Chapter 41 Chapter Eleven

The Eleventh Chapter of Xiaoqiang's Rebellion in Part Two During the Spring Festival, the city of Chang'an is full of songs and swallows, but under the surface calm, there are undercurrents surging. Cui Yang, the Minister of the Household Department, came down from his carriage and looked at the bustling crowd in front of the door with boredom. His older sister was the concubine of Prince Li An. The husband and wife still respect each other as guests. When King Yong was arrogant, even though he was the prince's brother-in-law, the front door was deserted. Some people even made things difficult for themselves in order to please King Yong. Breaking the threshold, ignoring those villains who are stalking, he walked into the gate boldly.

In the study, the housekeeper handed over a stack of greeting cards, and Cui Yang casually took them to look at them one by one. After all, no matter how much he despises those people, power needs people to support it. Why improve your status?After flipping through it, Cui Yang was suddenly attracted by a post. It was an exquisite famous post. The name on it was Ji Cheng, a businessman from Dongchuan. Originally, Cui Yang was not in the mood to see him. It's an ordinary businessman's, but there is a gift list attached to the name sticker, and there are ten thousand taels of silver and a pair of white biscuits on it. This is a very important gift, even because of this gift, he can't miss this Jicheng.Instructing the butler to invite Ji Cheng to come in, Cui Yang sat behind the writing desk, drinking tea while thinking about what this person wants, courtesy is a courtesy to others, there must be something to ask for, can he accept this gift safely?

After a while, under the guidance of the housekeeper, a man in his thirties came in. This man was quite handsome, with regular facial features, but his eyes were a bit narrow and elongated, and his nose was a bit hooked, which ruined his image. However, this person is extremely handsome, standing in front of the desk with his hands behind his back, he is a person who has lived in the upper class for a long time.Cui Yang was shocked, knowing that this person was by no means an ordinary businessman, and Cui Yang was not an ordinary person if he could be a servant of the household department. He said lightly: "Please sit down, Your Excellency. Although my official position is not high, there are still some things that can be done. Yes, your Excellency is so respectful, I don't know what is going on, if it is not against the law of the country, I will naturally consider it."

The man smiled and said: "The Caomin came here to ask the Lord. The Caomin has a business and wants to cooperate with His Highness the Crown Prince. However, His Highness is such a status that we grassroots cannot approach him. The Lord is the Prince's relative, so he came to ask for help. If your lord thinks that Caomin's business is worth doing, please convey the sincerity of Caomin to His Royal Highness." Cui Yang frowned, and said coldly: "The crown prince is the prince. In the whole world, is it possible that he is a king, why should he associate with merchants like you? If this is the case, there is nothing I can do."

The man sneered and said, "If His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't want to get rich, then what are His Highness's villages in the outskirts of Chang'an used for? What about mining gold mines outside?" Cui Yang almost jumped out of his heart when he heard it. How could this man inquire about the prince's family background? He has been taking care of these businesses for the prince. He lost his official position.There was a murderous look in his eyes, and he thought, he needs to capture this person, ask him about his life experience, and then cut the grass and roots, so Cui Yang deliberately said with a pleasant face: "Actually, this matter may not be impossible to discuss. Please sit down and serve tea." , let's discuss it slowly."

The housekeeper hurriedly served tea, invited the man to sit beside him, and went outside to guard the door. After the man sat down, Cui Yang asked again: "I don't know if you have any business that you want to cooperate with His Highness. If I hear it and think it's okay, then I can report it to the prince." The man said leisurely: "This business is not big. This year, there is a drought in Dayong, and the grain harvest is poor. Now the price of rice and noodles on the market is three times that of previous years, and Jiangnan specialties such as silk are even more expensive. The enmity between Chu and Dayong is as deep as the sea, and all trade between the two sides has been interrupted. The grassroots have some connections in Southern Chu, and can provide food, silk, tea and other special products. I wonder what you will do?"

Cui Yang frowned, thinking, this is indeed a good business, but it is a bit troublesome. Although His Highness the Crown Prince has some income, but the expenditure is also large, buying officials, placing spies, and keeping assassins and killers are all free. Yimen's enshrining is not a small number. Looking at this man, the murderous look in Cui Yang's eyes faded, he hesitated to speak, he can't say that we have no money. The man was very good at observing words and expressions, and continued: "Actually, we don't need His Royal Highness to really pay. Only with His Highness and Your Excellency taking care of us can our business go smoothly. You also know that without His Highness's support for our smuggled goods, we will sooner or later will miss."

Cui Yang nodded and said, "If so, it would be easy, but how are you going to divide it?" The man smiled and said, "The little one is willing to contribute 30% of the profit to His Highness." Cui Yang frowned, he knew the huge profits in this business, it would be a pity if it was only 30%, but he couldn't provide the funds, and it was hard to ask for too much. The man seemed to have seen through his mind, and said mysteriously: "Actually, Cao Min has another idea. If the adults are brave enough, the villains are willing to give 60% of the profits." Cui Yang shook his body, and said, "What's your idea? Come and listen to me."

The man laughed and said: "Your Excellency is in charge of the household department. All the food, salaries and military equipment of Dayong's more than one million troops are under the jurisdiction of the household department. What Southern Chu lacks most now is military equipment. If Your Highness is willing to exchange the military equipment in stock for Southern Chu's goods, it will not be a problem." His Royal Highness Fei can get even more goods in exchange for more goods. This income can be doubled. After His Royal Highness gets the gold and silver, he will order a batch of ordnance in Dayong to make up the gap. Your Excellency should understand the price difference. There is absolutely no problem with a one-way business of 500,000 taels."

When Cui Yang heard this, he jumped up against the case and said angrily: "It's unreasonable, you actually encouraged this official to join the enemy, are you a spy from Southern Chu, and you came to this official to talk nonsense." The man had a good time and said with a smile: "Your Excellency, you are wrong. The Caomin is not a spy of Southern Chu. The Caomin Huo Jicheng is the leader of Jinxiu." After he finished speaking, he waved his hand, and a white light shot out from his hand, touching Cui Yang's neck It flew over, penetrated the bookshelf behind Cui Yang, and shot into the wall. Cui Yang was so frightened that the door of the study was kicked open with a bang. a dagger.

Huo Jicheng smiled, and rushed towards the door, the butler only felt a blur in front of his eyes, the dagger in his hand had fallen into Huo Jicheng's hands, Cui Yang looked again, Huo Jicheng had already sat back in his seat, looking at Cui Yang with a smile.Cui Yang had calmed down, he glanced at Huo Jicheng, and thought, if this person is not sure, how could he risk himself, not to mention anything else, if he annoyed him, his life would be lost, he wiped Breaking into a cold sweat, he said, "Leader Huo, please sit down, please sit down. Presumably the leader is not here to ask for a crime. His Royal Highness eradicated the Jinxiu League's sub-rudder in Chang'an for the sake of state affairs. Huo Meng wants to revive the Kingdom of Shu. You and I It's hostility, and there's nothing you can do about it, if Leader Huo wants to take revenge, the subordinate officials won't agree." Huo Jicheng said indifferently: "That's right. To you, my Splendid League is a rebellion, and the Chang'an matter is also helpless, but those are trivial things, and they can be regarded as loyal to the country. But as the saying goes, there is no eternity in the world. Our enemies, we are now being restricted and excluded everywhere, and if things go on like this, I am afraid that not only will there be no hope of restoring the country, but even our lives will be lost. If His Highness is willing to cooperate with us, there is no need for us to restore the country, and it would be nice to be a rich man , although His Highness has already secured a position, but after all, there is still King Yong eyeing him, and there are many places where money is needed. To put it bluntly, we are the only ones who can cooperate with His Highness, and now we are most looking forward to His Highness making mistakes. It is King Yong. If someone else works for His Highness, if it falls into the hands of King Yong, I am afraid that the crown prince will be confessed. The hatred between our Splendid League and King Yong is as deep as the sea. The hatred of subjugation will never be forgotten, and we will never fall to King Yong , we also know that if King Yong did not make a plan, Dayong and the Kingdom of Shu may not necessarily be at war, so there is no deep hatred between us and the prince. If we can help the prince to eradicate King Yong, then we have done our best to avenge my king ...Also, even if someone exposes the cooperation between the Splendid League and the crown prince, do you think anyone will believe it? Who would believe that the crown prince is cooperating with rebels like us, and the crown prince has just wiped out our Splendid League Chang'an branch." The more Cui Yang listened, the more polite he became. Although he felt that this person was cold and had no heartache for his brother's death or injury, he also felt that what this person said was good. He hesitated and asked: "There are still some Guimeng brothers who are still in the prison. I don't know what your plans are." Huo Jicheng smiled slightly and said: "If His Highness thinks it doesn't matter, then it's good to let them go. If he thinks it's in the way, he should execute them quickly, so as not to make people doubt the relationship between the crown prince and Jinxiu League." Cui Yang was chilled for a while, this person is really cruel.He closed his eyes, and said after a long time: "I can't decide this matter, so let's talk about it after I report to the crown prince. Your Excellency will come back tomorrow to hear the answer." Huo Jicheng smiled slightly, and said: "It should be, it should be, but Master Cui, the concubine you raised in the city is already pregnant, why don't you take it back, is it because Madam is jealous?" Cui Yang shook his hand, and almost dropped the teacup he just picked up on the table. He looked at Huo Jicheng's handsome face, as if he saw a devil. Huo Jicheng bowed respectfully and said: "Caomin will leave now. If you are not in a hurry, such as before your wife gives birth, it is better not to move." Hearing Huo Jicheng's faint threat, Cui Yang waved his hands weakly and said: "Leader Huo, please rest assured, I will not cheat, no matter what, I will not arrange traps to frame the leader." Huo Jicheng walked out of Cui's mansion, took a breath of cold air, and felt refreshed. He did take a big risk this time, but it was too attractive. The benefits of crossing the sea can't be taken. As for life, what is it? If you are alive, the Splendid Embroidery League will not perish. When you get the food, salaries and weapons you need, and get millions of dollars, then you can set up the banner of the prince of Shu, restore the country and establish a career. If one day, you can keep your son on the throne , I am a well-deserved king regent, and when the time comes, no one can match my glory. A gust of cold wind blew, and Huo Jicheng's hot mind calmed down. He thought to himself, I have to meet the people from Tianji Pavilion again.If they didn't succeed, the business would still be impossible. Turning around in the streets and alleys a few times, making sure that no one is following behind him, Huo Jicheng quietly entered a private house. The old owner saw him coming, and without making a sound, he led him into the bedroom and climbed up and down on a wall. After clapping a few times, the wall quietly moved away, Huo Jicheng waved his sleeves and walked in.Behind him, the wall closed silently. Under the dim light, Han Wuji sat on the chair leisurely, when he saw Huo Jicheng coming in, he stood up and cupped his hands and said, "President Huo, you are here, I don't know how the conversation went." Huo Jicheng smiled slightly, and said: "I still don't know, it depends on whether I can convince their master, Brother Han, how is the situation on your side?" Han Wuji smiled and said: "I have received a letter from Fei Ge, and they have agreed and promised long-term cooperation. They are in urgent need of these things now, and their treasury has almost been emptied by King Yong. In the future, we also hope that through us Yong got the gold and silver supplies. We still have the reputation of Tianji Pavilion, if we get through here, we can join hands to make a fortune." Huo Jicheng got a cup of tea, drank it down, and said: "Although our Jinxiu League has a lot of power in Dayong, but this time His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was furious, we will inevitably have difficulties every step of the way in the future, if we cannot bribe the Crown Prince, then the business will still be impossible But don't worry, we have personal relationships with many officials. Most of them belong to the prince's party. As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together and people are divided into groups. ." Han Wuji saluted and said: "Then please worry about it, the leader. Our power can't go deep into Dayong, so it's all up to the leader to worry about it, but Nanchu please rest assured." Huo Jicheng's eyes suddenly flashed a gleam, and he said: "We know the influence of Tianji Pavilion in Southern Chu, if the owner of the pavilion is willing, we can have further cooperation." Han Wuji smiled slightly, he knew that Marquis Lu was guarding the center of Shu and split the forces of the Splendid Embroidery League to pieces. The current target does not point to Dayong, so he can develop power under Dayong's connivance, but now that Prince De is dead, it seems that Huo Jicheng wants to develop towards Southern Chu again.Han Wuji said tactfully: "The leader's intentions, we understand, but now we are doing this business, if the leader is too aggressive, it will inevitably hurt the business, in fact, the leader does not need to worry, anyway, this business will only last for a few years, wait until then At that time, the leader has enough food and soldiers, so he can do whatever he wants." Huo Jicheng looked at Han Wuji, and said with a shocked expression: "Brother Han is really resourceful, I wonder if I can recommend the pavilion master for Huo, and discuss cooperation." Han Wuji proudly said: "Our pavilion master will entrust all this matter to Han, so the leader doesn't have to look far away." Then his face became mysterious, and he continued: "Besides, the pavilion master never sees outsiders, even Han only sees the pavilion. Lord once, I haven't seen the true face of the pavilion master, but the pavilion master has spies around any subordinates, the leader should be careful." Huo Jicheng looked a little hesitant, but after thinking about it, Tianji Pavilion is a mysterious organization, so it's no wonder that it is so, so he said gently: "Brother Han is also a survivor of the Shu Kingdom, and he should do his best for the great cause of restoring the country. Say a few more good words in front of the pavilion master." He started to win over, and immediately spoke softly and sincerely, Han Wuji shuddered, thinking that this person is really moody, he must be careful not to fall into the trap, he deliberately With a gloomy look on his face, he said after a long time: "Han is also from the Shu Kingdom, why doesn't he want to restore the country? It's just that the pavilion master doesn't like to intervene in state affairs, so he has very strict restrictions on us. If it wasn't for the huge profits, the pavilion master would not approve of this business of." Huo Jicheng thought that there should be no rush, and said: "The manager is kind, thank you Huo, I have to arrange the following things, so I will take my leave. After the matter is completed, I will discuss the details with Brother Han." Han Wuji got up quickly and said: "This matter is urgent, I will not keep the leader, Han will send the leader." Huo Jicheng said: "You don't have to send them off, so as not to attract people's attention." Han Wuji still respectfully sent them to the door of the room, but did not send them outside in order to deceive people. After he left, the old owner suddenly stood up straight and took off the mask from his face, revealing a handsome young face.Han Wuji smiled and said: "Biao Li, you have to remember that if a person is greedy, he will promote his own death, this Huo Jicheng is indeed cruel and merciless, if he wins people over, he is full of enthusiasm, if he doesn't know what he is doing, I am afraid he will be fooled, When acting as a human being, if you say what you say and what you mean, even if you can hide it from one person for a while, you will not be able to hide it for the rest of your life." The young man respectfully said: "Bob Li is taught." Han Wuji smiled and said: "The prosperity of the world is all for profit, and the hustle and bustle of the world is for profit. We really can't think of the young master's plan. Although we don't know what the young master's intention is, it will never be a good thing." At this moment, the prince's mansion was also having secret talks. Cui Yang went out to the prince's mansion as soon as Huo Jicheng left. He was the prince's brother-in-law and the prince's confidant, and he entered the prince's living place without any hindrance. Walking into the gorgeous hall, I saw the prince wearing casual clothes, watching the song and dance there, Cui Yang couldn't help but take a few more glances, after this look, Cui Yang couldn't turn his eyes away, it turned out that these dancers were all wearing lotus leaves The skirt, the upper body is covered with lotus petals to cover the breasts, revealing the skin light like snow, dancing gracefully, graceful and touching, the clothes are obviously revealing, but the music is not lewd, and the movements of those women are unabashed, and there is no obscenity. People seem to be at ease physically and mentally. Seeing that Cui Yang was fascinated, Li An scolded with a smile: "Cui Yang, what are you doing here, and what are you still standing there for?" With a wave of his hand, the dancers backed out.Only then did Cui Yang see that Lu Jingzhong was also sitting beside him, and there was a handsome guard standing beside the prince. Cui Yang settled down and said: "Your Highness, I have something confidential to report." The prince frowned, and before he could speak, the guard had already said, "Your Highness, I still have a piece of dance music. I want to discuss it with the musicians and dancers. Why don't you go first, and let Your Highness enjoy it when it's finished." The prince smiled and said: "You go, I'm waiting for your new song. Let your senior brother guard the outside, and no one is allowed to trespass." The guard retreated.Li An looked at Cui Yang and said, "What's the matter? Tell me."