afterglow

Chapter 229 A different kind of gift; attack!

Since the interests of all parties in the pacification of Japan were largely the same, the cabinet ministers and generals basically reached an agreement only at the first meeting, which can be said to be very rare.

Although there are pure idealists among them, they simply believe that the benefits of pacifying Japan outweigh the disadvantages for Ming Dynasty, so they firmly support it.

But correspondingly, there are also many profit-seeking people, typical examples are some nobles.

Different from ordinary civil servants, because they can do business legally, the nobles "responded to the imperial court's call" to invest in industry very early, and successively established a series of light industries represented by steam-powered textile factories.

The nobles can also be classified as landlords in essence, belonging to the feudal military aristocratic landlords.

In that era when land was the most important, most valuable, and safest means of production, if there was no long-term guidance or even interference from external forces, ordinary people would undoubtedly choose to buy land among the two options of investing in business and investing in land.

Whether it is doing business or going out to sea for trade, there are greater risks, and if you fail, you will lose all your money. In contrast, it is much safer to spend all the same money on the purchase of cultivated land.

When encountering a major change unseen in a millennium, the nobles gradually followed the policies of the reformists, or the New Western Law Party, and reluctantly invested in those "machines are much more expensive than manpower, and it is not cost-effective" in their opinion. industry.

It is completely in line with human nature that most of their initial investments were light industries with a short construction period and quick money, such as textiles, hardware, paper, etc.; not many of them dared to invest in heavy industries. Belonging is heterogeneous.

At that time, heavy industries such as arsenals, steel plants, chemical plants, and machinery processing plants were mostly established by the imperial court and local governments, and there were very few nobles and private merchants who took the initiative to start heavy industries.

After the light industries they invested in returned their capital and made small profits, the nobles began to invest in those heavy industries with long construction cycles and slow income.

To this day, there are more or less various companies and enterprises under the names of many nobles in Ming Dynasty.

Where did the military supplies needed for the war come from?It comes from all kinds of factories under the enterprise.

The steel needed to make guns, planes, tanks and cannons, the explosives needed to fill shells and aerial bombs, the brass needed to make bullets, the fuel to drive vehicles, the cloth needed to sew military uniforms...

And these, except for some government-run enterprises owned by the imperial court, most of them are privately run.

So, who can resist the temptation to make a fortune in war?

The demand in the war is not comparable to that in peacetime. Orders of tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands can bring back to life a company that is on the verge of bankruptcy, and can also make an unknown small factory expand into a brilliant giant.

For those who have not personally experienced war, it seems to have become an excellent opportunity to reverse their fate, but no one pays attention to the cruelty behind it.

In other words, the rich and powerful didn't care, and it wasn't them who died anyway.

Zhou Changfeng, who returned to the Jiangxinzhou garrison, was welcomed by all the soldiers of the First Marine Regiment. Xie Wancheng, Zhu Lishuo, Zhao Hanfeng and others carefully prepared a banquet to celebrate his return to his original post.

However, the peaceful life didn't last long. At dusk the next day, he received a call from Zhu Lingjing, asking him to go to the old place on time tomorrow morning.

Why!After all, we still have to face that woman!
The next day, the hour.

This year is not a warm winter, and the early morning in Nanjing in mid-October is already obviously cool.

Outside Weiyang Bank in Beicheng District, the streets are already covered with fallen leaves.

"Wait here for a while."

"it is good."

So why did you find yourself this time?It's not just a routine meeting, is it?

Just when Zhou Chang was distracted, an attendant walked into the room and called him to go.

Zhu Lingjing, who was dressed in light purple clothes with cloudy shoulders, should have looked quite dignified, but the movement of her leisurely nibbling melon seeds seemed to have broken this image.

"See Your Highness."

"How is life in prison? Do you still remember the pain of dozens of sticks?"

Zhou Changfeng replied very calmly: "Uh... so-so, I can't say good or bad. As for the fifty rods, I still remember them for the time being."

"Temporary? Could it be that the scars are really healed and the scars forget the pain?" Zhu Lingjing was annoyed and funny when she heard this, "There is no reason for me to do more than three things here, only things are less than two. If you dare to talk to yourself, you will be in prison Live the rest of your life."

"clear."

"When do you intend to get married? Has the date been fixed?"

aha?Is this subject changing a bit too quickly?

Because it was so sudden, Zhou Changfeng thought he heard it wrong.

Seeing him in a daze, Zhu Lingjing urged: "Ask you something, why, haven't you finalized it yet?"

"Uh...before the Spring Festival, but the exact date has not been determined."

"That is the end of January next year?"

"Maybe."

"Hurry up and set the date, and then inform the auditorium of the Advisory Council." Zhu Lingjing looked a little dissatisfied, and said lightly: "This is my gift, how about it?"

The council hall?

In Zhou Changfeng's impression, there are usually some ceremonial activities organized for court officials, such as celebrations and banquets; at the same time, after the twice-yearly Advisory Council meeting ends, a press conference will be held there to explain the key results of the meeting .

As for the formal meeting, it is in the meeting hall of the Advisory Council.

So Zhu Lingjing meant to let her go to the auditorium of the Advisory Council to hold the wedding?Hey, am I mistaken, that is the exclusive place of the Great Ming Congress.

Just imagining that scene can make people's hearts surge, but correspondingly, is this a bit too exaggerated?
"Is...isn't this a bit too ostentatious and high-profile?" He asked, "Is there any precedent before?"

"Of course there is no precedent." Zhu Lingjing asked back with a sneering expression, "Isn't this an honor? People like you are worried about Zhang Yang? It's a little funny."

"Your Highness, I actually want to be a low-key person." Zhou Changfeng replied solemnly.

"Do you believe this yourself?"

"..."

For Zhu Lingjing, in just one year, the benefits Zhou Changfeng brought to her were not small.

Maybe senior and rational Ming scholars will explore the differences between Eastern and Western civilizations rigorously and pragmatically, but ordinary people and literati have always held a contemptuous attitude towards Westerners. In their view, Westerners are just a group of shallow and vulgar outbursts. account only.

Nowadays, when nationalism is prevalent, it is obvious that people like to see military officers of their own country killing all directions in a distant place-teaching those guys to naturally stand on the moral high ground.

At the same time, considering that this matter will indeed have adverse effects if it is investigated in depth, the propaganda department of the Ministry of War deliberately described Zhou Changfeng's motives as "deeply indignant at the Ming compatriots who were unfortunately killed in the rebellion, and hated the rebels who did anything wrong." Satisfied people's patriotism.

This is the influence of the public. As for the internal aspect, some of the materials brought back by Zhou and the report based on his own actual combat experience are of great reference value.

The so-called prosperity and prosperity, Zhu Lingjing naturally also benefited and benefited.

In fact, she has not paid back her capital until now. At the beginning, she entrusted the navy to recruit people from the imperial army, as well as subsequent promotions, transfers, etc., all of which consumed political resources.

As for the ingenious "gift" this time, she considered that Mr. Zhou seemed to lack favorite things, so she decided on such an idea that must be memorable.

This is the first time that the entire Ming Dynasty holds a wedding in the auditorium of the Advisory Council. What is the significance?
In Zhou's mind, this kind of "gift" should be more precious than superficial things like real money and rare treasures, right?
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness." Zhou Changfeng thanked him very sincerely.

"Not much." Zhu Lingjing replied indifferently, but she regretted it as soon as she said it. You must know that in order to complete this matter, she negotiated with the people in the Advisory Council for a long time and took a lot of money. strength.

Oh damn, this guy can't really take it literally, can he?Doesn't that make you feel like you don't take it seriously?

When she was struggling, Zhou Changfeng suddenly spoke after thinking about it.

"By the way, I want to invest in a small gun factory, but this will be impeached. Is there any other way, Your Highness?"

After listening to Zhou Changfeng's explanation of his thoughts, Zhu Lingjing slightly shook her head and said, "My family doesn't run this kind of business."

Princess Ningyou's mansion has only been established for ten years, and it is incomparable with those nobles who have established businesses for decades.

With little background and few family properties, it is obvious that they cannot afford heavy industries, so the investment of the Princess Mansion is in some light industries and service industries, such as clothing, accessories, hotels and so on.

She thought for a while and continued: "The law of the country clearly stipulates that officials themselves and their immediate families should not engage in business. Don't you have sisters? Let their family buy shares on their behalf. If you need it, just send a message."

Anyway, I don't expect to make money from it to make a fortune, but to practice my own ideas, don't worry about trust or not.

"Okay, it's time to get down to business."

"Ah."

Zhu Lingjing sat up straight, and said quite seriously: "In the past two days, there have been rumors that the 'Strengthen Society' and the 'Youth Yongyue Society' are going to make a big move to attack and assassinate court officials and private businessmen."

These two are both right and extreme right factions of Ming Dynasty. They are medium-sized and tepid, but their behavior is very radical and high-profile. casualties of officials.

After being hunted down and attacked vigorously, they have been dormant for several years, and they have been relatively low-key for the past three years.

Zhou Changfeng looked at Zhu Lingjing in front of him with an expression of "how do you know", and the latter said flatly: "One of them was arrested for drunken fighting the day before yesterday. After hearing the news, I was shocked and quickly reported it.”

"Interesting, they obviously want to expand their influence to promote their ideas, and there is nothing more eye-catching than attacking and assassinating high-ranking court officials and wealthy businessmen from big companies." Zhou Changfeng said, and then asked: " What do you want to explain, Your Highness?"

"Go back and check it out, at least your subordinates won't be in chaos, understand?"

"Okay, I understand. But I feel that His Majesty and the Crown Prince don't seem to reject these parties. This time..."

Zhu Lingjing, who looked calm, let out a "huh", "Tolerating existence does not mean tolerating misbehavior. Stability is paramount."

Zhou Changfeng nodded to express his understanding.

"Besides, you have to be more vigilant these days and be prepared. Although you don't know what the scale of the so-called attack will be, if there is a big riot, you can be credited with putting down the riot."

"But...Your Highness, this is in the capital city. It is taboo to dispatch without receiving an order, no matter what the motive is."

"I just asked you to prepare." Zhu Lingjing was a little speechless, "As for how to deal with it at that time, it is natural to play it by ear. If it is really necessary, don't miss it."

"Okay, I understand."

"That's it, let's go."

"Farewell."

In this era when ▇▇▇ism is rampant, there are far-right factions in Britain, France, and the United States, and Ming Dynasty is no exception.

Zhou Changfeng has a certain understanding of the Endeavor Association and the Youth Yongyue Society. Whether it is the former Third Guards Mixed Brigade or the current Marine Regiment, there are more or less people from these factions.

A few days later on October [-]th.

The cabinet and the military plan to hold a second meeting in the Wenhua Palace to continue in-depth discussions on the impact and possible costs of the war on the basis of the previous initial meeting.

And in Shanghai at this moment...

It was a cloudy and rainy day, and the drizzle was continuous. In the early morning, the sky and the earth were all gray, and the chill was very obvious.

A black car produced by Junda Company slowly drove out of a luxurious mansion. When it reached the intersection, the other two cars also started, one behind the other, protecting the black car in the middle.

On it was Chen Zhongxu, a director of the Su Group and a well-known economist who advocated the implementation of land reform and the suspension of military expansion.

Chen Zhongxu had already heard a little about the possible attacks recently, and the incidents of previous years were still vivid in his memory, so he was accompanied by at least eight guards every time he traveled these two days.

However, when the convoy passed through an intersection, a trolley suddenly rushed out from the side of the street in front, the leading car immediately braked, and the rear two cars had to slow down.

In the car in the middle, Chen Zhongxu, who was reading a newspaper, almost bumped his head, and said dissatisfiedly, "What's going on?"

At this moment, two pedestrians on the side of the road made a sudden attack, took out their pistols, pointed at the black car he was sitting in and fired again and again!
In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen bullet holes appeared on the car body; and the guards in the front and rear cars immediately fought back, some opened fire directly in the car, and some pushed the door to get out of the car and drew their guns.

For a while, "bang bang bang" gunshots filled the entire street.

Immediately afterwards, a bicycle quickly drove up from the right side of the intersection diagonally ahead. The rider took out a box-like object from the front basket and threw it at the car in the middle.

The close-range firefight was so fierce that the guards' attention was completely attracted by the two attackers on the other side, so they didn't realize the danger here in time.

"boom!"

The square box filled with half a catty of polyammonium nitrate explosive exploded suddenly, and the flames and smoke enveloped the entire vehicle in an instant, and the fragments were blown up and flying all over the sky.

(End of this chapter)