Chapter 142: Sending You to the Sky (10)

A rich family has a golden dog, while a poor family has half an acre of land.

Exchanging children for food is not just a story.

In this era, people are living in poverty, and there are many corpses of people who died of starvation and exhaustion in the fields.

Wars are raging everywhere, and most young and strong people are captured to serve in the army or undertake corvée labor, and the people are heavily taxed.

Most of the good land is owned by the nobles, but now there are ownerless wastelands everywhere. In theory, if they are diligent in cultivating, they will not starve to death. Unfortunately, there are enemy troops abroad and bandits at home, and often the people have to flee before they can harvest.

People sing and laugh in the towers, and beggars live on the corners of the streets.

Merchants are rich in troubled times.

The poverty of the common people and the drunkenness of the nobles exist in this world at the same time as if they are separated.

Most of the nobles compete for the wealth of a meal and a screen, and Shen Minghuan is very willing to give them this opportunity.

However, Shen Minghuan's recent business has been so smooth, and Xie Zhifei has made an indelible contribution.

At first, Shen Minghuan saved people because this man's eyes, like the clear wind and bright moon, could not be concealed even with blood all over his body. He had clearly suffered a lot, but Shen Minghuan did not see hatred in them.

This man had rare rationality and tenderness in the world. He knew very well that the source of his misfortune was not a certain individual, but the current world.

So he could not hate or dislike her.

Even though there were many imperfections in this world, how could he not love her when he grew up here?

Although he had not met Nan Huaijin, Shen Minghuan inexplicably felt that the two of them should be very similar.

People like them should have a brighter life, should be cherished and treated well.

Shen Minghuan took the account book from Xie Zhifei and advised in a gentle tone: "These things are not urgent, health is important, you should rest more and don't tire yourself."

If Emperor Yan had the opportunity to hear this tone, he would definitely be able to detect the deep malice of being treated differently. He spent so much money on Shen Minghuan, but he couldn't even hear a good word.

"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Xie. I know what's going on." Xie Zhifei's legs have recovered well, and now he can walk on crutches.

He is a person who can't sit still. When he can walk, he asked for a job, and then he dragged his injured body to run between several stores.

He started as a small accountant, and somehow became the backbone of several shopkeepers, and now he is the head of the Chamber of Commerce.

Of course, there is the reason for Shen Minghuan's decentralization, but Xie Zhifei's own intelligence and hard work are the fundamental reasons for all this.

Xie Zhifei took out another notebook, "Mr., this is the information collected by the caravan. I have integrated some of it. Please see if it can be used."

Shen Minghuan flipped two pages casually and said clearly: "You want to be loyal to me?"

It can be seen that Xie Zhifei is attentive. Rumors can deceive people, and gossip can be traced. The words of praise by the literati and poets raised by each family usually add exaggeration on the basis of reality.

Merchants who travel all over the country can get a lot of inside information from it, but it is not easy to distinguish them. Xie Zhifei did a good job, and the source, source of information, and credibility were all clearly listed.

Just this small book, I don’t know how many people will buy it at a high price. The commercial value is secondary. If it is used properly, the court of Yan will be stained with blood.

Obviously, it is not just a business. Behind the word "loyalty" are greater ideals and ambitions.

With the implicit style of today's scholars, Shen Minghuan's words are somewhat arrogant.

Xie Zhifei did not expect this person to say it directly. He sighed helplessly, "Sir, can you dismiss the people around first?"

Is it appropriate to say these things in front of the Yan Emperor's spies?

Shen Minghuan looked at Sui Qing, who was more motionless than a pillar, and said indifferently, "Even if I ask him to go out, he will find a way to eavesdrop."

Sui Qing has been trained strictly since he was a child. Although he is not as exaggerated as the light skills and internal strength in the storybooks, it is still easy for him to flip over the eaves.

Xie Zhifei's eyes suddenly became solemn. He thought for a moment and soon relaxed again.

He sighed softly.

Some emotions cannot be expressed in words, so there are etiquette.

Xie Zhifei knelt on his knees, his wide sleeves spread out lightly, and clasped his palms and bowed, "Your Highness has great ambitions, and Zi Zheng is willing to serve you."

"Zi Zheng" is his name.

Xie Zhifei's legs have not yet fully recovered. The ceremony is solemn, but his shaking figure adds a bit of solemnity to the scene.

Shen Minghuan felt pain just by looking at him, and waved his hand quickly: "Get up, sit down and talk."

Xie Zhifei did not show off, but although he stood up as he was told, he bowed again.

Shen Minghuan said to him seriously: "Xie Zizheng, I will not let you down."

Shen Minghuan knew what kind of expectations this man had for the world.

Those sufferings, those tortures, those long nights of crying and sighing, will end with him.

May the world finally see the blue sky after him.

Anyone who has seen Xie Zhifei's performance in recent days will know that his talent is not inferior to any famous counselor in the world. If he can get his loyalty, nine out of ten will laugh three times, and then hold a banquet with him until he is drunk.

Shen Minghuan only made a promise.

You know the reason for his loyalty, you have to let him get what he wants.

Xie Zhifei thought, he did not make a mistake.

"I believe in the lord." Xie Zhifei naturally changed his words, gentle and firm.

He quickly put himself in the position of a counselor. The most urgent task was to buy enough time for Shen Minghuan so that their power could develop inconspicuously.

So Xie Zhifei glanced at Sui Qing with an apologetic look.

He leaned forward slightly, not knowing whether he was saluting Shen Minghuan or apologizing to Sui Qing, "My lord, it is not appropriate for Emperor Yan to know what happens next."

Xie Zhifei made no attempt to draw Sui Qing into their camp. Some people knew with just one glance that there was no way they could be bribed.

This is the case with Sui Qing, a person who can be called "foolishly loyal" in this era when loyalty and filial piety are as high as the sky.

Sui Qing understood the meaning of the words. He should have put the dagger across Shen Minghuan's neck as soon as possible and took her as a hostage, or jumped out of the window desperately.

This was the training he had received since childhood, and it was the instinct that was hard-wired into his bones by the torture tools.

But he didn't do anything.

Suiqing lowered his eyelids slightly and looked at Shen Minghuan with his peripheral vision.

If this person wanted his life, he would be willing to kill him at the neck.

Xie Zhifei sighed softly, "I know that my lord is kind-hearted, but everything in this world cannot be perfect. When you cannot have both, please make an early decision."

"If the Lord really can't take action, Zi Zheng has a plan."

"My lord, you can immediately write a letter to several first-level ministers and invite them to come to your house. The account book just now contains information that your lord can use, and I must be able to see it. They are not willing to provide this information to Emperor Yan no matter what." known.”

"Sui Qing is the chess piece placed by Emperor Yan for you. Several ministers also know about this. As long as they are allowed to trade with the lord, or make requests to the lord, Sui Qing will not be allowed to report the news. As long as they all agree, Sui Qing will Qing has no way to argue, and when the time comes..." he will be able to kill someone with a borrowed knife.

Xie Zhifei sighed again, "My lord, please make your decision."

Shen Minghuan was thoughtful: "Sui Qing, when you leave here later, will you tell Emperor Yan what you heard?"

Sui Qing knelt down on one knee in silence, and after three seconds he said in a deep voice: "Yes."

Although the voice was small, the tone was serious, showing determination that could not be changed.

Sui Qing didn't know if this was considered loyalty, but he really didn't know what else to do besides obeying Emperor Yan's instructions.

His life was bad enough.

He has killed many people and done many shady things. If he is called "betrayal" again, does he still have any qualifications to live in the world?

not to mention……

What's more, who would really use a traitor?

It's better to just let it go and die right now.

At least in Shen Minghuan's memory, he was still a loyal person. Although he was annoying, although he was an eyesore, and although he caused them a lot of trouble, at least he was not without merit.

"Then do you want to follow Gu? Like Xie Zhifei, be loyal to Gu?" Shen Minghuan persuaded him kindly: "Your former master is a piece of rubbish. He is no better than Gu. Water flows to the lower place and people go to the higher place. Give up Emperor Yan. It’s much better than him.”

He was very unreasonable. Before Sui Qing agreed, he had already taken it upon himself to turn the "master" into the "former master".

Suiqing raised his head, he rarely smiled, it seemed that this was the first time since he could remember that he smiled so easily.

It was probably when a person was about to die, and all the past events were like morning dew. He said sincerely, as if he was about to cut his heart out, "Master, if I had known that this day would happen, I would never have set foot in the palace."

Slaves have no right to choose their own destiny.

But so what? He can still choose to resist, but at most he will die.

If he could escape, if the person who bought him thought he was rebellious and refused to have him, if he was lucky enough to survive...

Then he might be able to wait for Shen Minghuan.

Like Xie Zhifei, he could die for this man innocently.

Shen Minghuan felt that Sui Qing was inexplicable. Even before he said anything, this man had made him extremely desperate.

"You just need to answer whether you want to follow Gu, and the rest will be taken care of." He stretched out his hand to lift Sui Qing up.

Didn't mention it.

Shen Minghuan's face darkened.

Afraid that Shen Minghuan would hurt himself by using too much force, Sui Qing followed his strength and stood up on his own.

She didn't know if Shen Minghuan would hurt herself, but if Sui Qing dared to say this reason, Shen Minghuan would definitely make herself angry.

Suiqing opened his mouth.

He had never been allowed to have his own preferences and wishes before. The word "want" was so far away from him and so vague that he didn't know how to pronounce it.

Sui Qing knelt down again, as if she had spent her whole life's courage, her tone was decisive and nostalgic.

He said: "My subordinates think so!"

"Isn't that enough? Let me leave it to you next." Shen Minghuan stretched out his hand again.

Sui Qing stood up consciously before "mentioning" her.

For the first time, his eyes lit up with little lights, indescribable expectations and hopes.

Xie Zhifei smiled slightly.

Looking at Shen Minghuan's attitude towards Sui Qing, he knew that this man must have made up his mind a long time ago. His master's ability was far greater than his own, so how could he not even have the ability to subdue his subordinates?

But this does not prevent him from playing a bad role and winning people's hearts for his master.

He believed that after this, let alone life or death, even if life was worse than death, Sui Qing would never betray Shen Minghuan.