Gu Jiu is the eldest daughter-in-law.
When she spoke, all the sisters-in-law shut up.
Even if he had some objections in his heart, he didn't dare to say it in front of Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu has such influence, of course, not only because she is the eldest daughter-in-law, but more importantly because of the Sihai, Shanhe Academy, "Da Zhou Life Show" and so on behind her.
Any one of them can crush all the women present.
What's more, so many projects are all under Gu Jiu's name.
Nine out of ten women attending the banquet today have invested money in Sihai and received dividends.
No matter who you offend, you must not offend Gu Jiu.
This is everyone's consensus.
Gu Jiu and his sisters-in-law couldn't get along, so they decided to go to a quiet place to have tea.
"You guys chat, I'll go out for a walk."
"I'll accompany my sister-in-law." Ouyang Fu is very good at dealing with people, and her relationship with Gu Jiu has always been good.
Gu Jiu didn't object to her following him.
The two of them left the hall.
Ouyang Fu said, "Sister-in-law, don't bother with them. They're just jealous that Fourth Brother's wife bought the official's house at a low price and made a fortune."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "I know they are just jealous, but I won't argue with them."
"Sister-in-law is so generous. I guess she doesn't know that Fourth Brother's wife is pregnant again."
"Oh, so my fourth sister-in-law is pregnant again. Why doesn't she take good care of the baby and instead hosts the banquet?" Gu Jiu asked curiously.
Ouyang Fu pursed her lips and smiled, "Her pregnancy is stable. Even the imperial physician said that the pregnancy is very stable."
Gu Jiu nodded. "How many months has it been? Why haven't I heard anyone mention this?"
Ouyang Fu whispered, "It's been over three months. The reason it hasn't been announced is because the atmosphere in the palace is too tense."
Gu Jiu smiled knowingly, "The Jinwu Guards have closed the case. Your Highness the Fourth Prince can announce this news."
"I thought so too. I wonder if His Majesty would be pleased to hear this news."
Gu Jiu raised the corner of his mouth but did not respond.
Ouyang Fu was a little annoyed.
She was very clever and immediately changed the subject, "Everyone has been talking about the four-wheeled carriage recently. I wonder when we will see it again."
Gu Jiu raised his eyebrows and smiled, "The people below do want to start mass production as soon as possible, but there are too many things involved. I have no choice but to wait!"
Ouyang Fu was a little anxious and worried, "How long will this take?"
Gu Jiu pointed in the direction of the imperial palace and said, "That's hard to say."
"Could it be that the palace..." Ouyang Fu realized her wording was inappropriate and quickly lowered her voice, asking quietly, "Could it be that if that person doesn't agree, the carriage won't be produced? My sister-in-law spent so much time and money on this carriage, only to have it sit in the warehouse gathering dust. What a waste!"
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Thank you, second brother and sister-in-law, for worrying about me. But I don't have the final say on this matter."
Ouyang Fu stamped her feet anxiously, "Sister-in-law, can't you think of a solution?"
"Does my second sister-in-law have any good ideas? Why don't you teach me?" Gu Jiu looked at Ouyang Fu with a smile.
Ouyang Fu's face flushed instantly, and she felt embarrassed and ashamed.
Gu Jiu came to the rescue, "I have something else to do, so I'll leave first. Second brother and sister-in-law can take their time to look around."
She left with her servants, and Ouyang Fu finally felt a little more at ease.
I met Princess Fuya and Princess Pingyang in the garden.
Princess Fuya frequently winked at Princess Pingyang.
Princess Pingyang Liu Huan calmed herself down, walked up to greet Gu Jiu, and prepared her words to apologize.
Gu Jiu is a petty and vengeful person, so how could he easily forgive Princess Pingyang?
"Could you please help me, Princess Fuya and I need to discuss something?"
Princess Pingyang Liu Huan stood there, bewildered. She felt like a little girl who had made a mistake, feeling wronged and embarrassed.
Princess Fuya sighed, "Pingyang, you step back first."
Princess Pingyang bit her lip, turned her head and ran away.
He must be feeling extremely aggrieved.
Princess Fuya always spoke directly to Gu Jiu, "You really don't show any mercy at all."
Gu Jiu raised the corner of his mouth, "I can't just pretend nothing happened."
Princess Fuya smiled. She admired Gu Jiu's attitude of holding a grudge.
The royal family members' claims of being virtuous, generous, and royal are all bullshit. They are all for show.
For a qualified member of the royal family, holding grudges is the most basic quality.
Being able to turn hatred into benefit is also a skill.
Fu Ya invited with a smile, "Would you like to walk with me?"
Gu Jiu agreed with a smile, "It would be disrespectful to refuse!"
The two of them strolled in the garden of the Fourth Prince's Mansion, and the servants followed them from a distance to ensure that they could not hear their conversation.
Gu Jiu picked a leaf at random and played with it in his hand.
Princess Fuya looked sideways at her and said, "You don't seem anxious at all. My Qubing is almost dying of worry."
Gu Jiu laughed, "There's no point in being anxious. Your Highness, please tell Master Qubing that there's no need to rush this matter, just do your best."
"You seem to be confident. Could it be that you have already made arrangements?" Princess Fuya guessed.
Gu Jiu laughed heartily. "I don't have any plans. It's just that man proposes, God disposes. Your Highness, please don't think too highly of me."
Princess Fuya shook her head and said, "I only worry about underestimating you, never overestimating you."
Gu Jiu bowed slightly, "Thank you, Your Highness, for thinking so highly of me. I am honored."
Princess Fuya didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Tell me the truth. Can the four-wheeled carriage be mass-produced? I have prepared a large sum of money and plan to invest it in the four-wheeled carriage. I hope you won't let me down."
Gu Jiu pursed his lips and smiled, "I can only say that I will do my best. Whether it can be mass-produced or not, no one can say for sure."
Princess Fuya frowned, obviously dissatisfied with the answer.
"If even you can't say for sure, my confidence in the mass production of four-wheeled carriages must be discounted."
"Your Highness, don't rush to make a decision. Wait until the dust settles. It won't be too late to draw a conclusion then."
Princess Fuya asked directly, "When will this be settled?"
Gu Jiu only said: "Soon!"
How soon, whether it will be this year or next year, she didn't reveal a word.
Princess Fuya was a little frustrated. "I'm asking you, is there anything I can do for you? Just ask."
Gu Jiu raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Recently, many people have been concerned about the four-wheeled carriage."
"Because everyone has eyes and knows that four-wheeled carriages can make money. Did you know that some people have been hoarding iron ore in private?"
No one is a fool after all.
A man's reputation is like the shadow of a tree.
Gu Jiu is well-known, so how could anything she makes not make money?
Moreover, one can tell at a glance that the four-wheeled carriage is a good product that can be sold both north and south.
No one wants to miss this opportunity.
The four-wheeled carriage and the cement road are a perfect match.
Gu Jiu said to Princess Fu Ya: "We have made all the necessary efforts. All we have to do is wait for the results."
Princess Fuya was curious, "Do you think His Majesty will relent?"
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "I am not a worm in His Majesty's stomach. It is difficult to guess His Majesty's thoughts."
No one believes this.
Princess Fu Ya was certain that Gu Jiu must have made some arrangements, but she didn't know the specific details.
No one knew that the turning point of the four-wheeled carriage had already occurred.
The news sent from Xiliang was carried by a messenger, crossing the Gobi Desert and enduring untold hardships, and was now heading towards the Great Zhou.
…
In late autumn, every rain brings a chill.
The Beirong army, hiding deep in the grassland, digested the looted population and supplies, and then invaded the south again before the heavy snow came.
From the northwest to the northeast, the border line stretches for thousands of miles, and every checkpoint is like facing a serious enemy.
The Northeastern generals had suffered defeat in the war, and their heads were hung on the wall as a punishment.
No one wants to hang his head on the city wall, especially when the imperial court has provided enough food, fodder and weapons.
Even if we can't win, we must at least defend the city.
The war is about to break out.
Worse news came. Beirong contacted Xiliang and the two sides reached an agreement. Xiliang was about to send troops to attack Da Zhou from the west.
At the same time, Xiliang severed all ties with Da Zhou, drove out Da Zhou merchants from the Xiliang royal city, and seized all their goods.
When the news reached the capital, Emperor Wende turned pale.
"Is this true?"
"The messenger risked his life to bring back this news, and it's absolutely true. Furthermore, this news was from two months ago. If nothing unexpected happens, the Western Liang army is already on their way, and our dynasty will be attacked from both sides. The Northwestern Army will have to disperse its forces to deal with the Western Liang army."
Emperor Wende sat on the dragon throne in a daze, "My dear minister, do you have any good ideas?"
Lord Lu said, "We can only hope that the Northwest Grand Military Governor's Office and the Northwest Army will work together to defeat the enemy one by one. We also need the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Finance to quickly transport winter food and weapons from the arsenal to the border to ensure that the army can receive timely supplies."
Emperor Wende gritted his teeth and said, "Announce the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, the Jinwu Guard, the Ministry of the Imperial Household..."
A small court meeting was held in Xingqing Palace.
Xiliang sent troops to cooperate with Beirong to attack Da Zhou. This news shocked every minister.
This situation is very dangerous.
The best way is to take the initiative to attack and defeat the Beirong army while the Xiliang army is still on the road.
"Can the Northwest Army decide the outcome in one battle?"
"I'm afraid not! The Northwest Army is mostly infantry, with limited cavalry, and cannot conduct large-scale cavalry field battles."
"If we can't decide the outcome in one battle, what should we do?"
"Lure the enemy deep into our territory and destroy them one by one."
"Bei Rong is all cavalry. They won't rashly attack a city when they have sufficient supplies."
"Bei Rong is heading south to attack the city and plunder supplies and people. They will definitely find the weakest pass, block it, and march south to break through the city and plunder."
…
The court officials discussed everything from strategic battle situations to supplies, logistics and military equipment replenishment for an entire night.
Winter is coming, and we also need to consider keeping warm.
The icy and snowy weather never spares anyone.
Whether it is Beirong, Xiliang, or Da Zhou, the next battle will be a tough one.
The only unanimous opinion among all court officials was that if they wanted to win this battle for the nation's destiny, they had to take advantage of their greatest advantage: logistical supplies.
Use sufficient logistical supplies to bring down Beirong and Xiliang.
Beirong and Xiliang would never bring too many supplies when they head south.
Subsequent supplies depend entirely on looting.
As long as we can defend the city and drag them to death, the war will be won.
If one wants to rely on logistical supplies to sustain Bibei, Rongxiliang, one must ensure that supplies, weapons, cotton clothing, and medicinal materials can be delivered to the front line in a timely manner.
"A carriage!"
The court officials blurted out and looked at Emperor Wende.
The four-wheeled carriage, such a powerful weapon, it's time to put it to use.
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