The shouts of Fusu and Wang Jian could be heard in the entire courtyard, and the solemn atmosphere in the courtyard immediately dissipated.
In the distance, a servant was walking in this direction with a plate in his hand, his expression extremely respectful.
They had known before they arrived that there were distinguished guests in the mansion today, including His Majesty the First Emperor, the General, the Prime Minister, and the eldest son, His Royal Highness Fusu, Prince Hu Hai, Prince Jianglu, etc.
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Therefore, there absolutely cannot be any mistakes today.
Otherwise, it would not be Chen Ke who wants to deal with them, but these elders.
He carefully brought the things to the courtyard. Several people sat on a table. Wang Jian looked directly at the plate.
The plate is emerald blue, just like the green pine forest reflected in the lake, which looks very comfortable.
On the plate were some brown pieces of meat, with a little juice still lying on them, which looked very delicious.
certainly--
There's more to it than meets the eye.
A scent came from the plate, and the taste reached the noses of everyone sitting here. In an instant, everything that had been thought about disappeared.
All that was left in my mind was the plate of delicious food in front of me.
Ying Zheng held Kuaizi (called "箸" in ancient times) in his hand and looked at the dishes placed in the center of the table: "Chen Ke, does this mean the "braised pork" you mentioned before? "
He smacked his lips: "Why does it taste more delicious than before?"
It's not that Ying Zheng has never eaten braised pork. On the contrary, when Chen Ke came up with this thing, the recipe for the food was already in Ying Zheng's hands.
Moreover, Chen Ke took the initiative to send it there.
But Ying Zheng just felt that the braised pork this time was more delicious than the previous one.
Chen Ke did not hesitate: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten?"
"Feng Ling brought back a batch of spices from the Western Regions. The quality of that batch of spices is much better than the spices previously sent to Da Qin."
"It's also better to use, so the taste may be a lot stronger than before."
Chen Ke's words were reasonable. Ying Zheng touched his chin slightly: "That's it."
He narrowed his eyes and said, "Weren't the spices you used before given to you by me?"
"And those spices are not included in this batch, okay?"
Ying Zheng's voice was full of meaning and a little angry: "It seems that the tribute from the Western Regions is not the best."
"They are lying to me."
His voice became calmer, but everyone present felt their hairs stand up instantly because they felt a powerful murderous aura!
Ying Zheng is angry.
And this anger can be understood by everyone present.
The Lord humiliates the minister and dies.
Wang Jian stood up immediately and said with murderous intent: "If the Western Region dares to do such a thing, are you bullying me, the Qin Dynasty?"
He raised his eyebrows and pointed angrily, his beard and hair spread out: "Your Majesty, I am requesting an order to conquer the Western Region!"
Li Si lowered his head and said nothing, but he was thinking about how much supplies and food would be needed if he wanted to conquer the Western Regions, and how much Da Qin had now.
Will this battle put Da Qin into trouble?
The three brothers Fu Su, Hu Hai, and Jiang Lu were sitting there with anger on their faces. Jiang Lu even said: "Father."
"My son, please order me."
Jiang Lu didn't speak much, and his voice was as cold as before, but the anger in it could be heard.
Chen Ke was eating the food on the plate, and the expression on his face didn't seem to change much.
Ying Zheng turned his head, looked at Chen Ke and said, "Chen Ke, what do you think?"
Chen Ke smiled slightly and said: "Your Majesty, this is a good reason and a suitable reason."
"The Western Region is a place we must capture. There are things buried underground there that are almost as valuable as gold. Perhaps even to some extent, they are more important than gold."
His voice was faint and cold, like the ice in the ocean three thousand meters deep.
"But now is not the right time to conquer the Western Region."
Chen Ke lowered his eyes and looked at the pieces of meat on his plate: "Your Majesty, it's just like this braised pork."
"It is actually inappropriate to eat braised pork at this time of year. If the braised pork is not eaten as soon as possible after it is served, it will become cold and the fat on it will freeze. After freezing, the taste of the braised pork will at least decrease. half."
He said with emotion: "So, braised pork must be eaten at the right time, and the Western Region must also be conquered at the right time."
Ying Zheng clapped his hands and laughed, all the anger on his face receded, as if he was not the one who was angry just now.
He just smiled and said: "Old General Wang, sit down."
Ying Zheng took a piece of braised pork and put it into his mouth, tasting it carefully: "This braised pork has just been served and has not yet cooled down. It really has a unique taste."
"The Western Region is like meat on this table. Don't worry, we will eventually eat it."
"And "spice" is just one of the reasons. "
"Just like a medicine prescription, "spice" is the medicine's introduction. As long as the medicine's introduction is available, then when to use this medicine's introduction to make a decoction for Da Qin, that is something we need to consider and it is also something we control. . "
After listening to Ying Zheng's words, Wang Jian sat down immediately without any melancholy. He also took a piece of braised pork and tasted it carefully.
"Your Majesty is right."
At this time, the servants not far away were still bringing plates one after another, and the plates were full of delicious dishes.
The second dish is a fish.
Fish on the plate.
After placing the plates, Chen Ke looked at Ying Zheng, Wang Jian and others and said, "Your Majesty, everyone, this is a new dish, called "Squirrel Mandarin Fish". It is delicious and can be considered a very good delicacy. "
"Moreover, this fish is killed freshly, retaining its deliciousness to the greatest extent."
"Eating it during the New Year symbolizes having more than enough every year."
...........
The festive season passed by in a flash, and time passed by unknowingly.
The sky is getting dark, and the sitting postures of several people in the courtyard have changed from being more dignified at the beginning to being casual now.
Ying Zheng leaned on the cushion behind him. The cushion was sewn by Chen Ke before. This kind of cushion was used at this time.
The cushions are placed on the sofa, which is like a railing-like sofa. With the cushions, you can lean on it and not think about anything.
Chen Ke was half-lying beside the table, yawning non-stop.
There was constant sound of silk and bamboo pipe music all around. This was already their second meal. After lunch, several people discussed and handled some government affairs in Chen Ke's mansion.
In the evening, we had dinner at Chen Ke's mansion again.
Wang Jian felt that there was no strength in his body and he just wanted to lean there without any physical rest.
A person came over from a distance, it was Dunruo from Heibingtai.
Dunruo saw several elders lying scattered in the yard. Although he felt a little shocked and helpless, the expression on his face did not change at all.
He just walked up to Ying Zheng and said: "Your Majesty, Hei Bingtai has received two letters from Penglaizhou. One is given to you in the name of Penglaizhou government office, and the other seems to be for Chen Fengchang."
Ying Zheng raised his eyes upon hearing this, with curiosity in his eyes: "Oh?"
"And a letter to Chen Ke?"
"Bring it, bring it."
Dunruo immediately stepped forward and handed the letter to Ying Zheng, but Chen Ke's expression did not change at all.
Ying Zheng looked at Chen Ke, then at everyone present, and said with a smile: "Come on, let's see what the people in Penglaizhou wrote to this kid Chen Ke."
Others also gathered around curiously, with curious expressions on their faces.
Ying Zheng unfolded the letter and placed it on the table. He skipped the greetings at the beginning of the letter and just read some of the sentences softly.
"Penglai has been fine since we said goodbye more than a month ago."
"Acting Director Fan has been working diligently for many days and does not seem to have any agenda. However, the students are always worried. Fan Muye may have a big plan. I hope the Governor can give me some guidance."
"The matters concerning the porcelain factory and the printing factory that the Governor gave before leaving have also been completed and are being implemented, or they may be implemented after the spring of next year."
"Regarding the position of "factory director" of porcelain factories, printing factories, etc., students and government officials held a Penglaizhou meeting. After a decision was made, they unanimously agreed to submit the definition, grade, and candidates for the position of "factory director" to His Majesty, The imperial court made decisions both inside and outside the imperial court. "
"Generals Li Xin and Wang Ben have been suppressing bandits near Penglaizhou in recent days. The area around Penglaizhou has become much more peaceful, and the students feel relieved."
"Tian Cheng and Jiang Ruo'ang, the two governors, studied some affairs of Linzi County and Penglaizhou in their respective counties, and also made preliminary decisions on some matters such as the porcelain factory."
Many of the letters are about the development of Penglaizhou and some government affairs.
Ying Zheng paused for a moment, and then said with emotion: "Although Penglaizhou is only an organization that has just been established, it always seems to be very complete."
He looked at Chen Ke and said, "Peng Laizhou is where it is today, mostly because of your contribution."
"You have done enough to turn Peng Lai, which was in ruins and chaos after it was first established, into this state."
Ying Zheng was silent for a moment and then said: "Since Penglai is on the right track, do you still want to go to Penglai?"
There was a slightly questioning tone in his voice, and Wang Jian and Li Si both felt a little envious after hearing this.
When has His Majesty ever discussed anything with them like this?
Generally speaking, what Your Majesty says has no room for change and must be implemented, and Your Majesty does not need to discuss anything with anyone.
But today, Ying Zheng spoke to Chen Ke in a discussion tone.
This made Wang Jian and Li Si feel a little envious.
But it's just envy, because often when your Majesty uses such a kind tone, there are some complicated questions behind it.
For example, Chen Ke today.
The First Emperor obviously didn't want Chen Ke to stay in Penglaizhou anymore, but he was a little hesitant and couldn't make a decision about Chen Ke's stay, so he asked Chen Ke.
Ying Zheng himself cannot make a decision. If Chen Ke makes a decision that cannot satisfy Ying Zheng, the consequences will be serious.
The happiness and anger of the superior can only happen in an instant.
Chen Ke lowered his head and looked at the letter.
Ying Zheng had not finished reciting the letter just now. At the end of the letter, there were some words of blessing, which were very simple and simple.
"Students Huo Zhen Huo Shi, Xiaguan Guanzhuo, Xiaguan Fan Muye, etc., wish teachers a happy new year, all the best, and peace and success."
Chen Ke touched the letter in front of him with his hand, feeling a little emotional in his heart.
"Your Majesty, since Peng Lai is on the right track, I will no longer go to Peng Lai."
Chen Ke's tone was calm: "My original wish when I went to Penglai was to implement some local changes and test some of my guesses and reforms in one place."
"Now that the practicality of these changes and speculations has been verified, there is no need to go anywhere."
Chen Ke looked at Ying Zheng and said, "I will stay in Xianyang."
Lowering his head and looking at the things in his hands, Chen Ke actually felt a little regretful, but he really couldn't go anywhere.
Why?
Because he himself also discovered that after going there, his influence on the place was too profound. This was not good, whether it was for himself, Da Qin, or even Ying Zheng's control of power. good.
Doing the right thing at the right time has always been Chen Ke's rule.
When Ying Zheng heard Chen Ke's answer, he smiled happily: "Hahahaha, okay, okay, okay!"
He looked at Chen Ke and said with approval: "Actually, that's exactly what it should be."
"Some reforms can be watched by local county guards and magistrates. Even if they want to do something, it will be difficult if there is a general judge."
"What's more, there are people from Heibingtai watching secretly?"
Ying Zheng picked up the wine glass and smiled slightly: "Come on, take advantage of this festive occasion and drink this glass to the full!"
Everyone raised their glasses to celebrate, and the moonlight fell into the cups. The moonlight and wine in the full cup fell into the intestines, turning into a little warmth.
............
On the first day of the first lunar month, there is a grand sacrificial ceremony.
The grand ceremony, as in previous years, passed quickly. After the sacrificial ceremony, the days passed by like a shuttle, and unknowingly it was the second day of the Lunar New Year.
Chen Ke was lying in the yard.
He counted his holidays on his fingers. The holidays were not long away...
The last time I fooled Brother Zheng, I still couldn't get Brother Zheng to extend his vacation to the sixteenth day of the first lunar month.
The reason is not that Brother Zheng disagrees, but that there is Li Si next to him who has been blocking him...
Li Si righteously used countless examples to explain that a too long vacation is not a good thing for the Qin Dynasty or the leaders of Guizhou.
But Chen Ke didn't say anything to Li Si at this critical moment...
So, the whole holiday thing fell through.
Chen Ke sighed with emotion: "We will start preparations for various affairs on the ninth day of the lunar month, and we will officially start work on the tenth day of the lunar month."
"How come after all calculations, there are only a few days left?"
"Is there anything that I need to deal with urgently after the new year?"
Chen Ke sat there with his legs crossed, counting what he needed to do and what he could pass on to others...
Lost in thought.
