In the inner courtyard of Yang Mansion in Junyangfang, a bedroom is extremely elegantly decorated.
The floor is covered with a thick wool carpet, a rosewood table is placed in the center, and a huanghuali table is filled with various classics.
There are several elegant landscape paintings hanging on the walls on both sides, adding a touch of scholarly atmosphere, and the interior is decorated with elegance and luxury.
Yang Fan was sitting next to the desk. As soon as he put down his tea cup, Wu Meiniang walked in with a stack of manuscripts.
After signaling Wu Meiniang to sit down, Yang Fan asked: "Meiniang, have you got any results from the interrogation?"
As Wu Meiniang spoke, she handed over the manuscript: "Husband, according to the results of the interrogation, the person who ambushed you was not a Fuso, but an Ainu. This person's name is Maurianu, and he is from the Ainu.
One of the leaders."
Yang Fan asked with some surprise: "They are not from Fusang, how can they speak Fusang dialect?"
Wu Meiniang slowly explained, "The Ainu people live in Ezo, and they are under the jurisdiction of the Blackwater Governor's Mansion to the north of Bohai County, a subsidiary state of the Tang Empire."
"It's just that because the geographical location is too remote, Ezo was invaded and occupied by the Fuso Kingdom, and the Maorian slaves fled to the Tang Dynasty with their subordinates."
"It is said that someone spent 100,000 yuan to assassinate you this time, and the crossbows in the army were also provided by the employer."
Yang Fan kept tapping the first case with his fingers. He really didn't expect that it was him who was targeted this time, so he asked in a deep voice: "Have you found the person behind the scenes?"
Wu Meiniang's pretty face became solemn and she said in a deep voice: "Maoliannu just collects money to do things and has no idea who the employer is."
"According to the intelligence detected by Meihua Guard, all the evidence points to Cui Yongjian, the third son of Cui family in Qinghe, and Duan Guan, the second son of Bao Guogong."
"Since her husband went off to war, Duan Guan has had close contact with military supervisory officials and frequently met with Cui Yongjian."
"A few days before the assassination, Cui Yongjian once escorted a batch of goods out of the city, but he came back soon and the escorted goods were missing."
"According to Maoliannu, the crossbows they received were also found on the edge of the Qinling Mountains."
"I judge that the crossbow should have been sent from Cui Yongjian, and the conspirator should be Duan Guan."
"Husband, do you need to send out the 'Phantom' to give them to..."
As she said that, Wu Meiniang's eyes flashed with fierceness and she made a gesture of rubbing her neck.
Yang Fan squinted and pondered for a long time, and did not answer directly. Instead, he said: "If no one instructs them, how can the two second-generation ancestors get so many crossbows from the weapons inspection?"
After a pause, Yang Fan continued to ask: "Mei Niang thinks the court can find out that they did it?"
Wu Meiniang said firmly: "It should be possible to find out. According to the Meihua Guard's feedback, although those bows and crossbows were scrapped and repaired, if we start with the officials responsible for the destruction, we can still find out."
"However, if Cui of Qinghe is also involved, His Majesty may not investigate thoroughly."
"Although various aristocratic families may have conflicts of interest on the surface, if His Majesty really wants to touch the Cui family, he will definitely receive strong resistance from all the major aristocratic families."
Yang Fan nodded slightly, thoughtfully, of course he knew how powerful the family was.
Even if Cui Yongjian is found, as long as there is no conclusive evidence that Cui is responsible, even His Majesty Li Er will not dare to uproot Cui. At most, Cui Yongjian, the culprit, will be used to scare the monkeys.
Thinking of this, Yang Fan said: "Just wait and see what happens and see how the court handles it. However, if the family members are traveling recently, they need to bring some guards."
In Yang Fan's view, Duan Zhixuan, who controls the right guard, is the huge threat.
Because he knows how political power comes from the barrel of a gun.
This Duke of Bao was born in the market and was a famous general who had experienced many battles. Once he felt in danger, he would definitely be prepared to fight to the death. He had to be on guard.
However, if Duan Zhixuan can be brought down through this matter, Yang Fan would be happy to see it.
As long as Duan Zhixuan retires from the position of General of the Right Guard, Yang Fan can naturally take over his position to manage the Right Guard. This is what Li Shimin promised!
Wu Meiniang nodded.
Then he gave a general report to Yang Fan on various things that happened in Junyangfang over the past year.
After hearing this, Yang Fan was shocked. He didn't expect that Wu Meiniang had achieved such an achievement in less than a year.
If those strong women in future generations hear about the achievements of Her Majesty Empress Wu Zetian, their jaws will drop.
Even though Yang Fan has a big heart, he couldn't help but ask: "What did you say? The medical school and enlightenment school in Junyangfang have started?"
Wu Meiniang suppressed her little head a little arrogantly and said: "Yes, when my husband was on the expedition, Your Majesty issued a decree. From then on, the imperial examination will be held every two years. I felt this and accelerated the construction of the school.
schedule."
As he said this, he waited expectantly for Yang Fan to praise him.
Yang Fan chuckled, not expecting Wu Meiniang, who was scolding Fang Qiu outside, to be so childish.
He hugged Wu Meiniang's delicate body and said without concealing the joy in his heart: "Meiniang is really capable. Come, my husband will give you a reward."
As he spoke, he stamped a seal directly on his white forehead.
Wu Meiniang squinted her eyes and raised her crescent moon, but she said in disbelief: "Husband, it's still broad daylight!"
Yang Fan didn't let go, but tightened his big hands. Just listen to the woman's words.
But I remembered my own layout in my mind.
He has always done what he thinks of and has never made detailed plans for the future.
Glass is like this, cement is like this, even building sea-going ships is left to Xue Rengui to take charge... but the Enlightenment School is the part he values most.
Because these people are the key to Yang Fan's layout, he intends to grant these students ideas and knowledge that are completely different from this era.
This will be a group of pathfinders and practitioners for the country he wants in his heart.
If Datang Commercial Bank can bring endless wealth to Datang, then these students will provide guidance like a beacon to inspire and promote the development of this era.
Yang Fan wants to give it a try, so what if it doesn't work?
At least it cannot be more terrifying than when China was enslaved for hundreds of years.
Now with Junyangfang as the core, Liuli and other products under the Tang Dynasty Trading Company as the vanguard, they are rapidly spreading throughout Guanzhong and other parts of the Tang Dynasty.
Soon, these commodities will also travel across the oceans and bring huge returns.
He wanted to follow the example of the infamous East India Company in later generations, not only to keep wealth in his own hands, but also to control the economic lifeline of those small countries.
At the same time, these students from Junyangfang must be relied on to deceive these countries in order to achieve the purpose of deceiving the people.
Although this plan may take decades or even hundreds of years to complete, it is the guarantee that Datang will remain at the top of the world forever. This school is a testing base.
"Husband, what are you thinking about?"
Seeing that Yang Fan was motionless, Wu Meiniang raised her little head and asked with blurred eyes.
Men who think seriously are indeed the most handsome, let alone their own men!
Smelling the faint fragrance in his arms and stroking Wu Mei Niang's black hair, Yang Fan smiled: "Are you thinking about the ideal country I told you before?"
"Utopia?" Wu Meiniang's eyes lit up, her arms like lotus roots lifted her up, her dark eyes stared at Yang Fan, and she asked with interest: "What does this have to do with the Enlightenment School?"
She has always been unsure of her husband's attitude.
It is easy to tinker with all kinds of weird and weird things. Any idea is wild and unconstrained, but each one can earn a huge amount of wealth.
What's more important is that he just doesn't care about these things at all and allows people like himself to operate and control them.
Even if you get a huge amount of wealth, a large part of it will be given to the court.
How could anyone not like money?
You know, when the accounts are counted every quarter, Wu Meiniang's pupils will be shocked by the series of numbers.
That mountain of money and food can drive anyone crazy.
But the owner of the money, Yang Fan, was dismissive.
Of course, you can't say that your husband doesn't like money. It seems that he just likes the golden gold.
There are still hundreds of thousands of taels of gold exchanged in the warehouse!
I don’t know what my husband is using this uncirculated currency for?
However, seeing that Yang Fan was interested in the school and mentioned that he had mentioned an ideal country before, Wu Meiniang couldn't help but want to find out.
Yang Fan chuckled and said: "If you want to create an ideal country, of course you need talents who can follow you, and these talents must be able to accept new things quickly."
"Otherwise, it would be a fantasy to create a society where everyone has clothes to wear, everyone has food to eat, and the system is relatively fair."
"But no matter what it is, it must be backed by strong force, otherwise it will just be a mirror image."
"Let's go, my husband will give you a gift today."
With that said, he picked up Wu Meiniang and strode outside.
"Oh, husband, why are you always like this? If others saw you, wouldn't it be embarrassing to death?"
Wu Meiniang struggled for a while, but she couldn't move. In fact, she didn't exert much strength, and then she rolled her eyes at Yang Fan.
However, Yang Fan didn't take it seriously and laughed.
How can one not know that the mysterious Empress Wu Zetian is so clever? This little girl is so clever!
…
Junyangfang Firearms Workshop.
Ever since the design drawings of Yang Fan's flintlock gun and the gunpowder formula were delivered, this place has become a forbidden place for outsiders.
Closed management means even Wu Meiniang can't get in.
It's not that Yang Fan doesn't trust Wu Meiniang, he is afraid that once this terrible thermal weapon is spread, it will attract the prying eyes of countless enemies.
However, since thermal weapons were used in Tubo, there must be something to stop everyone's mouths.
Otherwise, everyone will think that you are hiding good things alone and plotting evil intentions!
To make a flint gun, you have to make a heat-resistant steel pipe.
Back then, Yang Fan used a steam-powered lathe to repeatedly temper steel in his workshop, and was equipped with a series of machines.
Although these machines seemed primitive to Yang Fan, they were thousands of years ahead of Datang.
Before the expedition, Yang Fan deliberately arranged for Yang Laifu to be in charge of affairs here.
It's been almost a year and the results should be there.
Enter the firearms workshop.
Tall steel-making furnaces, primitive steam-powered lathes, various grinding and forging machines...
Looking at all this, Yang Fan felt a surge of pride in his heart.
If the flint gun experiment is successful, it will change the pattern of this era.
Thousands of years of cold weapons will lose their advantage in the face of these primitive hot weapons.
Once the army of the Tang Dynasty can be equipped with such weapons, it will surely gallop around the world and be proud of the world.
Who else can stop the men of the Han family from conquering the world?
Wu Meiniang had already changed into a smart outfit at this time, showing off her slender figure. Her black hair was tied up with a green silk scarf, making her look heroic.
Standing next to Yang Fan, Wu Meiniang looked at the steel-making furnace, which was several times taller than ordinary steel, as well as the various dazzling machines and equipment, and was incomparably shocked.
When Yang Fan asked more than half of the guards from Junyangfang to guard here day and night, Wu Meiniang knew that this place would not be simple.
Only when you really enter here can you feel the shock in your heart.
However, what I feel most is admiration and full of love and worship.
Unexpectedly, what was built here was a magical firearms workshop. On the machine platform, there were rows of "guns" that were more than a foot long.
Yes, Wu Meiniang is sure that this is the terrifying hidden weapon.
The 'Phantom' who protects her is equipped with this kind of weapon.
Although the styles are slightly different, it can still be seen that they are generally the same.
Thinking of the past few months, several guards holding such weapons killed several times the number of enemies in just a few breaths of time.
Seeing so many weapons now, how could Wu Meiniang not be shocked.
As a smart woman, Wu Meiniang knows that if appearance is the first impression, then ability is the real dazzling aspect of a man.
I really don’t know how my husband’s brain grew. Why can he always come up with so many incredible and miraculous things?
He is always smiling, has no airs about others, and is careless about everything. When he sinks his mind and wants to do something, he will immediately shine with an extremely dazzling light, as if there is nothing in the world that he cannot do.
Yang Laifu led the way, pointed at the craftsmen busy at various work stations, and said proudly: "Sir, according to your instructions, a qualified gun barrel has been made. Each process has a dedicated person responsible for it, and they are independent of each other.
know."
"The final assembly is going on here. These people all have families. They have all been inspected and are trustworthy."
Yang Fan smiled slightly and said, "Uncle Fu, you have worked hard this year!"
With that said, he turned to Wu Meiniang and said: "This is the guarantee of our standing. Those colored glasses, supermarkets and the like are just vassals."
"This firearms workshop is the most valuable thing in our Yang family, and it is the basis for us to be based on the Tang Dynasty and never decline!"
At this time, Wu Meiniang could only nod her little head mechanically, looking at the majestic figure in front of her with blurred eyes.
Of course, Yang Fan could understand Wu Meiniang's shock at such a hot weapon. He patted her little head and murmured to himself:
"From now on, everything here is under your control. Although my husband cannot give you the title of wife, I will use this hot weapons workshop to prove to you your status in my heart."
Wu Meiniang suddenly felt as if her heart was being clenched tightly by a hand. She took a few deep breaths and then stammered: "My husband is going to... hand over the manufacturing methods of these hidden weapons to the slave family?"
No one knows better than her how long Yang Fan has been planning for this workshop and how much he attaches great importance to it.
Before the expedition to Tibet, my husband stayed here for more than twenty days. The purpose was to build this workshop before the expedition!
He even deliberately stated that if something unexpected happened, everything else could be abandoned and all efforts should be made to protect and supply the supplies here.
Since marrying into the Yang Mansion, Wu Meiniang has never seen her husband pay so much attention to something.
Now her husband actually handed over such an important workshop to her. Rather than handing over the firearms workshop to her, it would be better to say that Yang Fan handed over the foundation of the Yang family to her hands.
For a concubine, what kind of trust is this? It is shocking.
If Yang Fan handed over Datang Trading Company to her before, it made Wu Meiniang as sweet as honey.
So now, Wu Meiniang feels that she can never get rid of this man in this life!
Apart from guarding her wholeheartedly, Wu Meiniang could not think of any other choice.
Wu Meiniang now understands that this mallet that everyone praises has a magical power that makes women willingly fall into it.
She is like this, so is her sister, and even the aloof Princess Gaoyang is like this...
Of course Yang Fan didn't know Wu Meiniang's feelings.
For him, it is natural to leave the most important things to his woman.
What's more, Yang Fan also believes in Wu Meiniang's ability. She has proven everything during this period.
More importantly, Yang Fan believed that he could shock Wu Meiniang.
Looking at Wu Meiniang, who was still confused, Yang Fan smiled slightly and said, "Meiniang, do you like this gift?"
What else could Wu Meiniang say, apart from nodding with a sad look in her eyes, her little cherry mouth also moved forward.
Yang Fan really didn't expect Empress Wu Zetian to be so fierce, but who would dislike it!