More than two months passed without hurry. It's the middle of winter in a blink of an eye, and the end of the year is approaching.

Originally, the weather in Guanzhong in the Tang Dynasty was a bit close to the Jiangnan climate in the 21st century, and it was not particularly cold. The winter in Luoyang is obviously a little more "gentle" than Chang'an. Every morning, when Xue Shao rode out on horseback, he didn't have to wrap his clothes very tightly, and he had to take off his thick coat at noon, otherwise he would feel a little hot.

Xue Shao often remembered a sentence that he remembered very clearly in his previous life, this winter is not too cold.

Talking about the affairs of the Martial Academy, Wu Zetian has indeed kept his promise and has been actively promoting and activating. But as she said, this is a "major event of the country", and it cannot be launched overnight.

Xue Shao privately asked Cen Changqian, the internal historian, about the progress of the matter, and the answer he got was always "I have been negotiating for days".

Whenever he heard this answer, Xue Shao would always involuntarily think of Wu Chengsi and Wu Youning. Although these two birdmen completely relied on Wu Zetian's snort to survive, this did not prevent them from stumbling on themselves. At this point, Cen Changqian also vaguely revealed a little, saying that "the candidate is quite controversial".

Xue Shao estimated that the two prime ministers surnamed Wu would certainly not oppose the establishment of the Martial Arts Academy, but they definitely did not agree to let a person named Xue Shao take the lead.

Now that the martial arts academy began at the beginning, whoever can preconceive at the first time, the generals who will be trained in the future can be regarded as their protégés.

- The Martial Sect of the World!

This genuine strength is much more real than the pure reputation and potential influence of the "Tianwen Sect". There is no doubt that this is a big piece of the pie, and everyone wants a piece of it. The two birdmen surnamed Wu, including Wu Zetian himself, didn't want to give it up.

Xue Shao felt that the matter of the Martial Arts Academy might not be implemented for a while. Everything is difficult at the beginning, let alone such a major event that has opened a precedent for all ages, and there are many obstacles and difficulties, which is reasonable.

Recently, nothing particularly good has happened and there is no bad news, and what can be regarded as a happy event is that the last batch of official offices of Sinong Temple moved to Shendu. At the same time, Xue Shao's brother Xue Yi was finally able to move his family to Luoyang to settle down.

Although the family reunion is festive, what really makes Xue Shao happy is that he can finally personally "supervise" the eldest brother to prevent him from being privately picked up by those people from the Li family's royal family. Wu Zetian had already found out about Li Wen's matter last time, but he did not say or blame it explicitly.

But that doesn't mean she really doesn't mind.

In fact, if it weren't for Xue Shao's "deep talk" with her on Wangxian Terrace that day and clearly expressed his position, Li Wen's matter would be worthy of Wu Zetian's great investigation.

On the other hand, Yao Yuanchong has been going to Xiazhou for a while, and there is no clear news return for the time being. Wu Zetian had asked Xue Shao many times about the change of flag of the Shuofang Army, and Xue Shao promised that it would be completed before the New Year. Wu Zetian was slightly dissatisfied, but finally accepted. So Xue Shao had no choice but to put a little pressure on Yao Yuanchong, sent a fast horse to deliver a letter, and issued a "death order" in the same way.

There is no diamond and no porcelain work, since Yao Yuanchong took the initiative to ask Ying to do this, Xue Shao believed that he would definitely have a way. In fact, Yao Yuanchong was directly promoted from the Gyeonggi County Commander to the Squire of the Military Department, and there was quite a lot of controversy in the outside world. Yao Yuanchong also held back a lot of energy in his heart, wanting to prove himself through this errand.

Therefore, Xue Shao believes that Yao Yuanchong will succeed. As for what to do, that's his business. What he needs is the same as Wu Zetian, just a result.

On the morning of this day, Xue Shao went to the official office as usual. Because it is a double day, there is no need to go to court, so when I arrived at the military department, it was already three poles on the sun. After dealing with some ordinary official business, Wang Yu came in to report that a guest had come to visit.

The military headquarters is a more serious place, and most of the generals who come and go to hand over military affairs rarely have visitors. Those who will come directly to visit Shangshu are not ordinary people.

The new Luoyang Order, Wei Yuanzhong, is currently a hot upstart in the court.

Xue Shao asked Wang Yu to invite people in, and asked before Shi Li, "Wei Mingfu came to me, business and private affairs?" ”

"Both public and private." Wei Yuanzhong's answer was also interesting.

Xue Shao smiled, "It seems that it is not suitable to negotiate in the public office, and it is even more inconvenient to go to the North City Tavern to talk - Wang Yu, treat each other with tea in the private office!" ”

"Yes!"

Xue Shao took Wei Yuanzhong to the innermost layer of the Yamen of the Ministry of War, in the private study dedicated to Shangshu, boiled tea, and the two sat opposite each other.

"Tell me, what's the matter?" Xue Shao was quite curious, that is, public and private, what could it be?

"That's right." Wei Yuanzhong said, "Yesterday afternoon, more than a dozen people took the initiative to come to the county government to surrender after tying themselves up, claiming that they were Mengjin water lords. Not only that, but without the interrogation of me, the county magistrate sitting in the court, they took the initiative to confess that they had been a traitor many times. Among them is ......"

"Involved in the assassination of me back then?" Xue Shao said.

Wei Yuanzhong nodded, "So, is this matter both public and private?" ”

Xue Shao frowned, "Did you ask why they did this?" ”

"Asking is naturally asking, but no one is willing to tell the truth." Wei Yuanzhong said, "They only said that they came to surrender voluntarily and were willing to ask for leniency." ”

"This is strange...... Xue Shao wondered, "Could it be that this group of thieves can still find out with a conscience?" ”

"Of course not." Wei Yuanzhong smiled and said, "Obviously, they have been cornered. ”

"How so?"

Wei Yuanzhong replied: "Each of them has not lightly injured their bodies, and some of them have even caused disabilities. ”

"Oh?" Xue Shao was slightly surprised, "So, they were subdued?" ”

"Absolutely." Wei Yuanzhong said very surely, "Not only was he subdued, but he also had a major handle in the hands of others." Otherwise, such outlaws will not be willing to give in. ”

"The road is one foot high, and the magic is one foot high." Xue Shao said thoughtfully, "As you said, such an outlaw will never really be afraid of the government and the royal law. There is only one kind of person who can subdue them. ”

Wei Yuanzhong smiled appreciatively, "Fellow Daoists." ”

Xue Shao's heart lit up, and he thought of a person - Helian Guchuan!

"It seems that Xue Shangshu has a plan in his heart?" Wei Yuanzhong is such a strange person, seeing Xue Shao's expression flashing like this, he already knows it.

Xue Shao just smiled and was noncommittal.

"That being the case, the lower officials understand." Wei Yuanzhong got up and saluted and prepared to leave, and when he left, he said, "After the lower official goes back, he will be sentenced according to the law immediately." If you think about it, there shouldn't be anything wrong, right? ”

Xue Shao smiled and got up to send him off, "The law has its own opinions, and Wei Mingfu will handle it according to the law, and it will be the same." ”

"That's very good." Wei Yuanzhong smiled at Xue Shao very tacitly, and bowed goodbye, "There is a lot of disturbance, the next official has left!" ”

"Wang Yu, send off."

After Wei Yuanzhong left, Xue Shao calmed down and thought about it carefully, and couldn't help but smile.

Helian Guchuan was a "league leader" in Guanzhong Green Forest before. If Meng Jin's affairs were really done by him, it would have been done too beautifully. It solves the problem without causing any trouble.

After the official business, Xue Shao went home and called Guo An, asking him to send someone to Zhangtai Xiaozhu in Xianyang to find Helian Guchuan to ask for a reason. Unexpectedly, Guo An replied that there was no need to send someone, and today Master Wu Ming and Wu came back - from Xianyang.

Xue Shao couldn't help but be happy, this Helian Guchuan was quite thoughtful!

So Xue Shao immediately came to Wu Ming for questioning, and Wu Ming replied that he had actually been with Helian Guchuan for the past month and knew everything he had done.

In the past two or three months, Helian Guchuan, who has reappeared in the rivers and lakes, has summoned back all the previously separated and old brothers, and soon gathered a strong vote of people. Of course, the six sky-high pearls given by Xue Shao played a great role, which constituted their strong economic foundation.

However, Helian Guchuan did not return to his old business of smuggling salt, selling human beings, or minting smuggled money, and he engaged in the business of water transportation. Luoyang's trough transportation can be said to be the economic artery of the entire Tang Empire, in addition to the various official ships that transport national tax materials to and fro, all kinds of civilian merchant ships and cargo ships are also endless, and the trough transportation is extremely active and developed.

In just two or three months, Helian Guchuan has built the largest private tank transport fleet in Guanzhong. Of course, the means he used were quite diverse. In addition to buying and hiring people to do normal business by himself, another important means for him to make a fortune is to constantly attack and annex the big and small water lords who are active on various waterways.

There are pirates on the sea, and there are water lords on the water, to put it bluntly, they are a group of green forest characters who have made a fortune by robbing and stealing, and extortion. Mengjin water lords used to be the largest water lord gang in Guanzhong, and even the government couldn't do anything about them.

But Helian Guchuan has cured batch after batch of water owls. The dozen or so people who were injured and disabled and went to Luoyang County to surrender themselves were the ones who had participated in the assassination of Xue Shao among the Mengjin water lords, and they had slipped through the net.

Now, Helian Guchuan's trough gang is in full swing. Even some local yamen who need to pay grain and salt taxes will ask people to ask Helian Guchuan to help send people to escort them. Because, as long as there are Helian Guchuan's people on the ship, the ship will not have any trouble from the place of origin until it arrives in Luoyang and is handed over.

After hearing this, Xue Shao smiled.

Intentionally planting flowers and flowers cannot be achieved, and willows and willows are planted unintentionally. A hand-to-hand favor and six pearls that are not practical, and in this way, a powerful Helian Guchuan has been achieved.

"Childe, I think Helian Guchuan may be of great use in the future." Wu Ming said, "Where there is sunshine, there will be shadows, and the world is always black and white." Many things that are difficult to do on the white road, but they can be done very properly on the black road. And Helian Guchuan is a very measured person, what to do and what to do is not touchable, he is quite principled. And all those under him were submissive to him. In time, his strength in the Guanzhong waterway will be no less than an army! ”

"This gray force should not be underestimated." Xue Shao nodded, "Did he tell anyone about his relationship with me?" ”

"I've never seen it, and I haven't said a word." Wu Ming said, "When I came, he also told me that he might have to live up to the good intentions of the concubine, and it was best to give up the matter of his appointment in the Taiping Princess's Mansion." In the future, Helian Guchuan and Xue Juma have no relationship, and there will be no contact. ”

"Sensible."

"He still has a matter to please." Wu Ming said, "He said that there are dozens of big ships and hundreds of thousands of people in his fleet, and everyone must have a unified name to show to the outside world when they get together - this name, he wants to ask Gongzi to help him decide." ”

"Name? I'm not good at that. Xue Shao smiled, what is the name, One Piece? For the sake of the tribe? Or is it the Qinggang Hongmen White Horse Yicong?

"I have a suggestion." Wu Ming said with a smile, "The fleet is active on the water, and Gongzi already has the Red Leaf Chamber of Commerce under his command, so how about calling it 'Hongmen'?" ”

Xue Shao's eyes widened, this big monk who laughed so badly could he still read minds?!