In the pavilion, a briquette stove was burning a pot of boiling water. Eunuch Zhong Gui picked up a small jar, used bamboo clips to pick out some tea leaves, and put them into a purple teapot.
When the boiling water pours into the purple clay pot, the aroma of tea fills the air.
Zhong Gui carefully poured the tea into the porcelain cup, and then brought it to Li Chengdao and the Taoist priest.
"Taoist Master please."
Li Chengdao picked up a cup of tea and drank it, and the Taoist priest also picked up a cup of tea to taste it.
"It's slightly astringent in the mouth, but sweet in the throat. It's a refreshing and refreshing product. No wonder literati flock to it."
The Taoist priest sighed in admiration.
This Taoist priest has a great background and is Xuanjizi, the master of Cangxuan Mountain.
Cangxuan Mountain is the Taoist sect that Nanliang relies on. The previous leader was Cang Songzi. It was he who calculated the prophecy that shocked the world and brought destruction to the Long Family Army: When dragons rise in the wilderness, the world will be united.
After saying these words, Cang Songzi's body weakened rapidly and finally passed away.
The successor as head is Xuanjizi, Cang Songzi's eldest disciple.
When Cang Songzi was alive, he was at a distance from the Nanliang court, but Xuanjizi actively participated in the world and made suggestions for Li Chengdao.
"Long Chengen was born in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, an eunuch. In just one year, he became the Minister of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Household Affairs. It is said that this person was behind the last battle in Linjiang City."
"Long Chengen...Long Chengen...Long Chen!"
Li Chengdao murmured to himself, suddenly feeling that this Long Chengen was Long Chen.
"Taoist Priest, do you think Long Chengen is Long Chen?"
Xuanjizi poured another cup of tea by himself, shook his head and said, "Absolutely not. Pindao had already sent people to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty to inquire about it. This Long Cheng'en had a connection with Long Ye. He dug out the bones of the Long family and buried them, and even paid homage to them.
Pass."
"But he will definitely not be Long Chen."
Xuanjizi said it very firmly.
"Why is the Taoist so sure?"
Li Chengdao sent Zhong Gui to spy on Long Chen. He had always guessed that Long Chengen was Long Chen, but he was not sure.
"It's very simple. I heard that Long Chengen lived in Qiuxing Palace, right next to the fourth princess, Emperor Luo Xi. Long Chengen went in and out of the palace, often bathed with several princesses, and even served Emperor Shitian."
"The empress doesn't need a man, it's known to the whole world. If Long Cheng'en were Long Chen, wouldn't it bring trouble to the palace?"
"What's more, the empress has a big feud with the Long family. If Long Chen arrives in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, he will be shattered to pieces."
Xuanjizi drank tea, his tone was calm, and he looked aloof.
Li Chengdao frowned and said: "Long Chen has passed away and is a eunuch. It is normal for him to sneak into the harem."
Xuanjizi chuckled and said: "A wise minister is like a king. Long Chen is as fierce as fire. Would he be willing to be castrated and become a eunuch?"
"Or maybe, Long Chen was forced to be castrated and became a eunuch, and he will do things for Eastern Zhou Dynasty?"
Li Chengdao nodded and said: "Yes, Long Chen has the fiercest temper. He once contradicted me in the court. If he is castrated, he will definitely fight to the death with the empress."
"That's strange. He has connections with the Long family and is such a talented person. Why can't I figure out who he is?"
Xuan Jizi shook his head and said: "I also checked, and I can only find out that Long Chengen once served in the Long Family Army, that's all."
"I even suspect that this is fake. Long Chengen's identity is a mystery."
In the end, both of them denied Long Chen's identity. The reason was very simple. Long Chen would not accept becoming an eunuch. If Long Chen was not a eunuch, the empress would not put him in the harem.
"Your Majesty, Long Chengen is doing business with Tianxiahui and Longgang, and their attitudes are now biased towards the Eastern Zhou Dynasty."
Xuanjizi said slowly.
The Tianxiahui and the Dragon Gang have great influence and can influence the situation in the world, and everyone is fighting for it.
"This Long Cheng'en is a trouble. Last time I tried to capture him alive, but it seems it would be best if he died."
Li Chengdao poured another cup of tea and tasted it slowly.
"Shangguan Wei's new recruits are almost done training."
Xuanjizi put down the teacup and said.
Li Chengdao nodded and said: "Let him go by himself. Let him take back the city lost from his hands."
After Zhong Gui got the order, he immediately went to Shangguan's house to deliver it.
Not long after Zhong Gui left, a eunuch came in and bowed his head and reported: "To your Majesty, there is a Taoist priest who claims to be from Lihuo Island. He is holding the late emperor's token and is asking for an audience at the gate of the palace."
Li Chengdao frowned. He had never heard of any Taoist priest from Lihuo Island who still had the late emperor's token in his hand.
Xuanjizi's expression changed slightly, he stood up and saluted: "I'm sorry, I'll leave."
....
Daming Palace.
The empress sat on a phoenix chair, and there were hundreds of civil and military officials standing in the hall.
"Although it has not been long since Long Chengen took over the Ministry of Revenue, the deficit in the national treasury has been filled by 4 million taels. He has done a good job."
The empress held the account book of the Ministry of Accounts in her hand and spoke slowly.
The ministers below are all well-informed people. They heard about Long Chen and Tianxiahui, and the Long Gang was doing business, and the Ministry of Accounts made a lot of money.
Although they had some complaints about Long Chen's status as a eunuch, Long Chen did a really good job this time.
Originally, the world would threaten Eastern Zhou, saying that business would be bad this year, with the intention of weakening Eastern Zhou.
But later, Tianxiahui took the initiative to seek cooperation with Long Chen, and the imperial court took the initiative. This was the first time that the Eastern Zhou Dynasty took the initiative in cooperation. In the past, they always asked Tianxiahui for help.
It is remarkable that such a huge deficit of 4 million taels was filled so quickly by the Ministry of Household Affairs without increasing the taxes of the people.
"I don't dare to take credit for things that are within my scope."
Long Chen came out and paid his respects.
The empress smiled and said: "There is no need to be modest. The Ministry of Revenue has never had such a big income. This is all your credit."
Long Chen smiled. The other ministers had different expressions. Some felt that Long Chen had done a really good job, while more ministers were jealous.
At this time, Bai Qiulian, Minister of War, came out and said: "Your Majesty, I want to impeach Long Cheng'en."
The smile on the empress' face disappeared and she asked coldly: "Impeach Long Chengen? Why?"
Bai Qiulian said: "Weak ministers impeached Long Cheng'en to support the enemy."
To support the enemy is to collaborate with the enemy and betray the country, which is a serious crime. The ministers in the DPRK became commotion.
"Capitalizing the enemy? What did Long Chengen do?"
"I heard that he has something to do with the Long Family Army. It seems like he is really a spy."
"What? Is it related to the Long Family Army? How is that possible?"
"Stop arguing and listen to what Bai Shangshu has to say."
The empress looked cold and asked: "Become an enemy? How to be an enemy?"
Bai Qiulian said: "The tea invented by Long Chengen was sold to the barbarians, as well as the briquettes. Wei Chen heard that the tea cured the barbarians' hemorrhage, and the briquettes allowed them to keep warm. This is to help the enemy."
After listening to this, the empress and the ministers all felt a little baffled. Did they become enemies?
Long Chen smiled and said: "What Bai Shangshu said is really interesting. Things are sold all over the world. What does it have to do with me?"
"To take a step back, even if I invented this thing, tea can indeed relieve tiredness, and it is indeed beneficial for the barbarians to drink it, but let me ask you, can they live without drinking tea?"
"The problem with using briquettes is that if I don't give them briquettes, they can still burn cow dung and they won't freeze to death."
"Your reasons for impeachment are really far-fetched."
Bai Qiulian said angrily: "It's sophistry, the barbarians just get the benefits."
Di Luoxi frowned and stood up to defend: "Shang Shu Bai, even if I don't give it to them, they won't die."
"Things are not given for free. What you get in exchange is money. There is no question of supporting the enemy or not! You are worried that Long Chengen will occupy the position of the Ministry of Accounts!"
After Di Luoxi said this, the ministers in the court lowered their heads and smiled.
Everyone knows that Bai Qiulian wants to marry her daughter to Jing Heng, but Jing Heng also wants to marry Di Luoxi.
Long Chen occupied the position of Minister of Household Affairs, and Jing Heng's position was eliminated, so Bai Qiulian was anxious.
"My daughter hasn't even been married yet, and the mother-in-law is getting anxious."
A minister laughed in a low voice.
"Four Lords, that's not what I meant!"
Bai Qiulian was ashamed and angry, feeling that he had lost his face.
The empress said coldly: "Okay, let's not talk about this. Nanliang Shangguanwei's new soldiers have been trained and have stationed troops in Caishi City. They want to take back Linjiang City."
"We are facing a big battle with Nanliang right in front of us. Tell us, what do you think?"
