Chapter 44 Welcoming
When building an arsenal, the location is naturally of utmost importance.
First, it must be secluded; second, it must be close to a water source; third, it must be easily accessible; and fourth, it must be a sufficiently large area.
Meeting even one requirement is difficult enough, let alone meeting all four.
Su Qing, along with Scholar Fei and Clerk Zhu, had been searching for several days but had not found a suitable place.
Hua Jingming and Ye Shanming knew about this and helped find a few places.
As a result, the two of them would sometimes bump into each other.
Su Qing found a place to have lunch. The two of them arrived one after the other and both said they saw an abandoned courtyard.
Hua Jingming said, "That's the garden of the Chen family. After the whole family moved away, it was left unused. A few years ago, they even tried to sell it, but the house got older and older, and it would cost several thousand taels of silver to maintain, so no one wanted to buy it."
"If it's used to build a workshop, it wouldn't cost that much money."
Ye Shanming overheard this and began to explain the place he had found: "It belongs to a merchant surnamed Song. It was originally used as a warehouse, but he's reduced his inventory and wants to rent it to me. However, the location is rather remote, so I'm still considering it."
After they finished speaking, they looked at each other and then at Su Qing.
Hua Jingming had fair skin and an arrogant demeanor; he was clearly a young master from a wealthy family.
He was less arrogant when facing Su Qing.
Ye Shanming had a handsome and relaxed appearance, but also a fox-like smile, making him someone who was not easy to get close to.
They were all standing around Su Qing at this moment, which subconsciously attracted the attention of others.
The scholar Fei and the clerk Zhu, who were still eating, were puzzled. Su Qing asked them to sit down to avoid being gossiped about, and then carefully asked them about the place they mentioned. She was surprised and said, "The location is about the same, just separated by a wall."
If that's the case, then the location must be pretty good, since both of them have their eyes on it.
"We'll go see it after we eat. Have you eaten yet?"
The two were still looking at Su Qing. Ye Shanming sat down and asked, "And who is this?"
Hua Jingming's eyes also held a hint of doubt, clearly showing his scrutiny.
Su Qing had no choice but to introduce him: "This is Ye Shanming, the eldest son of the Ye family in Jiangnan."
"This is Hua Jingming, the third young master of the Hua family."
To say that one knows absolutely nothing about the other party would be a lie.
But this is the first time we've met like this.
Ye Shanming knew that Gu Congsi had asked his friend to take good care of Su Qing, but he never expected that this person would be so handsome and dashing.
I've known Su Qing for quite a while, so how could I not know that she likes to look at good-looking men?
Hua Jingming's hostility towards Ye Shanming deepened.
Gu Congsi mentioned this person.
They said Ye Shanming was frivolous and even tried to sow discord between an engaged couple.
After the meal, Su Qing felt that the two of them were acting strangely: "Shall we go?"
"Or are you going to keep observing each other, and for how long?"
Ye Shanming chuckled and said, "What are you talking about? I'm just running errands for you."
As he spoke, he shook his fan again, as if he had thought of something.
Hua Jingming retorted irritably, "It's just running an errand, why are you asking for credit?"
Finally arriving at the northern suburbs of Guang Le City, Su Qing entered two gardens.
Indeed, as they said, it has been deserted for quite some time.
The nearby water source is not naturally formed, but rather lake water that has been artificially diverted. The lake water has not been cleaned for many years and looks very dirty and messy.
The location is cheap enough and has a water source; if the two locations are combined into one, the area would be sufficient.
The only drawback is that the roads are not wide enough.
Of all the places we've chosen, this one is already pretty good; the road can be widened gradually later.
Su Qing walked around Chen's mansion, which was overgrown with weeds and the house was on the verge of collapse, with only the roof beams still holding it up. She asked Hua Jingming, "How much is Chen offering?"
After saying that, he asked Ye Shanming, "How much did the Song merchant offer?"
This way of speaking makes it sound like a comparison of prices.
Fei Xiucai chimed in from the side, "They all look about the same. Whoever offers the lowest price, that's the one we'll take!"
The clerk nodded in agreement.
Su Qing did not correct him, and looked at the Song family's residence again. The situation there was indeed similar.
No wonder it hasn't sold for years.
Two dilapidated houses located in the suburbs of the prefectural city.
How much it will cost to buy it depends on the offers from both parties.
Su Qing didn't intend to lower the price too much; she only asked Ye Shanminghua Jingming to discuss it with the seller before going to talk to the owner.
As she walked ahead, Fei Xiucai could clearly see that hostility immediately arose between them, not only towards each other but also behind Lord Su's back!
Scholar Fei rolled up his sleeves, wanting the two to stop making any underhanded moves, but was stopped by Clerk Zhu, who gently shook his head.
Let them fight it out.
The lower the price of the house, the better.
Scholar Fei was puzzled, but he knew that although Clerk Zhu was a man of few words, he was reliable, so he obediently shut up.
The next morning, not only did Mr. Chen and Mr. Song deliver the price quote, but they even placed the property deed on Su Qing's desk.
The property deed shows the previous purchase price, and both companies said they would just give a 50% discount.
Although Su Qing found it strange, she didn't think much of it and said to Wu Husi, "Send someone to ask again to see if the price can be reduced further. It seems like we can still negotiate the price down."
Little did they know that the Chen and Song families were left speechless with despair.
But since the two young masters have spoken, I have no choice but to sell it cheaply.
It's just that the house is too dilapidated, otherwise it wouldn't be worth it.
What left them speechless was...
The two young masters told them that Prefect Su would buy from whoever offered the lowest price.
But I've already bought them!
You two wouldn't be conspiring with Prefect Su to frame us, would you?!
Neither Hayama Meika nor Kageaki spoke.
Perhaps they didn't realize it at the time.
But once they got home, the two of them naturally understood what Su Qing was thinking.
However, both of them chose to go with the flow and pretend not to know.
Everyone knows that Su Qing is unwilling to suffer a loss.
Is this good too?
Even now, everyone in the prefectural city knows that the government has bought their dilapidated house, and they're all gossiping about the two of them behind their backs.
They said they were too good at currying favor with Prefect Su.
Is it because they know Prefect Su's position is secure that they're so eager to curry favor?!
Yes, everyone knows now that Su Qing has secured his position as prefect.
Didn't you see one of the imperial envoys sent by the emperor, or even her fiancé?
Does this attitude even need to be said?
Su Qing has chosen the location for the arsenal, and the Military Affairs Department and the Industrial Affairs Department have even taken the lead in constructing the factory buildings.
They were just waiting for the Right Vice Minister of War and Gu Congsi to return.
It's good news to hear that Master Hua of the Hua family is traveling with them.
On September 26, Su Qing finally received the news.
The inspectors will arrive in two days.
Whether we can obtain the rights to manufacture weapons depends on what happens now.
Everyone in the government office knew the importance of this matter.
They even had a vague feeling that if things got chaotic outside, it would be a good thing that their Guangyuefu could manufacture weapons.
Leaving aside the relationship between Prefect Su and the garrison in Yisong County.
The adults' own abilities alone are enough to lead the local people in resisting foreign enemies.
Of course, nobody wants such a day to come.
But everyone hopes to have such a superior in charge.
Su Qing only has two months.
He was no longer a temporary scapegoat prefect, but a proper local official.
Therefore, on September 28th, everyone in the yamen was dressed in their best attire to welcome the officials from Nanjing.
Su Qing led the way, followed by officials from various departments.
Su Qing wore a scarlet official robe, which, since it was made by Mei Niang herself, fit her perfectly.
In addition, she was tall and slender, so she could see Prefect Su at the very front from afar.
Feng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, thought to himself that he had received many requests even before he left Jinling.
People from Qi Neiguan, and even people from Liang Gonggong.
There was also a message from the General.
Needless to say, Gu Hanlin praised Su Qing to the skies the whole way.
In addition, Master Hua praised the project endlessly, especially since he wanted to participate in the task of forging weapons.
Even before he arrived, it seemed they were already finalizing the rights to manufacture weapons.
Today, I met Prefect Su and saw that she was not only not intimidated by such a scene, but even seemed to be in control of the situation.
Everyone present obeyed her commands.
With just a glance from her, the drums and music under her hands began to play.
Keep in mind that she had only been in office for two months and was just an eighteen-year-old woman.
His daughter is about the same age and is still playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football) at home, constantly saying she wants to fight and be a female general.
Look at them, they can become officials just like that.
However, such unconventional behavior makes it difficult for her to find a husband in the future.
After Vice Minister Feng and Prefect Su exchanged greetings, it was Gu Congsi who came to pay his respects.
Gu Congsi is currently a Hanlin Academician of the sixth rank in the Hanlin Academy, a rank significantly lower than Su Qing's.
However, the emperor's favorites were a different story, and the two of them also bowed to each other.
Gu Congsi's lips moved slightly.
From the sixteenth day of the first lunar month this year to the twenty-eighth day of the ninth lunar month.
Although only eight months have passed, it felt like countless years to him.
I will not go into details of what I saw and heard in the capital.
I will not recount my experiences during my escape.
He didn't mention the various things he encountered in Nanjing.
In Gu Congsi's heart, there were only those four words Su Qing had said: "Uphold the law and love the people."
If officials from the capital, on their escape route, could achieve these four words in the new dynasty of Jinling.
Otherwise, none of this would have happened.
They wouldn't even flee.
Su Qing looked at Gu Congsi's appearance and couldn't help but sigh.
Before leaving home, he was still a handsome scholar with a cool and aloof demeanor.
It's also jade now, like the colder and harder black jade.
It goes without saying what he went through.
In the past six months, everyone has experienced too much.
Su Qing glanced at it only once before inviting Vice Minister Feng and the others to settle in for a banquet: "You must be tired from your journey, so let's rest first."
The officials and their carriages from Nanjing were naturally pleased with this arrangement.
At the banquet hosted by Vice Minister Feng
The grooms and servants then ate meat and drank soup.
Mei Niang, Aunt Zhu, and Wu Niangzi, who were in charge at this time, would absolutely not let anyone be left behind.
Luo, the registrar, Wu, the constable, and others who were by Su Qing's side also followed orders.
Scholar Fei and Clerk Zhu were even more focused.
Old Master Hua, who was standing next to him, was not left out either.
Master Hua was astonished.
You should know that his daughter is already a remarkable woman.
Unexpectedly, another one showed up.
On the way, he praised Prefect Su to Vice Minister Feng, but he had never actually met him. He was just casually praising him in the letters from Hanlin Gu and his youngest son.
Seeing this scene now is truly different.
I feel much more at ease collaborating with people like this to manufacture weapons and armor.
After the banquet, accommodations were arranged.
Vice Minister Feng is over forty years old and really needs a good night's sleep.
Just as he was about to call out to Gu Hanlin, he saw him staring intently at Prefect Su, stroking his beard, and leaving with great shrewdness.
As the others gradually dispersed, Gu Congsi stepped forward and heard Su Qing say, "You should go home first."
"Instructor Gu and the others must be very anxious."
Today's banquet is attended by officials of rank.
Official schools and schools were no longer in place to provide instruction.
Gu Congsi still had something to say, but Su Qing said firmly, "Go, go back first."
This made Gu Congsi frown deeply, but he didn't move an inch.
Knowing the inside story, Hua Jingming rushed over as soon as she realized the banquet was over.
Ye Shanming could tell from his hurried manner that he was determined to join in the fun.
As Gu Congsi left the table, Su Qing sat there and sighed quietly.
Hua Jingming couldn't help but step forward: "You said it?"
Ye Shanming was puzzled.
Su Qing's words made him even more puzzled: "I didn't say it, but he will find out."
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