Just when the eldest prince and his staff were discussing this matter, Chi Fei was called to the Zhenguo Mansion by Ning Zhiyuan and told him the results of the investigation of the matter in detail.

"Fortunately, you found it in time, and the black incense really began to flood along the coast, and it has spread to many counties.

Those squires and celebrities called Wuxiang an elegant thing from overseas, and they often got together to smoke it, so Wuxiang was also called fairy ointment by them.

Because this thing is extremely popular in the local upper class, it has gradually spread to some well-off families and even ordinary people, and the spread speed is extremely fast.

When Yao Jingtang went to investigate, those foreigners had already begun to sell these squires and celebrities at a limited price, and they were sold for about ten taels of silver per catty.

Seeing the business opportunity, many second-class dealers have bought a large number of goods from foreigners, and then traveled further away to lure others to smoke them, and then sold them at a high price after they became addicted. With the addition of these people, the black incense will spread so quickly. ”

"Then has Lord Yao started to act now?"

"In fact, Yao Shangshu has already prepared for arrest, just waiting for the emperor to speak.

Now that the emperor has agreed to investigate the case thoroughly, and appointed Yao Jingtang as a temporary messenger to handle the matter.

It is estimated that it will not be long before Yao Jingtang will start arresting people on a large scale, especially those hateful foreigners. ”

Hearing this, Chi Fei didn't seem too happy, but showed a solemn expression.

"What, you think there's a problem?" Ning Zhiyuan saw that his expression was different, so he asked.

"If a large number of foreigners are arrested, I am afraid that it will cause a collective protest by foreigners. Also, I am even more worried that this will be overkill and directly order a sea ban. ”

Chi Fei's worries are justified, in his world, the Ming and Qing dynasties were the most serious sea ban, and it reached its peak in the Qianlong period, and China went through a long period of seclusion.

Due to its seclusion, China cut off contact with the outside world, could not absorb advanced technology from abroad, and even missed the first industrial revolution, which made China seriously lag behind the European powers at that time, and laid a hidden danger for the fiasco of the Opium War.

It can be said that China's tragic national fortunes in modern times began with the measure of closing the country to the outside world.

Chi Fei didn't want to make the emperor of Great Wei directly order a sea ban because of this incident.

If this is the case, the consequences may be more serious than the entry of opium into the Great Wei. Of course, it may be many years before the consequences become apparent.

Ning Zhiyuan said very optimistically: "We are the most experienced in dealing with foreigners, as long as they are coaxed and frightened, they will naturally be obedient."

As for the sea ban, it is possible.

The emperor once mentioned that now there are more and more foreigners in Great Wei, and it is difficult to govern, if it cannot be controlled, it can only be ordered to ban the sea. ”

Chi Fei Zhengrong said, "Father-in-law, if you can, please dissuade the emperor from the sea ban."

Once the sea is banned, our Great Wei will be cut off from the outside world, and we won't even know what's going on outside, which is not a good thing. ”

"As a military general, I am not suitable for political affairs, and this can only be done by civilian officials.

But don't worry, now that the shipping business is lucrative, the emperor should not be easy to ban the sea. ”

"I hope so."

"By the way, didn't you wonder why I asked you to publish Wuxiang's experimental pictures in the literary newspaper so early? Have you figured it out now? ”

"I went back and thought about it, and I felt that there was only one possibility, that is, the emperor knew about this matter earlier, so father-in-law, you are not afraid of reporting this matter in advance."

Ning Zhiyuan smiled, "It's really smart, you can guess it as soon as you guess."

To tell you the truth, after I told Yao Shangshu about this, the two of us immediately went to the emperor together to report the matter, but we didn't say that you were the first person to find out.

Lao Yao also told the emperor that he wanted to send his third brother Yao Jingtang to investigate the matter and ask the emperor for approval.

The emperor not only approved the matter, but also appointed Yao Jingtang as a secret messenger, and gave him the sword of Shang Fang, giving him the right to cut first and then play.

The appointment of Yao Jingtang in the court a few days ago was just a play performed by the emperor with Lao Yao. Speaking of this, he suddenly dipped his fingers in some tea and wrote the word "li" on the table.

When Chi Fei looked at it, he immediately understood.

Obviously, the emperor wanted to take this opportunity to promote Yao Jingtang to the position of the secretary of the Ministry of Rites.

No wonder the successor has not been decided for a long time, it turns out that the emperor has already made a decision in his heart.

It seems that the speculation of the outside world is still somewhat reasonable.

The emperor really didn't want to give up the position of the secretary of the Ministry of Rites to the great prince's faction, lest his power be too great.

Ning Zhiyuan looked at his expression and knew that he had figured it out, and he couldn't help but show a satisfied smile on his face.

This son-in-law is really smart, he can understand a little bit, and it is easy to talk to smart people.

Ning Zhiyuan said with great interest: "The three words royalist are not taken casually. If you can't put your heart in touch with Jinshang, how can you get Jinshang's trust?

Ah Zhen, you are already your own person, and I am not afraid to tell you many things.

The fact that my Ning family has been able to go through several dynasties and continue to be in favor lies in adhering to the three iron laws of 'delegating power', 'indisputable' and 'consolidating the army'.

The first iron law is decentralization, and the so-called decentralization refers to military power.

At the beginning of the establishment of the Great Wei Dynasty, Emperor Taizu was the first to take the initiative to offer the military power, so he won the trust of Emperor Taizu and was awarded the title of Duke of the country.

As for the families who held on to the military power during the same period, basically nothing good came to an end. Either exiled or beheaded.

For any emperor, military power is an extremely sensitive thing, and it is not allowed to be coveted by others.

Unless there is a rebellion, the thing of military power is actually a hot potato for any general.

If you don't let go, it will become a life-urging charm.

The ancestors had a clear precept that the Ning family must not be greedy for military power, and let it go.

Therefore, my Ning family can be said to value military power the most, and it is also the family that cares about military power the most.

This principle is actually like borrowing money, if I lend you money, after the expiration of the year, you not only return the amount, but also do not wait for me to open the mouth to take the initiative to repay the money, then I will think that you are a trustworthy person, and the next time I borrow money from you, I don't have to worry about you not repaying.

And those who cling to the power of the army are equivalent to those who borrow money and do not pay it back. If you are a creditor, do you want to teach them a lesson? ”

Chi Fei agreed, "Father-in-law is right, this is indeed the same as borrowing money.

There is borrowing and repaying, and it is not difficult to borrow again. It is difficult to borrow again without repaying. ”

In fact, many people understand this truth, but they are reluctant to have the power in their hands, so they will make mistakes again and again, and in the end, there is only a dead end.

The second iron law is indisputable, the so-called indisputable, one refers to not mixing with the struggle of the princes, never standing in line in advance, and only being loyal to the person who sits in that position last.

The second is not to fight for merit or fame, accept appointments today, and do not force them without appointments, and try to be rigid without desire.

The third iron law is to consolidate the army, and the so-called solid army means that no matter whether it is the main branch or the branch, someone must join the army.

And they supported each other, so that the Ning clan always maintained their prestige in the army. Although some people are also allowed to engage in politics, the prestige and power in the army are the foundation of the Ning clan, and they must not be abandoned.

As long as you have the ability, even if you don't do anything for a period of time, you will eventually be reused one day. As the saying goes, striking iron needs its own hardness, and that's the truth.

My Ning family has always adhered to these three iron laws since the day when the first Zhenguo Duke followed Taizu to establish the Great Wei, which is also the reason why the Zhenguo Mansion has been able to stand tall.

Look at how many families have been cooking oil with fire and infinite scenery over the years, and how many can stay now?

Contend? What is there to fight for, in the end it is just a bamboo basket for water. ”

After hearing this, Chi Fei couldn't help but clap his hands and praise, "The ancestor of the Ning clan is indeed far-sighted, perceptive to people's hearts, and is really a wise man. ”

"Of course, I once watched the ancestor's marching hand, which was full of his thoughts and responses when he was marching and fighting.

The wisdom of his wisdom and the wonder of his thinking really make me and other juniors ashamed. If you talk about it far, it will be endless.

Xiao Zhi is still waiting for you outside, you can go over and accompany her, this girl is talking about you all day long. ”

In fact, there is another iron law, Ning Zhiyuan did not say, this fourth iron law is only the head of the Ning family has the right to know.

Because this iron law sounds really a bit rebellious, it can't be said to anyone, let alone on paper, and can only be told by the former head of the Ning family to the new head of the family alone. It must not be known to a third party, otherwise there will be a disaster of raiding the house.

When Chi Fei was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and said, "Father-in-law, about those people who sell black incense, my son-in-law has an idea, please ask my father-in-law to refer to it." ”

"Oh, let's hear it."

"Rather than sentencing these people directly, it is better to use them before they are executed.

The so-called treating others in the way of others, the son-in-law thinks that they can be forced to smoke black incense first.

After they became addicted, they were escorted to the whole territory of the Great Wei Dynasty to show all the people the tragic situation when their drug addiction occurred.

Let everyone see the harm of black incense with their own eyes to set an example. This should be more effective than any bitter persuasion. ”

When Ning Zhiyuan heard this, he laughed loudly and said, "It's a good way to treat others in the way of others, this method is wonderful." I'll propose it to Lao Yao, and he should like your idea. ”

"The son-in-law just hopes that Wuxiang, a harmful thing, can really be extinct in Dawei, so as not to be harmed for thousands of years.

Speaking of which, this time I was lucky to find it early.

In fact, the huge profits that can be generated by this addictive poison are far greater than that of illicit salt, and if there are many families and officials involved like the previous illicit salt case, it will be difficult to eradicate it at that time. ”

In fact, Chi Fei still didn't say a word, that is, fortunately, the current foreigners are not strong enough, and the technology is not developed enough, far from reaching the level that the foreigners' warships are strong and difficult to match in the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

Otherwise, it is very likely that this incident will turn into a new opium war, and the outcome will be unpredictable.

Ning Zhiyuan nodded and said, "You're right, fortunately, you found it early." This time, you have indeed done a great thing for the benefit of the country and the people. ”

"My father-in-law has won the award, and if there is nothing wrong, the son-in-law will retire first."

"Okay, there you go."

After Chi Fei walked out of the study, Ning Zhiyuan slowly drank tea in a very good mood, and his face was always smiling.

He was now extremely satisfied with this future son-in-law, and it could even be said that he was quite surprised, which greatly surprised him.

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