Chapter 813: Zhu Zhen's Attitude

The great war is taking place in Liaodong.

Jinghua, however, has already begun a shadow war.

This night.

Zhu Zhen's Shangshu Mansion welcomed a special guest.

This person was none other than the Dutch merchant Davis.

Zhu Zhen's study remained as it had always been: dim, quiet, and filled with the scent of burning agarwood.

"My Lord."

Davis was clearly unaccustomed to such an atmosphere, but no sooner had he spoken than he was stopped by the butler at his side.

Zhu Zhen was still deep in thought.

What he liked most was watching the curling wisps of smoke while pondering matters.

The issue of this tea trade left him feeling quite conflicted.

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On one hand, he was loath to give up such astonishing profits, but on the other, he still placed some importance on the warning from Vice Minister Liu.

However.

Why would tea become something that affects the existence of the Dragon Flame Nation?

He had thought about it for several days, yet he simply could not figure it out.

Does it concern the status of the Dragon Flame Nation as a great power?

Although this claim was somewhat exaggerated.

He always felt that Vice Minister Liu would not shoot without a target. More crucially, he wanted to make money; he shouldn't have to set his sights on a mere bit of tea. His current Yintan City was practically a cash cow. While they were still incredibly excited about that two-billion order, he likely made more than several hundred-million-order profits just from selling arms.

Zhu Zhen waved his hand, chuckling, and sat back down by the tea table with a tremble; at this moment, the butler had already finished brewing the tea.

Then, he poured two cups.

The bright green tea liquid exuded an intoxicating fragrance, making even someone like Davis, who was relatively well-versed in Zhongguo tea, light up with interest. The tea drunk by this Minister of Personnel was truly extraordinary—likely something that couldn't be bought even with money.

"Hehe, Davis has arrived."

He finally took a deep breath and turned around, his face a mass of wrinkles, smiling into a heap.

There was not a hint of displeasure on Davis's face: "My Lord, regarding the matter of the tea trade..."

Why?

He suddenly felt that this old man of the Dragon Flame Nation was truly extraordinary. The question struck directly at the heart of the matter.

He reduced all problems to one.

"Tell me, why are you Westerners so interested in our tea?"

Zhu Zhen asked suddenly.

This sentence caused Davis's expression to change instantly.

How should he answer?

That he wanted to monopolize the tea trade?

That he had already begun building momentum and propaganda in the West about the health benefits of tea? That everything was ready, just waiting for the tea from here?

What he was asking was: Why do you need so much tea? Why have so many people started to like drinking tea? And most importantly, why is it that only we in the East have tea, yet people over there like to drink it so much?

One question, divided into several meanings.

Davis was stunned for a moment.

He laughed aloud: "My Lord, our East India Company needs a large amount of tea as a raw material for drinks, and we intend to use tea to replace Western coffee! This is a great opportunity for our cooperation; if we miss it, I fear..."

Zhu Zhen's eyes narrowed slightly.

This Davis looked honest on the surface, but his schemes were quite deep.

Once the contract was signed, could he earn at least double?

He could not say that.

If the Longyan let it be known that tea was so valuable in the West, a luxury-level existence, wouldn't they just sell it themselves? Wouldn't his own plans fall through in an instant?

Davis continued: "If My Lord can facilitate this matter, then the cooperation between us will deepen. As for the profits from the tea-producing regions, we Dutch will certainly provide guarantees!"

Now the enticement begins.

Zhu Zhen chuckled, noncommittal.

Tea drinks?

This meant that the things they were doing could only be done by them, not by the Longyan. Only they had the formula for tea drinks; the Longyan did not. In an instant, this blocked any thoughts the Longyan side might have had about going it alone.

"My Lord."

Davis is a pure businessman.

He believed that as long as there was sufficient profit, no one could refuse his contract.

Including Zhu Zhen.

Davis wanted to open up this trade route, so naturally, he had to find a way within the Dragon Flame Nation.

Zhu Zhen was the connection he wanted to open up.

As the leading figure of the Scholar-official Group, his status was pivotal.

Zhu Zhen smiled slightly, looking sideways.

He knew the contents inside almost without opening it.

Huge returns.

He gently took a secret agreement out of his pocket.

Then he placed it in front of Zhu Zhen, stood up, cupped his hands, and took his leave.

A secret agreement.

They do not possess the natural advantages of royal status or rank like the Noble. They can only prove their existence and influence the imperial court and the entire society through formidable strength.

Money is one of their magic weapons.

And now.

Another huge reward for him, for the Scholar-Official Group.

It would be a lie to say he was not tempted.

The Scholar-Official Group has existed since ancient times, and its purpose is to pursue profit.

For the first time, he felt that he was old.

Age spares no one.

Zhu Zhen, who once thought he would surely outlive Xie Tianyao, suddenly lost confidence in himself.

Yet Zhu Zhen sat quietly, a wave of intense drowsiness washing over him.

He suddenly shuddered.

A sorrowful thought emerged from his mind.

Liangzhou.

Whenever Zhu Zhen thought of these matters, he felt an increasingly deep sense of exhaustion.

He stood up shakily and walked into the courtyard.

Noble.

Scholar-Official Group.

New Aristocracy.

Following that, a fit of violent coughing.

The night in Jinghua.

Very quiet.

The butler followed behind and draped a cotton-padded jacket over his shoulders.

A winter night with a bright moon and sparse stars.

Zhu Zhen looked up at the sky.

Oh, Dragon Flame Nation.

Oh Emperor, my Emperor.

Oh Celestial Empire, Celestial Empire.

But who still cares that a brutal slaughter is currently taking place in the land of Liaodong?

That Vice Minister Liu, whom everyone fears, is currently in a tomb, digging through dirt to find the Imperial Jade Seal?

Zhu Zhen suddenly gave a bitter smile.

If Xie Tianyao were to pass away before him, he would lead the scholar-officials toward a higher peak.

But if he were to go before Xie Tianyao.

Then.

Emperor.

I am afraid this old minister can no longer accompany you any further.

Zhu Zhen had once made a vow.

He even began to look forward to what heights young people like Vice Minister Liu could take this Dragon Flame.

The next day.

Zhu Zhen fell gravely ill and was bedridden.

At this moment, he felt that his aged and weary body truly could no longer bear the responsibility of leading the entire bloated, massive Scholar-Official Group forward.

Tired.

Weary.

Everyone believed that Zhu Zhen would firmly support the signing of this contract.

However.

He did not.

The entire Dragon Flame was in an uproar.

With secret agents everywhere in Jinghua, everyone knew that the night before, the Netherlands merchant Davis had just visited Zhu Zhen.

Who didn't know that he must have offered Zhu Zhen sufficiently tempting benefits?

The atmosphere in all of Jinghua turned strange.

The Emperor first sent imperial physicians to visit Zhu Zhen.

A cold.

He was ill.

As the leader of the Scholar-Official Group within the Dragon Flame Nation, he did not express any opinion on this matter again.

All of a sudden.

"What does this mean?"

Xie Tianyao gave a cold laugh: "Is this old ghost starting to play dumb with me? Hmm? Playing dumb?"

In the Yangxin Hall, several imperial physicians knelt on the ground, terrified.

When a person is old, they cannot withstand such a cold.

Various complications then arise.

The imperial physician sent back word that the old Minister was already speaking quite deliriously.

"Now this is just great, that old ghost Zhu Zhen has also laid himself flat!"

He was furious: "Just because of a single word from Vice Minister Liu?"

"Just because of a single word from him?"

Bang!

Xie Tianyao slammed the desk hard and raged: "What exactly does this mean? What does it mean? Who will tell Me?"

"A mere tea trade, and the Prince of Qin suggests refusing it."

Too sensitive.

This issue is too sensitive.

Grand Eunuch Zhou smiled bitterly from the side: "Emperor, matters of trade cannot be accomplished overnight. The Emperor is the Son of Heaven and does not delve deeply into the affairs of merchants, but this old servant has heard a saying: the more tempting something is, the more dangerous it often is. Vice Minister Liu likely has this thought, which is why he suggested shelving this matter for now."

"My gold and silver, just gone like that?"

Everyone was silent as cicadas in winter.

At a time like this, what could they dare to say?

Now.

Xie Tianyao finally remembered.

That fellow he wished he could tear into a thousand pieces was still digging around in a tomb, looking for the Imperial Jade Seal for him.

"Temporarily?"

Xie Tianyao said irritably: "A piece of tea, could it really cause My vast Longyan to fall? Absurd!"

Grand Eunuch Zhou gave an awkward smile: "Emperor, if Vice Minister Liu were here, he could be summoned for a confrontation, but now..."

Serves him right!

That persistent ghost of a fellow!

Even while in Liaodong, he could still get someone to veto My tea trade!

He couldn't help but laugh.

Thinking of that brat, who was likely covered in dirt and being chased by enemies in a wretched state, he felt a sense of relief in his heart.

Deserved!

Liu Zheng was not in a wretched state.

On the contrary, he was living quite comfortably.

You deserve to suffer a bit more!

Xie Tianyao took a deep breath, his face turning cold again: "Fine, let him be for a few days. Tell Davis to wait!"

"The Emperor is wise!"

Relying on these things, they had also survived in the tomb for hundreds of years.

It was not easy.

It is very difficult.

He had not expected that here, in the middle of winter, he could still eat various fresh fruits. And that monkey wine brewed by those monkeys.

The Luo Family had not spent those hundreds of years in the tomb for nothing.

The imperial garden was planted with all kinds of fruits and vegetables; although there was no sunlight, some plants that did not have high requirements for the climate and environment were still able to survive.

At this moment, the Qingzhou Army led by Xiao Qian had already firmly taken the defensive fortifications here.

Thus, the battle began to tilt extremely.

Why?

At this time, Liu Zheng, while watching the great battle below and eating these things, still felt a peculiar emotion in his heart.

The great battle.

Was still continuing.

Countless arrows began to fly across the sky, dense and thick like a swarm of locusts passing through. When they fell, they could take the lives of countless people in the Nanyang Allied Forces at any time.

Qiao Yuan was already covered in blood at this time.

Du Liang was also in a wretched state.

Because there were not only defensive fortifications here, but also various war chariots and various weapons and equipment that could be used for replenishment. Apart from War Horses and grain, it could be said that everything one could need was there.

This was also the reason why Liu Zheng insisted that Xiao Qian arrive here first.

Arrows.

The time he had agreed upon with Liu Shiji had already passed by two hours. He still hadn't come.

Something is wrong.

The situation is very wrong.

Why haven't the reinforcements arrived yet?

In their hearts, they had actually already begun to despair.

Especially Du Liang.

Qiao Yuan felt extremely unwilling, and he roared.

It shouldn't be like this!

He was the Son of Heaven's Choice, he should be the Son of Heaven's Choice! He was the King of all Liaodong, his Efang Palace was grand in scale, he was a man who could be Emperor!

A feeling of despair began to spread through the Nanyang Allied Forces.

The defeat was certain.

"Damn the Longyan Army!"

In this way, he ended his political career.

He died in a tomb in Liaodong.

He was unwilling to accept it.

However.

Back when he was arrogant, luxurious, and licentious, he had never thought.

That he would die in Liaodong.

Pei Qianyun's hammer smashed half of his body deep into the ground.

It was already beyond saving.

Cheng Zhiming was still killing; four consecutive hours of slaughter had left him exhausted, and when Pei Qianyun appeared here, Cheng Zhiming also became the first famous general to lose his life in this great war.

But.

This blow.

The Nanyang Allied Forces completely lost the confidence to hold on.