Lian Chongyi also smiled meaningfully, but hurriedly shook his head: "Five hundred? The conditions are too harsh for us to accept. ”

Niu Yuan lay back, waved his hand and said, "No matter what, my artillery is going to be decided." The exact number can be further reduced, it depends on your bottom line. ”

"The following requirement is that it is best not to exceed three hundred."

"That's right," Niu Yuan was greatly satisfied when he saw his attitude of negotiating, "You have confessed to us like this, how can we bear to harm you?" It's not hard for others, so let's set two hundred doors. ”

Lian Chongyi first glanced at the faces of the officials around him, and then thanked: "Feng Xiang understands the righteousness, and the small one sincerely admires." I went back to draw up an agreement, and promised to send it tomorrow to end the matter as soon as possible for the imperial court. ”

"It is good that the deed should be written as soon as possible, but the matter is so important that it has to be handed over to the court. You wait slowly, I won't call you, so don't be in a hurry to send it. ”

"Yes." Lian Chongyi saluted respectfully and left with Lu Zhixian.

"Prime Minister Feng," Hong Lishen suddenly stepped forward and smiled slightly puzzled, "You personally brokered the transaction of these two hundred cannons, which is really a glory for the imperial court." However, as soon as this sea ban is issued, ships in the South Seas will not be able to pass, so it is better to keep this order and put the matter of the new deal aside. ”

Niu Yuan frowned, pondered for a while, but his face gradually became gloomy, and one hand knocked on the table irritably, and the sound was extraordinarily loud.

Hong Lishen also saw that there was anger in his eyes, so he turned his back and didn't dare to make a move.

"Don't you understand what a two-pronged approach is?" Although Niu Yuan's tone was stern, there was still a hint of pride in it, "There is a way to do not conflict with these two things. ”

Seeing that his expression relaxed, Hong Lishen relieved himself and hurriedly said, "The lower official is dull, please teach Master Niu." ”

"We will first convey the order to ban the sea, so that the coast can prepare for war as soon as possible; After a month or two, the imperial court will complete the deed, and then issue a pass seal to Lian Chongwen, making a special exception for them. When the time came, the ships carrying the cannons arrived, and they were unloaded on the spot and put into coastal defense. ”

Hong Lishen rolled his eyelids up and down, and said hesitantly: "Feng, Fengxiang, is it too risky this time." If you let the ministers know that you want to make a special case for the Yiren in order to rush a little time, there will be many people who will be dissatisfied. They still need to participate in the court meeting, and if they use the issue to play and oppose it en masse, the deal may not be completed. ”

"Those corrupt people, they only think about maintaining the rules, and they don't do anything, so why bother listening to their noise?" As soon as he mentioned the 'ministers', as if he had hooked Niu Yuan's heart, he was so angry that he scolded loudly, and it took a moment to ease up, nodded and said: "But what you said is right, the rabbit is in a hurry and bites, I can't rely on the power at hand and make enemies everywhere." It's better to hide it, and directly take the sea ban order to inform Fuguang and go for the reason of inspecting the war situation. ”

"Isn't this even going to be hidden from Liu Gong?" Hong Lishen asked timidly.

Niu Yuan smiled: "Don't be nervous. Hong Shaobao thought about it, as long as he concealed this matter, he would not delay time, and he would be able to quickly rectify the coastal defense and pacify the Haikou invaders. When the time comes, there will be only one great achievement. Liu Gong is sitting on fame and fortune because of this, how can he criticize you and me for a little mistake? Don't worry. ”

Hong Lishen was quite familiar with this passage when he heard it, and his heart was faintly uneasy; But seeing Niu Yuan's decisive energy, he knew that he couldn't argue, so he nodded helplessly.

Under Niu Yuan's self-pride strategy, Hong Lishen went out of the town of Fuguang in the name of inspection, set up a government in Zhangzhou, took over the military and political power, and began to carry out reforms.

Of course, the local officials did not know the meaning of their origins, and the governors of Fuguang and Guangzhou, in order to test it, delivered the Tang Bao that had been defeated in the near month. Hong Lishen carefully checked all the Tang newspapers and learned that Haikou had not violated the border for ten days, and the situation was not urgent, and he felt a lot more peaceful. So, after a short greeting, he took out the sea ban order in his arms, and let them carry out the decision of the prime minister. The second governor saw at a glance that there was no seal on the document, and he looked at each other, and he knew it well, and at the same time he was terrified - this showed that Niu Yuan was going to make a big move.

"Prime Minister Feng's big move this time, we strongly support it, and voluntarily pick up a burden for him. I don't know what Shao Bao wants to tell us? I'll do the same. Governor Mu of Guangdong asked, and Governor Song on the side nodded in agreement.

"This person is very merciful, and when he learned that it was not easy for you to be an official, he told me not to embarrass you when I was leaving. His old man's intention is to only let you act according to the calculations, and do not ask about the rest, and will not take away the power you deserve. After that, Hong Lishen looked at the two governors, but they became a little helpless, and they didn't mean to be grateful to Dade at all, which made them very puzzled.

"The lower official is willing to obey the minister's order!" When the two governors saw Hong Lishen looking at them, their faces were as frightened as earth, and they said in unison.

"Feng Xiang treats you so well, why don't you thank him for his kindness?" Hong Lishen scolded.

Governor Song was stunned at the time, but Governor Mu reacted faster, lifted his official uniform, and knelt down: "Niu Gong's kindness can chase the sun and the moon, and we are sincerely afraid of receiving this quilt, but I am afraid that I will not be able to repay it with all my strength, so I dare not thank you." ”

Hong Lishen laughed at this time: "Why be so anxious!" As long as you do your best, Niu Gong will definitely reward you! ”

The embarrassing atmosphere eased, and this Hong Shaobao's attitude towards them was much better, and he even took the map himself, compared it on the sea frontier, and tirelessly explained Niu Yuan's grand plan for them. It's a pity that the two governors were absent-minded, and only memorized the general guidelines, and didn't listen to the rest of the words.

They listened impatiently for a long time, and finally got rid of this hour, took the paperwork from Hong Lishen's hand, and hurriedly walked out of the lobby.

"Prime Minister Feng did it without the court this time," Walking to the door, Governor Mu and Governor Song whispered, "and refuse to let yourself take responsibility, don't ask or care, let us deal with it ourselves." If we do something wrong, or if we leak the news, won't he take us to blame? It's worrying! ”

Governor Song sighed: "Who told Liu Gong to trust him, what can we do?" ”

"You can't sit back like this," Governor Mu's eyes widened, and he said hatefully, "Since they can blame us for everything, can't we also blame others?" Leave the matter of coastal defense to the prefect of the coastal area, and ask them for their guilt if something happens! ”

"That's a good idea!" Governor Song said happily, "In addition, we must send people to Beijing from time to time to investigate, and when we get the news, we will immediately clear up the relationship!" ”

The two of them immediately made up their minds and went back to their own provinces.