"That's just one aspect."
Gongsun Wuji calmed down, thought carefully, and said slowly: "Zhi'er, what you said about being in a hurry is something my father agrees with. After all, Zhou Zhenwen is the chief minister of the cabinet, and the Tsing Yi Party is the most powerful in the court. The party, coupled with the recent cooperation between Zhou Zhenwen and the emperor's son, drove the Queen Mother back to the harem. Now is the time when the Tsing Yi Party is expanding. This kind of thing is sent to Qingzhou to deal with the locust plague..."
"Do you think Zhou Zhenwen would be willing?"
Gongsun Zhi nodded slightly and agreed with his father's words: "Yes, so he definitely wants to deal with the locusts as soon as possible, and then return to the court and sit back as the chief minister of his cabinet."
"Yes, so he wants to take advantage of us, but we have to do this deal!!" Gongsun Wuji sighed and said: "This Zhou Zhenwen's methods are really powerful! This is a conspiracy!!"
"Conspiracy?" Gongsun Zhi frowned and quickly realized: "What my father means is that if our Gongsun family doesn't do this business, other aristocratic families will do it. Regardless of whether Zhou Zhenwen's plan is successful or not, our Gongsun family will do it." Become the target of public criticism.”
"Once other aristocratic families do it and succeed, they will think that our Gongsun family is not courageous enough and is not worthy to be the chief of the Qingzhou aristocratic family. On the contrary, if Zhou Zhenwen succeeds and other aristocratic families are harvested, they will definitely think that we cooperate with Zhou Zhenwen and harvest together. Do they think we have surrendered to the imperial court?"
"So, no matter how we choose, we will still participate in this game, even if we tell you clearly."
"It's more than that!" Gongsun Wuji murmured: "If we don't give face to this dinner, Zhou Zhenwen really dares to use troops... It's not just him who is here this time, but also Her Royal Highness the Princess. , Her Royal Highness, the eldest princess, represents the royal family and Your Majesty. If she is willing to contribute and mobilize Qingzhou's troops, there will be no problem."
"Because the incident involving the former Qingzhou Governor Zhang Qi has made His Majesty very dissatisfied with our Qingzhou family. I don't know whether this matter is Zhou Zhenwen's own intention or the emperor's temptation. No matter which way it is, we can't Take it lightly, we can lose money on this business, and we can even give some benefits to the eldest princess and Zhou Zhenwen, but we cannot offend them or give them an excuse to launch an army."
"Zhi'er, please inform me that while Zhou Zhenwen and the eldest princess are in Qingzhou, private military activities in the family are not allowed, family members are not allowed to have close contacts with officials from various places, and contraband business is not allowed, especially Private salt.”
"Yes, father." Gongsun Zhi also understood the importance of the matter and nodded.
"I hope our Gongsun family can survive this crisis..." Gongsun Wuji sighed. He had an intuition that Zhou Zhenwen came to Qingzhou not just to deal with the locusts, but he might have other intentions.
This scene took place in the private residences of major aristocratic families in Qingzhou.
Some people are dismissive, some people attach great importance to it, some people think it doesn't matter...reactions vary.
...
Qingyun Tower, an elegant room.
"County Magistrate Wang" came in, cupped his hands to the figure in green sitting on the chair and said, "Fortunately, I have lived up to my command!!"
Zhou Zhenwen looked at "Wang County Magistrate" and smiled slightly, and said: "He didn't find anything unusual, right?"
"No, he should be preparing for the banquet tonight." "Wang County Magistrate" changed strangely, from a middle-aged man with a big belly to an ordinary young man with an average appearance.
This person is no one else, he is Shangguan Yu, the direct disciple of Wuhen Sect Master.
"Okay, that's enough." Zhou Zhenwen nodded slightly, thought for a moment, and asked, "What kind of people do you think Gongsun and his son are?"
"Cautious, suspicious, and very thoughtful." Shangguan Yu replied, "Such a person, knowing the master's plan, will definitely make a foolproof plan to avoid being a target."
"The Gongsun family is the head of the Qingzhou family. It is extremely powerful and deeply involved in Qingzhou. This game would be too boring without the participation of the Gongsun family." Zhou Zhenwen waved his hand and ordered: "Go down and help me continue to investigate. Information about the Gongsun family.”
"Yes." Shangguan Yu bowed respectfully, turned and left.
After burning the incense, Xiao Si walked in, cupped his hands and said, "Sir, I have brought him back."
"Yes." Zhou Zhenwen took a sip of tea, moistened his throat, and said, "Bring it here."
"Yes." Xiao Si nodded and left the room.
After a while, Xiaosi walked in with Goudan.
When Goudan saw Zhou Zhenwen, he was stunned.
But soon, he reacted, knelt down quickly, and said respectfully: "I've seen the imperial envoy!!"
Goudan didn’t remember Zhou Zhenwen’s name, and he didn’t even know what Chief Assistant meant, but he knew what Imperial Envoy meant?
It means the big shot next to the emperor!
What's more, this time he brought a princess with him.
"I just learned about your situation. I heard that you want to treat your sister?" Zhou Zhenwen picked up the tea cup, slid the lid of the cup, and let the tea in the cup fluctuate slightly, asking in a casual tone. .
"Yes, sir." Goudan kowtowed quickly, "I hope you can save my sister. Goudan will work as a horse for you without hesitation!!"
"Goudan?"
"Don't you have a name?"
Zhou Zhenwen frowned slightly and asked.
"I...my father's surname is Li, and my given name is Siliu. My father gave me a name called Jiu San, but he always called me by my nickname. He said that nicknames make people live longer, so I always It’s called Goudan.” Li Goudan said softly.
"Since you want to work with me, it's not appropriate to always call me by a nickname. Even if the name my father gave me doesn't sound good, you should still use it." Zhou Zhenwen said.
"Yes, yes, then my name will be Li Jiusan from now on." Li Jiusan said quickly.
For Li Jiusan, it doesn't matter what his name is, as long as he can save his sister Zhinu, even if he is called Li Shit! !
"As a human being, you can only rely on yourself."
"You should have a deep understanding of this sentence, so I won't say more."
"I'll give you a chance. Starting from tomorrow, the entire Qingzhou City will start selling locust products, grilled locusts, fried locusts and other things. High-end restaurants will also use locusts to cook dishes, including salt and pepper, spicy, and boiled dishes. I I will ask someone to give you a hundred locusts every day, and you will sell them in Qingzhou City. After ten days, if you can sell all the locusts every day, I will pay for your sister's medical treatment."
Zhou Zhenwen put forward his own conditions.
"Okay, thank you, sir." Li Jiusan knew that he was not qualified to be picky, so he immediately agreed.
"Xiaosi, give him the thing." Zhou Zhenwen ordered.
"Yes." Xiao Si handed a pamphlet to Li Jiusan.
"Are you literate?" Zhou Zhenwen asked.
Li Jiusan shook his head, his face ashen.
"Xiaosi, find someone and give him all the contents in the booklet." Zhou Zhenwen thought for a while and ordered.
"Yes." Xiao Si nodded.
"The brochure contains the advantages of eating locusts, various rhetorical skills, and various marketing techniques. If you still can't sell anything after reading the contents in the brochure, then you are hopeless."
"Go ahead."
Zhou Zhenwen waved his hand, indicating that Li Jiusan could leave.
"Thank you, sir." Li Jiusan kowtowed three times respectfully, and then left Qingyun Tower under the leadership of Xiao Si.
