Chapter 122: No Benefit, It's Master Yuanhai; With Benefit, It's Brother Jizhi

"Hahaha~~~"

"Master Yuanhai graces us with his presence, truly making our humble abode shine~"

Lin Dao stood outside the main gate, enthusiastically welcoming Ruan Dacheng's visit.

Ruan Dacheng, stepping down from the sedan chair, walked briskly forward and exchanged pleasantries with Lin Dao.

He paid no heed whatsoever to being a good several rounds older, opening his mouth to call him "Brother Zi Hou~"

So it is said, a scholar's face skin has elasticity.

Ruan Dacheng's visit this time was a formal call.

First present a visiting card, obtain the other party's agreement, then both sides discuss an auspicious day, and come to pay a formal visit with great ceremony.

This is the proper visiting procedure for a great household.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two entered the residence and arrived at the main hall to be seated.

If they were close family friends, at this time the lady of the house and the children would also have to come out to receive them.

But at Lin Dao's place, let alone a lady of the house, there wasn't even a concubine with recognized status.

Even Chen Yuanyuan and Dong Xiaowan had no status; they still bore the title of Tongfang Yatou.

Serve tea, exchange polite formalities.

Only after completing the entire set of procedures and steps did they finally get down to business.

Lin Dao was also curious what matter this person had that required such formality.

"Brother Zi Hou."

Ruan Dacheng spoke warmly: "The Zhenshuishi (Zhenshu Eunuch) received the Son of Heaven's praise; it is said there is even intent to transfer him back to the Capital to take charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial."

"This truly makes one envious."

Hearing this, Lin Dao realized in his heart.

This man wants to return to the Imperial Court to be an official.

But what use is finding me? I am not the Minister of Personnel.

"The Zhenshuishi's gaining of praise this time is entirely due to Brother Zi Hou's merit."

Ruan Dacheng's flattering words followed one after another: "Without Brother Zi Hou's rare treasures and miraculous medicines, where would his good fortune have come from?"

"One only sighs that Brother Zi Hou, this true great meritorious subject, has not received a single word of credit; it is truly lamentable."

Lin Dao smiled without speaking, just watching him perform.

If it's to sow discord between me and the Zhenshu Eunuch, he's overthinking it.

It's already Chongzhen Year 15; Lin Dao never thought about developing within the already thoroughly rotten Great Ming system.

A Great Ming Court full of pus and corrupt flesh, reeking to high heaven — whoever wants to go can go.

Picking up the tea bowl and sipping a mouthful, Ruan Dacheng changed the subject: "I hear Brother Zi Hou is currently planning to assist Qian Shouzhi's Xianfu matter?"

Meeting his burning gaze, Lin Dao's expression did not change: "Indeed there is such a matter."

Ruan Dacheng did not stand on ceremony either, immediately saluting: "I beseech Brother Zi Hou to assist me~~~"

Sure enough, he came for this.

Seeing the Zhenshu Eunuch, a successful case of gaining praise through Lin Dao's assistance.

Then thinking of Qian Qianyi's ongoing Xianfu plan, Ruan Dacheng's side couldn't hold back.

But the problem is, why should Lin Dao help you?

From ancient times to the present, throughout all dynasties, helping with this kind of thing — when has it ever been that simple?

Ruan Dacheng understood this well, immediately declaring: "I have prepared a gift here, hoping Brother Zi Hou will not disdain it."

Finished speaking, he clapped his hands, instructing the servants brought from outside: "Bring it in~~~"

Lin Dao was also curious; this person looked so confident, as if getting the gift meant he would certainly help.

Could it be that his soft spot has already been seen through?

After a moment, the sound of jade pendants clanging came from outside.

A young girl in her prime, supported by a maid at her side, slowly walked in.

She wore a goose-yellow hundred-flower trailing skirt, cloud gauze graceful.

A golden silk belt bound her waist, slender enough to be spanned by a hand.

Benefiting from the slender waist's slim fit, above it prominently highlighted the bulging granary, below it displayed round, perky buttocks.

Wind rose, gauze stirred; as she walked, she swayed with graceful bearing.

Cloud-like hair, coiled into a slanting bun.

Beneath the cloud hair were a pair of bright eyes written with myriad emotions.

Delicate jade hands held a round fan, covering half her pretty face.

Lin Dao's face showed no change, but his heart roared incessantly.

'How come everyone treats me as a lecher!'

'One after another, they all think sending a beauty will get things done?'

'I am a career-type Transmigrator, not someone who came to open a harem!'

'If I really wanted to open a harem, I'd just go to the world of Dream of the Red Chamber, how simple!'

The round fan lowered, revealing a high nose bridge and exquisite cherry mouth.

Behind Lin Dao came a stifled cry of surprise.

The woman bowed in salute: "This humble woman Li Xiangjun pays respects to Master Lin~"

It was actually the protagonist of The Peach Blossom Fan, Li Xiangjun.

Lin Dao frowned slightly; according to The Peach Blossom Fan's story, Li Xiangjun should have followed Hou Fangyu.

Hou Fangyu, together with Mao Xiang and others, was one of the Four Young Masters.

Also from an official family background, his father even reached the high position of Minister, a genuine wealthy family noble son.

In the story of The Peach Blossom Fan, he and Li Xiangjun formed a bond, mutually admiring each other.

Later, because he failed the examination, he hurriedly returned home, thereby causing the two to miss each other from then on.

Afterwards Li Xiangjun encountered a forced marriage; she refused to the death, blood splashing on the folding fan, shaped like peach blossoms.

Thus came the love story of The Peach Blossom Fan.

But what is the real situation?

The real story is that this fellow Hou Fangyu had already married at sixteen years old.

When he met Li Xiangjun, his son was only a few years younger than Li Xiangjun.

It was nothing but lust at first sight, but he did not have enough silver on him, and feared his family finding out.

So he begged Ruan Dacheng, with whom he had a good relationship, to step forward and provide the silver to redeem Li Xiangjun.

Originally Li Xiangjun's fate was to keep waiting for Hou Fangyu and never see him.

Two years later, she was sent by Ruan Dacheng into the Southern Ming Imperial Palace.

But now, Ruan Dacheng is determined to use her to exchange for greater benefits.

Lin Dao's face was calm, but in his heart MMP.

He himself, upright and incorruptible, sought welfare for all the common people under heaven.

Yet he is constantly misunderstood; this feeling is truly heartbreaking.

Li Xiangjun is very beautiful, her exquisite face matched with makeup and attire; if she lived in the modern world, a beauty of this caliber could only be seen on phones by ordinary people.

But the problem is, Lin Dao does not lack beauties right now!

Look behind him — Chen Yuanyuan, equally famous as Li Xiangjun, here merely does the work of emptying chamber pots.

"Brother Zi Hou."

Lin Dao, brows slightly furrowed, was just thinking how to politely refuse when Ruan Dacheng, skilled at reading expressions, quickly activated his backup plan: "I heard recently you've been busy drilling the Yongwei Camp?"

This is no secret.

Everyone qualified to know knows.

They even know that the so-called drilling of the Yongwei Camp is just a pretext, mainly used for everyone to divide up military funds together.

"Indeed there is such a matter." Lin Dao continued listening.

"Younger Brother thinks." Ruan Dacheng stroked his beard and smiled, "The drilling scale of the Yongwei Camp is still a bit too small."

"The Jinling Seventeen Wei — several Wei should be sought to merge into it."

Lin Dao's heart stirred slightly, and a smile appeared on his face: "Mister Yuanhai thinks, which Wei should be merged into the Yongwei Camp?"

"Hahaha~~"

Ruan Dacheng laughed and said, "Jinling's natural moat is the Great River; naturally the Jianghuai Guard and Jichuan Guard, these two naval forces, should be merged into the Yongwei Camp."

"Their ships have been unrepaired for years; new ships ought to be built."

"In this way, there will be another large sum of legitimate expenditure~~~"

What Ruan Dacheng thought of was finding a way to continue asking for military funds.

Ships could not possibly be newly built, but the silver for building new ships absolutely had to exist.

This is not contradictory at all.

But in Lin Dao's view, this was a pillow delivered just as he was dozing off.

The navy's role is crucial.

Wanting to cross the river northward, without a navy it cannot be done.

Moreover the Jiangnan region's water network is dense, and water transport is developed.

A fleet protected by a navy can, at the fastest speed, deliver troops and supplies to most places in Jiangnan.

With a navy, one can deeply control the Jiangnan region.

Before, Lin Dao had already set his sights on these two naval forces.

But the navy differs from the land-based Wei-suo.

Wei-suo soldiers just do things like farming, odd jobs in the city, waiting tables in restaurants, performing music and singing, and such tasks.

But the navy can earn money through shipping.

Precisely because of this, among the Jinling Seventeen Wei, only these two naval guards are firmly held in the hands of Jinling City's meritorious nobles.

Through the navy's ships, they openly conduct legitimate shipping as well as smuggling.

Even the garrison eunuch finds it hard to influence these two guards.

Originally thought there would be some difficulty; never expected Ruan Dacheng would take the initiative to come help.

The smile on Lin Dao's face grew broader: "Brother Jizhi, what good strategy can you teach me?"

'When no benefit is seen you call me Mister Yuanhai; when you see a chance to split more military funds you call me Brother Jizhi.'

'Shi Ying truly did not speak wrongly; this man is of merchant origin, extremely profit-minded.'

Ruan Dacheng complained in his heart, but his face showed an even broader smile: "Since Younger Brother raised this matter, naturally I have confidence to persuade the Zhongjun Dushu Fu to agree."

"Good."

Lin Dao raised his hand and patted the table, then turned to instruct Dong Xiaowan behind him: "Take her away to arrange lodging."

Dong Xiaowan saluted and accepted the order, stepped forward and winked at Li Xiangjun.

They had known each other long before.

Hard to call them friends, after all they are rivals.

But at least they are acquainted.

Seeing Dong Xiaowan take Li Xiangjun away, Ruan Dacheng here could finally rest easy.

Having accepted the gift, it meant that Lin Dao had agreed to what he sought.

Sure enough, Lin Dao spoke up: "Once the Yongwei Camp is trained, I shall naturally go to Jing Shi with Mr. Mu Zhai and Brother Ji."

After the meal, Ruan Dacheng left happily, going to find a friend to push for the expansion of the Yongwei Camp.

Lin Dao would not rush to push down the beauty, but instead returned to the Modern World.

Various goods transported by sea had already been delivered to the warehouse rented at Nanfei Haigang.

For these chemical products, Lin Dao did not dare to transport them away directly.

He only took a very small portion, brought it to Yonghe Spacetime, and handed it over to the craftsmen for trial production.

"Gunpowder, the most important thing is the proportion."

Lin Dao pointed his finger at the various measuring instruments before him: "Absolutely cannot be more, nor can it be less."

"Most importantly, nothing can be mixed up."

He swept his gaze over the craftsmen: "If things are mixed up, the consequence will be your lives."

The craftsmen thought he meant execution, and all expressed that they would make them with utmost care.

But Lin Dao's meaning was that if they got it wrong, it would explode!

This was not some black powder; these were all for making real gunpowder.

Mainly there were two production directions.

One was to make Zhenyao, used for attacking cities, or preset in advance during field battles.

The other was to use it as Fayaoyao.

Its power, compared to black powder, was a multiple increase.

Faster rate of fire, longer range, greater killing power!

Correspondingly, the quality of Huqiang and Artillery also had to be correspondingly improved, otherwise Zhadan would become the norm.

The difficulty in this regard was not great, because Lin Dao could buy Seamless Steel Pipe.

Although no factory dared to do Lapao, Huagun was already sufficient for use in the Ancient world.

If it were any better, he worried it would be lost and eventually used against himself.

"Making Huoshiqiang is enough."

End of Chapter