In mid-April, Dengju City.

Li Congyan took a walk in the garden behind the mansion, accompanied by Li Sisheng, director of the Ministry of Civil Affairs' Department of Industry.

"How's the matter I've done?"

Li Sisheng crossed his hand and said: "Your Excellency, after the Lord's order to deploy the Industrial Division to expand to the surrounding areas of Dengzhou last month, his subordinates began to implement it. At present, all the workshops under the Industrial Department have been expanded, and the brewing workshop, woodwork workshop, and fertilizer workshop have opened new subordinate workshops, covering Laizhou, Qingzhou, and Mizhou, and are expected to be put into operation within two months. ”

"Haiyan Workshop and Liuli Workshop have also opened distribution offices in Laizhou, Qingzhou, Mizhou, Qizhou and other places, and they have already begun to operate."

Li Congyan nodded, these places basically coincided with the economic expansion areas he had demarcated. Now Li Congyan has shifted his attention from the inside to the outside, and the first step in expanding outward is economic infiltration, first knocking out the corners of the surrounding state capitals with real money, and then attacking militarily, and it will be a matter of course.

"You remember, the essence of this massive expansion of the Industrial Division is to open the way for the new army! You tell the directors of the workshops, don't just think about making money, you must actively win over businessmen and families from all over the world, and if necessary, you can let out some dividends, and you can also invite them to join the shares, of course, the premise is not to damage the fundamental interests of our Dengzhou. ”

"Whoa!"

"The production capacity of the workshops in various parts of the Industrial Division has been improved, the economic chassis has been expanded, and the money has been earned, so we must also do a good job."

Li Sisheng hurriedly said: "Rest assured, my subordinates have already consulted with Minister Li of the Ministry of Military Affairs, and transferred a group of capable people from the Ministry of Military Affairs, all of whom have been sent to the newly opened workshops and distribution offices in various states. The subordinates believe that it will not be long before the merchants and families of the states will taste the sweetness, and the subordinates dare not guarantee how many people will be recruited to join us in Dengzhou, but at least the military and political intelligence of the states will continue to gather back! ”

Li Congyan was very satisfied, but still mentioned something: "You remember, the Industrial Department is only a supporting role in collecting intelligence, and all the information is directly summarized to the Ministry of Military Affairs, and Li Wei will directly present it to me." The main battlefield of the Industrial Division is to win over businessmen and families in various states, corrupt soldiers and generals in various places, and buy the hearts of the people in various states! Do these three things well, you and the industrial department will be a great achievement! ”

"Whoa!"

"By the way, what has Director Chen been busy with lately, I haven't seen it for a while."

Li Sisheng crossed his hand and said: "Your Majesty, Director Chen went to Qingzhou at the end of March, and the brewing workshop built a new workshop in Qingzhou, and Director Chen personally went to take care of it. ”

"There are also directors of the fertilizer workshop and the wood workshop, Guo, who is not in Dengzhou, but he went to Mizhou a few days ago, and he is also implementing this big plan for economic penetration."

At this time, Li Congyan did not set up a special intelligence department in the Ministry of Military Affairs, after all, there were no relevant talents under him, and all intelligence matters were handled by Li Wei himself. Li Congyan also hopes that through this plan, he will cultivate some intelligence talents for himself.

Li Congyan said: "Go back and go to Li Wei of the Ministry of Military Affairs and tell him to send more capable soldiers of the New Army, let them disguise themselves as entourage, and act together with Chen, we must ensure everyone's safety, and there must be no accidents!" ”

"Whoa!"

Qingzhou City.

In a courtyard in the city, which has been converted into a new brewing workshop, a group of brewing masters and men who followed Chen Dongli came and went, and after a lot of busyness, the brewing workshop began to take shape, and it would not take a few days to start operating.

Chen Dongli was arguing with a capable man named Li Mu, who was sent by the Ministry of Military Affairs.

Chen Dongli said: "You settle down in the workshop first, and then act as a purchaser, which is convenient for entry and exit, and also convenient for activities in the city." ”

"Whoa!"

Li Mu responded, and then said: "Director Chen, this is the matter is almost done, you should also go back to Dengzhou as soon as possible." Although Qingzhou and other places are not enemy territories now, what we have to do is too taboo, and it is inevitable that we will encounter danger. If something happens here, I won't be able to explain it to Minister Li! ”

Chen Dongli shook his hand and said, "It's okay, nothing can happen." I will entertain the heads of families, businessmen and celebrities from all over Qingzhou for a while, and when I am done with these, I will find a day to go back. ”

Li Mu was willing to agree, although the Ministry of Military Affairs urgently sent six capable soldiers of the New Army to protect Chen Dongli's safety, but collecting intelligence on other people's territory and digging into the corners of people's walls would kill people if they didn't get it right! At this time, Li Mu wished that Chen Dongli would leave immediately.

But Chen Dongli insisted on his opinion and said: "Li Tingshi has a great kindness to my Chen family, if it weren't for Li Tingshi, my Chen family would not have today's achievements in another thirty or fifty years!" Such a great favor, even if I, Chen Dongli, throw this old bone here, what does it matter? ”

Seeing that it didn't make sense, Li Mu stomped his foot violently, gritted his teeth and said, "Then Director Chen promised me that as soon as today's banquet is over, he will return to Dengzhou overnight, and he must not delay any longer!" ”

In fact, there is a reason why Li Mu is so anxious, there are many shady things to do to spy on intelligence, such as stalking, bribery, coercion and temptation, etc., these are extremely dangerous actions, which must be carried out after Chen Dongli evacuates. But these words can't be said directly to Chen Dongli, after all, he is not from the Ministry of Military Affairs, so Li Mu is so anxious.

Seeing this, Chen Dongli also sighed and said: "Okay, I'll go to the banquet after arranging it, you can prepare a carriage and horse for me, and I'll go back overnight after I'm done!" ”

"Good!"

The banquet was set up in the front yard of the new brewery, and at this time, the men of the brewery were already at the door to greet the guests.

At this time, the front yard was full of banquets and friends, Chen Dongli greeted a group of Qingzhou family owners and businessmen, and suddenly saw an unexpected person sitting at a table in front of him.

"Shen Mintuo? Why is he here! ”

Since Wei Congrong and the others left Dengzhou with Li Xichu, Chen Dongli had never seen this former household Cao of Penglai County, and he was naturally very surprised to see him here at this time.

After a slight hesitation, Chen Dongli pulled the entourage next to him and whispered a few words, and seeing the entourage hurriedly returning to the backyard, Chen Dongli strode over and sat directly next to Shen Mintuo.

"Chief Chen!"

Shen Mintuo crossed his hands as a salute, but there was a trace of anger on his face, and several Qingzhou businessmen at the same table were very surprised when they saw this, and they all looked at Chen Dongli.

Chen Dongli crossed his hands and said to a few people: "Don't be surprised, this Shen Hucao is my old acquaintance, we are here to talk about the past, and please go to the side to sit down first, I will go to toast you in a while, I am lazy, I'm sorry!" ”

Those Qingzhou businessmen were very knowledgeable and changed their seats one after another.

"Okay, there's no one else here, there's something you can say."

"What if I say I'm here for a feast today?"

"Humph! I don't remember inviting you Shen Hucao. You and Wei Congrong followed Li Xichu, I heard that you left Dengzhou, but you didn't expect to meet here! ”

Shen Mintuo didn't pay attention to it, looked around, and then said, "Don't talk nonsense!" My eldest prince and I are both here in Dengzhou City, and we have been paying attention to you for a long time during this time. If we guessed correctly, is Li Congyan ready to attack Qingzhou and others? ”

Chen Dongli frowned, such major matters are top secrets in the shogunate, only the officials above the chief know about it, and the specific plan of action is only known to a few people such as Li Congyan, Li Wei, and Wu Conghan, how did Li Xichu and Wei Congrong know?

At this time, Chen Dongli was a little upset, but he still pretended to be calm and said: "I am a businessman, and what you said has nothing to do with me!" ”

"You are not an ordinary businessman, you are the person of Li Congyan, the assassin of Dengzhou!"

Shen Mintuo leaned over and said in a low voice: "Pinglu Jiedu envoy Shen Tan's mansion is in Qingzhou City, if we tell him Li Congyan's plan, what do you think will happen?" ”

Chen Dongli clasped his hands and said coldly: "You are talking nonsense!" ”

"Maybe!"

Shen Mintuo's face showed a sense of hatred, and he said: "We really don't have any evidence, but with our understanding of Li Congyan and our own experience, we can guess that Li Congyan will never expand business outside Dengzhou for no reason!" ”

As he spoke, Shen Mintuo pointed to a few guys who were waiting for guests at the banquet and whispered, "Do you dare to say that those people are from the brewing workshop?" Looking at their figures, it is clear that they are the Dengzhou New Army! ”

Chen Dongli couldn't sit still, and stood up suddenly, but was pressed by a hand on his shoulder.

"Hehe, it turned out to be Shen Hucao!"

Chen Dongli looked back and found that it was Li Mu who arrived in time, and his heart was suddenly relieved, so he gestured with his eyes.

Li Mu nodded slightly, and then said, "I didn't expect Shen Hucao to come to visit suddenly, because we didn't entertain him well!" ”

"Who are you?"

"Me?"

Li Mu forked his hand and said, "Contemptible Li Mu, he is responsible for some secret affairs in this brewing workshop. ”

"Dark things?"

Shen Mintuo laughed and said, "You describe it appropriately!" That's what I'm looking for today! ”

Li Mu said to Chen Dongli: "The guests are almost here, Lord Chen will go and get busy in advance, and I will greet Shen Hucao." ”

"Uh, yes, that's good!" Chen Dongli hurriedly dodged, greeting the guests from all sides, while secretly observing the situation here, his heart was very anxious.

Here, Li Mu asked, "I don't know what advice Shen Hucao has?" ”

Shen Mintuo thought that Li Mu had been taken care of by himself, so he said a little proudly: "I heard that Li Congyan is now rich and has gone to Qingzhou to develop business, our eldest son was harmed by Li Congyan alone, his family wealth is gone, and the second son is also dead, and several of us have lost everything by Li Congyan, this matter should be over!" ”

"How do you know?"

Shen Mintuo said fiercely: "You go and tell Li Congyan to let him hand over all the workshops and trading companies opened outside Dengzhou to my eldest son, and compensate us with 200,000 yuan!" In this case, we can consider keeping it secret for Li Congyan for the time being. ”

Li Mu stared at Shen Mintuo deadly, Shen Mintuo was not afraid at this time, and glared back directly, and the two were stalemate for a while.

"Haha!"

Suddenly, Li Mu laughed and said, "Okay! If nothing else, I can give this brewery to you first. As for the rest, let me send someone back to Dengzhou to report to the assassin! ”

"Good! Go ahead and get the paperwork now. ”

Li Mu said with a smile: "Can Shen Hucao be the master at this time?" I think it's better to invite Mr. Li here, I'll set up a table in the backyard to celebrate you, and then we'll sign and draw tonight, how about it? ”

"I don't need to!"

With a hint of vigilance, Shen Mintuo said: "I can make the decision on this matter, and I will go and sign now!" ”

"Okay, this way, please!"

Li Mu respectfully let Shen Mintuo into the backyard, Chen Dongli looked at the figures of the two of them leaving one after the other, and he didn't know why a chill surged in his heart.