Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

The prince continued, "So in addition to the motivation of ideals and money, we also need to tell employees that the outside world is very dangerous. You won't find a better job if you leave this door. If you can't do well here, you won't be able to do well anywhere else! Working in such a good factory as mine is the greatest luck in your life."

Lin Xiaofeng's face completely darkened. He stared at the prince with wide eyes. He didn't expect that the prince had mastered this psychological manipulation technique without any instruction. He began to doubt the prince's true intentions.

However, Lin Xiaofeng felt relieved after thinking about it. As a royal child, the prince naturally has an innate talent for management. It is understandable that he thinks this way.

At this time, the prince raised his voice and continued: "But this is only a temporary solution. If the factory learns the essence of this theory and uses it to increase the intensity of exploitation, the problem will become more serious."

"However, the factory is above the workers, and the court is above the factory. Therefore, our court should also use this method to manage the factory to achieve a state of checks and balances!"

Hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng's eyes lit up and he perked up again, waiting for the prince to speak out. Emperor Jingjiang also unconsciously showed a smile of approval on his face. The people he had managed for his entire life were now full of praise for the prince's management level.

"So what exactly do you plan to do?" Emperor Jingjiang asked curiously.

The prince confidently replied, "I have already thought about this. I think the court should regularly convene all factory owners who have reached a certain scale to discuss problems, summarize experiences and reward those with outstanding performance."

He explained the benefits of doing so in detail: "This will promote cooperation among factories, reduce contact costs and make full use of potential cooperation opportunities. At the same time, we can publicly conduct moral and legal trials and impose fines on factories that exploit workers. In extreme cases, we can even revoke their qualifications to operate a factory."

"In addition, we will also reward those factory owners who have excellent production and improved workers' income. For those factory owners who have proposed excellent management methods and have widely popularized them, we will vigorously reward and publicize them."

After the prince finished speaking, he laughed at himself: "I'm not afraid that my father will laugh at me because I was ambitious to explore a new, universal management method to solve the problem of black factories at one time. But in the end, I found that the world is complicated and changeable, and there is no overnight solution. Everything requires a lot of time and practice to explore."

He took a deep breath and continued, "I can't make the people happy directly. The only thing I can do is to keep them away from some pain first..."

The prince's words revealed deep helplessness and firm determination. He knew that the road to reform was full of difficulties, but he was still willing to work hard for the welfare of the people. This spirit made Lin Xiaofeng deeply admire and look forward to future reforms.

Emperor Jingjiang sat on the dragon throne, feeling a strong sense of happiness. The prince in front of him was no longer the young man who needed support in his impression, but had grown into a young man with a profound vision.

The prince has shown such rapid growth with a restaurant business that he originally looked down upon. He knows how to look at things from the essence and has a deep understanding and sympathy for the people. All of these are the basic qualities of a benevolent monarch, and he is now a fully qualified crown prince.

Emperor Jingjiang subconsciously glanced at Lin Xiaofeng standing beside him, and asked with a smile: "Xiaofeng, what do you think of what the prince said?"

Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly and replied, "I think the experience gained by Your Highness the Crown Prince is enough to benefit future generations, especially the court's method of holding regular meetings of factory owners is ingenious." His words were full of admiration and respect.

The prince went on to say, "However, I think we should add one more clause. If this law is really implemented in the future, the court should also recognize a concept, that is, employers and employees share honor and disgrace, and workers are both producers and consumers." There was a gleam of wisdom in his eyes, as if he had already seen a prosperous country.

After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang clapped his hands and praised, "Good! Yes, this is a wise decision for the country. I am lucky to have such a virtuous son-in-law." His face was filled with satisfaction and pride.

Although the prince is smart, Lin Xiaofeng's contribution cannot be ignored. Emperor Jingjiang knows that Lin Xiaofeng has made an indelible contribution to the prince's achievements today. He has been doing his best to assist the prince and has made great efforts for the future of the country.

Lin Xiaofeng pursed his lips and said shyly: "I am where I am today thanks to my father's advice. No matter how good this horse is, it still needs a good horse trainer to recognize it." His words were full of gratitude and respect.

Listening to the two people singing the same tune, Li Dexian stood aside stupidly, his expression somewhat frozen. He thought to himself: What's going on? Am I an outsider?
He coughed lightly, attracting the attention of Emperor Jingjiang and Lin Xiaofeng, "Father, don't you want to know how much money my son's restaurant can make in a year?" A strange smile appeared on Li Dexian's face.

Emperor Jingjiang's attention was immediately diverted, and he asked with great interest, "How much money can you make in a year?" His eyes flashed with curiosity and anticipation.

Li Dexian sneered: "Not much, not much. It fluctuates around one hundred and twenty taels a day now. We will launch new products and add new staff in the future. I estimate that we should be able to make forty to fifty thousand taels in this year." His tone was full of confidence.

"Gross profit... I think twenty thousand taels a year is no problem!" Li Dexian's words made Emperor Jingjiang and Lin Xiaofeng gasp at the same time.

Emperor Jingjiang was shocked by this amazing profit. If he opened ten stores, wouldn't the annual gross profit be at least 200,000 taels? Such profitability was simply jaw-dropping.

Lin Xiaofeng was even more shocked. He had seen the report sent by Li Dexian before, but there was no such exaggerated figures on it. He immediately asked: "Your Highness, the restaurant is not so profitable! How did you keep the cost down? The report you gave me before... is it inaccurate?"

Li Dexian nodded and smiled mysteriously: "It is indeed a little inaccurate. What you said was all summarized before. Now I have found a new plan to reduce costs." His tone was full of complacency and pride.

After saying that, he turned to look at Emperor Jingjiang: "Didn't Your Majesty eat a hamburger before? Did you feel that the chicken was tender and juicy?" A questioning look appeared on his face.

Emperor Jingjiang nodded: "It is indeed fresh and juicy, but what does this have to do with cost?" He asked with some confusion.

"It's water. I injected water into the chicken." Li Dexian's tone was flat and calm, as if he was talking about something very ordinary.

Lin Xiaofeng cursed in his heart: Damn it! What a profiteer! He just acted considerate and caring for the people, but he is secretly selling water-injected meat! ? This prince is too dishonest!

However, Li Dexian continued shamelessly, "Injecting water and coating the chicken with flour before frying it can save a lot of cost, and it tastes good. People who have eaten it all praise it for being so greasy!" A smug smile appeared on his face, as if he was happy that he had found a clever way to save costs.

"In addition to water injection, there are also waste materials that are sold every day. The cost of the chicken offal, chicken feathers, and chicken bones is not small." Li Dexian continued to talk endlessly, "The best thing is the waste oil. I sell it for 20% more than new oil! The oil used to fry chicken is so fragrant that people rush to buy it!" His tone was full of pride and pride. It was as if he had seen a future full of money.

Lin Xiaofeng was completely silent after hearing what Li Dexian said, and he didn't know what to say. He had given the prince some bad ideas before, but they were rejected by the prince. Now it seems that the prince not only did something immoral, but also thought he did it very well! This has reached a very high level!
However, Emperor Jingjiang obviously did not think this was immoral, instead his eyes were full of admiration. He secretly made a plan for his son, thinking that if the prince did not have enough money, he could allocate some money from the treasury to support the prince's restaurant business. This is much more stable than the pleasure of getting rich from stocks! Steady flow is the kingly way!

"In that case, opening a branch store is a good idea. If you don't have enough money, I will give you some money from the treasury." Emperor Jingjiang said generously. However, Li Dexian shook his head: "No need! I have money!" His words were full of confidence and determination. It was as if he had seen a brilliant future beckoning to him.

Seeing that his proposal was agreed upon, Li Dexian continued excitedly: "I haven't finished yet! If you only focus on how to make profits by selling wine and food, then you are looking too shallow. My restaurant has been envied by many colleagues in Beijing! They want to imitate my business model and thus reduce my profits." A look of vigilance and deep thought appeared on his face.

"Then the best way is to turn enemies into friends! Ordinary people who want to learn my method need to spend a lot of time training people, organizing cooperation, and making secret sauces, etc." Li Dexian's tone was full of confidence and heroism. "Some people are coveting my business right now. They become jealous every day I make money. Why don't I bring these people together and sign a contract. They can open the same restaurant as me and use the same brand." A sly and complacent smile appeared on his face. "And they only need to pay a brand fee, staff training fees... and finally give me a share of the profits from the sales, and then they can get the most popular brand in Kyoto!"

Li Dexian became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had already seen the prototype of a business empire, "This way, my restaurant can quickly occupy all markets and squeeze out competitors in advance! And I can receive a lot of profits from partners. I have been thinking about this method for a while, and I should give this business method a name..." He began to ponder, "I think it’s better to call it chain franchise." Lin Xiaofeng added in a muffled voice, his heart filled with helplessness, "What are you doing, Prince! You've made it so that I, a time traveler, have no sense of accomplishment at all! The loss of one patent can only be compensated by the naming rights of another patent..." A bitter smile and helplessness appeared on his face.

"Yes! Chain franchise is a brilliant name, worthy of you, Old Lin!" Li Dexian's eyes lit up and he clapped his hands and shouted, "Father, what do you think of this idea of ​​yours?" He looked at Emperor Jingjiang expectantly.

Emperor Jingjiang smiled and nodded, praisingly: "Very good, very good! This is a wonderful idea that will make your restaurant invincible in the future." His face was filled with satisfaction and pride, "I thought you could only make a little money, but I didn't expect it to be so fruitful. From today on, I will no longer interfere with the restaurant business. You should run it well and develop it as you wish in the future. But you can't stay outside the palace for too long on weekdays, and you can't do everything by yourself. You must learn to select virtuous people and appoint capable people." His words were full of trust and expectations for the prince.

Li Dexian was overjoyed when he heard this: "Your son obeys your order!" A firm and confident look appeared on his face, as if he had seen a brighter future beckoning to him.

In the bustling and vibrant city of Ferrero, Qi Ruisi was invited to the mansion of Dogtail Grass. The mansion is located in a lush garden, which is in sharp contrast to the surrounding bustling streets, like an oasis in the city.

Qi Ruisi was wearing a luxurious robe, his face was deep, and his eyes were shining with the shrewdness and cunning of a businessman. He walked into the mansion, looked around, and couldn't help showing a look of amazement on his face. The decoration in the mansion was elegant and luxurious, and every detail showed the owner's taste and pursuit.

In the spacious courtyard, Gouweicaoer had been waiting for a long time. He was wearing a light brocade dress and an exquisite hat, and he exuded an uninhibited and free-spirited aura. Seeing Qi Ruisi coming, he greeted him warmly, and the two shook hands tightly.

In the center of the courtyard, a long table was filled with all kinds of exquisite delicacies, including some rare delicacies. The hand-cranked phonograph next to Dogtail Grass was playing soft music, adding a lot of elegance to the banquet.

Qi Ruisi looked around and couldn't help but sigh: "Brother Lai, your mansion is really amazing!"

Dogtail Grass smiled slightly and waved his hand, saying, "Brother Qi, thank you for the compliment. This is just a little hobby of mine."

The two sat opposite each other and began to taste the delicacies on the table. Qi Ruisi praised every dish highly, while Gouweicaoer introduced the unique features of each dish from time to time. During the conversation, the relationship between the two seemed to become closer.

However, this banquet is not just for fun. Gouweicaoer knows that the conflict of interests between the church and Jingjiang is becoming more and more intense, and he needs Qi Ruisi's help to obtain the internal structure diagram of the Temple Mount. As a shrewd businessman, Qi Ruisi naturally wants to seek greater benefits through cooperation with Jingjiang.

While enjoying the food, Gouweicaoer casually brought up the topic. He said casually, "Brother Qi, I'm quite interested in the internal structure of the Temple Mount recently. I wonder if you can help me get a detailed blueprint?"

Qi Ruisi raised his eyebrows, put down the knife and fork in his hand, and said in a deep voice: "Brother Lai, this is not a trivial matter! The Temple Mount is the core of the church, and its internal structure map is not something that can be obtained casually."

Dogtail Grass smiled slightly and said, "Of course I know the difficulty of this task, so I asked Brother Qi for help! With your position and network in the church, I believe you can definitely do it."

Qi Ruisi was silent for a moment, as if he was weighing the pros and cons. Finally, he raised his head and said, "Okay! I'll do my best."

Hearing this answer, Gouweicao'er was secretly delighted, but he did not show it. Instead, he continued to chat and laugh with Qi Ruisi and enjoy the good time at the banquet.

As the night fell and the stars twinkled, Qi Ruisi said goodbye and left. Dogtail Grass stood at the door and watched his back disappear into the night. He knew that this banquet was just the beginning and there would be more challenges waiting for him to face, but he had the confidence and determination to complete every task.

On the other hand, after returning to the mansion, Kiris also fell into deep thought. He sat in the study, lit a candle and began to think about how to obtain the internal structure diagram of the Temple Mount. This task was both a challenge and an opportunity for him. He had to act carefully to avoid getting into trouble.

As time goes by, Gouweicaoer and Qi Ruisi are secretly preparing their own plans. The relationship between them becomes more subtle and complicated. However, who will be the final winner in this game? Only time can give the answer.

In the bustling and vibrant city of Ferrero, Qi Ruisi was invited to the mansion of Dogtail Grass. The mansion is located in a lush garden, which is in sharp contrast to the surrounding bustling streets, like an oasis in the city.

Qi Ruisi was wearing a luxurious robe, his face was deep, and his eyes were shining with the shrewdness and cunning of a businessman. He walked into the mansion, looked around, and couldn't help showing a look of amazement on his face. The decoration in the mansion was elegant and luxurious, and every detail showed the owner's taste and pursuit.

In the spacious courtyard, Gouweicaoer had been waiting for a long time. He was wearing a light brocade dress and an exquisite hat, and he exuded an uninhibited and free-spirited aura. Seeing Qi Ruisi coming, he greeted him warmly, and the two shook hands tightly.

In the center of the courtyard, a long table was filled with all kinds of exquisite delicacies, including some rare delicacies. The hand-cranked phonograph next to Dogtail Grass was playing soft music, adding a lot of elegance to the banquet.

Qi Ruisi looked around and couldn't help but sigh: "Brother Lai, your mansion is really amazing!"

Dogtail Grass smiled slightly and waved his hand, saying, "Brother Qi, thank you for the compliment. This is just a little hobby of mine."

The two sat opposite each other and began to taste the delicacies on the table. Qi Ruisi praised every dish highly, while Gouweicaoer introduced the unique features of each dish from time to time. During the conversation, the relationship between the two seemed to become closer.

However, this banquet is not just for fun. Gouweicaoer knows that the conflict of interests between the church and Jingjiang is becoming more and more intense, and he needs Qi Ruisi's help to obtain the internal structure diagram of the Temple Mount. As a shrewd businessman, Qi Ruisi naturally wants to seek greater benefits through cooperation with Jingjiang.

While enjoying the food, Gouweicaoer casually brought up the topic. He said casually, "Brother Qi, I'm quite interested in the internal structure of the Temple Mount recently. I wonder if you can help me get a detailed blueprint?"

Qi Ruisi raised his eyebrows, put down the knife and fork in his hand, and said in a deep voice: "Brother Lai, this is not a trivial matter! The Temple Mount is the core of the church, and its internal structure map is not something that can be obtained casually."

Dogtail Grass smiled slightly and said, "Of course I know the difficulty of this task, so I asked Brother Qi for help! With your position and network in the church, I believe you can definitely do it."

Qi Ruisi was silent for a moment, as if he was weighing the pros and cons. Finally, he raised his head and said, "Okay! I'll do my best."

Hearing this answer, Gouweicao'er was secretly delighted, but he did not show it. Instead, he continued to chat and laugh with Qi Ruisi and enjoy the good time at the banquet.

As the night fell and the stars twinkled, Qi Ruisi said goodbye and left. Dogtail Grass stood at the door and watched his back disappear into the night. He knew that this banquet was just the beginning and there would be more challenges waiting for him to face, but he had the confidence and determination to complete every task.

On the other hand, after returning to the mansion, Kiris also fell into deep thought. He sat in the study, lit a candle and began to think about how to obtain the internal structure diagram of the Temple Mount. This task was both a challenge and an opportunity for him. He had to act carefully to avoid getting into trouble.

As time goes by, Gouweicaoer and Qi Ruisi are secretly preparing their own plans. The relationship between them becomes more subtle and complicated. However, who will be the final winner in this game? Only time can give the answer.

The night was dark, the moonlight was shining in the quiet courtyard, Qi Ruisi sat in front of the stone table, his eyes were filled with sorrow and deep memories. He picked up the exquisite wine glass and drank it all, as if he wanted to use alcohol to numb the pain deep in his heart.

The dogtail grass beside him, seemingly ordinary but with a cunning aura, quietly took the phonograph to his side. This phonograph, simple and exquisite, seemed to carry countless secrets. The dogtail grass gently refilled Qi Ruisi's glass of wine, with a concerned smile on his face.

"Who says it's not true? It's hard to live an upright life!" Dogtail Grass sighed, as if it had touched the softest spot in Qi Ruisi's heart.

Qi Ruisi raised his glass again, and after drinking half a glass of wine, a self-deprecating smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "Do you know what I wanted to do when I was young?" he asked, with a bit of nostalgia in his tone.

"What do you want to do?" Dogtail Grass asked curiously.

"I wanted to be a poet, a free poet who traveled around the world," Kiris sighed, "but later I found out that this world only allows people to write one kind of poetry... The ideals of young people are as stupid as pigs."

Dogtail Grass nodded gently, as if he understood Qi Ruisi's helplessness. "At least you are powerful now, and your son can be a free poet, which is at least a little bit of compensation." He comforted Qi Ruisi while refilling his wine.

Qi Ruisi sneered, "Powerful and influential? I can only be called rich, not powerful. If my son wants to be a poet, if he makes a wrong step in the future, this little fortune may not be enough to ruin him." His words revealed deep worry.

"So he has to follow in his father's footsteps and go with the flow... But he doesn't have to work as hard as I do." Qi Ruisi sighed, as if he saw his son's future.

Dogtail Grass nodded and sighed in agreement. He slowly turned the phonograph, and the unique music echoed in the night sky. However, when Qi Ruisi saw the phonograph, his eyes flashed, "What is this? It looks weird."

"This... When I'm stressed out or in a bad mood, I like to shake this thing. It's a little toy that relieves stress." Dogtail Grass explained with a mysterious smile on his face.

Qi Ruisi smiled and said, "How can this thing relieve stress? You really have a bit of a quirk." Although he was puzzled, he didn't think about it any more. After all, it was just a wooden box. Apart from being a strange toy, he couldn't see any other explanation.

However, Gouweicaoer changed the subject and said, "Your son cannot escape your fate either. You must be very resentful of the church now." He said in a slightly provocative tone.

Qi Ruisi paused in cutting the steak and looked up at him, "We are eating, can we talk about something happy?" He tried to change the subject, but Dogtail Grass kept pursuing him.

"What? Are you scared? You helped Father Jesus in the Holy City before. Now that you and I are in the same room, what is there that you are afraid to say?" Dogtail Grass's tone was somewhat provocative.

Qi Ruisi put down his knife and fork and said seriously: "I don't hate the church. Why should I hate the church? My family has been the most faithful believers for generations, and I received the education of the church. Do you think I hate the church?" His tone was firm and frank.

"Then why did you curse the church in the first place?" Dogtail Grass asked calmly, as if she was determined to find out Qi Ruisi's true thoughts.

Qi Ruisi grinned and said, "Because I love it! The church is supported by people like me. I scold it because it doesn't do a good job, and I want to make it better." There was a bit of helplessness and expectation in his smile.

"Then why don't you go directly to the church and scold those people to wake them up? Why complain secretly in private like a nagging woman?" Dogtail Grass continued to ask.

Qi Ruisi's heart was ablaze with anger. "I want to rush in and curse too! But have you ever heard of any parents scolding their sons and the sons shouting and killing their parents in return?" His words revealed deep helplessness and anger. "In this world, there are eunuchs everywhere, and impotence is considered a man among men!"

Dogtail Grass raised his right hand and said comfortingly: "Brother Qi Ruisi, although the world is dark now, it will be better in the future. If someone like Father Jesus becomes the Emperor of God, the Church may have a new future."

Qi Ruisi sneered, "Change one person? I tell you, it will be useless even if you change ten or a hundred people!" His tone was full of sarcasm and despair, "I have hundreds of slaves under my command. When I die, if I set them free, what do you think they will do?" he asked back.

Dogtail Grass didn't answer, but just looked at Qi Ruisi quietly. Qi Ruisi continued, "I tell you, their only possibility is to find a new master! If a master treats him badly, he will be eager to change his master to change his life. How ridiculous! They always put their hopes on others."

Gouweicaoer smiled noncommittally, "So that means the Emperor of God is not necessarily a bastard, and the people below are helping him to become a bastard, right?" He tried to find loopholes in Qi Ruisi's words.

"No! The Emperor is a bastard!" Qi Ruisi said firmly. At this moment, Gouweicaoer stopped moving his hands, put the phonograph aside, and the smile on his face became unfathomable.

Kiris didn't notice these details. He picked up his knife and fork again and continued to enjoy his dinner. "Oh, forget it. Let's not talk about it. There's no point in talking about it. This is how we spend our lives. I also rely on the church for my meals." He tried to bring the topic back to a relaxed atmosphere.

However, Gouweicaoer smiled mysteriously, "Brother Qi Ruisi, I'll show you something good." He fiddled with the phonograph. A mixed and blurry recording came out slowly, ".No! The God Emperor is a bastard."

Qi Ruisi stared at the phonograph with an expression as if he had seen a ghost, as if he had been struck by lightning. Those were the words he had just said! Although the voices were blurred and mixed, it was still possible to tell that he had said them. The air in the room was as silent as if it had solidified. The next moment Qi Ruisi suddenly jumped up and pounced on the phonograph, but was kicked to the ground by Gouweicaoer who had been on guard. "Damn it! I got fooled today!" he roared, but it was too late. Gouweicaoer held the phonograph with one hand, stepped back and stood up, while looking at Qi Ruisi vigilantly.

Qi Ruisi panted, stared at Gouweicaoer with bloodshot eyes and shouted angrily: "You fucking tricked me! Is this how you treat your friends?" His voice was full of anger and despair. Gouweicaoer shrugged and said innocently: "Brother Qi Ruisi, I'm doing this for your own good." His smile was a bit cunning and proud, as if everything was under his control. Qi Ruisi looked at him in doubt and tried to figure out his true intentions, but to no avail. "If you think you get too little share of our business, I can take less. We can't joke like this!" He tried to retreat but Gouweicaoer didn't buy it. He knew in his heart that there must be other reasons for Gouweicaoer to do this besides the uneven distribution of the spoils. But he didn't know what the reason was. As the night deepened, the confrontation between the two continued, but the final outcome of this game was still unknown.

In an elegantly decorated study, Qi Ruisi's face was pale, and his eyes were full of anxiety and doubt. He couldn't understand why Gouweicaoer, who had always had a good relationship with him, suddenly took such an attitude towards him. Their cooperation had always been smooth, but now, everything had changed.

Qi Ruisi had always imagined that Gouweicaoer was gentle and intelligent. But now, the man in front of him had a firm and cold look in his eyes, as if he had become a stranger. He couldn't help but ask himself, why?
Dogtail Grass spoke slowly, his voice calm and firm: "Brother Qi Ruisi, you and I both know that some things have changed. The hot sales of Jingjiang's goods in the Western market have attracted the attention of the church. Their greedy nature will sooner or later take action against us."

Qi Ruisi swallowed and tried to stay calm: "I...I don't understand what you are talking about."

Dogtail Grass chuckled and continued, "The church has sent people to find me. They want to get a piece of the pie. And you, Brother Qi Ruisi, you are selling goods in Jingjiang. I'm afraid you have been targeted by the Holy City, right?"

Qi Ruisi was shocked, but he still tried to defend himself: "I...I can use my connections to settle this matter."

"How long can you handle this?" Dogtail Grass asked, "A few months later, when the church comes knocking on our door again, will our business still be able to continue?"

Qi Ruisi was speechless. He knew in his heart that Gouweicaoer was telling the truth. He closed his eyes in pain, his heart filled with helplessness and despair.

Dogtail Grass continued, "The conflict between the church and Jingjiang has been accumulating for a long time, and it will explode one day. And now, the situation has reached a critical juncture. Even Duke Walter Bolson has hinted that I should take the initiative to negotiate with the church."

Qi Ruisi suddenly opened his eyes: "What does what you said have to do with me? I can help you negotiate with the church, and even help you gain more benefits."

Dogtail Grass smiled gently: "You forgot one thing, Brother Qi Ruisi. I am not just a businessman, I have a powerful country behind me."

Qi Ruisi was stunned. He suddenly realized that Gouweicaoer's ambition was far beyond his imagination.

Dogtail Grass continued, "The church wants to take most of the profits, which is unacceptable to us in Jingjiang. The moment they made excessive demands, they have forever lost the qualifications to negotiate with us."

Qi Ruisi was shocked. He never thought that Gouweicaoer would have such great determination and courage.

"We need you to do something now." Dogtail Grass's voice suddenly became stern. "You have been to the temple, and we need you to draw a picture of the interior of the temple. When the war is over, you will become a hero of Jingjiang. You can live an upright life and even get an official position."

The fear in Qi Ruisi's eyes became more and more intense. He finally understood the real intention of Gouweicaoer. They actually wanted to start a war against the church! This was a crazy move he had never thought of.

"You are crazy!" Kiris asked loudly, "How can you possibly defeat the church? You are just dreaming!"

Dogtail Grass laughed loudly: "Brother Qi Ruisi, you will understand when the war starts. There is only one word for us in Jingjiang - win!" His eyes flashed with confidence and arrogance. It seemed that everything was under his control.

Kiris closed his eyes in pain. He knew he had been dragged into this crazy war plan. Now there were only two choices before him: either refuse and face the revenge of the dogtail grass; or give in and draw the blueprint of the temple and become a part of this war.

At this moment, the sky outside the window suddenly darkened. A gust of wind blew through the study window, making a whimpering sound. Qi Ruisi opened his eyes and looked out the window, his heart filled with anxiety and confusion. He didn't know how to choose, nor did he know what consequences this crazy war would eventually bring.

Dogtail Grass also looked out the window, his eyes flashing with determination. It seemed that he was ready to meet all challenges. He knew what this war meant to Jingjiang, and he also knew his responsibilities and mission. No matter what the outcome, he would go on firmly. Because he believed that his country and nation had incomparable resilience and strength. Even in the face of great difficulties and challenges, they would surely achieve the final victory.

Qi Ruisi's right hand holding the gun trembled slightly, and his inner struggle made his knuckles turn white. A trace of determination flashed in his eyes, but he finally put down the gun in his hand, and his shoulders relaxed, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.

He walked forward slowly and gently placed the pistol on the table. The sound of the gun hitting the wooden table echoed in the quiet room. Qi Ruisi's face showed a trace of dejection, and he whispered: "You are right, but I can no longer trust you."

He looked out the window. The sky in the distance was dyed orange by the setting sun, but his eyes were full of confusion and helplessness. "My entire fortune depends on the church. Although I hate the church, I don't want it to collapse or even suffer a serious blow."

Qi Ruisi's voice became lower and lower, as if he was talking to himself, "I have to admit that your weapons in Jingjiang are indeed powerful. With such weapons, you should have a chance to tie with the church. But no matter what, I am definitely finished! You treat me as a tool, and the church holds my lifeline."

Dogtail Grass listened quietly, with no expression on his face. He just said calmly: "Brother Qi Ruisi, if you think we can only tie with the church, then you think too little of Jingjiang. Besides, no matter what, you have made contributions to Jingjiang. I guarantee with my life that the court will never treat you unfairly."

Although his voice was flat, it revealed a kind of firmness and confidence. Qi Ruisi looked at him, with a hint of complex emotions in his eyes. Gouweicaoer continued, "You and I know each other well, and you should know how I treat people. Jingjiang has a powerful weapon but has always been able to remain restrained and low-key, which also shows the attitude of our country. Don't worry too much, I will take you to see something new later."

Qi Ruisi raised his hand and smiled bitterly, "Don't say anything, I'll draw for you. You won't let me go, right? I don't have any other ideas now, I just hope you can let me go after the drawing is finished."

"I need to think about this, you draw it first." The answer of Gouweicaoer made Qi Ruisi feel a little disappointed, but he still nodded, picked up the paper and pen and started to draw. He frowned and outlined the outline of the temple on the paper, and each stroke seemed so heavy. It seemed that he wanted to integrate all his hope and despair into this painting.

When he was halfway through painting, there was a knock on the door. Qi Ruisi's hand trembled slightly, but he did not stop painting. Dogtail Grass walked over to open the door, and saw Duke Walter Polson in a formal dress pushing the door open.

"Lord Lai, I heard that you have something important to discuss with me?" Duke Walter Bolson asked with a smile. His eyes swept around the room and finally fell on Qi Ruisi who was painting.

Dogtail Grass nodded and called the two soldiers at the door to come in. After they closed the door, Duke Walter Polson looked at Qi Ruisi in confusion, "Who is he? Your new guest?"

"Come on, tie up the Duke!" Dogtail Grass suddenly ordered.

The soldiers acted quickly and pinned Duke Walter Bolson to the ground with his hands behind his back, while another soldier quickly pulled out a rope from behind and tied him to the ground. All this happened in a flash, leaving Duke Walter Bolson's mind blank.

He looked at the gun in Gouweicao'er's hand in horror, his face suddenly turned pale, "Are you crazy? Why did you tie me up?"

Dogtail Grass tilted his head and smiled at him, raised his pistol and shot a bullet at his ear. The bullet whizzed past, passing through the wall behind the Duke and leaving a deep hole. This shot made Duke Walter Bolson look at the gun in Dogtail Grass's hand with his soul shattered, and his pupils shrank sharply.

"Duke, I asked you to come here today because I really have something important to discuss." Dogtail Grass's voice was cold and evil, "But you have to listen quietly first."

He paused and continued, "The business conflicts between the church and Jingjiang are deep. We have discussed this in advance, right? Our current business model is unsustainable. And there are many rumors in the market about Father Jesus' independent development in Ferrero. You should know the attitude of the church on this matter much better than I do. I am looking for you just to discuss one thing: Jingjiang needs to station troops in Ferrero in advance to face possible conflicts with the church in the future, and even the possibility of active attack. What do you think?"

Duke Walter Bolson's eyes turned red. He was about to open his mouth to scold but was interrupted calmly by Kiris beside him, "He must want to say that you are crazy! Your country is crazy! Who gave you the courage to attack the church? How many troops and supplies do you have?"

The words that were about to come out of Duke Walter Bolson's throat were immediately choked back. He roared, "I tell you this is a foolish dream! You may not have any opponents in the East, but this is the Church!"

Dogtail Grass and Qi Ruisi looked at each other, and both saw a hint of smile in each other's eyes. Qi Ruisi shrugged and sighed, "I'm sorry that my expression might have been too ferocious before."

"It's okay, I understand." After saying that, Gouweicaoer immediately looked at Duke Walter Bolson, "The Duke invited you here today to watch a big show. I'm sure your thoughts will change after you finish watching the show. Right now, Brother Qi Ruisi is helping me draw the interior of the temple. Please wait a moment. When he finishes, we will go out to watch the show."

The interior of the temple? What are they going to do? Duke Walter Polson gritted his teeth and kept silent with his head down. He racked his brains to think of a countermeasure, but the situation before him made him feel powerless.

At this time, Qi Ruisi had finished drawing the blueprint. He picked it up, shook it, and showed it to Gouweicaoer, saying, "Brother Lai, I have finished drawing it. I have marked everything that needs to be marked. You can ask me if you have any questions."

Dogtail Grass said, "Take the blueprint first. I can't tell whether it's right or wrong. Maybe you remembered it wrongly and need to revise it later. Now please follow me to the port to take a look."

After saying that, he signaled his soldiers to untie Duke Walter Polson, but the gun in his hand was pointed at his body, "Duke, you can move freely, but you'd better stay with me."

Duke Walter Bolson stared at the pistol with a fierce look, that thing must be a deadly weapon, he couldn't run away. So the three of them went to the port under the escort of the soldiers.

At this time, the port was completely controlled by the people of Jingjiang. Some fishermen and ordinary crew members were replaced by the Razor Society's men and soldiers disguised as Jingjiang merchant crew members. As soon as Gouweicaoer and his companions arrived at the port, they attracted the attention of the people of Jingjiang. He waved his hand to let one person come over and whispered to him, and then asked him to quickly go to the "merchant ship" on the shore.

The Duke and Qi Ruisi looked at the scene in front of them quietly, each with their own thoughts. Dogtail Grass's voice suddenly rang out, "Duke, I'm ashamed to say that I haven't told you something for such a long time. Look at my Jingjiang fleet. Everyone in the fleet is actually a sailor. There is no pure merchant at all. And those ships you see are not simple escort ships but Jingjiang's real main battleships. Today, I will let you see what level Jingjiang's main battleships are."

After that, he pointed to a huge warship on the sea. The warship had a solid hull and was fully equipped with artillery. It looked mighty and domineering. Duke Walter Polson and Qi Ruisi were shocked by the scene before them. They had never seen such a powerful warship.

Gouweicaoer continued, "This warship is part of our Jingjiang fleet. If we decide to take action against the church, what do you think are the chances of the church winning?"

Duke Walter Bolson's face turned pale, and he gritted his teeth, "If you do this, it will cause a war!"

"A big war?" Dogtail Grass chuckled, "Duke, you are wrong. We are not seeking war, but peace. But peace needs strength to guarantee it, and Jingjiang has such strength."

He paused and continued, "Duke, you are a smart man and you should know what is the best option. I hope you can cooperate with us and contribute to future peace."

Duke Walter Polson was silent for a moment, and finally nodded, "I understand, I will consider your suggestions."

Dogtail Grass showed a satisfied smile and patted the Duke on the shoulder. "Very good, I believe you will make the right choice."

Then he turned to Qi Ruisi and said, "Brother Qi Ruisi, your paintings are very valuable. After our plan is implemented, I will let you go back, but before that, you need to do us another favor."

Qi Ruisi frowned, "What help?"

"We need you to help us contact people inside the church and get more information about the church." Dogtail Grass's voice was low and powerful. "Are you willing to do us this favor?"

Qi Ruisi was silent for a moment, and finally nodded, "Okay, I do."

So the three reached a consensus at the port, and a contest about power, faith and peace was about to begin. The outcome of this contest would determine the future of the entire Europe.

Duke Walter Polson cursed in his heart, these damn Orientals, they hid so deeply! On weekdays, they behaved like gentlemen, but they had such a powerful warship behind them.

He looked towards the port. In his eyes, the merchant ships from Jingjiang were no longer simple merchant ships. He had seen countless ships, big and small, of all kinds, but the ships from Jingjiang seemed to have no special features except that they were slightly larger and had a few strange holes on their hulls. However, now, those holes had become the most terrifying existence. The shells they fired were as powerful as thunderbolts!

Duke Walter Bolson was filled with resentment and anger, and his eyes were fixed on the warships in the distance. As the flags waved, the three main warships slowly left the port, lined up in a row, and stayed on the sea in the distance. He sneered and said disdainfully: "What do you want me to see? What's the meaning of this arrangement?"

Dogtail Grass gave him a deep look, with a meaningful smile on his face: "Don't worry, you'll understand soon." He looked at his pocket watch, then straightened his chest and said expectantly: "Don't blink, you two!"

Qi Ruisi and the Duke simultaneously locked their eyes on the warships. After a few breaths, a fire suddenly flashed on the warships in the distance. They narrowed their eyes and prepared to observe carefully. Then, a dense roar accompanied by the vibration of the air came into their ears, like thunder rolling in from the sky.

More than a dozen water columns shot up into the sky a little further away from the port, and heavy rain fell on the sea. Before the rain stopped, another roar followed, as if the whole universe had been silenced by this intensive bombardment. This was Jingjiang's top warship and the most powerful weapon of the time, and it showed its ferocious face in front of the world for the first time.

The waves on the sea surface hit the harbor shore fiercely. A large number of uninformed people fled in fear, wailing and hiding in the dark corners. The contempt in the heart of Duke Walter Polson disappeared in an instant. He stared at the warship in the distance absent-mindedly. The sea breeze rolled up the water splashed by the artillery and hit his face. The cold feeling kept telling him that all this was real and not an illusion.

Qi Ruisi was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, and even felt a little wet in his crotch. He was just a businessman. Although he was brave and experienced, he had rarely seen a scene of real swords and guns. Now he suddenly saw such a powerful display of firepower, as if the Holy Father had sent down a peerless killing weapon from heaven, which made him feel terrified.

When Qi Ruisi and the Duke came to their senses, they turned to Gouweicao'er at the same time. Gouweicao'er also looked at this scene with emotion. After so many years at sea, it was the first time he saw all the artillery fire at the same time. It was indeed spectacular, but the consumption of artillery shells was too great. However, as long as it could shock the Duke and the other two and make them maintain perfect cooperation afterwards, it would be worth it.

"You guys take my two guests back first." Dogtail Grass said to the soldiers, "Take good care of them and don't neglect them." He looked at Kiris and the Duke again, "I still need to adjust the warship. Please wait for me. We still have something to discuss."

In the station room, Qi Ruisi and the Duke sat side by side and both fell silent. As hostages, they didn't have nothing to say, but they didn't want to talk. The shock brought by the scene just now was too strong and they still haven't digested it.

After a long silence, Qi Ruisi broke the silence: "Duke... Brother Lai locked you up, which means you are the real boss of Ferrero, right?"

Duke Walter Polson nodded silently in agreement. He took a deep breath and asked, "Are you ready to cooperate with him and Jingjiang?"

"How dare you! I am the most faithful believer of the church. How could I betray the church?" The Duke shouted with wide eyes. However, his tone seemed a little weak. "You, a damned thing, can draw the interior of the temple. It means you have connections in the upper echelons. How dare you betray the church! I will expose you, a shameful apostate!"

Qi Ruisi shook his head: "I didn't betray my religion, so how do you know whether the picture I drew is true or false? I was just trying to curry favor with him and then looking for a chance to get away. I, Qi Ruisi, have been traveling all over the country for so many years. I have seen all kinds of people and situations...why would I be afraid of his threats?" He smiled bitterly and continued: "Duke, in your opinion, which one is more powerful, the warships of Jingjiang or the warships of Luoxi Luoguo?"

Duke Walter Polson's eyes twitched and he replied with gritted teeth: "Have you never been on a boat? Asking me such a stupid question!" He turned his head away angrily and no longer looked at Kiris.

However, Qi Ruisi said to himself: "This is not a power that humans can control! Damn it... It's really true that even the actions of the God Emperor can't bring down heaven's punishment?" He cursed angrily, then stood up and walked towards the desk.

"You dare to scold the Emperor! What are you doing?" Duke Walter Bolson looked at Qi Ruisi in shock. Qi Ruisi slammed the table in frustration and said, "I made a mistake in the drawing, so I'll change it! What's wrong with me scolding that old bastard Emperor?" He sat down angrily and continued to modify the drawing.

Duke Walter Polson covered his face in pain, his heart filled with helplessness and confusion. Oriental people... Jingjiang, he could no longer see through them. He had always thought that the other party was just an ordinary powerful country, but he didn't know that they would play such a trick now...
He was faced with a dilemma: if he agreed to the Jingjiang people, he would be apostasy; if he didn't agree, even if Gouweicaoer released him, he would not be able to stop the Jingjiang fleet. Ferrero would be the first country to face Jingjiang's revenge. How should he choose?
At this time, Gouweicaoer pushed the door open and looked at the two of them with a smile: "Are you satisfied with the good show I showed you?" He walked slowly in front of the two and continued: "The church likes to talk about the word truth the most. With the truth, it can judge anyone. Now do you think the church's truth is more powerful or my Jingjiang's cannon is more powerful?"

Qi Ruisi and the Duke's faces twitched at the same time and they spoke at the same time: "The structural drawing of the temple is finished. There was a small mistake just now, but I have corrected it.", "Just tell me what I should do..." There was helplessness and compromise in their voices.

A lively discussion also broke out in the court. "I would like to ask you a question. If the truth is only within the range of cannons, then when the citizens of a weak country are burned, killed, robbed, raped, and plundered, are they qualified to complain and talk about revenge? Logically, they should not. After all, the 'truth' is in the hands of the perpetrators." Lin Xiaofeng spoke with his hands behind his back. His eyes swept across the faces of each minister. "I don't think anyone will agree with me because we are not beasts. Otherwise, where is justice, morality, and justice?" He paused and continued, "It is certainly gratifying to deter Ferrero from stationing troops in its country, but don't be blinded by temporary victory. Violence is always useful, but it can't last long, so I suggest that everyone should discuss calmly." His words were like a basin of cold water poured on everyone's heads, making everyone sober up and start to calmly think about the future path.

Lin Xiaofeng's voice echoed in the hall, but was immediately interrupted by a sneer. The voice came from a general in the crowd, who had a look of disdain on his face, as if he had heard something funny.

"Lord Lin, aren't you being too cautious? Ferrero is just a tiny country. I have millions of soldiers in Jingjiang. As long as we show our strength, they will retreat without a fight." The general's voice was loud and full of confidence, but also revealed a kind of contempt for Lin Xiaofeng.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at him calmly, then looked around and found that many people present showed an expression of approval. They were all confused by Jingjiang's strength and thought that force could solve everything. However, Lin Xiaofeng knew deeply how naive and ridiculous this idea was.

He sighed in his heart. People in this era have become so blinded by the superstition of force that they only see the power of force but ignore its limitations.

"The bigger the fist, the more powerful it is. Strength is the foundation of everything." Lin Xiaofeng spoke slowly, repeating the general's words, "But this is just correct nonsense. We can't use nonsense to guide our future actions."

His words stunned everyone present. They had never heard such sharp remarks, and they had never thought that the principles they had always believed in would be called "nonsense" by Lin Xiaofeng.

Lin Xiaofeng continued: "We can win every battle by relying on force, but this is far from enough to win a strategic victory."

His words revealed a deep worry. He knew that it was difficult for people of this era to understand his ideas. However, he still wanted to speak because he knew that only in this way could he lead the country to a better future.

At this time, the atmosphere in the hall became a little solemn. Lin Xiaofeng's words, like a stream of fresh air, impacted the hearts of everyone present. They began to reflect, began to think, and began to re-examine their beliefs and principles.

Lin Xiaofeng continued, "Now, the fighting spirit in our court is strong, which is a good thing. However, the more this happens, the more we must exercise restraint. Violence is the simplest and most efficient means, but it is also the least clever means."

His words, like a key, opened the hearts of everyone present. They began to understand that force is not omnipotent, and true wisdom lies not in how to use force, but in how to use wisdom and strategy.

Lin Xiaofeng took a deep breath and continued, "On the other hand, I also have to consider Jingjiang itself. Although the current thermal weapons are powerful, they also bring hidden dangers. We can't ignore the future crisis because of the temporary strength."

His words made everyone present fall into deep thought. They began to realize that Lin Xiaofeng's worries were not groundless, but had profound truths.

At this time, the hall was so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard. Everyone was listening carefully to Lin Xiaofeng's words and thinking about his meaning. They began to understand that Lin Xiaofeng was not exaggerating, but was considering the future of Jingjiang.

As Lin Xiaofeng told the story, everyone's state of mind changed. They began to re-examine their beliefs and principles, and began to think about how to use wisdom and strategy to lead the country to a better future.

Finally, Lin Xiaofeng concluded: "So I suggest that the court write a letter to Ferrero, and the two countries become friendly countries to show our equality and respect. At the same time, we must also show our sincerity and determination with practical actions. This is the best policy."

After Lin Xiaofeng finished speaking, warm applause broke out in the hall. They applauded Lin Xiaofeng's wisdom and foresight, and also applauded the future of Jingjiang. They knew that under Lin Xiaofeng's leadership, Jingjiang would move towards a better future.

"I second the motion!" As soon as Lin Xiaofeng finished speaking, a wave of support immediately rose in the court. Lin Xiaofeng looked sideways and saw that the first to stand up in support were the academicians, including Cai Yingyang. Seeing this scene, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but feel secretly happy.

These academic officers always jumped out to oppose when he proposed any new ideas or plans in the past. But in recent years, they seem to have been polished by reality and most of them chose to compromise when faced with interests. After all, no matter how important face is, it is not as important as real interests. Anyone who misses the game organized by Lin Xiaofeng will really lose out.

Cai Yingyang stood up solemnly and said, "Your Majesty, I think what the Marquis of Jianye said is absolutely right. With a sharp weapon in hand, we must act with caution. Ferrero has always been friendly with our country. As the first country leading to the West from Jingjiang, our relationship with them is extremely important."

"Normally, we get along well with Ferrero and have never had any conflicts. Now, they are taking such actions under pressure from the church. If we force them further, it would be bullying the weak, and we would not be able to stand on moral grounds." As soon as Cai Yingyang finished speaking, someone echoed, "Master Cai is right. From any perspective, there is no need for us to continue to put pressure on Ferrero. The purpose of the garrison has been achieved, and continuing to put pressure on them will only cause more trouble."

Of course, some people hold opposing views, saying, "To deal with the barbarians, we need to take tougher measures..."

Emperor Jingjiang listened quietly to the opinions of the ministers. After everyone finished speaking, he turned to look at Bai Yongyuan and asked, "Lord Bai, what do you think of Lin Xiaofeng's proposal?"

Bai Yongyuan nodded slowly. "This is a well-thought-out suggestion on state governance. The principle of self-discipline and restoration of propriety also applies to exchanges between countries. I agree with the proposal of Marquis Jianye."

Hearing Bai Yongyuan's support, Lin Xiaofeng was very happy. Thinking back to when he first came to this world, he was rejected by almost everyone, and some even called for him to be killed. Now, the harmonious atmosphere in the court made him feel very relieved.

Emperor Jingjiang slapped the imperial desk and made a decisive decision: "Okay, then this topic ends here. Regarding this matter, the six ministries are not allowed to report to the outside world for the time being. If anyone has other suggestions or opinions, please come up with a detailed plan. I will make the final decision tomorrow."

After the court meeting, Lin Xiaofeng hurried out of the Meridian Gate. He was confident of the court's support, and judging from the attitude of Emperor Jingjiang, he would most likely adopt his suggestions. Now, he needed to return to the public house and write a detailed plan as soon as possible.

On the way back to the public housing, Lin Xiaofeng's heart was full of expectations. In the past few months, he has not been idle, and he has a lot of things to do. The prince is busy with his chain store business, and he also began to conduct in-depth research in the factory. Now, the problem of illegal factories has almost been completely solved.

Recalling the experience of going to the chicken farm with the prince that day, the prince gave him a wake-up call - to use fear to manage those unscrupulous factory owners. After returning, he immediately organized the newspaper to start a new round of special reports on factories. In recent months, many major murders have occurred in the suburbs of Kyoto, including bizarre incidents such as unscrupulous factory owners being hacked to death or struck by lightning. Although these reports are somewhat exaggerated, the effect is surprisingly good. Unscrupulous factory owners have begun to treat workers well and dare not delay wages or over-exploit them.

Lin Xiaofeng walked and thought about his next plan. He planned to continue the habit of broadcasting the news cycle to warn those unscrupulous businessmen. At the same time, he also began to prepare for Yangqu County's new project - a skyscraper. He privately discussed this idea with Emperor Jingjiang and received strong support from the emperor. Now that the project has broken ground for a month, he plans to personally check the quality of the steel and concrete to ensure that the project can be completed according to the highest standards.

Just as he was immersed in his thoughts, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind him: "Marquis Jianye!" Lin Xiaofeng turned around and saw that it was Shu Wenxu who had caught up with him. He asked with a little surprise: "Master Shu, aren't we on the same path? Is there anything?" Shu Wenxu replied with a smile: "Nothing, nothing! I heard that you are going to have a birthday in two days?"

Birthday? Lin Xiaofeng was stunned. He usually kept a low profile on his birthday, just celebrating with his family, and never invited anyone in particular. "That's right," he replied, "Master Shu, how did you know about my birthday?" Shu Wenxu smiled and said, "I heard it from Yang Baixi. He is now the doctor of the Ministry of Revenue recommended by you, you should not have forgotten it, right?" Lin Xiaofeng nodded thoughtfully.

Shu Wenxu continued, "My Lord, you never celebrated your birthday before, but now that you have a different status, you should make everyone happy together. So, I will arrange some people to celebrate for you together." Lin Xiaofeng scratched his head and asked doubtfully, "My Lord, what are you planning? I am a little confused by your sudden kindness to me." Shu Wenxu looked around and whispered, "Oh, it's mainly for you. However, I do have something I want to ask you by the way. You know much more about stocks than I do. What do you think of the court's attitude towards Ferrero and the overseas situation? Do you think Xihai Commerce's stocks are worth buying?"

Hearing this question, Lin Xiaofeng was immediately amused. It turned out that Shu Wenxu had said so much in a roundabout way, and in the end it was all about stocks! "You are right to ask this!" He said confidently, "I bet that the suggestion I made today will definitely be adopted by His Majesty. By then, the stocks of Xihai Commerce will definitely rise sharply! You can just buy them with your eyes closed!" Shu Wenxu was overjoyed, "Okay! My Lord, you are such a straightforward person!" He paused and said, "But my Lord, your birthday really can't be celebrated lightly. Who would celebrate a birthday behind closed doors? When the time comes, I will definitely come to celebrate for you and give you a generous gift." Lin Xiaofeng waved his hand and said, "My Lord, there is no need to be so polite..." But Shu Wenxu had already walked away excitedly, "Let's just say it's settled! See you later!"

Looking at Shu Wenxu's receding back, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but shake his head. This old fox finally came to him for the stock matter! However, he also understood Shu Wenxu's idea. After all, in this era, stocks are still a new thing for many people. As a time traveler, Lin Xiaofeng has a vision and knowledge that is more advanced than this era. Therefore, he also hopes to use his advantages to help people of this era better understand and grasp this emerging market.

He looked up at the sky, which was sunny and cloudless. This is a good sign! He thought to himself. Then he turned around and continued to walk towards the public housing, ready to start writing his plan. In the days to come, he still had a lot of things to do!
After the two parted, Lin Xiaofeng didn't take it to heart. His life was still normal, peaceful and carefree. However, Shu Wenxu seemed to be serious. He privately told many people that he wanted to celebrate Lin Xiaofeng's birthday.

The early autumn morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, but Lin Xiaofeng had already put on his court dress and was ready to go to the palace to attend the morning court. Walking along the ancient corridor of the Forbidden City, he couldn't help but feel a different feeling in his heart. That day, after he handed in the memorial, Emperor Jingjiang specifically asked, "Lord Lin, I heard that it's your birthday today?"

Lin Xiaofeng was slightly stunned, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty is really thoughtful, it is true."

After the court session, officials gathered around him, congratulating him sincerely or falsely. Faced with such a scene, Lin Xiaofeng could only respond with a smile, but secretly decided in his heart that since everyone was so enthusiastic, he would hold a grand banquet.

Therefore, the princess's mansion began to get busy, preparing for this unexpected banquet. Although Lin Xiaofeng did not send out invitations, the news spread quickly, and people came to congratulate him one after another.

On the day of the birthday banquet, the princess's mansion was decorated with lights and was bustling with activity. The doorman was outside reading out the gift list loudly, his voice loud and clear.

"Mr. Shi Mingzhong, the Minister of Rites, presented me with a coral pen holder."

"Master Yu Xiu, a student at the Academy of Scholars, presented me with a painting of auspicious clouds and cranes."

As the gifts arrived, Lin Xiaofeng kept smiling, but he couldn't help but wonder in his heart, what kind of rubbish are these people giving him! Diamonds, watches, these are things he doesn't need at all. However, when he saw the gift from Yang Baixi, his heart was moved. Although it was just an ordinary watch, it was a token of Yang Baixi's love.

At this time, Li Hanmiao stood beside him with a faint smile on her face, and asked softly: "Husband, why are you celebrating your birthday so extravagantly this year? How many people did you invite?"

Lin Xiaofeng smiled helplessly, "I can't help it. I'm popular and someone took the initiative to celebrate for me. I didn't invite anyone specifically. Anyone who wants to come can come."

Their conversation was drowned out by the noise around them, but their eye contact revealed a deep tacit understanding.

Time passed little by little, and guests arrived one after another. The courtyard of the princess's mansion was soon filled with people. Lin Xiaofeng looked around the room and found that most of them were unfamiliar to him, and there were not many acquaintances. However, he did not care about these, and just smiled and greeted every guest.

In the crowd, he saw Shu Wenxu. The arrival of this Minister of Revenue made him feel a little surprised and a little relieved. After all, the birthday party was initiated by Shu Wenxu. The two smiled at each other, and everything was said without words.

Just as Lin Xiaofeng was about to raise his glass to thank the guests, a loud announcement came from the doorman outside the door, "Eunuch Wang is here!" The whole audience was suddenly in awe and looked towards the door. Wang Jingwen walked in with small steps, his face full of smiles. His arrival undoubtedly added more brilliance to the banquet.

Wang Jingwen walked up to Lin Xiaofeng and handed him a pot of imperial wine. "Marquis Jianye, His Majesty knows that it is your birthday today, so he specially ordered me to bring you a pot of imperial wine!" His voice was loud and clear, and everyone present could hear it clearly.

Lin Xiaofeng took the imperial wine and couldn't help but feel deeply moved. These two really didn't have any sense of practicality, one gave him food and the other gave him drinks. However, he still thanked Wang Jingwen respectfully.

With the arrival of Wang Jingwen and the presentation of the imperial wine, the birthday banquet reached its climax. The guests raised their glasses to toast Lin Xiaofeng and congratulated him on his birthday. Lin Xiaofeng also took this opportunity to express his gratitude to everyone and said a few simple words.

He said: "It is my honor to invite you all today. Thank you for your support and help. I hope we can continue to work together and contribute to the prosperity and stability of Dajing!" As soon as he finished speaking, there was warm applause and cheers from the audience. Everyone expressed their agreement and raised their glasses again to toast Lin Xiaofeng and wish him a happy birthday!

In this joyful and peaceful atmosphere, Lin Xiaofeng’s birthday party is gradually coming to an end, but this joy and warmth will remain in everyone’s heart forever.

Behind the prosperity of Jingjiang State, the figure of Jianye Hou Lin Xiaofeng stood like a towering mountain. At this moment, at the banquet, praises came like a tide, and every guest knew that Lin Xiaofeng's achievements were enough to be recorded in history.

"Jingjiang has made huge gains in the West Sea. If it were not for the contribution of Marquis Jianye in opening up the sea, there would be no such thing today..." A guest's compliment echoed at the banquet.

"Beilang University is famous for its trains, and the achievements of Marquis Jianye are truly unprecedented!" Another person also did not hesitate to praise him.

The guests were talking and talking among themselves, all paying high respect to Lin Xiaofeng. However, Lin Xiaofeng just smiled faintly and shook his head gently, as if silently accepting the honor that belonged to him.

However, there was a hidden pride in his heart: These bootlickers are not wrong. My experience, Lin Xiaofeng, is indeed enough to become the protagonist of a legendary novel.

Thinking back to when I traveled through time to this era, from a small county magistrate, I climbed up step by step to the core of the imperial court, became as close as a brother to the prince, and became the emperor's son-in-law. Now I am a high-ranking official with both a son and a daughter. It all seems like a dream.

However, just as everyone was laughing and toasting, a doorman suddenly announced, "Mr. Lin Kangsheng, the magistrate of Liquan County, has arrived, and he is presenting a Liquan deer!"

Everyone's eyes were directed to the door, and Lin Kangsheng walked in hurriedly, leading a beautiful and smart deer. The deer immediately attracted everyone's attention and became the focus of the banquet.

Lin Xiaofeng's eyes also fell on the deer. He frowned slightly, as if he had noticed something wrong. Li Hanmiao, who was sitting next to him, suddenly came over and whispered, "Husband, there is something wrong with this deer."

"Deer? What could be wrong with a deer?" Lin Xiaofeng asked doubtfully.

"This is the imperial tribute." Li Hanmiao's voice was low and serious.

Lin Xiaofeng's heart trembled. He slowly turned around and looked at Li Hanmiao: "Really?"

Li Hanmiao nodded gently: "I have seen this kind of Liquan deer in the palace in my early years. Its blood was used as a tonic by my father."

Lin Xiaofeng frowned, he looked at Lin Kangsheng in the field, and cursed in his heart: This tactless idiot! How dare you send the imperial tribute to me? Isn't this asking for trouble?

At this time, Wang Jingwen had quietly left the banquet. Lin Xiaofeng cursed in his heart: This damn eunuch must have gone back to tip off the government! He has been calling me brother for so many years, sooner or later he will have to take all the money out of his hands!
Although this matter seems insignificant, Lin Xiaofeng knows that his identity and status are no longer the same as before. Any small matter may be magnified infinitely and become a handle for others to attack him. He must handle this matter carefully.

Lin Xiaofeng took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. He looked at Shu Wenxu who was sitting next to him and whispered, "Master Shu, please help me find a way to get rid of this deer."

Shu Wenxu was stunned when he heard this, then smiled bitterly and said, "My Lord, this is not easy to handle. This is the imperial tribute. It would be a serious crime if we handle it privately."

Lin Xiaofeng frowned: "Then what do you say we should do? You can't let me keep it and cause trouble for myself, right?"

Shu Wenxu pondered for a moment and suddenly his eyes lit up and he said, "My lord, I have an idea!" He leaned close to Lin Xiaofeng's ear and whispered a few words.

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng's eyes lit up and he clapped his hands in approval: "Good idea! Let's do it!" (End of this chapter)