After a night's rest at Yan's house, Eunuch Ou, who was exhausted from the long journey, felt better the next day and was full of energy. He was eager to visit Yan Liqiang's Kyudo Club.
Yan Liqiang accompanied Eunuch Ou to the Kyudo Club and had the students practice the parade several times in the martial arts field. Although Eunuch Ou boasted of being knowledgeable in the Imperial Capital, his face suddenly changed when he saw the parade of the Kyudo Club students. He was shocked by the momentum of the square formations that were as huge as mountains and forests.
After nearly a year of study, many core students and Yan Liqiang have experienced life and death tests, seen blood, and killed enemies. Under Yan Liqiang's teaching and the power of the Five Animal Exercises, many people have made great progress in strength. The formation drills are still carried out for half an hour every morning. At this time, the formation drills of the 3,000 students of the Kyudo Club have given Yan Liqiang the feeling of watching the National Day military parade.
"Hello, Eunuch Ou..."
When the columns passed by the rostrum, they shouted out loud words, which made Eunuch Ou standing on the rostrum startled for a moment, then he burst into laughter and said "good" several times. Then he said to Yan Liqiang next to him, "Liqiang, your Kyudo Club is really good. It really opened our eyes. Look at the queue, it's a straight line no matter how you look at it. Wow, even the Mabushi training is not so neat!"
"Hahaha, as long as father-in-law likes it, this queue is also something I came up with on my own. I just think it looks good!" Yan Liqiang said calmly, smiling beside him.
Eunuchs are physically incomplete and their minds are different from those of ordinary people. Some say that eunuchs like money, while others say that eunuchs like power. These are not wrong, but they are not entirely correct either. In fact, what eunuchs like most is face, scene, and the satisfaction of being respected and surrounded by others. Only this kind of external satisfaction and sense of authority can make up for the inner shortcomings caused by their physical defects and make them feel that they are no different from ordinary people, and even the best among ordinary people. This is what eunuchs like most.
When the Nian Snake was born, Yan Liqiang had already fully understood Eunuch Liu's thoughts, so when he came to the Kyudo Club today, Yan Liqiang specially asked someone to make some arrangements, and sure enough, Eunuch Ou was immediately happy.
Shi Changfeng has been in seclusion these days to reach the level of Grand Martial Master, which will take at least three months, so Shi Changfeng has rarely appeared in these days. He did not come out yesterday or today.
After watching the drill for a while, Eunuch Ou winked at Yan Liqiang. Yan Liqiang knew that Eunuch Ou had something to say to him, so he took Eunuch Ou away from the rostrum and strolled along the tree-lined path in the Kyudo Club.
Normally, in such an occasion, the guards around Eunuch Ou should consciously walk away, but what surprised Yan Liqiang was that the ordinary-looking guard who followed Eunuch Ou to the Archery Club today followed closely beside Eunuch Ou, following him step by step.
Yan Liqiang glanced at the guard, and the guard also glanced at Yan Liqiang, his eyes were deep and bright, but he remained silent.
The snake moves...
Oh my god…
It turns out that this guard actually has such an identity...
Yan Liqiang was quite uneasy in his heart, but on the surface, he remained calm, as if he knew nothing.
"This time when I came to Ganzhou, His Majesty specifically told me to take a good look at your situation here, Li Qiang. It seems that you are doing very well in Ganzhou these past two days, which is really surprising!" The strolling Eunuch Ou spoke first, "Especially your manufacturing bureau, which has long been famous all over the world. The wealthy families of the Han Empire and even the dignitaries in the Imperial Capital can only come to you to buy the best four-wheeled carriages. Even Lin Qingtian's four-wheeled carriage was given to him by someone who bought it from the manufacturing bureau. I heard in the Imperial Capital that your manufacturing bureau makes a lot of money every day, making more money than those big business groups. Your future is limitless!"
"No, it's all thanks to your majesty that I was lucky enough to make it in Ganzhou!" Yan Liqiang said modestly, "If it weren't for your majesty's support, I wouldn't be in Ganzhou today!"
"Hahaha, Li Qiang, don't be modest, don't be modest. His Majesty and Eunuch Liu both think that you, Li Qiang, are a great talent. How could they be wrong? Although I have been serving His Majesty in the palace and have not had much contact with outsiders, my eyes are still sharp. People like you, Li Qiang, who have become great craftsmen at their age, are rare in the Han Empire in hundreds of years. Eunuch Liu and Your Majesty's ability to judge people is beyond doubt. I admire them very much!" Eunuch Ou smiled. Although his voice was a little shrill, his tone was very sincere. "This time, in addition to the imperial edict, His Majesty actually has some things to explain. It's just that those things are confidential and cannot be said in front of others, so I can only find a chance to explain to you, Li Qiang today!"
Yan Liqiang first glanced at the guard who followed him again, and then said to Eunuch Ou, "Your Majesty, if you have any instructions, please let me know, Eunuch Ou!"
Eunuch Ou also noticed the way Yan Liqiang was looking at the guard. He smiled and said, "Master Long, Liqiang is right here. Just tell him your identity and purpose, so that we don't have to nag you anymore!"
The guard smiled, and seeing that there was no one around, he stretched out his hand and took off a human skin mask from his face, revealing the fierce face behind the mask. He clasped his fists towards Yan Liqiang and said in a deep voice, "My name is Long Tiezhou, and my current position is the recorder and military officer of the Fengyun Army of the Han Empire. The commander of the Fengyun Army, Long Feicheng, is my father. I have heard of Master Yan's name for a long time. This time I got to see him in person. It's true that hearing about him is not as good as meeting him in person. Meeting him in person is worse than hearing about him. I have admired him for a long time!"
Yan Liqiang was of course "astonished" and "puzzled" as he looked at Long Tiezhou and Eunuch Ou, who had changed their faces and appeared in front of him, "Eunuch, this is..."
Eunuch Ou frowned and sighed, "The Fengyun Army and General Long are the pillars of the northern border of the Han Empire. It is because of the Fengyun Army that we have been able to resist the offensive of the Shatu people in the north and protect the peace of the northern border of the Han Empire. The Long family is a family of generals of the Han Dynasty. The descendants of the Long family have always been loyal to Your Majesty. Because of this, the Long family has always been feared by the treacherous prime minister Lin Qingtian. Now the Ministry of War and General Anbei's mansion are all Lin Qingtian's party members, especially that General Anbei Shi Tao, who is Lin Qingtian's running dog planted beside the Fengyun Army. Because the Ministry of War and General Anbei Shi Tao are in cahoots with each other, the Fengyun Army has had a harder time in recent years. The military ranks, money, and supplies have been allocated less and less every year, leaving the Fengyun Army soldiers on the front line starving, lacking food and clothing and still resisting the Shatu people. Their situation is very difficult!"
"Oh, this is outrageous!" Yan Liqiang said angrily, "This traitor has ruined the country, and he deserves death!"
Eunuch Ou nodded, "Young Master Long secretly visited His Majesty in the Imperial Capital a few days ago and asked for help. I'm sure you, Li Qiang, also know that His Majesty is also in trouble in the Imperial Capital. The money and grain in the court all come from the Ministry of Revenue, and the ownership of the money and grain collected and allocated by the Ministry of Revenue every year involves too many things, and there are too many monks and too little porridge. It is not something that His Majesty can decide. If His Majesty insists on adjusting the money and grain of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, Lin Qingtian and his party will definitely take the opportunity to make a big mess, and then put the blame on His Majesty, making His Majesty in a dilemma. His Majesty can still find a way to get the money and grain for the time being, even from the imperial treasury, but after all, it is not a long-term solution. It just so happened that at this time, His Majesty received the wool blankets and woolen cloth you sent to the Imperial Capital. His Majesty said that Li Qiang, you can turn waste wool into treasure, and mountains of gold and silver are inexhaustible for you, so let Young Master Long come to Ganzhou with me..."
Eunuch Ou hadn't finished speaking yet, but his meaning was already very clear.
"Your Majesty really thinks too highly of me!" Yan Liqiang didn't know whether to cry or laugh.
"Li Qiang, you don't have to be modest. Even if His Majesty is in the Imperial Capital, he knows that you set up a manufacturing bureau after returning to Ganzhou, and also opened a salt field with Lei Sitong. Not to mention the four-wheeled carriage of the manufacturing bureau, but Pingxi County used to only have local salt. After you came back, Pingxi County can produce top-quality cloud salt all at once. His Majesty said that only you have the ability to turn stone into gold. If you want to solve the current crisis of the Fengyun Army, you are the only one in the world who has this ability. His Majesty hopes that you will put the overall situation first and help the Fengyun Army overcome this difficulty!"
Wang Jianbei was right. His Majesty had placed a heavy bet on him, so he naturally hoped for something in return. This imperial decree had brought him a lot of honor and benefits, so he had to pay something behind the scenes...
(End of this chapter)