Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 183 Won't People Get Gambling Addiction?
Zhao Dezhao gritted his teeth and touched the cards, his little face was like a bun, and he pinched the cards with his fingers until they squeaked. He probably didn't get a good card, so he just threw it into the river and shouted: "Three of a kind!"

Luo Yaoshun smiled, spread out his cards and said happily, "Nonsense!"

Say it!Luo Yao stretched out his hand to the elder: "Thank you three, Sheng Hui Shiguan."

Zhao Dezhao pushed the cards into the river and continued to shuffle the cards. While shuffling the cards, he said to Ye Chen, "Xiang Fu Bo, this new thing you invented? It won't make people addicted to gambling, right? This king just played for a while I feel inseparable."

Ye Chen stacked a good hand of cards for himself, and said: "Your Highness, don't worry, these things are much more fun and entertaining than throwing sieves in the big gambling houses in Kaifeng. How much happiness they bring to everyone!"

"That's true." Zhao Dezhao would understand this personally, and expressed his deep understanding.

The four of them fought for a day, Zhao Dezhao lost a full three hundred guan, Luo Yaoshun, who had just won at the beginning, also lost [-] guan, it's fine for Ye Chen to win, after all, he is the most familiar player, but Cao Wei was bored for a long time Without talking, he won six hundred guan in the end.The most important thing is that this kid was so happy in the end that he slipped his mouth and said that he only had fifty pennies of capital with him.Zhao Dezhao and Luo Yaoshun gritted their teeth in hatred.

With Ye Chen, a legendary upstart, and these three younger generations of nobles in Kaifeng, mahjong quickly spread among the nobles, high-ranking officials, and wealthy businessmen in Kaifeng, especially the idle and boring women in the backyards of various mansions.

The sound of mahjong in Kaifeng City has not stopped since its birth, from the royal family, to the public officials, and then to the merchants and common people. This simple and interesting game has spread in half a month.

Deputy Prime Minister Lu Yuqing said in a worried report that since mahjong came out, Wen Tian and Wu Xi didn't talk about it, and it corrupted the people's morals all over the world, so it should be banned.But Zhao Kuangyin has his own considerations. It is also beneficial for the rule that the common people have things to do and stop thinking about it.

However, Ye Chen's mahjong game has been getting worse and worse recently, and he often loses money.After Cao Wei won the [-] guan, he was praised by Cao Bin when he returned home.From then on, Cao Wei regarded mahjong as a study of the art of war, and his level has improved by leaps and bounds. These days, he has killed the Quartet among the yamen in Kaifeng.It is said that he won no less than three thousand guan.Luo Yaoshun and Zhao Dezhao have always lost more than won. The former was taught several times by his father who had just returned to Kaifeng, and finally temporarily closed the mountain.After Zhao Dezhao was reprimanded by Zhao Kuangyin, he also restrained himself a lot.

Today, Ye Chen was called by Zhao Zan, Gao Huaide, and Li Jixun to teach the three old guys how to play mahjong.

As soon as the fight started, Ye Chen regretted coming here today, and secretly vowed in his heart that he would never play mahjong with these three murderous veterans who killed countless people in their lifetime.

To play mahjong with these three, it is best to put on your helmet and armor, as your life may be in danger at any time. It is to be used to listen to the wind, no, there is a card flying towards the head, skillfully reached out to grab it, put it on the table, good card!Eighty thousand, what a fool.

Ye Chen is generally very happy these days. First, the construction of the Kaifeng river embankment is progressing very fast, much faster than the increase in the water level of the Yellow River. It is foreseeable that the Yellow River will not break its embankment in Kaifeng in October.In addition, nearly a thousand pieces of mahjong were sold, which can be described as a huge profit!You must know that the selling price of a mahjong is fifty guan.Mahjong alone made Ye Chen turn nearly [-] guan.Of course, mahjong is not sold by some close relatives, but given free of charge.For example, Cao Bin, Luo Gongming, Zhao Dezhao, Jia Xian, Zhao Zan, Gao Huaide, Dang Jin, and even Li Jixun's mansion in Jinyang, Hedong, Ye Chen gave two paintings to each of them for free.

Ye Chen recently raised the wages of the guards, servants, and maids at home, which made the whole family excited.Especially for the more than a dozen carpenters in the family who are scrambling to make mahjong day and night, the salary is almost comparable to Ye Chen's salary.

"This is the fourth set from Jin Wang's mansion, this is the third set from Zhao Xianggong's mansion, and this is the second set from Mr. Li's family. Our mahjong tiles will not be sold for a long time. I heard that there are already jade tiles in Yuqixuan." Now, my lord, you have to think of a way, you can't always let outsiders take advantage of our family's methods, there is no kingly law." Ma Gangzi came to ask Ye Chen for instructions cautiously.

Wang Fa?Ye Chen knew that the boss behind the Yuqi Pavilion was the housekeeper of Zhao Guangyi's house.For some money, Ye Chen didn't want to confront Zhao Guangyi.

"Ma Gangzi, this was originally a one-shot deal. You can sell as many pairs as you can. Now the deputy minister of the court, Lu Yuqing, and the officials of Yushitai are not used to mahjong tiles. What do you say is that Wen Tianwu plays bad habits? , Sir, I have to stand in the limelight, it is a good thing that Yuqixuan jumped out, and it happened to take the blame for Sir." Ye Chen said with a smile.

Recently, in the court, from the emperor to the ordinary capital officials, they have become more and more relaxed.The official granary in Kaifeng has been fully stocked, with a total of 600 million shi of grain, enough to feed a million people for two or three months.The most important thing is that the six river embankments in Kaifeng are already solid, but they can also guarantee that they will not break during the autumn flood.

As things stand today, in the past three months, the imperial court has crazily gathered food from the Jianghuai River and other places, and recruited laborers and soldiers with all their strength, and raced against time to rush to repair the river embankment in Kaifeng.Soon it spread throughout Kaifeng and even the surrounding states and counties.

This incident caused a sensation among everyone, and made more than 100 million people in Kaifeng City and more than ten counties under its jurisdiction feel extremely grateful. At the same time, it also pushed Ye Chen to the forefront. Rumors of the reincarnation of Ji Xing, the disciple of the gods before Dust, are more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

After Ye Chen heard the news, he smiled wryly. According to his original intention, he absolutely didn't want to be so high-profile. The so-called people are afraid of being famous and pigs are afraid of being strong.This is even the way to take death.This is completely inconsistent with the modesty and prudence that Ye Chen has always pursued, and the principle of being promoted with his hair covered.

"The emperor must compensate me for this matter, otherwise I will lose a lot." Ye Chen muttered to himself.

In the imperial palace, Zhao Kuangyin, the emperor of the Song Dynasty, just walked out of the Huarui Hall where Mrs. Huarui lived, and walked towards the Funing Hall, but Zhao Kuangyin, who has always been healthy and strong, was a little erratic.

Zhao Kuangyin has the ambition not to lose to Tang Zong and Han Wu. Before Mrs. Huarui entered the palace, she was never obsessed with female sex, let alone prostitution during the day.However, in the past few months, I have frequently done such things, and even feel a little reluctant to leave.

Zhao Kuangyin was sitting on the throne of Funing Hall, and Mrs. Huarui's ecstasy and alluring attitude couldn't help but froze in his mind.

At this time, Wu Desi envoy Zhang Zhan strode in and paid homage respectfully.

Zhao Kuangyin said wearily, "Get up! I asked you to send someone to investigate the situation in the Southern Han Kingdom. How is it going?"

Zhang Zhan is also a eunuch, Zhao Kuangyin's true confidant, and has outstanding abilities, otherwise it would be impossible for him to be in charge of a spy agency like Wu Desi to monitor the capital for the emperor.Zhao Kuangyin has always attached great importance to some of Zhang Zhan's views, but the only thing that makes Zhao Kuangyin dissatisfied is that Zhang Zhan's investigation of the mysterious force has been progressing slowly over the years.

Zhang Zhan said: "Officials! There has been news from the south that the people sent by the minister will return to the capital in half a month, and they have also tied up a chief servant who served the emperor of the Southern Han Dynasty in the palace of the Southern Han Dynasty. I think this trip has been rewarding.”

Zhao Kuangyin lifted his spirits when he heard the words, and said, "That's right! The chief servant, I think he is very familiar with the real situation inside the small court of the Southern Han Dynasty."

"Well... a few days ago, I asked you to send more people to secretly investigate the origins of those big businessmen and heads of business in Kaifeng. How about the investigation?" Zhao Kuangyin thought of the mysterious force that made him feel like he was always on his back. , could not help asking.

Sweat dripped from Zhang Zhan's face, he hesitated and said, "Your Majesty! There is no progress on this matter yet."

Zhao Kuangyin frowned slightly, thought for a moment, looked deeply at Zhang Zhan, and said, "I will ask the third envoy to double the daily financial expenses of Wu Desi, but you have to give me something in return." what!"

Zhang Zhan fell to his knees with a thump, with sweat pouring from his head, and said: "I have lost His Majesty's love. I have been investigating those thieves all these years, but the progress has been slow and the results have not been great. Please punish me."

Zhao Kuangyin sighed, and said: "This group of thieves can be so powerful, there must be a lot of people who obey their orders, so the financial resources must be not small, enough to be rich enough to rival the country. They are not like a country that can collect taxes from the people. Such a big It is difficult to maintain financial resources except for those merchants, and except for the big wealthy merchants. Therefore, the direction of your investigation, in addition to those ancient families, must start from these big wealthy merchants."

Zhang Zhan respectfully said yes.

Zhao Kuangyin walked out of Funing Hall, followed by a large number of guards and servants, who were about to visit the empress who had been neglected these days.Unexpectedly, as soon as I walked to the imperial garden, I heard a voice shouting: "Father! Father!"

Zhao Kuangyin couldn't help but startled when he heard the words, the voice was a bit strange, it wasn't that girl Yongqing, nor that boy Defang.

Zhao Kuangyin was wondering, when he suddenly saw Yongqing laughing and walking out from behind the rockery, with a bird on her shoulder, calling at him, "Father! Father!"

Seeing this, Zhao Kuangyin couldn't help being shocked. It was unheard of for a flat-haired animal to be trained to be so human and able to speak.Zhao Kuangyin and a large group of guards, eunuchs and maids behind him were surprised and amazed.

"Father! Look, my bird is smart! It can talk. I taught it to talk." Princess Yongqing said as if offering a treasure.

Zhao Kuangyin looked at the parrot in amazement, pampered his daughter's head, and said, "Yongqing is really amazing." At the same time, he wanted to touch the parrot.

Unexpectedly, the parrot flew up suddenly and landed on the head of one of the eunuchs behind the emperor. It looked at the eunuch beside him with eyes dripping, opened its mouth and called out: "You bird man, close your beak."

Only Zhao Kuangyin was the one who spoke just now, and the parrot told him to close his beak, so he was talking about him.

Zhao Kuangyin frowned, looked at the parrot, and shouted: "It's unreasonable, Yongqing, how did you teach flat-haired animals to speak obscenities, it's really disrespectful."

(End of this chapter)