At night.
Ruyi Tower in Xialuocheng.
Xu Yi stood at the window sill on the third floor of this hotel, which is known as the largest inn in Lower Luo City.
Looking through the wide open window sill, he quietly looked at the lights below.
It was already night.
However, as far as Xu Yi could see, there were only a few hundred lights below.
It should be noted that this place is the most prosperous place in Xialuo City.
If this is the case here, it goes without saying what the situation is like in other streets.
"Master Liu, County Magistrate Hou has returned."
Just when Xu Yi was distracted looking at the lights below.
Yang Xian'an walked quickly from downstairs.
Xu Yi nodded slightly, and then ordered: "It's still more than half an hour before Haishi, so go ahead and rest for a while."
"Okay." Yang Xian'an agreed, and then slowly said, "If anything happens to Master Six, just call me."
Xu Yi nodded slightly, then slowly turned around and looked at the lights below again.
No one knows what it is looking at.
No one knows what he is thinking at this moment.
A quarter of an hour later.
Xu Yi slowly withdrew his gaze and walked towards the upper room on the third floor.
Slowly open the door and walk into the outer room above.
Apart from a bookcase, a few chairs and a few of the four treasures of the study, there is nothing else that comes into view.
Xu Yi's eyes crossed the book case and landed on the wall behind the book case.
There, there should have been several exquisite paintings and calligraphy hanging there.
But now, there is nothing but a few nail holes on the empty wall.
'The Xiongnu entering the country is no different from the locusts crossing the border. ,
Xu Yi stared at the empty wall and murmured in his heart.
After finishing his words, Xu Yi walked slowly behind the writing desk.
After simply grinding the ink and laying out the paper, I picked up a Langhao pen and wrote slowly on the yellowed rice paper.
What he wrote is all important information obtained during today's conversation with Hou Wenyuan.
For example, Xialuo City currently has the number of common people, the number of young men, the number of city defense soldiers, and the number of military equipment.
For example, the number of fertile fields currently available in Xialuo City and the annual grain output of the fertile fields.
For example, the amount of tax revenue in Xialuo City, the number of merchants, etc.
After a while, Xu Yi slowly put down the langhao pen in his hand.
He looked at the rice paper in front of him very seriously.
Xu Yi has no shortage of ways to make money in his mind, but what he lacks is a piece of quiet soil.
This will provide him with a way to make money and take root.
The eight cities in Shanggu are listed in detail: Juyang, Jusu, Zhuolu, Panxian, Gou (o), Xialuo, Guangning, and Ningxian.
Among them, Juyang City is a county town, and the forces within it are complicated.
Jusu is backed by Juyongguan and is an important military location.
It is extremely inconvenient for merchants to do business. Setting up a business here is tantamount to killing oneself.
Pan County, Yanxian County and Dai County border.
If the situation changes drastically, there is always the risk of making wedding clothes for others.
Guangning and Ning County are located under the Great Wall and are always facing the invasion of the Huns.
A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. No matter what angle he comes from, Xu Yi will not place his commercial base here.
So far.
Six of the eight cities in the upper valley have been eliminated.
Zhuolu and Xialuo both meet Xu Yi's requirements to a certain extent.
Both cities are backed by the Yanshan Mountains.
And all of them include Xuyi Minerals.
However, the county magistrate of Xialuocheng was Hou Wenyuan. ….
Compared with Zhuolu, a place he was unfamiliar with, Xialuo, where his own people were in charge, was naturally more suitable.
...
...
Time always passes quietly when you least expect it.
When the moment is about to arrive at Haishi.
Suddenly there were two footsteps, one light and one heavy, in the corridor above the third floor.
pace
The sound came from far away, and after a while Xu Yi paused outside his house.
'Dong-dong-dong. ,
"Master Liu, Chai Baoyi is here."
Yang Xianan stood outside the house, knocked on the door gently, and then reported the news.
Inside the premises.
Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes, sat up straight and said calmly: "Come in."
"Yes." Outside the house, Yang Xian'an and Chai Baoyi agreed in unison.
After he finished speaking, Yang Xian'an gently pushed open the door and motioned for Chai Baoyi to enter.
After Chai Baoyi entered the house, Yang Xianan gently closed the door and then patrolled back and forth outside the door.
Although he has booked the entire Ruyi Building, he is not afraid of anything but ten thousand yuan.
"My subordinate, Chai Baoyi, pays homage to the prince."
Chai Baoyi suppressed the excitement in his heart and bowed deeply to Xu Yi.
"No courtesy." Xu Yi waved his hand slightly and then motioned for Chai Baoyi to take a seat.
After Chai Baoyi took his seat.
Xu Yi asked calmly: "How is the construction of the workshop going?"
Chai Baoyi paused for a moment, composed himself and reported hurriedly: "I asked the prince, two of the three workshops have been completed, and more than 60% of the remaining one has been completed."
"It will take at most five days to complete the construction."
Xu Yi nodded slightly, then continued to ask: "How is the mining of quartz stone?"
The Yanshan Mountains start from Yanghe in the west and end at Shanhaiguan in the east.
There are countless mineral deposits within it.
Nearly half of the mineral deposits owned by Xu Yi in Xialuocheng are lime mines, and the rest are quartz mines.
Quartz stone has the characteristics of high hardness and low water absorption.
Most are used as building materials, such as paving stones, flooring, etc.
Among them, quartz stone with fine particles, tight structure and bright color is used to carve into exquisite jewelry and ornaments.
For Xu Yi, whether using quartz stone as a building material or carving it into exquisite ornaments is nothing more than a waste of natural resources.
As for the reason, it is very simple.
Quartz stone is an essential raw material for making glass.
Upon hearing this, Chai Baoyi quickly replied: "Ask the prince, the quartz stone mined so far has accumulated into three hills with a height of three feet."
Xu Yi nodded slightly, then took out a piece of rice paper from his sleeve.
He solemnly handed it over to Chai Baoyi.
"Prepare according to this order tomorrow."
"I came to the workshop alone to look for you in the afternoon."
Xu Yi ordered with great solemnity.
The materials necessary for refining glass can be found in Xialuo City.
And the quantity Xu Yi needed for the first time was not too much.
Therefore, a morning of preparation is more than enough time.
Chai Baoyi took the rice paper, stood up and saluted solemnly: "I obey your order!"
Xu Yi waved his hand slightly and said, "Go back and have a good rest. Everyone except the Chai family will clear out of the workshop tomorrow afternoon."
"Obey the order!" Chai Baoyi saluted solemnly and then slowly exited the house.
After Chai Baoyi's figure completely disappeared from the house.
Xu Yi slowly stood up and started grinding ink and laying out paper again. ….
After everything is ready.
He sat down again, picked up a wolf brush and slowly wrote six characters on the paper - the method of refining medicinal jade.
Xu Yi paused for a moment, then slowly wrote down the glass making techniques on the paper one by one based on the memory in his mind and the actual situation of the Zhou Dynasty.
Compared with the quartz stone jewelry that is popular in the Zhou Dynasty today.
Glass is a more pure and flawless object.
After a while.
Xu Yi hung the Langhao pen high on the pen holder.
He looked back and forth on the rice paper.
After confirming again and again that it is correct, slowly open the rice paper, set it aside, and let the ink dry on its own.
Wait until everything is over.
Xu Yi took out a piece of rice paper again,
Lay it flat on the desk.
Put the pen on the paper and draw slowly.
With Xu Yi's pen, he slowly sketched.
Exquisite jewelry, vases, and wine cups emerge vividly on the paper.
If the beautifully shaped utensils on the rice paper really appeared in reality.
With the purity of the glass and the exquisite shape of the utensils, it is sure to win the hearts of many dignitaries.
Of course, when harvesting their hearts, it is inevitable to harvest the pockets of dignitaries.
As the night gets darker and darker.
The rice paper placed on Xu Yi's desk gradually covered the entire desk.
Xu Yi hung the langhao pen in his hand on the pen holder.
Then he rubbed his sore wrist.
"With these things here, fifteen thousand war horses shouldn't be a problem."
Xu Yi stared at the piles of rice paper on the desk and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly.
The words are over.
Xu Yi stood up slowly, moved his limbs a little, and then slowly put away the rice paper that was full of books.
Now, everything is ready, waiting for the glass to be born.
...
...
A night of silence.
Early the next morning, the sky was bright.
Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes in the third-floor room.
Do morning exercises without waiting for him to get up.
Yang Xian'an's voice sounded outside the door.
"Sixth Master?" Yang Xianan stood outside the house and said softly.
Xu Yi slowly stood up from the bed, put on his clothes and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Magistrate Hou is waiting for you on the first floor." Yang Xian'an reported softly.
Xu Yi paused slightly with his clothed palm, and murmured in a low voice: "Hou Wenyuan?" So early? ,
After finishing speaking, Xu Yi looked up at the door and said, "Let him wait for a moment."
"Yes." Yang Xian'an agreed and left quickly.
Inside the premises.
Xu Yi frowned slightly. Based on his understanding of Hou Wenyuan, he was definitely not a flatterer.
In this case, why come to visit at dawn?
Xu Yi shook his head slightly, putting aside the doubts in his heart for the time being.
After washing briefly, he walked out of the house.
...
...
The first floor of Ruyi Building.
Seeing Xu Yi walking towards him,
Hou Wenyuan hurriedly took two steps forward, raised his hands in salute and said, "Your Majesty, Hou Wenyuan, pays homage to His Highness King Yan."
"No courtesy." Xu Yi nodded slightly and glanced across the empty Ruyi Building.
Then he continued: "The story will be told in the private room on the second floor."
"Yes." Hou Wenyuan agreed, then stood up and followed Xu Yi into the private room on the second floor. ….
Fang Yi walked into the private room on the second floor.
Hou Wenyuan immediately bowed deeply to Xu Yi and said, "Wen Yuan is brave and asks the prince to help Xia Luo find peace as soon as possible."
Xu Yi frowned slightly, and then said calmly: "How do you say this? Wen Yuan, please sit down and speak slowly."
"Yes." Hou Wenyuan bowed again and quickly took a seat in front of Xu Yi.
As Hou Wenyuan slowly narrated.
Xu Yi's brows gradually wrinkled.
The land of Yan is martial, and the men are so heroic.
However, there is always a group of people who are very capable and often use force to break the law.
What's more, they are willing to act as lackeys of the Huns.
When the Huns came, they cooperated with them inside and outside to destroy the city and seize wealth.
After the Xiongnu left, they took their wealth into the mountains and hid in the Yanshan Mountains. From time to time, they robbed the rich and gave to the poor from passing caravans.
From Hou Wenyuan's description, it is really difficult for Xu Yi not to doubt the true identity of this group of people.
After a while.
Xu Yi asked in a deep voice: "In this matter, Commander Sun
Do you know? "
Hou Wenyuan sighed and immediately replied: "Of course I know that before the prince arrived in Yandi, Commander Sun sent troops to encircle and suppress him once."
"Of course, those gangsters are no different from macaques in the Yanshan Mountains."
"It's really hard to get hold of."
The words are over.
Hou Wenyuan paused for a moment, then continued: "It would be better if they just robbed the caravan."
"Sending some soldiers to escort us can greatly reduce the losses."
"However, last night, the gangsters got something crazy and went down the mountain overnight to massacre the village."
"It's pitiful that all ninety-two families in Qingshui Village were killed by that gang of bandits."
"If it hadn't been for the fire last night, God knows how many villages that gang of bandits would have slaughtered before they stopped."
After finishing his words, Hou Wenyuan sighed heavily with his eyes red.
God knows how sad and angry Qi Yinshi felt deep in his heart after receiving the news.
Xu Yi lowered his head and pondered for a few breaths, then asked: "Is there anyone in Qingshui Village who has enmity with that group of bandits?"
"No." Hou Wenyuan shook his head slightly and said: "There are ninety-two households in Qingshui Village, with a total of more than 300 people. Most of them are old and weak, women and children. The young people have already died in the last Xiongnu invasion."
Xu Yi groaned for a few breaths after hearing this, then frowned slightly and said, "Do you know the number of bandits?"
Hou Wenyuan nodded and said: "When the Huns invaded, there were more than a hundred people who appeared in Xialuo City."
Xu Yi continued to ask: "Do you know the approximate location of the bandits?"
Hou Wenyuan shook his head slightly and said, "Last time when Commander Sun sent troops to encircle and suppress people, traces of bandits were found in Dafufu Mountain."
"But when the army arrived, the bandits were already gone."
"After that, the county soldiers stayed in the Yanshan Mountains for more than ten days, but unfortunately, to no avail."
Xu Yi couldn't help but frown when he heard this.
Trying to search for more than a hundred people in the huge Yanshan Mountains is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
However, nowadays, even if it is to find a needle in a haystack, Xu Yi must do it.
Nothing else.
Xialuo City is Xu Yi's future business base.
There is no room for any deviation here.
There is no room for any instability.
Xu Yi calmed down for a moment, then slowly said: "Wen Yuan doesn't need to worry about this matter, Gu will definitely give an explanation to the people of Xialuo."
"I would like to thank you in advance for your great kindness to the 8,000 households in Luo City." Hou Wenyuan's face straightened, he stood up and bowed his hands solemnly.
Xu Yi waved his hand slightly and said, "It's just my duty to eliminate harm for the people."
After Hou Wenyuan leaves.
Xu Yi slowly stood up and paced back and forth in the private room on the second floor.
While pacing, he repeatedly thought about the news brought by Hou Wenyuan in his mind.
'The inexplicable massacre of a village. ,
'He once led the way for the Huns. ,
'Plunder passing caravans. ,
For some reason, the more Xu Yi thought about it, the more suspicious he became about the origins of this group of people.
It would be fine if they just robbed the caravan. After all, bandits do not engage in production and make a living by plundering. There is nothing unusual about this move.
To lead the way for the Huns, it can only be said that there will be such people in any dynasty.
What really made Xu Yi suspicious was the killing of a village.
Killing a village of mostly old, weak, women and children without any injustice or grudge.
What is its purpose?
Xu Yi frowned and thought for a moment.
After a while.
Xu Yi's brows slowly opened, and he already had a vague answer in his heart.
As for whether it is true or not, we will know after those people are captured and brought back for trial. .
Iced tea always reminds you: remember to collect it after reading it【
For unobstructed reading....
