"What? Say that again? "The old man felt that there must be something wrong with his ears.
"Zhang Zhong joined forces with the county magistrates of several other counties and wanted to combine the counties into one state. He took out a report on how much tax the counties would pay and how much the people's living standards would be after the counties were combined. The county magistrates of the other counties all signed their names on it.
In addition to this, there is also a military sand table and a comprehensive military adjustment report. As long as they are united, they can use the terrain of the counties to resist when attacked from the outside. The imperial court is already discussing how to use the terrain of the counties to resist. "
Liu Zhirou said word by word. He still didn't dare to believe this matter, but Zhang Zhong really did it. The report also included the matters of the Ministry of Works. The coal was there, and it could be used directly on the side for smelting. The two rivers didn't lack water and were convenient for transportation.
The old man had suffered two shocks in a row today. He felt that it was difficult to breathe, so he picked up the tea on the table and poured it down his throat. After a while, he sat down and silently looked at the charming lake outside the window, not saying a word.
Liu Zhirou also sat down and looked at the boats that were harvesting the reeds. From time to time, someone would pick something from the reeds and put it into their mouth to eat.
The two of them sat for a full quarter of an hour, and Li Xun also stood beside them for a quarter of an hour. He finally understood why the Zhang family spent so much money to buy things from the surrounding counties, why they had to build all the roads, and why the game store was first opened in the counties.
Everything they did was for the sake of this year's tax, for the sake of connecting the economies of the several counties, and for the sake of familiarizing people with the topography of the several counties. The final result was to let the higher-ups understand that the several counties could be combined into a state.
After spring, the people of the counties would have more income. The rented land for planting vegetables would make this place very prosperous. At the very least, merchants would come to buy and sell, and at the very least, the number of 'tourists' would increase. It was no longer appropriate for this kind of place to be directly managed by the capital. It needed to become a state.
But what good would this do for Zhang Zhong? Could it be that he didn't want to leave? Then why did he give him such a scary thing and let him install it on the ship? Which one was real? Which one was fake?
Li Xun couldn't figure it out. After all, he was still too young. However, there were two ministers here. They had a lot of experience and could analyze some things.
Liu Zhirou opened her mouth first. "Old Minister, I'm a little afraid of the Zhang family now. I'm afraid of the people behind them. What a big scheme. I can't guess what other tricks they have."
"Scared, I'm scared too. Is the ship moving so fast part of the plan? Back then, when the county magistrate of Sanshui County, Cheng Lingxiang, wrote a letter from Beijing, he mentioned some of the things that happened in Sanshui County. In order to push him up, the Zhang family pushed Sanshui County up eight times.
At that time, he was afraid. The Zhang family was still a Zhuangzi. With the power of a village, they could push down a county. Then when the Zhang family had a county, wouldn't they be able to push down a prefecture? If the Zhang family was given a province and a prefecture, would they push a country around?
What about now? Sure enough, if they were given a county, they would be able to push down a prefecture. Although I don't know what was written in the memorial, I think this matter has already been done. The mountains and rivers over there are all connected, and there are all kinds of things. Did they mention the lake? "
The old man sighed with emotion. He couldn't believe that the Zhang family had set up the scheme like this. It seemed that as long as they gave the Zhang family a little chance, they could infinitely magnify this opportunity and arrange the overall situation unknowingly or when they were clearly watching.
Even if you stared at every place, you couldn't guess what they wanted to do and what their final goal was. Even now, who dared to say that the Zhang family didn't have a backup plan? Who could say that the Zhang family's chess game had reached the end?
At this time, Liu Zhirou's movements and expressions slowed down because she kept thinking about things in her head. After the old man finished speaking, he said after a while, "Yes, they mentioned the lake.
They can train a navy in the lake. It's said that they will use a new thing that can make the ships faster and we don't have to worry about the capital anymore. A navy is enough. Old Minister, do you know what it is? "
"I know. How could I not know? When I just got off the ship, it was like flying. I see. Why did they give me a tricycle? They transferred you here to tell me about this matter. Even the timing was perfect. They installed the Little Prince's ship and brought me here to let me know and tell you. Isn't that right, Little Prince? "
As the old man spoke, he suddenly turned to Li Xun. Liu Zhirou also looked at Li Xun.
Li Xun's face was pale. He sat down on the floor and slowly took out a thick envelope from his arms. He licked his lips and said, "It's true. It's true. Old Minister, Minister Liu, when I came here, Xiao Bao gave me these things. He said that if I happened to meet someone from the capital Between the Clouds and the Water and that person happened to be Minister Liu, I should give this letter to Minister Liu.
If I didn't meet him, I should burn it. Now that Minister Liu is here, I should give it to Minister Liu. Today, I have seen what it means to have a perfect plan. Minister Liu, please. "
Liu Zhirou was already unable to move. Li Xun's words made her and the old man feel cold all over and their hands and feet numb. The two of them never thought that the person behind the Zhang family would be able to calculate things to this extent. What else could he not calculate?
Fortunately, there was still a waiter guarding the door. Seeing that Li Xun was about to give something to Liu Zhirou and the three of them were still motionless, he ran forward and handed the envelope to Liu Zhirou. He then quietly retreated to the door and stood there, but his heart was not calm at all.
He was sent by the Inner Courtyard of the main family. He knew who was the most powerful in this aspect. As long as the Young Master was willing to help, there was no need to be afraid of any trouble. No matter what difficulty was, it could be solved. The Young Master and Young Lady had always been gentle to the Inner Courtyard and the villagers.
He had seen the Young Master make a move several times. Every time, the people who came to cause trouble were defeated. At that time, he was already in awe of the Young Master. He did not expect that today, even two ministers and a Marquis would be involved. Hehe, hehe, his future days would be better. If the Young Master could even calculate the ministers, what would he be afraid of?
The old man, Liu Zhirou, and Li Xun did not know that the waiter was secretly laughing. Liu Zhirou opened the envelope and took out a piece of paper from inside. She carefully looked at it. The more she looked, the more surprised she became. She raised her head and met the old man's gaze.
"Old Minister, this is the blueprint for the propeller. If you follow the instructions on it, you can make the propeller. This is the last page. Give the one on the Little Prince's ship to me. I'll compare it. After you make it, don't forget to leave a few for the Zhang family. The Zhang family has great use for it. The Zhang family will not make the same thing themselves in the future.
Old Minister, I want to see that person. I don't know if you can help me send a letter. The Marquis of Wu is very capable. I won't make any requests. Just seeing him is enough. I won't send troops to capture him. This person is very good at calculation. If by any chance, he leaves the Zhang family and goes to seek refuge somewhere else, my dynasty will not be able to afford to lose him.
"This old man has the same idea. I can only write a letter to the Zhang family's children and ask them. If possible, you and I will go together and tell them what the Zhang family's intentions are. Do they want to stay and not leave? "
The old man happily agreed. As for whether they could succeed or not, that was not important.
Liu Zhirou was a minister. When she analyzed things, she was much better than Li Xun. She thought for a moment and said, "This is to pave the way for Zhang Zhong. Zhang Zhong is only a county magistrate right now, a lower seventh rank official. Originally, I thought that the Zhang family would change Huayuan County to an upper county and let Zhang Zhong be a lower sixth rank official.
This way, if he was placed there, he would be a lower province's Minister of War, a lower sixth rank official. If he was promoted, it would be easier for the higher-ups to explain. Or maybe he would be a lower province's Governor, a lower sixth rank official. Both are not bad. Unfortunately, the Zhang family doesn't think so. No matter how good these two positions are, they can't be compared to a provincial governor.
If this is feasible, even though it's a new province, it's still Zhongzhou. Since Zhang Zhong has put in so much effort, he should have a share of it, right? It also has to be a good position. Fifth rank is easy. If Zhang Zhong is no longer an official in Xinzhou, he will be exiled voluntarily or by someone. Then, the higher-ups will naturally compensate him. The Zhang family plans to arrange for Zhang Zhong to be a lower province's Provincial Governor. This is a lower fourth rank official.
Good ability, good calculation. When the time comes, it will be done by the assistant minister of the Ministry of Works. Even if he hides behind, the higher-ups will still be able to find out. Even if they can't find out, don't they still have me? After offering things again and again, in the end, he gave the Ministry of Works a blueprint.
En, the Ministry of War will also intervene. At the last moment, he was framed by the people of the Ministry of Works and sent to the most remote place. Even if the Emperor doesn't promote him, it won't make sense. Old Minister, don't you think so? "
Liu Zhirou put everything together and finally analyzed what the Zhang family wanted to do. They didn't want a mere deputy official position and directly wanted to be a Provincial Governor. They pushed a province and gave such a big gift. In addition to the things they offered before and the status of Zhuangyuan, all of this was calculated.
The old man also thought of this and added, "If it's only like this, the Emperor may directly pull him to the capital and give him a fifth rank official. But the most important thing is the Zhang family's ability. No matter where they are, they can always make the people there live well.
The power of a village can make the people of Sanshui City live a good life. The power of a county can make the surrounding counties live a good life. Then, if Zhang Zhong is placed in the worst place, can the Zhang family also make the people there live a good life? Increase the rent and tax?
This is what the Emperor is thinking. If the worst place is taken care of, Zhang Zhong can also go to the worst places. It's nothing more than increasing the title and empty position. The people behind the Zhang family are calculating their temperament. I'm old. I really want to see what the Zhang family can do outside. "
Li Xun was also listening to the conversation between the two of them. His status made it impossible for the two of them to chase him out. As he listened, he suddenly said, "I've decided. I'll tell my Imperial Uncle in advance that my fief will follow the Zhang family. Wherever his family goes, I'll go. Even if the land is smaller, I'll agree to it even if I don't have to live in it."
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