Feng Quji nodded slightly: "That's right, an elder of the Shangguan family wants to meet with Your Highness." ”

Li Changfeng frowned slightly, and asked suspiciously: "What do you see me doing?" ”

On the surface, the Shangguan family does not have a conflict of interest with him, and the relationship with the royal family is not bad, but Li Changfeng is instinctively wary of the eight families.

This kind of ancient, long-standing family has a very deep heritage, and has formed a community of interests with other families for many years, who knows what moths they have?

Feng Qu laughed and said, "Your Highness doesn't need to be too vigilant, the alliance between the eight great families is not unbreakable, and they each have their own interests and needs. ”

Li Changfeng nodded secretly.

At the beginning, he dealt with the Zhao family and the Wang family one after another, and the two families also tried to unite other families to suppress the royal family, but they all ended up in vain, which shows that they are not monolithic.

Li Changfeng had vaguely guessed his purpose, but he was not completely sure, so he asked, "I don't know why the old prime minister suddenly mentioned this?" ”

Feng Quji said: "The old man heard that His Highness's railway track production was encountering resistance, and remembered the vital role of steam trains to Daqian, so he went to visit the Shangguan family and asked for their help, after all, they are the absolute leading boss in the smelting industry. ”

Li Changfeng didn't say anything, picked up the teacup and took a sip gently.

Feng Qujian was right, the Shangguan family was indeed a well-deserved leader in this industry, and if he could bring them in, it would indeed greatly increase the speed of the sound field, he hadn't thought about it before.

But cooperating with the Eight Great Families is, in his opinion, tantamount to seeking skin with a tiger.

It's not that he's afraid of the Shangguan family, it's just that he doesn't want to waste time and energy on this kind of family fight, troublesome.

In fact, in his opinion, he didn't need to go head-on with the Eight Great Families at all.

With the promotion of industrialization, these so-called families will sooner or later be slapped to death on the beach by the tide of the progressive times, such as the current Wang family and the Zhao family, which have begun to decline.

Feng Quji seemed to see his thoughts, and said with a smile: "Your Highness, in fact, the Shangguan family is also very much looking forward to cooperating with you, you are in an absolutely dominant position in this regard, and they even need to rely on you." ”

"Oh? Why did the old prime minister say this? ”

"Gunpowder! As long as your Highness controls the gunpowder for a day and there is no outflow, then they need you, and although the iron ore they control is superior in quantity, the mining efficiency is far inferior to yours. ”

Li Changfeng was stunned.

It's just like the coal mine controlled by the Zhao family at the beginning.

Most of the mines they have in their hands are open-pit mines that are easy to mine.

Many of the things that are buried in the ground, they can't pick them up at all, and even if they go to great length, the cost is very staggering, because they rely on pure manpower.

And Li Changfeng is different.

The rocks outside the mine, as soon as the gunpowder explodes.

Although this crude method was a far cry from the mining methods he had known in his previous life, it was so efficient in this world that the family could not match.

Let's talk about smelting technology.

Although Li Changfeng is not an expert in this area, he also relied on some basic smelting techniques and quenching techniques in his previous life, so that the steel he smelted surpassed the Shangguan family in all aspects.

For example, the refined steel used to make artillery and muskets, and the steel to make steam trains and railroad tracks, the Shangguan family could not make them.

The advantageous industries on which the Shangguan family relied for survival were being eaten away by him step by step, and if he devoted himself to weapon forging and coin minting, then the Shangguan family would inevitably fall into a crisis.

Now it seems that the Shangguan family must have realized this.

With his current power, it is impossible to suppress him.

The only way out is cooperation.

After sorting out his thoughts, Li Changfeng nodded.

Feng Qu laughed and said: "Your Highness, the lower officials just think that the Shangguan family can be used and can help you, so they will take a lead and build a bridge, and how to talk about it is your business." ”

Li Changfeng arched his hand: "The old prime minister is bothered. ”

"Your Highness will be okay tomorrow, right?"

"Nope."

"Okay, then the old man will set up a table at Your Highness's Diandude."

"I'm tired."

……

Early the next morning.

When Li Changfeng came to the private room of Diandude, Feng Quji was talking with a middle-aged man who was wide, fat, white, clean and rich, with a gentle smile on his face, and looked harmless to humans and animals.

Smiling Tiger.

Li Changfeng popped up these three words in his head.

Seeing Li Changfeng coming in, the middle-aged man hurriedly got up, trotted over with a fat body and fell to his knees with a thud.

"Contemptible Shangguan Feiyun, meet His Royal Highness the Nine Emperor Princes."

Li Changfeng smiled and helped Shangguan Feiyun up.

"Please get up, please get up."

Feng Qujian smiled and pointed to the chair: "Your Highness, Elder Shangguan, take a seat." ”

Li Changfeng took a seat, but Feng Qujian did not.

He arched his hand towards Li Changfeng and Shangguan Feiyun: "Two, the old man has some discomfort in his abdomen, you talk, the old man will go first to make it convenient." ”

Li Changfeng glanced at Feng Qujian and nodded.

Uncomfortable in the morning and uncomfortable in the evening, uncomfortable at this time, its intention is too obvious, that is, I don't want to hear the conversation between Li Changfeng and Shangguan Feiyun.

Among them, there is no benefit in the entanglement of interests, and it is not good to know more.

It is enough to do a good job of matchmaking and get the favor of both parties.

I have to say that Feng Quji is a scheming guy who advances and retreats in a measured manner.

Shangguan Feiyun's buttocks didn't sit hot and hurriedly got up, making a gesture of please: "Old Prime Minister, please do it!" ”

After Feng Qujian left, Shangguan Feiyun sat down, with a kind but not flattering smile on his face, and personally poured tea for Li Changfeng.

"Your Royal Highness the Nine Emperor Princes, with your identity, the head of the family should have come to talk to you in person, but you also know that the head of the family is not in the capital, so it can only be discussed by me, an elder."

"As long as you can call the shots."

Shangguan Feiyun Li Changfeng has heard that he is the number two person in the Shangguan family, and he has won the trust of the head of the family and has great authority, so he is also a little qualified to talk to him.

Shangguan Feiyun laughed and didn't answer the words: "Contemptible people have always admired His Royal Highness the Nine Emperor Princes, when you returned to Beijing, I felt that you were definitely not a thing in the pool, and sure enough, soon you will control the floods in Shangzhou for the people of the world......

Li Changfeng listened quietly for a moment, and gradually lost his patience.

"Elder Shangguan......" Li Changfeng raised his hand and pressed it, interrupting: "Let's get down to business." ”

Shangguan Feiyun smiled awkwardly and said: "Your Highness is quick to talk, then the contemptible person will get down to business, the Shangguan family hopes to cooperate with Your Highness to develop the steam train project." ”

Li Changfeng slowly picked up the teacup and played with it in his hand, and said lightly: "Cooperation is not impossible, but the question is what can you Shangguan family come up with?" ”

"Iron ore! Massive amount of iron ore! Our Shangguan family relies on this to eat, and the reserves are very large! There are also iron-making craftsmen, all of whom are skilled, there are thousands, and by the way, we also have large and small steel-making plants distributed all over the country. ”

(End of chapter)