Chapter 268 [The Hidden Master Hu]

Jiang Lili called out in the group chat: [Come on, the stab-proof vests have arrived, get ready to sign for them!]

There are many protective equipments in modern times to prevent knife injuries. Stab-proof vests and cut-proof arm guards are the most widely used. They are made of high-strength fiber and special steel plates and can block and disperse the impact force of knives.

Moreover, the stab-proof vest is lighter and more low-key than the chain mail used to prevent stab wounds in ancient times. From the appearance, it is just a thick black vest.

Otherwise, if Zhou Jushan, a eunuch, was found wearing chain mail used in military camps, he would be digging his own grave.

These protective equipment were purchased by Xiaopang from a wealthy friend from the Middle East whom he met while selling fish. They are of first-class quality and can easily handle ancient knives. The price of the stab-proof vest is around 2,000 yuan.

The students of the Beijing team breathed a sigh of relief when they received the protective equipment.

Zhou Jushan, in particular, went straight back to his villa to change his clothes.

At this time, He Lin was complaining that he had to work overtime in the heavy snow.

@He Lin: The weather in Beijing is not as good as Haizhou's. It feels like sub-zero right now. The harvest was poor this year, and the grain from the surrounding towns is being sold to Beijing at high prices. This has resulted in a significant increase in refugees in the suburbs. Several times, our He Family Trading Company's shipments from Lingnan to Beijing have been intercepted. I'm currently on my way to the suburbs.

@Jiang Lili: Remember to wear a stab-proof vest, bring enough people with you, and be careful.

@Hou Xiaoxiao: I heard that there are many unscrupulous businesses in Beijing that are withholding wages from textile workers in surrounding towns. These people may be taking their anger out on your He Family Business. In short, be very careful.

@He Lin: Don't worry, I've made all the necessary preparations. The people you assigned to me, Xiaoxiao, are highly skilled, and we have the all-powerful group leader here too. Don't worry! As for you, I'm worried about you all having to enter the palace this month.

@周居善: Right now, there's one last major palace banquet left, the Lantern Festival banquet the day after tomorrow. After the Lantern Festival, I won't have to work overtime. Although there are many rewards in the palace during the first month of the year, I'm exhausted.

The next morning, Lishan.

Early in the morning, Jiang Lili was still asleep when she was awakened by an annoying knock on the door.

“Bang, bang, bang—”

"Jiang girl, it's me, Lao Hu, open the door quickly!"

Hu Chen was so excited that he slammed the wooden door, making it creak.

Jiang Lili jumped up from the bed and opened the door with a resentful look on her face.

"What are you doing so early in the morning?"

Hu Chen was holding several rolls of blueprints in his hands. "Didn't I tell you yesterday that I had a trick up my sleeve? I can't wait to show you!"

As Hu Chen spoke, he leaned over the yellow pear wood table in the room and asked, "Have you had breakfast?"

Jiang Lili was speechless and asked him to come in and sit down: "You can't wait to come and have a free meal!"

She opened her backpack. Xiaopang was rich now, traveling all over the world on business trips with his trash can. Today, the meal arranged for Jiang Lili was local Saudi cuisine, hummus and broth stewed with various spices, which smelled strange.

But Hu Chen ate happily as if he had discovered a new continent.

"So, what are you going to show me?"

Jiang Lili watched Hu Chen burp and couldn't help but grumble, "If this suits you so well, then you'd be better off being sent to dig for oil in the deserts of the Middle East. Your major just barely fits the bill."

Hu Chen managed two coal mines, which means he was engaged in energy mining.

"What oil? What are you talking about? I don't understand." Hu Chen raised his head and narrowed his eyes in confusion.

Jiang Lili shook her head, still not knowing what to do: "It's okay, just eat yours."

The distribution of land and sea in this world is 90% similar to that of the modern world. I wonder if the Gulf to the east will also be rich in oil and inhabited by Arabs who claim to be "the richest man in the world with only a piece of cloth on their heads". However, if it also has rich oil resources, the level of exploitation must be very low.

Jiang Lili couldn't help but feel excited. Just when she couldn't help but fantasize, Hu Chen wiped his mouth and picked up the pile of drawings he brought.

"Come, let me show you my skills." After Hu Chen finished eating, he spread out the drawings he brought on the table.

The largest drawing, when unfolded, was almost ten feet long, and on it was a map of Dasheng.

The territory of Dasheng is much smaller than that of China where Jiang Lili is now, and is only a part of China's territory.

At this moment, this huge map meticulously marked the topography of the Dasheng Dynasty, including its mountains, rivers, and other terrain. Above this topography, small green dots marked the distribution of Dasheng's cities and the locations of its checkpoints. Small green dots indicated the distribution of troops, small blue dots indicated the power of prominent families in various locations, and small yellow dots indicated the major local merchants and their main livelihoods...

In terms of strategic value, this huge map can be said to be a priceless treasure.

If Xiaopang, the friend, asks Xiaopang to find a professional to draw a three-dimensional picture, and each member of the group has a copy, it would be so convenient!

The other small scrolls Hu Chen brought with him were details about the structure of Dasheng's important fortresses, their advantages and disadvantages in attack and defense, and the local customs and practices...

Jiang Lili was stunned. She then looked at Hu Chen with admiration in her eyes: "You must have spent a lot of time and effort to make this huge map."

Jiang Lili's fingertips stroked the places on the map that had traces of repeated modifications, as well as the many patches on the map. It was hard to imagine such a little old man tinkering with this map that was nearly ten feet long.

"So, sometimes I just lie down and eat, not what you call it, but I'm tired of thinking.

Hu Chen rubbed his forehead. Jiang Lili explained how the information on the map was obtained: "Those soldiers who have been transferred to my barracks one after another, aren't they getting old and forget things quickly?"

His gaze grew deep and far-sighted. "Anticipating this, when they were first exiled to Dan'er County, I spent every day chatting with these newly arrived soldiers. I indirectly learned about the conditions of their previous camps and cities, and recorded them on this map."

For the sake of prosperity and the people, he did not hesitate to fight against corrupt officials and royal relatives. He was indomitable and withstood heavy pressure, but in return he was exiled to a deserted island. He was unwilling to accept this!

Emperor Qingning was old and suspicious, his decisions were incompetent, he persecuted loyal ministers, trusted treacherous ministers, and never reflected on his own mistakes. He only wanted to hold power firmly in his hands and was indifferent to the suffering of the people. Little did he know that some things are like sand, the tighter you hold them, the faster they slip away.

"I'm handing all my belongings over to you."

Hu Chen showed a complicated smile: "I will follow you all the way to the end."

Jiang Lili's eyes flickered, and she said in a serious tone, "Okay!"

*

In the blink of an eye, it was the early morning of the Lantern Festival, and the students were in different moods.