The return of the Zhang family had stirred the hearts of many people.
The officials and runners of Sanshui County's yamen were trying to find ways to visit, and so were the commoners.
However, the new year was approaching, and the officials could not spare any time. They still had to deliver gifts to the poorest families in Sanshui County. The poor families were not locals of Sanshui County. They were people who had moved to Sanshui County from other places.
When Zhang Zhong returned this time, in addition to bringing back the local specialties, he also brought back three ships worth of dried fish. Dried fish from the sea, the kind that was very big. As long as the people of San Shui County had one, they would have no problem eating it for three to five days.
However, on the surface, it was said that he was following the orders of the imperial court. In truth, everyone knew that the imperial court would not let Zhang Zhong bring fish back to the commoners.
A sea fish was not expensive. Even though this place was a little far from the sea, one could buy a big sea fish with 100 copper coins. The commoners mainly felt Zhang Zhong's goodwill. Bringing anything back from Lu Zhou would be more profitable than bringing fish back. However, Zhang Zhong still packed the fish and delivered them to each family.
The commoners knew what was going on, but they did not say it out loud. They were afraid of bringing trouble to the Zhang Family and the Wang Family. They knew that Sanshui County was the world of the Zhang Family and the Wang Family. If Zhang Zhong wanted to rebel, there would be no problem at all.
Zhang Zhong also knew that his every move in Sanshui County was being watched. After all, Sanshui County was too important. It had a specialized craftsman academy, controlled a river, and increased grain production. Coupled with the annual tax income, it would be a lie to say that it was not tempting.
The problem was that Sanshui County could not arrange its own people. To be an official in Sanshui County, one had to be approved by the commoners. The commoners did not know the new official yet. They had to do something good for the commoners first.
Apart from this path, the other path was naturally Zhang Zhong's idea. Even if the commoners had already chosen their officials, Zhang Zhong could waive them with just a word. Otherwise, they would not be able to collect so much tax.
Among them were people sent by Li Longji. Li Longji was also afraid. The Zhang family was too powerful. If they wanted to rebel, the people who were sent to quell the rebellion would have to fight in Yaozhou first. Only after winning could they enter Sanshui County and continue the fight.
Fortunately, the Zhang family always knew when to advance and when to retreat. They would never do anything that they shouldn't do. Many secrets were written and sent to the higher-ups. Otherwise, they would have been dealt with long ago.
As a matter of fact, as soon as the big fish was given out, a few officials from the imperial court used pigeons to spread the news, saying that they also wanted to try the taste of the sea fish and were prepared to pay for one. One of them was the person in charge of the imperial kitchen.
After Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan read the letter, they understood that the people were not asking for the sea fish. They were expressing that they already knew about the Zhang family giving out the fish.
"It's not easy to give out something. Just give it to them. Since they want to eat it, they have no choice but to give it to them. Find a few sheep's hearts and put them in the fish's stomach. Remember to open the fish first and stuff them in through the mouth. Send them to the imperial kitchen and say that the combination of fish and sheep will taste better."
Zhang Xiaobao was very familiar with this kind of thing. Since Li Longji had sent people to ask about the fish, he should give them an answer.
Zhang Zhong did not understand the meaning of this and specially came over to ask.
"Xiao Bao, are we just going to put the sheep's hearts into the fish's stomach? Can they still be eaten? "
"Eat? Father, they won't eat it. They will just look at it. They know that the Zhang Family and Wang Family are loyal and will not make things difficult for us. "
Zhang Xiaobao explained to his father.
"Then why do we have to let the sheep's heart go? Isn't chicken heart better? Maybe the fish can be eaten. "Zhang Zhong felt that this was also a kind of knowledge.
Zhang Xiaobao shook his head, "Chicken won't do. Sheep and fish together are not only fresh, but also nurturing. First of all, they are the people of Tang Dynasty. If Li Longji is willing to play games, then play with him. Oh, it's the emperor."
Zhang Zhong understood now. It turned out that giving things was also a kind of knowledge. It seemed that he had to learn more in the future and ask his son often. It was not ordinary.
After knowing about the gift, Zhang Zhong asked again, "Xiao Bao, where do you think I should go next time? It's not good to enter the capital too early. "
"Father, you don't have to worry about this matter. There are people who are more attentive than us. Li Xun will definitely think of a way. Prince Sining is also the same. Since you are free now, father, you should enjoy it for two more days. I reckon that the next place you go will be busy. It's either a very poor place or a very rich place.
It's fine if it's poor. We will take out our own money to help the people and then we can earn a lot. I'm afraid that we will go to a rich place, such as Henan. If you really want to go there, father, you should not go. You'd rather go back to the capital. The water there is too deep. I reckon that going back and forth will tire you to death. "
Zhang Xiaobao actually wanted his father to come to Yaozhou. It was very easy to manage here. With a government order, the people would obey. But this was absolutely impossible. Sanshui County was already worrying. How could they give more chances to the Zhang family?
Zhang Zhong rubbed his son's head and left without saying a word. He felt a little uncomfortable. When encountering something, he could not make a better judgment and had to ask his son.
He did not feel that his son was better than him. No matter how smart his son was, he was still a son. He knew how to be filial to his parents and know how to share the family's responsibilities.
What made him uncomfortable was that he always made his son worry. His son was still young. Even if he was a deity, it was still tiring. He had to make his son and daughter-in-law busy with things that they should not worry about. If he could understand more, his son and daughter-in-law would be more relaxed.
Learn, he must learn. In the future, he would let his son and daughter-in-law do less tiring work.
Zhang Zhong walked back to his courtyard. On the way, he thought about this. He also saw how powerful his son and daughter-in-law were. They were truly strategizing. In business, calculations, people's livelihood, and now the four children were also involved.
While his son and daughter-in-law were dealing, they could also find time to train the guards and learn knowledge every day. Oh, right, there was also a diplomatic aspect. The two children were also in charge. Moreover, they had to come up with new things from time to time to make money and develop. All the burdens were placed on the children.
Seeing that his father had left, Zhang Xiaobao took out a pen and paper and began to design something.
This time, the things to be made were simple. It was a sledge and ice skates. After the design was done, the physical objects had to be made and then sent to the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War. Although it was simple, it was not small. It could be used to transport goods and also allow people to move quickly on the ice.
According to the service target of technology, the first target was naturally the military. Therefore, he had to let the imperial court know about this matter first. After the imperial court had researched and understood it, he could consider whether to apply it to people's livelihood.
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