Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Three-party Thoughts
Zhong Diyan compiled the information submitted by Guo Han and Qi Liang and gave it to Lin Si and Liang Nian for review.
Lin Si's expression was originally calm, but when he saw Emperor Xiping's hobby, his expression couldn't help but change.
Even Liang Nian remained silent for a few seconds when he saw it.
"Emperor Xiping's hobby is quite unique." Liang Nian quickly regained his composure.
Lin Si nodded in agreement.
She had never imagined that an emperor's hobby was butchering pigs. Not only did he slaughter the pigs, but afterward, he personally sorted the pork into different types. Then, he set up a simulated market in the palace, with palace maids and eunuchs acting as vendors and customers. Not only did they buy and sell, but they also bargained, traded with each other, and even stole and fought.
Are you playing a management role-playing game here?
As for Emperor Xiping, he would play a role randomly on that day depending on his mood. The palace maids and eunuchs could not look at all like ordinary people in the market. If their performance did not meet Emperor Xiping's wishes, they would be beaten with a stick, and in serious cases, they might even die on the spot.
Sometimes, when ministers came to the palace to discuss matters, they were also required to participate in the market and had to act as customers buying meat.
The next day, you have to report truthfully whether you took the meat you bought yesterday and put it away or cooked it.
If you cook anything, you must report what you cook truthfully.
So Lin Si blurted out: "Isn't he too idle?"
Lin Si sincerely believed this. Every morning, she woke up to a mountain of memorials to review. Furthermore, there were a ton of matters to discuss at the morning court. Not to mention the important documents submitted by the various ministries and Liang Nian at dawn.
That's all, even though she already has Liang Nian, a super workaholic, to lighten her workload.
The Emperor of Xiping actually had the time and energy to slaughter pigs and then hold a market in the palace and stroll around for fun?
Liang Nian thought for two seconds and replied, "I think so."
Lin Si and Liang Nian discussed for a while and felt that they could indeed make arrangements in Xiping first and infiltrate spies into Xiping.
Zhong Diyan received the order and began to make arrangements.
Then Lin Si took out a map of Xiping and pointed to the northwest grassland.
"When the northwest grasslands are recovered, we can not only raise horses, but also a lot of sheep. Xiping also has many mineral resources, which can all be utilized."
Liang Nian pointed to one of the spots. "The coal from this area will also be very useful."
Like Lin Si, Liang Nian couldn't help but want to do something big.
After talking about Xiping, Lin Si took out a thin booklet and handed it to Liang Nian.
Liang Nian flipped through the book, finding it contained almost entirely records of Lin Ying's kindergarten performance, including but not limited to her attendance, interpersonal skills, and interactions with the kindergarten teacher. He quickly scanned the pages and concluded, "Aside from her weak interpersonal skills, the County Princess is otherwise quite good. For a five-year-old, she'd even be considered excellent."
Lin Si propped his cheek up. "That's why I want you and your mother to observe her more and talk to her more. Observe her to see if she's qualified as the future crown prince."
Liang Nian nodded. "I understand."
Although Lin Ying is still young, Liang Nian believes in Lin Si's judgment. Since she chose Lin Ying, she must have her reasons.
*
Meng Nuo has been in a very depressed mood recently, and he only feels better when he thinks of the international students who are studying hard in Nanzhao.
Meng Nuo was already very angry about Xiping Xue's sending students abroad. After an investigation, he finally found out all the spies.
After the investigation, Monroe discovered how poor their method of transmitting intelligence was.
But Nanzhao never discovered it.
Meng Nuo couldn't help but think of his days in Da'an. He heard that the secret guards under the Da'an emperor could eavesdrop on all officials and had their own intelligence network.
Meng Nuo sighed. Da'an was developing too fast, and Nanzhao couldn't compete with it.
Meng Nuo sometimes even wondered what she should do if Da'an wanted to incorporate Nanzhao into its territory one day.
Does Nanzhao have the military strength to compete with Da'an?
Monno shook his head and got rid of the thought from his mind. It had not come to that point yet, so there was no point in thinking too much.
What she needs to think about now is how to pry more information out of the Xiping spies.
She felt ashamed when she thought of the spy saying with disgust that he had come to Nanzhao undercover, holding back tears and wearing Nanzhao clothes and silver jewelry every day, she felt ashamed.
I really don't understand the aesthetic standards of the people of Xiping. They have braids themselves, and yet they say Nanzhao silver jewelry is ugly?!
Meng Nuo now only hopes that the international students in Nanzhao will graduate and return soon, so that Nanzhao still has hope of rising.
Seeing that Meng Nuo was tired from handling affairs, the maid brought him tea and snacks.
Nanzhao’s conditions are limited, and it is impossible to replicate Da’an’s milk tea, but dim sum is not difficult.
Monno drank tea and ate snacks, and asked when this month's newspaper would be delivered.
Now that she was helping the regent handle state affairs, she realized how tiring it was to manage a country, not to mention her cousin who would often trip her up. The only time she could relax was when she read the serial novels of the painting lady.
The maid replied, "It will take about seven days. Your Highness, please wait."
Meng Nuo nodded, finished his meal, replenished his energy, and then continued to deal with his affairs.
*
Xiping, inside the imperial palace.
Emperor Zhang Yangshu of Xiping had just slaughtered a pig, but he still didn't feel tired. He was now using a fine iron kitchen knife he had bought from Da'an to separate the pork. He had butchered pigs for many years and knew the different ways to separate the meat.
Zhang Yang thought to himself: This pork is very good today. The pork belly is fat but not greasy, and the rib meat is firm. It will definitely be the first to be snapped up in his market.
It would be better to invite the minister to buy such good meat together, and then tell him what food is made with the meat the next day.
As Zhang Yangshu thought about it, the corners of his mouth rose slightly.
The young eunuchs and palace maids were wiping the bloodstains in the hall.
This is the place where Zhang Yangshu kills pigs for fun. The young eunuchs and palace maids are already experienced in wiping and handling pigs.
Generally, after slaughtering the pig, after two days when the smell has dissipated, they will decorate the place like a market for Zhang Yangshu to visit.
Although he had already killed pigs many times with Daan's knife, Zhang Yangshu still couldn't help but sigh. Why were Daan's things so easy to use? He still couldn't figure out how the knife was made, and those exquisite gadgets.
Zhang Yangshu has narrow single eyelids, a narrow face, and a small body. He does not look tall, but rather gives people the feeling of a chick.
So when he squinted his eyes again in a pretentious manner, his eyes were gone, and he looked even more strange.
After cutting the pork into different parts, Zhang Yangshu put down the knife, washed his hands, and prepared to go to the main hall to discuss matters.
He had not yet changed his bloody clothes from butchering a pig. When the young eunuch brought the clothes up, he waved his hand to indicate that it was not necessary. He found it quite interesting to discuss politics while wearing blood-stained clothes.
Zhang Yangshu has been on the throne for several years, and what he is most proud of is the spy organization he established. He carefully cultivates and strictly trains each spy.
These spies performed very well. They had been lurking in Nanzhao for many years and had never failed. The intelligence was always transmitted back on time.
The only loss he suffered was in Da'an. Not long after he arrived in Da'an, the spy he had carefully trained was discovered. Not only was he discovered, but he was also questioned by Da'an.
Of course Zhang Yangshu could not admit it, so he pushed the blame on the merchants in Xiping, saying that the merchants in Xiping wanted to seek personal gain.
Zhang Yangshu was puzzled. The troops he sent were all elite, so how did they get discovered?
He has trained those spies for several years, and now they are left in Da'an and cannot return, which is a huge loss.
Of course Zhang Yangshu didn't know that these spies were now working hard to mine in the mining area.
Fortunately, the spies from Nanzhao are safe for the time being.
As a result, several of his ministers had very grim expressions when they first came up. They said carefully, "Your Majesty...the spy has been discovered by Nanzhao."
Zhang Yangshu:?
"How could those idiots from Nanzhao find out?" Zhang Yangshu couldn't believe it. He had been lurking for so many years, why was he only discovered now?
The minister lowered his head. "That... I don't know. The spies who escaped said that their entire network has been shut down. I guess the news about studying abroad was too obvious, so Nanzhao noticed."
Zhang Yang's eyes blinked in relief. "Even if Nanzhao noticed, they could only catch one or two at most. How could they have completely destroyed the entire chain? One Da'an, one Nanzhao. This is truly challenging my bottom line!"
Originally, Zhang Yangshu was in a good mood because he had slaughtered a pig today. But now, he was in no mood to go shopping at the market for two days.
He became angry and annoyed just thinking about how many people he had lost.
He could still remain calm when he was discovered by Da'an, but things would be different when he was discovered by Nanzhao!
The ministers knew this was bad news, so they kept their heads down. "Now that we've lost control of Nanzhao, should we send more people?"
Zhang Yangshu drummed his fingertips on the table. "Nan Zhao has really become quite capable now, even possessing such abilities. We'll have to send people, but let's do it slowly, lest they become suspicious."
Zhang Yangshu has always been dissatisfied with the current situation in Xiping. Xiping's textile and handicraft industries are not as good as Nanzhao's, and its farming industry is not as good as Da'an's. If it had not occupied the northwestern grassland, it would have been incorporated into Da'an's territory long ago.
Therefore, he and his fathers have been strengthening Xiping's military strength.
Zhang Yangshu always believed that Xiping's cavalry must be stronger than Nanzhao's elephant soldiers, but he was not so sure about Da'an.
But it didn't matter, he knew that horses were very scarce in Da'an, and even ox carts were used in daily life.
Zhang Yangshu was never satisfied with being just the emperor of Xiping. He not only wanted to destroy Nanzhao, but also wanted to attack Da'an.
Now that his spies have been discovered by these two countries, he feels that he needs to make adequate preparations.
He believed that Xiping's cavalry could flatten any place.
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