Jiang Qing

When it comes to money, Meng Ye is very sensitive. It didn't take long for him to calculate the taxation and pricing of each family clearly, and showed the preliminary terms to Bai Bingchen and Mei Shao.

Bai Bingchen took it over and took a closer look. He felt that the Marquis of Zhenbei had a lot of foresight, and it would be most appropriate to hand over the business of the mutual market to Meng Ye, so he let him go and make a decision with the merchants.

Mei Shao came over, took Bai Bingchen's hand, looked at most of the paper, and sighed: "It's really a good material to settle accounts. If he wasn't the son of Zhenbeihou, I would have abducted him to my door."

"Of course you're willing to abduct him, and it doesn't matter how much he treated you before..." Bai Bingchen gave him a sideways glance, and was interrupted by Mei Shao's words in the middle of his teasing words.

"What's the matter, you still have to talk about this matter for the rest of your life, are you petty?" Mei Shao narrowed her eyes and secretly reached out and pinched the back of his neck, and continued: "But before leaving, it's better to ask him to do something for me. OK."

"It's easy to find a gentleman who can settle accounts, but there are fewer people who understand military affairs and can calculate accounts. Are you still thinking about the land in Pingdu?" Bai Bingchen thought for a while, and then he saw his thoughts clearly.

"Yanfang just understands me." If it weren't for the presence of so many people, Mei Shao really wanted to hug someone and kiss her, but now she can only do some small tricks secretly.

"Get your hands away." Bai Bingchen reached behind his back and knocked down the hand that was walking on his back, with a hint of warning in his eyes, "Why did you promise me when you went out?"

Mei Shao curled her lips and withdrew her hand.

"I'm not just thinking about the land in Pingdu. Those veterans of the garrison army don't usually fight, so it's cheaper to raise them in Pingdu for nothing. It's better to open some land in the suburbs and ask them to plant. It can also solve the problem." Some military food expenses, otherwise, what is the use of the annual tribute tax and food all day long, and it can be managed slowly. The war is just a momentary thing, and the food and grass will not be available at that time, and some headaches."

"That's right." Bai Bingchen pressed his forehead with a bit of a headache, and said: "The imperial court has a fixed amount of food and salaries every year, but that fixed amount is enough for the troops of some state capitals to feed the soldiers in the hands of the four major armies. That fixed number is just a drop in the bucket. But His Majesty has nothing to do. He has only been on the throne for three years, and it is the time when everything is waiting to be done. Besides, he can't be the master of the military power in the hands of the military. Over the years, my civil servants and generals have to manage it. There are many trivial things, and I don’t care about the non-urgent ones. Now, from what you said, it’s really time to start preparing.”

After a moment of silence, Mei Shao suddenly said, "You have worked hard these six years."

Bai Bingchen was in a daze for a moment, skipping the past six years in his mind, but he didn't have any specific impressions.

During the period of the first emperor, he assisted Zhao Zhen in the struggle with King Jing. After Zhao Zhen ascended the throne, he put all his efforts into the plan of Qingsu Fudi Pavilion. Six years passed quickly, because he never There was no pause, and no one asked him if he was having a hard time. Even Zhao Zhen's current emperor appearance was polished by him bit by bit.

No one thinks that he will be difficult, that he will find it difficult. His disciples respect him, Zhao Zhen respects him, and the people rely on him. He is the right minister of Li Guo, the cabinet minister of the Fudi Pavilion, and he is carrying the glory and holding power. Bai Bingchen.

But he wasn't born that way.

Bai Bingchen sighed softly, and replied, "It's okay."

He really didn't feel any hard work, if it wasn't for Mei Shao's distressed greeting, he wouldn't even look back on those six years, in his eyes, the crisis he had already passed, even if it was so great at that time The difficulties, now that they have passed, are not worth mentioning.

"I'm back, Yanfang." Mei Shao's hand rested on the back of his chair, and the fingertips were hanging on the side of his head where he could see. He used this posture to protect Bai Bingchen in his arm In the middle of the corner, I made a promise, "I'm back, you don't have to take care of everything yourself. I will personally watch the army garrison the fields, and after I practice it on the Pingdu garrison, I will merge the garrisons of the two states Also implement this method. There is still time, Yan Fang, don't suffer so hard, believe me, there is still time."

"Okay." Bai Bingchen felt a little sour in his heart, he could hear Mei Shao's firm voice, but he could also see his hands hanging aside were shaking slightly.

He was afraid, and Bai Bingchen knew that he was afraid that he would leave.

Bai Bingchen relaxed his whole body, leaned on the back of the chair, his head was leaning against his abdomen, and put the weight of his head on it with a gesture of absolute trust, "I will watch you, see you succeed, bye will be sealed as a marquis."

Mei Shao stopped talking, and just stood there silently letting Bai Bingchen lean on her. After Meng Ye signed all the things with the merchant, and hurriedly chased Helian Gouyue after finishing the work, He just greeted Bai Bingchen and Mei Shao hastily and left.

After staying in this sealed tea room for more than two hours, Bai Bingchen felt a little depressed, seeing that everything was over, he also stood up, and said to Mei Shao, "Let's go."

The light from outside suddenly flooded in front of Bai Bingchen's eyes. He squinted his eyes and adjusted for a while, only to realize that there were still people waiting at the door.

It is Li Xunshu, the second prince of Jiang State.There were no Jiang Guo's two envoys behind him, presumably they had deliberately dismissed them.

After seeing Bai Bingchen coming out, Li Xunshu came over and said, "I'm here to fetch the promised tea from Master Bai."

Bai Bingchen frowned, paused for a moment, and still responded in a gentle voice: "Second Prince, please come with me."

With Li Xunshu following them, Bai Bingchen and Mei Shao didn't say anything along the way, and just returned to Zhenbeihou's mansion in silence all the way.

Bai Bingchen welcomed him into the small hall, ordered Ning Kuan to get the tea, and sat down with him and chatted with him. When Ning Kuan brought the tea, Li Xunshu didn't reach out to take it, but just smiled and said: : "I don't know how to make tea, I wonder if I can drink the authentic bitter tea of ​​Li Guo here with the help of Lord Bai?"

Now Bai Bingchen was sure that he had something to say to him.

"The second prince has something to say, it's better to say it directly." Bai Bingchen didn't go around with him, and spoke bluntly.

"There are so many people with mixed eyes, what should I say?" Li Xunshu cast a playful glance at Mei Shao who was standing aside, pointing out something.

Or just talk to yourself.Bai Bingchen was really curious now, what did the prince want to say to him.

He winked at Mei Shao, and said politely: "Master Mei is also working hard today, why not go back to the room to rest first, I need to write a memorial to His Majesty, we will talk about it later."

"Ning Kuan, go and make some tea for the Second Prince."

Mei Shao hesitated and didn't want to leave, but seeing Bai Bingchen gave her a "reassuring" look, she reluctantly went out with Ning Kuan, and closed the door by the way.

"Can the second prince speak now?"

"It's still what I said, do you want to get a share of the business of the mine?"

Bai Bingchen pursed his lips, without any emotion, and pretended to be stupid: "We haven't discussed this matter before, it depends on the decision of the Majesty of the two countries."

"Actually, I want to do this business with Mr. Bai, and it has nothing to do with my father." Li Xunshu suppressed his smile and said seriously: "It's just a transaction between the two of us, and no third person will know. Mr. Bai wants Mine, every year after the Mid-Autumn Festival, there will be a team of escorts sent to the place designated by Master Bai, if Master Bai wants money, the annual profit will be directly deposited in the bank, and Master Bai can go to pick it up at any time."

"What does the second prince mean, I don't need to do anything, just sit at home and count the banknotes?" Bai Bingchen laughed jokingly, and there was a flash of coldness in the smile in his eyes, "Such a good thing , What does the second prince want from me?"

"News from one person." Li Xunshu pretended to be relaxed and said, "Isn't the Anxiang Pavilion in the hands of Master Bai the intelligence network of the Li Guochaotang? As long as Master Bai orders the people below to send me news about a person regularly, I am willing." How about sending a mine to your lord as a reward?"

Bai Bingchen raised his eyebrows, glanced sideways, and said with a light smile, "King Xie En?"

There is only one person in the entire Li country who can make Li Xunshu care about it, and spend a lot of money to watch it.

Li Xunshu stared at him for a long time, didn't say yes or no, looked at him sullenly for a while, and suddenly smiled: "I heard that Master Bai has eyes that can see through people's hearts, and he really deserves his reputation. Bai How do you like it?"

Bai Bingchen lowered his eyes, rubbing his fingertips, slowly twisting, pretending to be thinking.

Li Xunshu also held his breath, and didn't continue to say anything while the iron was hot. He knew that a person like Bai Bingchen was definitely not someone who could make sense with more words. There is no rush or force for such an instant thing.

After a long while, Bai Bingchen said: "I heard that the second prince went to Hanjue Pass before coming to Yanzhou. Could it be that he came to look for him because he had not reached an agreement with Zhenbeihou?"

His words had a hint of ridicule, and it was really not a serious interrogation, but Li Xunshu still felt an illusion of being interrogated.

"Where is it, the Marquis of Zhenbei is cool and unrestrained in Yanzhou, but he can't reach Pingdu." Li Xunshu continued: "A personal guard next to me is the son of General Yu, and he has worked hard on weekdays. This time he wants to see One look at my father, and I followed him to accompany him."

Bai Bingchen nodded slightly when he heard the words, and did not expose his lie.

He really didn't doubt that Li Xunshu would really go to Zhenbeihou, he just wanted to get some real purpose of his going to Han Jueguan.

"It seems that the second prince has a good relationship with General Yu." Bai Bingchen boasted without any trace.

Li Xunshu quickly caught his attention to Yu Liang, and took the initiative to say: "Master Bai is interested in General Yu? I can help."

When asked about Yu Liang, the second prince didn't have the slightest intention of defending him, and it seemed that the relationship was not very good.Bai Bingchen silently thought that since Yu Liang was not one of his people, the assassination of Mei Shao might have nothing to do with the fight for the crown prince of the Jiang Kingdom.

"It's just that Master Mei was injured a while ago." Bai Bingchen said casually, "I don't understand these martial arts moves, but I just heard from Zhenbei Hou that a person with the skill of Master Mei must be a master like General Yu to be injured. .”

"Really?" Li Xunshu was not stupid, a trace of astonishment flashed in his eyes, and then he turned a mocking smile, seemingly unintentionally said: "General Yu has a bad temper, and it is possible to do extreme things. "

"I'm used to being comfortable and timid, and I don't want to take this risk." Bai Bingchen had almost inquired, and slowly said some words of refusal, "Swords have no eyes, if they hurt Mrs. It might be on me. I'm not as used to beatings as Mrs. Mei, if I get a little bit injured and can't survive, wouldn't the gain outweigh the loss?"

Li Xunshu was stunned for a moment, and he managed to get over the meaning of his words, and said: "Master Bai is not giving me this chance? I, Li Xunshu, am not someone who crosses rivers and demolishes bridges, why should my lord be that frightened bird?"

"I really believe in the second prince, and I also believe that I agreed to this matter. The second prince will block some open and hidden arrows for me no matter what, but the cold arrow I am worried about is not from Jiang Guo, but from Pingdu." Bai Bingchen slightly He moved closer to Li Xun's letter, and his words were unmistakably sincere, "The second prince also knows that King Xie En was raised in Prince Cheng's mansion since he was a child, and has a close relationship with his sworn brother. If he sold him secretly, Prince Cheng will definitely ask me for an explanation. No matter how the relationship between the monarch and his ministers is, it can't compare to the blood connection of their Zhao family. When the time comes, the second prince thinks that His Majesty will help me or help his prince. uncle?"

After listening to his sincere explanation, Li Xunshu really believed most of it.

"I can't help it. As a courtier and the king's salary, I just want to find peace. As a courtier, the second prince should be able to understand my difficulties. If there is a suitable opportunity for cooperation in the future, it's not too late for us to talk."

Bai Bingchen's words were impeccable, watching his face slowly turn from embarrassment after being rejected to calm, he knew that the matter was over.

He didn't want to spend all this effort, but Li's domestic thieves were not cleared, and he really couldn't stand any external threats. Jiang Guo's heir was not determined, and Bai Bingchen didn't want to offend people for nothing.

Just as Li Xunshu was recovering, there were several knocks on the door.

After getting approval, Ning Kuan came in with the boiled tea, and put two cups of tea in front of Li Xunshu and Bai Bingchen.

"Please." Bai Bingchen smiled decently, and took a sip from the teacup.

The author says:

Bai Bingchen, the No. [-] talker in Li State