Ge Shenxian's complexion changed, and finally he said patiently: "It's easy to talk, it's easy to talk. I am already over sixty years old, but I still have some courage."
Xiao Qingxue looked at this old man with cold eyes. This old man knew how to watch people play. Just now, my mother-in-law said something similar to her father. This Ge Shenxian was not as easy to talk to as he is now.
Moreover, at the banquet, he kept bragging that he could make gold, but she didn't believe him. He must be a big liar. He had deceived many people before. My father was a gold lover, so he was probably swayed by this sophisticated man's sweet words. Wait a minute. She wanted to see how he made gold.
"Ge Gong said just now that he knows the golden touch, a magical method. I wonder if you can let me see it?" Zhou Xu asked, stroking his beard.
Ge Shenxian straightened his back instantly, feeling a little complacent. He had investigated Zhou Youzhou and knew that this person loved gold and silver most, among which gold was the most important. This ability of his would be of great use. Although he made some miscalculations, He didn't expect that the stepdaughter would be so favored, but there was still hope for an alliance, so he said, "The prince wants to see it, and the old master will show his skills."
Zhou Xu became a little interested: "What do I need to prepare?"
"A complete alchemy room is enough." Ge Shenxian said.
"Sixteen, take Mr. Ge to the alchemy room." Zhou Xudao said, Jiangdu Palace naturally has an alchemy room, but it has not been used since they occupied it.
Xiao Luolan felt in her heart that this man was a liar and had no magic touch, but seeing Ge Shenxian's confident face, he felt that there must be something fishy.
"Madam, let's go and take a look together." Zhou Xuxiao looked at Madam and held her hand.
"I'll go too, I'll go too." Xiao Qingxue quickly expressed her stance.
"Then let's go together, I want to see how Ge Gong turns stone into gold." Zhou Xudao, he looked at his daughter and suddenly touched her bun: "Don't worry, no one in this world is worthy of my daughter."
Xiao Qingxue smiled and rolled her eyes, rarely holding her father's arm: "I knew my father would not agree."
Xiao Luolan pursed her lips and smiled.
Wait until we reach the alchemy room.
Xiao Qingxue was shocked. It was hard to say whether this Ge Shenxian was a god or not. He was completely ruthless. He actually burned cinnabar in the alchemy furnace in the alchemy room, and mysteriously introduced the aqua regia on the side.
Xiao Qingxue was speechless, isn't this just mercury? That is to fool my father who doesn't know anything about alchemy and the ordinary people outside.
Dad didn't understand this thing, so he walked in inquiringly. Xiao Qingxue quickly grabbed him and A'Niang, but she didn't need to pull her, A Niang also stopped.
"Let's wait outside the alchemy room." Xiao Luolan said. Ge Shenxian was adding cinnabar for a while and quicklime for a while. Under the light of the fire, I don't know if it was to maintain the fairy style. He was still muttering to the side and jumping on it from time to time. a while.
Zhou Xu was watching from outside.
Xiao Qingxue waited for the steam to come out and took her father and mother farther away. Zhou Shiliu wanted to go and see it, but she also pulled her back.
"Cousin, if you don't keep an eye on him, what will he do if he cheats?" Zhou Shiliu asked anxiously.
"That gas is poisonous and you can't smell it." Xiao Qingxue has long seen through Ge Shenxian's trick: "His alchemy is also fake. Dad can't believe it. It's just using cinnabar to refine mercury, and then using mercury to do it." When it comes to melting gold-containing ores, he is just a cover-up, specifically designed to deceive people, but the process is a bit fancy. When I am fully prepared tomorrow, I can turn rocks into gold."
After hearing this, Zhou Xu was a little disappointed with Ge Shenxian's methods.
Zhou Shiliu was a little surprised: "Why do you know so clearly?"
"Taoist Priest Xiaoyaozi once told me." Xiao Qingxue pulled out Xiaoyaozi, not wanting to explain more.
"Okay, I know this stinky old man is a liar!" Zhou Shiliu said angrily: "I will beat him again when he comes out!"
Xiao Luolan couldn't help laughing.
Chapter 237
Zhou Xu looked at the golden gold in front of him boringly.
Xiao Qingxue snorted disdainfully.
Xiao Luolan touched it with her hand, and it felt like gold. Only Zhou Shiliu was still looking at the old Taoist with evil intentions. Ge Shenxian's left eye jumped as he looked at it, feeling hurt, scared and angry. Trying to suppress his anger, he said to Zhou Youzhou: "Your Majesty, the gold has been refined. I have one more thing I want to tell you in private. It's about alchemy. Please step aside and let me tell you in private."
When Ge Shenxian saw that Zhou Youzhou, who was rumored to be very fond of gold, had an ordinary expression, no hint of joy or anger, and no expected joy or excitement at all, Ge Shenxian's heart sank, and then he became panicked.
Just when Zhou Shiliu was about to curse, Zhou Xu's face was solemn and solemn: "There are no outsiders here. If you have anything to say, Mr. Ge, just say it."
On the 16th, he became happy and imitated his uncle with a cold face, a handsome face with a sinister look on his face, and a whip in his hand.
Xiao Qingxue smiled at Ge Shenxian.
Xiao Luolan just looked at Ge Shenxian quietly, waiting for his next words.
Ge Shenxian had hidden a lot of words to persuade Zhou Youzhou, but he didn't expect to say it in public. He twitched his old face, walked to the bottom of Zhou Youzhou, stood on the steps, and said dryly.
"I'm an old Taoist who studies heaven and has vast magical powers. Not only can I turn stones into gold, but I can also refine some medicinal gold and silver, and it's exactly the same as real gold." Ge Shenxian became more confident when he talked about his special skills, and he meant it. He pointed out: "Even the long-lost Danyang Gold, I can also practice it, and ordinary people can't recognize it at all. My lord, you are entrenched in Youzhou, and now you have to become enemies with the thirteen states. Once you have an open war with the Wei State, , the money required is huge, and the old Taoist's skills may be able to relieve the prince's worries."
Xiao Luolan frowned after hearing this. Isn't this a lie? The disadvantage of using Ge Shenxian's medicine gold instead of real gold to send military supplies is a crisis of trust and a precursor to mutiny. Moreover, Ge Shenxian's unfinished words seem to include using the fake gold he refined in exchange for real money in the hands of ordinary people. In the past, changing hands back and forth like this was a shady business with no capital and huge profits.
Ge Shenxian probably did this often before, and Xiao Luolan became increasingly displeased with this man. She originally thought that enemies of enemies could be allies, but this was not necessarily true. If she had known this was the case, she would have sent him away at that time.
"You black-hearted old man really doesn't know how to write the word "death"!" Zhou Shiliu was shocked. He couldn't believe that Old Man Ge actually dared to pay attention to Youzhou's military expenditure. Who dares! Did the smelly Taoist priest eat the heart and liver of a leopard? So bold!
Xiao Qingxue was also shocked by what Ge Shenxian said. This old Taoist was so courageous. With such courage, no wonder he had dared to ask for his son's hand in marriage before.
Zhou Xu sat up straight as he listened. He twirled his wine glass and suddenly smiled and waved: "Geong Ge, please come forward and talk."
Ge Shenxian felt happy, bent forward, cupped his hands and said: "As long as the prince has such need, the old master will do his best."
"Come, come, Ge Gong, please sit down." Zhou Xu directly gave up the futon on which he was sitting, and asked Ge Shenxian to sit next to him with a smile.
Ge Shenxian looked at Corporal Zhou Youzhou Lixian's friendly behavior and felt determined. He couldn't help but feel a little secretly proud. No matter how heroic or overlord you are, as long as you are greedy, you will have weaknesses. So far, I have not been able to handle it. In his hands, even though there were many injuries on his body, it didn't stop Ge Shenxian from being energetic at this moment. Just when he was about to discuss with Zhou Youzhou how to make full use of his alchemy, he heard the embarrassing words.
Ge Shenxian's old face pulled.
Xiao Luolan frowned and said softly: "I don't think this is appropriate." After she finished speaking, Zhou Lang changed his name to a more formal title: "The stakes are high, and the prince should think twice before he acts."
"Yes, yes, uncle, you can't be confused about this matter. The old man is a big liar at first glance." Zhou Shiliu was also anxious. This old man is a liar. He is not worth his uncle's attention. Xiao Qingxue was also a little suspicious. In her opinion, her father shouldn't be so confused. How could he listen to Ge Shenxian's nonsense.
Ge Shenxian spoke again, with a very bad expression on his face, and said slowly: "Old Master, I used to control hundreds of thousands of people in the two Zhejiang provinces. No matter where they were, they treated me as a guest. Now that the prince values me, I take it upon myself, Old Master." You have to do your part to share the military and national affairs for the prince. I think you are all children, and it is understandable that you are ignorant, but if you continue to slander me for no reason, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Zhou Shiliu was so angry that he wanted to punch him again.
"The child is ignorant, why should Mr. Ge be angry." Zhou Xu smiled and waved his hand to calm down the atmosphere. Then he took Mr. Ge's hand and squeezed it slightly to express his sincerity.
Ge Shenxian's face twitched, Zhou Youzhou's hand was a bit strong, but this kind of opportunity to shake hands and talk happily was rare, so he endured it and forced a smile: "The prince said it is true."
Zhou Xu smiled warmly at Ge Shenxian and thought highly of him: "Ge Gong is a great talent. No wonder he is the leader of the Immortal Way who stirred up troubles in the two Zhejiang provinces. There were so many heroes from all walks of life in the Jiangnan area who were recruited, and only Ge Gong was the one." Standing proud to this day, unwilling to surrender.”
Ge Shenxian laughed dryly. He wanted to be recruited, but there was no way to turn back. However, being praised by Zhou Youzhou so much, his heart still floated, and he smiled with gapped teeth: "Don't dare to take it, don't take it, this is all That’s all in the past.”
"Even Shi Fu Nan, who was famous all over the world, suffered a big loss at your hands. He tried to capture Mr. Ge, but he escaped three times. He lost a lot of face and became the laughing stock of the world. This is enough to prove that Mr. Ge is the world's laughing stock. It's a rare person who doesn't know the origin of the grudge between Ge Gong and Shi Funan, so that Shi Funan hates Ge Gong so deeply."
When Ge Shenxian heard the words "Shi Funan", his heart suddenly trembled, and he quickly laughed: "When it comes to heroes, the prince is the number one person today. As for the grudges with Shi Jiedu, I am too big-hearted to remember clearly."
Zhou Xu continued to hold Ge Shenxian's hand and said: "I know Mr. Ge has good intentions and wants to solve my money worries, but this is not a trivial matter, so I would like to ask Mr. Ge if there is any precedent to follow? If so, I Just copy it.”
"This..." Ge Shenxian's beard twitched: "I have no experience yet."
"Perhaps Shi Funan will have some experience. I think Ge Gong can ask him for advice." Zhou Xu smiled: "When I went to Chang'an via Jiangnan six years ago, I heard that he was short of money and delayed the payment of military pay. Unfortunately, I was in a hurry at the time. I went to Chang'an to meet with you, but I couldn't help Shi Jiedu, and later I learned that Shi Jiedu had borrowed a large sum of money from Wei Guogong to solve the urgent need."
"I heard that the reason why Shi Jiedu had such difficulty was because his military pay was lost for no reason at that time. I wonder if Mr. Ge has heard of this interesting anecdote."
Zhou Xu thought of something that happened many years ago and felt that the world was so wonderful. This Ge Laoer spoke clearly and eloquently. He was so proficient in using medicinal gold to replace real gold to pay military pay. He had obviously done it himself.
And why did Shi Funan pursue Ge Shenxian fiercely over the years? If you think about it carefully, there must be a huge feud between the two.
Ge Shenxian has this magical skill and is unwilling to be left alone. If he met Shi Funan, he would definitely lobby like he did today. Shi Funan probably couldn't resist Ge Shenxian's sweet words and was fooled by him. Zhou Xu only needed to put this From a series of events, one can vaguely guess that Ge Shenxian is too high-profile. He wants to show off everything and talk about everything. When Fu Nan sees him, he will kill him at all costs. This is much more Hate, Zhou Xu couldn't help but think of the incident when Fun Nan massacred the village because he couldn't catch Ge Shenxian.
The more Ge Shenxian listened, the paler his face became. By the end, he was rolling and kneeling on the ground, shaking like chaff: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please forgive me. I didn't mean to deceive Your Majesty, please forgive me."
"Tell me about you and Shi Funan." Zhou Xu threw the gold plate in front of Ge Shenxian, and the gold spilled all over the floor.
Xiao Luolan was stunned for a few moments by the series of changes, and then he figured out a little bit about it. Ge Shenxian used the above method to deceive Huainan Jiedushi Shi Funan.
"Old Taoist, I was a guest of Shi Jiedu at that time, and Shi Jiedu was also worried about military pay, so I offered him some advice." Ge Shenxian looked at Zhou Youzhou as he spoke, with cold sweat dripping down his face: "Later, Shi Jiedu wanted me to use Danyang The gold was exchanged for real gold to be distributed among the generals and the generals under his command, but the real gold was hidden."
"Later, later..." Ge Shenxian became more and more trembling as he spoke: "The real gold disappeared. Shi Jiedu thought I had hidden the real gold and wanted to kill me, so I ran away with the real gold."
"Wait, wait!" Xiao Qingxue couldn't understand: "Then have you hidden any real gold?"
Ge Shenxian shrank his body and said, "Hide, hide."
Good guy, I didn't accuse you wrongly. Xiao Qingxue was dumbfounded. This veteran must be too courageous. Zhou Shiliu also had a look of shock on his face.
"As an old man, I just want to make money. The seasons have asked me to guard so much gold. As an old man, I couldn't hold it back and hid the real gold secretly. As a result, I ended up wandering around the world." Ge Shenxian even cried as he spoke. stand up.
"Then you still want to use the same trick to deceive uncle?" Zhou Shiliu said angrily.
"The old Taoist is helpless. There are so many people who eat under his hands. How can he survive with them without deception?" Ge Shenxian said.
Xiao Qingxue finally saw what it means to be shameless and invincible.
"Your Majesty, there are a lot of them, please spare the old Taoist." Ge Shenxian knelt down and begged for mercy: "The old Taoist promises that he will not appear in front of you next time."
Zhou Xu looked at Madam: "This person was rude to you earlier, how do Madam want to punish him?"
Ge Shenxian quickly cried and begged to the princess again.
Xiao Luolan thought for a moment and said, "Let's put him in jail for now."
"Also, let the prison chief torture you and maybe you can get the whereabouts of the batch of real gold." Zhou Xu agreed.
Ge Shenxian screamed that he was wronged and said that the real gold in his hand was long gone.
"If you say no, then there will be no more." Zhou Liu sneered: "Smelly old man, you told Shi Funan that you didn't hide the real gold, but you ended up running away with the gold. How can I believe you when you have such a despicable character? ?”
Xiao Luolan looked at Ge Shenxian being dragged down, but what she was thinking about was the Liu Pu brothers and sisters who were about to arrive.
Chapter 238
The next day, the sun was shining brightly.
Zhou Xu was lying on the couch by the window in the study, with a pillow in his left hand and a military report in his right hand. The military report was sent by Dai Chenggong in Shouzhou. Cheng Quanhai, the governor of Huaiyou, was still on the offensive against Shouzhou. It was very fierce and showed no intention of retreating. With the help of the two states of Shou and Lu, as the defender of the city, the situation on his side was pretty good.
The beam of light shone on him, and the gold embroidered patterns on the black casual clothes shone in the sunlight. The dark blue sachet on his waist exuded a faint fragrance of grass and trees. Zhou Xu looked at it for a while and then picked up another personal letter.
The letter was written to him by Qi Nanhua from Chang'an, and brought him some news. Although Wei Yanshan did not succeed in the post of generalissimo of the world's soldiers and horses, the emperor did not get anything good. Luoyang is the capital of the east and has always been Chang'an. Accompanying the capital, now that the Holy Sage has granted Wei Yanshan the title of Luoyang’s guard, Qi Nanhua feels that the Holy Sage has vague intentions of co-ruling the world with Wei Yanshan. By the way, he deliberately made friends with the Holy Sage’s confidant Liu Hui, and learned of this nominal expedition. The Youjian Army was Liu Hui, and he also said that he had found out that Min Ting, the governor of Youzhou in Chang'an, had received a lot of bribes from Prime Minister Duan, and was amassing money wantonly. In recent days, he had openly cooperated with the governor of Jiedu in other major states. They went in and out hand in hand, obviously with the intention of betrayal, and asked Zhou Xu if he wanted to find a reason to impeach him and make him step down.
Qi Nanhua's letter lasted for several pages. Zhou Xu read each page and almost wrote about all the important affairs of the court. It also said that Duan Shoucheng saw that Xie still maintained his previous neutrality in the previous discussion on cutting off You. He was privately very dissatisfied with his attitude. Within two days, Xie Wanjun of the Xie clan was demoted from the position of judge and was replaced by someone from Prime Minister Duan's group.
When Zhou Xu saw this, he took out a secret letter from the Xie family from the small place next to the couch. The letter was a private letter from Xie Jize, the prime minister of the imperial court. He did not mention that Xie Wanjun in his family had been removed from his position. He only said a few words. The faction of the Han Dynasty had only one hand to cover the sky in the court, so they could only temporarily avoid its sharp edge, slowly figure it out, and finally lamented that there was nothing they could do.
Just as Zhou Xu was staring at the last disciple Zhinaihe, his wife came in.
Zhou Xu put down the letter in his hand: "Why is Madam so happy?"
Xiao Luolan touched her face, put the grape plate in her hand next to the small table, and said with crooked eyes: "Is it so obvious?"
