"Let me remind you again," Tongpao Chen saw that he was silent and continued to incite, "all officials who opposed the New Deal were removed by him, especially those in charge of money and food. If this continues, they will not only target They are the officials and gentry of Henan, and you should know deep down who will be used to perform the surgery."
Zeng Liang was holding back his breath, but when he heard this, he couldn't hold it in any longer, and couldn't help but get up and shout: "I will catch this guy to death!"
Tongpao Chen glanced at him, but sighed: "Now that he is trusted by your majesty, his power is unprecedentedly strong, far more powerful than Liu Zhennian's party. Although we can unite the scholars, how can we achieve anything if we lead them all with words and ink? ? It’s too late to repent now!”
Zeng Liang was so angry that he turned around and stared at him with bloodshot eyes: "Then we have no choice but to capture him without mercy? What a joke! Nothing is impossible in the world!"
Chen Tongpao hurriedly advised: "There is a way to do this... I'm afraid Xiangzhi didn't want to, so I didn't tell him frankly."
Zeng Liang said with anger: "I hate Ye Yongjia the most in my life. As long as I can deal with him, why wouldn't I want to! Do you doubt me, sir?"
"No, I was just waiting for your words," Tongpao Chen laughed, "In that case, I can go on with the flow."
Zeng Liang sat down slowly.
"I wonder if you have remembered that you and Fan discussed the new covenant?" Chen Tongpao asked.
Zeng Liang suddenly raised his eyebrows and tugged at the skirt of his clothes as if nothing had happened. Most of the arrogance just now disappeared: "How long has it been... and I can't say it well..."
Tongpao Chen saw that he was a little embarrassed to speak, so he hurriedly said: "I understand what you mean, but there is no need to expose it. I will only tell you eight words: 'A viper stings the hand, and a strong man cuts off his wrist'."
Zeng Liang recited these eight words silently over and over again, stroking his beard and nodding his head, and gradually became more determined: "I generally understand. It doesn't matter, even if I put this innocent body in it, I still live up to the status of the emperor and the empress. After that, , I will listen to your arrangements on how to do it."
Chen Tongpao came closer and said, "I heard that Jizhou is going to build a gun factory recently. It is arranged by the Ministry of War. You go there and walk around, and we will keep you safe when you come back."
After hearing this, Zeng Liang smiled with rare joy, pointed at him and said, "You are so mysterious..."
"Yes, free up that area and use it as a warehouse!"
As soon as Zeng Liang arrived at the outskirts of the city, he heard a hoarse shouting not far away. The voice was very familiar. He smiled, then put on a serious look, and asked his subordinates to walk forward with him; when he looked closely, he saw that it was indeed the old businessman who settled in Beitang. The man still had a gray beard, standing in a large open space under the scorching sun, directing everywhere, surrounded by figures hurriedly carrying boxes.
"Old merchant, don't be exhausted! Your throat is almost smoking. Take a rest." Zeng Liang waved his hands and shouted, then stepped forward and saluted.
The bearded man took a piece of cloth and wiped his forehead fiercely, and then replied breathlessly: "I'm tired, but there's nothing I can do... I need to take care of all the big and small things here, so I can't take any time off."
Zeng Liang smiled and said, "Since I'm here, just for my sake, can you sit in a quiet place?"
"Okay," the bearded man put the cloth on his head and nodded, "I'll take you to the tea room over there to sit down."
As soon as everyone sat down, the bearded man closed the window and asked Zeng Liang nervously: "My lord, what are your instructions here?"
Zeng Liang pursed his lips and smiled, but did not reply. He just sighed: "It's quite difficult for you. You have an instruction from the east and an instruction from the west. How can you execute it perfectly?"
The bearded man pondered for a long time, lowered his head and reported: "They are all working for the imperial court, I don't know very well."
Zeng Liang fell back on the backrest, looked at him and said, "What if a big deal comes up? Are you still unclear?"
The bearded man rolled his eyes and replied hurriedly: "I don't understand what you mean, please enlighten me."
"In the next few days, a sum of one hundred thousand taels of silver will arrive here, and it will be transferred from you in the name of 'funding for the establishment of a military factory.' When the factory is set up, you and I will split it half and half."
"Where did so much money... come from?" Lu Xiu was still worried and asked further.
Zeng Liang said: "This is the money from the salt farm. In order to meet the urgent needs, I specially took out part of it for use."
The bearded man was overjoyed, rubbed his hands, and said with a smile: "Then it's better to be respectful than to obey. Where are these people now? I have to make some preparations."
"Arrived--"
Just as Zeng Liang was about to speak, he was interrupted by a knock on the door from outside: "Old merchant, we are from the Ministry of War. We have something to ask! Please open the door!"
The bearded man's face suddenly turned earth-colored. He grabbed Zeng Liang's sleeves and whispered, "You guys go to the back room to take shelter for a while. I'll entertain them first."
Zeng Liang was also frightened. He quickly called his confidants and quickly slipped behind the curtain.
"It's broken, it's broken..." Zeng Liang gritted his teeth, with a sad expression, "The Ye Party came by such a coincidence, they must have eavesdropped on what they said before! If he is impeached in front of the emperor, I will be doomed!"
"What should we do?" His confidants crowded together with him and asked one after another.
"Let me think about it..." Zeng Liang frowned for a long time, suddenly woke up as if from a dream, took a breath of air, and turned to look at them, "Yes... why don't I use his plan to counterattack him?"
While he was talking, people from the Ministry of War had already entered the tea room. Two people came and sat down on the chairs unceremoniously.
"You have a distinguished guest here," the two people looked around nonchalantly, "the footprints are still there, and the chairs are gentle."
"No, no," the bearded man waited carefully, "The most distinguished person here is the guest of the Ministry of War. I wonder what you two have done so hard to come here from the capital?"
"It's nothing important. I just sent a letter to Mr. Ye." One of them took out a document. "He has some suggestions on the scale of building the factory and the purchase of raw materials. I want you to read it yourself."
The bearded man did not dare to neglect, so he accepted the letter, read it carefully for a while, and nodded: "Master Ye is so keen on firearms. I am very touched. I will definitely keep it in mind and act accordingly."
"Then the two of us will leave first."
The two stood up, but did not move a step from their feet. Then they pretended to be reluctant to leave, smacking their lips and said: "You see how many times we have been here, and we have worked so hard to keep those shady secrets for you. The earth is yours, and you must remember our goodness.”
"Of course I remember."
"Then...you have to show off your skills, right?" another person said.
"Oh," Bearded Beard agreed immediately, "I'll get it right away. Twenty taels per person, how about it?"
Just as he was about to turn around, he saw Zeng Liang rushing out from behind the curtain and shouting loudly: "Old merchant, you are willing to be bullied by this group of shameless people! It's too bold to ask for bribes openly!"
