a rebellion, if I lose contact, the organization will definitely look for my whereabouts. But for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, how can Xiao Jiulang refuse, he can only take one step at a time.

The most grateful thing in my life is naturally the organization, so I will accept the task without hesitation. Thinking back to his family who was still living under the protection of the organization, Xiao Jiulang suddenly felt a little confused, and he didn't know what the outcome of his choice yesterday would be.

Of course, no matter what the outcome is, if you get to the next stop, you will definitely have to contact the organization immediately. He didn't rebel against the organization, but involuntarily followed Feng Biwei. No matter what kind of decision the organization makes, as long as he is still in the Tang Kingdom, as long as he stays in Jinling City, he will take the initiative to apply for a change of battlefield, even if he dies in Jinling City, or accept the organization's severe questioning, hoping that the organization will not misunderstand himself and not attack his family.

Xiao Jiulang believes in his organization, because although the organization is strict and cruel, the organization is established for the well-being of ordinary people. Especially thinking that although he couldn't help himself, he was actually accepted as a disciple by the Supreme Elder of the Carefree Sect, and the people he would definitely contact would be very different, and he must have a greater effect on the organization sending him to the Tang Kingdom, Xiao Jiulang's excitement in his heart was obviously a little uncalm.

If it weren't for the strict training he had received, ordinary people would have jumped excitedly.

Not to mention Feng Biwei's elusive means, even the immortals are afraid that it is nothing more than that. The first-class reputation of the immortals of the Carefree Sect is something that many people can't ask for in their lifetime. What's more, this Feng Biwei is still the Supreme Elder of the Carefree Sect, and he is really the highest authority in addition to the head of the sect. To put it another way, if you are in the sect, the head of the sect will listen to her!

Xiao Jiulang was excited, needless to say, he sat with Su Hou for less than a while, and his closeness to Su Hou was much closer. After a few sips of wine, my mind became a little bolder. After a while, he saw another gourd from his baggage. The lower half of this gourd is only the size of two fists, and the upper half is only the size of a fist, but it has a dull yellow oily color, which has obviously been used for many years.

He opened the stopper at the mouth of the gourd, and a thick aroma of wine wafted by, making people like Xiao Jiulang who love wine couldn't help but drool.

Su Hou obviously saw Xiao Jiulang's demeanor, but he smiled slightly and secretly asked Xiao Jiulang to try again, and when he said it, he couldn't help but glance back at the second floor of the cabin, where Feng Biwei and Geng Xiansheng lived.

Xiao Jiulang didn't know what kind of medicine he was selling in his gourd, where did he dare to open his mouth to ask Su Hou, but after all, he was a young man, and he couldn't help but muttered to Su Hou in his heart. Unexpectedly, as soon as there was a flower in front of him, he smelled a fragrance, but it was Su Hou who sent a wine gourd to Xiao Jiulang.

Xiao Jiulang hesitated for a moment, but when he saw Su Hou signaling him to take it, he still reached out and took it. Xiao Jiulang is not a stubborn and old-fashioned person, since he has already taken a few sips, he feels that the wine of this wine gourd is not bad. Immediately thanked Su Hou with a smile, and couldn't help but take two sips.

I didn't expect that as soon as this wine entered my throat, a feeling of fire went down my throat. Xiao Jiulang was so frightened that he almost choked. Before he could speak, he felt a fire in his stomach, and it spread out in all his limbs.

Su Hou shook his head to signal Xiao Jiulang not to be nervous, he took out a big chicken leg from his baggage, and opened his mouth to eat it with relish. Seeing that Xiao Jiulang's red face gradually eased down, he took out another chicken leg and handed it to Xiao Jiulang.

Xiao Jiulang couldn't help but ask Su Hou what this was and why it was so fierce, but Su Hou shook his head and smiled. Xiao Jiulang had no choice, but thinking that the master and the head were also there, Su Hou would definitely not harm himself, so he forced a smile and said thank you to Su Hou.

Su Hou looked unfathomable, and waved his hand to signal that Xiao Jiulang didn't need to be polite. Xiao Jiulang gradually felt warm and comfortable, and knew that this wine was a bit famous. couldn't help but nibble on the chicken legs, while diverting the topic and tentatively asking Su Hou what he usually likes to eat.

Su Hou was stunned for a moment, but after looking at Xiao Jiulang's sincere face, after glancing at the people around him, he said in a low voice: "It's hard to answer what you like to eat, but as long as it's a certain taste, it's inevitable to eat a full meal!" ”

Xiao Jiulang was about to answer, but unexpectedly, Su Hou's voice came from his ears again, saying that there were still people on the rivers and lakes on the ship, and he didn't know what the reason would be, so he asked Xiao Jiulang not to call himself Uncle Shi in his words, let alone mention the things in the door, just call himself Mr. Su.

Xiao Jiulang had also been in contact with high-ranking people, so he couldn't help but look around at these people sitting idly on the cabin, especially seeing that Su Hou would also transmit the sound to his ears, he was naturally surprised and happy in his heart, but his face was shocked and happy, and he nodded in agreement.

This Su Hou saw that Xiao Jiulang had an appetite for himself after all, so he naturally chatted with him in a low voice, and he said something delicious from time to time, seeing that Xiao Jiulang had not eaten a few things, his face was actually a little proud. Xiao Jiulang didn't know that although Su Hou was a master of cultivation, he could have been safe and could have avoided it, but this hobby in his life was unavoidable, and he couldn't help but strengthen his thoughts in his heart.

Xiao Jiulang asked about one of Su Hou's hobbies by mistake, and Su Hou naturally chatted with Xiao Jiulang with droplets. Xiao Jiulang was originally worried that this uncle would ignore him, but now that he saw his friendly demeanor, he felt a lot more relieved. Hearing what he said, his spirit was flying, it was some of the delicacies he had usually eaten, so he pretended not to know, and let him explain it to himself!

After this time, the two of them became more familiar and friendly.

The boat had been traveling for nearly two hours, and Xiao Jiulang had already stopped drinking, because Su Hou was leaning on the side of the boat on the wooden bench and sleeping there for a while. The chattering people beside him gradually seemed to be tired, some went back to the warehouse to rest, and some sat on the cabin board to rest, Xiao Jiulang felt that they were the same as himself, in order to save money, they did not book a cabin to rest.

Xiao Jiulang also held on to the side of the boat, quietly looking at the lake alone, where fish jumped out of the water from time to time. The boat is heading towards the Yangtze River at a steady and fast speed, although there is no shadow of the Yangtze River yet, but it is very exciting.

Suddenly, a light boat entered Xiao Jiulang's line of sight, first a little curious about when a light boat appeared on the vast lake, and then saw that the light boat was quickly heading towards the merchant cargo ship. Xiao Jiulang looked to the side, obviously there were others who saw the light boat, so some people talked to the boatman in charge on the side.

Ma Yun, the steward of the firm, had already gone to rest. Only one of the boatmen at the helm was in control of the cabin, and his brow furrowed at the sight of the light boat that was moving very fast. Before he could react, the light boat was already close.

There were only two people on the boat, a young man rocking the oar, and an old man sitting on the board of the boat. Xiao Jiulang looked at the old man and couldn't help but be slightly stunned. Because this old man has white hair and white beard, is dressed in white cloth, and his face is clear and elegant.

The young man who was rocking the boat rocked the light boat on the left front side of the merchant cargo ship, and then raised his voice and said: "Is there anyone from the Jinling Yin family on the ship, Kunlun Immortal Weng is coming to visit!" This young man spoke with a lot of energy, even on the surface of this vast lake, it sounded like it was exploding in people's ears, and he must not be an ordinary person.

Xiao Jiulang was slightly stunned, and couldn't help but look at his uncle Su Hou beside him, but he remembered Su Hou's voice in his ears: "Don't care, it's not looking for us, there are others on the boat!" Xiao Jiulang didn't dare to move, but he saw that the people on the cabin board stood up, and even people in the cabin came out to see.

I wanted to open my mouth to ask Su Hou, but then I saw that Ma Yun walked out, so I stopped and saw him walk to the side of the boat, and bowed his hand to the people on the boat.