Uncle Lai in the Red Chamber

Chapter 171: A few paragraphs from the previous chapter (plus one update)
With the Emperor's decree, the court's efficiency was surprisingly high. After more than a month of planning, the army set off for the Qianxiang Kingdom in early March.

The shareholding of the rubber factory is also coming to an end.

Lai Shangrong is still hesitant recently. The rubber factory produces only raw materials, which are made into tires, water pipes and other products for sale, and must undergo secondary processing.

It is impossible for state-owned companies to cover everything, so it is an inevitable trend for the state to retreat and the people to advance. However, state-owned companies must focus on the large and let go of the small in manufacturing.

He is going to set up a tire and hose manufacturing plant in the State Department.

One is the huge demand, and the other is the strategic significance.

Compared with wooden tires, rubber tires have the advantages of being lightweight, shock-absorbing, and labor-saving. They can also be popularized in addition to civilian armies.

Rubber water pipes are of greater significance than tires. Ancient agriculture was not mechanized, and the acres of land were not transformed by farmers' communes like modern times.

Even if you are a large private landowner, your land is divided into two parts in the east and one in the west. Your house is connected to my house. There is no irrigation system, and the paths between the fields are no more than one foot.

Lai Shangrong also lived in rural areas when he was a child. Even in rural areas in the 90s and [-]s, there would be quarrels among rural areas due to water diversion and irrigation issues, let alone rural areas in this era.

It cannot solve the problems of fighting for water sources and building canals, but it can slightly improve the problem of difficult irrigation in this era with the help of water pipes.

Under the service of Yu Chuan, he put on an outfit suitable for exercise and came to the front yard.

While taking Qin Zhong and the others to exercise, he said, "Do you know how to memorize the periodic table of elements?"

He was now able to influence the general situation with the help of the State Affairs Bureau. Of course, it was impossible for several apprentices to only teach imperial examinations.

So it is mixed with some common sense in mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc.

In fact, there is no shortage of capable people in this era. Xu Qiguang, Fang Yizhi and others in the late Ming Dynasty have made great achievements in this field, but he has not yet discovered the world of Red Mansions.

"Master! According to you, as long as you use the right method, you can extract what you want from seemingly useless things?"

"That's natural. I'll take you to do experiments when I have time!"

After exercising with his three apprentices, Lai Shangrong returned to the back garden.

Under Yu Chuan's service, he took a shower. Since his official uniform was still in Sister You's room and the weather was getting warmer in March, he put on his underpants and wrapped a bath towel and returned to his room.

With a joke in mind, he walked in and pulled off his bathrobe, revealing all his tendons. He was about to pose like a hungry tiger pouncing on food, when he was shocked to find Youshi sitting in the room.

"Ah!~" Youshi exclaimed with a red head and swollen face, and hurriedly covered her eyes with her hands. However, she had not known the smell of meat for more than a year, and suddenly a strong man couldn't help but secretly look through his fingers.

Although Lai Shangrong felt embarrassed, when he wrapped himself in a bath towel, he looked like a little daughter. The only thing that makes me feel embarrassed is the mentality of others.

He replied: "Why is eldest sister here?"

"Ouch!...Second sister, you...I'd better go out first..."

She shouted to go out, but she sat there half-covered and motionless. She listened to her sister's lewd words. Although she wished she could find a hole in the ground to hide in, she was shy but at the same time she looked forward to hearing more.

It's a pity that Lai Shangrong was about to make a fool of himself, so he glared at Second Sister You, patted her hand, and hurriedly asked the jade bracelet to help her get dressed.

Put on your clothes and run away quickly.

In the Yamen duty room, Yuan Chengtao, who had just returned from disaster relief, knocked on the door and came in.

"grown ups!"

Lai Shangrong smiled and said: "I have already handed over the request for credit!" Yuan Chengtao bowed and said: "Thank you, sir!"

"Why didn't Mr. Qin come back?"

"This... I don't know about this, I heard that there is a decree for Mr. Qin to stay for a while."

It is said that the affairs of the cement factory are over now, and Yuan Chengtao has also received the transfer order and returned, but Qin Ye still stays in Kaifeng.

Could it be that the emperor was afraid that he would come back and hinder him?
Should not be!

It's not like the emperor didn't know about Qin Ye's relationship with him.

Lai Shangrong couldn't figure out this arrangement, and there were also people who couldn't figure it out.

In the imperial study, Emperor Zhenglong, who had just returned from the morning court, sat on the dragon chair and looked at the memorial.

King Zhongshun below said suspiciously: "Your Majesty! Didn't Mei Gong investigate all the corruption cases in the Camp and Maintenance Department? Why haven't Qin Ye been brought back to face charges?"

Emperor Zhenglong waved his hand and said: "If you kill the snake, you will be harmed by it! I was too hasty before, but now it seems that it was a mistake to make things difficult for me. Now that I have brought him back to question him, I am afraid that my father will be suspicious of me." Purpose!"

"So that's all for it?"

"Hmph!" Emperor Zhenglong sneered: "Forget it? I'm just waiting for an opportunity!"

King Zhongshun raised his finger and said, "The emperor is talking about the south? But if they win the battle, wouldn't they be more powerful?"

"Qiu Duo! Tell me!"

Qiu Duo immediately saluted and said, "Yes, Your Majesty! Based on the intelligence analysis given by Commander Qi, Qianxiang Kingdom deliberately concealed the situation of the war in order to allow the imperial court to send troops for rescue. The army rushed to rescue in a hurry, and the victory rate is probably less than [-]%!"

After a pause, he continued: "I think what the prince said is reasonable. Now that the hunt is about to be carried out in Tienwang Mountain, the Emperor has not arranged for the Yulin Guards to accompany him this time. How can the Emperor's safety be ensured? It is better to take the opportunity to expose the case and Let me give the Supreme Emperor a warning, and secondly, the Emperor can take this opportunity to cancel the trip to Tienwang Mountain!"

Emperor Zhenglong said with a gloomy face: "The Jinwu Guards and Longjing Guards who are accompanying me this time are all close associates of my father, and Feng Tang of Zuo Xiaowei is not a direct descendant there. Besides, if my father wants to depose me, there is no need to do this. Go to war!"

King Zhongshun thought for a moment and said, "My brother has a plan. If it is implemented properly..."

"Oh? Tell me!" Emperor Zhenglong became interested.

"We don't have any of our guards this time. If we can make some noise during the hunt, even if we can't cure their guard's disadvantages, the emperor can take the opportunity to come back early. If they have any serious thoughts, he can also attack them. Disrupt their plans!"

After thinking for a while, he added: "Of course, for safety reasons, the Emperor can arrange the Shenji Battalion to be on standby nearby and set a response signal!"

Emperor Zhenglong muttered: "If our father discovers that we are causing trouble, I'm afraid it will be counterproductive!"

Qiu Duo hesitated for a moment and said: "Your Majesty! The second son of Wei Chen has a quarrel with Feng Tang's son. At that time, Commander Qi can send people to follow Xiao'er and take the opportunity to attack the Feng family's son. Even if he is found out, he can evade that it is Xiao'er who is looking for him. It’s a personal vendetta, and the matter is well-documented.”

Emperor Zhenglong looked at Qiu Duo and said, "It's just that once this matter is discovered, your second son may not be able to survive!"

Qiu Duo hurriedly knelt down and said: "It is his blessing to be loyal to the emperor, I ask the emperor for permission!"

King Zhongshun also knelt down and said: "Your Majesty! Captain Qiu is so loyal and commendable, why are you hesitating!"

"That's all! Just do what Aiqing said! It's just that Aiqing is so loyal, but I can't chill the hearts of loyal ministers. If you are really discovered, I have to save your son's life!"

"Sir! Thank you, Lord Ron!"

(End of this chapter)