Chapter 1017: Summer of the Second Year of Revitalization (Part 1)
In the second year of Wu Zhenxing, at the beginning of May, in Jin.
Outside the east gate of Washeng City, a new official road has been opened up.
The construction of this rare and spacious road in Shanxi began in September last year. It stretched eastwards along the hills and mountains outside the city for more than ten miles, and then stopped at a place called Liangjiahe, widening the original road.
Villages and new towns were built along mountains and rivers.
As if there was a grudge against the words "West" and "South", the town built under the supervision of the female prime minister was named "Dongcheng".
At the beginning of May, everything here seemed tense and busy. Cars, horses, and caravans were moving in and out of the city, transporting a large amount of supplies. They entered the city from the west. The defensive walls had not yet been built, but there were already watchtowers and inspection patrols.
The city is divided by simple roads, and construction sites are still in full swing. There are small residential areas with shacks, and seemingly chaotic markets, with small vendors pushing vehicles and carrying burdens.
, go to various construction sites to deliver meals or water...
Starting from the second half of last year, news about the Southwest Conference gradually swept the entire world.
The "No. 1 Martial Arts Competition in the World" that can enrich the stories told by storytellers is just a small detail in this information. The Chinese army's move to "completely open up" has affected almost all people in the south of the Yangtze River and the Central Plains, including scholars, farmers, and businessmen.
.A man who defeated the Jurchen forces by relying on the study of objects actually began to openly sell his achievements to the outside world. People with a keen sense of touch can detect that the impact of a huge wave is about to come.
Just like the Jin region, since September last year, news has been released one after another that the Southwest will sell iron smelting, cannon making, glaze, papermaking and other technologies here. The Southwest will send a team of envoys to teach the various technologies of the Jin region.
, and the rumors that Nüxiang wanted to build a new city to accommodate many businesses continued to ferment throughout the winter. By the time spring came, almost all the big businessmen in Jin were ready to move and gathered in Weisheng to try and find an opportunity to get a share of the pie.
.
In the past, Jin was far away from the southwest. The exquisite utensils, glass, perfume, books and even weapons from there were brought here, and their value has increased dozens of times. But once such a house is built in Jin
Everywhere, utensils made within a radius of hundreds or even thousands of miles will be transported from here, and no one will be jealous of the interests in the process.
So taking advantage of this wave of trends, before Dongcheng started construction, Lou Shuwan distributed many of the profits at a huge price. Except for the military industry, the rest of the people's livelihood including glass, perfume, weaving, books, cans, etc.
Even the luxury goods industry was generously divided among everyone. First, teachers from the Huaxia Army taught the first batch of masters from the Jin area and built the most important demonstration workshops. Then each family sent people to learn from it, and then spread their respective methods on a large scale.
business.
This is almost equivalent to the government coming forward to introduce technology to each household. The huge benefits mobilized everyone's enthusiasm. In the later stages of the road construction in the east of the city, almost all the wealthy families and businesses in Jin area participated. They organized themselves
Personnel and materials were mobilized, and power was continuously sent to the newly built towns. Such large-scale personnel mobilization and the enthusiasm shown in it even made many Jin officials stunned.
At the same time, Lou Shuwan's generosity also made most of the gentry and merchants in Jin form a "combined benefit". In the past few months, praise for the female prime minister spread throughout Jin.
It has been rising steadily, and the number of assassinations or criticisms caused by various reasons in the past has also been reduced by most.
After all, in private, rumors about an affair between the female Prime Minister of Jin and the devil of Southwest Ning have never stopped. And at this Southwest Conference, well-informed people also secretly compared the benefits obtained by various forces, at least
On the surface, the benefits gained by the Jin Dynasty are comparable to, or even greater than, those of Liu Guangshi, the most wealthy man. In the eyes of everyone, if the female prime minister had not had such a deep friendship with Southwest, what would the Jin Dynasty have achieved?
How can you take advantage of so much?
Rumors spread like this. As for the truth of the matter, it is often so intricate that even the parties concerned can’t explain it clearly. At last year’s Southwest Conference, the team led by An Xifu did achieve great results, and this huge result was not as good as
Liu Guangshi's mission paid a huge and solid price to come here. To be honest, they were a bit rogue under the guidance of the female prime minister. They basically helped Liu Chengzong and the Liangshan Huaxia Army twice in the past.
Love is regarded as an unlimited bargaining chip, and the lion wants this and that.
Ning Yi finally agreed to most of the requests with laughter and tears.
In his serious conversations with others, he revealed two serious reasons: the first is of course his affection for the Liangshan team, and he repays his kindness; the second is that he believes that among all the forces in the world, the Jin Dynasty
It was the force that represented the most energetic resistance of the Han people, so even if they didn't mention it, there were many things that Ning Yi originally planned to give to them.
Of course, this second reason is extremely personal, and has not been widely spread due to the need for confidentiality. In the context of the fact that the female relative of Jin Dynasty also smiled and ignored such rumors, later generations are mostly just gossips about this period of history.
The state of the news is not surprising.
Dongcheng was built with the efforts of each household. The first thing that took shape was the military camp, housing and demonstration factory area located on the east side of the city. This is not the territory of each household, but there is no one who first divided the labor to build this area.
No one can complain. At this moment in early May, two experimental blast furnaces have been built in the most important iron smelting plant area. In the past few days, they have been fired up. Black smoke columns are rising into the sky. Many people have come over.
The master blacksmiths who were studying have already been put into work.
To the northeast of the town, against the nearby hills, there is an area where a small stream flows. There are residential and study areas connected to the military camp. The first people living here are the envoys of more than 300 people from the southwest.
It included more than a hundred craftsmen, more than 20 teachers, and a reinforced company of Chinese escort troops. The leader of the envoy was named Xue Guangcheng.
In addition to the people from the Huaxia Army, a large number of craftsmen selected from the Jin region, as well as young scholars with flexible thinking have gathered here. Before the workshop starts, these craftsmen and scholars must undergo a round of tests including mathematics and physics.
, the teaching of geophysics knowledge including chemistry is to teach them the basic principles and hope that they can draw inferences from one example. At the same time, we also try to select some talents among these craftsmen who can become researchers, so as to make the cycle of geophysics,
Able to keep moving forward.
The Huaxia Army offered a very high price for this kind of basic teaching on physics, and even Liu Guangshi did not buy it. However, for the land of Jin, Ning Yi almost bought and sold it by force.
This also includes splitting shares in various technologies other than military industry, "sharing benefits" with Jin's wealthy families, and attracting them to jointly build a large number of supporting plans for new industrial zones. This is something that no one except the Fujian New Imperial Court can buy.
After seeing it, Lou Shuwan muttered disdainfully: "This guy wants to teach me how to do things?" But then he also felt that the ideas of both parties coincided with each other in many places. After modifications based on local conditions,
The words in his mouth turned into shaking his head and sighing like "These places are too simple" and "It's just child's play".
In the afternoon, crowds gathered in the study area to the north, and more than ten classrooms were filled with people. Curtains were hung on the windows outside the first classroom in the east, and guards were stationed outside. The female teacher in the classroom lit up
Candle, was conducting an experiment on small hole imaging during the lecture.
"...The first person to make this experiment was actually the sage Mozi. He described such a thing in the "Mo Jing", saying, 'When a scene arrives, it has an end at noon, and the scene is long. It is said that in
End.', which means... through these seemingly ordinary physics and optical experiments, we can draw some useful principles. In the end, it is because of these principles that we created telescopes for use on the battlefield, and even
In the future, we may be able to develop telescopes thousands of miles away or even ten thousand miles away... In the southwest, a large telescope that can be used to see the moon has actually been built..."
This female teacher is not beautiful, but her words are warm and clear, and she sounds exceptionally organized. And at this moment, the person sitting at the front below is wearing a long blue dress, and she looks majestic even sitting there.
The female photographer Lou Shuwan, accompanied by Shi Jin and An Xifu, watched the experiment with great interest, and even asked such questions as "What is on the moon, have you seen Chang'e?"
The female teacher then talked about novel words such as the earth is a ball and the moon is also a ball based on the "theory of round sky and square earth". A group of craftsmen and scholars were amazed. Lou Shuwan heard that there were no Chang'e and Rabbit on the moon.
Feeling somewhat frustrated, I then asked if the telescope in Southwest China was not good enough and could not see clearly enough. The female teacher had no choice but to nod and say yes.
"I guess so." Lou Shuwan said with a smile.
After roughly finishing the lecture, Lou Shuwan, Shi Jin, An Xifu and others left the classroom, followed by some young officials who had just attended the lecture. Lou Shuwan and An Xifu talked about Ning Yi.
"...I remember many years ago in Hangzhou, before the Shenggong's army attacked, Ning Yi and his wife Tan'er came to play. A little sister from an official family in the city stayed at home all day, feeling depressed.
Everyone was at a loss. Su Tan'er went to visit, and Ning Yi gave her an idea and asked her to send a box of silkworms. After a while, the little sister picked mulberry leaves and fed the silkworm babies every day, and her spirits improved...
"
She smiled coldly: "Those who are covered with robes are not silkworms. Later, Ning Yi manipulated people's hearts and made many achievements. Outsiders called him the inner demon, saying that he had a thorough understanding of people's hearts and minds. But now it seems that he is the master of all things in the world.
Reason is what he wants, not just the human heart."
She smiled relatively kindly in the classroom. When she left the classroom, she walked quickly and spoke quickly, without anger. The young officials around her listened to the stories of the past told by such a big shot.
No one dared to answer the conversation at that time. Everyone walked into a small building not far away and entered the room where guests and meetings were held. Lou Shuwancai waved her hand and asked everyone to sit down.
"This teacher Hu Meilan has clear ideas and quick reactions. Do you know what she likes?" Lou Shuwan asked An Xifu next to her.
An Xifu nodded and told the teacher about his usual hobbies, including what kind of food he likes to eat, what he likes to paint, and occasionally he paints. Lou Shuwan looked at the officials in the room.
People: "Can any of you guess her origin and background?"
"Must be from a well-educated family..."
"There must be great scholars in our father's generation..."
The officials expressed their thoughts one after another. Lou Shuwan raised her eyebrows at An Xifu. An Xifu looked at everyone: "This woman is from a farmer's family, but she has a good temperament and patience since she was a child. After the Chinese army arrived in the southwest, they took her into the school as a teacher.
, her only task is to teach students. She has never read poetry and books, and she is not good at painting, but she does a good job in teaching and teaching."
The room was quiet for a moment, and everyone looked at each other. Lou Shuwan smiled and tapped her fingers on the small table next to her, but then she stopped smiling.
"We used to think that people with such quick thinking must be well-educated. Just like reading the Four Books and Five Classics, they first memorize them by rote. When they reach middle age, they have seen a lot and thought a lot, and then they have learned every truth.
How to use it? To be able to teach students so flexibly, you may need to be a few years older. But in the southwest, Ning Rentu’s approach is completely different. He does not force people to read the Four Books and Five Classics. He teaches knowledge based on practicality.
This teacher Hu Meilan was born to teach. After teaching her method, it took a few years to teach dozens of teachers, and the dozens of teachers could turn into hundreds in a few years...
…”
"You are the second batch of officials who came over. You are still young and have good brains. Although some of you have read the books of sages for more than ten years, and some of them are just stupid, you can still change it. I am not saying that the old method is bad, but
There are new methods here, and it’s up to you to figure them out and learn them, so put aside the knowledge of the sages and sages in your hearts. While you’re here, humbly learn all the methods from the Southwest. This is a task given to you.
.Whoever learns well will be reused in the future."
Lou Shuwan looked around at everyone: "Besides this, there is another thing... You are all the best young people in our family. You are well-read in poetry and books, and you have ideas. Some of you can play and make friends. What about you?
They all have official status, which represents the face of our Jin region... The masters and teachers who came from the southwest this time are our distinguished guests. Since you are here, you should make more friends with them. People here sometimes have
Those who are negligent and unable to do so should pay more attention to what they want and find ways to satisfy them, so that they can eat well, live well, live well, and feel at home..."
"Ultimately, I hope they can stay in Jin. But be generous, be diligent, don't be dirty, and don't take your purpose too seriously. Making friends with people from the Huaxia Army will do a lot for you in the future.
The advantage is that they will stay here for a year or two. They are also outstanding people. The more you learn, the wider the road will be in the future. So don’t mess it up..."
"... Of course, we will not be stingy with rewards for those who can stay in Jin. They will have official positions, fame and fortune. I will ensure that they have food and clothing without worries for the rest of their lives. Even those who have family members in the southwest, I will personally fight with Ningren Tu
Negotiate and bring their family members safely so that they don’t have to worry about this. And you will be rewarded heavily for completing this matter. Mr. An will explain these things clearly to you in the future.
…”
Regarding the matter of wooing the envoys, there were actually rumors circulating before they came. The young officials looked at each other and nodded one after another. Lou Shuwan gave them a few more words before waving them to leave. These officials left the room.
, An Xifu said: "Xue Guangcheng has been very strict with these Chinese soldiers recently. I'm afraid it will be difficult to achieve anything for a while."
Lou Shuwan smiled and nodded: "It's still a long time, take your time, Xue Guangcheng is not simple. He directly kidnapped Liu Yu in Bianliang back then, and after sending Liu Yu away, he returned to Bianliang alone. Why did the little prince Wanyan Qingjue use it?
He was used as a bargaining chip in exchange for the lives of all the people in Bianliang, and he survived in the end. This kind of person is not as easy to deal with as Zhan Wu, but now that he is collaborating with Zhan Wu, he is even more arrogant. You should watch carefully here.
, the most fearful thing is that they act recklessly, which will make people annoying."
"Then why do you need to clarify these things with them now?"
"This matter needs to be done in a big way, and the news can be spread out first. It doesn't matter." Lou Shuwan said, "We just want to keep people here and promise them high-ranking officials and generous salaries, but we also have to tell them that even if they stay, they will not fight against the Chinese army.
I will negotiate with Ning Yi openly, so that they will have less worries."
"Ning Yi...will you agree?"
"Since he can send people here, he must be mentally prepared. He is a businessman and likes to do business. As long as these people nod their heads, I am sure that we can talk about it in the southwest. As for this side, you can use your brain more, beauty
The plan can be used. They have been here for a few years and have no one to take care of them. Is there a girl from a well-educated family? I can meet them. You and I are willing to do it. I won’t humiliate anyone... In addition, there is that Hu
Teacher, she has family in the southwest, but if she has to stay here alone for such a long time, she might be lonely..."
While Lou Shuwan was talking, An Xifu was still nodding, but when he mentioned Hu Meilan, he frowned slightly. After Lou Shuwan said this, he stopped, after a while, he shook his head and laughed: "Forget it,
This kind of thing is immoral and too stingy to do. It can be used for people without families, but for those with families, forget it and let nature take its course. You can arrange for a few well-educated women to make friends with her."
The breeze blew the curtains in the room, and the afternoon sunlight filtered in through the window. As Lou Shuwan talked about these things, a complicated look flashed in her eyes. In her mind, she thought of herself when she was in Hangzhou many years ago, and what she said now,
But only that sentence was too stingy. There was a slight sigh on the lips where the hair was touching...
The next moment, the complexity in her eyes dissipated, and her eyes became clear again: "By the way, Liu Guangshi is ready to move towards the Central Plains. He may send troops northward soon. In the end, he should take over Bianliang and all the territory south of the Yellow River.
This matter has become clear.”
"Last year in Chengdu, many people have already seen it." An Xifu said, "The first thing our side received was the envoy, and what he received there was the first batch of ordnance made in the southwest. Now the troops are strong and ready to fight.
Not surprisingly."
Lou Shuwan smiled: "He wants to go north, and Yin Zong, Zou Xu and others are starting to get anxious. After all, Zou Xu betrayed the Chinese army, and he didn't get any benefit from this southwest transaction. Ning Yi is also ruthless, in private
I told Liu Guangshi here that if I can defeat Zou Xu and hand him over to the Chinese Army, I can get 10% to 20% of the money I paid in the past. This is a big deal, and Liu Guangshi is gearing up."
An Xifu frowned slightly when he heard this: "Is there any reaction from Zou Xu?"
"You're smart." Lou Shuwan said, "He wants to cooperate with me and buy some things back for emergencies. He is willing to come to Jindi to talk to me about the details."
An Xifu looked at her and Lou Shuwan said: "I agreed."
"Zou Xu is a good person, isn't he afraid that we will sell him back to the southwest?"
"Why do you want to sell him? I don't know Ning Yi very well. It's about the revenge of killing my father." Lou Shuwan laughed, "And Ning Yi sells things to Liu Guangshi, and I can also sell things to Zou Xu, both of them
We fight in the Central Plains and we sell at both ends. The longer they fight, the better. It is impossible to let only Southwest take advantage. This business can be done. I want you to participate in the specific negotiations."
An Xifu nodded, and then looked at the school outside the house: "However, we are building here after all. If the Chinese Army protests..."
Lou Shuwan smiled casually.
"Then let Ning Yi write a letter from the southwest to scold me. Who is afraid of whom?"
******************
The afternoon light gradually faded, and the sunlight coming in from the window became more and more golden. Lou Shuwan arranged the next things piece by piece. An Xifu also left, and then she called Shi Jin in from outside.
, asked the other party to sit aside, and then made a cup of tea for the knight who had followed her for several years and protected her safety for several years.
"Mr. Shi, I see that you are worried recently. Did something happen?"
Shi Jin was by her side and had saved her life countless times over the years, so Lou Shuwan always respected this hero. Shi Jin frowned slightly, then looked at her and smiled.
"There is some news coming from the world, and I am really concerned about it these days."
"Can you tell me?"
"I have been looking for Brother Lin's child in the past few years. The Prime Minister knows it. There was a military disaster in Wozhou that year, and the whereabouts of the child are hard to find. Coupled with the situation in Jindi these years, many people can no longer be found.
Arrived. But recently I heard a news. The great monk Lin Zongwu was walking on the rivers and lakes recently. He was followed by a young monk named Ping An. He was eleven or twelve years old, but he was very skilled in martial arts. It happened that my elder brother Lin’s child was originally
My name is Mu Anping, and I happen to be about the same age..."
Lou Shuwan nodded: "Mr. Shi, do you think they might be the same person?"
"When I was looking for news about Wozhou, I heard someone say that during the time when Brother Lin had an accident, the great monk had a martial arts contest with a madman. The madman was a disciple taught by Master Zhou. The great monk had a fight.
, almost lost... If it was really Brother Lin whose family was ruined at that time, then maybe Lin Zongwu later found his child. I don’t know what his thoughts were, maybe he felt shameless and kidnapped the child and wanted revenge.
, but unfortunately Brother Lin was later summoned to death, so he took the child as his apprentice."
"It is indeed possible." Lou Shuwan said softly. She looked at Shi Jin and spent a moment: "Mr. Shi has protected me all these years, and Lou Shuwan will never be able to repay him in this life. Now it is related to the child of that great hero Lin. This is
It's such a big deal, I can't force him to stay. If he wants to go look for him, Shu Wan has no choice but to let him go. There's no need for him to hesitate on this matter. Now that the situation in Jin has calmed down, there are far fewer assassins after all. It's just that
I hope that my husband will come back after finding the child, and I will be able to give the child the best things here."
The evening sunlight came in from the window and crossed the room. Lou Shuwan smiled and talked about this matter openly. Shi Jin looked at her, and then he also laughed openly and shook his head: "Things here are more important.
I have asked someone to find the child, but when I think about it in the past few days, my heart is inevitably moved. I will stay here and will not leave."
Lou Shuwan stood there and turned her head to look at him. After a while, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She bent her knees, patted her chest, and narrowed her eyes with laughter, saying, "I was scared to death."
, I thought I might die just now... It’s great that Mr. Shi said he won’t leave.”
She rarely showed such a playful look in front of others, with a vague trace of a girl. After a while, they left the room, and she returned to her calm and majestic demeanor of a female Prime Minister of Jin Dynasty.
.
It was a busy day, and she still had many people to meet, including the difficult Chinese military envoy chief Xue Guangcheng. But at this time, Lou Shuwan, even when confronting Mr. Ning from the southwest, seemed
No one will be left behind.
Of course, they have not seen each other for a long time...