Song Xiaocheng and Chen Xi did not meet for a long time and soon left. As for what happened next, Chen Xi would arrange for someone to help him with the situation.

Song Xiaocheng sent a lot of supplies, including rice, tea seed oil, quartz sand, tung oil, etc. The new city provides a huge market where merchants from all over the country can trade.

The Tingzhou Chamber of Commerce, based on the chariot and horse gang, was once the biggest supporter of Chenxi, but now it cannot be simply called the Tingzhou Chamber of Commerce, but should be called the Fujian Chamber of Commerce.

Nowadays, merchants in Fujian have basically joined in. Even Fujian has gone from the governor's office to the prefectures and counties, as well as the governor's offices to various garrisons, the generals of the Qianhu Office basically occupy shares in the Chamber of Commerce, which is like a huge business empire, and has received support from both the black and white. Of course, this is also related to Chen Xi's lofty status in the court.

Basically everyone is profitable, and the people have shared enough interests because of the rapid development of the Chamber of Commerce, making the Chamber of Commerce a big banner and attracting attention.

However, Chen Xi understood that the success of this business model was only temporary.

Merchants seek profit. Once an organization is established, they are thinking about making the most profit with the smallest capital. For this reason, they even violate morality and law. They must have powerful hands like him to intervene. Once he falls or no longer manages the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce, this powerful economic group will become a wild horse that is gradually out of control, repeating the chaos in the late Ming Dynasty in the previous life.

At night, Chen Xi came to Hui Niang and Li Jin's residence and told me about Song Xiaocheng's arrival in Xincheng. Hui Niang shook her head: "I don't know if the small town can keep going the right way... I always feel that he is not as down-to-earth as Lao Jiu. Maybe the master should have let him enter the court earlier, otherwise he would always be filled with a banditry spirit, which makes people feel at ease..."

Hui Niang didn’t have a high opinion of Song Xiaocheng.

Although Song Xiaocheng served as Hui Niang's deputy when the Tingzhou Chamber of Commerce was first established in the past, he only had the advantage of cleverness and wide networking. Later, with a large number of people joining the Chamber of Commerce, many of them had stronger abilities than Song Xiaocheng, but because Song Xiaocheng belongs to an absolute direct line, no one could shake its position.

In recent years, Chenxi's cultivation and use of Song Xiaocheng has enabled it to manage an increasingly huge commercial empire.

Song Xiaocheng wanders all over the Ming Dynasty, from northeast to southwest, and from northwest to southeast, basically opening up the official and shopping mall channels of various officials and shopping malls, and accumulating extensive connections. Now almost everyone knows that Song Xiaocheng represents Chenxi and will be regarded as a guest wherever he goes.

But in contrast, Ma Jiu is now the fourth-rank General Xuanwei appointed by the court. He usually listens to Shen Xi, but if he is released, he is at least a senior official of the commander-in-chief of the Wei commander. However, Song Xiaocheng has never been recognized by the court, so his mentality may have changed.

Chen Xi smiled and said, "Hui Niang is still a deep understanding of him, but when she thinks about it carefully, he actually did nothing wrong. It's pretty good to help me manage business in the past few years."

"I'm afraid the master will take a look."

Hui Niang gave Chen Xi annoyed, "I heard that he started to mess around in Fujian. People in the prefectures and counties are afraid of him and do a lot of things to bully men and women... I can't let him continue like this. It's better to keep him in the new city to facilitate close supervision, or let him be a small official in the court. After all, he is a person who is from a small distance with us, so it's not necessary to just enter another account."

Hui Niang finally remembered her old love. Although she felt that Song Xiaocheng had already shown signs of losing control, she did not recommend that Chen Xi abandon Song Xiaocheng easily.

However, Hui Niang's opinions on the use of people around Chen Xi may not necessarily influence Chen Xi's thoughts, Chen Xi has his own plans.

Chen Xizhi responded and told Hui Niang and Li Jin a lot of business matters. The second round of the drum was ringing outside, and before he knew it, it was time to take a shower, change clothes and get ready to rest.

Hui Niang suddenly said, "After the two girls Sui'an and Dongxi came over, the master is afraid that he hasn't even seen anyone?"

Chen Xi chuckled: "What does it matter if you meet?"

Hui Niang pouted: "Is it okay for me to force me to put someone on the master's bed? It would be fine if the master doesn't like two cute girls, but they still have to do what they should do."

Hui Niang would not do the work of serving Chen Xi bathing and changing clothes himself, but gave it to Li Jin, Sui An and Dongxi... Sui An and Dongxi were responsible for boiling and lifting water, while Li Jin helped to take care of it.

Hui Niang left temporarily, only Chen Xi and Li Jin were left in the room.

Chen Xi asked a few questions about Hui Niang, and Li Jin said, "It's not bad. My sister has been pure and has no desires recently and has been chanting Buddhist scriptures every day."

"Why do you look at those divine things again..."

Chen Xi was somewhat helpless about Hui Niang's stubbornness, but he could understand Hui Niang's mentality. After being suppressed for a long time in this era, he always needed some spiritual sustenance.

Li Jin whispered: "Sister said she wanted to atone for her sins. As for the specific reason, I don't know."

Although Li Jin usually obeys Hui Niang's words, it does not mean that she has no idea. As she gets along with Chen Xi, she has figured out Chen Xi's personality and preferences, and occasionally tells some Hui Niang's secrets here. She knows that doing so will not harm Hui Niang, but will help Chen Xi understand Hui Niang better.

If she didn't say it, Chen Xi might never know Hui Niang's true thoughts.

Chen Xidao: "She still couldn't let go of the past...I don't know what she was thinking..."

Li Jin thought for a while and replied, "Sister is not thinking about Hong'er again, right? She usually makes children's clothes when she is free, but she knows it's not enough... My sister often talks about Hong'er, who can come to the south, but she is afraid that Hong'er will not be able to adapt to the bumps on the road at such age, and she is even more afraid that she will delay Hong'er's studies back and forth."

Chen Xi nodded and asked, "What about you? Do you want Hong'er?"

"Um."

Li Jin replied seriously, "Hong'er is my sister and I all hope."

Chen Xi shook his head: "Your hope should not be placed on other people's children, you should have your own children... Your sister has been helping you, but why hasn't it been moving?"

Li Jin's expression was dim. In order to make her pregnant as soon as possible and have her own child, Hui Niang sacrificed a lot and left most of the opportunities for bedtime to Li Jin. She tried her best to let Li Jin and Chen Xi be alone in order to let Li Jin give birth to a child as soon as possible and restore vitality to the courtyard.

Li Jin said: "Maybe I have no blessings."

"You are not old, and there are many opportunities in the future... Many times it depends on fate. You can't be too extravagant. Sometimes you must have it in your destiny." Chen Xi smiled and comforted.

Li Jin nodded. She understood the truth and would not be too demanding on some things. The main reason was that she was used to being content with things and would not be entangled with some things for a long time.

Chen Xi did not mention the topic of children anymore. He would always try to help Li Jin get pregnant. It is hard to say whether he can really get what he wants. After all, Chen Xi often has fatigue or too many women around him, so it is impossible to take care of Li Jin and Hui Niang emotionally.

This is also the trouble of Chen Xi. If he is passionate, he cannot be dedicated. He never thought of becoming a saint, nor would he ask himself to sit in his arms and not to be chaotic, as that would go against his true heart.

Chen Xi asked Hui Niang some things again, and Li Jin answered in detail. Chen Xi felt Hui Niang's loneliness and helplessness, and sighed: "Maybe as you said, when Hong'er was there, your sister could maintain a healthy and good mentality. Now she lacks the company of her children and is in such a strange place, as if she is locked in a cage. She will inevitably think more... If you have time to accompany your sister to the city for more time, let her relax."

"Um."

Li Jin nodded, and she basically obeyed Chen Xi's words.

Chen Xi said again: "But Hong'er may really come to Xincheng before the end of the year. If she is afraid of delaying her studies, I will write a letter to bring her husband here. Then I will find a way to let you and your sister visit him."

"Really?"

Li Jin was very happy. After all, she missed Chen Hong very much. It was the most joyful time in her family before. With Chen Hong missing, even Li Jin's mentality gradually changed and her will became increasingly depressed.

Chen Xi said: "Don't tell your sister about this for the time being. I'm afraid she doesn't agree with it... She has too many ideas, and many times I can't be serious with her... Although she can have her own ideas, she still has to listen to me more often. After all, I am the head of the family."

...

...

The long night was long, and Chenxi enjoyed all the tenderness, but after everything calmed down, he was filled with thoughts and had no intention of sleeping for a while, so he simply got up, put on his clothes, and sat down at the desk in front of the window.

Chen Xi’s future planning is more like asking for trouble.

He was like duckweed in the first half of his life, running around while taking the exam and becoming an official. He seemed to continue to be duckweed in the second half of his life, causing trouble to himself, and letting people around him suffer together.

"The master seems to be worrying more and more recently."

Hui Niang woke up in the middle of the night and found that Chen Xi was not by the pillow. She looked at him and Chen Xi was sitting upright in front of the desk, with a bleak figure on her back. Hui Niang wiped her eyes and was curious. She simply put on a piece of clothes on her body, got up and came behind Chen Xi, and found that he was holding a brush in his hand and facing the lonely lamp, but a piece of paper in front of him was empty, so she asked curiously.

Then Hui Niang sat down on the stool beside Shen Xi.

Everything was silent, and the two could clearly hear the wind outside. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather became cold, and even in the Jiangnan area, you could feel a sensation of coldness.

Chen Xidao: "When you think about things while you are quiet at night, you can always make sense of the chaotic ideas."

Hui Niang shook her head: "Are you worried about the war to clear the Japanese pirates in the future, or do you want to retreat to the mountains and forests? You always feel that the master is not very keen on court. According to His Majesty's favor, the master could cover the sky with his hands in the court and be an unattainable powerful minister, but the master seemed to be deliberately avoiding these things... It is really unpredictable..."

Chen Xi smiled and shook his head: "What's the point of being a powerful minister? The result of covering the sky with one hand means becoming a big trouble for others. You may be able to maintain your status for a while, but if it lasts for a long time... it will only end up being ruined."

Hui Niang looked at Chen Xi and could basically understand Chen Xi's mentality. She became an official but didn't want to bear too much. In the end, she could only choose to escape from many issues.

"But the current situation in the court is no longer allowed to continue to escape... The master has enough reputation and status. If Master Xie retreated, wouldn't he stand up and preside over the court? Without Master He, I'm afraid the world will be in chaos."

Hui Niang's words contain profound meanings because she knows very well how nonsense the current emperor is.

The stability of the court was based on the governance of Shen Xi, Xie Qian and others. A group of civil officials pushed the power of the Silijian to the lowest point, but if something happens in the future, such as Xie Qian retreating or Chen Xi resigning, there will definitely be a big trouble in the court.

Emperor Zhengde's personality determines that this is an era when powerful ministers are easily released, and the court is easily controlled. Those who can do this will not be the ministers in the court who have few contacts with Zhu Houzhao, but the emperor's close ministers, such as Zhang Yuan and the future successor of the Sili Supervisor, or Jiang Bin and Xu Tai.

Chen Xidao: "Everyone can operate without any loss in this world. Even if I can help the court do something, it is not necessary. I will not think about what will happen if I leave the court one day. No matter who is missing, the Ming Dynasty will continue to operate, and there may not be any changes in the next few decades to hundreds of years."

"Is that true?" Hui Niang's face was full of confusion.

Chen Xi sighed: "A dynasty has been maintained for too long, and it takes generations of continuous efforts to make a change possible. It is difficult for me alone to do this... If you forcefully change it means that I am incompatible with the world. No matter whether this change is right or wrong, history may classify me as a sinner."

When Hui Niang heard these words, she suddenly realized that Chen Xi's condition was even more serious than she expected.

"Did the master give up like this?"

Chen Xi shook his head helplessly: "This new city is my attempt. I hope to make changes in this way. Since it is difficult to do it in the Ming Dynasty, I will open a place different from other towns in the country and do some experiments. But now it seems... it should have failed."

"The master has done a good job." Hui Niang did not feel that Chen Xi had failed to build the new city, but felt that it was very successful.

Chen Xidao: "What you see is the change on the surface of this city. The streets here are very different from the people's lifestyles and people in ordinary cities. The proportion of workers is larger than that in any other place. But you must know that this place must be strictly followed by the rules of the Ming Dynasty. Even if I want to make any changes, the next time Your Majesty arrives, the censor will make a lot of remarks about the changes I have made, and finally force me to change everything back to its original appearance."

Hui Niang shook her head: "Is the master worried that His Majesty will overturn the master's original idea?"

"Um."

Chen Xi nodded and said, "Yes, but not entirely. Whether Your Majesty is here or not is actually irrelevant. It is because I realize a difficult problem..."

"All the king's land is under the world. No matter where I make changes, I will make Your Majesty and the people around you speak out about these changes. Everything I do is in vain... I want to change the whole world, not this corner."

Hui Niang was completely confused and shook her head to say that she could not understand at all, but she did not continue to ask questions, and the room fell into silence.

...

...

Zhu Houzhao set out from the capital.

When the imperial carriage arrived in Tongzhou and boarded the boat, he was very tired because the trip was different from what he imagined.

According to the instructions, he did not have to block the river when he was traveling. There were still ships coming and going on the Grand Canal. However, when Zhu Houzhao's fleet passed by, these ships had to dock at the port in advance and wait patiently, and waited until the emperor's ship passed before they could continue on the road.

A large number of cavalry followed along the coast to ensure safety and safety.

However, in the vast fleet, the emperor's boat was very ordinary, and there was no such huge feeling of flags waving, which was similar to Zhu Houzhao's first trip to Jiangnan.

"As the emperor, it's the same as when he was the prince? What's the difference between riding a civilian boat?"

Zhu Houzhao was very depressed because his ship was not big and did not show the difference from other ships on the canal. The problem was that the Grand Canal was disrepaired and the dredging was not smooth, and large ships could not run away. The ships on the big rivers could not walk through the canal. The ships on the canal were almost all unified. Although Zhu Houzhao's ship was an official ship, it was very different from the folk ships.
To be continued...