Chapter 0370 Cao Wei, who is not very good at intrigue
"Kou Ji, you are going too far!"
Gao Guangyi shouted angrily.
The other warriors also stared at Kou Ji with angry eyes.
If Kou Ji hadn't told him the value of the steel before, then they could just hold their noses and let Kou Ji kill him, get a batch of steel back, and build a suit of armor to wear.
But after Kou Ji told them the value of the steel, he dared to ask them for a higher price.
When are they?
Taken advantage of, or a fool?
"Then will you buy it or not?"
Kou Ji looked at the warriors with a smile and asked.
He turned a deaf ear to Gao Chugong's threatening tone.
With his current status, he can no longer be threatened by just a few angry words.
"snort……"
Gao Chugong glared angrily, snorted heavily, flicked his sleeves, and left Donghua Gate, sitting on a sedan chair.
The other warriors also left angrily.
Only Cao Wei and Li Zhaoliang were left, still staying where they were.
Cao Wei stared at Kou Ji and said with a complicated expression: "Looking for a place to sit?"
Cao Wei felt that he could no longer see through Kou Ji. In the past, he could still trace some of what Kou Ji was planning.
But now Kou Ji has no trace of what he is planning.
But his subconscious intuition told him that Kou Ji was planning something behind his back, and it was a big plan.
So he felt that he needed to have a good talk with Kou Ji.
Kou Ji didn't understand Cao Wei's thoughts, so he just thought Cao Wei was greedy for steel, so he smiled and said: "It's late at night...it's New Year's Eve...don't you need to go home to be with your family?"
Cao Wei said quietly: "I have been fighting on the battlefield for many years. I have missed New Year's Eve countless times, and I don't care if I miss it one more time."
Kou Ji was stunned and thought for a moment.
Judging from Cao Wei's attitude, he must have a long talk with him tonight, and the purpose may not be as simple as steel.
Cao Wei has some friendship with him. If he really wants to ask him for steel, there is no need to have a heart-to-heart talk with him on this special day, New Year's Eve.
What's more, his nephew Cao Yi is now wearing the same pants as Kou Ji.
How could Kou Ji use the steel matter to embarrass him?
"Tonight is New Year's Eve, but not many shops are open..."
Kou Ji didn't agree in a hurry and pushed back slightly.
Cao Wei smiled calmly and said: "As long as you agree, there is plenty of room to sit."
"Oh well……"
Anyway, Kou Zhun will not return home tonight, he will stay in the palace to help Zhao Zhen prepare for the ceremony to worship the sages of Jinling Palace tomorrow, the first day of the Lunar New Year.
There is no need for Kou Ji to return home in a hurry.
Seeing that Kou Ji had agreed, Cao Wei turned to Li Zhaoliang behind him and said, "Let me lend you Li Mansion a separate courtyard in the inner city?"
Li Zhaoliang nodded and said: "I will lead the way..."
The three of them got on the sedan and wandered to the courtyard of Li Mansion in the inner city.
The other courtyard of Li Mansion in the inner city was given by Taizong Zhao Guangyi when Li Zhaoliang's aunt, Queen Mingde, was promoted to queen.
When the late emperor Zhao Heng succeeded to the throne, he did not take it back.
The other courtyard of the Li Mansion in the inner city is not big, and is even smaller than the Kou Mansion.
But even so, it is still very precious.
It should be noted that most of the dignitaries' houses in Bianjing City have villas, but they are basically located in the outer city or outside the city.
Only a few princely palaces and two Li mansions have annexes in the inner city.
One of the Li Mansion is the Li Mansion where Empress Mingde was born, which is also the residence of Li Zhaoliang's family.
The other Li Mansion is the Li Mansion where Zhao Hengsheng’s mother, Queen Yuande, was born.
In another courtyard.
Pavilions, pavilions, rockeries and fish ponds are all there.
Although it is winter, the yard is still full of green.
There seems to be a special greenhouse in the yard for cultivating flowers, so that you can enjoy the colorful flowers in winter.
Li Zhaoliang led Kou Ji and Cao Wei into the other courtyard.
We arrived at a greenhouse.
After asking the servants to prepare wine and food, he asked them to leave the room.
After the three of them sat down.
Li Zhaoliang carried a silver wine pot and poured drinks for Kou Ji and Cao Wei.
Kou Jida thanked him and took a sip of the wine.
Cao Wei and Li Zhaoliang did not drink.
Cao Wei stared at Kou Ji and said in a deep voice: "Kou Ji, how should I treat you?"
Kou Ji was stunned when he heard this. When he saw Cao Wei and Li Zhaoliang staring at him solemnly, he slowly put down his wine glass.
I was wondering why the two of them looked so solemn, but they said with a smile: "Uncle Cao has always been kind to me."
Cao Wei stared at Kou Ji and continued to ask: "Then if I ask you a few truths, will you tell them?"
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows but was speechless.
Cao Wei saw the hesitation on Kou Ji's face and gave a wry smile. He and Li Zhaoliang looked at each other, and Li Zhaoliang also had a wry smile on his face.
Cao Wei sighed and said: "Hey... since the death of Taizu, the situation of our generals has gone from bad to worse. Others think that we enjoy all the glory and wealth, but only we ourselves know how difficult our situation is.
In the past we were suppressed by Taizu and Taizong.
After the civil servants climbed up, they worked with the late emperor to suppress us.
Nowadays, the civil servants have far more say in the court than we do.
If one day, the three yamen and the Privy Council are all controlled by civil servants, my general will definitely wither away."
Kou Ji listened thoughtfully to Cao Wei's words.
He had to admit that Cao Wei, the famous general, was not blown out of proportion.
The sense of smell is very keen.
We have already sniffed out the reason why the Civil Service Council was interfering with the Privy Council and the Three Yamen.
If others heard what he said, they would only think that he was worrying unfoundedly.
But Kou Ji was different. Kou Ji knew clearly that if he did not appear, the civil servants would definitely take over the Privy Council.
The power of the three yamen will also fall into the hands of civil servants.
Wu Xun and military generals will eventually become clinging to life and begging for mercy under the pressure of civil servants.
Kou Ji did not speak, and Cao Wei continued: "We also tried to integrate into the civil servants, but failed. Some generals who got close to the civil servants were eventually destroyed in the struggle of the civil servants.
If we show even the slightest hint of wanting to integrate into the civil servants, they will be strangled in the cradle by the civil servants without hesitation."
Li Zhaoliang said in a deep voice: "My son is a virtuous man, and his literary talents are not inferior to those of Jinshi. He is even higher than them. But after all, he cannot take the path of the imperial examination and embark on an official career. He can only use the shadow of his ancestors to make up for his official career."
Kou Ji slowly said: "You are already the top generals of our Song Dynasty, why do you still plan on the imperial examination?"
Cao Wei stared at Kou Ji and said in a deep voice: "We just want to leave a way out for ourselves to avoid one day when the court wants to deal with us generals, we will have no choice but to be slaughtered."
Li Zhaoliang stared at Kou Ji and said in a heavy voice: "Even if we are at the mercy of others, those descendants who have joined the ranks of civil servants can still be preserved.
You know very well what I experienced in Xixia.
Whether it is civil servants or the royal family, they will spare no effort to attack our generals.
It would be a big deal if one of the civil servants died.
But even if we die, the civil servants and the royal family will not feel any mercy.
Before, if you hadn't helped me, and if it hadn't been for the case I was carrying, I could have helped you move to Dingwei.
Your grandfather may not be willing to stand on my side and help me, and the same is true for the civil servants of the entire dynasty.
I might have to carry this stigma for the rest of my life."
Cao Wei sighed and said: "In terms of scheming and ruthlessness, we can never compare to those civil servants..."
After listening to what the two said, Kou Ji pondered slightly.
Although the martial artists were suppressed by the imperial court, they repeatedly retreated.
But Kou Ji didn't think that they were really as miserable as Cao Wei and Li Zhaoliang said.
At least the current Wu Xun is definitely not that miserable.
They are more or less related to the royal family.
You can still mobilize some troops and horses, so you may not have the power to fight back.
"You two have told me so much, what exactly do you want to ask me?"
Kou Ji asked thoughtfully.
Cao Wei and Li Zhaoliang looked at each other and nodded together.
Cao Wei said to Kou Ji: "Although you are also a civil servant, you are different from other civil servants. You are willing to get close to us and help us. More importantly, you have the ability to help us."
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows, "Do you want me to help you place more disciples among the civil servants?"
Cao Wei and Li Zhaoliang nodded together.
Kou Ji laughed and said, "Did you find the wrong person?"
Cao Wei said in a deep voice: "We have not found the wrong person. We firmly believe that you are the only one who can help us."
Kou Ji glanced at the two of them and remained silent.
A guy who is a hereditary duke and can be named king after his death; a guy who is named a founding prince by virtue of his meritorious service.
Two people with higher status and deeper family status than him came to him for help.
Are you kidding me?
Kou Ji secretly thought about how credible what the two said was true, and asked: "You want to ask me the truth because you want to know if I will help you?"
Cao Wei nodded, then shook his head, "Of course it's more than that... I have a vague guess that you are planning something recently, but I still can't figure it out. So I plan to have a frank talk with you.
Let's see if you are plotting against us.
If that is the case, we can let it go wherever we can.
The premise is that you must help us."
When Kou Ji heard this, he secretly rolled his eyes.
Cao Wei said this in a grand manner, but it was no different from not saying it at all.
Where can I give in?
What if after the incident, they feel like they can't let anything go?
"Uncle Cao, are you two kidding me? What kind of plan can I have? Even if I have a plan, how dare I plot it against you."
Kou Ji said with a faint smile.
Cao Wei frowned slightly and said in a deep voice: "The relationship between the two of us is not shallow, can't you tell me the truth?"
Kou Ji spread his hands and said with a smile: "I am telling the truth."
Cao Wei gritted his teeth and said, "What if we are separated from our respective mansions and you are the only one who follows the lead?"
Kou Ji's heart skipped a beat and he stared at Cao Wei and Li Zhaoliang in astonishment.
One is vaguely the helmsman of the Cao Mansion, and the other is vaguely the helmsman of the Li Mansion.
Will the two of them look down upon themselves?
Kou Ji wouldn't believe it even if he was beaten to death.
It was obviously a way to trick him and stimulate him.
Kou Ji curled his lips and said helplessly: "Uncle Cao, do you think I am a fool?"
Cao Wei looked a little embarrassed when he heard this.
He sighed: "I knew...I'm not suitable to scheming with you civil servants."
Kou Ji rolled his eyes.
The three of them fell into a kind of silence for a moment.
After a long time.
Cao Wei stared at Kou Ji and asked: "Boy, we have been friends for almost three years, can't you tell me everything?"
Kou Ji pretended to be deaf and said: "The kid didn't do anything..."
Cao Wei let out a long sigh, glared at Kou Ji, and said, "I'm not a fool either... Others only saw that the new material you threw out was strong, but I saw more.
If its value is really as cheap as you say, it can be easily produced.
Then the armaments of the Song Dynasty, and even the armaments of surrounding countries, would undergo huge changes because of its appearance.
And it is in your hands.
You can affect a lot of things through it.”
Although Cao Wei is not good at intrigues, he still has a clear view on armaments.
When Kou Ji said at the door of Donghua that the value of steel was far lower than that of iron, and only slightly higher than that of iron.
Cao Wei has already realized the importance of steel.
To put it bluntly, as long as Kou Ji starts selling steel, steel will become the main material for most armaments.
The emergence of steel will bring a huge impact to the Song Dynasty and surrounding countries.
Even if it can change the current situation between countries, it is uncertain.
If Kou Ji was just an ordinary person, the warriors present at that time would not hesitate to tear him to pieces and take the steel as their own.
All changes that will occur due to steel will also be controlled by the martial artists.
But Kou Ji is not an ordinary person.
So they can't take advantage of it.
After hearing what Cao Wei said, Kou Ji was stunned again and again. He did not expect that Cao Wei could infer the importance of steel just by relying on the few words he said.
It seems that when you speak in the future, you must be cautious and cautious.
No wonder Cao Wei just said that he was just following his lead. It turned out that he saw the importance of steel.
But if Cao Wei wants to follow his lead, he still doesn't believe it.
Cao Wei himself admitted just now that it was just a joke used for intrigue.
Kou Ji smiled and said to Cao Wei: "I don't have as many thoughts as Uncle Cao said. It is the authority only the officials have to influence the court and the surrounding countries.
I am loyal to the official family, how can I steal the imperial power?"
Seeing that Kou Ji still refused to say anything, Cao Wei could only say quietly: "Since you don't want to say it, let me ask the question and you answer it."
Kou Ji said with a smile: "I only say what I know...what I can say..."
Cao Wei nodded and said in a deep voice: "Previously, the Grand Master had taken action against the Xiang Army and laid off a large number of Xiang Army officers and soldiers. Now, they have been moved to Qufu, the east and west routes of Guangnan, as well as Dongping and Xiping.
Two ways.
They have now begun to take root in the local area.
The Xiang army has been disbanded in 7788 numbers.
The only ones left are the Xiang troops in the hinterland of the Central Plains.
Although the imperial court has not made it clear that it wants to abolish some of them.
However, the supervisors in the Xiang armies in various places have begun to inventory the number, vacancies, and combat strength of the Xiang armies in various places.
I believe that soon the imperial court will take action against the Xiang army in the hinterland of the Central Plains."