Xu Mingyang's words made Li Jiancheng feel a trace of fear. He asked with certainty, "Is that true?"
He was still thinking that the inner court of the Zhang Family and the Wang Family was only so-so. They would help with something just because they were given something. It was not like the rumors said that they were stubborn.
He thought that as long as they were willing to spend money, there was nothing that could not be done through the people of the Zhang Family and the Wang Family. Why did the meaning change when it came from Xu Mingyang's mouth?
Xu Mingyang did not even need to ask what Li Jiancheng was thinking after he gave the gift. He had already guessed the judgment in Li Jiancheng's mind.
He shook his head helplessly again and said, "Brother Li, I'm telling the truth. I can guess that the gift you gave to the people of the Chamber of Commerce is worth hundreds of strings of coins or even thousands of strings of coins. Am I right?"
Li Jiancheng nodded.
"Then, do you know how much the person who took your money from the Chamber of Commerce is worth? Let me tell you, it's at least 10,000 strings of coins. Moreover, it's the kind of person who doesn't have much power. If the person took your money and immediately did the thing for you, then his net worth is more than 50,000 strings of coins.
Do you think they would care about a little gift from you? There are two more important points. First, once they are found out, not only will they be kicked out of the main family and become free, but they may even be executed by the Zhang Family and the Wang Family. They still have relatives, and they are all under the protection of the Zhang Family and the Wang Family.
Second, they have their own pride and glory. In their opinion, being able to become the inner court of the Zhang Family and the Wang Family is like renting a grave and smoking smoke. Not everyone can be the inner court of the Zhang Family and the Wang Family, and they have to go through layers of selection and continuous tests.
Let me tell you this. The few men who followed the madams of the two families today are the inner court. They are the servants of the two families, but they are different from the servants of other families. They are much stronger than me, the Provincial Governor.
Now that I've become the Provincial Governor, I don't care about Lu Zhou anymore. Even if I do, the Zhang Family and Wang Family won't care. I've been controlling Lu Zhou's affairs all this while, but I've suddenly stopped.
Well, then, any one of the men we see will take over my work in a very short time, as short as an hour or two, and nothing else will be delayed.
This is the foundation. But they would rather be in the inner courtyard of the Zhang Family and Wang Family than change positions with me. This is because they can continue to learn from us, and their children in the future will also receive a good education. They actually look down on officials like us who are not outstanding. "
As Xu Mingyang spoke, he drank with all his might, as if he wanted to use the wine to suppress the stuffiness in his heart and get drunk to solve his thousand worries.
Li Jiancheng put down his chopsticks and asked in surprise, "Really? Are the rumors true?"
"What rumor? Let's drink. "Xu Mingyang raised his wine cup.
"It's said that Tang has two systems of officials and the military. One is in use, and the other is in the Zhang Family and Wang Family. The original system can be replaced at any time. Therefore, there is no need to worry that the officials will collectively quit, and there is no need to worry that there is no official to take over when something happens."
Li Jiancheng told him the rumor he heard.
"Although it's not entirely true, it's not far from it. If all the officials in Tang quit at the same time, the Zhang Family and Wang Family are still not strong enough to support them. However, if 60% of the officials quit at the same time, His Majesty will directly kill them, and then ask Xiao Bao and Cuckoo for manpower to fill the vacated positions and support the administration.
They don't need to arrange the same number of people for every position. They have people who can do the work of several people. In fact, there are also many idle people in the government.
Because of this, many officials in Tang who know the situation now don't dare to threaten the imperial court with their local affairs. It's the same in the military.
The only thing I don't know is if the people who can participate in the court session quit at the same time, will the Zhang Family and Wang Family be able to replace them? After all, there are still many situations where experience is needed. Such a thing has never happened, so I don't know.
Just tell me, how can such people be bribed by you? Their pride is in their bones. As for me, I want to accept some bribes, but I don't dare to. Besides, how much can you give me? If I work honestly for a year, I won't get less money.
This is the high salary that Xiao Bao and Cuckoo proposed to His Majesty. If an official did a good job, when he finished his position, he would get a sum of money calculated according to how much tax he raised and how the local people lived. It's a shocking amount of money.
But at the same time, if he made a mistake, and he did it knowingly, he would get a good punishment. A few days ago, His Majesty issued a decree saying that if an official deliberately cheated and destroyed the local people to raise tax, even if he was promoted, in a few years, if there were problems in his original place, he would be in trouble.
Let's stop talking. Let's drink. When winter comes, I'll leave Lu Zhou. Although Lu Zhou is good, it's too suffocating. The people don't treat me as an official at all. "
When Xu Mingyang drank, he obviously became more talkative. Moreover, the frequency of drinking began to increase. It seemed that the wine had no alcohol content.
There were complaints, helplessness, and a hint of awe in his voice.
Li Jiancheng drank a lot as well, and he was a little confused. Suddenly, he remembered that he should not let Xu Mingyang get drunk. He still had some things to ask, and he seemed to be in a good state now.
Therefore, he did not care if Xu Mingyang thought he was dirty. He used his chopsticks to give Xu Mingyang a few dishes and said, "Eat the dishes and drink slowly. Otherwise, you can't continue to drink when you are drunk. Brother Xu, do you know that the Emperor of your country is here? Did he tell you what he wants from me?
I'm worried now, and I can't calm down. I'm worried that the Emperor will be angry and send a mighty army. If that happens, the people will have no way to make a living. "
"Eat, you eat too. Let me tell you, you are not afraid of His Majesty being angry. What I'm afraid of is that if Cuckoo is angry, His Majesty will be angry. If he wants to beat someone, he will have to discuss it with Cuckoo and Xiao Bao. If they agree, he will beat them. If they don't agree, His Majesty will have to listen to them. After all, they have a bigger plan, and they can't destroy it casually.
Cuckoo is different. If she wants to beat someone, Xiao Bao will find a way to support her. Of course, she will not beat them casually.
Are you worried that they will beat you? Don't worry, I'm telling you, they won't beat you. Your country is not that important. Moreover, if they really want to fight, Lu Zhou will not be like this now. The provisions have not been gathered yet. How can they fight?
If they want to fight you, they will not only need the navy to help them transport the troops, but also an army that is specially adapted to mountain warfare. Although the protection team of the Zhang Family and the Wang Family can start a war directly, it is not to that extent yet.
The protection team is not easy to fight. If they really want to fight you, they will have to transfer the troops again. There has been no transfer of troops recently. Don't be fooled by the fact that the Tang Empire takes turns to guard various places. They are preparing to fight Duo Shi.
A few days ago, when I was waiting for His Majesty's news at the place where the telegram is sent and received, I received news that Duo Shi had gathered 2,000 troops. My Tang Empire's troops have probably set off for a few days now. The next day after receiving the news, they must be ready and ready to go.
Think about it, will the Great Tang fight on two sides? If it is really a two-sided war, it will be against Japan. It has nothing to do with you. Believe me, especially when the madams of the Zhang Family and the Wang Family are still waiting in Lu Zhou to give birth to a child. Even if Xiao Bao and Cuckoo want to fight you, they will not come over themselves. It is not good to kill too many people.
Besides, they have Xiao Bei and the others. Have you ever seen anyone take care of children in a war?
Listen to me. His Majesty has sent back an order. Do what he wants you to do. Don't take any chances. Go back and call your leader of the South Zhao over. As for the other people of the Five Zhao, if they don't come, they will be in trouble. Drink. "
Xu Mingyang raised his cup again. The wine in the cup had spilled out uncontrollably, but he still tried to send it to his mouth.
Li Jiancheng really did not know so many things. Seeing Xu Mingyang drunk like this, he was afraid that he would be drunk soon and could not ask anything. He quickly stopped the wine that was going to be sent to his mouth and asked, "Brother Xu, how do you know so much? Don't they avoid you when the imperial court is fighting? "
"Avoid me? Avoid me for what? I didn't betray the interests of the Tang Empire. I offended the Zhang Family and the Wang Family with my words, but I didn't do anything else. So what if I saw the information? I can't spread it out. If I want to spread it, at least I have to use a telegram, right? Once it is spread, I will be arrested first.
Then … then it's really over. No one can save me. Look, I offended them. I just have to admit my mistake and give in. Everything will be fine and I can eat. The one who's in a bit of trouble is Xiaobei. When they come back, I have to apologize to Xiaobei and the others in private.
Children need to be coaxed, unlike adults who beat around the bush when talking. But I am not very afraid. It's just that in the past, I always felt embarrassed.
Besides, when the telegram was sent and received, I was there to listen to the news. I didn't deliberately inquire about the secret. Also, I can't participate in the decision-making, so I don't know the details. Now I know that the Tang Empire wants to fight Duoshi, and Duoshi himself knows. As for how to fight, I don't know.
After all, I am a third-rank official. A third-rank official can participate in the decision-making of the imperial court. I guess it's because I didn't ask. If I asked, I would ask His Majesty, Xiao Bao, and Cuckoo. They can also tell me some things.
I am not stupid. Others may be jealous of people who offend them because of some personal matters, but the Zhang Family and Wang Family will not kill people. They always give people a chance, and it's fine as long as they grasp it.
But if what I do is to harm the Tang Empire, it's over. They will kill people. They are wholeheartedly for the public. Speaking of which, I am not as good as them. Drink, why are you shaking? Drink, don't shake, you are making me dizzy. "
One of Xu Ming Yang's eyes couldn't open, and the other was squinting. His body kept swaying, but he didn't see any double images. It was very difficult to see double images with one eye.
"If that's the case, I will listen to you and go back quickly?" Li Jiancheng stopped drinking, put down the wine cup, and asked again.
"Go, go back, you must go back, the sooner the better. You can't delay. Go back tomorrow, right? I, I will send you back. Let's drink, haha, the wine of Hai Yunjian, good, drink, drink. "
As Xu Mingyang spoke, he slid under the table.
Li Jiancheng hurriedly helped him up and dragged him to the mat at the side. He called out twice, but the response was to continue drinking. He helplessly shook his head, let out a long breath, tidied his clothes, and walked out of the door. He told the people outside that he was leaving, and that he would let Xu Mingyang know when he woke up.
He said that there was no need to send him off, and that he would leave immediately today.
Thus, Li Jiancheng left the Wang Residence. As the wind blew, he was also confused. He unsteadily gathered his subordinates. He did not care about the change in the order of leaving tomorrow and leaving today. Because his subordinates were not used to the situation, he threw all the things he had prepared to bribe the people of the Chamber of Commerce, and had them pass them to the madams of the Zhang Family and Wang Family.
Then, he gathered his subordinates, prepared food for the journey, and hurriedly left.
*****
Five days after Li Jiancheng left, he encountered Li Longji's group on the road. However, he was not in the mood to stop and see the Emperor of Great Tang. He directly greeted the people in the group who came to investigate and continued to rush home at the fastest speed.
A few days later, Li Longji, who had not had enough fun, decided to return. It seemed that he could not have enough fun at the seaside during this season. However, he could not delay any longer. He still had not visited the Hundred Thousand Mountains. He could visit Lu Zhou at the seaside in the future, or he could take a stroll on the way back.
There were many sceneries in the Hundred Thousand Mountains that he had not seen, especially the unique flora and fauna. Seeing them in the capital was not as good as seeing them in person.
"Xiao Bao, come to me. I have something to ask you." On the way back, Li Longji still liked to sit on the deck at the bow of the ship, enjoying the sea breeze and watching the undulating waves.
However, it was drizzling today. He asked someone to set up the shelter and sat down below while he ate spicy soup. It was all seafood. While he was eating, he saw Zhang Xiaobao coming out to check the various spots. Hence, he beckoned him over.
A slightly stronger gust of wind swept over with the rain. Zhang Xiaobao shuddered. He rubbed his arms together and walked under the shelter. He sat opposite Li Longji and picked up a piece of squid that Li Longji had boiled for him. He brushed a layer of chili sauce on it and took a bite. The steam from the squid felt good. He looked at Li Longji and waited for him to speak.
Li Longji had no choice but to put two more skewers of squid into the pot. He looked at Zhang Xiaobao and asked, "Xiao Bao, what if this thing grows up? Will it capsize the ship?"
Zhang Xiaobao looked at Li Longji in confusion. He was puzzled. Why was Li Longji suddenly asking about this? However, he nodded and said, "It's said that there are some big ones that can capsize the ship. With our current ship, we can't deal with them at all. However, I've never seen one before."
"In that case, do you think we can train more sea creatures like how we train dogs and eagles? For example, sharks? For example, we can raise more octopuses like the ones we're eating now. When the time comes, we can use them in naval battles."
Li Longji gestured as he asked excitedly.
"Uh!" Zhang Xiaobao was rendered speechless. He did not expect Li Longji to have such foresight.
He continued to nod. "We can raise more sea creatures, but it's best if we raise dolphins. Dolphins are obedient, but they can't be used in naval battles. When Your Majesty mentioned it, I thought of something else. It's military dogs that can be used to bombard the enemy's important places. Unfortunately, the enemy doesn't have tanks. It's a waste to use dogs to bombard the enemy's fortifications.
Two days ago, I heard that something had arrived at Lu Zhou. I think it's my hand-guided tractor. When we return, I'll show it to Your Majesty. It's fun. It feels good to sit on it. "
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