Jiuxi

Chapter 238 236【See you again】

Huaizhou, Guangling City.

Ever since Lu Chen rose to prominence in the frontier army, the Lu family's business has become more and more prosperous, especially when the news that he personally led troops to attack Yongquanguan spread back to all parts of Huaizhou. The entrances of the Lu family's branches are crowded with people almost every day. .

Because of his more than 20 years of operation, Lu Tong's control over the entire business system has reached the point where he is deeply rooted in his bones. Even if his income suddenly increases a lot, he does not need to do everything personally and can completely enjoy a comfortable life.

But when he returned from Li'an City, his close subordinates discovered that not only did he not indulge in pleasure, but he also vaguely showed some of the ambition he had when he retired from the army and took over the Lu family business.

The Lu family's carriage was driving smoothly in the city. Lu Tong leaned against the wall of the carriage, listening to the report from a close aide.

"...As of six days ago, the firm had a total of one hundred and ninety-two craftsmen of various kinds. Eighty-four of them were old associates who had been in the firm for more than five years. They were clean and honest, and the rest were all Between five and two years below, the villain is conducting a detailed screening of them. According to the master's instructions, the first round of recruitment of craftsmen has begun, and the target scope is limited to the six prefectures of Huaizhou."

Lu Tong said calmly: "The screening and recruitment are carried out at the same time. There is no need to insist on speed, but the word reliability must be kept in mind."

"Yes, Master." The confidant bowed his head and said, "The progress of the other matter is slower, mainly because the young master took away a lot of good people before. Now we can only guarantee the security force around the master. It will be very difficult in a short time." It’s hard to select good people.”

Talents are not spring leeks that emerge one after another after the rain. What's more, what Lu Chen needs is elites who can become the foundation of an army.

Lu Tong naturally understood this truth, and he also knew that this matter could not be rushed, so he said kindly: "Take your time, find more good seedlings from businesses and private people, and then cultivate them little by little."

The confidant said respectfully: "Yes, I understand."

The carriage gradually stopped, and a voice came from outside: "Master, we have arrived at Xue Mansion."

When Lu Tong got out of the carriage, he saw Xue Huaiyi standing on the steps, looking at him with a smile, so he joked: "Why don't you have Divine Doctor Xue personally come to greet him?"

The smile on Xue Huaiyi's face disappeared, and he said angrily: "I haven't seen you for a few months, but your mouth is still as annoying as before."

Lu Tong walked up the steps, nodded to Xue Zhong who was standing respectfully at the side, and then said with a half-smile, "Can I suddenly change my appearance at my age? Do you have a magical elixir to rejuvenate your youth?"

"What the hell, is there really that kind of medicine that I won't give myself?"

Xue Huaiyi laughed and cursed, then walked into the house side by side with Lu Tong, saying as he walked: "Last time you moved so many medicinal materials from my warehouse, you have to be more careful. If you plan to repeat the same trick today, I have to I’ll kick you out in advance.”

"As expected of the world-famous Divine Doctor Xue, you have guessed it again."

Lu Tong acted like a rogue, but Xue Huaiyi really couldn't do anything to him.

The two of them entered the main hall. Xue Zhong served tea on behalf of the servant and then bowed and left.

Xue Huaiyi stopped joking and said gently: "Tell me, what's the important matter for your sudden visit today?"

Lu Tongdao: "This matter is Shen'er's request. He should have come to ask for it in person, but you also know that he is leading troops in the north to fight and really can't be distracted, so he entrusted me to come and make a trip. This matter is very important. And it cannot be known to outsiders, so whether you have time to take a trip or not, you cannot leak it to the outside world."

"Just tell me, why did you become so verbose all of a sudden?"

Xue Huaiyi couldn't laugh or cry.

Lu Tong nodded and said: "Okay, let me tell you the truth. Li Tianrun, the governor of Jingzhou, is not in good health. Although he sought treatment from a local doctor, it had no effect. As for why you didn't ask the imperial doctor from the capital, you can I know the attitude of those people in the south towards the Northern Expedition. If they knew about Governor Li's physical condition, they would definitely use it as an excuse to stop the Northern Expedition. Only a few people know the inside story about this matter. After careful consideration, Lu Chen thinks that only you can solve this problem. "

"I see, it's not that difficult for me to make a trip."

Xue Huaiyi twisted his beard and pondered, and then said solemnly: "There must be no shortage of good doctors around Governor Li. You should also know that sometimes manpower is limited after all. I will definitely try my best to treat him, but I can't guarantee that the medicine can cure the disease."

"That's enough."

Lu Tong stood up and bowed.

Xue Huaiyi quickly raised his hand and said, "What are you doing? This doesn't have to be the case between you and me."

"As it should be."

Lu Tong insisted on finishing the salute, then sat down and asked, "When are you going to set off?"

Xue Huaiyi thought for a while and said, "Tomorrow, I have to arrange things at home."

Lu Tong nodded and said: "Okay, I have arranged a passenger boat at the ferry to go upstream to Pingyang Mansion in Jingzhou."

Xue Huaiyi agreed, and the two chatted about private matters for a while, before Lu Tong stood up and left.

Xue Huaiyi sent him outside, with a bit of worry in his eyes. Li Tianrun and Xiao Wangzhi were both middle-aged. If something happened to these two, how would the Northern Expedition continue?

……

Perhaps because it is closer to the north, Laian City is obviously colder than Guangling.

There are few ways to entertain and entertain in the winter of this era. For most people, it is lucky to have warm clothes to keep out the cold. If they can light a brazier, they are considered to be well off. Wang Chulong naturally has no worries in this regard, and she is naturally quiet by nature, so she can be at ease even if she stays in her room reading every day.

News of the war in the north kept coming back, and she knew that Huaizhou's army was in great shape. Yongquan Pass, Tongshan City, Gushu City, and Qingtian City were recovered one after another. Lu Chen also cooperated with several generals to annihilate nearly 10,000 enemy troops in Wanting.

Regardless of the deal between the Zhai Lin Wang family and Nan Qi, Wang Chulong was also happy for Lu Chenxiao just because of Lu Chenxiao's food and clothing some time ago. But occasionally, when she thinks of the gap that still exists between the two of them, this thoughtful woman will feel confused.

It's not sadness or boredom, but a sense of confusion growing in my heart. I can see the way I came, but I can't see the direction of the future.

Lu Chen respected her very much, but there was a bit of alienation in the respect, and he didn't reply this time. Although Wang Chulong didn't mind it very much, if he could send someone to send a reply, even if it was just Just a few numbers, I think she would feel a little comforted.

In the warm room, she sat next to the incense cage, holding a book in her hand and sighing softly.

"Miss!"

Jin Shu walked in quickly, with a look of surprise in his eyes, and said hurriedly: "Master Lu is back!"

"Uh?"

Even though Wang Chulong's mind was far more mature than that of ordinary women, she couldn't help but look shocked at this moment.

"Really!" Jin Shu stepped forward and said with a smile: "My maid saw it with my own eyes. Mr. Lu asked the young lady to meet in the side hall!"

Wang Chulong subconsciously raised her hands to tuck her hair around her temples. She usually kept her face bare at home and would not dress up deliberately.

Upon seeing this, Jin Shu said: "Miss, my servant will help you put on your makeup."

Wang Chulong shook his head and said with a smile: "No need."

She walked to the side hall in her home clothes and saw Lu Chen talking to Song Pei. The two immediately greeted each other and Song Pei obediently withdrew.

"Miss Wang, I have received your letter. Thank you for thinking so much about me. It's just that the military situation was urgent at the time. I didn't want to make you feel perfunctory by scribbling a reply, so I thought I would thank you in person when I get back. Please forgive me."

Lu Chen said straight to the point.

Wang Chulong is not a child of seven or eight years old, so naturally she will not completely believe this reason, but she knows very well that the two of them are not close enough to be honest about everything. After all, there is a saying that haste makes waste, so speak softly. He said: "It doesn't matter. Mr. Lu is out fighting, so you don't have to take this little thing to heart. In fact, what I'm more curious about now is, could it be that the war in the north is going too smoothly, leaving Mr. Lu with no place to use it?"

Lu Chen found this statement very interesting and said with a smile: "It is indeed going well, but it is not so smooth that even I can be lazy. Now our army has set off on Dongyang Road, and the war is under the personal command of Governor Xiao, so I am allowed to take the lead. Ruishi camp returns south to prepare for the next strategic plan."

Wang Chulong's heart moved slightly, thinking of some of what Lu Chen had said before, and tentatively asked: "Master Lu plans to leave Panlong Pass in the north?"

In the previous letter, the gentle woman in front of him had already shown her military talent to Lu Chen. She would first take Yongquan Pass and then besiege Qingtian City, then go north to attack Gushu City and then ambush the enemy's reinforcements halfway, and wait until Gu was captured. After cooking the two cities of Ningling and then going back to recover Qingtian City, these are the ideas put forward by Wang Chulong.

In particular, she focused on the Seven Star Army in Baotai Mountain, and made it clear that they could only be treated as a false move, because Qing Yu Huaijin in Heluo City must have a plan against the Seven Star Army.

Although these ideas deviated somewhat from Lu Chen's strategy, they were very close. Therefore, he was not surprised that she could shout out Lu Chen's next plan at this moment. He sighed: "Miss Wang is so smart, if you join the army as a general, you will definitely Better than many people.”

Wang Chulong smiled lightly, and seeing that Lu Chen did not deny it, he gradually guessed his plan and said softly: "Master Lu is ridiculous, Chulong has no power to tie a chicken, and has never seen the battlefield with his own eyes. He is just talking about war on paper. Yes. Yes, General Manager Zhu’s reply was sent yesterday. He has replaced the garrison of Xinchang City and can secretly cooperate with the Huaizhou Army’s actions if necessary.”

Lu Chen said sincerely: "Thank you."

Wang Chulong thought for a while and said sternly: "Master Lu, if you want to lead troops from Panlong Pass, do you think it is too much to rely on the six thousand warriors of Ruishi Camp?"

Although the defenders of Xinchang City and Pingli City are both related to the Wang family, and the Huaizhou Army does not need to expend too much energy to attack these two key points that control Panlong Pass, there is always a limit to everything.

If Lu Chen could easily take over Xinchang and Pingli with only 6,000 men, even a blind man would be able to see the problem. There is no guarantee that the Procuratorate and Jing Ren will not find out about the Wang family.

Wang Chulong didn't want to deliberately pry into Lu Chen's thoughts, but it was about the safety of thousands of people in the Wang family, so she had to pay attention.

Lu Chen understood this reason, so he gave a brief explanation to the woman in front of him, except for some highly confidential parts that could not be known to anyone.

After hearing this, Wang Chulong nodded and said, "I understand. Thank you Mr. Lu for clearing up the confusion."

Lu Chen said: "This is what I should do."

Seeing him being so polite and respectful, Wang Chulong felt some weird emotions in her heart, and she suddenly felt that she might be able to take the initiative a little bit.

Thinking of this, she raised her eyes to look at Lu Chen and mustered up the courage to ask a question.

"Mr. Lu, can you tell me Miss Lin's story?"

(End of this chapter)