"Flower and Stone Gang?"
Zhao Lin blurted out these three words.
Isn’t this the Hua Shi Gang in Water Margin?
The unlucky Yang Zhi was forced to join the Liangshan bandits because the shipment of flowers and stones he was escorting sank into the water. This led to the subsequent story and he was eventually forced to join the Liangshan bandits.
Now there is actually a flower and stone gang here.
"Yes, it's the Huashi Gang."
Li Xingye said, "Your Majesty's fiftieth birthday is a celebration for the entire nation, so building a garden is only natural. However, I feel it's inappropriate to ask the various regions to offer beautiful stones as tribute, so I tried to dissuade the Emperor. However, the Emperor didn't listen to my advice, and instead gave me a good scolding. So, I'm asking you if there's any way to stop the Emperor."
Zhao Lin shook his head: "Difficult."
Li Xingye frowned slightly: "You think it's difficult without even thinking about it?"
Zhao Lin said, "Your Majesty has always been a dictator and doesn't listen to anyone. He says something and that's what gets done. Furthermore, he has treacherous ministers around him. Even if you do everything you can, it's useless."
"Yes, I think so too. If it weren't for the instigation of treacherous ministers, how could Your Majesty do such a thing?" Li Xingye said.
Zhao Lin curled his lips slightly.
The current emperor, Li Zheng, is not very capable in governing the country, but he is proficient in eating, drinking, and having fun. He is arrogant, extravagant, and wasteful. It is normal for him to do such things.
It is Zhao Ji from another time and space.
But I definitely can't say that in front of Li Xingye.
Zhao Lin said, "The garden was built to celebrate His Majesty's birthday, so we naturally cannot spoil His Majesty's fun. But we can't just ignore it either. So I suggest that you take the initiative to ask His Majesty for permission to undertake this matter."
Li Xingye frowned and said, "You still want me to do it?"
Zhao Lin said: "Instead of letting others do it, it is better to take this matter into your own hands and control it yourself."
Zhao Lin sighed, "This Flower and Stone Project looks simple. It's just about finding some rare flowers and trees, and beautiful rocks. It only costs a little money, but if it goes wrong, it will cause a bigger disaster than the Qingzhou flood."
Zou Yu, the advisor beside him, said unhappily, "Young Master Zhao, are you exaggerating?"
Zhao Lin said, "Mr. Zou, as the master's advisor, should understand the methods of the people in the government. Believe it or not, as soon as the order for the Flower and Stone Gang reaches the local area, it will immediately become a soul-snatching order to destroy families and families."
"How dare you say that to His Majesty?" Zou Yu shouted.
Zhao Lin sneered, "I'm not talking about your majesty, I'm talking about those messengers. Sir."
Zhao Lin bowed to Li Xingye and said, "To see a garden, one must have some rare flowers and plants, and rugged and beautiful rocks. What meets this requirement? Naturally, it is up to the local officials to decide. So, believe it or not, as soon as the order of the Flower and Stone Gang is issued, anything in the homes of ordinary people, no matter if it is a plant, a tree, a flower, or a stone, as long as they like it, will become a tribute to Your Majesty. As for who will eventually get it, and whether it is truly presented to Your Majesty, perhaps only they themselves will know."
Zhao Lin sighed, "Even collecting taxes can cause many people to become homeless and their families to be destroyed, let alone this Flower and Stone Gang. Besides, what will be used to transport this Flower and Stone Gang?"
Zou Yu subconsciously said, "Of course we have to go by water. The land route is not easy to go. We can't drag such a big stone."
"Yes, we can go by water." Zhao Lin sighed, "But not all places are accessible to large ships. How can we get through those large rivers, tributaries, ponds, lakes, etc.? The people will definitely need to dig. Besides, where will all the ships come from? We can only requisition grain transport vessels, which will inevitably squeeze the grain transport and affect the national economy and people's livelihood. If we are not careful, we might even have rebels."
After hearing Zhao Lin's analysis, Zou Yu's face turned ugly. He, a master, was actually not as good as a young man of fifteen or sixteen years old.
Li Xingye broke out in a cold sweat. "Thank goodness for you, otherwise I would have made a huge mistake. I didn't expect there were so many dangers beneath the Flower and Stone Gang. I actually didn't see it. I'm so derelict in my duty."
Li Xingye sighed, "I didn't expect that at such a young age, you could see things more clearly than we did. I only thought it would be a waste of time and money, but I didn't expect it to be so serious..."
Li Xingye shook his head.
Zhao Lin said, "That's why you, sir, are responsible for this flower and stone expedition. As long as you are in charge, those people won't dare to go too far. Otherwise, if those treacherous officials seize the opportunity, they will plunder our property and exterminate our entire family."
"You're right." Li Xingye made a decisive decision. "I will go to the palace tonight to see the emperor and take the initiative to take on the important task of transporting flowers and stones to relieve the worries of His Majesty and the people."
After saying that, Li Xingye patted Zhao Lin's shoulder heavily and said, "You are very good. I really didn't misjudge you. Unlike them, they are still thinking about how to stop His Majesty and have not seen the real reason at all."
After saying this, Li Xingye hurried into the palace.
Zou Yu looked at Zhao Lin with a complicated look: "Mr. Zhao is so young, yet he has such a keen eye. I can't compare to him."
The other staff members all looked unhappy.
These people were all old men who had followed Li Xingye for a long time. They were not only well-read but also well-versed in bureaucratic affairs, but they did not see things as clearly as Zhao Lin.
The difference in rank was immediately apparent, and Li Xingye would rely more on Zhao Lin in the future.
Zhao Lin bowed and said calmly, "I just read a few more stories. You are all seniors, better than me in every way. I will continue to learn from you."
Zhao Lin was telling the truth. If Water Margin had not been so deeply rooted in people's hearts, Zhao Lin would not have thought of the various problems with the Flower and Stone Gang.
Zou Yu and the others looked a little better. Zou Yu smiled and said, "We are all old now. We will have to rely on Master Zhao in the future."
A group of people did not leave, waiting for Li Xingye to come back.
Li Xingye didn't come back until midnight.
"Your Majesty is pleased that I took the initiative to request permission to take charge of the Flower and Stone Gang. He established the Yingfeng Bureau and appointed me as the general manager to be responsible for this matter. However, those old dogs Zhu Zhongyan have been opposing it. I am so eager to kill them."
Li Xingye came back and said.
Zhu Zhongyan was the eunuch in charge of writing, the chief eunuch and the chief steward of the palace. He had great power and countless minions under him. No one was not afraid of him, so he was called Zhu Qiansui.
Zhu Zhongyan opposed Li Xingye's appointment as the general manager of the Yingfeng Bureau. Naturally, he wanted to get this job into his own hands so that he could take advantage of the opportunity to gain benefits.
Li Xingye said to Zhao Lin, "Thank goodness you saw it. Otherwise, if someone like Zhu Zhongyan were to become the head of the Yingfeng Bureau, the people of the world would be driven to ruin. Zhu Zhongyan, huh, does he deserve the word 'loyal'?"
Zhao Lin said, "Zhu Zhongyan is a sinister and vicious person. He is ruthless and merciless. You have ruined his good deeds and offended him. You must be careful."
"Hmph, I am a member of the royal family, and he is just my servant. If Your Majesty hadn't stopped me, he would have been dragged here and beheaded. How dare he deal with me?" Li Xingye was very disdainful.
Zhao Lin knew that Li Xingye was telling the truth, so he stopped talking and asked, "What are you going to do, sir?"
Li Xingye said, "I'm already very busy, and adding another Yingfeng Bureau would make it even more overwhelming. Zhao Lin, are you willing to share the burden with me?"
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