As soon as Sakai He left the corridor outside Wang Hezhenggong's house, a figure in Japanese costumes flashed past and disappeared from the archway leading to the west wing of the courtyard.
Sakai He's footsteps suddenly stopped, and he looked at the disappearing figure with a gloomy expression, with a hint of uneasiness in his eyes.
That direction is where the ambassador of His Majesty the Emperor, Fujino Neiwa, temporarily resides.
Could it be that this old fox has been sending people to secretly monitor his every move?
Recalling what Wang Hemasa had just said to him about Fujino Ninghe who had secretly contacted the buyer among the people, Sakai He hurried towards the wing of the east courtyard of the government office with a gloomy face.
After Sakai He's figure disappeared, the missing 'Japanese man' came out from the corner again.
Looking at the direction in which Sakai He disappeared, he slowly took off his Japanese clothes, revealing the clothes of a Honglu Temple yamen servant underneath, and ran towards Lao Wang's public house.
After a while of tea, Sakai He opened the door directly and entered a side room.
Three or five Japanese people who were sitting on chairs and waiting silently hurriedly stood up to greet them.
"Your Highness, you are back!"
"Your Highness, how is the discussion going? Can the Dalong official named Wang help us get the Dalong Emperor to reward us with the military equipment we need?"
"Sir, your expression"
Several people's repeated inquiries made Sakai He, who was already upset, even more irritable.
He took a few heavy breaths, signaled several of his personal followers to quiet down, and then sat down on the chair.
He picked up the herbal tea and sipped it slowly and thought for a moment. Sakai He put down the teacup and silently shook his head at the expectant attendants.
"Master Wang said that he couldn't help much, but he did tell me some ways to obtain military equipment.
Moreover, I discovered that Fujino Ning and this guy are sending people to monitor our every move, and he is also secretly searching for the craftsmen of Dalong among the people in the capital, and wants to buy a large number of soldiers from them for transportation.
Go back to your hometown for business."
"What? Fujino, this old fox, is also spying on us? And he even secretly found the source of the goods?"
"Your Highness, it's impossible! We have been paying attention to every move of this old fox, and we didn't find out that he secretly met Dalong's folk craftsmen."
"Did Mr. Wang deliberately say these words to deceive you and want to use excuses to avoid things that he cannot help?"
Sakai He shook his head solemnly: "I was indeed doubtful at first, but Fujino Ning and the man who monitored me were actually seen by me.
Although he moved very quickly, I could still clearly see what he was wearing the moment he disappeared under the arch.
How can there be such a coincidence in the world?"
Seeing Sakai He's solemn expression, several Japanese people also began to look impatient.
"What if Emperor Dalong wants to reward us as His Highness said, but he withdraws his intention because of the obstruction of the court officials?"
"If none of us can get the reward as we wish, Fujino Ninghe will bring back a large number of soldiers and equipment to do business because he has found good private craftsmen.
The owner of the house is in danger.
The weapons of the dragon can completely suppress the weapons we have made ourselves. If the emperor gets a large number of weapons, we will be at a disadvantage in an instant!"
"Your Highness, why don't we also be prepared? I'll also secretly contact Dalong folk craftsmen just in case."
Sakai He hesitated as he glanced at the anxious-looking group of servants: "The gold and silver treasures we brought are used to buy Dalong's porcelain, silk, a large number of treasures, and Dalong specialties to win over the emperor's officials.
They also bought ordinary Dalong expensive specialties and secretly went to the emperor's territory to sell them. Firstly, they wanted to win over the people, and secondly, they could make a small profit to save food and increase their military strength.
If I buy all the weapons and equipment, how will I explain to my uncle?"
"Your Highness, the head of the family often said that there is an old saying in Dalong, which is called fish and bear's paws, you can't have it both ways. There is also an old saying that should be cut off without interruption, otherwise it will be disturbed.
Now the old fox Fujino has made preparations a few steps ahead of us, if we are still hesitant.
Once Fujino Ninghe rushes back to the homeland with well-equipped troops, even if it is ten and a half days earlier than us, the head of the family and our warriors will suffer heavy losses from the emperor's army."
"Your Highness, I think what Panasonic said is right.
We really have to be prepared, and I have been traveling around the major cities in the capital these days. According to my humble observation and understanding.
For large-volume transactions, you only need to pay a part of the deposit first, and then you can negotiate the following cooperation.
The best we can do is pay a deposit first and let Dalong's folk craftsmen help us build the weapons first.
If the imperial court can reward us, we won't need any deposit. We will take the military equipment rewarded by the imperial court and buy Dalong's specialties and set sail directly back to our homeland.
If you cannot get rewards from the Dalong court, you can also bring back a large amount of military equipment from the hands of private craftsmen."
"The humble position also seconded the proposal. Maybe Fujino Ning and this old fox have the same plan."
Sakai He frowned and thought for a long time, then nodded helplessly: "Watanabe, your Chinese is the best. According to what we just said, you take a few people to find Dalong folk craftsmen secretly."
"As you command!"
"By the way, don't forget to put on the clothes of Dalong people. We may have to come to Dalong in the future. Don't ruin your reputation. It will be difficult to act in Dalong in the future!"
"Yes, I understand!"
"Panasonic, please instruct the people below to send more people to monitor Old Fox Fujino.
Matsumoto, please go with me to pay a visit to Dalong, the Minister of War."
"Got the order!"
Sakai He and his entourage dispersed after doing their own business, while Fujino Ninghe, the envoy of the Japanese Kingdom on the other side, was hurriedly heading towards Lao Wang's palace.
The gloomy and anxious expressions on his face were mixed together, making him very confused.
The man sent by Sakaiga to monitor Fujino Ningka happened to see Fujino Ningka sneaking into the old prince's room.
Everything developed as Liu Dashao and others expected.
Only Song Yu, Minister of the Ministry of War, and Yang Tao, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, would light the last fire.
Young Master Liu's plan to keep the gold and silver treasures in the hands of the two Japanese envoys will be completely realized.
In other words, it is already a matter of course at this moment.
All is ready except for the opportunity.
Inside Xing'an Square in the east of the city.
There are a large number of ironware shops here who make a living by making ironware.
Tools used by common people such as hoes and kitchen knives, or weapons crafted by Jianghu people, can all come here.
As long as armor, bows and crossbows are not made, the court does not prohibit ordinary weapons, but the quantity must be controlled.
Summer is already hot, and Xing'an Square is steaming with steam, and the sound of banging and banging can be heard all the time.
At a glance, all of them were shirtless or shirtless strong men, sweating and beating the pots in their hands around the stove.
"Boss, can you make weapons here?"
The middle-aged man put down the hammer in his hand, wiped the sweat on his face with a towel, and looked down at the five guests whose height barely reached his chest: "Okay? Which one of you wants it? Or do you all want it?"
"We all want it. How much does it cost for a good knife made of hundreds of refined steel?"
"Hundred-refined steel?"
"Yes, when we travel around the world, we naturally need to equip ourselves with good weapons for self-defense!"
"Walking around the world?"
"What? Don't we look like people in the world?"
The boss shook his head with a strange look on his face: "I see that you not only don't look like people from the world of martial arts, but you also don't look like members of my Dalong Han family!"
Watanabe's expression changed in shock and he immediately covered it up.
"Boss, are you kidding? The lower class of people are nothing like you, the common people of Dalong."
"It's already June. We in the Great Dragon Palace are never stupid enough to wear such thick clothes, and you are not afraid of prickly heat either.
Moreover, except for the imperial court who used hundred-refined steel to classify the quality of weapons, people in Jianghu all used hundred-refined iron to classify their weapons.
He just said that you are not from the Han family, but not from the Dalong people. Don't harm the He family by talking nonsense.