I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 253 Marriage

Chapter 253 Marriage Alliance

Wang Wenzhou's planned business empire was based on three major groups: Hanshan Supermarket, Hanshan Express, and Hanshan Bank, and then supplemented by other means to control the entire economy of the Ming Dynasty.

In front of the babies, Wang Wenzhou expressed his ambitions.

Zhang Jiao, Zhao Fengmin, Gao Guilan, and Ge Wei looked at Wang Wenzhou with admiration, their eyes sparkling. Their husband was truly talented.

Zhang Rong and Liu Rushi frowned deeply. These two were both well-informed people, and no matter how they looked at it, they felt that their enemy was up to no small thing. Could their enemy be planning a rebellion?

Sheng Lan neither admired nor doubted; she felt that as long as the adults liked it, she would like whatever they did.

"I'll take the last ten million taels with me to the capital to bribe important officials in the court. I'll ask them to help me avoid getting a promotion or being transferred. I just want to stay in Hanshan," Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.

Zhang Rong asked in confusion, "Husband, why don't you ask for a promotion? Didn't you say that a man should be the highest-ranking official and sleep with the most beautiful girl!"

Wang Wenzhou smiled bitterly. Being a high-ranking official, making a fortune, and sleeping with beautiful women—these were just dreams in peacetime. Damn it, the Ming Dynasty was going to fall in a few years; what was the point of being a high-ranking official? Especially Chongzhen, a notorious killer of famous ministers and generals in history. Far more famous ministers and generals died at Chongzhen's hands than at the hands of the Manchus.

Wang Wenzhou said with deep emotion, "Babies, you are all pregnant and will be giving birth soon. If I am transferred to another post, you will have to come with me. The journey will be tiring, and you might even suffer from acclimatization problems. That wouldn't be good!"

The babies were very touched; their husband is truly a caring and loving man.

Only Liu Ru glanced at Wang Wenzhou with disdain, thinking, "I don't believe you!"

"Alright, that concludes our family meeting for today. I have other matters to attend to," Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.

Seeing that Wang Wenzhou was about to leave, Liu Rushi quickly tugged at Gao Guilan's arm and whispered, "Hurry up and get dressed, and follow your husband."

"Okay!" Gao Guilan quickly put on her pants and followed closely behind Wang Wenzhou.

Wang Wenzhou was quite helpless; the babies were all pregnant, and it wasn't convenient for them to follow him around. Although Sheng Lan wasn't pregnant, she had to take care of Zhang Xiaohua all day and didn't have time to be with him either. Gao Guilan, therefore, felt a heavy responsibility and stayed by his side 24 hours a day.

When Wang Wenzhou arrived at the Hanshan County Government Office, Li Yinshui and others had already been waiting for a long time.

Wang Wenzhou began by saying, "I've called you all here today to discuss something."

Li Yinshui quickly replied, "Sir, please give us your orders, and we will do our utmost."

Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "You must have heard that the Emperor has issued an edict summoning me to the capital for an audience."

Li Jinshui and the others quickly clasped their hands in congratulations: "Congratulations on your great achievement, sir! Congratulations on your promotion!"

Wang Wenzhou smiled bitterly and said, "I don't want to leave Hanshan. Hanshan County is what it is today because of the hard work of you all. But I can't disobey the imperial decree. I'm thinking, if I'm no longer the prefect of Hanshan, what do you all plan to do?"

Li Jinshui and the others looked at each other, and suddenly, they all knelt down and shouted, "No matter where you are, sir, as long as you give the order, we will go through fire and water and die for you!"

"Pah!" Wang Wenzhou cursed inwardly. "You bunch of bastards, don't think I don't know. People forget you when you're gone. Now you're all patting your chests and saying nice things, but if I really fall on hard times, you'll be lucky if you don't kick me when I'm down."

Since returning to Hanshan, Wang Wenzhou has been pondering this question: if he were transferred and a new prefect were appointed, how much influence would he still have in Hanshan?

Wang Wenzhou was truly reluctant to give up Hanshan, which had finally developed into what it was today. Therefore, he made many underhanded moves. For example, he vigorously promoted people from labor camps, who were his staunch loyalists.

However, Li Jinshui and Ma Bantou were not easy to deal with. They were both veteran officials of Hanshan County, and in the past year, Hanshan had developed rapidly. They had used their power to cultivate their own factions in private. Today, Wang Wenzhou planned to bring them all onto his side.

Wang Wenzhou asked with a smile, "Commander Ma, I heard that your youngest daughter is eight years old this year and is very cute. My son, Yangyang, is nine years old this year. I wonder if you would like to become in-laws with me?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Bantou almost cried with joy. What was Lord Wang's status? What was his status? He had fantasized about becoming in-laws with Lord Wang, but that was just a fantasy. Although Jiang Xuyang was only Lord Wang's adopted son, he knew that Lord Wang truly treated Jiang Xuyang like his own son.

"My lord! How could I refuse? My daughter is so lucky! I will immediately hire a matchmaker and go to propose marriage." Ma Bantou was so happy that he was a little incoherent.

Wang Wenzhou laughed and scolded, "Head of the Ma family, what are you talking about? Your family has a daughter, and mine has a son! I should be the one to find a matchmaker to propose marriage to your family. Since you have agreed, I will go home later to ask my wife, Ru Ru. As you know, Ru Ru has always taken care of our little Yangyang. Although I really want to arrange this marriage, whether or not to agree is up to her."

Ma Bantou prayed in his heart, "Madam Liu Rushi, you must agree to this marriage!"

Wang Wenzhou glanced at Li Jinshui and then at Li Hechen. These two uncles and nephews were incredibly powerful in Hanshan. Since Wang Wenzhou planned to arrange a marriage alliance, he wouldn't let them off the hook.

Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Li Hechen, I heard your wife just gave birth to a daughter?"

Li Hechen's heart was pounding in his chest, he was incredibly excited. The official's question meant he wanted to become in-laws with him, but he wondered which lady's son the official would choose. Well, the ladies' children hadn't been born yet.

“My daughter has just turned one month old,” Li Hechen said.

Wang Wenzhou thought for a moment and then said, "How about you give your daughter to my Zhang Xiaohua in marriage?"

"Thank you, Your Excellency!" Li Yinshui and Li Hechen immediately knelt down.

Although Zhang Xiaohua's surname is Zhang, Li Yinshui and his nephew understand very well that Zhang Xiaohua is Wang Wenzhou's eldest son and will inherit the title of Earl of Xinjian in the future. If their daughter marries Zhang Xiaohua, they will have everything.

Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Get up! From now on, we're all family, no need to be so polite!"

Wang Wenzhou smiled wryly. "My sons," he said, "it's not that I want to interfere with your freedom of marriage, but I have no other choice. Throughout history, gaining the loyalty of subordinates is difficult. However, interests can bind them tightly. And marriage is the simplest and most effective method."

"We're all family, so I'll be frank! Even if I'm no longer the prefect of Hanshan, I want you to do one thing. Whoever takes over as prefect of Hanshan, you must treat him with utmost respect. But! For the future of Hanshan, for the happiness of the people of Hanshan, everything must be done with my approval!" Wang Wenzhou said solemnly.

"Sir! Don't worry!" the crowd quickly assured them.