From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 529

Liu Jing enjoyed the dinner very much and drank a few more glasses, so his words were full of emotion.

He held Zhou Yuan's shoulders and sighed, "Duke Weiguo, you are a military general. It is your responsibility to defend your country and your family, and you have always done a good job."

"You are a man who will go down in history. Perhaps people in the future will compare you with Han Xin and Bai Qi. Your achievements are enough to make you proud for a lifetime."

"Leave the management of salt and officials to the civil servants, don't get yourself involved."

"I have been the Minister of Revenue for so many years. I know the situation in Jiangnan very well. Private salt and the Jin Dynasty have become one. If you want to completely eradicate it, haha, unless you change the dynasty."

Zhou Yuan quickly picked up the wine glass and stuffed it into Liu Jing's mouth, smiling, "Lord Liu has drunk too much, go home."

"Mingrui, send Lord Liu home."

He didn't dare to let the old man continue. Among all the civil and military officials in the court, Zhou Yuan was the only one who respected him.

Liu Jing was still yelling: "Don't go to Jiangnan, let others go. It doesn't matter if it's just treating the symptoms or it's a fight to the death."

"Duke Weiguo, Zhou Yuan, Dajin can lose a lot of civil servants, but you can't get into trouble!"

He turned around and grabbed Zhou Yuan's hand, his eyes red, and gritted his teeth and said: "With you here, at least there will be no war, and Dajin will not perish! The salt business will be dealt with one day! Be patient! Don't go!"

"July! July this year! Zhou Yuan! I have prepared a generous gift for you!"

Zhou Yuan looked at his excitement and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He said in a deep voice: "Lord Liu, I'm afraid no one in this world can stand up except me."

"Jiangnan is indeed difficult, but I... I must go!"

For Zhou Yuan, the trip to Jiangnan has too many meanings.

Without rectifying Jiangnan, there will be no money, no battleships and guns, no export trade and prosperous business, and no foreign cultural exchanges and liberation of thought.

There will be no new laws, no population explosion, and no civilization catching up and replacing.

Only by completing the foundation of a great country with vast land and abundant resources and a large population can there be the possibility of completing the rise of civilization.

Jiangnan is the foundation of everything.

He took a deep breath, looked at Liu Jing's back, and couldn't help but picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

Guan Lu walked over and whispered: "Sir, then I will set off tomorrow morning?"

Zhou Yuan said: "How is our coverage of Jiangnan?"

Guan Lu chuckled and said: "Thanks to the relationship of the brothel of the Wusheng Sect, our control over Jiangnan is extremely comprehensive, and there is almost no force that we cannot penetrate."

"It's just that there is a dilemma at the moment."

Zhou Yuan raised his head and asked in confusion: "What dilemma?"

Guan Lu said: "The world's largest gang, the Cao Gang."

"They have a lot of people, but because of interests, they are closely united internally. , it is extremely difficult to infiltrate.

"But if you want to investigate the smuggled salt, you can't get around the Cao Gang."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said slowly: "I will write to Chu Feifan and ask him to come and assist you."

"In addition, the situation in the northwest is mature, and Zhang Fei should also move, so let him come too."

"Send any intelligence in time, I may have to prepare a lot of things in advance."

"Also, don't just keep your eyes on the Cao Gang, I need intelligence from the Jiangxi Garrison Camp."

Guan Lu responded and left with a solemn face.

Zhou Yuan was just about to take a rest, but he didn't expect that after dark, there would be guests coming, and they were rare guests.

"Mr. Qiaoshan?"

Zhou Yuan was stunned, and hurriedly went to greet him, saying: "I am honored to meet you, Mr. Qiaoshan. Aren't you in Lin'an Prefecture? When did you come to the capital?"

Shen Qiaoshan stroked his beard and smiled faintly: "I came here naturally because my old friend invited me. There will be a poetry meeting in the Imperial Academy tomorrow. I will go and show my face."

Zhou Yuan nodded and said: "So that's the case. Mr. Qiaoshan, please come in and sit down."

"No."

Shen Qiaoshan waved his hand and said: "I am just passing by, and it's a good opportunity to let you know. You can come tomorrow too. This is a poetry meeting for candidates and scholars. They admire you very much and hope to see you."

"Me?"

Zhou Yuan frowned. To be honest, he didn't want to participate in such a poetry meeting. It was meaningless, and he didn't want to be a plagiarist anymore.

The situation in Jiangnan was so difficult, he still had a lot of things to prepare, and he also had to report to the Beijing Camp.

Shen Qiaoshan seemed to see through his thoughts and said in a deep voice: "You are right, Zhou Yuan, don't think that you are a Duke and you think those poetry meetings are boring."

"The vitality of young people is the future of Dajin. Your words and deeds affect many people."

Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly and said: "Mr. Qiaoshan, I am actually... I am very busy recently..."

Shen Qiaoshan glared and said: "Busy? You can ignore my face just because you are busy? Don't forget that I amYou are so sir!"

"You must come tomorrow! I have already promised others, and you want me to break my promise at such an old age?"

At this point, Zhou Yuan had nothing to say, and could only clasp his fists and say: "Mr. Qiaoshan, you are too kind. Zhou Yuan will definitely come tomorrow."

Shen Qiaoshan sighed and said slowly: "Zhou Yuan, achievements will make people arrogant. I only understood this truth two years ago. I hope you will understand it sooner."

Zhou Yuan could only smile and nod, and send the old man to the carriage.

Back to the mansion, he shook his head helplessly and said: "This group of boring literati, all they know is poetry meetings every day. I really don't know what the point of doing those things is."

When sleeping in bed, it was Zhao Jianjia who persuaded Zhou Yuan.

"Husband, don't forget that you have also participated in poetry meetings many times. ”

As the birth was approaching, she gained some weight, her face became rounder, and she exuded the maternal radiance of a mature woman.

“We have come this far step by step. Just go and show your support.”

Zhou Yuan certainly did not argue with Jianjia, and nodded quickly, “Yes, yes, listen to my wife, I will also go to find out how I felt at the time, maybe there are some good lines.”

Zhao Jianjia smiled and said, “I am not forcing you to go, but… these scholars and scholars will also be officials of the Jin Dynasty in the future, it will be good for you to get in touch with them more.”

“You were made a duke at a young age, and you have great power in the court. How many people are jealous? How many people hate you? It’s good to have students speak for you.”

Zhou Yuan was convinced this time, and nodded slightly, “Jianjia, you are right, I will go tomorrow, prepare well, and try to write one or two poems to encourage those scholars. "

Zhao Jianjia hugged his arm, leaned on him carefully, and whispered: "Also, don't forget Ziyuan, husband, you promised me that you would deal with family affairs first, and then deal with things outside, step by step, don't be anxious."

Zhou Yuan was reflecting. To be honest, his personality was like this. Whether in his previous life or this life, he would think about solving problems as soon as possible, otherwise he would feel uneasy.

But it is obvious that the situation in Jiangnan is too complicated, and it is not possible to find a breakthrough point in a short time. Being impatient will put oneself in a passive position.

He was a little surprised and looked at Jianjia's warm face.

It turned out that this girl was no longer the arrogant talented woman at the beginning. She had gradually formed her own wisdom about the world in many difficult storms, and even at some times, she could inspire people.

Zhou Yuan whispered: "Don't worry, Jianjia, we will not fall down. We have accumulated enough strength. "