Seeing that he was asking for advice humbly, Bai Maoxin nodded with satisfaction, sent away the singing girl who was serving the wine, called Wanyan Xiyin to come with him, and said in a low voice: "The most powerful weapon in the world is artillery. The power of artillery lies in gunpowder."

The power of the weapon. The Ordnance Supervisor and the Sanya warehouse contain refined gunpowder specially used by the imperial army in the capital. It is the top grade purchased from the Xia Kingdom. Ordinary gunpowder requires three taels of gunpowder. This kind of fine medicine only costs seven coins. It is even more rare.

The most important thing is that the powder is pure and uniform, and it is not susceptible to moisture if stored properly. As long as you test the amount of the filling, it will be exactly the same every time. If the artillery uses this medicine, it will be easy to operate the cannon, and the cannon can hit far, powerful and extremely difficult.

Exploded chamber."

When Wanyan Zongbi heard this, he was immediately overjoyed. The Jurchens were not afraid of fighting in the field with the Liao people, but they could not overcome the solid city defense of Huanglong Mansion. When he went on a mission to the Southern Dynasties, his father's biggest expectation was to buy artillery and artillery for siege from the Song Dynasty.

Gunpowder. It is God's wish. The Immortal God brought Master Bai, who is proficient in firearms, right in front of him. Wanyan Xiyin praised: "A single word of advice from Master is better than a million soldiers. In the next generation, hundreds of thousands of people in the clan will be killed."

A child feels the same great virtue." At the same time, he personally poured a full bottle of wine for Bai Maoxin.

Bai Maoxin squinted his drunken eyes to see clearly the two people's flattery, and he felt happy and whispered: "If there is enough gold, I will discuss with the adults of Sanya and exchange this batch of refined gunpowder with the best cannons."

It’s not impossible to give it to both of you.”

The three of them deliberated for a while, and Bai Maoxin left with satisfaction. Wanyan Zongbi asked Wanyan Xiyin to call the reckless man Wanyan Zonghan who stayed outside to come in and eat the remaining food and wine together. While Wanyan Zonghan was eating, he teased the accompanying singer and laughed and cursed.

: "If Liaoyang Mansion is conquered in the future, such a woman will take ten hundred of him back. When she is happy, she will do it to her heart's content, and when she is unhappy, she will beat him to his heart's content, and then take him to the grassland to change horses."

Wanyan Zongbi and Wanyan Xiyin ignored his crazy talk and discussed how to get together the money promised to Bai Maoxin. After calculating for a long time, they had exhausted all the gold they carried, and there was still a difference of two thousand guan.

The man then decided to take the valuable jewelery, knives and other items around him to a pawn shop outside to use as cash to see if they could make enough money. Wanyan Zongbi said solemnly: "God help our clan, if the Jurchen Wanyan tribe is prosperous from now on, it will definitely be the country's title."

It’s a big gold, and it means it will be invincible.”

Under the double eaves of the moon, the Xichun Tower, the largest restaurant in Bianliang, is still brightly lit, as bright as day, and the sound of orchestral strings and bamboos can be heard endlessly. In the most spacious elegant pavilion on the third floor, Prince Zhao Kezheng is talking pleasantly to the Confucian Chen Dong.

Accompanying him were Qin Hui, a senior scholar, and Luo Ruji, a member of the Ministry of Criminal Affairs, as well as Zhao Yan, the prince's accompaniment.

At this time, a group of 18 dancers wearing tulle masks came in. Under the leadership of the lead dancer, the dancers twisted their waists to the music, and the small silver bells on their wrists sounded with the rhythm.

The graceful figure covered only by the gauze immediately attracted the attention of everyone present. Prince Zhao Ke looked straight at the most beautiful lead dancer in the middle, as if his burning eyes were about to lift the gauze.

Qin Hui lowered his head and poured himself a drink. Luo Ruji and Zhao Yan looked at each other and smiled, but Chen Dong frowned.

After the dance, the dancers all crouched on the ground. Only the lead dancer in the middle knelt down and presented a glass of wine to the prince. His eyes stared boldly at Zhao Ke. Zhao Ke was very helpful.

He drank the wine in the cup and laughed loudly: "Raise your head and let me see your appearance.

"Yes, Your Highness." The dancer was quite obedient and docile. She lifted her head slightly as ordered, gently took off her veil, and revealed her face. Even Zhao Ke, who was used to seeing beauty, couldn't help but take a breath, and saw that her face was like a lotus.

The calyx, the lips are like cherries, the skin is as delicate as a white jade, and there is a hint of shyness in her affectionate expression. Even Qin Xue, who has always paid great attention to appearance and restraint, secretly sighed in his heart, the so-called I feel pity when I see it, that's it, such a beauty

It was her luck to accidentally fall into the world and meet the prince.

Zhao Ke was shocked and was considering whether to bring the girl into the East Palace. Chen Dong, who was sitting with him, coughed slightly and whispered: "There is a beautiful woman in the north. Her smile will captivate the city, and her smile will captivate the country." Everyone.

Everyone looked sideways at him, but he asked Zhao Yan next to him: "I am very talented and have little knowledge. I have forgotten the next two lines of Li Yannian's poem." Zhao Yan was a little embarrassed and said nothing, and the next two lines were "I would rather not know the beauty of the city and the beauty of the country."

, it’s hard to find a beautiful woman again." Luo Ruji thought to himself: "Chen Shaoyang usually pretends to be a romantic, but today he pretends to be a gentleman and advises the prince not to indulge in beauty. Such a show is embarrassing.

Zhao Ke felt that he was a little out of sorts, coughed, and thought to himself: "Chen Shaoyang is indeed a straight man. When it comes to employing people, I can't let him feel cold." He waved his hand to make all the dancers leave.

"Shaoyang is not only very knowledgeable, but he has also done a great thing in his hometown." Luo Ruji changed the subject in an interesting way, "In the early years of Xuanhe, when the traitor party was in full swing, he contacted nearly five hundred people in Danyang, Runzhou.

He was a country squire, and hundreds of thousands of people jointly signed a letter to request an end to the Fangtian Equalization Tax Law, the Service Exemption Law, and the Market Change Law, which shocked the world. In the second year of Xuanhe, the court abolished the Fangtian Equalization Tax Law, and Shaoyang was also a meritorious minister." Everyone laughed.

Laughing, the abolition of the Fangtian Tax Equalization Law was the proud work of the old party to attack the new law." Everyone knew that Zhao Ke was interested in recruiting Chen Dong, so they all clapped their hands and praised him.

Prince Zhao Ke, Luo Ruji and Zhao Yan all lived in Bianliang for a long time and did not know much about the local situation. Chen Dong explained: "The imperial court's land equalization tax law divides land into five classes for tax payment. The original intention is to make the burden even.

However, the officials at the lower level took advantage of this to be greedy, and the subordinate officials blackmailed the villagers, which made the poor more burdened. The local tyrants used this to classify the fields as the lowest class to avoid taxes. When it was actually implemented, the people in the southeast were complaining. I can't help it.

It's just a matter of righteousness, just asking for orders for the people."

The roads in the southeast were the main source of taxes for the imperial court. Under layers of exploitation, they were already overwhelmed. The people were in a state of confusion. There was a faint tendency to dry up firewood all over the place. The gentry formed associations to fight against the government, and even evil cults took advantage of the situation and started to spread everywhere.

They have attracted many followers, and a great change is just around the corner.

Chen Dongzheng wanted to take this opportunity to speak, but he heard Zhao Ke say: "A young man like Shaoyang will definitely become a pillar of the imperial court in the future." He turned the wine glass with his right hand and turned to Qin Hui and said, "Currently the traitor party controls Shangshe.

If Shaoyang wants to become an official as soon as possible, he must take part in the imperial examination, and also ask Mr. Qin to say hello to the Ministry of Rites, so that he can select students for the country." Qin Hui smiled and agreed. He had two friends of the same age.

Working in the Ministry of Etiquette, although the rank is not high, it is powerful. Chen Dong knew that this was Zhao Ke asking the officials of the Ministry of Etiquette to let him enter the palace examination. He frowned slightly, but he could not refuse the prince's kindness on the spot, so he had to thank him.

Zhao Ke saw Chen Dong's hesitation, smiled slightly and said: "I deeply believe in Shaoyang's talent and learning, but in today's world, talent and learning alone are not enough." He turned to Qin Hui and said, "Zhao Qi really wants to

Are you going to take part in the imperial examination?" Qin Hui nodded, and Zhao Ke muttered, "It's really a waste of time. Just because my father allowed him to do such nonsense, the water in the imperial examination has become muddy." He said to Chen Dong expectantly, "Although the Ministry of Rites

It doesn't matter, Shaoyang still needs to prepare well, and he will be frustrated in the palace examination by the arrogant people who are uneasy about his position."

After coming out of Xichun Tower, Luo Ruji noticed that Zhao Ke looked back and said to himself: "Your Highness is still obsessed with that beauty. Why don't you buy the dancer and send it to the East Palace? The prince will also remember my feelings."

"I immediately found a way to go back, negotiated a price with the nanny of the prostitute, and prevented the dancer from coming out again. In order to prevent the prince from misunderstanding, he did not take her back home, but still kept her in the prostitute.

Within it, it will be sent to the East Palace at a later date.

Early the next morning, Luo Ruji wanted to buy some jewelry to add to the dancer's body, so as to take advantage of the prince's wishes, he went to the largest pawnshop in Bianliang, a warehouse called Bianzhentang, where he could often buy

You can't buy rare and rare treasures from ordinary jewelry merchants, and the prices are cheaper. As soon as you stepped inside, you heard three barbarians arguing with the clerk. Luo Ruji didn't want to be in the same room with these barbarians, but he looked towards the pawn shop.

Once I saw it on the counter, I couldn't take it back.

I saw a thumb-sized pearl wrapped with colorful silk threads. The pearl itself was white and crystal clear, flawless and of excellent quality. Next to the pearl, there was an ancient knife shaped like a ring head from the Han Dynasty.

At this time, Wanyan Xi Yinzheng argued loudly with the pawnshop's Chao Feng: "These dongzhu and the sword are both rare treasures. It is extremely cheap to buy a thousand guan, so how can you lower the price?" Mr. Chao Feng, a deer-headed and rat-eyed man, said.

: "A worn-out iron knife costs only a few guan, but you still want to exchange it for a thousand guan. You barbarian is crazy because you have nothing to gain or lose."

Luo Ruji's eyes fell on the pearl, and he was quite moved. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard Zhao Yan's voice behind him: "Wang Chaofeng, have you collected any good gold and stone antiques recently?" Without waiting for Chao Feng's reply, he said "Hey"

With a sound, Zhao Yan, who was wearing a white Confucian shirt and a blue Xiaoyao scarf, walked into the store. He was beating a folding fan in his hand, and the Lantian jade fan pendant swayed, and he arched his hand to Luo Ruji in a cool manner.

Without asking for permission, he picked up the scabbard placed on the counter and started stroking it. Luo Ruji secretly felt strange in his heart. This Mr. Zhao has always been arty and only likes to collect gold and stone antiques. Swords and other things are acceptable if they are hollow.

, the solid one is too heavy. Why am I suddenly interested in this barbarian’s knife today?

When the emperor saw his great customer coming, he smiled and said, "It's a coincidence that Mr. Zhao is here. He recently received a piece of "Peony" by Xu Xi." Zhao Yan, however, didn't seem to have heard about it and raised his head to ask Wanyan Xiyin.

"How much does this sword cost?" Wanyan Xiyin felt moved when he saw the knowledgeable person coming, and said in a deep voice: "This is a treasured sword handed down from our ancestors. If the young master likes it, I can take it with two thousand swords." Wanyan Zongbi said:

"This knife is just for sale, not for sale."

Zhao Yan was very anxious when he heard this and said: "How can you not sell it?" Luo Ruji shook his head secretly in his heart. This prime minister grew up in a wealthy family, so he was too ignorant of worldly affairs. However, he was still the prince's companion, wasting a good position.

He coughed, walked forward slowly, picked up the knife, looked at it, and sighed: "Although it is an antique, it is too old and worn out, and it is not inlaid with gold or jade. It is obviously not something used by princes with provenance. Five hundred swords

The price is already high, why do you still want to be greedy?" Zhao Yan was unhappy when he heard this, and was about to retort when Luo Ruji grabbed his right hand. Luo Ruji stared into his eyes and said in a deep voice: "Young master has a huge fortune, but you can't

Let these traitors earn their money in vain." Seeing that he seemed thoughtful, Zhao Yan fell silent.

Luo Ruji saw that these three barbarians had rough faces, with messy braids on their heads, and the brocade robes wrapped around their fur coats were cheap goods. They were obviously newcomers to the Central Plains, and he was sure that they did not understand the importance of jewelry, antiques and the like.

The market situation in Bianliang. He shook his head and said to Wanyan Xiyin and other three Jurchens: "I'm asking for one thousand five hundred guan for this pearl, and five hundred guan for the knife. A total of two thousand guan, no more."

"Yes." Wanyan Zongbi was about to refuse, but Wanyan Xiyin said to him in Jurchen dialect: "I went to more than a dozen pawn shops, and here is the highest price. It's important!" A complicated look flashed in Wanyan Zongbi's eyes.

The sword was given to him by his father when he went into the mountains for the first time and shot a big bear to death when he was fourteen years old. He clenched his fists, looked at Wanyan Xiyin as if he were an enemy, and closed his mouth.

Wanyan Xiyin breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and said to Luo Ruji with a smile: "This sword is indeed a precious sword, it can cut gold and cut jade." He saw a look of disdain in Luo Ruji's eyes, and Mr. Zhao seemed to also

After being held down by Luo Ruji, he said, "The official has a good eye. Let's do this. There are three thousand swords in total. You can take all the knives and pearls."

Luo Ruji was about to counteroffer, but Zhao Yan could no longer hold back and said first, "Okay, just as you said." He was afraid that the three barbarians would regret it, so he took out the Jiaozi and handed it to Wanyan Xiyin on the spot. Waiting for the Jurchens

After leaving, Zhao Yan handed Dongzhu to Luo Ruji. Without waiting for him to speak, he turned around and picked up the sword. Carefully rubbing the inscription on the scabbard with his hand, he said with a smile: "I found a treasure today.

"

Luo Ruji asked curiously: "Does Master Zhao know the origin of this sword?" Zhao Yan smiled, handed the sword to Chaofeng, and said proudly: "Can you recognize the inscription on it?" Chaofeng took it with both hands.

He passed the sword, carefully identified it for a moment, and said with a look of shame, "I don't know." Zhao Yan smiled, pointed at the two rows of rather simple inscriptions on the scabbard, and read word by word: "Ancient sharp weapon.

, Wu Chu Zhan Lu, Daxia Dragon Bird, is famous as the capital of the gods. He can be ambitious and gentle; he is like a wind-swept grass, commanding the nine districts. It is extremely rare in the world. "

"This is the Dragon Bird Great Ring Sword worn by Helian Bobo of the Xia Kingdom in the late Jin Dynasty." Zhao Yan said, pulling the Dragon Bird out of the dark scabbard with force. He did not expect that the sword was quite heavy, and his right hand sank.

There was a faint flow of blood on the blade, and along with the slight trembling of the blade, it made a whining sound, which seemed to be the unyielding cry of a magic weapon held in a weak hand.

"It seems to be an ordinary ancient sword." Luo Ruji thought to himself, "But Zhao Yan got an advantage. The Xia Kingdom is the most martial arts style, and the origin of this Longque sword has the word "Xia". If this sword is resold

When we go to Chang'an, the dignitaries will compete to raise the price, and I'm afraid it will be sold for a sky-high price of more than 10,000 yuan."

Back in the mansion, Zhao Yan was about to hang the Dragon Bird Ring-headed Sword in the study when his mother, Mrs. Guo, came in with Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Qin Xuezheng, and told him about her proposal to marry the Li Mansion but was rejected.

"The Prime Minister condescended to marry into his family, Li Xuezheng is too ignorant of praise?" Wang said angrily, unable to fulfill the Prime Minister's wish, she also felt that her face was dishonored.

"Has the Miss Li family really been betrothed to someone else? I wonder which family's young master it is?" Zhao Yan said in a daze.

"I have asked others about it. Zhao Xingde, who studied in Taixue, his father was Zhao Tixin, the minister of Longtuge who was demoted and exiled to death. It is said that the marriage was agreed upon by the elders of the two families. The same goes for the child of the Li family.

Unlucky people, because of this stubborn and old-fashioned father, the ready-made prime minister and son will not follow him, but he has to marry into that shabby family." Mrs. Wang consoled her.

Zhao's mother was heartbroken when she saw her son looking like a bereaved heir. She frowned and asked Wang, "Then Zhao Shizhi has passed away, and there are no matchmakers or six hires in the two families, so there is no room for change in this matter?"

Mrs. Wang looked embarrassed and replied: "I persuaded her in the same way, and even Mrs. Li was a little moved. But Li Xuezheng was determined to marry his daughter to Zhao Xingde. Seeing that the scientific examination was approaching, in order to let Zhao Xingde prepare with peace of mind, he unexpectedly
Chapter completed!