"They won't thank you!"
Kong Yingda, who had been silent in the Imperial Court, said faintly as he watched Tian Qiong and Li Yun leave with joy.
Moton smiled and said, "The Village Mo doesn't need their gratitude. I didn't have any selfish motives when I promoted the construction of the Wei River Bridge. I did it for the world. Coincidentally, this bridge can only be built by the Xiangfu Family."
Kong Yingda nodded. Not only was the cost of building the bridge amazing, but the benefits were equally tempting. More importantly, this bridge would rewrite the history of bridge building. Once the bridge was built, there would be no natural barriers in the world except for the Yangtze River. The benefits to the world were obvious.
Of course, the structure of the bridge was complicated and required countless techniques. Perhaps only the Xiangfu Clan, which had been passed down for thousands of years, could build it. Because of this, Kong Yingda didn't object in the Imperial Court.
"I'm afraid that's not the case! Two hundred thousand strings of coins would require at least fifty thousand strings of coins to buy the steel, cement, and machinery of the Village Mo. Moreover, after the bridge is built, the world will be connected and the goods of the Village Mo will be connected to the world. The benefits are innumerable. "Kong Yingda snorted.
Meton nodded without shame and said, "Only the Village Mo has the materials to support the bridge. This is what the Village Mo deserves. If there is a better steel than the Village Mo in the world, the Xiangfu Clan will use it. Not to mention that the steel of the bridge is sold at a fair price by the House Mo. After all, the benefits of building a good bridge are thousands of times greater than the Village Mo's.
"The Village Mo won't gain much from building this bridge. The Xiangfu Clan will gain an undeserved reputation, but the ultimate beneficiaries will be the people of the world. I don't want to encounter any unexpected twists and turns when building this bridge."
Kong Yingda waved his sleeves and said proudly, "If the Confucian School can't even tolerate this, how can it be the head of the Hundred Schools?"
Once the rivers in the world were unimpeded, the Confucian School would be happy to see such benefits. Naturally, the Confucian School wouldn't cause any trouble.
"Many thanks!" Meton said solemnly.
Kong Yingda waved his sleeves and turned to leave. However, between his brows, there was a worry that could not be dispelled. Presently, the Village of Ink had quietly expanded, and the other branch of the School of Ink had revealed its edge. Together with the other hundred schools of thought, only the Confucian school remained where it was.
It must be understood that the Hundred Schools of Thought War was like rowing a boat against the current. If one did not advance, one would fall back. The Confucian School's predicament had already left Kong Yingda extremely worried.
…
Tian Qiong and Li Yun returned to the inn and announced the Imperial Court's appointment to the Xiangfu Clan. Immediately, the Xiangfu Clan's disciples were in an uproar.
Years ago, Mo Jiazi brought the Secret Skill of Living Fish into Chang 'an, which caused a sensation in Chang' an. Today, the Xiangfu Family had just entered Chang 'an, and they had taken over a super project like the Wei River Bridge. Their starting point was even higher than the Mo's Village.
"This time, we, the Xiangfu Clan, will definitely win against the Village Mo Clan." The disciples of the Xiangfu Clan all cheered.
Li Yun and Tian Qiong glanced at each other. These disciples were so focused on cheering that they did not know that in the Imperial Court, they had received Meton's assistance in the construction of the Wei River Bridge. But when they saw the excited disciples of the Xiangfu Clan, the two of them swallowed their words. Perhaps it was this drive to prove themselves that allowed them to complete the Wei River Bridge.
"Enough, the Wei River Bridge is only a blueprint and a model. There are countless difficulties waiting for us to complete the bridge, so it's not the time for you to celebrate. If you want to surpass the Village of Ink, then you must focus all your energy and devote yourself to the construction of the bridge," Tian Qiong reprimanded.
"Yes!" The Xiangfu Clan's disciples seemed to have been injected with chicken blood, and they all impatiently threw themselves into the blueprint and model of the Wei River Bridge.
Li Yun nodded in satisfaction. The Xiangfu Clan's disciples had shown such momentum that he had been completely confident in the construction of the Wei River Bridge.
"May I ask if Craftsman Li is here?" Suddenly, a fawning voice came from outside the courtyard.
Li Yun frowned. He had not expected that people would come knocking on his door one after another as soon as he arrived in Chang 'an. Li Yun stepped forward and opened the door to the courtyard. He was surprised to see a man dressed as a shopkeeper standing outside.
"This one is Li Yun. May I ask who you are …" Li Yun said with a frown.
"This one is the shopkeeper of the Zhangsun Iron Company. I was once acquainted with Master Tian Qiong. I have specially come to visit today. Please forgive me," Shopkeeper Zhangsun said with a bow.
"Acquainted with Uncle Tian!" Li Yun's heart skipped a beat. He stepped to the side and invited him into the courtyard.
"Master Tian, this one greets you," Shopkeeper Zhangsun said warmly when he saw Tian Qiong.
Tian Qiong smiled knowingly when he saw Shopkeeper Zhangsun. "So it is Shopkeeper Zhangsun. May I ask why you have come today?"
Shopkeeper Zhangsun said in a clear voice, "Back then, Master Tian left without saying goodbye. It was too late for me to regret it. I did not expect that Master Tian would come to the capital with the masters of the School of Mo and gain His Majesty's trust to take charge of a project like the Wei River Bridge. This is truly worthy of celebration."
Tian Qiong said with a hint of pride, "Shopkeeper Zhangsun, you are exaggerating. It is all because of His Majesty's trust that my Xiangfu Family is where it is today."
Shopkeeper Zhangsun looked around and said, "Now that the Xiangfu Family is no longer what it used to be, why are you still living in such a shabby shop? The Zhangsun Mansion happens to have a house in Chang 'an that the Xiangfu Family can live in."
The more Li Yun listened, the more he felt that something was wrong. He frowned and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Shopkeeper Zhangsun. The Xiangfu Family has lived in the countryside for a long time. I'm afraid they are not used to living in the mansion of the Zhangsun Mansion."
Shopkeeper Zhangsun laughed and said, "Craftsman Li, you are too polite. My Zhangsun Mansion is reputable in Chang 'an, and Master Tian has done us a favor. A mere house is not worth mentioning. In the future, if the Xiangfu Family needs anything, just say the word. There is nothing in Chang' an that the Zhangsun Mansion cannot do."
Li Yun shook his head firmly and said, "I will not accept a reward for nothing. The Xiangfu Family thanks the Zhangsun Mansion for your kindness. Shopkeeper Zhangsun, if you have something to say, please say it."
Shopkeeper Zhangsun saw Li Yun's repeated refusal and said with embarrassment, "I heard that the Xiangfu Family designed the Wei River Bridge. The bridge is mostly made of steel, and the Zhangsun Mansion controls 50% of the steel supply in Chang 'an. As long as the Zhangsun Mansion cooperates with the Xiangfu Family, not only can we guarantee the supply of steel for the bridge, we can also give the Xiangfu Family generous returns."
"Generous returns!" Li Yun couldn't help but be enraged by Manager Zhangsun's blatant hint. The Wei River Bridge was the first battle of the Xiangfu Clan, and they couldn't afford to lose it. They had just obtained the authority to build it, and these metal merchants were pouncing on them like wolves smelling blood.
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