Chapter 872

After Li Er and Fang Xuanling returned to the post house, they were still carefully calculating this matter.

But no matter how they calculated, they both felt that this matter wasn't that easy.

Moreover, the artisans trained by Great Qin were not just blacksmiths.

Fang Xuanling made a bold speculation.

"Li Er, the Emperor of Great Qin so easily let us see the secret regarding iron prices."

"Is this a diversionary tactic?"

"Or is it that this secret is simply not important to Great Qin at all?"

This speculation drove Li Er crazy.

Such critical information, involving the stability of the nation, how could it not be important?

But Fang Xuanling's questioning also indeed made sense.

The underlying reason was terrifying to think about!

Qin Mu couldn't possibly be brain-dead to just casually tell them Great Qin's secrets.

The only explanation was that this iron price was simply not a secret to Great Qin at all!

Li Er stood up and paced back and forth in the room, his mood unable to calm down.

"Xuanling, if achieving such a low iron price isn't a secret to Great Qin, then what could the real secret be?" Fang Xuanling couldn't do it either, just guessing out of thin air.

He could only speculate based on clues.

The information they currently understood was still too little.

Fang Xuanling said.

"Li Er, I think we still need to find another opportunity to sound someone out and see if we can get any news?"

Following Fang Xuanling's words, Li Er immediately thought of one person.

Li Ke!

Nowadays in Great Qin, if there was anyone who still had a little connection to their Great Tang.

This person was none other than Li Ke.

Moreover, Li Ke was also the person in charge of editing Great Qin's artisan books.

If Li Ke was willing to say something, it would definitely be heavyweight news.

Li Er nodded heavily.

"That's right, I especially appreciated this son in the past. It's a pity he wasn't born to Empress Zhangsun and had no qualifications to be Crown Prince."

"Otherwise, he wouldn't have been forced to come to Great Qin to be an official."

There was no need to mention these old past events again.

The current Li Ke was also considered to be heavily used in Great Qin. Moreover, he was loyal to Great Qin, so he certainly wouldn't easily reveal key secrets.

Fang Xuanling leaned in and whispered to Li Er.

"Li Er, we can prepare some heavy gifts. Set a trap for Li Ke; perhaps we can trick some words out of his mouth."

Father and son in the past, enemies today.

Li Er also knew that things had reached an irredeemable point.

This plan of Fang Xuanling's, although not quite upright.

But now, at the critical moment of Great Tang's survival, he couldn't care about that much anymore.

The two discussed for a moment.

They both felt that the last time they hired many singing girls and dancing girls from Great Qin to return to Great Tang, this matter was handled by Li Ke.

Finding an excuse from this matter to invite Li Ke to drink together, he shouldn't refuse.

As for the location, it was naturally the number one brothel in Chang'an, the Dengping Tower!

With the plan decided, the two went to the Dengping Tower first and sent their personal guards to deliver an invitation to Li Ke.

Li Er's heart felt somewhat sorrowful.

Nowadays, a father having to invite his son to a meal had to specifically deliver an invitation.

It was truly a human tragedy!

The two set up a sumptuous banquet at the Dengping Tower and began to discuss how to trick Li Ke's words out. Li Ke arrived as scheduled.

After all, Li Er was his father. Even if he had rebelled against Great Tang, he couldn't sever this blood relationship.

Upon receiving the invitation, he still came to the Dengping Tower.

"Li Er, Minister Fang, what made you think of inviting me to drink today?"

Outside, Li Ke's address for Li Er had also changed to Li Er.

Calling him that felt a bit strange.

Fang Xuanling piled a face full of smiles.

"We came to Great Qin sincerely wanting to cooperate with Great Qin. Last time in the area of song, dance, and entertainment, it was a very successful beginning. Therefore, we invited you here to discuss how to further cooperate?"

This was half-true and half-false.

But to Li Ke, the feelings in his heart were profound.

Back when he was still the Prince of Wu in Great Tang, he had always advocated cooperating with Great Qin and learning Great Qin's system.

But no one took his suggestions seriously.

Now, he had rebelled against Great Tang and become an official of Great Qin.

The Emperor and the Prime Minister, on the contrary, were begging at his door, requesting to cooperate with Great Qin.

This matter, when spoken of, was like a joke.

"Minister Fang is thoughtful; there are many areas where we can cooperate. However, I only manage entertainment and books; I don't know what areas could be valued by you two?" This was slightly hurtful.

After hearing this, Li Er remained silent.

He believed that the meaning in Li Ke's words was somewhat blaming him for not being valued in the past.

Now that he was begging for help, Li Er certainly couldn't get angry.

Fang Xuanling stepped forward to mediate.