"Yes!" Zhang Shixun nodded and said, "So, I traveled thousands of miles back to the Great Song. Only we in the Great Song are worthy of owning such a treasure. Only the officials of the Great Song can own it."
These words touched Zhao Ji's heart. He was overjoyed and thought that this child was so likable. Besides being happy, he felt that he should reward him with something, but he couldn't think of a good idea for a moment.
Gao Qiu observed his expression and quickly stepped forward, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, Young Master Zhang is a man of great righteousness and justice, and he always has the Song Dynasty and your Majesty in his heart. I believe he should be generously rewarded."
Li Bangyan was a sly guy. Seeing that the two of them strongly recommended Zhang Shixun as if they had agreed beforehand, he also followed suit.
Only Liang Shicheng stood there with a gloomy face, not saying a word.
"Good! That's exactly what we should do!" Zhao Ji nodded.
Liang Shicheng couldn't help but jump out: "Your Majesty, although this boy has made great contributions, he comes from a humble background and is illiterate. He is really not fit for any important position. Just give him a sinecure."
"Liang Shicheng, there's no need to say more. I have my own ideas." Zhao Ji said to Zhang Shixun, "I will reward those who have made contributions. For your meritorious service in protecting the emperor the other day, I granted you the same Jinshi degree and the rank of Congyi Lang. For your meritorious service in presenting the treasure today, I will grant you the rank of Wugong Lang." He then looked at Gao Qiu and said, "Gao Qiu, give Zhang Shixun a mission in either the Pengri Army or the Tianwu Army."
"Your Majesty!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhang Shixun bowed.
Zhao Ji touched Yinghui in his arms, stood up with satisfaction, and walked out. After taking a few steps, he turned back and said to Zhang Shixun, "Don't forget the score of Guangling San."
"I've got this in mind. I'll find someone to write the music tonight."
Zhao Ji nodded, and surrounded by the crowd, he slowly walked out the door.
After seeing the emperor off, Zhang Shixun said to Zhao Kai with a bitter face, "Yinghui has been presented to the emperor. I still need to find a way to raise money from other places. I still have a few pieces of jewelry left. Please, Your Highness, Prince Yun, help me find a buyer."
Zhao Kai felt a little sorry for Yinghui being taken away by his father, so he said, "Shixun, if you have any good things, just give them to me. I will definitely help you sell them for a good price."
Zhang Shixun went back to the back house and took two pieces of glass jewelry, which he gave to Zhao Kai when he returned.
Zhao Kai took it and looked at it, then said with a smile: "Shi Xun has quite a few treasures in his hands. These two pieces of jewelry are also rare treasures. They will definitely sell for a lot of money."
"Your Highness, thank you for your trouble."
"It's not a big deal." Zhao Kai said, "Regarding the partnership, please draw up a charter as soon as possible. Let's sign the contract so I can invest money."
"Okay, we'll draft the charter in the next two days." Zhang Shixun agreed.
Gao Yanei finally found some free time and said, "Brother, congratulations on your promotion."
Zhang Shixun had a bitter face and said, "Congratulations, what the hell? I spent over a million strings of cash to buy a Wugonglang. This position is a bit expensive."
"Brother, you should be content. A military officer cannot become a Wugonglang without ten years of training." Gao Yanei heard him swearing and looked at Prince Yun worriedly. He saw that Prince Yun seemed not to have heard anything and was looking at the two pieces of jewelry over and over again.
He Ji said, "In my opinion, it's totally worth it. From Yilang to Wugonglang, he jumped ten ranks, and is already a regular seventh rank. In our Song Dynasty, I have never seen anyone jump from an ambassador to become a deputy envoy of various departments."
Gao Yanei said, "Yes, without the emperor's special order, you can't even think of jumping so many levels."
No matter how much they talked, Zhang Shixun felt greatly disappointed. He said with a sad face, "Over a million strings of cash! Gone in the blink of an eye!"
What he needs most now is not an official position, but money. Wang Dong is waiting eagerly for it.
He Ji and Gao Yanei looked at each other and shook their heads.
What a money-grubber.
Zhao Kai laughed out loud, pointing at Zhang Shixun and saying, "Shixun, you don't act like a miser. Why do you act like your heart is being ripped out when you mention money? It's true that the emperor took your Yinghui, but he also gave you a generous reward. That's Wugonglang, and you can directly serve as my deputy envoy."
"Oh! May I ask, Prince Yun, where is your place?"
"Imperial City Division."
"What does the Imperial City Bureau do?"
"The Imperial City Bureau has two responsibilities: one is to be responsible for the palace guards, and the other is to conduct espionage and surveillance."
When Zhang Shixun heard about spying and surveillance, he suddenly had an idea: Isn’t this a secret service agency?
"If it weren't for the extremely strict requirements of the Imperial City Bureau, I really want to ask you to be the deputy envoy of the Imperial City Bureau." Zhao Kai said regretfully.
"Haha! Your Highness, I appreciate your kindness." Zhang Shixun bowed to him and said, "I'm very willing to go to General Gao to hone my skills and help him train his troops."
"Training?" Zhao Kai was very surprised and asked hurriedly, "Have you been a soldier before?"
"No!"
Zhao Kai and the other two laughed together.
Training soldiers is not that easy.
Gao Yanei couldn't help but said, "Brother, you have never been a soldier, but you want to help Dad train troops. You really don't know how high the sky is and how thick the earth is."
Zhang Shixun said, "I once saw a barbarian army overseas. It was very powerful. Their training methods were very unique..."
"Shixun can talk to General Gao about this matter. If he agrees, it's okay for you to give it a try." Zhao Kai was not interested in this topic. He stood up and said, "I haven't realized I've been here for half a day. It's getting late. I should go back."
Gao Yanei and He Ji also stood up and said goodbye.
Zhang Shixun did not keep them and stood up to see them off.
Zhao Kai took a few steps, then stopped and said, "Shixun, draft the terms of the partnership. Let's finalize this matter as soon as possible."
"Okay! I will draft the regulations as soon as possible, Your Highness, don't worry." Zhang Shixun agreed readily.
At noon, Wang Dong came back riding a donkey.
This guy was so lazy that he just rode the donkey into the yard.
"Shixun, are you ready for the money I want?" Wang Dong started yelling before he even got off the donkey.
Zhang Shixun stood in the yard with his arms folded. "Look at how miserable you look, covered in dirt and grime. You look like a country bumpkin."
"Stop talking nonsense! Is the money ready?" Wang Dong wiped his sweat.
"I've prepared some."
“How much is some?”
"Four hundred and fifty thousand strings of cash."
"Give it to me!" Wang Dong stretched out his hand.
"Why are you in such a hurry? Sit down and take a breath. The money is at home and you can take it away at any time." Zhang Shixun pulled him to the living room to sit down, picked up the teapot and poured him water.
Wang Dong grabbed the teapot and drank it from the spout.
"Slow down! Slow down! Don't choke." said Zhang Shixun.
"By the way, I brought back four farmhands, you can keep two of them." Wang Dong put down the teapot.
"It just so happens that Gao Yanei gave me a horse today, and I need someone to take care of it. Besides, my family has been in need of a doorman for a long time."
Wang Dong pointed outside the door and said, "They are at the door. Call them in."
When Zhang Shixun arrived at the door, several farmhands were squatting there and whispering.
"Come in, all of you." Zhang Shixun waved at them.
"Greetings, sir!" Several farmhands stood up and saluted Zhang Shixun.
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