In the second year of Wu Zhenxing, at the beginning of May, Jindi.

Outside the east gate of Wasion City, a new official road was opened up very widely.

Construction began in September last year, and the road stretched for more than 10 miles east along the hills and mountains outside the city, and then stopped at a place called Liangjiahe, widening the original village and building a new town along the mountain and river.

As if it had a grudge against words such as "west" and "south", the town was named "Dongcheng" under the supervision of the prime minister herself.

At the beginning of May, everything here seemed tense and hectic. Carriages, horses, and caravans were carrying a large amount of supplies inside and outside the city, entering the city from the west side, and the walls of the arch guard had not yet been built, but there were already watchtowers and patrolling troops, and the city was divided by simple roads, and the construction sites were still in full swing. There are small residential areas with shacks, and there are seemingly chaotic markets, where small vendors push their carts and carry their burdens to the construction sites to deliver food and water......

Since the second half of last year, the news about the Southwest Conference has gradually swept the whole world.

The "World's No. 1 Martial Arts Competition", which can enrich the conversation among the storytellers, is just a small detail in this information. In the following time, the Huaxia Army's move of almost "opening up to the outside world" affected almost all the people in Jiangnan and the Central Plains, including Shinong Industry and Commerce. A person who defeated the Jurchen power by virtue of the study of things, and even began to sell his achievements open-mindedly, people with a keen sense of touch can perceive that the impact of a huge wave is coming.

Just like Jindi, since September last year, the news that the southwest will sell iron smelting, cannon making, glass, papermaking and other crafts to this side has been released one after another. The southwest will send a team of envoys to teach the various crafts of Jindi, and the rumors that the female prime minister wants to build a new city to accommodate many trades continue to ferment throughout the winter, and by the time spring comes, almost all the big merchants of Jindi are ready to move, gathering to Wasion to try to find a chance to get a piece of the pie.

In the past, the Jin land and the southwest were far away, and the exquisite utensils, glass, perfumes, books and even weapons and other things were passed here, and the value has increased dozens of times. And once such a place is built in Jindi, the artifacts that have been made within a radius of hundreds or even thousands of miles will be transported out from here, and no one in the middle of this interest is not blushing.

So taking advantage of this wave of trends, Dongcheng has not yet started, and Lou Shuwan has distributed many of its benefits at a sky-high price. Except for the military industry, the rest of the glass, perfume, weaving, books, canned food and other livelihood and even luxury goods are generously divided among everyone. First of all, the teachers of Huaxia Jun taught the first batch of masters of Jindi, built the most important demonstration workshops, and then each family went out to learn, and then spread out their own businesses on a large scale.

This is almost equivalent to the government coming forward to introduce technology for each household, and the huge benefits have mobilized the enthusiasm of everyone. They organized their own personnel, mobilized materials, and continuously sent strength to the newly built towns, and such a large-scale personnel transfer and the enthusiasm shown in them even made many Jindi officials stunned.

At the same time, Lou Shuwan's generosity also made the vast majority of the gentry and merchant forces in the Jin Dynasty form a "Heli", and the praise of the female appearance has risen steadily in the Jin Land in the past few months, and the assassinations or criticisms caused by various reasons in the past have also decreased by half.

After all, in private, the rumors that the Jindi woman had a private affair with the demon of Xinningning never stopped. And this time at the Southwest Conference, there were also well-informed people who secretly compared the benefits obtained by various forces, at least on the bright side, the benefits obtained by Jindi were comparable to those of Liu Guangshi, who was the most wealthy, and even surpassed. In the eyes of everyone, if it weren't for the fact that the female prime minister had such a deep friendship with the southwest, how could Jindi take so much advantage?

Rumors spread like this, and as for the truth of the matter, it is often so intertwined that even the parties concerned are a little unclear. At last year's Southwest Conference, the team led by An Xifu did achieve great results, and this huge result was not like Liu Guangshi's delegation to pay a huge and solid price.

Ning Yi finally agreed to most of the requests with a smile in his eyes.

In his serious conversation with others, there are two serious reasons revealed: one is to look at the affection for the Liangshan team and make an act of repaying the favor; The second is that among the various forces in the world, Jin Di is the most energetic force that represents the Han people's resistance, so even if they don't mention it, many things Ning Yi originally planned to give to the past.

Of course, this second reason is extremely personal and has not been widely disseminated due to the need for secrecy. In the context of the fact that the women of Jindi also laughed at such rumors and ignored them, it is not surprising that later generations have passed down this history to some lace news.

The first thing that took shape was the military barracks, residences, and demonstration factories on the east side of the city. This is not the territory of each family, but no one has complained about the division of labor and construction first. At this moment in early May, two experimental blast furnaces have been built in the most important ironworks area, and just in the last few days they have been lit and fired, and black plumes of smoke have risen into the sky, and many blacksmiths who have come to study have been put to work.

To the northeast of the town, there is an area with a small stream flowing through a nearby hill, and there are living and study areas connected to the military camp. At present, the first thing living here is the envoy group of more than 300 people from the southwest, which includes more than 100 craftsmen, more than 20 teachers, and a reinforced company of Huaxia Army escort troops. The head of the envoy was named Xue Guangcheng.

In addition to the people of the Huaxia Army, a large number of craftsmen selected from the Jin Land, as well as young scholars with flexible thinking, have gathered here. Before the start of the workshop, these craftsmen and scholars had to be taught a round of knowledge of Gewu, including mathematics, physics, and chemistry, in order to teach them the basic principles, hoping that they could draw inferences from each other, and at the same time, they also tried to screen out some talents among these craftsmen who could become researchers, so that the cycle of Gewuxue could continue to move forward.

The basic teaching of this kind of Gewuxue, Huaxia Jun's price was not low, and even Liu Guangshi didn't buy it, but for Jindi, Ning Yi almost bought and sold it.

This also includes the division of shares in various technologies other than the military industry, "common benefit" with the wealthy families of Jindi, and a large number of supporting plans to attract them to jointly build a new industrial zone, which is something that no one except the new imperial court in Fujian can buy in any case. Lou Shuwan muttered disdainfully after seeing it: "This guy wants to teach me how to do things?" But then I also felt that there were many overlapping ideas between the two sides, and after being modified according to local conditions, the words in my mouth became "these places are simple", "it's really child's play" and other shaking heads and sighs.

In the afternoon, the north study area was crowded with people, and more than a dozen classrooms were full. Curtains hung in the windows outside the first classroom in Dongshou, and guards were stationed outside. The female teacher in the classroom lit a candle and was conducting an experiment on the imaging of small holes during the lecture.

“…… The first to make this experiment was actually the first sage Mozi, who described such a thing in the "Book of Ink", saying, "Jing arrives, there is an end at noon, and Jing Chang." Say it on the end. ', which means...... Through these seemingly ordinary physical and optical experiments, we can draw some useful truths, and in the end, it is because of these principles that we have created a telescope for use on the battlefield, and even in the future, we may be able to go thousands of miles or even thousands of miles earlier...... In the southwest, a large clairvoyant mirror that can be used to see the moon has actually been made......"

The female teacher's appearance is not pretty, but her words are warm and clear, and she sounds very organized. And at this moment, sitting at the front of the bottom, it was Lou Shuwan, a woman in a cyan long skirt who looked awe-inspiring even if she sat there, accompanied by Shi Jin and An Xifu, she watched such an experiment with great interest, and even made a question like "What is there on the moon, do you see Chang'e".

The female teacher then talked about the novel words such as the earth is a ball and the moon is also a ball in combination with "the sky is round and the place is round", and a group of craftsmen and scholars were amazed to hear it. Lou Shuwan was a little frustrated after hearing that there was no Chang'e and rabbit on the moon, and then asked if the clairvoyant mirror in the southwest was not good enough to see clearly, and the female teacher had to nod and say yes.

"I think so." Lou Shuwan said with a smile.

After listening to this class roughly, Lou Shuwan, Shi Jin, An Xifu and others went out of the class, and some young officials who had just participated in the class also followed. Lou Shuwan and An Xifu talked about Ning Yi.

“…… I remember that many years ago in Hangzhou, when the Holy Prince's army had not yet been defeated, Ning Yi and his wife Tan'er came to play, and the little sister of an official family in the city was locked up at home all day, depressed, and everyone was helpless. Su Tan'er went to visit, Ning Yi gave her an idea, let her send a box of silkworms, and not long after, the little sister picked mulberry leaves every day and fed the silkworm babies, and the spirit came up......"

She sneered: "Those who are all over Luo Qi are not silkworm farmers. Later, Ning Yi manipulated people's hearts and made many achievements, outsiders called him a demon, saying that he penetrated people's hearts and reason, but now it seems that the reason of all things in heaven and earth is what he wants, not to mention people's hearts. ”

She smiled relatively kindly in the classroom, and when she left the classroom, her steps were fast, and the words in her mouth were fast, not angry but threatening. The young officials around listened to the stories of the past told by such big people, and no one dared to answer for a while, and everyone walked into a small building not far away, and entered the room for meeting guests and discussions, Lou Shuwan waved his hand and asked everyone to sit down.

"This teacher Hu Meilan has clear ideas and quick responses, what she usually likes. Did you know here? Lou Shuwan asked An Xifu next to her.

An Xifu nodded, and said the teacher's usual hobbies, including what kind of meals he likes to eat, likes to paint on weekdays, and occasionally paints himself. Lou Shuwan looked at the officials in the room: "Can any of you guess her background and background?" ”

"Must be born in a well-educated family......"

"Fathers must have great Confucian ......"

The officials said some ideas one after another, Lou Shuwan raised her eyebrows at An Xifu, and An Xifu looked at everyone: "This female farmer was born, but she has a good temperament and patience since she was a child, after the Huaxia Army arrived in the southwest, she was accepted into the school as a teacher, and her only task was to teach students. ”

The room was quiet for a moment, everyone looked at each other, Lou Shuwan smiled and tapped her fingers on the small table next to her a few times, but then restrained her smile.

"We used to think that such talented and agile people must be well-educated, just like reading the Four Books and the Five Classics, first by rote, until people reach middle age, see more, think more, and then learn how to use every truth, to be able to teach students so flexibly, maybe a little older. But in the southwest, that Ning Rentu's approach is completely different, he does not force people to read the Four Books and Five Classics, and teaches knowledge based on practicality, this teacher Hu Meilan is taught to teach, and she teaches her method, and she can teach dozens of teachers in a few years, and dozens of teachers can become hundreds of ...... in a few years."

"You are the second batch of officials who have come, you are still young, your brains are good, although some people have read the books of sages for more than ten years, and some of them are also very good, but you can also change them. I'm not saying how bad the old method is, but there are new methods here, and it depends on you to figure it out and learn it, so put aside the learning of the sages in your hearts first, and at this time, first learn all the methods in the southwest with an open mind, which is a task for you. Whoever learns well, I will reuse him in the future. ”

Lou Shuwan looked around at everyone: "In addition to this, there is another thing...... You are all the best young people in our family, full of poetry and books, have ideas, some people can play, make friends, and you all have official status, which represents the face of our Jindi...... The master and teacher who came from the southwest this time are our distinguished guests, and since you are here, you should make more friends with them. People here sometimes have negligence and can't do it, you have to pay more attention to what they want, find a way to satisfy them, let them eat well, live well, live well, and feel at home here......"

"In the end, I hope they can stay in Jindi. But be generous, you can be diligent, don't be dirty, don't take the purpose too seriously, make friends with the people of the Huaxia Army, there will be a lot of benefits for you in the future, they will stay here for a year or two, they are also outstanding people, the more you learn, the wider the road in the future. So don't mess it up......"

“…… Of course, for those who can stay in Jindi, we will not be stingy with rewards, official positions, fame and fortune have everything, I will ensure that they have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of their lives, and even if they have families in the southwest, I will personally negotiate with Ning Rentu and take their families over safely, so that they don't have to worry about this. And for you who have done this, there will also be a great reward, and these things will be explained to you clearly in the coming days......"

Regarding the matter of winning over the envoys, there were actually rumors before they came, a kind of young officials looked at each other, nodded one after another, Lou Shuwan said a few more words, and then waved them away. These officials left the room and said, "Xue Guangcheng has been taking these Chinese soldiers very seriously recently, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to achieve anything for a while. ”

Lou Shuwan smiled and nodded: "It's still a long time, take your time, Xue Guangcheng is not simple, he kidnapped Liu Yu directly in Bianliang back then, and after sending Liu Yu away, he returned to Bianliang alone, and used the little prince Wanyan Qingjue as a bargaining chip, in exchange for the lives of the people in Bianliang Mancheng, and finally survived." This kind of person is not easier to deal with than Zhan Wu, and now that he is in cahoots with Zhan Wu, he is even more arrogant. You are here, you have to watch the point, the most important thing is to avoid their reckless behavior, but it is annoying. ”

"Then why do you want to tell them all these things at this time?"

"This matter should be atmospheric, the news can be spread first, it doesn't matter." Lou Shuwan said, "We just want to keep people, and we want to be a high-ranking official, and we also have to tell them that even if they stay, they will not have a bad relationship with the Huaxia army." I will negotiate with Ning Yi openly, so that they will have a lot less worries. ”

"Ning Yi's side...... Will you say yes? ”

"Since he can send people over, he must be mentally prepared. He's a businessman, and he likes to do business, and as long as these people nod their heads, I'm sure the southwest side can talk. As for here, you can use your brains more, and the beauty plan can also be used, they have been here for a few years, and there is no one around to take care of them...... In addition, there is that Teacher Hu, she has a family in the southwest, but if she stays here alone for so long, she may be lonely and lonely......"

Lou Shuwan was talking, An Xifu was still nodding, but when she talked about Hu Meilan, she frowned slightly. Lou Shuwan said this, and then stopped, after a while, shook her head and smiled: "Forget it, this kind of thing is immoral to do, too stingy, for people who don't have a family, you can use it, forget it if you have a family, let it be, you can arrange a few well-informed women to make friends with her." ”

The breeze blew the curtains in the room, and the afternoon sunlight seeped in through the window, Lou Shuwan said these things, and a complicated look flashed in her eyes. She remembered herself in Hangzhou many years ago, but now all she can say is that sentence is too stingy. Slightly, there was a slight sigh on the lips of the hair-stroked lips......

The next moment, the complexity in her eyes dissipated, and her gaze became clear again: "By the way, Liu Guangshi is ready to move the Central Plains, and he may soon send troops to the north, and in the end he should take Bianliang and all the territory south of the Yellow River, this matter is already clear." ”

"Last year in Chengdu, many people already saw it." An Xifu said, "The first thing we received here was the envoy group, and the first batch of ordnance made in the southwest was received on his side. ”

Lou Shuwan smiled: "He wants to go north, Yin Zong and Zou Xu are starting to be anxious, after all, Zou Xu betrayed the Huaxia Army, and he didn't take advantage of this southwest business at all." Ning Yi was also ruthless, and privately stated to Liu Guangshi that if Zou Xu could be defeated and handed over to the Huaxia Army, the money paid in the past could be returned by one to two percent. This deal is not small, and Liu Guangshi is gearing up. ”

When An Xifu heard this, he frowned slightly: "Zou Xu's reaction?" ”

"You're smart." Lou Shuwan said, "He wants to cooperate with me, buy some things and go back for emergencies, and he is willing to come to Jindi to talk to me in person." ”

An Xifu looked at her, and Lou Shuwan said, "I agreed." ”

"Zou Xu is a character, he is not afraid that we will sell him back to the southwest?"

"Why do you want to sell him, I don't know Ning Yi very well. The revenge of killing my father. Lou Shuwan laughed, "And Ning Yi sells things to Liu Guangshi, I can also sell things to Zou Xu, the two of them fight in the Central Plains, we sell at both ends, and the longer they fight, the better." It is impossible to let the southwest take advantage of this kind of advantage. This business can be done, and I want you to participate in the specific negotiations. ”

An Xifu nodded, and then looked at the school outside the house: "However, now that we are building this side after all, if the Huaxia Army protests......"

Lou Shuwan smiled.

"Then let Ning Yi write a letter from the southwest to scold me. Who's afraid of whom? ”

**************

In the afternoon, the sun is slanting, and the sunlight coming in through the window is becoming more and more golden. Lou Shuwan arranged the next things one by one, and An Xifu also left, so she called Shi Jin in from outside, asked the other party to sit down on the side, and then made a cup of tea for this knight who had followed her for several years and protected her safety for several years.

"Mr. Shi, I have been thinking about you recently, has something happened?"

Shi Jin is by her side, and I don't know how many times she has saved her life over the years, so Lou Shuwan has always respected this hero. Shi Jin frowned slightly, then looked at her and smiled.

"There is some news in the rivers and lakes, and I am really a little concerned about it these days."

"Can you tell me?"

"I have been looking for Brother Lin's children for the past few years, Lou Xiang knows, when Vaud suffered a military disaster, the whereabouts of the children are difficult to find, coupled with the situation in Jindi over the years, many people can no longer find it. But recently I heard a news that the great monk Lin Zongwu was walking on the rivers and lakes recently, followed by a little monk named Ping'an, who was eleven or twelve years old, but strong in martial arts. It just so happens that my eldest brother Lin's child was originally named Mu Anping, and he happens to be quite ...... age."

Lou Shuwan nodded: "Mr. Shi thinks they may be alone?" ”

"When I inquired about the news of Vaud, I heard people say that during the time when Brother Lin had an accident, the great monk competed with a madman, and the madman was a disciple taught by Grandmaster Zhou...... If it was really Brother Lin, whose family was ruined at that time, it might be Lin Zongwu who later found his child. I don't know what he has in mind, maybe he felt shameless, kidnapped the child and wanted revenge, but unfortunately Brother Lin was summoned to death, so he took the child as an apprentice. ”

"It's a possibility." Lou Shuwan said softly, she looked at Shi Jin, and passed for a while: "Mr. Shi has taken care of me all these years, Lou Shuwan is difficult to repay in this life, and now it is related to that Lin Daxia's child, this is a big deal, I can't force Mr. to stay." If Mr. wants to look for it, Shu Wan has to let people go, and Mr. doesn't have to hesitate in this matter, now that the situation in Jindi has calmed down, there are many fewer assassins who want to do it. I only hope that the gentleman will come back after finding the child, and this side will definitely give the best thing to the child. ”

The evening sunlight shone in through the window and swept across the room, Lou Shuwan smiled and talked about it, brightly. Shi Jin looked at her, and then laughed and shook his head: "The matter here is even more important, I have asked someone to find the child, but when I think of this in the past few days, I will inevitably be moved." I'll stay here and won't leave. ”

Lou Shuwan stood there and looked at him, and after a long while, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, she bent her knees, patted her chest, her eyes narrowed with a smile, and said, "I'm scared to death, I thought I might die just now...... It's great that Mr. Shi said he wouldn't leave. ”

She rarely shows such a playful, vaguely girlish look in front of others. After a while, they went out of the room, and she regained her demeanor as a woman who was not angry but imposing.

It's been a busy day, and she has a lot of people to meet next, including the difficult head of the Huaxia military mission, Xue Guangcheng. But at this time, Lou Shuwan, even if she confronted Mr. Ning in the southwest, it seemed that she would not be at a disadvantage.

Of course, they haven't seen each other for a long, long time......

What happens when you say goodbye?

She thinks about it sometimes.

Maybe...... You're getting old, aren't you......

But she is still looking forward to it......