waited until everyone was seated, and Xiao Jingmao was relieved.

The maids who were standing on the side saw that everyone had entered, and brought the food and drinks that had been prepared to their seats, and a group of dancing girls came from the side, singing and dancing in the lobby with the melodious singing.

Tasting the elaborate food, listening to the pleasing music, and the bewitching and charming dancing girls swaying in front of you, everyone except a few people fell into it, and felt like they were in heaven.

To tell the truth, they are rich businessmen and gentry, and what they enjoy on weekdays is not bad, and they are used to these things.

But today, after all, it was the Red Fengjun who personally invited him, which was naturally of extraordinary significance, making everyone feel at home, and in the past, when they faced the government, they were all submissive, for fear that they would make a mistake and give their lives to the letter.

In such an environment, everyone unloaded their vigilance and plunged into this festive feast.

The whole restaurant is also full of celebratory atmosphere.

Squinting at everyone's expressions, Xiao Jingmao smiled at the corner of his mouth, and naturally thought in his heart: "According to this, the things ordered by the lord should be able to be solved." But when he turned his eyes, he noticed that the Pamir and Rakesh in the distance looked impatient, and he couldn't help but feel a little strange, just because he didn't ask about the lively banquet now, but kept it in his heart and kept drinking.

After the three rounds of drinking, everyone present began to have their eyes foggy and felt a little drunk.

The wine table was full of scraps, mixed with the previous abundance, and those dancing girls were already tired, so they had to say goodbye, even the artists who played the music were also a little out of breath, without the previous sense of Qingyue.

"Premier Xiao. If nothing else, may I be allowed to say goodbye?"

Probably feeling that the atmosphere had subsided, Naraksh suddenly stood up and bowed to Xiao Jingmao and begged.

"This, is there something urgent about Mr. Fei?"

Xiao Jingmao's body stiffened, the smile on his face froze, his eyes moved, and he also saw that those merchants showed a hint of retreat because of Lakesh's behavior.

These businessmen are all old and cunning people who have been fighting in the mall for a long time, and of course they know that although today's banquet is grand and extremely respectful to them, there are naturally other purposes hidden in it.

Rakesh looked sad and opened his mouth to reply: "Alas! I am also ashamed to talk about this. Just a few days ago, the Mongols blocked all my mines on the grounds that we were an enemy, and not a single saltpeter was allowed to be shipped out. If you want to meet your country's requirements, I'm afraid I won't be able to!"

"Is this true?" Xiao Jingmao's heart tightened, and he felt a little bad.

If it weren't for the fact that before the Northern Expedition, the Red Phoenix Army had hoarded a large amount of saltpeter, otherwise how could they have made enough firearms?

Without Rakesh, the Red Phoenix Army can still rely on the previous storage to support it in the short term, but in the current protracted state, can it be supported by the previous reserves alone?

Xiao Jingmao was skeptical.

Now, when Mongolia suddenly came with such a hand, it was equivalent to directly choking the neck of the Red Phoenix Army!

"That's right. Otherwise, why does Premier Xiao think I'm so nervous?" Rakesh replied, "You know, even my workers have been detained, and I can't do anything now. ”

Xiao Jingmao asked again: "In that case, can you let our Red Phoenix Army help you?" If we come forward and control the mine, it shouldn't be a problem. ”

After Yuan Ye killed Atahai and captured Lintao Mansion, he was full of confidence in his army, believing that no one in this world could stop the Red Phoenix Army.

"This ......," Rakesh hesitated for a moment, pondering for a moment before replying, "The mine is too far away from here, and most of them are located in Tibet. With the strength of your army, I'm afraid that it won't work! Maybe, should I give up?" Speaking of this, his face darkened, revealing a little sadness.

When the Red Phoenix Army first established itself in Chang'an, it began to buy saltpeter on a large scale, and it was at that time that Lakesh hooked up with the Red Phoenix Army and started by selling saltpeter.

However, with the increasing popularity of firearms, the production of saltpeter is gradually insufficient, and now Mongolia is aware of this problem and has issued a ban for this, and the Red Phoenix Army has no choice but to accept it.

Xiao Jingmao's brows tightened, and he asked in a low voice, "How can this be?"

"No way. Rakesh shook his head and replied: "The ban on Mongolia has been issued, and checkpoints have been set up on the roads along the way to strictly restrict the sale of saltpeter. If you find someone who dares to die, you will be killed! Don't you notice that in the last six months, I haven't dared to leave Chang'an? I'm afraid of being caught by the Mongols!" As he spoke of this, there was a hint of fear on his face, and it was obvious that he remembered some bad memories.

At the beginning, he fled from Mongolia through hardships and dangers, and he has always had lingering palpitations.

"Okay, I see. Over the years, thanks to your help. Although Xiao Jingmao was a little gloomy, he was still relieved.

The area they occupied did not produce much saltpeter, and had to be purchased from outside, half of which was from Tibet by Rakesh, and the other half from Sichuan. If Tibet is lost today, the production of gunpowder will drop by at least half.

This news is not good news for the Red Phoenix Army.

Rakesh smiled reluctantly, leaned over and thanked: "Premier Xiao is kind-hearted and has been under him for a long time. It's just that in the future, I'm afraid there will be no chance of cooperation. When he got up, he got up from his seat and stepped out the door.

At this step, the prosperity of this place can be regarded as completely cut off from him.

Xiao Jingmao was a little gloomy, and laughed at himself: "Alas. It seems that the Northern Expedition has always been stormy, and setbacks and changes have always been indispensable. ”

Seeing Xiao Jingmao so sad, everyone was also concerned, with some apprehension on their faces, and they didn't know how to tell them.

The atmosphere was silent for a while, with an unusual quietness.

"Premier Xiao. You're lying nowhere!" Sensing the change in the atmosphere, I saw Yang Lao standing up slowly, although he was old, but his words were full of energy, enough for everyone to hear clearly: "If you talk about setbacks, may I ask all of you present, who has not encountered them?" But I believe that as long as we have firm faith and unite as one, we will definitely be able to overcome the catastrophe and usher in a new situation." ”

When Yang Chenglong saw his uncle standing up, he also opened his mouth to persuade: "Brother Xiao." Have you forgotten the situation before you arrived in Chang'an? At that time, you kept telling me about the things you experienced, and every single one of them was thrilling, and the slightest carelessness would be a catastrophe. But don't you come out too? I don't believe it, can it just be that this little thing can hit you?"

"It's just a reduction in saltpeter, what is it? Big deal, I donate 10,000 yuan of family wealth. That's enough, right? ”

"The soldiers and horses have not moved, and the grain and grass go first. I still have corn and a thousand stones at home, and I will send it to the front line, so that you soldiers will be fed and drunk. ”

"Now that winter is coming, if there is not enough clothing, the soldiers will not be able to support it. In that case, I am willing to donate 1,000 feet of cloth. ”

“……”

Seeing that Yang Lao and Yang Chenglong had already spoken, those businessmen opened their mouths to persuade one after another, lest they fall behind.

They are not stupid people, they naturally know that this is the best time to show their loyalty, if they show some shirk, they will inevitably be ostracized in the future, and in the current situation, the success of the Red Phoenix Army's Northern Expedition is just around the corner.

After the success of the Northern Expedition, those places that have not yet been developed are all interests.

With the behavior of the Red Phoenix Army, they will naturally not be treated badly when the time comes.

Xiao Jingmao was naturally relieved to see everyone speaking enthusiastically, his spirit reinvigorated, and said with a smile: "To be treated like this by the ranks, Xiao is also worthy of this." When he saw that the wine glass was empty in front of his desk, he immediately shouted: "Come on, pour wine for me!"

The maids next to them walked out one after another, pouring a full cup for everyone who was making it.

Xiao Jingmao raised his wine glass and smiled at everyone: "Since you have drunk this cup, I will leave it to you in the future." ”

"Of course, the matter of the Red Phoenix Army is naturally also our business!" The crowd also raised their glasses and poured them into their mouths.

They had already drunk too much wine, and after this drink, they were even more dizzy, and they felt that their brains were a little swollen, and they began to see the shepherd in front of them clearly, but they felt that their faces were extremely red, and they could not figure out the current situation.

Xiao Jingmao naturally poured this glass of wine into his mouth, although this wine was extremely strong, but his inner yuan turned around, and his mind was extremely clear.

Waving his hand to the surrounding maids, Xiao Jingmao said again: "Since this is the case, then please press your handprint on top of this document." After all, my Chifeng Army has always been true to his word, although he has inherited the money of the rank, but in the future, as long as he takes this deed, he can naturally exchange the corresponding treatment with us. ”

Naturally, the maids walked out one after another, and persuaded the merchants with a smile.

These businessmen were already drunk, and they didn't have the usual calmness at all, but now they saw the woman bowing their eyebrows and bowing their heads in front of them, and they only felt the arrogance in their chests, and waved their big hands.

"Very good, I'll sign!"

I don't look at the content of the deed carefully, just press it directly.

Seeing the deed presented, Karahan glanced at his eyes, and was secretly surprised in his heart: "National debt? What the hell is this Red Phoenix Army doing?"

Unlike the powerless businessmen, Callahan has always been a martial artist, so even if he drank a lot of wine, he was still able to maintain his sobriety, and he always looked on coldly about what happened before, only to see that the people next to him all pressed their handprints, and he quickly pretended to be drunk, and also pressed his handprints on it, but this matter was firmly in his heart.

"Tie all your subordinates to the Red Phoenix Army with national debts? It seems that this Red Phoenix Army is really clever!"