The bright moon hangs high, and the Apocalypse Guard Palace is in the camp.

In the tent, Xu Rui and Lin Shaodong were studying the map together, preparing to determine the location of the secret experimental artillery, when Cao Siyuan suddenly lifted the tent curtain and walked in with Zhang Zuofeng and An Ge.

As soon as Lin Shaodong saw the two of them, he rolled up the map and said, "I'll go out first." ”

Xu Rui waved his hand: "It's okay, it's okay to listen to it together, let's all sit down." ”

After that, he walked to the back of the handsome case and sat down, and the other people all sat in their respective positions, Lin Shaodong did not insist when he saw this, and walked behind Xu Rui to stand still.

"How's it going?"

Xu Rui nodded at An Ge and asked.

An Ge just poured himself a cup of cold water, and when he heard Xu Rui's question, he put down the cup and said, "Young Master, with the foreshadowing of your extravagant gifts, the business of Tianbao Pavilion has been going very smoothly in the past few days, and many lots have been auctioned at sky-high prices.

More than half of the various goods we brought have been sold, the operating income is 1.32 million taels, the net profit is more than 60 percent, and the funds for the planned steel plant, chemical plant and electric power research institute have been 80 percent.

There are still some relatively large quantities of daily necessities, and several large local businesses have come to us to cooperate.

When these goods are also sold, there will be nearly two million taels of input, and the funds for the several factories and research institutes you are planning will be about the same, and you can start it just when the technology of the research institute is mature. ”

I didn't expect the business to go so smoothly, and when he said this, everyone was happy.

Although Xu Rui can make money, he can spend money even more, especially for projects in the research institute.

In addition to ensuring shareholder dividends, Xu Rui has invested almost all his income into it, but he is still stretched.

Now the monthly meeting has become a bargaining meeting for various project teams to compete for project funds, and grandmaster-level figures in various fields will even roll up their sleeves for a few taels of silver.

In the face of this situation, in order to guide healthy competition, Xu Rui simply introduced an efficiency evaluation mechanism, and the projects under research are divided into two categories, one is the pre-research of cutting-edge science, which is supported by Xu Rui directly from the budget.

The other type is the research in the application stage, which determines the allocation of project funds by the research team by the amount of results and benefits, and the more teams that create results, the more research funds will be allocated, which stimulates the commercial incubation and economic transformation of the technology in this way.

The effect of this policy was immediate, and the direction of the research team was no longer just the technology itself, but the ultimate goal was to obtain profits through the application of technology, and truly achieved a foothold in the market.

Stimulated by this model, Mr. Changpo, Wu Tong and even Yuan Zixiong, who have become big experts, have to get out of the laboratory of boring research and begin to pay attention to the market.

In just a few months, three generations of antibiotics have been updated, special drugs for colds, malaria, plagues, and battlefield rescue have emerged one after another, and the application of steel, fertilizer, and spinning technology has also advanced by leaps and bounds.

On this basis, in order to cooperate with the overall development of the industry and to earn more profits, Xu Rui is also ambitious to enter an incomparably magical and incomparably profitable field, that is, electricity!

The discovery and application of electricity has truly pushed human beings into the palace of modern science, and its significance can no longer be described as epoch-making, and it has simply reshaped the development trajectory of the entire human race.

And in this world, in the environment of continuous industrial development, whoever controls electricity is equivalent to controlling the future.

To this end, Xu Rui has planned to set up a new special research institute, presided over by himself, the first step is to develop small generators, as well as the most primitive power transmission and storage as the research direction, and plan to take a few years to promote the project to the application stage.

Under Xu Rui's depiction, not only the scientists in the research institute, but also An Ge, Cao Siyuan, Zhang Zuofeng and Lin Shaodong couldn't wait to see the glowing glass and talking bamboo tubes.

As soon as Fang Cai An Gecai said that the funds were basically in place, several people were very excited.

Of course, this is all a later story, the so-called journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, in the vast ocean of science, if you want to really reach the other side, Xu Rui must now solve the problem of Xichuan.

"It's not bad, is there any movement in the four major families?"

Xu Rui suppressed the joy in his heart and asked in a deep voice.

An Ge shook his head and said: "No, they are very cooperative, at least they did not come forward to set up obstacles, but this is in Xichuan, you know, most of the businessmen who come to contact us are from the four major families, and they can be regarded as having direct contact with the four major families." ”

"I heard earlier that it is difficult for foreign forces to gain a foothold in Xichuan, but this time we brought several chambers of commerce in the capital to menacing, but they didn't seem to react, will there be any articles here?"

Cao Siyuan asked thoughtfully.

An Ge said with a smile: "I'm afraid they have long known about the relationship between Tianbao Pavilion and the young master, so they are temporarily different according to the soldiers, they want to wait for the contact with the young master to have results." ”

Xu Rui shook his head: "I thought the same before, but I'm afraid things are not so simple, the water in Xichuan is deeper than we think." ”

Zhang Zuofeng nodded and said: "I agree with the lord's opinion, the appearance of officials and soldiers in the mountains is not simple, what is it that requires officials and soldiers to be guarded in disguise, and it also involves smuggling business with Xiliang, I am afraid there is a lot of article in this." ”

Speaking of this, Xu Rui sighed: "I probably have a bit of an eyebrow about the things in the mountains. ”

"Oh, do you know what those officers and soldiers are guarding?"

Zhang Zuofeng was stunned, and the others also looked at Xu Rui curiously.

Xu Rui said: "I'm also guessing, but it should be eight or nine."

Today I met Cui Lingwen on Wanfu Tower, this person is arrogant and reckless, originally I thought he was spoiled by the four major families, until I smelled the smell of him. ”

"What's that smell?"

Cao Siyuan asked curiously.

He had personally experienced what happened upstairs in Wanfu, and he also smelled the special smell on Cui Ling's tattoo, but he didn't know what it was, and now he heard Xu Rui mention it, which suddenly aroused his curiosity.

"Fushou ointment, that is, opium!"

Xu Rui said in a deep voice.

"What?!"

Everyone was stunned, although opium was not widely rampant in this world, it was also notorious, especially in several economically developed provinces in the southeast, and there were not a few people who were victimized by it, and there were not a few people who died, but Changxing City at the foot of the Son of Heaven was still a pure land, so even Cao Siyuan, who was born on the road, only heard his name and did not see it.

"No wonder I always feel that Cui Lingwen is a little delirious, it turns out that he has absorbed Fushou ointment......"

Cao Siyuan read silently, and the doubts in his heart were suddenly relieved.

"It turned out that what they smuggled to Xiliang was Fushou ointment, no wonder they had to kill them all immediately after discovering that Shangguan was not there......"

Zhang Zuofeng muttered to himself, suddenly seemed to remember something, and exclaimed: "If the mountain is really planted with Fushou ointment, they use officers and soldiers to guard it, wouldn't it be ......?"

"Yes!"

Lin Shaodong said: "They dare to blatantly use officers and soldiers to guard Fushou ointment, and maybe even use officers and soldiers to smuggle Fushou ointment, which means that the officers and soldiers of the entire Xichuan are wearing a pair of pants with the four major families, and they are no longer soldiers of the imperial court!" ”

"Hiss......"

Hearing this, everyone immediately gasped.

I didn't expect the control of the four major families to reach such a point, if Xu Rui wanted to make a fuss about the four major families, it would be equivalent to confronting the entire Xichuan military and government, if the other party's dog jumped over the wall in a hurry, this Apocalypse Guard would be very dangerous in the midst of wolves.

Seeing everyone's solemn expressions, Xu Rui waved his hand and said: "I have thought of this situation a long time ago, and at the moment we and the four major families are far from turning their faces, but this is not my headache." ”

"Is there worse news than this?"

Zhang Zuofeng keenly discovered a hint of gloom in Xu Rui's words.

Xu Rui sighed and said: "There are a few things, first, a few months ago, I heard King Yu mention that the Criminal Department found a large amount of Fushou paste in the southeastern provinces, and the merchants who sold it were Xiliang merchants, and now it seems that Xichuan is very likely to be the source."

Second, since they have the ability to sell Fushou paste to the southeastern provinces, it means that there must be a huge network behind it, which must involve more forces.

Third, most of the female slaves who appeared in today's second auction are from the capital, that is to say, the four major families are also related to the mastermind behind the Yue Shang case, and it is not known whether this black hand is involved in the network of Fushou Cream.

Fourth, since there is a large number of Fushou ointment, and it has been repeatedly banned, there must be collusion between officials and businessmen.

The southeastern provinces, the so-called land south of the Yangtze River, have always been the sphere of influence of the Liao king, and nine times out of ten the officials there are from his disciples, and it is not known whether the Liao king is involved in this network of selling Fushou ointment, or what role he plays in it. ”

These four points are all bad news for the whole body, and the problems they found at the moment are only the tip of the iceberg, but it can already be vaguely seen that the size of the iceberg is extremely huge, and it is not at all comparable to a small Xichuan.

Everyone was silent, directly confronting such a huge force, obviously everyone had no bottom in their hearts.

"Why don't you report this matter to the court first?"

After a while, An Ge was the first to say tentatively.

Zhang Zuofeng shook his head and said: "No, there must be someone in the court, once it is reported to the court, they will know immediately, at the moment, we and the four major families can only test each other at most, but if they know that we have mastered this secret, I am afraid they will immediately do something to us." ”

Everyone nodded, and they all felt that he had a point, and they couldn't help but fall silent again.

"Since Xichuan's bones are so hard to gnaw, why don't we change places?"

Lin Shaodong said.

Cao Siyuan immediately objected: "No, giving up Xichuan is equivalent to giving up the rubber forest, and since the other party's power is so huge, who can guarantee that there will be no tentacles in the next place?" Do we have to retreat as soon as we find difficulties? ”

"This can't be done, that's not possible, what can you do?"

An Ge finally couldn't help it, rubbing his temples and blocking Cao Siyuan's words.

Cao Siyuan seemed to have made up his mind, gritted his teeth and said: "Of course there is a way, since the purpose of the adults is to make money and weaken the enemy country, then we can cooperate with the four major families, control the business of Fushou Cream, and then sell that thing to Xiliang." ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone was stunned.

To say that Cao Siyuan was born in the mixed rivers and lakes after all, and his ruthlessness is definitely above everyone, his poisonous plan not only solves the antagonistic relationship between Xu Rui and the four major families, but also can achieve Xu Rui's goal.

After thinking about it, everyone thought it was a good idea, and couldn't help but look at Xu Rui.

However, Xu Rui shook his head firmly without thinking about it.

"You don't know the danger of that thing, once it spreads, it will destroy a people, or even the entire human race, whether it is an enemy country or not."

The suffering caused by the Opium War to the Chinese nation is still vivid, as if it was a scar carved into the blood of the descendants of Yan and Huang, although what Cao Siyuan said was indeed a good idea, but Xu Rui would never choose such a means.

Take 10,000 steps back and say, this kind of thing is like the devil of Pandora, once it is opened, it may be able to achieve a certain effect in a short time, but in the long run, he will also suffer from it, Xu Rui has not been short-sighted to this point.

Zhang Zuofeng frowned: "What do you mean?" ”

Xu Rui said in a deep voice: "Originally, it was just for his own interests, but the harm of Fushou paste is too great, since he has discovered this matter, he can't ignore it, if the four major families and the forces behind him are really tumors, then they must be dug up."

It's not that I'm overflowing with sympathy, or meddling, the things in this world are meant to affect the whole body, and the development of industry needs a good social foundation, and we must not let this cancer destroy the good environment. ”

Zhang Zuofeng sighed: "But my lord, it seems that we don't have the capital to solve this tumor at the moment......"

Xu Rui sneered: "Since it is a fortress, it will definitely be breached, since it can't be done from the outside, then let's try it from the inside, this matter can't be rushed, the first step is to determine whether it is Fushou paste hidden in the mountain." ”

As he spoke, Xu Rui pulled out an arrow and said, "Cao Siyuan listens to the order!" ”

Cao Siyuan's face turned grim, and he hurriedly got up and said, "The last general!" ”

Xu Rui said: "You are most familiar with the situation in the mountains, and I ordered you to lead the reconnaissance company to sneak into the mountains again to determine whether the Fushou paste is planted there." ”

"Yes!"

"Zhang Zuofeng!"

"The last general!"

"I order you to make a precautionary plan, once the situation in Xichuan changes, you must ensure that the Apocalypse Guard can respond quickly and retreat."

"Yes!"

"Xu Ange!"

"Young Master."

"In the past few days, you have sold all our things as planned, and then continue to contact the local merchants, if you have the opportunity, you can find out the news of the Fushou Paste side by side, but you must not be reluctant, and you must not expose the truth that we already know this secret."

"Yes."

"Tianqiwei is loose on the outside and tight on the inside, everything is as usual, the so-called is not broken and not standing, I have made up my mind to make a fuss in Xichuan this time, defeat the four major families in one fell swoop, and establish the first base for the Galaxy Group and industrial trade!"

"Yes!"

Xu Rui finished his decision in one breath, and everyone stood up and hugged their fists.

"My lord, since you have made up your mind to break with such a huge force, do you know if you have a plan?"

Lin Shaodong asked.

Xu Rui sneered: "I have planted a seed, but originally it was only a two-percent chance of winning, fortunately, someone was smart and sent me a good knife, if it is used effectively, at least there is an eighty-percent chance of winning!" ”

As soon as these words came out, most of the gloom on everyone's brows suddenly dissipated.

Xu Rui glanced at everyone, and said secretly in his heart: "The ambitious Zheng Yichen is a smart person, even I want to use it, I don't know if you will become a knife to cut down this towering tree......"