Qin Fang was at the top of the beast mountain. The tiger had woken up and ate a wild boar leg. Because the wild boar leg was drugged, it fell asleep again. Surprisingly, after the tiger woke up in the cage, it did not overreact. It roared a few times, then saw the chained man next to it, it became quiet again, then ate the wild boar leg and fell asleep again.
When the tiger roared, it woke up the man in chains, and he also roared at the tiger. The roar of the man in chains shocked Doctor Li and others who were unaware of the situation. They had never seen anyone who could imitate the roar of a tiger so similarly. If they had not seen it with their own eyes, they would not have known that it was the man in chains roaring.
The soldiers sat on the ground and ate breakfast. Today's breakfast was sweet potato and brown rice porridge, which was enough to fill them up. But when Qin Fang came, he brought each of them a meat bun. The meat buns in Yunxiang County cost two cents each. The buns were not small, but there was not much meat. But no matter how small, it was still meat.
Captain Yang was also sitting in the third seat, drinking sweet potato soup and biting into a meat bun. He said, "General, this tiger is very cooperative. It didn't hit the cage after waking up. I thought it was in danger."
Qin Fang said, "I've heard that when tigers get old, they can't hunt well anymore, so they can only catch small animals to fill their stomachs, or just wait to die. Another possible outcome is for other wild animals to eat them. This tiger looks very old, and it probably won't live much longer, so it may have given up struggling. However, the way it gets along with the chained man is really amazing, and they seem to communicate with each other by barking."
The fact that the Chained Man could communicate with the tiger by barking was a miracle in itself. Moreover, the Chained Man had many more secrets.
At noon, the tiger woke up again, and then ate another wild boar leg. The tiger was eating happily, and simply did nothing, not even roaring, and started eating directly in the cage. Occasionally, it would look at the chained man, as if observing his condition.
The chains of the chained man had not been untied yet, but he was used to being chained. He also ate the sweet potato porridge, which was tasteless to everyone, with great relish. So when Dr. Li asked him to drink the medicine, he was very cooperative. Of course, after he drank the medicine, Dr. Li would give him a piece of candy, so he always looked at Dr. Li with a dependent look, like a child relying on his father.
“General… General…” Kun Shi’s panting voice came from the front.
Actually, Kun Shi could have asked the guards to come and call Qin Fang, but he also wanted to come and see the Shoushan Taoist Temple, so he came here by himself. Fortunately, he came from the military camp, and after becoming Qin Fang's personal guard in the past two years, he had not lacked training. Otherwise, he really couldn't climb such a high mountain. "General, the madam asked the subordinates to come to you..." Kun Shi repeated the story.
Qin Fang was a little surprised. Even if his wife didn't tell him, he knew it was something important. So he said, "Old Yang, if there is any problem with the Taoist temple or the mine, come to me anytime. I'll go back to the mansion first."
Captain Yang: "Yes, General."
An hour later, Qin Fang returned to the general's mansion. Fortunately, going down the mountain was faster than going up. Although it was steep, it was not a problem for him.
Yang Haiyan was sitting in the yard waiting for him. She was bored while waiting for someone and was making underwear. However, it took Kunshi more than two hours to come and go, which was more than four hours. It was time to have dinner.
As soon as Qin Fang entered the yard, he asked, "Yan Yan, what's the matter that made Kun Shi come to see me so anxiously?"
Yang Haiyan put down what she was holding, went over and took Qin Fang's hand: "Come with me." She pulled him into the house mysteriously.
Qin Fang was quite excited when he saw her mysterious look, but when she pulled him into the room where sulfur and saltpeter were stored, he lost his excitement. "Yan Yan, why did you stop me from coming here?"
Yang Haiyan pointed to the basin and said, "Look." Although more than two hours had passed, if the ice formed slowly, then it would melt even slower.
Qin Fang really didn't pay attention to what Yang Haiyan said. He just saw the basin and the ice in it. He was puzzled: "What's wrong with this basin? There's ice in it so early? What do you plan to do with it?"
Yang Haiyan didn't think Qin Fang was wrong. How could a normal person think that saltpeter could be used to make ice? So she patiently explained: "This ice is not bought, and I don't use it for other purposes. I put saltpeter in the basin in the morning, and it froze at noon. Husband, don't you understand? If saltpeter is put into water, as long as there is more saltpeter, the water will freeze after half a day."
Qin Fang filtered Yang Haiyan's words in his mind, then suddenly opened his eyes wide: "You mean...you mean that saltpeter can be made into ice when it meets water?" In this way, wouldn't the ice that the poor can't afford be cheap
It must be said that Qin Fang's ideas are different from others. Some people know that saltpeter can be used to make ice, and the first thing they think of is probably making money, but when Qin Fang knew this, the first thing he thought of was the people.
Just like when he discovered sulfur and saltpeter, the first thing he thought of was that he could use big firecrackers to fight the enemy, not that he would get rich. He had the responsibility of being a citizen of Qi, and this responsibility was enough to make him give up his personal interests.
Yang Haiyan also looked at him, seeing the shock and joy in his eyes, but not greed. Such a man is really likable.
He is not a stupid person, of course he knows how much benefit this matter brings. If Qin Fang was stupid, he would not write the property of the bandits in the letter to Du Ke after the bandits were suppressed, thus blurring the military pay. If Qin Fang was stupid, he would not cling to Du Ke's thigh and find a backer for himself. Therefore, he is smart, he knows how to fight for his own interests.
But at the same time, when he fights for his own interests, he also fights in an open and aboveboard manner and will not harm the interests of others.
Yang Haiyan smiled and said, "Yes, saltpeter can be used to make ice. Husband, in the summer, if we use saltpeter to make ice and sell it, we can probably make a lot of money." Yang Haiyan said this to hear Qin Fang's thoughts. She naturally wouldn't do that. Saltpeter can be used to make ice for yourself, and it's not necessary to sell it.
Qin Fang was silent for a while after hearing this. He suddenly reached out and touched Yang Haiyan's head: "Yanyan, the matter of making ice with saltpeter must be reported to the court."
Yang Haiyan looked at him but didn't rush to ask.
Qin Fang smiled and said, "Yan Yan is a smart girl. We can fight for our own interests in some things, but we cannot fight with the court for some interests. A saltpeter mine has been discovered in Shoushan, and the court will send people here immediately. We can ask the court for a few baskets of saltpeter. This is the bottom line allowed by the court. However, if we use the saltpeter from the court to make ice and sell it, it is equivalent to making money with the court's things. Although it is not illegal, it is not a good thing for the court to know.
Instead of doing this, it is better to tell the court about the saltpeter ice making. In this way, the court may even reward us with something. We are worried about the money we earn from the court, but we feel at ease with the money rewarded by the court. Don't you think so?"
Qin Fang's bottom line is not to be greedy, but to be open and aboveboard. He can use knockout drugs to deal with bandits and tigers, but when the two armies are fighting, he cannot use knockout drugs to deal with the enemy, which is a despicable act.
Yang Haiyan looked at Qin Fang with sparkling eyes: "Husband, you are right, I will listen to you."
Qin Fang listened to her agreement, and then looked at her eyes as bright as stars, and felt happy. Some things are tiring if you insist on them alone without someone who shares the same thoughts as you. However, if the person who is going to accompany you for life has the same ideas as you, it will be his lifelong luck.
Two days later, in the capital.
Tao Shan came to the capital for the second time. Compared with the first time when he was cautious and confused, he was much more experienced this time. Although he was still cautious, he went directly to the residence of the Minister of War as soon as he arrived in the capital. The guards guarding the gate of the Du Mansion were still the same team in March. Although they had only met Tao Shan twice, Tao Shan entered the Du Mansion once and Tao Shan left the Du Mansion once, but this time when he heard Tao Shan's identity, the guards had an impression.
The guard said, "It turns out to be you, Brother Tao. Please wait a moment, Brother Tao. According to the rules, we must go in and report first."
Tao Shan bowed and said, "I understand. Thank you for troubling this elder brother."
The guard went in for a while, and soon the butler came out. Normally, a person of Tao Shan's status would not need the butler to greet him personally, but the last time the master came back from Huanshui County, he praised General Qin endlessly. Tao Shan was General Qin's confidant, and he must have come under General Qin's orders, so the butler came out to greet him personally.
The housekeeper said: "Brother Tao, I didn't expect that we are so destined to meet. It's only been more than two months and we meet again."
Tao Shan immediately said, "It is a blessing for Tao Shan to meet you, Steward Du, so soon. Tao Shan has important matters to discuss with the general according to his orders. It is an important matter."
Seeing this, the housekeeper said, "Don't worry, Brother Tao, I will send someone to invite the master right away."
If it wasn't an important matter, General Qin wouldn't have sent his confidant.
Ministry of War
"A-choo..." Du Ke sneezed.
"Sir, have you caught a cold? The weather has been hot and cold recently. You are busy with official business, so please take care of your health." The subordinate flattered him and poured Du Ke a cup of hot tea.
Du Ke said: "This is really strange. I have been in good health recently. I just took my pulse the day before yesterday." But why did he feel uneasy
Just at this moment, someone came from the outside to report: "Master Du, the guards from your house are here and they want to see you for something important."
Du Ke thought about it carefully. Why did this sound so familiar? "Let him in."
"yes."
The guard came quickly: "Greetings, sir." The guard did not say anything right away, but glanced at the subordinate who had just flattered Duco.
The subordinate immediately said, "Sir, I suddenly remembered that I have something important to do. I will take my leave first."