Chapter 102 A Fool's Dream!
These people had been filled with anxiety, worrying about the future and their families. Now, hearing Shen Lanxi say that there was still a chance to see their families, they all burst into tears.
Cheng Zheng wrote down his question in a few strokes: "In times of chaos? What does that mean?"
Shen Lanxi glanced at him. These people had been locked up in the dungeon for who knows how long, and they certainly didn't know about the drought in the north.
She gave a brief explanation, then said, "When we left the princess's residence, my men set fire to the dungeon and used death row inmates to impersonate you. In Zhou Qiwu's eyes, you are already dead."
"Given the current situation, it's safer for your families to stay in Tianjin than with us!"
Cheng Zheng nodded to his classmates and friends.
Sang Guo stood up, holding onto the chair, and began to write, supporting himself on the table.
After seeing the contents, Cheng Zheng's pupils twitched twice, and he inadvertently glanced at the books placed to the side.
Essential Techniques for the Common People, Strategies for Attacking and Conquering, Essential Techniques for Land Reclamation, Strategic Battles and Formations, Grand Strategies of the Spring and Autumn Period...
Cheng Zheng had already forgotten about the master-servant contract written by Sang Guo, and was engrossed in flipping through the book.
Each and every one of them is a masterpiece!
Shen Lanxi saw Cheng Zheng's reaction and calmly said, "None of the books I gave you are allowed to be circulated outside!"
Cheng Zheng held the book as if it were a precious treasure and nodded quickly.
After calming down, I wondered again, what was the purpose of showing them these extraordinary books?
In the blink of an eye, Sang Guo had finished writing the master-servant contract. In the past, such a contract would have been a great disgrace to these students!
Now... they have already endured the greatest humiliation.
It's already a blessing from heaven that someone is willing to use these useless people!
After signing his name, Sang bit his finger and pressed it hard next to his name!
Cheng Zheng carefully put down the book, wrote the name next to Sang Guo's, bit his finger, and pressed his fingerprint on the paper!
Then he took the contract, pen, and ink, and went to his classmates and friends. Without hesitation, they all signed and pressed their fingerprints.
Those who are still in a coma have no right to make decisions for them.
Cheng Zheng wrote: "Once they wake up, they will absolutely be willing to serve their master as their master!"
Shen Lanxi didn't expect these people to be so resolute, which saved her the trouble of writing.
"No need to call me master, just call me lord!"
A title once again stirred up trouble among Cheng Zheng and his group.
After the ink dried completely, Shen Lanxi put away the contract and stood up!
"From now on, you will all be my advisors. Take good care of yourselves, study diligently, and be ready to be summoned at any time!"
After leaving behind a remark that resonated deeply with the students, Shen Lanxi strode away!
Then, sobbing sounds rang out again in the cabin, and this time the crying lasted for a long time!
The women of Liuzhao Village were divided into five teams. They had two types of weapons: sticks and short knives for close combat.
Women are not as strong as men, so you can't rely on physical strength. You have to take advantage of your strengths, fight quickly, and ideally kill them with one blow!
The secret guards are experts in silent assassinations, so they are the perfect people to teach these women!
Shen Lanxi returned to the first ship and glared at the people fishing and those who were peeping. They quickly shrank back in fright, afraid that Shen Lanxi would drag them out to fight the pirates!
The Shen family members had very mixed feelings. Before, they had been thinking of finding an opportunity to question Shen Lanxi, demand benefits from her, and suppress her with filial piety. Now that they had actually seen her, they all wished they could shrink into the ground and not see her at all!
When the troops were mustered at noon, they were truly stunned!
Previously, they all thought that Liu Laohu was the most powerful person on the ship, and that Shen Lanxi had to listen to Liu Laohu.
Looking at it now, that's not true at all!
When she boosted morale, Liu Laohu would stand aside and listen obediently!
Is this the Lanxi they know?
Shen Lanxi glanced at the Shen family members before returning to her room.
Zhou Xiwu chose to marry into the Wang family because he valued their influence among local intellectuals. He chose to marry into the Liu family because he valued their naval power.
Now that she's hooked up with Zhou Ru'an, she's bound to become Zhou Ru'an's money-making tool in Tianjin!
Wang Xiangyi is jealous and harms her own children. She also follows Zhou Qiwu in keeping male lovers. The Liu family must hate her to the bone!
Liu Chengen, possessing a naval force, was equivalent to a powerful regional official. Emperor Renxiao's methods towards these officials were twofold: first, to use their sons as hostages under the guise of sending them to the capital to study; and second, to bestow favors upon them by personally selecting favored women from their families as imperial concubines.
Liu Chengen's youngest daughter, Liu Minxian, entered the palace five years later and gave birth to a son. Her son was intelligent and clever and was greatly loved by Emperor Renxiao.
Emperor Renxiao was in his prime, and ruling for another ten years would not be a problem. The older princes were in a more awkward position. An emperor in his prime would never allow his sons to share power. As Emperor Renxiao grew older, his younger sons came of age.
Compared to his sons who were young and accomplished, his older sons, who had accomplished nothing, presented a stark contrast.
Even a fool could understand this; the Liu family couldn't possibly be unaware of it.
Why not support the more advantageous biological son instead of the second prince?
That's wishful thinking!
After Zhou Xiwu got involved with the Second Prince, she was destined to be at odds with the Liu family!
What would the Liu family's reaction be if they knew that Zhou Xiwu was colluding with pirates to plunder gold and silver to support the Second Prince?
After Liu Yan returned, the two ships began to slow down.
Two days later, Liu Yan successfully sent back news from Tongluo Island, and she also received information about the Liu family's military strength.
An hour later, Shen Lanxi took the second ship to Dragon Bone Bay, the closest bay to Tongluo Island.
"The Liu family has sent 500 naval troops this time, and there are more than 300 pirates from Causeway Bay who can go out to sea. Our purpose in going to Dragon Bone Bay is to use the pirates from Dragon Bone Bay to wipe out the Tianjin navy and the pirates from Causeway Bay!"
The guard stood silently to the side, holding his sword.
It took Cheng Zheng and the others quite a while to realize that these words were meant for them!
Cheng Zheng immediately picked up his pen and asked, "How can you be so sure that the pirates in Dragon Bone Bay will help us?"
Shen Lanxi smiled mysteriously and said, "Because I am Yuan Lang!"
Cheng Zheng and the others had all seen Yuan Lang before; he was a vicious dog who served Zhou Xiwu.
How did he become Yuan Lang?
These people still need a period of growth, Shen Lanxi explained: "Zhou Xiwu colluded with several pirate leaders in the Jiaozhou Islands to plunder passing merchant ships, and Longgu Island was one of them!"
Cheng Zheng quickly wrote: "How do you gain their trust?"
"With this ship full of grain, Zhou Xiwu's waist token, and all of you handsome men!"
Cheng Zheng and the others' faces were visibly flushed.
"Everyone in the Tianjin fiefdom knows that Zhou Qiwu likes to keep handsome male concubines. If you use your good looks and show them the princess's residence token, and tell them that you are here to deliver grain on Zhou Qiwu's orders, do you think they will believe you?"
Cheng Zheng: "It's good to have food!"
The reply was brief, but concise and to the point!
Throughout the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, grain was now the hard currency. Even without a waist tag or a handsome man as proof, the pirates of Dragon Bone Bay would still believe them!
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