In the past few days, Cai Jing felt that something was wrong, it should be very wrong, he was getting older and older, and his senses were getting more and more keen, he could feel that there was an undercurrent surging in the court, and this undercurrent was coming to him, but he didn't know who it was and where he was going to attack.

He rubbed his eyebrows, the coldest time has passed, winter has always been the most difficult time for the elderly, this winter he has gone out less than in previous years, unless Zhao Ji called him or the court, he has almost always been in the warm room.

Thinking of the official family, Cai Jing thought of an old friend of his own, who is also an old rival.

"Someone's coming!"

A servant walked in, and Cai Jing said, "Go, ask how Rong Guogong's illness is?" ”

Rong Guogong, also known as He Zhizhong, the minister who once ruled with Cai Jing finally reached the last part of his life, this winter, he has been sick, and finally Zhao Ji simply gave him a long vacation, which is a sign that he is leaving the position of the center of power.

Zhao Ji may not be a good emperor, but he is a very emotional person, He Zhizhong was his attendant when he was young, so although He Zhizhong has not made any great achievements, but he has been in favor and has been in power for 12 years, which is very rare in the entire history of the Great Song Dynasty.

"Back to Taishi, Rong Guogong's illness has improved, and it is said that he can already walk in the courtyard."

Cai Jing got up and said, "Go, call Qian'er to come, bring some gifts, let's go to the Rongguo Mansion to have a look." ”

Cai Jing didn't put the frame on the car, but wore a small hat in Tsing Yi, so he took Cai Qian and the two little guys and went, when he learned that the old man in front of him was Cai Jing, the prince of Rong Guogong, his eyes almost popped out.

"The old man felt that there would be a noble person coming to the door today, it turned out that the master had arrived, and he hadn't seen him for many days, so how is the master good?"

What surprised Cai Jing a little was that although He Zhizhong looked good, he was much older than last year, and it seemed that this time he was sick and consumed a lot of his vitality.

"The old man heard that your health has improved, and he is happy, so he came, you are not here, the affairs of the DPRK and China are backlogged, and the old man is busy enough."

Cai Jing said with a smile, and from the perspective of outsiders, the two seemed to be old friends.

To tell the truth, He Zhizhong's relationship with Cai Jing cannot be wrong, He Zhizhong relies on his old relationship with Zhao Ji, not his own talent, so he does not support or oppose many of Cai Jing's policies.

Although He Zhizhong's method of governing did not bring him much reputation and achievements, he made it possible for anyone to be the prime minister to live with him, which is also one of the secrets of his ability to govern for so many years.

"Taishi, I've had a rare time in the past six months... In the past few years, there has been a master in the imperial court, at least financially it has been a lot easier. ”

Maybe it's because he has no desire, He Zhizhong, who has a serious illness, no longer has much ambition in politics, so he can be honest with Cai Jing, at least, he is willing to admit Cai Jing's political achievements in person.

Cai Jing smiled and touched his beard, this is really his pride, Song Ting has been a headache for filling the financial hole of dissatisfaction since Song Renzong, and when Song Shenzong ascended the throne, he was surprised to find that his good father and good grandfather left himself a big hole that seemed to be impossible to fill, and he suddenly understood why his father was so anxious, why his grandfather was so thrifty, this is not only for the sake of social atmosphere, but also because the court really has no money.

Therefore, Song Shenzong began the road of law change, Wang Anshi's reluctance is also powerful, although his change is a bit extreme, but the financial revenue has increased, and to Zhao Ji, the financial can still have some surplus, but who is Zhao Ji, that is the first emperor in the world to play, just a little balance, is it possible to repair a few gardens?

There are a lot of people who can be prime ministers in this world, but I am afraid that there is really only one person who can satisfy Zhao Ji, Cai Jing is really the only one, in the past few years, Cai Jing has continued to change the law to collect money, which makes Zhao Ji able to spend money everywhere.

Cai Jing was proud for a while, and then said modestly, "This is all thanks to the blessing of the official family, and Lord He has also contributed a lot to today's prosperity." ”

He Zhizhong smiled and said meaningfully, "Master, can the moon be round today?" ”

Cai Jing raised his head, looked at the somewhat cloudy sky and said, "Today is the fifteenth, when it is a full moon, it is a pity that it is cloudy, otherwise it is a great pleasure in life to enjoy the moon with Lord He." ”

"Yes, today is the fifteenth, and in a few days, the moon will be missing, how similar this is to people..."

Cai Jing's brows furrowed, and he stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Does Lord He need some advice?" ”

He Zhizhong glanced left and right, and the subordinates on both sides consciously took a few steps back, and He Zhizhong said, "Taishi has been proud in recent years, especially if there are successors, but I don't know how many people treat each other coldly in secret... The old man will be ready to return to his hometown in a few days, and ask the master to do it himself. ”

Cai Jing's eyes quickly turned a few times, he realized a little in his heart, thanked He Zhizhong, and left quickly.

When Cai Jing left, a middle-aged man stepped forward and asked He Zhizhong, "Why does my father give Taishi a favor?" ”

He Zhizhong sighed, "My son, how many officials in the world do you think can be compared with the Taishi?" ”

The middle-aged man said disdainfully, "If you want to talk about treachery, there are few people who can't be compared with the Taishi..."

"Pedantic!" He Zhizhong glared at him and said, "Do you think the official family is looking at your character?" Do you think it's the Imperial History? Officials look at talent! In the past, Wang Jinggong was a hero in the world, only Cai Jing and Lu Huiqing have talents, if you are the prime minister, you may turn the imperial court's finances into a profit within two years? “

The middle-aged man felt like a lawsuit when he thought about it, and shook his head vigorously.

He Zhizhong looked at the green shoots that gradually grew in the garden and said, "Your brothers are all pedantics, and they are not good officials, with me, the officials will definitely take care of you in my face, and when I leave, it will be difficult for you to gain a foothold here unless you go back to your hometown..."

"Daddy!"

He Zhizhong smiled, any person will have two sides, he may be an iron-blooded warrior on the battlefield, but he may also be an infatuated child who cries to death for a woman, He Zhizhong is the same, his licking of calves is no less than that of any father.

"Those people think that they can fight with Cai Jing if they are united, but they don't want to think about it, since ancient times, where is the truth that a rabble can win? Cai Jing's foundation is the official family, as long as the official family still needs him, then those people can only win for a while, today we give the Taishi such a favor, and in the future, the Taishi will inevitably repay you..."

——

"Where's Jiang De's child?" As soon as he returned to Cai's mansion, Cai Jing asked impatiently.

"It is said that he has returned to Neihuang, and some say that he has gone to Jiangnan, he has a lot of business in the world, and he has no official position, but he is free everywhere." Cai Qian said with some envy.

"This kid, who poked the basket by himself, asked me to help him solve it!" Cai Jing said angrily, "Next time he comes again, he won't be allowed to enter the door!" ”

"Daddy, what's wrong? So what did Rong Guogong say? Seeing Cai Jing like this, Cai Qian knew that something was wrong, so he also asked with some worry.

"That little boy pretended to be clever and made a good show of manipulating lightning and electricity, which made everyone in the world regard him as a heretic, and spread a nursery rhyme to slander the Kong family, I'm afraid those people have begun to exert their strength, and the old man has become the person who shelters the child from the wind and rain in their eyes!" Cai Jing squinted and said, after speaking, he knocked on the table angrily.

"What? That nursery rhyme was passed on by Jiang Zijun? Cai Qian was taken aback, that nursery rhyme was widely circulated, it is said that even the official family heard about it, and many people secretly spent a lot of effort to find out who did the good deeds, but there has been no news, but I don't know how Cai Jing decided that it was Jiang De.

Cai Jing snorted, "If it's not him, who can he be?" This kid looks lazy, but he is a master who can't suffer, this time the Kong family made him suffer a big loss, not only lost the huge profit of the glass, but also almost lost his life because of Tianxiang Academy, how can he not retaliate? But look, has he done anything? ”

Cai Qian thought about it, still, Jiang De didn't seem to have done anything, which really didn't fit his temperament.

"It's either overt or secret, I'm afraid the Kong family has also found something, I said why something is wrong recently, it turns out that they are doing ghosts!" Cai Jing rubbed his hands and said, "I just don't know what the official family thinks?" ”

Speaking of the official family, Cai Qian suddenly said with some reassurance, "The official family and father are the best, not to mention that Jiang Zijun is also a person who is in the emperor's heart, I'm afraid it will be fine." ”

Cai Jing shook his head and said, "You still don't understand the emperor's mind, I'm afraid that the one who wants to let his father go down for a while now is the official family..."

Cai Qian was stunned for a moment, and then nodded with understanding, yes, no emperor would want the prime minister to be a person for a long time, otherwise, who is the monarch and who is the minister is really not necessarily.

As a good courtier, he should naturally be anxious about what the king is anxious about, Cai Jing went on a play the next day, saying that he couldn't sleep for a long time last night, and suddenly felt that he was too old, and he really shouldn't be greedy for power anymore, hoping that the official family could let him be a minister, so that he could go back to Hangzhou to enjoy Qingfu.

Less than three days after the fold went up, Zhao Ji refused on the spot, but this time it made Cai Jing's heart half cold.

Back home, Cai Jing said to Cai Qian, "The old man went to the old man to tell the old man, if the official family really didn't want to, he should let the old man go to the palace and persuade him privately, but now he refused in public, this is the old man to continue to tell the old man... Otherwise, the old man is hypocritical. ”

"Daddy... How can this be? Cai Qian asked, "If the official family also has this intention, Daddy is in danger." ”

Cai Jing smiled again, "It's okay, no one in the world has such financial management methods as your father... There may be, but it's smaller, as long as the official family still wants to enjoy it, then it can't do without your father..."

After Cai Jing finished speaking, he looked confident, indeed, he has the capital to be confident.

"Daddy... That Zijun..."Cai Qian asked tentatively.

Cai Jing glanced at Cai Qian, "Put away your little bit of Taoism, and you still want to test the old man?" Since Zijun is my son and nephew, I am very respectful to your sister, but I can't give it up, otherwise how will the world think of me? ”

Cai Qian secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that she could reply to her sister.

Cai Jing shook his head secretly, feeling that Jiang De had pitted himself into it.

In Kaifeng City, the undercurrent is surging, and above Liangshan, it is a banner exhibition.

In order to seize the opportunity, Dai Zong and Shi Qian's two battalions of men and horses continued to spy on the military situation, and informed the movement of Huyanzhuo's soldiers and horses on the mountain.

On the golden beach, an experiment was being carried out at this time, four or five cylinders of different sizes and colors were arranged in a row, and at a distance of four or five hundred paces, there were all kinds of targets set up there, there were dummies made of wood, camps, and earthen walls.

"The owner of the village, these are the three cannons newly built according to the instructions of the owner of the village, one of these three cannons is made of copper, one is made of iron, and one is made of steel." Gongsun Sheng touched his beard and introduced to Jiang De, Jiang De looked at the cannon in front of him, and stepped forward to touch it with some excitement, the unique texture of metal made Jiang De feel a sense of peace of mind.

This is the charm of the god of war.

But how powerful is it? Jiang De asked with some curiosity, "Have you experimented?" ”

Gongsun Sheng nodded and said, "I have all tested it, and the power is quite good, especially after using the new gunpowder, the power is beyond the reach of manpower." ”

Niu Gao said with some disbelief, "When I was in the Western Army, I also saw this big gun, although it is not as big as this, but the power is nothing, it is just a loud voice, which can be scary." ”

Indeed, there was no real tubular artillery in this period, and mature gunpowder weapons still won by quantity, and the most advanced gunpowder weapon at this time was the thunderbolt, also known as the earth-shaking thunder, but the firing method was to throw a huge explosive bag with a trebuchet or a ground mouse.

What Niu Gao said was the predecessor of the musket, which was still experimental at this time and had no real strategic significance.

Gongsun Sheng said with a wicked smile: "Since the black bull said so, do you dare to fire a shot?" ”

"Why don't you dare?" Niu Gao rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward and said, "Isn't it just louder, what's there to be afraid of." ”

"Don't be fooled by the black bull!" Jiang De glanced at Niu Gao, and said to Gongsun Sheng, "Don't tease the black bull, this artillery is new, but I don't know what the life expectancy is, and there is also danger during the test firing, so let people hang the cannon with a bamboo pole." ”

Gongsun Sheng felt that Jiang De said this because he didn't trust his artillery, and said, "I'm willing to test a shot first, and ask the owner of the village to witness!" ”

Jiang De also reacted, and said with a smile, "It's not that I don't believe in the Dao Chief... It's just that this new thing is better to be careful. ”

Gongsun Sheng didn't follow, and in the end, Jiang De could only hide behind with everyone, watching Gongsun Sheng and the two minions start fiddling with the first iron cannon.