Chapter 458: Getting Something for Nothing

"My daughter, do you think we can take this opportunity to ask the court for some benefits?" Lu Desheng had an idea in his mind.

Lu Songli gave him a thumbs up, "Dad, you are awesome." This move is completely a free-for-all.

Lu Desheng was proud, "Then what should we ask for? Otherwise, we need iron ore." When he was the governor of Liaodong County, he lacked iron ore. Now he is the governor of Pingzhou, and he still lacks iron ore. There is no time when this thing is not lacking.

"You can try."

When Prince Gong met Lu Desheng again, Lu Desheng smiled and said as soon as he saw him, "Prince Gong decided to stay until after the autumn harvest, right? It is inconvenient to stay in a restaurant or inn all the time. I have arranged a villa for someone."

Prince Gong: "Don't bother, I will leave for Chang'an the day after tomorrow."

Lu Desheng was surprised, "I won't stay longer..."

Prince Gong: No, no, no, he refused.

"Okay, everything is up to you." Lu Desheng regretted and helpless, as if he was treating the naughty and disobedient younger generation at home.

The helpless and doting words made Prince Gong feel cold.

"Prince Gong, I thought about it all night and decided to agree to the court's request." Lu Desheng had an expression of enlightenment.

"What?" The surprise came too suddenly, and Prince Gong was stunned.

Lu Desheng continued, "My family advised me that paying more grain is a good thing for the country and the people."

"Lord Lu, are you telling the truth?" Prince Gong suspected that he had not woken up. Was it really a sudden turn of events?

"It's true, you underestimate me too much. Just say that for the sake of the late emperor, I can't refuse."

"I'm glad you can figure it out." Prince Gong looked relieved.

"Prince Gong, you see we are so good, shouldn't the court give us some rewards?" Lu Desheng asked with a licking face.

"What reward?" Prince Gong was confused again.

"For example, allocate more iron ore to Pingzhou?"

"Isn't the amount allocated to you every year enough?" Prince Gong said suspiciously.

"That's not enough. Come on, come with me."

Lv Desheng took him to see the new farm tools in Pingzhou.

Prince Gong followed Lv Desheng to several households and saw that almost every household had one or two new farm tools.

"As the saying goes, sharpening the knife does not delay the chopping of wood. You also said that our Pingzhou has a good harvest this year, thanks to them." Lv Desheng said, and swung the hoe into the mud twice, "Look, isn't it very useful?"

Lv Desheng wanted to hand him the hoe and let him try it.

Prince Gong quickly refused. The hoe blade of the hoe was shining coldly and looked very sharp.

"Come, let me show you this big guy again." This time Lv Desheng showed him a pedal thresher, "This thing is especially useful for threshing sorghum, wheat and rice."

After walking around, Prince Gong finally knew where the iron ore in Pingzhou was used.

"Prince Gong, when you return to the palace, remember to say a few good words for me. If the iron ore is allocated earlier, we can also make more farm tools."

Prince Gong was helpless, "Even if the court approves it, it won't be transported to Pingzhou so quickly, right?"

Lv Desheng proposed a solution, "You can suggest that the emperor issue an order to the governor of Youzhou to let him give the iron ore to us in Pingzhou first, and then return it to him after the court allocates it. We don't despise him."

Prince Gong: "No one does things this way."

As for Lv Desheng, he can only say that he is amazing.

"The autumn harvest is important. If the farm tools are in place as soon as possible, we can also collect the grain and pay taxes as soon as possible, right?"

Prince Gong: That's what I said, but...

"But what you said just now makes sense. The court is too slow. So, aren't you leaving the day after tomorrow? I'll go with you and send you off. When you pass by the governor's mansion in Youzhou, can you ask him to transfer the iron ore to me first?"

Prince Gong numbly: "...Isn't this bad?"

Lv Desheng was surprised, "I thought Prince Gong was dedicated to the emperor and the court, and he would definitely do his best." Now you don't want to do something that only requires one sentence? He looked like I had misjudged you.

Prince Gong was restless.

"In fact, I don't have that much face. The governor of Youzhou may not agree." Prince Gong's last struggle.

"Prince Gong, you are being modest, aren't you? It's settled. Let's set off together the day after tomorrow." As Lv Desheng spoke, he stood up and muttered, "I'm about to leave. Time is a bit tight. No, I have to pack my luggage. Hey, Prince Gong, why are you still here? Is there anything else?"

Until Prince Gong returned to the restaurant where he stayed, he was still in a trance.

The subordinate hurriedly asked with concern.

When he learned about the whole conversation, the subordinate was speechless.

On the day of departure, early in the morning, as soon as they went downstairs, they saw Lv Desheng waiting there with his men.

"Prince Gong, come quickly, I brought you breakfast, eat something hot, and you can set off."

Prince Gong was numb and gave up struggling. Whatever!

...

While Lv Desheng was entertaining Prince Gong, the Qin brothers led soldiers to set up defenses at the dangerous checkpoints of Pingzhou.

Qin Sheng was in charge of Longcheng.

He was busy with his confidants at this time.

Zhu Dazhuang, Chen Jinlong, Gao Lei, Ding Han, Yan Tianqing and others were all there, digging holes and burying things according to his requirements, while whispering to each other.

"Tell me, how did he come up with such a dirty trick?" Lu Dayou muttered while burying things in the ground.

Chen Jinlong worked neatly, "Don't worry about how he came up with it, just tell me, will it work?"

Lu Dayou didn't answer, but Zhu Dazhuang did. "With my thirty years of experience in killing pigs, it must work!"

"Lord Lu has given the Sixth Master a task, to make sure that the Xianbei army never returns."

"Is this difficult?" The one who spoke was Yan Tianqing, who was always silent. The others didn't say anything. They were not so optimistic because they had been living in Pingzhou and had seen the ferocity of the Xianbei army.

"The Sixth Master said that if the operation is done properly, it should be possible to severely damage their cavalry." Zhu Dazhuang was quite optimistic. They had been stationed in the northern border before, facing the ferocious foreigners. Both sides had won and lost, but because of the Qin family, they had been firmly guarding the northern border and had not allowed foreigners to move south for so many years.

Lu Dayou picked up a piece of something, stuck it into the soil, and said viciously, "Yes, at the very least, their cavalry must be abolished." They had few cavalry in Pingzhou, so this was fair.

Qin Sheng came back from a round of inspection and took a look at their progress. He thought it was okay. He looked around again. This place, which he had carefully selected after repeated surveys, was very suitable for ambushing cavalry.