Jiang Huaiqing didn't know why, but he still agreed.
"I found something strange today. These dancers aren't all from Dahuan." Since He Chengyu wasn't drunk, Jiang Huaiqing started to talk about business.
While He Chengyu was talking with the bosses, Jiang Huaiqing wasn't idle either. He looked like he was wandering around out of curiosity, but he was actually observing the entire banquet.
"And the utensils at the banquet. Many of them aren't from Dahuan. They're closer to what the Northern Desert people use. I didn't find anything wrong with the merchants who attended the banquet."
"We can't rush this. They're still suspicious of us, so they can't directly show too many things that are wrong. We can only be considered part of the inner circle after we pass their 'test.'" Some things had to be done slowly. They couldn't be rushed.
There were two more women in the residence. It didn't seem any different from before, except that Jiang Huaiqing had to throw a tantrum at He Chengyu when the two were around.
Every time the two women tried to get close to He Chengyu, they were interrupted. After a few times, they vaguely sensed something and stopped approaching them.
He Chengyu still went out to attend the banquets of Boss Sun and the others from time to time. Jiang Huaiqing didn't need to deal with these people, so he secretly observed. After returning, the two locked themselves in the room to check the clues they found.
Time passed in the blink of an eye.
After receiving Shang Junlin's accurate reply, the Ministry of Works started to prepare for the examination. Because this examination was only to select people to enter the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Rites didn't participate much.
"The specific process has been temporarily confirmed. I'll go to the palace to report to His Majesty. If there are no other changes, we can start preparing for the examination." The Minister of Works gathered everyone in the Ministry of Works and talked about this matter.
This was a big deal for the Ministry of Works.
It was also a big deal for the common people.
"Have you heard about what happened recently? This kind of examination is unheard of. "
"You can enter the Ministry of Works without taking the imperial exam, as long as you have a skill. I want to give it a try."
"This news has been around for a long time, right? Is it accurate this time?"
"It's been reported in the people's newspaper, so it must be accurate. But the date hasn't been set yet. They only said to let interested people prepare first."
"Do you want to give it a try? The newspaper said that as long as you know a skill, you can go. "
"I only know how to do carpentry. I don't know if I can do it."
For a time, there was a lot of discussion among the people about this examination. The people's newspaper wrote it very clearly. Without any rumors, the people accepted this examination very well.
Many people had already started to think about which skills they could use.
During the morning court session, the Minister of Works brought up the matter of the examination. Because this matter would not affect the power of the Imperial Court, there were not many people who objected.
The time was set.
After the court session, the ministers caught up with the Minister of Works.
"Has the Minister been busy with this matter all this time?"
The Minister of Works nodded. "Recently, we've been busy with the construction of roads and buildings, so we're really short on manpower. If any of you have subordinates that you can borrow, you can send them to the Ministry of Works."
The person who caught up said in an embarrassed tone, "Everyone has been busy recently."
"I see." The Minister of Works lost his enthusiasm at a speed visible to the naked eye. "Forget it, I'll go and talk to the Minister of Rites about the assessment. They're more experienced."
The Minister of Works did not care about their urging him to stay and strode away.
He did not lie. He had originally planned to talk to the Minister of Rites about the assessment. If he had not been stopped by these people, he might have already caught up with the Minister of Rites.
Compared to the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Rites had more experience in this area.
"If they know that Her Majesty is planning to establish a new power that is independent of the Imperial Court, they definitely won't let go so easily."
Shen Yu and Shang Junlin sat at a stone table under a big tree. There were snacks and tea on the table, all of which were to Shen Yu's taste.
"This matter, we'll talk about it after the results of the Ministry of Works' assessment are out." Shang Junlin slowly sipped his tea. Implementing it only in the Ministry of Works and implementing it in the entire Da Huan were two different concepts. There were more and more problems to consider.
Shen Yu was clear about this point. He believed that Shang Junlin would be able to handle this matter well. There were so many officials in the Imperial Court, and they were not paid for nothing.
"Your Majesty, I have a bookstore under my name. They have researched a new printing method. If it can be implemented in Da Huan, it will be more convenient than the original method. It will also not be like the original method, where it can only be abandoned after it's used up. This method is called 'movable type printing.'"
This was also the technology that Shen Qingran had provided to the King of Yue in his previous life. Shen Yu had thought of this when he was writing a newspaper in the Imperial Court. However, he had not come into contact with this technology in his previous life, so he could only extract the main points from the content in his memory. Therefore, he did not directly tell Shang Junlin.
He had sorted out the method and handed it to his bookstore. Two days ago, news came from outside the palace that the effect he wanted was achieved. Shen Yu then mentioned it in front of Shang Junlin.
"Is it the bookstore's research or the idea provided by A Yu?" Shang Junlin's question hit the nail on the head.
"It is whatever Your Majesty thinks it is." Shen Yu did not admit or refute. "I am also very curious about the effect. Does Your Majesty want to see it?"
"Zhen will summon them into the palace." Shang Junlin paused for a while and then continued, "Or we can go out of the palace to see it?"
"Does Your Majesty have time to go out of the palace?" Counting the days, they had not gone out of the palace for a long time. Shang Junlin had been very busy during this period of time. Shen Yu did not want to go out of the palace alone, so he stayed in the palace.
"Zhen will see if I can spare an afternoon."
He was somewhat interested in Shen Yu's words. The production of the newspaper was completely funded by the Imperial Court. Because it had to be published every one or two days, it consumed a lot of material and financial resources. The Minister of Revenue had been talking about this matter many times.
"If this method can make the Minister of Revenue stop talking about how the newspaper is too expensive, it will be better."
"Is the national treasury short of money recently?" Shen Yu did a rough calculation. The newspaper should not be so expensive that the Minister of Revenue would complain about it every day.
"For the time being, there is no shortage. With the method A Yu thought of before, most of the relief money comes from the people, so the national treasury is not damaged. It is just that the Minister of Revenue, he will complain about everything that does not make money." Speaking of the Minister of Revenue, Shang Junlin was also somewhat helpless.
He did not know if it was because of the position of the Minister of Revenue or some other problem. Before the Minister of Revenue was the Minister of Revenue, Shang Junlin had not seen him like this …
Stingy.
"The nature of the People's Daily determines that it cannot be used for profit. However, it is not impossible. Your Majesty can publish a newspaper that is different from the People's Daily at the same time. Like how Yan Zheng sponsored the Ministry of Works, let interested merchants pay a sponsorship fee and then open up a section in the newspaper to introduce the goods these merchants sell." Shen Yu thought for a while and suggested.
"A Yu and the Minister of Revenue should have a lot of common topics, especially in the area of making money."
"Am I not helping His Majesty solve his problems? If it were not for Your Majesty, I would be too lazy to think about these things. "Shen Yu tilted his head, his eyes sparkling.
Shang Junlin's heart felt warm.
"I know A Yu's intentions, and I will not disappoint you."
The man's tone was solemn. Shen Yu was stunned. He did not understand why Shang Junlin suddenly changed the topic. However, he still followed Shang Junlin's words and said, "Your Majesty's words are golden. In the future, there will be a day when you go back on your words. Otherwise, I will be angry."
"How could I bear to do that?" He could not wait to dote on him.
"How is Subei? When will Official Fang come back? " Shen Yu and Shang Junlin had been reading memorials for the past few days. They had seen a lot of memorials that talked about another position in the cabinet.
Entering the cabinet was the dream of almost all civil officials. It represented not only power, but also a kind of recognition. There was always a kind of obsession in the hearts of civil officials. After all, who did not want to do something big and leave their name in history?
"I also hope that he can come back soon. For the vacant cabinet position, the courtiers are about to fight."
However, it was not that easy to find the Northern Desert people who had been lurking in Subei for many years.
According to the clues given by Yaoji, Fang Jun sent people to conduct a strict search in the main city of Subei and the surrounding small towns. However, they still could not find the house that Yaoji mentioned. It was as if it had disappeared into thin air.
"Does Official Fang really think that woman's words can be trusted?" In the study, someone raised a doubt.
It was not that they wanted to suspect anything, but after so many days of searching, they really could not find any clues. What if this matter was a lie from the beginning?
Then everything would make sense. Why could they not find the house even after turning the main city upside down? Because there was no such house from the beginning to the end.
"Whether it is trustworthy or not, this matter needs to be taken seriously. They were able to lurk in Subei for so many years without being discovered by anyone. It is enough to show that they can integrate well into Subei. It is normal that we can't find them easily," Fang Jun said lightly.
"You are right, Official Fang. I have misunderstood."
"Don't say such things again in the future."
"Yes."
Fang Jun did not doubt Yaoji's words. However, according to the news that the merchant who came back from the Northern Desert asked the Hidden Dragon Guards to bring back to him, Yaoji's words were very credible.
They could not find any useful clues for the time being. They could only hope that He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing could find some clues.
Recently, Jiang Huaiqing felt that something was not right. Especially every time he went to a banquet with He Chengyu, those people looked at him. Although they were very subtle, he could feel that there was something else behind it.
Also, in the residence, the two women did not go near them anymore.
He sat on one side, bored. On the other side, He Chengyu was talking business with Boss Sun. If this business could be done, they would really enter the business circle of Subei.
"I didn't know that you were in that kind of relationship before. Did the two women I sent to you cause you trouble?" After the business discussion, Boss Sun took the initiative to talk about the two dancers.
"I threw a tantrum, but it has been dealt with." He Chengyu raised his wine cup and covered the smile on his face.
"Look at how I handled it. If it is inconvenient for you, you can just tell me directly. How about this, I will take the initiative to give you 10% of the profits for this cooperation as an apology for what happened before." Boss Sun looked guilty.
"I didn't say it. It is not your fault."
He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing's movements were immediately reported to the palace through the Hidden Dragon Guards.
"Their plan is very successful. I think they will find the clues of the people from the Northern Desert earlier than Fang Jun." Shang Junlin put down the secret letter and said.
Shen Yu's attention could not help but fall on another matter. "Is the top scholar deliberately tricking Huaiqing?"
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