Chapter 252 The Little Devil Coming

In the early morning of the next day, Qin Mubai arranged a warship to board Xiao Yu and some of his accompanying officials and craftsmen to go to the West River to investigate the terrain together.

When he arrived at Hegang and wanted to change to a small edged boat, Xiao Yu's legs trembled a little and felt scared. If such a narrow boat accidentally falls into the river, someone from the side will not die, but it is too shameful. Therefore, he sat carefully in the cabin, as if facing the enemy holding his breath, he did not dare to move his buttocks. It made the whole boat laugh secretly.

Several shuttle boats traveled through the port road for an hour, which made Xiao Yu and others faint, and finally reached the stone slope. Xiao Yu was already dumbfounded. When he got off the boat, he kept wiping the cold sweat on his forehead and muttered, "With such a complex terrain and vertical and horizontal harbor bends, how can boats and horses transport stone and building materials come in? Aren't they all lost? If you want to build a royal cemetery and palace here, it's a fool's dream!"

"Xiao Ge Lao, now you always know that what the humble position says is not false, right?" Qin Mubai stamped his feet hard, pointed to the ground and said, "The vast swamp of the river is just one of them. The ground here is full of hard stones. If you want to build a palace here, you can't even bury the foundation. How can you do it? Moreover, if you want to build a palace above, it is bound to collapse the underground palace below. Therefore, if it hadn't been years, it would have been impossible to do it.

Xiao Yu picked up a stone and knocked it hard on the ground. He shook his head in embarrassment: "It's really a hard stone. Presumably, when Yang Guang built the mausoleum here, he had already consolidated the top wall of the underground palace with big stone. Now it is really impossible to build a palace above it.

"So, we have to change the plan." Qin Mubai said, "In fact, this used to be a snake island, and there were tens of thousands of snakes living on the island."

"What?" Xiao Yu was shocked when he heard the words and almost jumped up and shouted, "Snake!!!"

"Xiao Ge Lao, don't panic. Listen to the humble position and finish your words." Qin Mubai suppressed his smile and said, "In the past half month, Bei Zhidian has sent nearly a thousand people and sergeants who are good at catching snakes to kill and drive the snakes on the island, and also sprinkled a lot of snake repellent powder on the whole island. Now, there are basically no snakes on this island."

"Oh, so it is, so it is..." Xiao Yu still wiped his forehead with some fear and muttered, "No wonder you haven't started construction. It turned out to be dealing with the snake on the island."

"Exact" Qin Mubai said, "If you don't deal with these animals, in case you bite the prince or the king of Jiangxia, it will be a bad thing. What do you think? - We just said that we need to change the plan. Would you like to hear the opinions of humble officials?

"Well, you said." Xiao Yu nodded.

"The meaning of humble position is to clean up the island, plant plants, flowers and trees, lay carpets, and then build a temporary altar for the festival. As for the river, I can use corvée to recruit people and dig a river that can pass through large warships and go straight to here. At that time, the prince and the king of Jiangxia can also be exempted from taking the shuttle boat. What do you think?"

"Good, good... But after all, this is the mausoleum of Emperor Yang. Is it so hastily arranged?" Xiao Yu is still a little unyed.

Qin Mubai moved his eyes and motioned him to walk aside and whispered, "Xiao Ge Lao, please forgive me for saying more. Although Yang Guang is the son of heaven, he is also the subjugated king of the previous dynasty. The reason why Your Majesty is willing to sacrifice him is that, on the one's, because he is open-minded, and on the other, he is also for the face of the jade seal of the country. Do you think your majesty really admires and likes Yang Guang in his heart? That's absolutely impossible! You are always Yang Guang's brother-in-law. Your identity is **. The emperor sent you to preside over the sacrifice, in fact, to show your selfless heart. However, if you are too serious and make this sacrifice vigorous, and its scale even exceeds that of the former emperor Wude Gaozu, can your Majesty be happy? At that time, didn't the literature and martial arts of the Manchu Dynasty say that you, Xiao Ge, are always the elders of the former Sui Dynasty, and remember Yang Guang, who lost the country in your heart? This is not a good idea!"

After listening to Qin Mubai's words, the expression on his face did not change much. After all, he is also an old man who has been in the court for decades. Although he is straightforward and strong, it does not mean that he is really stupid. When he encountered a key problem, he was very good at hiding his emotions.

"General Qin, I think you are too worried." Xiao Yu said, "Yang Guang is my brother-in-law, but isn't he also the cousin of the current emperor? The old minister is ordered to do things, how the emperor is assigned, and how the old minister performs it. There is no other thing to do. If someone really speculates and blames the old minister because of this, the old minister is not afraid at all and will not pay attention to it.

Qin Mubai blinked his eyes and cursed secretly in his heart: Old fox, your mouth is really hard!

"By the way, the old minister's previous plan under Chang'an's plan was indeed not to detect the terrain here in advance. Moreover, three months is too hasty. However, the three plans I set - Qinghe Road, Jianming Hall and Xiuyuan - you didn't overturn all of them for me, which is too unreasonable. Xiao Yu frowned, stroked his long beard, and said, "Well, I don't embarrass you. You also let me make an example to the emperor. Let's take a compromise plan."

"What's the plan?" Qin Mubai asked.

"There is no need to clean up all the river for the time being. As you said, just go to a river that can enter the big warship. The travel between the prince and the king of Jiangxia can also be frugal, but if these two ask..." Xiao Yu stopped talking.

"Don't worry, I'm responsible." Qin Mubai said coldly, "What else, go on."

"What's more, I have no problem with building a temporary altar. But in the future, the Ming Hall will be built sooner or later. As for how to build it, it's the business of the craftsmen. You don't need to worry about General Qin. Xiao Yu said, "Besides, you're just an agent, aren't you?"

Qin Mubai couldn't help but be a little annoyed. This Xiao Yu is really face-threate, regardless of other people's feelings. No wonder he is so popular. But at present, it's really boring to quarrel with him. It's better to agree with him.

"Well, that's all I can do." Qin Mubai nodded and said, "When the King of Wu comes back, I will hand over the state affairs to him. At present, I just have to build a temporary altar.

"Okay, that's it!" Xiao Yu straightened the color and shouted, "Go back!"

"Xiao Ge Lao, don't you want to enter the underground palace and worship Emperor Yang?" Qin Mubai asked deliberately.

Xiao Yu's face was rigid: "He is the king of the former Sui Dynasty. I am the minister of the Tang Dynasty. Is there a private worship? - Nonsense, I'm going back!"

Qin Mubai and the people next to him were a little embarrassed, and they scolded in their hearts: If this is Yang Guang lying below - your brother-in-law must jump up and tear your mouth! This Xiao Yu really gave birth to a broken mouth that caused trouble. No wonder he is often degraded!

In the next two months, the whole Xiangzhou was busy. The state government dispatched corvée and used more than 20,000 people to work day and night to excate the river. A large river that is more than 20 miles long, connecting the Han River to the stone slope one after another, directly razing the previous "Qifeng Wutong Mountain" to the ground.

The river was designed by Qin Mubai himself to flatten Wutong Mountain, and his intention was also quite deep.

In those years, the site for this mausoleum must have been a feng shui master, and the location of the mausoleum must have been artificially renovated, which makes this place full of harmony between heaven and man.

The emperor's feng shui does not take advantage of the stability of the Tang Dynasty. It's one thing whether Ning believes it or not, but since Li Ke knows about this matter, Qin Mubai will also confess to him at that time. It makes a point when he goes to the emperor. In the final analysis, it was to reothe the emperor.

Invisibly, Qin Mubai "made a big good thing for the Tang Dynasty."

But it's strange to say. After Wutong Mountain was flattened, most of the water birds in the West River trough were less, and no more than half of the snakes appeared on the stone slope. Is it true that, as Li Ke said, the snake is a dragon-shaped, and the emperor is a vigorous snake?

The project on the gravel slope has also begun. Countless edging boats travel through the river day and night, transporting plants, flowers and building materials. Although it is just a "temporary altar", the scale is not small. On the original stone slope where there was no grass, tens of thousands of stone soil were moved, and then grass, flowers and trees were planted. The towering stele forest, the stone slab road made of white jade, and the murals of the stone horse and stone man Tiangong are also available.

Two months later, the small gravel slope was almost "changing the world". In the past, a bare desolate area has almost become a quiet place like a paradise, without losing its solemnity and magnificence.

In the past two months, Qin Mubai has been extremely busy. But he was not busy in vain. If he was not careful, he took advantage of this opportunity to make a small fortune.

Such a big project in Xiangzhou has used tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians, and it costs a lot to eat and drink every day. Xiao Yu brought a lot of money allocated by the imperial court for sacrifice from Chang'an. Of course, he must be responsible for paying for the food, clothing, housing and transportation of the courtiers and craftsmen. In this way, the hundreds of thousands of stones of grain and salt in Qin Mubai's hand will be sold.

Instead of buying grain in other states and counties, it's better to use what you have nearby! Nearly 20,000 soldiers and civilians who participated in the project had to eat 400 stones in a day just by eating grain, 12,000 stones a month, and nearly 25,000 stones in two months.

Therefore, Qin Mubai took the money given by Xiao Yu with his left hand, gave him the grain and salt stored in his treasury with his right hand, and then put the money in his pocket.

This money is comfortable and comfortable. You don't have to pay taxes or worry about bad debts. It even saves stores and manpower. After two months, more than two million yuan can be easily reached.

Although the money is not much, it is enough to shop and pay the rent.

When it comes to that store, Qin Mubai has long been looking at it. Not elsewhere, it is the two most prosperous shops in the most prosperous and bustling city north port city in Xiangyang, that is, the two big shops that have been run by Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun before - Zhengchang Grain and Yongye Salt Square!

After Duan Rongji, Ouyang Jun, Zhao Chong and others were arrested together, the two Wangpu were sealed by the state government office, and the house and shop were taken over to the official. These days, businessmen near and far have broken through the threshold of the state capital and tried to find all kinds of ways to sell or rent these two stores, but failed.

The reason is very simple. Li Ke and Qin Mubai have already made an agreement, and it is left to Wu Mei Niang! Qin Mubai has also been waiting for Wu Mei Niang to come to Xiangzhou, where she can open a business again, but from then on, she has to hang the name of the "Wu" family.

These two shops are not small, especially the extremely hot shops, and the rent is quite expensive. Qin Mubai, a poor official, can't pay the rent, so the pavement has been vacant.

It's all right now. All the money that sells grain to Xiao Yu is cash. After getting the money, Qin Mubai did not cover it. He handed it directly to Yin Cao Caozheng, the capital of Xiangzhou, and paid the rent for five years.

Of course, "discount" is a must.

Clear the river, repair the sacrificial platform, sell grain, and shop the store. In two months, Qin Mubai "push the hand for the pipa and lead the hand to the pipa" like a pipa, and played happily over the clouds and rain.

Xiangzhou found the tomb of Emperor Yang and the matter of holding a grand festival spread quickly all over the world. Many tourists came here to watch the grand event. It's like now we are going to hold a large-scale sports meeting or expo in a certain city, attracting countless business opportunities.

Xiangzhou is originally a port city with an active commercial port. There is an endless stream of business travelers all year round, traveling like crucian carp. Now it is even more prosperous. There are ships docking offshore day and night, either full of goods or full of pedestrians.

After two months, the inn in Hong Kong City, north of Xiangyang, was full of seats every day. Even the old man and girls in Yingyuan could not rest at night, painful and happy.

When Yin Cao's official came to show Qin Mubai with his tax accounts, his face was about to smile. He said that since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Xiangzhou has never been as lively as it is now, nor has it collected so many taxes.

"Compared with the beginning of the year, this month's tax is more than three times that at that time!"

Qin Mubai just smiled and said secretly: Who would have thought that Zhao Chong just gave me a few maps hidden in the Yexiang bucket at the beginning, and now the whole Xiangzhou will be detonated? This should be Li Ke's political achievement, right? ...Well, the emperor sent me to assist Li Ke, which is also my political achievement. Not bad, the blind cat dragged the dead mouse!

A few days later.

Qin Mubai went back to the military office to take care of some military affairs. Not long after sitting down, two sergeants of the royal palace hurried to find Qin Mubai, saying that the king of Jiangxia had arrived in Xiangzhou!

Qin Mubai was stunned: No way, it came so soon. There is still half a month before the sacrifice! Besides, shouldn't the king of Jiangxia come at the same time as the prince? If they want to come, can they not snor in advance and let us greet them?

"General Qin, Mr. Xiao Ge asked the villain to invite the general to the hall to welcome His Royal Highness the King of Jiangxia! Get ready and go!" The sergeant said anxiously.

"It's good." Qin Mubai had to get on the horse and went straight to Xiangyang County.

When he arrived at Guanyi, Qin Mubai saw the car in the courtyard at a glance. It's just the ordinary standard purple and blue car used by the prince and the prince when they travel, but Qin Mubai didn't think much about it. When I walked into the hall post and went through the three-way corridor and came outside the hall, I happened to hear Xiao Yu saying inside:

"Your Majesty, the travel between you and the prince has been arranged. Please move later. It will be more comfortable to live there."

"It doesn't matter." The voice of Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia, was as loud and heroic as ever. He laughed and said, "Xiao Ge, you must not be doing well when you are old in Xiangzhou. Is it possible that the stinky boy Qin Mubai didn't treat you well? Look at your old appearance, tut, your face is yellow and thin and full of scabies. Isn't it being stared by mosquitoes?

"Oh, don't mention it!" Xiao Yu smiled bitterly and turned around, "I really have something to do. I want to plead guilty to the prince."

"What's the matter?"

"That is... The sects between the prince and the prince are all expropriated houses for renovation. And these two private houses were left by Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun, the former criminals in the Xiangzhou case. Xiao Yu's voice lowered a little, as if he was a little embarrassed. He whispered, "If there is anything wrong, please forgive me."

"Let me and the prince live in the prisoner's old house?" There was indeed some unhappiness in Li Daozong's voice.

Qin Mubai frowned angrily and stood outside the door by the window without going in. I just want to hear what Xiao Yu wants to say. Most of the sergeants guarding outside the door also recognized Qin Mubai, so they did not dare to publicize it.

"This...this is actually not the old minister's intention." Xiao Yu said, "Before that, the old minister insisted on building the line between the prince and the prince. But Qin Mubai had to disagree, saying that it was not as long as Yunyun's time to waste money. Qin Mubai is a local parent and official, holding power in his hand. The old minister is under the eaves and has to bow his head, so he has to let him deal with things.

"Oh, you are suing Qin Mubai, Xiao Ge Lao!" Li Daozong laughed loudly.

Qin Mubai heard a trace of ridicule in his laughter, as if he was joking Xiao Yu.

"Well, this... I didn't mean it, I didn't mean it!" Xiao Yu's performance was also quite strange, and he suddenly repented and begged for mercy.

"Xiao Ge Lao, you are so shameless!" - Suddenly, a crisp and gentle female voice with a few domineering and delicate voices sounded in the hall!

Qin Mubai was so familiar with this voice that his heart trembled when he heard it - "My good boy, I said why the king of Jiangxia came in advance. He must have been pulled and coaxed by this girl!"

Who else can it be? - Of course, it's Princess Gaoyang and the little devil Linger!

"Uh! ...Your Highness, why did you say that?" Xiao Yu was scolded by Princess Gao Yang and asked unconvincedly.

"You are the prime minister, or the official appointed by your father to be responsible for the sacrifice? How can you say that 'people have to bow their heads under the eaves'? Dare Mu Bai, he is still arrogant and straightforward, and bullied you, an old man? Or, you are so incompetent that you can't control even a small official in a small place like Xiangzhou? Princess Gaoyang said like a bead, "By the way, the new Xingyuan is indeed a waste of money. Mu Bai is a parent official in Xiangzhou, and it should be for the local people. Do you think he did something wrong? Do you want him to search and torture tens of thousands of people in Xiangzhou in order to please the prince's brother and the uncle of Jiangxia? Isn't it that the gains are not worth the loss? In this way, can the prince's brother and Uncle Jiangxia live at ease even if they live in the brand-new Xingyuan Mansion? Fortunately, you are still the elders of the Three Dynasties who often hang the name of the minister of the stock, and you don't understand these truths. If my father knows, do you think he praises Mu Bai or refutes you?

"Haha!" Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia, laughed and said, "Gao Yang, your clever mouth is getting sharper and sharper. I want to ask, is there a difference between praising Bai and refuting Xiao Ge?

"It's just like that!" Princess Gaoyang was so powerful that she didn't give Xiao Yu a chance to speak at all. She took advantage of the victory and chased, "What's wrong with the prisoner's house? After the confiscation of the official, it is the government of the Tang Dynasty. We are a royal family, and it is most suitable to live in an official house. I just don't think there is anything wrong with Mubai anywhere. Mr. Xiao, you are in a hurry to speak ill of Mu Bai as soon as you enter the door. Did he offend you somewhere? Or, do you see that he is too capable and is anxious to destroy his prestige because you are afraid that he will cover your limelight? Wow! Mr. Xiao, you were not the kind of jealous person before. How did you become like this now?

"Uh...Uh...this, this!" Xiao Yu was blocked by Princess Gaoyang's phone call that he couldn't speak. He was anxious and his mouth squeaked.

"Well, Gao Yang, just forgive Xiao Ge!" Li Daozong smiled, came out to make a comer and said, "He didn't say anything bad about Qin Mubai, he just talked about the matter. Look at you, you haven't been married yet, just like this. In case I accidentally scold Qin Mubai one day, why don't you stab me with a knife?"

"Hee hee, of course not!" Princess Gaoyang began to act coquettishly and said, "How can I be willing to stab such a cute little old man as the King of Jiangxia? At most... bite with your teeth!"

Qin Mubai couldn't help laughing outside the door. Then he turned around and walked in and said with a smile, "It seems that I'm here at the right time. Everyone is chatting happily!"

"Wow, Mu Bai, you're finally here!!"

Princess Gaoyang suddenly jumped up with excitement, threw away Li Daozong's elbow that had just been pulled without hesitation, and rushed to Qin Mubai!

......

Xiao Yu, who was amnesty beside him, took advantage of the opportunity to wipe the cold sweat on his forehead, smiled bitterly at Li Daozong, and whispered, "I am not afraid, even the dragon scales on the emperor's neck dare to reach out to uncover three pieces. Only... I'm afraid of this girl!"

"How dare you slander Qin Mubai in front of him? I really don't know what to do!" Li Daozong whispered, "I advise you to be careful from now on. In case you are hated by that girl, it will be miserable! - Don't look at me like that, let alone expect me to help you. In the world, there are probably only two people who can deal with that girl. One is in Chang'an; the other is in this room.

Xiao Yu's old face trembled, and his heart began to rise and fall.