After solving a worry, Zhang Cheng relaxed a lot. He said to Kou Ji: "Shall I tell you about our business?"
Kou Ji asked doubtfully: "Have you encountered any difficulties?"
Zhang Cheng nodded and shook his head.
Kou Ji was even more confused.
Zhang Cheng said: "According to your instructions, I bought a shop in the southeast and northwest of Bianjing City, and hung up the signboard of our Wanxiang Pawn Shop. Five shops opened at the same time, making a big splash in Bianjing City.
Fame.
With you and Brother Liu Heng protecting us, no one dares to cause trouble for us.
In just one month, our Wanxiang Pawn Shop has established a firm foothold.
Today, the five shops have an income of thousands of dollars every month.
Didn’t you say you want to build a big shopping mall?
I've been busy with this recently.
The place has been found and built.
But none of us know how to sell, so we haven’t opened the door to welcome customers yet.”
Kou Ji was stunned for a moment, then nodded slowly and said: "This business of buying and selling is easy to say and difficult to say. I will write you a charter later, and you can just follow it. When I am free in the future,
I’ll explain it to you again, and you’ll understand it as time goes by.”
Hearing this, Zhang Cheng nodded and said: "Then you have to do it as soon as possible..."
After a pause, Zhang Cheng continued: "The name of the shopping mall hasn't been decided yet."
Kou Ji smiled and said: "Let's call it Wanxiang Tower."
Zhang Cheng was stunned and said in astonishment: "It's also called Wanxiang?"
Kou Ji was too lazy to explain the issue of brand effect to Zhang Cheng. He talked too much and he might not understand.
Kou Ji smiled and said, "It's so useful! I'm too lazy to think of other names."
Zhang Cheng shook his head in confusion.
But he did not refute Kou Ji's words.
It was decided that the shopping mall would be named Wanxiang Building.
After all the big rocks in his heart fell, Zhang Cheng finally remembered to ask Kou Ji, "Why did you come here suddenly? Is it because of your father's debt?"
Kou Ji shook his head and smiled: "It's just hiding from people..."
After laughing, Kou Ji said again: "My father spent thousands of dollars in the pawn shop, how did you discuss it with Liu Heng?"
Zhang Cheng said frankly: "Brother Liu Heng said, your father will spend it as much as he wants. In the past, when he had no money, he might have cared about this matter. Now that he is making a lot of money with you, he doesn't care about the thousands of dollars."
Hearing this, Kou Ji laughed and said: "This is in line with Liu Heng's temperament...but I have to remember it clearly in the books. When I go back to divide the profits, I remember to set aside a part from my part to compensate Liu Heng brothers."
Zhang Cheng nodded slowly, "I understand..."
Kou Ji chatted with Zhang Cheng for a while, and taught Zhang Cheng the few business tips he had in mind.
The two chatted until late into the night, and after eating a table of food and wine, they went to bed separately.
Kou Ji has a bedroom in Wanxiang Pawn Shop.
It was specially left by Zhang Cheng for him. Although Kou Ji didn't come often, Zhang Cheng always had people clean it carefully.
Kou Ji doesn't need to prepare anything, just use it directly.
Kou Ji stayed at the Wanxiang Pawn Shop for two days.
On the third day.
Kou Zhun sent someone to tell him that Li Di had left the Kou Mansion, and then he said goodbye to Zhang Cheng, Erbao and others and returned to the Kou Mansion.
On the way back home.
Kou Ji discovered that the rumor he asked Zhao Yuanyan to spread has now become a hot topic.
From high-ranking officials to low-ranking peddlers, everyone gathered together to chat about this matter.
Obviously, Zhao Yuanyan worked hard in this regard, and it is unknown how much manpower and material resources he spent behind the scenes to make this rumor known throughout the city.
Nowadays, everyone in Bianjing City is speculating on who the Zhenggong in the rumors is.
Kou Ji even heard that someone secretly promised a bonus to find Zhenggong.
This made Kou Ji dumbfounded.
In comparison, the rumors Liu Heng was responsible for spreading seemed a bit pale.
Along the way, I only heard three or two people talking about the wonderful scenery they had seen in Fantai.
It is said that an expert from outside the country observed the stars at night on the day of Taibai Jingtian, and saw six stars hanging upside down. After secretly calculating, he was so frightened that he vomited three liters of blood, and then tried to change his fate against the will of heaven, but was bombarded by thunder from the sky.
Rumors spread like noses and eyes.
The people believed it when they heard it.
Each one of them seemed to know some big secret and secretly passed the rumor on to the next person.
Although the rumor of the six-star hanging upside down does not directly refer to the six movies, it won't be long before the rumor that the six-star upside-down is linked to the six movies will spread.
The rumors are fermenting as Kou Ji expected.
I believe the results will show up soon.
Kou Ji returned to the mansion in a happy mood. After greeting Kou Zhun, he returned to his Sijun Garden.
Kou Zhun did not pursue Kou Ji to find out what he was planning behind his back.
Not long after Kou Ji stayed in Sijun Garden, Kou Zhong hurriedly came to report that Fan Zhongyan had visited.
Kou Ji then went to the side hall of Kou Mansion to see it.
As soon as he entered the door, Fan Zhongyan took the initiative to greet him and said hurriedly: "Brother Kou, I have been promoted."
Kou Ji walked into the side hall, sat down, and asked the maid to serve tea, then smiled and said, "That's a good thing!"
Fan Zhongyan said with a bitter face: "It would be a good thing if you were promoted to another yamen. But if you are promoted to the Sixth Department... it will be difficult to make a difference in the future."
Kou Ji picked up the tea cup nonchalantly, took a sip, and said with a smile: "Do you think Liubu is a Qingshui Yamen?"
Fan Zhongyan said awkwardly: "No one in Bianjing knows this..."
Kou Ji put down his teacup, stared at him and smiled: "So, you came to me because you want to ask me if I arranged your transfer to the Sixth Department?"
Fan Zhongyan nodded awkwardly.
He is not an official fan, and he is not looking for Kou Ji to get an official position, but to get a good official position.
He just wants to go to those yamen where he can do things, even if his official position is not high.
He always thought that once he served as an official, he would do something for the people, otherwise he might as well not be an official.
Kou Ji looked at Fan Zhongyan's expression, nodded and said with a smile: "It was indeed arranged by me."
Fan Zhongyan looked at Kou Ji in astonishment, "Why?"
After a pause, he gritted his teeth and said, "Could it be that the judge punished the judge like this because he spoke before, bumped into the judge, and angered the judge?"
Kou Ji pointed at Fan Zhongyan and sighed: "You, you, you are just thinking nonsense. You haven't figured out the ways of officialdom yet, and you still need to practice."
Fan Zhongyan looked puzzled.
Kou Ji explained: "Things in the officialdom are changing rapidly. It is far from being as simple as it seems on the surface. Transferring you to the Sixth Department naturally has deep meaning. Although I can't tell you now why I transferred you to the Sixth Department. But I can
I guarantee you that if you go to the Sixth Department, you will definitely not be idle, let alone do nothing."
When Fan Zhongyan heard this, he hesitated and looked at Kou Ji.
Kou Ji knew that he still had doubts in his heart, and continued: "I also work in the Sixth Department... If the Sixth Department really is Qingshui Yamen and does nothing, will I go to the Sixth Department? Is it possible that I, the grandson of a prime minister, can't plan a useful thing in the court?
An official position with authority?"
Fan Zhongyan was stunned, thought about it, and felt that what Kou Ji said was reasonable.
Although he had not been in contact with Kou Ji for a long time, he could feel that Kou Ji was definitely not the kind of person who would just wait to die.
"Okay! I'll go to the Sixth Department..."
Fan Zhongyan believed Kou Ji's words and immediately expressed his stance.
Kou Ji nodded, "Go back and make preparations. Go and take office early, otherwise things will change if you wait too late."
Fan Zhongyan nodded, cupped his hands, and left Kou Mansion.
Kou Ji did not rush back to Sijun Garden, but instead went to Kou Zhun's bedroom.
Kou Zhun's condition has improved a lot recently. He has more energy, so he found a few books and started reading them.
Kou Ji entered Kou Zhun's bedroom, cupped his hands, came close to Kou Zhun, and glanced at the book in front of Kou Zhun.
"The Analects of Confucius?"
Kou Ji questions.
Kou Zhun nodded, handed the book to Kou Ji, and asked, "How much can you understand?"
Kou Ji awkwardly pushed the book back to Kou Zhun and said with a dry smile: "Less than a point..."
Kou Zhun glared at him and reprimanded: "Ignorant and ignorant..."
Kou Ji grinned and said: "There are only a few people in the imperial court who study knowledge intensively. The half that my grandson knows is enough to deal with them."
Kou Zhun raised his eyebrows and said angrily: "Is this the reason why you are ignorant and incompetent?"
The smile on Kou Ji's face froze.
Kou Zhun hummed and said: "But you are right, there are not many people in the imperial court who study knowledge intensively."
After a pause, Kou Zhun sighed and said: "Those who are truly knowledgeable are not willing to become officials in the court. They either hide in the mountains and forests to study hard, or they open an academy to educate their children.
Officials have issued edicts several times to recruit talented people into the court, but none of them have come out.
Occasionally, there are one or two people who come out of the army and serve as officials for one or two terms, but then they all resign.
I didn't understand their approach before. I always felt that they couldn't apply what they learned, and what they learned was in vain.
Now that I am free from the troubles of government affairs and calm down to study, I can understand their approach a little bit."
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows, "Why did they do that?"
Kou Zhun glanced at Kou Ji and said: "The sea of learning is vast. Only when you go deep into it can you understand what real knowledge is. When you see real knowledge, you will not want to be an official."
Kou Zhun's words were so confusing that Kou Ji only understood half of them.
But he did not delve further into this issue, but said with a look of astonishment: "Grandpa, you don't have the idea of resigning and going into seclusion, do you?"
Kou Zhun threw the book on the table casually, rolled his eyes and said: "This is Li Di's idea, not my idea. I originally studied to become an official, to serve the court, and to make the Song Dynasty rich and powerful.
Compared with learning and the entire Song Dynasty, I care more about the entire Song Dynasty.
If two people insist on talking about the same thing, I will definitely abandon knowledge."
Hearing this, Kou Ji smiled and said, "You are not pedantic..."
Kou Zhun said angrily: "Don't compare me with those country masters."
After finishing his words, Kou Zhun looked at Kou Ji and curled his lips and said, "Tell me what you want me to do."
Kou Ji was stunned and asked with a smile: "How did grandfather guess that his grandson wanted to see you for something?"
Kou Zhun snorted coldly and said: "On weekdays, if I hadn't summoned you, you would rarely show your face. Now that you suddenly come to see me, you must have something to trouble me."
Kou Ji grinned and said, "Grandpa, your guess is really accurate..."
Kou Zhun snorted and said: "Stop flattering me and talk about it when you have something to say."
Kou Ji said bluntly: "Is there any way for my grandfather to let Wang Zengqian be the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment?"
Kou Zhun was stunned for a moment, frowned and said, "Do you want Wang Zeng to go to the Ministry of Justice and serve as a bench?"
Kou Ji said with a smile: "The Ministry of Punishment may not be just sitting on the bench."
Kou Zhun raised his brows, stared at Kou Ji blankly, and asked, "Are you planning six movies?"
Kou Ji nodded without concealment.
Kou Zhun asked: "The Six Divisions are in name only. What do you plan to do with the Six Divisions?"
Kou Ji smiled and said, "Just find a way to make him famous and real."
Kou Zhun was silent when he heard this.
He thought for a long time, then suddenly looked at Kou Ji and asked, "Did you also spread the rumor about the six-star hanging upside down?"
Kou Ji nodded and admitted.
Kou Zhun frowned and said, "Are you trying to use Taibai Jingtian to help the Sixth Department seize power?"
Before Kou Ji could admit it, Kou Zhun shook his head and said, "But if you do this, won't Liu E get away with it? Won't the rumor you spread before about Zhou Huaizheng and Liu E fall to pieces?"
"
Kou Ji explained: "The fundamental purpose of these two rumors spread by my grandfather and grandson is to help the six tribes seize power."
Kou Zhun said suddenly: "Are you planning to use Zhou Huai's upcoming attack to intimidate Liu E and make Liu E lose his position, and then use the rumor of the six-star hanging upside down to let Liu E escape?
If Liu E wants to escape, the celestial phenomena of Taibai Jingtian will inevitably come true in Liubu."
Kou Ji nodded heavily.
Kou Zhun asked: "Then you plan to let the Sixth Department seize the power of that yamen? The third division, the third yamen?"
Kou Jidao: "Take the punishment department?"
Kou Zhun frowned and said: "Waitai? Although the outer stage controls all aspects of the court's political affairs, it is still too weak and far inferior to the three divisions and three yamen."
Kou Ji said with a smile: "It is true that the Ti Xing Division is weak, but once the Sixth Department takes over the power of the Ti Xing Division and opens the door to fight for power, they will definitely not be satisfied with the status quo, and will inevitably compete with the Third Division and the Three Yamen for power.
Most of the power Liu E controlled came from the Ti Xing Si, San Si and San Yamen.
Once the Six Ministries take power, the Punishment Department will inevitably collapse.
At the same time, it can also contain the three divisions and three yamen.
The power Liu E controls will be further weakened."
Kou Zhun slowly opened his mouth and was stunned on the spot.
He had never thought of such a plan.
His eyes were always fixed on Liu E and Ding Wei, always thinking of ways to bring down these two people.
But he never lowered his head to look, and never thought of using the people below to contain Liu E.
Seeing that Kou Zhun was stunned, Kou Ji continued: "There are many officials in the Six Ministries. Once they seize the power of the Punishment Division, they will definitely become a new force in the court.
And they were naturally on the opposite side of Liu E.
Naturally, it cannot be used by Liu E.
Officials from the six ministries have been in power for many years, and their relationships are intricate.
It would be difficult for Liu E to eradicate them in one fell swoop.
With them restraining Liu E, even if Liu E wanted to do something, she would be restrained.
As long as Liu E's hands and feet are tied, it will be much easier for us to deal with Liu E."
Kou Zhun said in disbelief: "Can it still be like this?"
Kou Ji smiled and nodded: "Yes! It can still be like this!"
"I have never thought of it this way..."
Kou Zhun's heart was filled with turmoil.
He is also a person in the officialdom. He only needs to make some inferences based on Kou Ji's words to deduce the feasibility of this method and the results that can be achieved if it succeeds.
"No wonder you prevented Li Di from leaving the capital. It turned out that you wanted Li Di to become the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs?"