Since the interests of all parties on the pacification of Japan were generally converged, it can be said that the ministers and generals basically reached an agreement at the first meeting, which can be said to be very rare.

Although there were pure idealists, they simply believed that the benefits of pacifying Japan outweighed the disadvantages for the Ming Dynasty, so they resolutely supported it.

But correspondingly, there are also many profit-seeking people, typical examples are some nobles.

Different from ordinary civil officials, because they could legally do business, they "responded to the call of the imperial court" to invest in industry very early, and successively established a series of light industries represented by steam-powered textile factories.

In essence, the nobles can also be classified as landlords, belonging to the feudal military aristocratic landlords.

In that era when land was the most important, the most valuable, and the most secure means of production, if there was no long-term guidance or even intervention by external forces, ordinary people would undoubtedly choose to buy land among the two options of investment and business and investment and land purchase.

Whether it is doing business or going to sea for trade, there is a greater risk, and if you don't do it, you will lose all your money, and it is much safer to use all the same money to buy arable land.

It was only when they encountered the greatest changes unseen in a millennium that the nobles successively followed the policies of the reformists, or the neo-Sifa party, and reluctantly invested in industries that they considered "machines to be much more expensive than manpower, and not at all cost-effective".

What is completely in line with human nature is that most of the first investments they invested in light industries with short construction cycles and quick money, such as textiles, hardware, paper, etc.; Among them, there are not many who dare to invest in heavy industry, and the new builders who are the first to invest in cement factories are outliers.

At that time, most of the heavy industries such as arsenals, iron and steel plants, chemical plants, and machinery processing factories were led by the imperial court and local governments, and there were very few nobles and private businessmen who took the initiative to set up heavy industries.

After recovering their investment in light industry and making a small profit, the nobles began to invest in those heavy industries with long construction cycles and slow money.

Today, many of the nobles of the Ming Dynasty have more or less various companies and enterprises.

Where did the military supplies for the war come from? It is nothing more than from all kinds of factories under the enterprise.

Steel for guns, airplanes, tanks, cannons, explosives for filling shells and aerial bombs, brass for bullets, fuel for vehicles, cloth for sewing uniforms......

And these, except for some of the government-run enterprises owned by the imperial court, most of them are privately run.

So, who can resist the temptation to make a fortune in war?

The demand for war is not comparable in peacetime, and tens or hundreds of thousands of orders can bring a company on the verge of bankruptcy back to life, and can also make a little-known small factory expand into a brilliant giant.

For those who have not personally experienced war, it seems to have become a wonderful opportunity to reverse their fate, but the cruelty behind it has not been paid attention to.

In other words, the powerful people don't care, and it's not them who die anyway.

Zhou Changfeng, who returned to the Jiangxinzhou station, was welcomed by all the officers and men of the 1st Marine Regiment, and Xie Wancheng, Zhu Lixuan, Zhao Hanfeng, and others carefully prepared a banquet to celebrate his return to his original post.

However, the peaceful life did not last long, and at dusk the next day, he received a call from Zhu Lingjing, asking him to go to the old place on time tomorrow morning.

Ay! After all, you still have to face that woman!

The next day, Tatsushi.

This year has not been a warm winter, and the early morning in Nanjing in mid-October is already noticeably cooler.

Outside the Weiyang Bank in Beicheng District, the streets on both sides can be called fallen leaves.

"Wait a moment here."

"Okay."

So why are you looking for yourself this time? It's not just a routine meeting, is it?

Just as Zhou Changfeng was distracted, an attendant entered the room and summoned him.

Zhu Lingjing, who was dressed in light purple clothes, was also draped with cloud shoulders, which should have looked quite dignified, but her leisurely sipping melon seeds seemed to break this image.

"See Your Highness."

"How are you doing in prison? Do you remember the pain of those dozens of sticks? ”

Zhou Changfeng replied very calmly: "Uh... In general, you can't say good or bad, but as for the fifty rods, I still remember them for the time being. ”

"For the time being? Isn't it true that the scar forgets the pain? Zhu Lingjing, who heard this, was angry and funny, "I don't have any reason to do more than three things here, only only two things." If you dare to talk to yourself, you will live the rest of your life in prison. ”

"Clear."

"When are you going to get married?" Is the date set? ”

Aha? Isn't the topic turning a little too fast?

Because it was so sudden, that Zhou Changfeng thought he had heard it wrong.

Seeing that he was stunned, Zhu Lingjing urged: "What about asking you, what's the matter, it's not finalized yet?" ”

"Uh... Before the Spring Festival, but the exact date has not been decided. ”

"That's the end of January next year?"

"Probably so."

"Hurry up and set a date, and then inform the Advisory Council Auditorium." Zhu Lingjing looked a little dissatisfied, and said lightly: "This is my gift, how about it?" ”

The auditorium of the Advisory Council?

In Zhou Changfeng's impression, it is usually for the court officials to organize some ceremonial activities, such as celebrations and banquets; At the same time, after the biannual meeting of the Advisory Council, a press conference will be held there to explain the key findings of the meeting.

As for the formal meetings, they are in the Council Hall.

So what does Zhu Lingjing mean to let herself go to the auditorium of the Advisory Council to hold a wedding? Hey, make no mistake, that's the exclusive venue of the Ming Congress.

Just imagining that scene can be exciting, but correspondingly, isn't that a bit too exaggerated?

"It's... Isn't it a little too flamboyant and too high-profile? He asked, "Has there been a precedent before?" ”

"Naturally, there is no precedent." With a sneering look on her face, Zhu Lingjing asked rhetorically, "Isn't this an honor?" People like you would worry about publicity? It's kind of funny. ”

"Your Highness, I actually want to be a low-key person." Zhou Changfeng replied solemnly.

"Do you believe this?"

“……”

For Zhu Lingjing, in just one year's work, the benefits that Zhou Changfeng has brought to her are not small.

Experienced and sensible scholars may have rigorously and pragmatically explored the differences between Eastern and Western civilizations, but ordinary people and literati have always been contemptuous of Westerners, who they see as nothing more than a bunch of shallow and despicable nouveau riche.

In today's era of nationalism, it is obvious that the officers of their own country are killing people in distant directions - teaching those guys to stand on the moral high ground naturally.

At the same time, considering that this matter would indeed have a negative impact if it were investigated deeply, the propaganda department of the Ministry of War deliberately described Zhou Changfeng's motive as "deeply indignant at the Ming compatriots who were unfortunately killed in the rebellion, and hated the rebels who acted recklessly", which greatly satisfied the people's patriotic mentality.

This is the influence of the public, and as for the internal aspect, some of the information brought back by Zhou and the report based on his own practical experience are quite valuable for reference.

The so-called prosperity and prosperity, Zhu Lingjing naturally followed and benefited.

In fact, it is only now that she can be regarded as returning to her roots, at first entrusting the navy to poach people from the forbidden army, and then promotions, transfers, etc., are quite politically resource-intensive.

As for this ingenious "gift", she took into account that Zhou seemed to lack a favorite thing, so she decided on such an idea that must be memorable.

This is the first time that the whole Ming Dynasty has held a wedding in the auditorium of the Advisory Yuan, how significant is it?

In Zhou's heart, this kind of "gift" should be more precious than superficial things like real money and rare treasures, right?

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness." Zhou Changfeng thanked him very sincerely.

"But Erl." Zhu Lingjing replied disapprenosingly, but as soon as the words came out, she regretted it a little, you must know that in order to accomplish this, she negotiated with the people in the Advisory Yuan for a long time, and it took a lot of effort.

Oh damn it, this guy can't really be taken literally, right? Wouldn't that mean you don't pay attention to it?

Just when she was struggling, Zhou Changfeng, who had been thinking about it, suddenly spoke.

"Anyway, I want to invest in a small gun factory, but this will be impeached, Your Highness, do you have any other way here?"

After listening to Zhou Changfeng's explanation of his thoughts, Zhu Lingjing shook her head slightly and said, "My government doesn't operate this kind of business. ”

Princess Ningyou's mansion has only been established for ten years, and it cannot be compared with those nobles who have been in business for decades.

With little background and little property, it is obvious that it can't afford heavy industry, so the investment in the princess mansion is some light industry and service industries, such as clothing, accessories, and hotels.

She thought for a moment and continued: "The laws of the dynasty clearly state that officials themselves and their immediate families should not engage in business, don't you have a sister? Let their family buy shares on their behalf, and if you have a need, you can pass on the word. ”

Anyway, I don't expect to make money to make a fortune, I just practice my ideas, and I don't have to worry about trusting or not.

"Alright, it's time to get down to business."

"Hmm."

Zhu Lingjing sat up straight and said quite seriously: "In the past two days, there have been rumors that the 'Endeavor Society' and the 'Youth Yongyue Society' are going to make a big move, attacking and assassinating court officials and private businessmen. ”

Both of them are medium-sized and tepid in the right-right and far-right factions of the Ming Dynasty, but their behavior is very radical and high-profile, especially the latter, who has organized two assassinations in the past seven years, resulting in the casualties of many officials with opposing political views.

Later, after being vigorously hunted down and attacked, they have been dormant for several years, and they have been relatively low-key for the past three years.

Zhou Changfeng looked at Zhu Lingjing in front of him with an expression of "how do you know", and the latter said nonchalantly: "One of them was arrested the day before yesterday for a drunken brawl, and the Shanghai government police didn't know it at first, but they interrogated these news by the way, and they were shocked and quickly reported it. ”

"Interestingly, they clearly want to expand their influence to promote their claims, and there is nothing more eye-catching than attacking and assassinating high-ranking officials of the imperial court and the wealthy businessmen of big business." Zhou Changfeng said, and then asked, "Your Highness, what do you want to explain?" ”

"Go back and do a good job, at least your subordinates can't cause chaos, understand?"

"Okay, understood. However, I feel that His Majesty and the Crown Prince do not seem to reject these factions, and this time ......"

Zhu Lingjing, who looked calm, said "heh", "Allowing existence does not mean that we can tolerate misconduct, stability is paramount." ”

Zhou Changfeng nodded in understanding.

"Besides, you should be vigilant and prepared these days, although we don't know what the scale of the so-called attack will be, but if there is a big disturbance, it can be called a credit for quelling the riots."

"But... Your Highness, this is in the capital, and it is very taboo to go out without receiving an order, no matter what the motive is. ”

"I'm just getting you ready." Zhu Lingjing was a little speechless, "As for how to deal with it at that time, it is natural to act at the opportunity." If you really need to, don't miss it. ”

"Okay, I got it."

"That's it, go ahead."

"Farewell."

In this era when Islamism is becoming more and more widespread, there are far-right factions in Britain, France, and the United States, and the Ming Dynasty is no exception.

Zhou Changfeng has a certain understanding of the Endeavor Association and the Youth Yongyue Society, whether it is the former Praetorian Mixed Third Brigade or the current Marine First Regiment, there are more or less people from these factions.

A few days later, on October 19th.

The Cabinet and the Ministry of War plan to hold a second meeting at the Mandarin Hall to build on the previous initial meeting and discuss the impact and possible costs of the war.

And at this moment in Shanghai......

It was a rainy day, drizzle, and in the early morning, the sky and the earth were gray, and the chill was very obvious.

A black sedan produced by Junda Company slowly drove out of a luxurious mansion, and when it came to the intersection, the other two sedans also started, one behind the other to protect the black sedan in the middle.

He was accompanied by Chen Zhongxu, a director of the Su Rong Group and a well-known economist who advocated land reform and a moratorium on military expansion.

Chen Zhongxu had already heard a little about the possible recent attacks, and those events in previous years were still vivid, so he was accompanied by at least eight guards every time he traveled in the past two days.

However, when the convoy passed through an intersection, a trolley suddenly rushed out of the street in front, and the first sedan immediately braked, and the last two cars had to slow down.

In the middle car, Chen Zhongxu, who was reading the newspaper, almost hit his head, and said dissatisfied: "What's the matter? ”

At this moment, two pedestrians on the side of the road suddenly attacked, pulled out pistols and pointed at the black car he was sitting in, and opened fire repeatedly!

In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen bullet holes appeared on the body; The guards in the front and rear sedans also immediately returned fire, some opened fire directly in the car, and some pushed the door and got out of the car and pulled out their guns.

For a while, the sound of "bang, bang, bang" gunfire instantly filled the entire street.

Immediately afterward, a bicycle quickly drove from the right side of the intersection diagonally ahead, and the cyclist took out a box-like object from the front basket and threw it at the car in the middle.

The close-quarters firefighting was so intense that the guards' attention was completely absorbed by the two attackers on the other side, so they didn't notice the danger on this side in time.

"Boom!"

The square box filled with more than half a kilogram of ammonium nitrate explosives exploded suddenly, and the flames and smoke instantly enveloped the entire car, and the debris was blown up all over the sky.

(End of chapter)