The rise of the poor

Chapter 2323 Zhao Wenhua, Determined to Win

Hu Zongxian held the hand of a young maid to read her palm, flirting shyly, drinking one cup of wine after another, truly a charming and romantic figure.

There were also pretty young maids pouring wine for Zhu Ping'an, but Zhu Ping'an kept his eyes straight ahead and focused on the bear paws and other delicacies on the table.

If this table were in modern times, it would be enough to put someone in jail for life.

However, this was ancient times, the wicked feudal society, and Zhu Ping'an critically savored each bite.

Fish is what I desire; bear's paw is also what I desire. If I cannot have both, I will give up fish and take bear's paw.

He had only drunk two cups of wine when most of a bear paw was already in Zhu Ping'an's stomach.

Zhao Wenhua looked at Hu Zongxian and Zhu Pingan with amusement. These two were really something—one a womanizer, the other a glutton.

Zhu Pingan, feeling somewhat dizzy, returned to the villa arranged by Zhao Wenhua. Hu Zongxian, supported by a young maid, entered the adjacent villa. This old lecher Hu Zongxian pretended to be drunk, coaxing the young maid to bring him back.

Of course, it was a case of Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai—one was willing to hit and the other was willing to be hit; the little maid was also playing hard to get.

Zhu Pingan was a little dizzy because he had drunk a couple more cups at the table. Zhu Pingan knew that he couldn't hold his liquor. The reason he drank a couple more cups was because Zhao Wenhua had given him a slip of paper at the table for 4,000 bolts of silk and 8,000 bolts of cotton cloth. He could take the slips to the Ministry of Revenue in Yingtian and pick them up directly.

A bolt of silk is four zhang long and one chi and eight fen wide. One chi is about 33.3 centimeters. One bolt of silk is about 8 square meters. Four thousand bolts of silk would be 32,000 square meters.

Zhu Ping'an decided to make all three thousand bolts of silk into inner lining garments. In ancient times, an inner lining garment required about 1.6 square meters of silk. After accounting for waste, four thousand bolts of silk could make about twenty thousand inner lining garments.

Ten thousand pieces were given to the navy, and the remaining ten thousand were distributed to the Zhejiang army. We also purchased some silk so that each soldier could have one.

Wearing this silk-lined top is like wearing soft armor. The dense texture of silk means that even if you are hit by an arrow, the silk will wrap around the arrowhead and embed it into the flesh. When removing the arrow, the barbs will reduce tearing of the skin and flesh. Even if the arrowhead is poisoned, it will slow down the spread of the toxin. In addition, silk is durable, breathable, and antibacterial. Since soldiers are often rough and don't wash their clothes frequently, wearing a silk-lined top will prevent them from developing sores.

Given the current limited resources, we will temporarily equip the soldiers with an inner shirt. Later, when conditions permit, we will also provide them with inner trousers.

As for the cotton cloth, it will be made into military uniforms. The weather is about to get hot, and the soldiers will have an extra set of uniforms to change into.

For the sake of these four thousand bolts of silk and eight thousand bolts of cotton cloth, and of course, the Hundred Flowers Wine was indeed delicious, Zhu Ping'an drank two more cups.

The next morning, before dawn, Zhu Ping'an got up early to wash and prepare breakfast, which was brought to him by the servants of the Zhao family.

Zhu Pingan had a simple breakfast and went out to pay his respects to Zhao Wenhua. They had agreed last night to go outside the city together to welcome the angel today.

As Zhu Pingan was leaving, Hu Zongxian, who lived next door, also went out. The maidservant went out with Hu Zongxian.

It seems the maid served and took care of Hu Zongxian all night last night.

"Lord Zhu," Hu Zongxian greeted with a smile.

"Lord Hu." Zhu Ping'an smiled and returned the greeting, and the two naturally went together to pay their respects to Zhao Wenhua.

The servants of the Zhao family also got up early to sweep and clean the courtyard, prepare incense tables and other items to welcome the imperial decree, while the kitchen staff prepared the dishes. Everyone was full of confidence that Zhao Wenhua would succeed as the Governor-General of Jiangnan.

After Zhu Pingan and Hu Zongxian waited for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Zhao Wenhua also finished getting ready. The three of them got into Zhao Wenhua's carriage and went to the outskirts of the city to welcome the angel.

Zhao Wenhua's carriage was very impressive, a Rolls-Royce among carriages, more than three times the size of an ordinary carriage. The entire body was made of rosewood, which had a faint fragrance. There were windows on three sides of the body, with exquisite patterns carved on the windows. The windows were decorated with gorgeous gold patterns. The oval roof was raised high, like a pavilion, providing more and higher space for the carriage. Red silk curtains hung down from the roof, covering the entire roof. They rolled up at the four edges and could be lowered to cover the entire carriage when necessary, to protect it from wind and rain.

Four fine white horses pulled the carriage in front of it; they were clearly excellent steeds, a real waste to use them for pulling the carriage.

Zhu Pingan had assumed the carriage would be spacious, but upon boarding, he discovered it was even more spacious and deep than he had imagined, like a room, much larger than a typical SUV. The main seat was covered with thick, soft cushions, suitable for sitting or lying down, while the two side seats also had thick cushions. The carriage was carpeted with Persian rugs, and a bookshelf with several scrolls of books sat beside the main seat. In the middle of the carriage was a small table with pastries and fresh fruit, and a maid was kneeling and preparing tea.

"I've ridden in the Meilin carriage many times before, but this is your first time, Zihou. How do you feel about my 'Shunxin Pavilion'?" Zhao Wenhua asked Zhu Pingan with a smile after getting into the carriage.

What the heck, the Shunxin Pavilion?!

Zhu Pingan was stunned for a moment before he realized that Zhao Wenhua was referring to his carriage.

Shunxin Pavilion?!

A carriage is called a pavilion. It's quite fitting. Such a big carriage, as big as a pavilion, is truly aptly named. How could you not be comfortable riding in such a big carriage? The name is so perfect!

Zhu Pingan glanced around the interior of the carriage and replied softly without changing his expression, "As the saying goes, 'A skilled craftsman must first have the right tools.' With this carriage, Master Zhao can conserve his energy and perform his duties better when he travels on official business."

Zhao Wenhua nodded vigorously. "Zihou really understands me. Since we have Shunxin Pavilion, my official business has become much more efficient. Some people don't understand my good intentions and slander me for being extravagant. How could they understand my good intentions? With Shunxin Pavilion, I can work anytime, anywhere, day and night, devoting myself wholeheartedly."

Ha, you really know how to pat yourself on the back. Zhu Ping'an was speechless in his heart, but remained expressionless on the surface.

Upon hearing Zhao Wenhua's words, Hu Zongxian immediately comforted him, saying, "We have seen how hard Lord Zhao has worked. They are nitpicking and finding fault with everything. Lord Zhao, please don't let them affect you."

"Hmph, these people are just looking for trouble!" Zhao Wenhua snorted.

"Just do your own thing and let others talk," Zhu Pingan said casually.

"Hehe, the words are common but the meaning is profound. Zihou said it well: walk your own path and let others talk."

Zhao Wenhua chuckled, nodded, and repeated Zhu Ping'an's words, expressing his strong agreement.

"Forget about them. It's enough that you understand me. Once I become governor, you will be my right-hand men."

Zhao Wenhua said to Hu Zongxian and Zhu Pingan.

"I am willing to die for you, sir." Hu Zongxian immediately declared, bowing deeply with his hands clasped.

"Ping An will do everything in his power to help Zhao Shi quell the Japanese pirates," Zhu Ping An also declared.

Waiting for you to become governor

It seems Zhao Wenhua is determined to get the governorship.

However, I'm sorry to disappoint you, it's not you.

"Hahahaha, good, good, good!" Zhao Wenhua's loud laughter echoed from inside the carriage. (End of Chapter)