Before Qi Zhu finished speaking, Li Jinglong understood.
Then he waved his hands and said with a smile, "Qi Buzheng, you have misunderstood!" After saying that, he paused and smiled, "I know you are a civil servant with a shallow throat, how can I really let you drink cup after cup!"
"Wine is for fun, not for fighting. We have to fight to the death!"
He said and smiled again, "What the prince means is that he did it, you can do whatever you want!"
After saying that, he picked up a handful of winter bamboo shoots with chopsticks, threw them into his mouth and chewed them loudly.
Regardless of whether it was a real misunderstanding or a false misunderstanding, Li Jinglong received what Qi Zhu meant.
Li Jinglong also meant to say, knowing that you are also a provincial chief envoy and a frontier official of the Ming Dynasty, as long as you give me face, I will not embarrass you!
"Haha, thank you so much for being such a humble official!"
Qi Zhu sighed, "I'm so scared!"
After that, clink glasses with Wang De.
Wang De raised his head and drank it all in one gulp, not leaving even a drop of hops. Qi Zhu, on the other hand, only tasted it briefly and took a small sip on his lips.
~
Qi Zhu was able to achieve the position of governor of Guangdong. Fundamentally speaking, he was not a pedantic person.
Not someone who doesn’t know how to compromise!
As an official!
There is no advancement or retreat, only compromise... Compromise is the way to be an official. Compromise is actually a kind of exchange, and it is also a way to protect oneself wisely.
Of course, the premise is that the other party does not go too far.
~~
The wine has been drunk, and the business begins naturally.
"Just now, Uncle He, you told me that you want to go to Guangdong and Guangxi to train troops?" Qi smiled and said, "But you want me to give you some convenience in the local area?"
It's all about compromise anyway, so you can't be fickle.
I am not afraid of speaking clearly, but I am afraid of speaking unclearly.
Moreover, Qi Zhu already knew in his heart that the reason why these old men dared to speak so blatantly was that complaining to the emperor would definitely not work.
At least it doesn’t seem to work for now!
"It's not like I have to talk to you!" He Rong thought about it, "This has been a common practice since the founding of the People's Republic of China..."
Zhang Quan said from the side, "And this training is for fighting, not for showing off!"
He Rong added, "They are all soldiers from Guangdong and Guangxi...there are many places to spend money!"
Qi Zhu thought for a while and said, "Military training is a major military and state matter. Although the subordinate officials are civil servants, they are in charge of the civil affairs of a province, so there is no reason to stand idly by!" After speaking, he sighed, "How many armaments are there in Guangdong and Guangxi? I also know some, but the gap is huge..."
After saying that, he pondered again for a moment, and then said, "But when it comes to money, the lower officials are really powerless. The Chief Secretary has his own money, and he can't touch even a penny..."
"but....."
Just before the two old men were about to get angry, Qi Zhu continued, "The lower officials can organize a labor force of officials and gentry! Moreover, there is a supply of firewood, rice, oil, salt, cloth and leather every month. As for the supply, just two people can report the number. ......."
The words couldn't be more clear. There is no need for money, only things.
But if you can't get free money from the imperial court, you can get free money from me, the Chief Secretary of Guangdong.
If you train 30,000 people and you apply for 40,000 people, I will provide them according to the ratio of 40,000 people.
As for where those things went, I don't ask at all.
Hearing this, He Rong and Zhang Quan looked at each other.
"Those things..." Zhang Quan thought about it, "Actually, they are of little use!"
Qi frowned fiercely and thought to himself, "This old man is so greedy!"
Just listen to Zhang Quan continue to say, "I believe you should also listen to the letter. This time the Guangdong and Guangxi troops are training to deal with Annan!"
He Rong also followed up and said, "This is an expedition to other countries, not within the territory of our Ming Dynasty! The soldiers worked hard on the expedition, which was very hard!"
"The battle is about money and food. Why does money come first? Because food can only make people full, and money can make people... blood flow!" Zhang Quan looked at Qi Zuo with a cold face, " Regarding logistics matters, Qi Buzheng has taken a look at it, and I believe you will not let our soldiers from Guangdong and Guangxi freeze and starve..."
"Besides!" He Rong also looked at Qi, "You don't have to pay..." He said, suddenly smiling, "He thinks he still has some connections in Guangdong, and people will give away ordinary things as soon as he opens his mouth. No need to trouble you..."
"Then what do they want?" Qi Zhu thought to himself.
"Chao'an, Chaoyang, and Jieyang produce tea!" He Rong finally revealed his purpose, "Give me 300,000 kilograms of tea to use as military supplies..."
"What?" Qi Zhuo's hand shook and he exclaimed, "Three hundred thousand catties, then the tea tax in the future..."
"I have Zhang Laojie to cover it up for you, what a shame!" He Rong sneered.
"Actually, the two seniors have no choice but to open this mouth to you, Qi Buzheng! You have to know that even if they are the heroes who founded the country, they are taking a big risk by speaking directly to you like this!"
Suddenly, Li Jinglong said from the side, "Qi Buzheng, you are a civil servant, so you may not know about the war..."
As he spoke, he put down his chopsticks and took a sip of tea, "Especially in a national war like this! Once Annan is conquered, a declaration of war will be issued!"
"After issuing the edict, my Ming Dynasty Tiger and Wolf Division will no longer be able to do what we did in Burma. You must also know that Annan has been deeply sinicized and imitated our dynasty in every aspect."
"Kill as little as possible. That area needs to be managed in the future, not turned into a wasteland!"
"And soldiers on expeditions need to have fun!"
Li Jinglong sighed, "In order to prevent them from robbing money and women, do we have to have businessmen accompanying the army to follow us and provide them with ways to make them happy... and vent their murderous intentions?"
"Besides, the trophies gained by the soldiers must also be sent home by someone, right?"
Suddenly, Qi Zhu felt sick in his heart.
Li Jinglong's words couldn't be more clear.
"Food and wages are food and wages..." Li Jinglong added, "But these additional expenses..." After saying that, he paused, "In fact, this is how we have been doing wars in these years! Either salt or tea, use these as money to give to the merchants!"
Qi Zhu thought for a long time, "Yes!"
He has also thought about it. Anyway, as Chief Secretary, he will last until August. As for the deficit problem, that will be a headache for the next Chief Secretary.
~~
The drinking session ended hastily.
Now that everything has been said, there is no need to say anything more.
But something puzzled Qi Zhu. During the dinner, Cao Guogong Li Jinglong didn't say what he wanted to do with Qi Zhu.
But he knew that Li Jinglong definitely had something to say.
Therefore, after the show ended, the two of them still sat in the private room, slowly sipping tea.
"What does Duke Cao Guo want to do with his subordinates?"
After drinking a few cups of tea, Qi sighed and spoke first.
He wanted Li Jinglong to speak quickly, but he smiled slightly.
And there was contempt in this laughter.
~
"Does Mr. Qi think that Mr. Li has something he must ask you to do?" Li Jinglong said slowly.
"Well...isn't it?" Qi Zhu asked.
Li Jinglong sneered again, "Master Qi, if Li wants to do something, you don't have to ask for anything!" He raised his chin and said, "There are plenty of people who are rushing to help Li do it!"
"That......."
"Governor of Guangdong?" Li Jinglong sneered again and gave Qi a sideways glance, "Even if I want to work in Guangdong, I don't need you! The brother-in-law of Wang De, the Marquis of Anyuan, is the commander-in-chief of Huizhou!"
"The General of the Guangzhou Army, the former generals of my Li family...Chaozhou Guard, Zhaoqing Guard, Qingyuan Guard...which commander met me, Mr. Li, and didn't treat me with respect?"
"Ever since I, Mr. Li, was born, I have only ordered others to do things, and I have never begged others to do things!"
This kind of arrogance immediately made Qi Zhu angry...but he didn't dare to be angry.
"Then, why have you visited Cao Guogong several times...?"
"Li doesn't ask for help, but as long as Li's friends ask, Li never refuses!" Li Jinglong smiled, "You really wanted to treat you to dinner at that time, haha...asking you to do things... ...Haha, Qi Buzheng, you think too highly of yourself...Haha!"
"Did Mr. Cao Guo deliberately humiliate me?" Qi Zhu stood up angrily.
But for a second, he was suddenly stunned.
Someone came in outside the door, smiling.
"This is the Prince of Guanglu Temple, the Prince Consort of Yongkang..." Li Jinglong glanced at Qi Zhu, stood up and said, "Master Prince Consort, I have invited you, you can speak for yourself!"
"Where are you going?" Hu Guan asked in surprise, "I haven't said anything yet?"
"Tell him yourself!" Li Jinglong stood outside the door, "Otherwise, there will be someone who can't fucking figure out his position..."
"You..." Qi Chu's face turned red.
"Qi Buzheng?" Hu Guan shook his head first, and then said with a smile, "I want to inform you about something!" After saying that, the smile suddenly disappeared, "Listen carefully, I am not soliciting you, nor begging you, but knowing. Meet you!"
Hearing this, Qi Zhu suddenly understood what Li Jinglong said just now, that some people think too highly of themselves...