"Your Majesty, Liao Dynasty businessman Xiao Hongqi has not transported graphite to the capital for more than two months." Yan Bian said. By the river of the Wangfu, Li Xingzhou supervised the workers to demolish the hydraulic drive workshop that was unable to work due to wear of the main bearing, while listening to Yan Bian's report that the wooden bearings are indeed not wear-resistant.

In the future, the hydraulic drive workshop will be built in the new palace, and steel bearings will be used to control the hydraulic power. It is not as impermanent as the water level on the river surface and cannot be controlled.

Li Xingzhou smiled and said, "In the past, Xiaohongqi transported graphite to us, and they all set out from Shangjing, walked on Tokyo Road, then crossed the Bohai Sea, and transported it to Kaiyuan from the estuary of the sea." He sighed, "Now Tokyo Road has fallen into the hands of the Jurchens, Zhongjing has fallen. How could he pass through the Jin Dynasty territory in Shangjing?..."

Yan Bi nodded helplessly: "Fortunately, the prince looked at the long-term and allowed us to buy as much as we could. Now the royal palace still has a lot of inventory, enough to last until next autumn, summer and autumn."

Li Xingzhou nodded, but this became a big trouble for him. Graphite mines were mostly in the Northeast area in their previous lives. If we follow the current geography, it would probably be in Tokyo Road.

Xiaohongqi's graphite mine was mined from Shangjing Road, which shows that Shangjing also has graphite veins, and graphite is the key to his ability to develop tool steel. If he loses the graphite ore supplies, the royal palace will lose its foundation.

If it were in the Han Dynasty, Liaodong also belonged to the imperial territory, but now it is Jing, which is different. Liaodong was used to be occupied by the Liao Kingdom, but now it is occupied by the Jin Kingdom. It is uncertain whether there are other graphite minerals in Jing Kingdom. Li Xingzhou is difficult to explore.

In his heart, he silently recorded the Shangkyo Road and Tokyo Road, but he didn't say it out.

......

In recent days, Li Xingzhou has begun to make arrangements before going north.

Li Xingzhou was also handed over the negotiations with the Jin people to the director of the sexual affairs of Honglu Temple Bao Zheng.

Although I don’t know if this Bao Zheng is in contact with him, after observation, this person is indeed talented and able to do things. Li Xingzhou set a low bottom line for him, Nanjing Road, and the seven states in the southern part of Xijing Road, and the four states in the northwest return to the scenery. If the Jin Kingdom does not give in, there will be no peace in any way.

If the major matter is undecided and he cannot be found, he will find Tang Zhou to decide for the young minister of the Honglu Temple.

The new military affairs were decided from Di to full authority.

The family, including factories and business affairs, were decided by Yan Bian, the general manager.

However, Yan Bi said after hearing this: "I am old and the prince is still young. I can't use it for a long time. I should let the young man take over."

"Shiyu's little lady has done a good job. In the past two months, she is in charge of the general account of the palace. I just watched the support of the big and small matters. "The old man said again, "At first, because of her life experience, I did say a few bad words, but I also see that she can do things and has the ability. Prince, the little lady is a capable person, so I will leave the affairs of the mansion to her. Prince should give the little lady an identity as soon as possible."

Lee Sing-cheol nodded and then started to laugh.

At the beginning, Yan Bi opposed him bringing back the poem and entrusted him with important tasks, because Yan Bi believed that the poem was an unclean woman and was afraid that he would indulge in women's beauty, so he didn't expect that he would care about the poem now.

Of course, Li Xingzhou also wanted to give Shiyu an identity, but Jiao was granted a marriage by the emperor. If she married Shiyu before she got married to Jiao, she would be disrespectful.

He nodded and agreed, preparing to let Shiyu start to take charge of the affairs of the royal palace.

There are many people coming and going on the river bank, and there are many people working, but they are far from as many as before. Many of the details and simple tasks without technological content are handed over to outsiders by contracting labor.

Yan Bian walked slowly, and told him to pay attention to things to go north while walking. The old man had fought with King Xiao in all directions, so he naturally went to the north. King Xiao Chengming's battle was fought in the north.

He naturally knew a lot about the north.

While chatting, the old man talked about King Xiao and said that when he talked about King Xiao, he naturally looked proud.

Yan Bian knew everything about the legend of King Xiao at that time and told him one by one.

Li Xingzhou sometimes reviewed the glorious era of his predecessors, but it has to be said that in addition to the founding emperor of Jing Kingdom, the most glorious era belonged to the era of Zhong Daoyu. Although Prince Xiao is powerful, he will be a witch if he compares with Zhong Daoyu.

At that time, the Zhongdao Yu pacified Baiyi and attacked the Liao Kingdom. He once came to Zhongjing and went to Beijing, and then returned to quell the rebellion of King Wu. Now, the Zhongdao Yu is old and the emperor is old, and their time is over.

In the past few days, Li Xingzhou has explained the affairs of the mansion. When he has time, he will find Wang Tong to learn about some basic situation in Jiangzhou. It is similar to his thoughts, but there are also many details that he does not know.

Wang Tong is a scholar-in-law, soft-hearted and thin-skinned. After knowing that he was implicated, he felt even more guilty and could not hold on to his airs. After a cup of tea or two, he naturally knew everything.

......

In early September, the autumn rain continued, and frogs were roaring in the pool of the imperial garden.

The emperor summoned him into the palace again, told him to do the Jiangzhou matter quickly, and then asked about the negotiations with the Jin Kingdom.

Concubine Tian was also next to him. The palace maid brought refreshing lotus seed porridge and some attacking fruits. In the warm autumn sun, she started talking by the pond.

Li Xingzhou and the emperor explained the current situation. When the emperor heard that the Jin Kingdom was willing to give up Nanjing and the seven northwest states, he was stunned.

His fingers trembled slightly, and he slowly put down the spoon in his hand: "That's true!"

"Take it seriously." Li Xingzhou nodded: "But Jingguo must send troops to attack."

"This is natural. If they give it to you for nothing, I'm not relieved!" The emperor seemed a little excited, his cheek muscles trembled, but he didn't miss the smile.

He even put down the jade bowl of porridge in his hand and asked, "Why is the Jin Kingdom willing to do this? Nanjing Road and Xijing Road are seven states, but not all the lands of the quiet clouds are there, but there are still a few more states."

"Because the Jin people are afraid of me." There is no need to hide this from the emperor, after all, it is well-known sooner or later.

"Oh, why are the people of Jin Dynasty afraid of Sin Chew?" Before the emperor could speak, Concubine Tian asked curiously with a smile, and at the same time handed him a peeled pear. The pears in autumn taste the best.

Li Xingzhou took it and the emperor and the queen had a sense of oppression in the harem. Only Concubine Tian made people feel comfortable to get along with. He smiled and said, "Hahaha, it's not a big deal. I built six big ships to do business."

"This spring and summer season, the big ship that went south to reinforce you?" the emperor asked, and Li Xingzhou nodded.

"But what does this have to do with the Land of the Nether Clouds?" The emperor was still puzzled.

While eating pears, Li Xingzhou said, "I threatened the Jurchens. If they did not give up the Nanjing Road and Xijing Road, our Jingguo would lead the soldiers to take a large ship and go to the sea, go north from the East China Sea and the Bohai Sea, land in Liaodong Prefecture, attack Tokyo Road, and let them be attacked on both sides."

After hearing this, the emperor was stunned for a moment, expressionless and silent for a long time. Concubine Tian didn't understand these things, but just looked at them in confusion.

The emperor came back to his senses for a long time, and he nodded slowly after thinking for a long time: "Okay, okay, okay! You did a good job!" He said, and stood up and walked with his hands behind his back, as if thinking. Concubine Tian quickly got up and helped him, for fear that the emperor would slip into the pool if he was old.

After walking back and forth for a long time, the emperor stopped and turned around and said in a serious and stiff tone: "You have done this matter well! But you need to settle it quickly, there may be variables. If the matter is settled, I can form an alliance with them in person."

Li Xingzhou smiled: "But I am going to ask for the 11th State of Xijing, and as long as I persist for a while, the Jin people will definitely let go."

"Are you sure?" the emperor asked with a frown.

Li Xingzhou nodded: "Eighty-percent sure that although the Jin Kingdom captured Zhongjing, it would probably take one or two years to occupy Zhongjing Road and Shangjing Road. This time is enough for us to talk slowly."

"One or two years! This is too fast." The emperor frowned, as if he didn't believe it.

"No, don't underestimate the Jurchens, they are more difficult to deal with than the Liao Kingdom." Li Xingzhou reminded, then took the skinned citrus handed to him by Concubine Tian, ​​and then said: "Emperor, after I went north, all the affairs of the Honglu Temple were handed over to Bao Zheng, the official of the Honglu Temple, and he was fully responsible for the negotiations with the Jin envoy."

"Oh, Bao Zheng..." The emperor thought for a moment, and seemed to be unable to remember such a person, and asked directly: "Is this person reliable?"

"Being capable and persistent is a talent."

"Since that's the case, I will add him to the Tongzhi of the Honglu Temple." The emperor said lightly.

Afterwards, he said something unhealthy. Although Li Xingzhou was the emperor's grandson in terms of blood relationship, he did not take this blood relationship into his heart. Compared to the emperor, he cared more about the people in the royal palace, so there was always a sense of estrangement when he got along.

It wouldn't be too embarrassing to be present. Then, Concubine Tian brought him a lot of food and gadgets from various places, which were very novel and precious, such as musk and borneol, which were also precious things for wealthy families, but they couldn't use them all in the palace.

Before he knew it, the emperor kept him for dinner. He seemed to be worried at the dinner table, with no expression on his face and not knowing what he was thinking.

He didn't say anything when he was eating, and after dinner, everyone rinsed his mouth with water. The emperor held his mouth away and said to him: "You are not young anymore. You are old and you will get married within the year. I should say something...

I have high expectations for you and hope that you can be like your father. Until now, you have made mistakes, but what you did surprised me and amazed me."

Li Xingzhou didn't understand what the emperor wanted to say, so he didn't speak.

The emperor looked at him, his face was full of ravines and his face was old, but his eyes were shining with a shrewd cold light: "There are as many expectations as I have for you, and it depends on yourself whenever I can go. Do you... understand?"

The emperor frowned and stared at him: "Also, if the land of Youyun can return to the orthodox rule of the Central Plains this time, I promise that you will at least be the prince who ruled Youyun."

The emperor spoke slowly, his words were clear and indifferent, and his tone did not fluctuate much, but Li Xingzhou could hear it clearly, and as soon as he finished speaking, the air around him became quiet.

After the autumn dusk, the setting sun was like blood, dyeing the entire garden red, depressing and dazzling, making people feel uncomfortable. Li Xingzhou nodded calmly but said nothing.

"However, you should also be careful, less than bad people's interactions, so as not to misbelieve evil words, such as Chen Yu..."
Chapter completed!