After a long time, Li Shantang finally recovered, but his face was still a little red. He looked at Wang Xuan and said in a dry voice: "Zai Zhi, this... this is too much. It's just a minister of the Ministry of War. It's estimated to be half a million."
enough."
"Hahaha, not enough, not enough." Wang Xuan smiled and comforted Li Shantang. The two came to the rest cabin. After the guests and hosts were seated, Wang Xuan continued: "You are the one with the highest position in our department in the court.
, you are not just a minister of the Ministry of War, there are many things to do, and it is inevitable to spend money to make friends with powerful people."
"Furthermore, when you take office, it costs a lot to make friends. Secondly, you have to keep your name clean and not let others get you wrong easily." Wang Xuan stretched out a finger and continued: "I know,
Your Excellency, you are honest and upright, and you must maintain this image. We cannot capsize in the gutter."
Even though Li Shantang had been in high and low officialdom for decades, he had just collected financial assets worth no less than two million and was immediately praised as honest and upright. He couldn't help but blush. He was still not thick-skinned enough.
"Don't worry Zai Zhi, I will definitely not covet such a small fortune." Li Shantang quickly assured that with such a large amount of wealth in his hand, he really looked down on those three melons and two dates.
"I feel relieved when Master Li says this. In addition, there are still a few things for you to take care of."
"Just tell me."
Wang Xuan shouted loudly, "Hongchen, come in."
There was a creaking sound from the cabin door, and a charming woman wearing an apricot-yellow dress walked in. She looked about nineteen years old, youthful and beautiful, but she also revealed a charming character from her bones.
A kind of charm that is not deliberately done but exudes naturally.
Zui Hongchen walked in and bowed lightly to Wang Xuan and Li Shantang, "I've met the Lord, I've met Mr. Li."
For more than three years, Zui Hongchen has been Wei Pengyun's equal wife and has never been seen in public. She just "plays" with Wei Pengyun at home every day. Wang Xuan has already told him not to suck him dry so early, but
, The military power of the Jiufu in Fujian was taken away a while ago, and Wei Pengyun was indeed of no use. Wang Xuan also had a new arrangement for Zui Hongchen, so he let her take action.
After Wei Pengyun died, Zui Hongchen naturally faked his death and escaped and returned to Wang Xuan's side.
Li Shantang took a 'severe' look at Zui Hongchen's face, and then he didn't dare to look again. After all, it was Wang Xuan who brought him, and he was not willing to cause trouble for himself, "Zai Zhi, is this...?"
"This is Hongchen, one of my subordinates. Of course, that was before. Now she is a relative of Mr. Li's family. Let's call her 'Li Hongchen'. I hope she can marry the prince and become his concubine."
"What?" Li Shantang was shocked. He actually wanted to send it to the prince. What was he doing? Was he planning it in front of the next emperor in advance?
"I believe this is not a big problem." Wang Xuan said with a smile.
Li Shantang looked solemn and thought for a moment, then continued: "It's just a concubine. The problem is not big. However, after thinking about it, I know that the prince is not favored. Although after the Guoben dispute three years ago, His Highness the prince reluctantly
To keep their positions, Prince Fu and Concubine Zheng have retreated, but this cannot change the emperor's attitude. He just doesn't like the prince, so I'm afraid things will have twists and turns."
What Li Shantang said was not wrong. Indeed, the prince was accidentally pregnant when Wanli was playing with the Queen of the First Palace. He was not favored since he was a child. Wang was even killed by Concubine Zheng. When he died, Wanli was
She was unwilling to be granted a royal burial, but was forced by Ye Xianggao and others to compromise and be granted the title of a noble concubine.
It can be said that the prince has no foundation at all in the court. He only has the title of the eldest son, so he can barely keep his position as prince.
However, after so many years, because of Wanli and Concubine Zheng, the entire palace had little respect for the prince. Many people, under the instruction of Concubine Zheng, repeatedly made trouble for the prince, hoping that the prince would make mistakes so as to take away his title of crown prince.
.
What's more, the prince's mother was killed by someone in the palace. It can be said that in the entire palace, there are almost no people who are close to the prince, and there are many enemies.
I don’t know how many people don’t like that the prince can finally ascend the throne. Emperor Wanli is still healthy now. If it comes to the end, some people may not take desperate risks. After all, if the prince ascends the throne, those who had enmity with the prince in the palace will definitely die without burial.
land.
As for whether the prince would graciously let them go... these people would not have such stupid ideas.
Not only that, Concubine Zheng is not a vegetarian. She has a group of people in the court, and her status in the palace is not that the queen is better than the queen. How could she be willing to watch the prince ascend the throne and then take revenge on her?
As for the prince himself, he has no strength and power, and all he has is a mere name.
This situation was somewhat dangerous, and Li Shantang had to remind Wang Xuan.
"It doesn't matter. Before the emperor dies, I will arrange some people to try to ensure the safety of the prince. As for after he ascends the throne, let's see, don't worry, the emperor can live for two years."
Wang Xuan said it in an understatement, but Li Shantang was shocked when he heard it. It was too bold to say that the emperor could live for two years.
"Okay, don't worry, it's just a nail driven into the palace." Wang Xuan's comfort was insincere, and Li Shantang could listen silently, "Okay, that's all. I've equipped you with the rest.
Some experts can at least ensure the safety of adults in the capital."
"Thank you very much. I will live up to your trust." Li Shantang stood up and saluted with clasped fists.
"Well, please take care of yourself, sir, and I will go back."
Li Shantang took Wang Xuan under the boat, then said goodbye, and the ship raised its sails and started sailing.
While on the vast sea, Zui Hongchen was still thinking about the mission Wang Xuan had given her before.
"When you arrive at the prince's house, you first have to win the other person's favor, and then you have to pay attention to two people. One is 'Zhu Youxiao', the prince's eldest son, born to the Wang family, and the other is 'Li Xuanshi', who is currently the most favored
people."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "'Zhu Youxiao's' biological mother 'Wang' was killed by Li Xuanshi. Now, Zhu Youxiao is taken care of by Li Xuanshi again, your task will be
I try my best to take care of 'Zhu Youxiao' and build a good relationship with him."
"Of course, it would be better if you can get pregnant with the prince's child. Then everything will be easy to discuss. I guarantee that your son will be an emperor in the future. If you don't get pregnant, then you can have a good relationship with Zhu Youxiao."
This task made Zui Hongchen a little troubled. She had never thought about who to give birth to her children before. She knew her status, so she didn't want to be a drag on her own children, but... if he was a prince and could be the emperor in the future, this would
It made her hesitate.
…
Outside Xincheng, the glass factory.
After Li Shantang left, Wang Xuan returned to his busy state. Early this morning, someone from the glass factory came to report that the production process for large pieces of glass was mature.
The technology of glass is not complicated. Wang Xuan has taught it long ago. However, the early products can only be regarded as colored glaze, which is not pure and transparent enough. The technology needs a little improvement, purity, smoothness, large glass plate production technology
All these must be overcome, and the last step is the mass production technology of the factory.
Glass is also a very important part of industrial products. It has high profits and a wide range of uses. Wang Xuan is quite concerned about it. He will come to take a look as soon as it can be produced.
He stretched out his hand and knocked, the sound was very clear and sweet. Wang Xuan nodded with satisfaction, "Yes, I finally got it. This thing is related to the country's people's livelihood and is very important. The windows made of paper are really not good. Let's go back and clean the ones in the house first."
The windows were all replaced.”
"Okay sir, I will arrange for the first batch to be made and delivered to your house as soon as possible."
Wang Xuan walked at the front of the crowd, looked around and suddenly said: "By the way, has the mirror been made?"
"Reporting to the Lord, there are some finished products that are much better than bronze mirrors and the like, but... I don't know if they can meet the requirements of the Lord." The director of the glass factory bowed and returned.
"Let's go and have a look."
The group of people came to another factory building. This was no longer a production workshop, but a testing area. Many people were busy doing experiments with pieces of glass.
This group of people walked in and immediately attracted everyone's attention. The person in charge quickly said loudly: "Mr. Wuzhou is here, why don't you hurry up and greet me."
The group of people quickly put down the various tools in their hands, knelt down one by one and shouted respectfully: "I have seen Mr. Wuzhou."
"Okay, everyone, please get up. I've told you so many times not to kneel down every now and then." Wang Xuan raised his brows and said, "Let me see how you are doing in the mirror."
A group of craftsmen stood up one after another, and a few of them quickly brought a few test items over to show Wang Xuan.
Sure enough, it is much better than a bronze mirror, but the clarity and smoothness are not up to standard, and the uneven thickness makes it look slightly deformed.
"If the silver plating technology on the back of the glass is not that high for a while, the plating on the other side is slightly thicker. Although it is a bit of a waste of silver, it can at least guarantee the quality of the mirror. As for more exquisite craftsmanship, we will slowly study it, but this is
After silver plating, don’t forget to apply a thick layer of paint to prevent the silver from being worn.”
Although if the coating is slightly thicker, the cost will double, but this kind of silver mirror is not sold to ordinary people. No matter how it is sold, it will cost more than 20 times. Naturally, Wang Xuan doesn't care much.
Putting down the mirror in his hand, Wang Xuan looked at these researchers and continued: "You researchers are all the pillars of the country and treasures. I have said before that as long as these glass and silver mirrors are developed into mature industrial manufacturing
Now, it’s time to fulfill my promise. Each of the two hosts will receive a thousand coins. The remainder will vary from 300 to 100 coins depending on the size of the contribution.”
As soon as Wang Xuan finished speaking, his whole body started to tremble with excitement, and some of the more emotional ones couldn't help crying.