"Master Cheng's life-saving grace will never be forgotten by me, Zhou Mowu and I! However, from now on, both of us will become common people, and I'm afraid we won't be able to repay Master Cheng's great kindness."
During the day, Zhou Mowu and Zheng Liang, who were rescued by Cheng Yijie in the official office, followed him back to his mansion.
At this time, it is best for the two of them not to show up in the capital to avoid unnecessary trouble. As for their families and property, there will naturally be loyal servants who will come forward to take care of and take care of them until everything is over.
After handling it, we left the capital together.
"You two adults are welcome. As long as you can survive, as for the official positions, they are just two small ministers. If you lose them, you will lose them. There is nothing to be sad about."
Zhou Mowu and Zheng Liang both smiled bitterly. Of course, in Cheng Yijie's eyes, the position of minister was nothing, but in their eyes, it was the result of their hard work for half a lifetime.
"There is no need for you two adults to have such frustrated expressions. Now I have an opportunity in my hand that can allow you two adults to make a comeback or even go further. It just depends on whether you two adults can seize the opportunity!
"
The two of them immediately became energetic after hearing Cheng Yijie's words, but there was still some unavoidable vigilance in their eyes. Although during the day, the minister, who was ranked among the top five in the court, had saved them, but for themselves and their family.
The lives of my wife, children, and children cannot allow them to be careless in the slightest.
"I wonder what opportunity Mr. Cheng is talking about? What do you want us to do?"
The two of them are now grasshoppers on a rope, and neither of them can jump alone, so when Zhou Mowu opened his mouth, he naturally took Zheng Liang with him.
"Don't worry, sirs. This matter is definitely not a bad thing for you, only good!"
Zhou Mowu and Zheng Liang looked at each other without speaking, but waited quietly for Cheng Yijie's next words. When Cheng Yijie saw that neither of them had the intention to speak, he continued.
"You two should know that the second prince Zhao Tianxiong will return to Beijing soon, but do you know the purpose of his return to Beijing?"
The two still looked at each other and did not speak.
"Seize the direct descendant!"
Cheng Yijie suddenly raised his tone, and Zhou Mowu and Zhou Mowu's eyes were both a little surprised and a little surprised. It was indeed a good ambition!
"Let me ask, what kind of contribution can be greater than helping the second prince to become the prince and finally sit on the throne of the emperor! My lords, the opportunity is right in front of you, aren't you ready to give it a try? Come on.
At that time, not to mention the small position of minister, even the position of the six ministers was up to you two to choose."
The two of them looked very excited, but they both suppressed their inner desires in time. After some eye contact, Zhou Mowu spoke.
"Master Cheng, I wonder what the two of us need to do in this matter?"
"It's very simple. Do you two still remember the number one pick who refused to accept the position of Huang Menlang three years ago?"
"Master Cheng was talking about Chu Mengqiao, who made the emperor applaud him for his supreme knowledge."
Zhou Mowu spoke with some uncertainty.
"Exactly! In fact, that man is my disciple. Now with my support, he has become the state pastor of Suzhou. You two only need to go to him with my letter to gain his trust and help.
, As for what you want to do? You just need to win over a group of scholars in Suzhou for the second prince! We will be useful in the future!"
When Cheng Yijie revealed the arrangements for them, both of them were a little unbelievable.
"Master Cheng really only needs us to do such simple things?"
"Easy? My lords, scholars are the most frivolous. I believe you are aware of this, so it is not an easy task for you two to gain the trust of Jiangnan scholars!"
The hesitation in the eyes of Zhou Mowu and Zheng Liang disappeared and turned into determination.
"Master Cheng, the two of us can do this.
Got it!"
Hearing that the two men finally agreed, Cheng Yijie laughed with satisfaction.
"In that case, the two adults and I are on the same road."
While he was talking, he took out two envelopes from the drawer and handed them to the two of them.
"In these two envelopes, except for a letter for you to hand over to my student, there are five million taels of silver in banknotes. After you go to Suzhou, don't worry about the money. Spend it where you should."
, the saying that money moves people’s hearts is always true!”
"Master Cheng, we have been officials for many years. We have some property at home and some savings. You don't have to give me this money..."
Cheng Yijie was extremely gentle at this time.
"Let you just take it. As long as I can succeed in my future great cause, who will care about this mere five million taels? At that time, even fifty million taels was a piece of cake."
"Then...Master Cheng, if that's the case, it would be disrespectful for the two of us to refuse."
The two of them received the envelope respectfully. Although Cheng Yijie meant that everyone was collaborating on the grand event, they still knew clearly the priorities. If they dared to show any signs of wanting to turn against the guests, they would be kicked out immediately.
Go out.
"Okay, okay, I don't want to be polite to you here. It's getting late. You two adults should go down and rest early! In a day or two, you can leave the capital with your family.
"
"Yes, Master Cheng."
Just after the two turned around and went out, a figure appeared in the shadows of the study.
"Master, these two people have neither talent nor martial arts, and their character and temperament make them perfect choices. Why were they chosen to be the chess pieces?"
Cheng Yijie ignored the figure behind him and opened a copy of "Twenty-Four Strategies" written by his predecessors.
"For your brain, martial arts training is more suitable for you. It will be difficult for you to engage in politics. Although these two people are villains who tend to be popular, villains have their own uses. As long as they are used properly, their role will be great."
No less than a scholar with a big breast."
Heiying Youzi said with some reluctance.
"But these two people seem to be rebellious at first glance, and there is no telling when they will sell us out."
Cheng Yijie didn't stop turning the pages of the book.
"The villain is indeed rebellious, but that is after we have already lost. As long as we can remain strong, not only will they not rebel, but they will be determined to keep those secrets for us."
"Can…"
Cheng Yijie waved his hand to interrupt the figure who was still talking.
"But what if we lose? These are just two chess pieces I randomly arranged. If you want to destroy them, just snap your fingers! You don't need to worry about these things. Only if you break through to the first level as soon as possible, our chances of winning will be greater!"
"
"yes!"
After saying that, the figure returned to the darkness and closely protected Cheng Yijie, who was reading quietly.
…
There is a small town called Jifu right at the junction of Bianzhou and Youzhou. It is said that about four hundred years ago, this small town did not exist here.
It was a businessman traveling between Bianzhou and Youzhou who discovered a secret.
Instead of working hard to deliver goods, it was more cost-effective to do reselling business here, so those businessmen who gathered based on profits moved their families here together, and gradually formed this small town.
Today, the richest family in the town, whose surname is Li, is the first group of businessmen to move to the town. According to a legend passed down by their family, their ancestors once produced a great general.
However, there is no way to verify which dynasty or dynasty the general was when the emperor was in office. However, this does not seem to affect the fact that the Li family, as a merchant family, has a set of military inheritance.
The eldest son of the Li family is called Li Li. Originally, the family wanted him to be a man of both political integrity and ability.
To be a well-prepared scholar, it would be best if he could obtain a meritorious degree, but this boy seemed not to be born with a talent for studying. When he first started studying, he angered three teachers who had spent a lot of money to hire him from his family in just one month.
Fortunately, although Li Li was not interested in poetry, poetry or anything like that, and he only spent two days fishing and three days drying nets when it came to military formations, he was finally able to persevere, which gave him the money he had earned all his life.
A consolation for money's father.
"Studying is hard, boring, and confusing! Escape today, escape tomorrow, escape day by day!"
At the entrance of Jifu Town, Li Li, who had sneaked away from his teacher again, wanted to hide outside the town. It was not time to go home after class yet. If he went back early, he would be kicked out by his hot-tempered father.
Jumped down.
There is a small forest outside Jifu Town. There is a messy grass nest in the middle of the small forest. This was paved with hay that Li Li found himself. Every time he skipped class, he would come here to sleep before going home.
This way his family won't find him skipping class.
Just when Li Li was about to fall asleep and his mind was wandering, a group of soldiers and horses appeared on the path next to the forest.
Except for the person at the front who is wearing white armor and a white horse, the rest of the people are all wearing black armor and black horses, giving people a sense of impact.
Li Li, who was not sleepy at first, stood up immediately, no longer feeling sleepy, and stared intently at the pair of cavalrymen passing by him.
When the pair of men and horses holding a Chu flag got closer and closer to Li Li, he took a step back uncontrollably and stepped on a dead branch.
"who!"
Years of battlefield experience made the black-armored cavalry very vigilant. They immediately saw Li Li standing behind the tree. Then, people and horses immediately came out and pulled Li Li out from behind the tree.
"May I have your name?"
The young general sitting on the white horse looked at the young man and asked without taking any action to teach this boy who suddenly appeared.
"My name is Li Li!"
"Li Li! It's a very nice name. You look like this, you just escaped from the private school."
A trace of panic flashed in the eyes of the young man named Li Li, and the general in white saw it.
"Don't be nervous. When I was your age, I skipped class every day."
This sentence seemed to bring the relationship between General Bai and Li Li closer, and the two of them smiled almost at the same time as they were like-minded people.
"What book are you reading? Can you let me read it?"
The general in white immediately saw the book Li Li was holding in his hand to use as a pillow, and Li Li generously handed the book to the general.
"Oh! It's still a military book!"
The general in white clothes casually flipped through the book. It was called "Essays on Thirty-three Battles in His Life". It looked like the content was written casually by a general while he was marching and fighting. Even the general in white clothes had never heard of the name of this book. I guess he had never heard of it. It is a treasure passed down from Li Li's family. Although the content in the book is messy, it still makes his eyes feel fresh.
"Where did you get this military book? I've never seen it before!"
He took the military book and asked Li Li, who was looking at the white horse in a daze.
"Ah! Oh... This is passed down from my family's ancestors. There was a great general in my family's ancestors."
Li Li looked proud, and then he secretly observed the reaction of the general in white. He felt even more proud when he saw that he nodded.
The general in white threw the book in his hand back to Li Li and spoke to him.
"Hey, Li Li! Study this military book carefully. When I come next time, I will make you a general and give you a good horse. How about that?"
Li Li laughed heartily. He recalled for no reason what the old fortune teller he met said: I didn't expect you were destined to be a general! Looking at the white-robed general's horse in front of him, Li Li showed his pure white face. front teeth.