In the early morning of the next day, Qin Mubai arranged a warship and invited Xiao Yu and some of his accompanying officials and craftsmen to the boat to inspect the terrain together.

When he arrived at the fork of the river port and was about to change to the small ridge boat, Xiao Yu's legs trembled a little, and he was stunned. With such a narrow boat, if it was accidentally planted in the river, someone would not have killed someone to protect it, but it would be too embarrassing. Therefore, he sat cautiously in the cabin, holding his breath as if facing a great enemy, and did not dare to move his buttocks. It made the whole boat laugh.

Several shuttle boats traveled through the harbor for an hour, until the heads of Xiao Yu and the others were dizzy, and they finally reached Shizipo. Xiao Yu was already dumbfounded, and when she got off the boat, she kept wiping the cold sweat on her forehead and muttered: "With such a complex terrain and vertical and horizontal harbor bends, how can the boats, vehicles, and horses transporting stone and building materials get in, and they don't all have to get lost?" If you want to build a royal mausoleum and palace here, it is a fool's dream! ”

"Elder Xiao Ge, now you know that what you say is true, right?" Qin Mubai stomped his feet vigorously, pointed to the ground and said, "The river is crisscrossed, the swamp is vast, and the ground here is full of hard big stones, if you want to build a palace here, you can't even bury the foundation, how can you get the law?" Moreover, to build a palace above would inevitably collapse the underground palace below, so it would never have been possible unless it had taken years to do so. ”

Xiao Yu picked up a stone and knocked it the ground, shaking his head in embarrassment: "It's really a hard stone." Presumably, when Yang Guang built the mausoleum here, he had already consolidated the top wall of the underground palace with large stones, and now it is indeed impossible to build a palace above it. ”

"So, we had to change our plans." Qin Mubai said, "In fact, this place used to be a snake island, and tens of thousands of snakes inhabited on the island. ”

"What?!" Xiao Yu was shocked when he heard this, and almost jumped up, shouting, "Snake!! ”

"Elder Xiao Ge, don't panic, listen to the humble post and finish speaking." Qin Mubai couldn't help but laugh and said, "In the past half a month, the humble post has sent nearly a thousand people and sergeants who are good at catching snakes, and they have almost killed and driven away the snakes on the island, and they have also sprinkled a lot of snake repellent powder on the entire island. ”

"Oh, I see, I see......" Xiao Yu wiped his forehead with some fear and muttered, "No wonder you haven't started the work, it turns out that you are dealing with the snake plague on the island." ”

"Exactly." Qin Mubai said, "If you don't deal with these animals, if you bite the prince or the king of Jiangxia at that time, it will be a big bad thing, what do you say?" - We just said that we need to change our plans. Is Xiao Ge willing to listen to the opinions of his humble position? ”

"Well, you say." Xiao Yu nodded.

"Humble duty means to clean up the island, plant plants and trees, lay out carpets, and build a temporary altar for the festival. As for the river, I can use the conscription to recruit the people, and dig a river that can pass through the big warships, and lead to it. At that time, the crown prince and the king of Jiangxia can also be exempted from taking a shuttle boat. What do you think? ”

"Good is good...... However, after all, this is the mausoleum of Emperor Yang, so he arranged things so hastily? Xiao Yu still had some unrelenting words.

Qin Mubai moved his eyes to signal him to step aside, and said in a low voice, "Elder Xiao Ge, please forgive me for talking too much." Although Yang Guang is the Son of Heaven, he is also the king of the former dynasty. The reason why His Majesty is willing to sacrifice him is because he is open-minded and open-minded, and secondly, it is also for the face of the jade seal of the country. Do you think that Your Majesty really admires and likes Yang Guang in his heart? That's absolutely impossible! You are Yang Guang's brother-in-law, and your identity is already sensitive, and His Majesty the Emperor sent you to preside over the sacrifice, in fact, to show his selfless heart. However, if you go too far and make this sacrifice vigorous, and its scale even exceeds that of the first emperor Wude Gaozu, can His Majesty the Emperor be happy? At that time, won't the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty all say that you Xiao Ge is the widow of the former Sui, and you will never forget Yang Guang who died in the country? That's not great! ”

After Xiao Yu listened to Qin Mubai's words, the expression on her face didn't change much. After all, he is also an old man who has been in the court for decades, although his temperament is straightforward and strong, it doesn't mean that he is really stupid. When confronted with critical issues, he is very good at hiding his emotions.

"General Qin, I think you're overly worried." Xiao Yu said, "Yang Guang is my brother-in-law, yes, but isn't he also the cousin of His Majesty the Emperor today?" The old minister is ordered to do things, how the emperor assigns it, and how the old minister performs it, there is no other mind. If someone really speculates and accuses the old minister because of this, the old minister is not afraid at all, let alone takes it to heart. ”

Qin Mubai blinked, and secretly scolded in his heart: Old fox, your mouth is so hard!

"But then again, the plan that Lao Chen made in Chang'an before did not detect the terrain here in advance. Moreover, three months is too rushed. However, the three plans I set - Qinghe Road, Jianming Palace, and Cultivation Yuan, you will overturn me without doing any of them, which is too unreasonable. Xiao Yu twisted her brows, stroked her long beard again, and said, "That's it, I won't embarrass you, and you will also let me give an explanation to His Majesty the Emperor." Let's take a compromise. ”

"What's the plan?" Qin Mubai asked.

"The river doesn't have to be cleaned up for the time being, as you said, just dig a river channel that can enter the big warships. The relationship between the crown prince and the king of Jiangxia can also be frugal, but if these two are questioned at that time......" Xiao Yu stopped.

"Don't worry, I'm responsible." Qin Mubai said coldly, "What else, continue." ”

"Also, I have no problem with setting up a temporary altar. But in the future, sooner or later, the Ming Hall will be built. As for how to build it, that's the craftsman's business, and you don't need to worry about it, General Qin. Xiao Yu said, "Besides, you're just acting for the assassin, aren't you?" ”

Qin Mubai couldn't help but feel a little annoyed in his heart, this Xiao Yu really wanted to save face, regardless of other people's feelings, no wonder his popularity was so bad. But at the moment, arguing with him is really meaningless, it is better to agree to him.

"Well, that's all there is to it." Qin Mubai nodded and said, "When King Wu comes back, I will hand over the state affairs to him." For now, all I have to do is set up a temporary altar. ”

"Okay, so be it!" Xiao Yu straightened the color and said loudly, "Return!" ”

"Elder Xiao Ge, don't you want to enter the underground palace and worship Emperor Yang?" Qin Mubai asked deliberately.

Xiao Yu made a face: "He is the king of the former Sui Dynasty, and I am the minister of the Tang Dynasty, so do you have a private worship?" - Nonsense, go back! ”

Qin Mubai and the people next to him were a little crying and laughing, and scolded in their hearts: If this is heard by Yang Guang, your brother-in-law, who is lying below, he will have to jump up and tear your mouth! This Xiao Yu really has a troublesome mouth, no wonder he is often degraded!

In the next two months, the whole of Xiangzhou was busy. The state government dispatched more than 20,000 people to dig the river day and night. A large river with a length of more than 20 miles, connecting the Han River to Shizipo, directly razed the previous "Qifeng Wutong Mountain" to the ground.

The river was designed by Qin Mubai himself, and his intention was also quite deep when he leveled Wutong Mountain.

At that time, the site for this mausoleum must have been a feng shui master, and the location of the mausoleum must have been artificially renovated and laid out, making the unity of heaven and man here and the emperor's spirit strong.

Emperor Qi Feng Shui is indeed not taking advantage of the stability of the Tang Dynasty. It's one thing to believe in it or not, but since Li Ke knows about this matter, Qin Mubai will also give him an explanation at that time. When he went to the emperor, it also makes sense. This back and forth, in the final analysis, is to make the emperor feel relieved.

Invisibly, Qin Mubai "did a great thing for Datang Sheji".

But it's weird. After the Wutong Mountain was leveled, most of the water birds in the West River Channel were gone, and there were no more snakes on the stone slope. Could it be that as Li Ke said, the snake is in the shape of a dragon, and the emperor is a strong snake?

Work on the gravel slope has also begun. Countless rafting boats travel through the river day and night, transporting plants, flowers and building materials. Although it is only a "temporary altar", the scale is not small. On the slope of the stones, where there was no grass, ten thousand stones of soil were forcibly moved, and then planted with grass and flowers. The towering stele forest, the stone slab road made of white marble, and the murals of the stone horse stone man Tiangong are all available.

Two months later, the small gravel slope was almost "a different world". What was once a bare and desolate area is now almost a paradise of tranquility, solemn and gorgeous.

In the past two months, Qin Mubai has certainly been very busy. But he was not busy in vain, and by accident, he took advantage of this opportunity to make a small fortune.

Such a big project in Xiangzhou has mobilized tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians, and it costs a lot of money to eat and drink every day. Xiao Yu brought from Chang'an a lot of money earmarked for sacrifice by the imperial court, and of course had to be responsible for paying for the food, clothing, shelter and transportation of the conscripts and craftsmen and sergeants. In this way, the hundreds of thousands of stones of grain and salt that Qin Mubai held in his hands would have a market.

Instead of going to other states and counties to buy grain, it is better to call on what you have nearby! Nearly 20,000 soldiers and civilians involved in the project had to eat 400 stone a day just to eat food, 12,000 stone a month, and nearly 25,000 stone in two months.

So, Qin Mubai accepted the money given by Xiao Yu with his left hand, handed him the grain and salt stored in his treasury with his right hand, and put the money into his own pocket.

The money comes comfortably and comfortably, neither paying taxes nor worrying about bad debts, and even saving stores and manpower. In two months, more than two million dollars were easily obtained.

Although the money is not much, it is enough to build a store and pay rent.

If you want to talk about the storefront, Qin Mubai has already looked at it. Not elsewhere, it is the two most prosperous shops in Xiangyang's most prosperous and lively Chengbeigang City, that is, the two big shops across the street operated by Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun - Zhengchang Grain and Yongye Salt Mill!

After Duan Rongji, Ouyang Jun, Zhao Chong and others were arrested together, these two shops were sealed by the state government yamen, and the mansions and shops were taken over by the government. These days, businessmen from near and far have to break through the threshold of the state capital, and they have tried all kinds of ways to buy or rent these two stores, but they have not succeeded.

The reason is very simple, Li Ke and Qin Mubai have already made an agreement, and it is left for Wu Meiniang! Qin Mubai has also been waiting for Wu Meiniang to come to Xiangzhou, where she can open a shop again, but from now on, she will hang the name of the "Wu" family.

These two shops are not small, especially the extremely hot shops, and the rent is quite expensive. Qin Mubai, a poor and white official, where could he find the money to pay the rent, so the shop has been unresolved.

Now it's okay, all the money you get from selling grain to Xiao Yu is cash. After the money arrived, Qin Mubai didn't cover it up, and directly handed it over to Yincao Cao Zheng, the capital of Xiangzhou Prefecture, and paid the rent for five years.

Of course, "discounting" is a must.

Qinghe Road, repairing the altar, selling grain, and selling stores, in two months, Qin Mubai played the pipa like "pushing the hand for the pipa and leading the hand for the pipa", and had a lot of fun.

The news that Xiangzhou discovered the tomb of Emperor Yang and wanted to hold a grand festival spread far and wide, and soon spread all over the world. Many tourists come here to watch this event. It's like if we're going to hold a big sports event or an expo in a certain city, which attracts countless business opportunities.

Xiangzhou is a port city with an active commercial port, and there is an endless stream of business travelers all year round, passing through like a carp. Now it is even more prosperous, with ships docking at the port day and night, or full of goods or pedestrians.

In the past two months, the inn in the port market in the north of Xiangyang has been full every day, and even the old bustards and girls in the Yingyuan have not rested at night, painful and happy.

When Yin Cao's officials came to Qin Mubai with the tax accounts, their faces were about to laugh. He said that since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Xiangzhou has never been as lively as it is now, and it has never collected so many taxes.

"Compared to the beginning of the year, this month's tax is more than three times as much as it was then!"

Qin Mubai just smiled and said secretly: Who would have thought that it was only Zhao Chong who gave me a few maps hidden in the night incense barrel at the beginning, and now the entire Xiangzhou is about to be detonated? This should be Li Ke's political achievements, right? …… Well, the emperor sent me to assist Li Ke, and that was my political achievement. Yes, yes, the blind cat dragged the dead mouse!

A few days later.

Qin Mubai went back to the military mansion to take care of some military affairs. Not long after they sat down, two royal sergeants hurriedly ran to the military mansion to find Qin Mubai, saying that the king of Jiangxia had arrived in Xiangzhou!

Qin Mubai was stunned for a moment: No, it's coming so soon, and it's still half a month away from the sacrifice! Besides, shouldn't the king of Jiangxia come at the same time as the crown prince? They are coming, can they not snoore in advance, and not let us greet them?

"General Qin, Elder Xiao Ge asked the villain to invite the general to the pavilion to meet His Royal Highness the King of Jiangxia! Prepare yourself and go! The sergeant said anxiously.

"It's fine." Qin Mubai had no choice but to get on the horse, and then went straight to Xiangyang County.

When he arrived at the pavilion, Qin Mubai saw the car in the courtyard at a glance. It's just that the prince and the prince are used to traveling in an ordinary purple and green car, and Qin Mubai didn't think much about it. When I walked into the hall and crossed the three-way corridor and came to the outside of the hall, I happened to hear Xiao Yu saying inside:

"Lord Wang, you and the crown prince have arranged their travels, please move later, you will live more comfortably there."

"It doesn't matter." The voice of Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia, was as loud and heroic as ever, and he laughed twice and said, "Xiao Ge Lao, you must not have a good time when you get old in Xiangzhou." Could it be that Qin Mubai's stinky boy didn't treat you well? Look at your old appearance, tsk, the face is yellow and thin, and it is full of sores and scabies, is it not that you are being targeted by mosquitoes? ”

"Hey, don't mention it!" Xiao Yu smiled bitterly and said, "The old minister really has something to ask the prince for. ”

"What's the matter?"

"That's it...... The princes and princes were all requisitioned and renovated from private houses. Moreover, these two houses were left by Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun, the criminals of the previous Xiangzhou case. Xiao Yu's voice lowered a little, as if he was a little embarrassed, and whispered, "If there is anything wrong, please also ask Wang Ye Haihan." ”

"Let me and the prince live in the prisoner's old mansion?" Li Daozong's voice was indeed a little unhappy.

Qin Mubai wrinkled his brows a little annoyed, stood outside the door and stood by the window, and did not go in. I just want to hear what Xiao Yu wants to say. Most of the sergeants guarding outside the gate also recognized Qin Mubai, so they didn't dare to publicize it.

"This ...... In fact, this is not the intention of the old minister. Xiao Yu said, "Previously, the old minister insisted on building the line of the prince and the prince. But Qin Mubai had to disagree, saying that it was too late to waste money and money. Qin Mubai is a local parent official, holding power, and the old minister is under the roof and has to bow his head, so he has to let him do things. ”

"Heh, you're suing Qin Mubai, Elder Xiao Ge!" Li Daozong laughed loudly.

Qin Mubai heard a hint of ridicule in his laughter, as if he was ridiculing Xiao Yu.

"Uh, this ...... Lao Chen didn't mean that, he didn't mean that! Xiao Yu's behavior was also quite strange, and she suddenly regretted and begged for mercy.

"Xiao Ge Lao, you are so shameless!" - Suddenly, a crisp and tactful female voice with a few domineering and coquettish voices sounded in the hall!

Qin Mubai was too familiar with this voice, and his heart trembled when he heard it-"My good girl, I said that King Jiangxia came in advance, he must have been coaxed by this girl!" ”

Who else could it be? - Of course, it's Princess Gaoyang and Little Devil Ling'er!

"Ugh! …… Your Royal Highness, why do you say this? Xiao Yu scolded Princess Gaoyang, and asked back a little unconvinced.

"You are the prime minister, or the official appointed by your father to be in charge of the ceremony, how can you say the words 'people have to bow their heads under the eaves'? Dare to love him, he is still disrespectful, and he is directly rebellious, and he is bullying you, an old man? Or, are you so incompetent that you can't even control a petty official in a small place like Xiangzhou? Princess Gaoyang said like a cannon, "Having said that, the new construction is indeed a waste of money and labor, Mu Bai is a parent official in Xiangzhou, and it is right to think about the local people." Do you think he's doing something wrong? Do you want him to raid and torture the thousands of people in Xiangzhou in order to please the prince's brother and the emperor's uncle Jiangxia? Isn't this more than worth the loss of cutting flesh and mending wounds? In this way, the prince's brother and Jiangxia Wanghuang's uncle, even if they live in a brand-new Xingyuan Mansion, can they live with peace of mind? You are still a veteran of the Three Dynasties, and you often have the name of a minister on your mouth, and you don't understand this kind of truth. If you let your father know, do you think he praises Mubai or refutes you? ”

"Haha!" Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia, laughed loudly on the side, "Gao Yang, your clever mouth is getting more and more aggressive. I want to ask, is there a difference between praising Mubai and refuting Xiao Ge Lao? ”

"That's what it was!" Princess Gaoyang was unforgiving, and she didn't give Xiao Yu a chance to speak at all, and took advantage of the victory to pursue, "What's wrong with the prisoner's mansion?" After the confiscation of officials, it will be the Tang Dynasty's official mansion. Since we are royalty, it is very suitable to live in the house of the official family. I don't think Mu Bai has done anything wrong anywhere. Elder Xiao Ge, as soon as you entered the door, you were in a hurry to say bad things about Mu Bai, did he offend you somewhere? Or, do you see that he is too capable, and you are afraid that he will cover your limelight before you rush to extinguish his prestige? Wow! Elder Xiao Ge, you weren't the kind of person who was jealous of the virtuous and capable before, how did you become like this now? ”

"Uh...... Well...... This, this! Xiao Yu was so blocked by Princess Gaoyang's call that she couldn't speak, she was in a hurry, and her mouth squeaked.

"Okay, Gao Yang, you can spare Xiao Ge Lao!" Li Daozong laughed, came out to play a round, and said, "He didn't say anything bad about Qin Mubai, he just talked about things." Look at you, you haven't been married yet, so you're looking at others. In case I accidentally scolded Qin Mubai one day, why don't you stab me with a knife? ”

"Hee-hee, of course not!" Princess Gaoyang began to be coquettish and said, "King Jiangxia is such a cute little old man, where am I willing to stab him with a knife?" At the most...... Bite with your teeth! ”

Qin Mubai couldn't help but laugh out loud when he heard it outside the door, so he turned around and walked in, and said with a smile: "It seems that I came at the right time, everyone had a good chat!" ”

"Wow, Mu Bai, you're finally here!!"

Princess Gaoyang suddenly jumped up excitedly, and without hesitation, she threw away the elbow of Li Daozong who had just been grabbed, and flew towards Qin Mubai!

……

Xiao Yu, who was on the side, took advantage of the situation to wipe the cold sweat on his forehead, smiled bitterly at Li Daozong, and said in a low voice: "The old minister is not afraid of heaven and earth, and even the dragon scales on the neck of His Majesty the Emperor dare to reach out and uncover three pieces." Only...... I'm afraid of this girl! ”

"Then you still dare to slander Qin Mubai in front of him? I really don't know whether to live or die! Li Daozong said in a low voice, "This king advises you, be careful from now on." If you are hated by that girl, it will be miserable! - Don't look at the king like that, and don't expect this king to help you with anything. In the whole world, there are probably only two people who can deal with that girl. one in Chang'an; One, right in this room. ”

Xiao Yu's old face trembled, and his heart began to go up and down.