Chapter 31

Bianliang,

Fan Zhongyan, who solved the Western Xia problem, finally entered the capital at this moment.

And seeing Fan Zhongyan for the first time, Zhang Cheng was at Heaven on Earth.

Looking at the man with a cigarette in his hand, playing mahjong, Zhang Cheng couldn't believe that this was the man who said the eternal famous quote.

"Come, Mr. Fan, let me introduce you. This is my adopted son, Prince Consort Zhang Xinzhi!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng with a smile, Zhang Erhe pulled Fan Zhongyan over to introduce him.

Hearing Zhang Erhe's words, Zhang Cheng also hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Zhang Xinzhi greets Mr. Fan!"

Looking at Fan Zhongyan, Zhang Cheng smiled.

"Is this the Prince Consort? Truly a man of talent!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Fan Zhongyan smiled.

"Ah, I don't deserve such praise from Mr. Fan. My adopted son just likes to do some fresh things!"

After finishing this sentence, Zhang Erhe took a cigar out of his sleeve and said, "Come, try this. My adopted son gave it to me; it's invigorating!"

"Oh, is that so?"

Looking at the cigar Zhang Erhe handed over, Fan Zhongyan's eyes immediately lit up.

When he was confronting Western Xia back then, he often felt exhausted.

But ever since he smoked this, he found that he could actually concentrate; one can imagine how popular this thing was in the army!

Now that there was a cigar more invigorating than cigarettes, Fan Zhongyan immediately became excited, because this could allow him to handle quite a few more things!

Looking at Zhang Erhe's way of recommending the cigar, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but have his mouth twitch.

Because he could already imagine the civil and military officials in the imperial court with cigarettes and cigars in their mouths.

"Alright, you go down. I still need to chat with Mr. Fan for a while!"

Signaling for Zhang Cheng to step down, Zhang Erhe pulled Fan Zhongyan toward the game room next door.

Looking at this scene helplessly, Zhang Cheng also fell silent at this moment.

Because he found it hard to imagine what Zhang Erhe would do once he knew Fan Zhongyan intended to reform!

"Cousin, the ships heading south are already prepared!"

Coming to Zhang Cheng's side, Situ Yaozu spoke in a low voice.

"I know!"

Nodding, Zhang Cheng stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Heading south is something Zhang Cheng has always wanted to do. After all, to the north now are the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, and on the Western Xia side, there is the Tangut Li Yuanhao.

However, the current Li Yuanhao has not yet been killed by his son Ninglingge.

And the reason Ninglingge killed Li Yuanhao is also very simple, because this old thief was having an affair with his stepmother!

If Prince Shou Li Yu had half of Ninglingge's temper back then, the prosperity of the Great Tang would probably have continued to spread!

Ninglingge: I gave you a chance, but you were useless!

Li Yu: Fatherly kindness and filial piety, fatherly kindness and filial piety!

Zhang Cheng: It would have been better if Li Longji had died twenty years earlier!

Princess's Mansion,

Princess Yingxing was helping Zhang Cheng put on his clothes.

Stepping forward gently, she leaned against Zhang Cheng's back and said, "Husband, must you go south?"

"Mind your own business. Does my husband need you to manage what I do?"

Looking at Princess Yingxing with a tough face, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but scold her.

And if someone saw this scene, they would definitely exclaim "Immortal."

After all, as a Prince Consort, he is a "kept man," but now, Zhang Cheng has turned into a "kept man" who eats tough rice; he is truly mighty!

"Husband, don't be so angry!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng with her eyes, Princess Yingxing was already biting her lip.

Leaving the government office, Zhang Cheng sat in a carriage and headed outside the city.

And when he arrived at the Bian River, a large ship was already docked there waiting.

Standing on the shore, Chai Wenyi asked with some confusion, "You have been seeking to go south all day; what exactly are you going to do?"

As an ally, Chai Wenyi didn't understand why Zhang Cheng suddenly left the center of power.

"The conflict between Lü Yijian and Mr. Fan is becoming more and more obvious, and Ouyang Xiu is a person who can't control his hands. Once he is allowed to write some things and send them out, how long do you think this new policy can last?" Looking at Chai Wenyi before him, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

And hearing Zhang Cheng's words, Chai Wenyi frowned and said, "Are you saying that Mr. Fan is bound to fail?"

"Our Emperor is too anxious. Being anxious for success is not a good thing!"

Looking at Chai Wenyi with a face full of smiles, Zhang Cheng naturally knew that the two of them were standing in the "conservative faction" camp.

That's why Chai Wenyi was confused about Zhang Cheng leaving; after all, he was in urgent need of him to come up with "bad ideas" now!

But now hearing that Fan Zhongyan was bound to fail, Chai Wenyi fell silent.

He didn't care about any "new policies"; after all, as long as he could add trouble to the Zhao family, Chai Wenyi would even go to the street and shake his hands.

However, there is one problem: Zhang Cheng is not a traditional "conservative." His conservatism is that he thinks the reformists are too conservative!

This time heading south, Zhang Cheng plans to first see the situation at sea.

After all, having stayed in Kaifeng for nearly half a year, besides earning a lot of money, his influence hadn't seen any improvement!

Truth comes from the barrel of a gun; without soldiers and horses, everything is empty talk.

Taking advantage of the "all-out martial arts" performance in the imperial court, Zhang Cheng plans to recruit a wave of soldiers first.

Learning that Zhang Cheng's determination to go south was set, Chai Wenyi said, "When will you be back?"

!. Read

"Longest three to five months, shortest one or two months!"

Boarding the ship with a face full of smiles, Zhang Cheng waved his hand and said, "No need to see me off. Make sure to have someone take good care of Imperial Consort Pang!"

"I understand!"

Hearing Zhang Cheng say this, Chai Wenyi also hurriedly nodded.

Because they have now placed their "bets" on Imperial Consort Pang; once the imperial prince is born, the merit of following the dragon will be there!

Half a month later, South Asia, Li Dynasty,

Thang Long!

A group of soldiers and horses from the sea swept across the entire country.

In the burning gates, a group of men wearing armor slowly walked out.

With long knives at their waists, Zhang Cheng's eyes were full of cold expressions.

Because he discovered that Confucian culture simply could not persuade this group of people to submit.

Wearing armor made from melted screw-threaded steel, and wielding sharp blades they had forged, Zhang Cheng felt that tyranny seemed more suitable for him!

"You, you group of evil ghosts from the sea, sooner or later, you will be destroyed by the people of my Li Dynasty!"

Issuing a shrill curse, the man wearing the "King's Robe" roared.

Stepping forward, Zhang Cheng drew the sharp blade at his waist and backhanded it across his neck.

"Pfft!"

Blood spilled on the ground, splashing up a wave.

Zhang Cheng coldly sheathed his knife and turned around, saying, "What a pity, you won't see that day!"

"Cousin, if the imperial court finds out we did this, they will definitely..."

Looking at Zhang Cheng in fear, Situ Yaozu never expected that he would be so bold as to provoke border conflicts, and even lead the Xiang Army to attack a royal city; it was simply too crazy!

"Definitely execute the nine generations, right?"

Turning his head, Zhang Cheng looked at Situ Yaozu and couldn't help but laugh.

"Then you?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng in disbelief, Situ Yaozu was shocked.

"Cousin, even if we get promoted and get rich, in this life, we can at most enjoy glory and wealth, but as a man, to have no power in one's hands, isn't that too much of a pity!"

Looking at Situ Yaozu with a smile, Zhang Cheng walked to the city wall and looked at the large number of thousands of Xiang Army soldiers below, his eyes flashing with burning light as he said, "A month ago, they were still repairing city walls and digging canals, but now, the silver they have earned is enough to marry and have children and be rich for a lifetime. Tell me, are they willing to stop? Or rather, can we stop?"

Turning his head, Situ Yaozu looked at the Xiang Army soldiers below who were constantly looting gold and silver treasures, his eyes flashing with fear.

Because this group of Xiang Army soldiers could no longer stop.

People have greed; this is like rolling a snowball, and Zhang Cheng has completely opened up the "genes" of the Far Easterners!

In five thousand years of history, Far Easterners are not just good at farming; in the past, they were better at putting people into the fields!