"Artificial life form? What are you talking about?" Mo Yun asked with confusion on his face.
"No, it's nothing." Xia Fan skipped the topic and said, "Tomorrow is the day of departure. Unfortunately, except for Suzaku, the other machine beasts have no time to accept the transformation."
"This is not a big problem," Mo Yun shrugged, "As long as you can capture a port, subsequent supplies will be sent to Yama continuously."
After accumulating a lot of experience in inland shipping, the Machinery Building Bureau was able to build simple cargo ships for crossing the strait. Naval training has also cultivated a group of fledgling ocean-going sailors. Regardless of whether they can assume the responsibility of naval warfare, they are more than enough to control cargo ships.
The next day, Noah's tree boat slowly left the east coast of Jinxia and headed towards the depths of the sea as usual.
Due to the need for strategic secrecy, necessary camouflage and cover-up were carried out during the preparation and assembly process of the team. For example, all the machine beasts were shipped in wooden boxes, and the soldiers were dressed as fishermen to board the ship. Therefore, few people knew the destination of the Noah this time. It's not a fishing ground, but Yama Island across the sea.
Inside the tree boat was not only the heavily armed Jinxia 1st Division, but also most of the elite alchemists from the Privy Council. Qian, Yan Qing, Du Yelong and others stayed in Jinxia as guardians, monitoring Qixing's every move.
Operation Overlord officially kicked off in this quiet atmosphere.
The people of Jinxia City had no idea about the war that was about to break out.
In the eyes of most people, today is another peaceful and comfortable day. The market area has been crowded with merchants who came to select the best fish early in the morning. There are also residents in teahouses and restaurants. Many migrants have settled in Jinxia for a period of time. They will be surprised to find that they don't have to worry about their future life all day long like they did in the past. Whether it is the jobs provided by the port or the small workers recruited by street shops and inns, they all follow the minimum wage standards set by the Secretariat. With this standard of salary, as long as they are willing to work hard, they can save a lot every week. Money comes. In addition to the necessary food to fill their stomachs, the money also allows them to pursue things other than survival, such as delicious refreshments and new clothes.
The topics people discuss are no longer about how much rent the government collects, whether there will be major disasters or forced labor this year, but gradually become about where to work, how much the salary is, and whether there are any benefits. If you can say that you serve in the Secretariat, you will definitely attract a burst of envy.
Of course, not everyone is getting better and better.
Shopkeeper Zhang of Fengming Bookstore is an exception.
"It seems like not many people are coming today." The waiter sat lazily by the door of the shop, holding a hand of melon seeds and eating them as he said, "Uncle Zhang, why don't we close today so I can go out for a walk. "
"It's closed, you know it's closed!" Shopkeeper Zhang glared at the other person. This guy also had a surname of Zhang and a distant name. He was his distant nephew, so he was so young. However, the advantage of letting him be a waiter is also obvious, that is, he does not have to pay another salary, and he only has to pay for food and housing.
When it comes to salary, shopkeeper Zhang can't help but feel a twinge of pain. The Secretariat first vigorously promoted new banknotes, and then stipulated that the salary of Jinxia City recruitment should not be less than 500 per month. Anyone who violated the regulations would be fined more than ten times as long as they were reported to the Secretariat. Five hundred converted into silver taels is not a small amount. In the past, a salary that could be met with only a few dozen copper coins and rice porridge now required several taels of silver. This price difference was nothing short of adding insult to injury for the declining Fengming Bookstore.
"If I close down, what will you eat? You'll still be eating melon seeds on the street. Do you know this is a bookstore? The bookstore pays attention to an elegant style. How can anyone come to patronize me if you look like this?"
"Come on, everyone knows that no one has read the books you sell. Even if I burn incense and chant sutras in front of the store, it will be useless." Zhang Yuan curled his lips, "Uncle, I'd better close the store early, so I can go to the port somewhere." Make a living. Not only can you make a lot of money, but you can also enjoy support from the government. Isn't it better than being a waiter in a shop? "
"You've rebelled against me!" Shopkeeper Zhang stamped his feet repeatedly.
Zhang Yuan sighed, this was not the first time for such a dispute, "I'm just telling the truth, uncle, why don't you understand? When you didn't join the school's bookseller side, you were destined to be defeated. After all, the people don't agree with each other. You can't win against them in an official fight."
Shopkeeper Zhang was confused.
These were the words he least wanted to hear.
However, he also knew that what the other party said was true. Nowadays, if you want to ask what is the best-selling printed matter in Jinxia City, it is undoubtedly Shenjin Weekly, followed by school textbooks. As for the ancient classics and poetry classics, no one cares about them in just a few months. Even the bookstores that used to be the most prosperous business, the poetry books printed at their own expense and written at gatherings, are now no longer in demand. No trace.
The Secretariat had originally invited Fengming Bookstore to participate in supplier negotiations, but when shopkeeper Zhang heard that a large deposit was required and that the Secretariat would obtain a portion of the bookstore's shares, he ultimately did not sign the agreement. This store is regarded as the ancestral business of the Zhang family that he inherited. How can he give it up to others
Of course, judging the battle situation was also one of his biggest mistakes.
Shopkeeper Zhang never expected that Princess Guangping would not only gain a firm foothold in Shenzhou, but also completely overthrow the original government, making the Affairs Bureau the new ruling yamen.
Old books cannot be bought, and new books cannot be printed or sold. Fengming Bookstore has become an outlier in the bustling atmosphere of Jinxia.
"I know you are reluctant to let go, uncle, but the long-term pain is better than the short-term pain." Zhang Yuan advised, "The main business of the bookstore is printing, but the printing shop behind you has not been in operation for two months, do you still hope that one day you can Stand up? Unless Her Royal Highness the Princess falls."
Before he could finish speaking, the shopkeeper rushed over and covered his mouth.
"If you want to die, don't get me involved!"
"Ahem" Zhang Yuan broke away, "I just used it to describe this matter as impossible. Uncle, it would be good to tidy up these rooms and make a small restaurant. As long as the house is there, why not inherit the ancestral business?" "
These words made the shopkeeper hesitate.
Catering is indeed the most prosperous business in Jinxia City recently. Even if the scones and noodles are well made, it can attract a large number of customers who are willing to pay.
At this moment, there was a slapping sound outside the front yard, as if someone was knocking on the door plaque of the bookstore.
Could it be that there are guests coming to the door
But why didn't he just come in
Without thinking too much, the shopkeeper pushed his nephew and said, "Go and take a look." He straightened his clothes, pretended to be ready and sat back in front of the counter.
After a while, Zhang Yuan walked back from the street, stroking his head.
There was no second person following him, but there was an extra book in his hand.