Governor Hong appeared too suddenly, and Xu Liang was not prepared for it in the suddenness. So far, Xu Liang still doesn't know what the purpose of Governor Hong's sideways intervention is!

Then, the matter of how Governor Hong suddenly appeared in the governor's yamen was also found, Xu Liang listened to the report of the Admiral Tie, his face was gloomy, and he stared at the iron head and said: "You mean to say that this brocade cloth is also involved in the Xi'an Office?" ”

The iron head nodded, "Yes." Governor Hong came this time, with a total of two staff officers, more than a dozen guards, he did not play the honor guard of the governor of the three sides at all, when he entered the city, he entered the city from the north gate in the name of the wife of the chief banner of Jinyiwei. When the officers and men of the Patrol Division saw that it was the men and horses of the Jinyi Guard, they did not inspect the carriage. ”

"What about the road from the Chang'an City Gate to the Governor's Yamen? The patrol division's guard strength has tripled, how can Governor Hong walk in so easily? ”

Tietou said with a hateful expression: "Governor Hong's people directly avoided the guards on the periphery under the cover of the Jinyi guard, and when they arrived at the gate of the governor's ya, they were discovered by the people of the patrol department. However, it is too late to report at this time! ”

Xu Liang listened, gritted his teeth and said coldly: "What a Duan Zhigang!" Silently, you dare to yin me! ”

Tietou looked at Xu Liang's face and said carefully: "Young master, there is a situation, Duan Zhigang, the deputy Qianhu of the Jinyi Wei Xi'an Office, has not shown up for a while!" Tsing Yiwei asked Jinyiwei about Duan Qianhu's whereabouts, but no one could say clearly! ”

"Huh?" Xu Liang looked at Xu Tietou in shock, "Duan Qianhu disappeared?" ”

Tietou said worriedly: "It's not clear whether it will disappear or not, but my subordinates sent people to pay close attention to the Jinyi Wei Xi'an Thousand Households, and they found a lot of new faces!" Young master, do you think there will be any major changes in Xi'an to hide from us? ”

Xu Liang became serious. He said in a deep voice: "It's very possible!" Otherwise, with the friendship between this official and Duan Qianhu, Duan Qianhu should not frame me like this! Send someone to keep an eye on Xi'an, and in addition, send a letter to Huang Daozhou, the capital of the capital, and ask him to check the recent movements of Jinyiwei. ”

After following this order, Xu Liang couldn't help but begin to admire Hong Chengchou. There was no action in the whole New Year, and as soon as he came, he dared to take a dozen people to Chang'an to rob Xu Liang's business. And there are also Jinyi guards secretly helping! You must know that after Duan Zhigang, the deputy of Jinyiwei, decided to take refuge in Xu Liang, Jinyiwei's Xi'an Office almost became a subordinate department of the governor's yamen, and Xu Liang said nothing.

However, now that Jinyiwei is actually involved, he is still helping Hong Chengchou, could it be that Jinyiwei has secretly made adjustments internally? Duan Zhigang was secretly done by Jinyiwei?

With Jinyiwei's always ruthlessness, Xu Liang did not doubt this possibility.

When Xu Liang was pondering Hong Chengchou, in the most luxurious restaurant in Chang'an City, Hong Chengchou was also pondering the third prince Cha Kexi and Carl Manchu of Turpan.

Wine is good wine. The banquet was a good seat, and the gentle singing of the scene on the side was also performed wonderfully and movingly, and the two guests, Chakosi and Karl, shook their heads and reveled in this rare enjoyment scene in Turpan.

However, Hong Chengchou and the two staff officers of the Governor's Mansion who accompanied him did not have this Yaxing at all, and they were very troubled by Cha Kexi's proposal.

Just as Chakexi made a request to Xu Liang, Chakexi also made a request to Hong Chengchou, the governor of the three sides, to trade pig iron and salt. However, Xu Liang has concerns about these two things, but Hong Chengchou's difficulties are even greater, because he not only has concerns. And there is no supply at all. Pig iron was a military item strictly controlled by the imperial court, and Hong Chengchou was in addition to smuggling. There is absolutely no way. As for salt, the salt business in the northwest has been completely in the hands of Liang Ji, except for the Liang family in Xufu and Jingzhou, salt from other places cannot be transported at all. Moreover, the salt introduction that was originally circulated in other provinces is like waste paper in Shaanxi due to the implementation of the new tax law. The Northwest Salt Merchants simply did not admit it.

Hong Chengchou's two eyebrows were almost twisted together, since Xu Liang sent He Qi to Guyuan to serve as Guyuan Zhizhou, the development of Hong Bing, which was directly under the jurisdiction of the Trilateral Governor's Office, was greatly restricted, and He Zhizhou rejected all the preferential conditions originally promised by Ma Zhizhou, and did not give grain and grass. No salaries, no ordnance. Hong Bing's expenses were entirely obtained from the court by the trilateral governor's palace.

And with the financial constraints of the household department of the court, the support that Governor Hong received from the household department and the military department was very limited! For more than a month in the first month, due to the shortage of food and grass, arrears of military salaries, and other problems, the ranks of the Hong soldiers not only did not grow, but deserted soldiers.

Hong Chengchou once again realized the importance of silver, and after learning from Jinyiwei that the prince of Turpan and Manchu were about to go to Chang'an to discuss business with the governor of Shaanxi, Governor Hong strongly realized that this was a good opportunity to increase his income, so he didn't hesitate to tear his face with Xu Liang, and stepped in without hesitation.

Before coming to Chang'an, Governor Hong and several staff officers had made a variety of ideas, the Ming Dynasty was rich in land, and heard that the tea, silk, cloth, porcelain, and medicinal materials of the Ming Dynasty were very popular in the Western Regions, so Governor Hong wanted to cooperate with the Prince of Turpan in this regard. Don't dare to say anything else, Hong Chengchou, as the governor of the three sides, still has a way to get some of these things.

However! Prince Chakosi wants pig iron and salt! Hong Chengchou doesn't have these two things! It's a headache.

At the end of the play, Cha Kexi and Carl woke up from their intoxicated state, Cha Kexi withdrew his gaze from the proud twin peaks of the play with difficulty, sighed softly, looked at Hong Chengchou, and said, "Lord Governor, how have you considered Xiao Wang's proposal?" ”

Governor Hong listened, laughed for a while, and said: "Third prince, the two things you want, even in the Ming Dynasty, are prohibited items, if the quantity is small, it is better for the governor to think of a way, you want such a large amount, at this time, the governor has to think of a way." ”

Cha Kexi said disappointedly: "Your Excellency, why is your answer the same as that of Lord Xu, the governor of Shaanxi!" ”

Governor Hong chuckled lightly, and then asked, "Karl Man just said that you have started a large-scale trade with Lord Xu's business last year, and this governor wants to ask, didn't Xu Liang provide you with pig iron and salt last year?" ”

Cha Kexi looked at Karl, and Karl said helplessly: "Don't hide it from the Governor, in the agreement we signed with Lord Xu, Lord Xu cleverly avoided the two items of pig iron and salt. Lord Xu's business name is only for Turpan medicinal herbs, cloth, silk, porcelain, jade and other things. ”

Hong Chengchou sighed. Although Xu Liang is not satisfied with management, he is also a little measured in his work! His mind moved, and he pretended to ask casually: "I don't know what Tulupan supplies to Shaanxi?" ”

When Karl heard this, he said with some pride: "Our Turpan land is vast and sparsely populated, the pastures are lush, and the animal husbandry is prosperous. We in Turpan supply war horses, ginseng, deer antler velvet, as well as nitrate and sulfur to Lord Xu. ”

Hong Chengchou's hand holding the cup shook slightly. He suddenly looked up and asked in surprise, "You also supply nitrate and sulfur?" …… Hehe, can Lord Xu use this thing? ”

Seeing this, Karl only thought that Hong Chengchou really didn't understand the situation, so he said quite complacently: "Your Excellency the Governor doesn't know, right? Our nitrate and sulfur in Turpan are specially designated commodities by Lord Xu, and Lord Xu can ask for as much as he wants, and the price given is very high. More expensive than war horses! ”

Governor Hong forcibly suppressed the shock in his heart and forced a smile: "This." Ben Governor really doesn't know. ”

The third prince Cha Kexi saw that Hong Chengchou only cared about asking questions, but did not give himself a positive answer, and couldn't help but say dissatisfiedly: "Your Excellency, Xiao Wang came to Chang'an this time, and he is very sincere!" As long as you agree to Xiao Wang's request for pig iron and salt, Xiao Wang promises. Our best horses from Turpan will be available to you in large quantities to help you build a strong cavalry! How is it? ”

When Hong Chengchou heard this, his old face turned red, and he sneered: "The matter mentioned by the third prince, please wait for the governor to think carefully before replying to you." Today, the Governor and the Third Prince met for the first time. How about not talking about business? After that, Hong Chengchou pointed to the actor with a bright face on the side, and said: "Miss Rong'er, the third prince is the honored guest of the governor, you have to wait for the third prince tonight, and you must not slow down the distinguished guest!" ”

The actor named Rong'er responded softly, put down the pipa, and walked behind Cha Kexi with a gust of fragrant wind, Tingting saluted, and said coquettishly: "Third prince, the maid will fill the ...... for you."

Cha Kexi shook all over, and suddenly felt that his bones were lighter, and his squinting eyes swept around the actor's chest, and he shouted repeatedly: "Good, good, good, Miss Rong'er is beautiful and fragrant, she is really a natural stunner." ”

Under the encouragement of the play's seductive eyes, Cha Kexi drank several glasses in a row, and finally gradually lost his control, revealing the true nature of the man, and began to do it in front of Governor Hong and the two staff officers.

Seeing this, Karl was busy with a smiling face and put Chakoxi out. Subsequently, under the guidance of Governor Hong's eyes, the actor followed out.

The two outsiders were gone, but Governor Hong sat there for a long time without saying a word.

The two staff officers of the Governor's Palace felt that the atmosphere was too dull, and one of them walked to the window and opened half of the window.

The two staff officers sat for a while again, and when they saw that Governor Hong still had no intention of speaking, one of them carefully called, "Your Excellency? ”

Governor Hong glanced up at the two staff officers, and said bitterly: "Both of you should have heard of the power of the Liang Army's flying eagle cannon, and this governor has been guessing where Xu Liang got enough gunpowder!" Now it seems that the reason lies in Turpan! ”

The two staff officers exchanged glances, and one of them sighed, "Yes, Lord Governor." In November last year, Xu Liang mobilized all the officers and soldiers of Shaanxi to kill nearly 100,000 rebel militias in just one month, forcing more than a dozen remnants of the militia to flee from Shaanxi in panic! Among them, the Liang Army's Flying Eagle Cannon was unstoppable, and it played a key role! Several subordinates and others also deliberately pondered the source of Liang Jun's gunpowder. It is said that the gunpowder bureau of the imperial court produced a limited quantity, and most of it was used in the Liaodong battlefield and the nine-border defense line, and it was impossible for a large amount of gunpowder to appear in the interior of the Ming Dynasty. ”

Another clapped his hands and said, "Now everything is clear!" Xu Liang secretly bought a large amount of nitrate and sulfur from Tulupan, and with these two main raw materials for making gunpowder, Liang Jun could make a large amount of gunpowder. By the way, my subordinates heard that Xu Liang's Tsing Yi Wei has a special arms department, which specializes in the production and development of gunpowder! ”

Hong Chengchou said worriedly: "Xu Liang is not subject to management, he has a heavy army, and he has a large amount of gunpowder, he alone is enough to shake the country!" ”

The staff officers were taken aback and asked, "Your Excellency, what should I do?" ”

Governor Hong thought for a moment and said, "You dare to write a secret report to report to the court that Xu Liang has mastered a large amount of gunpowder. By the way, don't use ordinary post stations, most of these post stations are monitored by Xu Liang's Tsing Yi guards. You went to Jinyiwei Xi'an to find Peng Qianhu, who was in office, and sent it out through Jinyiwei's secret channel. ”

When the staff officer heard this, he responded, and then asked Hong Chengchou: "What...... My lord, do we want to continue the conversation with Prince Chakosi? ”

Hong Chengchou nodded viciously and said resolutely: "Of course! We must snatch the business of Turpan from Xu Liang this time. If he can get the supply of nitrate and sulfur from Turpan, then the Governor can also build his own artillery unit! At that time, there is no need to worry about the soldiers and horses in Xu Liang's hands. ”

The two staff officers were in high spirits when they heard this, and they were all gearing up, ready to cooperate with Governor Hong to do a big job.

The next day, in the yamen of the governor of Shaanxi, Xu Liang stared at Wang Qinian and asked, "That Cha Kexi and Carl, still refuse to come out to see us?" ”

Wang Qinian frowned and said: "Xiaguan and Chen Yu, Wang Dazhuang waited at the door of the restaurant early in the morning, and until noon, Cha Kexi didn't show up. I don't know what benefits Governor Hong promised them! ”

When Tietou heard this, he was a little angry, and shouted at Xu Liang: "Young master, why don't I rush into the restaurant with the people from the patrol department and snatch back the two old boys of Cha Kexi and Karl?" ”

Xu Liang glared at Tietou and scolded: "You use your brain! Chakosi is our honored guest! And there are Hong Chengchou's people in the restaurant! What do you want to do with someone rushing over? Do you want to use a knife to cut someone?! ”

The iron head stepped back with a swoop.

Xu Liang Dynasty Wang Qinian said: "Turpan has the nitrate and sulfur we urgently need in our hands, and we can maintain the situation of friends as much as possible without tearing our faces." Tomorrow, you will take someone to the door of the restaurant, please! ”

Wang Qinian nodded helplessly and said, "Yes, the lower officials know." ”

At this time, a Tsing Yi guard hurriedly ran into the governor's yamen and reported to Xu Liang: "Lord Hui, a quarter of an hour ago, a staff officer under Governor Hong left the restaurant and went to the yamen of the Jinyi Wei Xi'an Thousand Households. ”

Xu Liang shouted, and shouted coldly at Wang Qinian and Tietou: "There is really a cat inside the Jinyi Xi'an Thousand Households!" When will the staff officers of the Governor's Mansion be able to enter and exit the Jinyi Guard Yamen at will? Qi Nian, Tietou, you come with me to Jinyi Wei Yamen for a trip, I want to see what is hidden inside! (To be continued.) )