December 8th, the sky over the Chengdu Plain was gloomy.

In the distance, the extending official road cut through the lead-gray fields. In a village beside the road, villagers, enjoying the agricultural off-season, were moving in groups along the country lanes, heading to nearby school sheds for classes, or practicing formations on the threshing ground.

Closer to the viewer, a dozen large carts were being repaired near a hillside by the road. Someone was hammering away at a broken wheel. Ning Yi stood on the hillside, stretching his body, watching the scene in the distant village for a while, his brow furrowed in silence.

For him, it was truly a wondrous feeling.

"...If this matter ultimately succeeds, the Huaxia Army can be compared to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors in terms of merit." Beside him, a Daoist with a horse-like face approached, holding several newspapers. Looking at Ning Yi, he said, "Mr. Ning must be deeply moved as well."

Although Ning Yi had always considered himself easygoing, his life had been fraught with misfortune for over a decade. In the past, when he was in the Secret Intelligence Division, he had become the public enemy of the Green Forest men. After the assassination of the ruler, he was constantly targeted, so security around Ning Yi had always been a top priority. The fact that this horse-faced Daoist could easily approach Ning Yi in such a camp and speak casually was enough to prove his high status in the Huaxia Army. He was Gongsun Sheng, a veteran member of the Huaxia Army's Academy of Natural Sciences.

After destroying Liangshan, some of the figures above were defeated, and some were recruited. Gongsun Sheng was a Daoist with a less than detached mindset. At first, it was a mixture of coercion and recruitment, getting him to pass on his gunpowder technology to a group of apprentices. Later, the cooperation between the two sides was not bad. Ning Yi had always been generous to technical personnel, and his various whimsical ideas and designs in natural sciences made Gongsun Sheng eager to learn. Thus, he completely joined the team.

In his younger years, he had pretended to be a sorcerer and mingled in society, so he was quick-witted and could understand many ideas and grasp the essence. He had also practiced martial arts for many years and was in excellent physical condition. Working long hours, he was still energetic and radiant. He had always been the most useful tool in the Huaxia Army. Ning Yi had always been generous in treating such good employees like a father. Seeing the newspapers in his hand, which mostly contained news about land reform, it was clear that the old Daoist was also cheering for this earth-shattering reform, which was quite rare.

The land reform had begun at the end of October this year, accompanied by a wave of noise. By early December, the first batch of farmers who had completed the course and passed the "exam" had successfully received land. Due to the different situations of wrangling in various places, the number of such people was not large at present, but the whole matter had been published in newspapers and passed on by word of mouth.

"Mr. Gongsun also said that it must ultimately succeed. In fact, throughout history, dividing land by relying on power, anyone who wants to do it can do it. Even Liangshan back then, acting on behalf of Heaven, if they wanted to force people to divide the land, no one would dare to say a word with a knife to their neck. But the problem is that after the land is divided, the means of production in people's hands must still be land, and not violence." Ning Yi smiled with a complex expression. "We are now relying on violence to divide the land, and we have to worry about the real problems next."

Gongsun Sheng had not been very interested in politics in recent years. What he had just expressed was just simple joy. At this time, he frowned slightly and pondered. Ning Yi put his hands on his hips and twisted his body: "Actually, I'm not moved by the land division... I'm thinking about carriages."

"...Ah?"

"Carriages are not easy to use. I'm almost falling apart..." Ning Yi, who had been running around outside since the beginning of the land reform, sighed and pointed forward. "In the future, when the land is taken back, with Chengdu as the center, this circle, track carriages built along the official road, drawing a large circle, will be the third ring road of Chengdu. These villages that have carried out land reform in the first batch will be able to get rich first. This is one of the things that needs to be done properly."

He paused: "But the track carriage thing, wooden rails, the loss is large. If it is not a place with particularly dense commercial flow, maintenance may not be cost-effective, and it depends on the plain terrain, so the practicality in the future is not wide. At present, it can only be regarded as a large-scale experiment of track vehicles. What I mean is, Mr. Gongsun, the manufacture of the prototype of the steam engine in the Academy of Natural Sciences is the focus. Artificial power sources replacing livestock will really become the beginning of a new era in the future, the kind that can be compared to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. I have been busy with things recently, and I haven't been to the Academy of Natural Sciences as often. You have to help me keep an eye on it, don't let those people blow themselves up again like Lin Jingwei."

Based on the instinct of the boss, he also gave Gongsun Sheng some chicken blood by the way.

Gongsun Sheng nodded in agreement.

"...On the other hand, shellac is a problem. This thing will be widely used in the future, not only on electric wires, but also on the shock absorption of carriages. In the past, the spring shims that were made were one aspect. Next, if you can use elastic things like shellac to wrap a circle under the wheels, we will call it... tires, the carriage will be less bumpy, and the wear of the upper frame will be less, whether it carries people or goods, it can run faster. But the current production of this thing is really too small, it needs to be increased. The Academy of Natural Sciences and the Academy of Chemistry, in particular, must pay attention to talents in this area..."

The winter was gloomy, and the sky in the distance seemed to be raining. Ning Yi chattered to Gongsun Sheng about these things. Over the years, the Academy of Natural Sciences has been an institution managed by Ning Yi himself. Under Ning Yi, only a few people, such as Lin Jingwei and Gongsun Sheng, can manage the overall situation. Now that Lin Jingwei is injured and recuperating, Ning Yi also has more things to do. As the end of the year is approaching, he can only give a rough account of his plans for the future to others.

Of course, there are some things he cannot say.

The prerequisite for land reform to replace the local elites is that the central government must have the ability to manage the localities, and the prerequisite for this management ability is the high-speed transmission of information. The high speed of information transmission requires telegraphs, telegraphs require electricity, and the development of electricity requires insulating skins, and insulating skins require rubber.

Rubber is something that will not be introduced to Asia until after the Age of Discovery. I am afraid that the entire Eurasian continent does not have this thing.

In principle, the manufacturing of electricity is very simple, but for rubber substitutes, Ning Yi searched for a long time and only found shellac, also known as lac, which is something secreted by lac insects after absorbing resin. At present, it is a kind of dye, and some are used as traditional Chinese medicine, but in general, the output is scarce.

Using insects to absorb resin and then secrete shellac... Compared to the amount of rubber needed for the entire industrial revolution, driven by capital demand in the future, shellac insects may become economic insects of the same weight as silkworms, and the entire south, including Dali, and even the entire Southeast Asia, may become colonies that produce shellac.

Thinking of the scene of shellac insects everywhere in the future, Ning Yi felt that this future was a bit terrifying.

If we fully support Jun Wu, who is far away in the southeast, to promote maritime technology, I don't know if it is possible to complete the Age of Discovery in the next three to five decades and bring back rubber trees from South America...

Of course, such imagination is too advanced, and it is only Ning Yi's personal happiness. While stretching his body, he chatted with Gongsun Sheng about fragments of the future. At a certain moment, a galloping horse passed through the official road with a small number of merchants and came towards the convoy camp.

It was an urgent intelligence from the Secretariat.

When Ning Yi was outside, such intelligence that needed to be delivered separately was naturally important, but this one was not considered confidential. After a while, to Ning Yi's amusement, the intelligence was passed to Gongsun Sheng and then to others. Some of the personnel who followed this day knew about the major events that had happened in Bianliang not long ago.

"Zou Xu misled me." Ning Yi smiled, "The action is so slow, it made me pay two more shipments to Liu Guangshi, and now they all belong to this guy."

Gongsun Sheng, who was about to leave, frowned and leaned over again: "The situation in the world has changed greatly, and Chengdu may also be in chaos next. Isn't it better for Mr. Ning... to go back and take charge?"

Since Ning Yi ran out of Chengdu and traveled around, similar advice has been given many times in the team, and Gongsun Sheng's words can be regarded as retelling the story. In fact, he had been in the Jianghu in his early years, and when he talked about "great changes in the world" at this time, there was still a bit of the "evil way" pointing out the country between his brows. Ning Yi's eyes lit up when he saw it, and he laughed dumbly. Naturally, he did not say the thoughts in his heart.

"...There is no big change in the world. Just a few small things." He said, "We can do our own thing."

The clouds in the sky were still flowing, the fields were gray, and in the distant village, the course on land distribution was still in progress. After a while, the convoy was repaired. When Ning Yi boarded the carriage and announced the departure, Hong Ti also came over. She also knew what happened in Bianliang, and smiled at this time: "They say you don't want to go back."

"Private elopement has to look like a private elopement." Ning Yi smiled and dragged her hand. After a while, he lifted the car curtain to look at the scenery outside, and said in a low voice, "I always feel that sooner or later, we will be locked in a small courtyard, for the sake of the overall situation, and we will never be able to come out again. So while we have time now, let's run around more."

"Is the matter between Zou Xu and that Mr. Dai really not a big deal?"

"Everyone is going to their proper positions, and there is nothing unexpected. It doesn't matter."

That being said, after sitting in the car for a while, Ning Yi still took out paper and pen and wrote something.

"To the General Staff: The Huaxia Army defeated the Jurchens in the southwest after going through life and death, and accumulated a little reputation. Dai Mengwei betrayed and sold out his comrades twice, and was called the saint of today. Now he falsely claims to have recovered Bianliang. Regarding this matter, what are the feelings of the comrades in the army, and how to guide them? Please discuss it at your discretion..."

"To Qin Shaoqian and He Zhicheng: As the end of the year is approaching, is the homesickness of the soldiers even greater? I think a new round of registration and investigation can be carried out in the army, recording the hometowns of all soldiers, and combining the situation of land reform, for the soldiers' plans after returning to their hometowns, and their expectations for land distribution, to launch a round of research and discussion. In the past two years, Sichuan has been peaceful and developing rapidly, with more meetings and fewer battles. There must be a round of vigilance against the war-weariness in the army..."

"To the Propaganda Department:..."

The clouds outside were low and heavy, giving people the feeling that it was about to snow.

Ning Yi was writing at his desk. The carriage passed through the plain.

******

"It's snowing."

December 11th, Chengdu.

Yu Hezhong heard a woman's soft voice when he woke up.

He rubbed his forehead: "What time is it?"

"Just arrived at Si time." The woman said.

"Ah... Why didn't you wake me up..."

"What are you waking you up for? Wake you up and you'll say it again."

The woman said, "You said last night, why did you come over at that time? When I talked to you, you didn't listen, and you went to sleep in a hurry. I originally thought you were sleeping at Sister Gao's place. When I saw you coming, I was happy in my heart, and I wanted to say a few words to you, but you ignored me..."

In the murmuring voice, the petite but sweet woman twisted a handkerchief and was extremely gentle. In the past, these trivial voices often made Yu Hezhong feel beautiful, but at this time, his heart was in turmoil, but he felt noisy for no reason. He wiped his face and looked for clothes. The clothes were taken by the woman to the chair in the room, and after putting away the handkerchief, she slowly took them out for him: "Something's wrong?"

"No."

"If there's nothing wrong, accompany me. Just now, there were snowflakes outside. Chengdu's weather is rare to see snow all year round..." The woman said a few words, and then remembered something, "Oh, you came back last night and went to sleep. I forgot to tell you something. Yesterday evening, Mr. Yan came here, and he seemed to be looking for you in a hurry, and asked you to meet him today if you have time. I looked at him, as if something big happened, it's what everyone is talking about this morning... the assassination of General Liu?"

In the warmly decorated room, the woman's voice sounded casual, but Yu Hezhong, who was dressing, suddenly froze, and his serious eyes looked towards the petite woman.

In the year or so in Chengdu, his status had risen, so he had formed two "close confidantes" in the brothel. The woman in front of him, named Wei Rou, looked petite and beautiful, and often seemed innocent, but in fact, she was also a figure who had a great reputation in the world of romance. In the past, she was called a famous prostitute, but now she would be called a certain "master" in social circles. The news of Liu Guangshi's death was so important, how did she really feel when she mentioned it so casually at this time?

He had slept with her many times in a year, and after the other party had formed a marriage with a "big shot" like him, her daily performance had become more casual and homely, but at this moment, a question flashed in Yu Hezhong's mind.

I saw that the woman's eyes were still clear, and after asking casually, she wrung the handkerchief dry in her hand and hung it on the wooden rack again. When she turned her head and noticed his gaze, she blinked her eyes: "What are you looking at me for..." Then her voice turned slightly lower, revealing a little worry: "If the husband doesn't say, I can't ask. If General Liu is gone, are you... okay?"

Yu Hezhong was comforted by such worries. After thinking about it, he continued to dress.

"What's wrong with me? It's Lao Yan and the others who are in big trouble this time."

His words and expression calmed down.

After a while, after putting on his clothes, Yu Hezhong had some breakfast with Wei Rou's service. During the meal, he tried to appear calm. When he was about to finish eating, he heard the woman mention casually: "Since such a thing has happened, shouldn't the husband take the time to see Sister Li?"

"Look at the situation, I'll see Lao Yan first." Yu Hezhong said casually, "The Huaxia Army is busy with land reform, and Shishi is busy with everything every day. I can't just say I want to see her."

"General Liu is such a big deal..."

"How big can it be for the Huaxia Army? Land reform is a matter of planning for all generations. I don't think they care much." Yu Hezhong said his remarks that were extremely understanding of the Huaxia Army. In fact, this was also his consistent attitude in social situations. "Of course, what to do next is to ask someone..."

After finishing breakfast like this, when Yu Hezhong left the villa with a calm face, cold snowflakes fell from the gloomy sky to the ground, and after melting, it was like painting a layer of oil on the road. A newspaper boy in a straw raincoat ran across the street.

"...Selling newspapers, selling newspapers, the situation in the Central Plains War is clear, General Liu Guangshi was betrayed by all parties..."

"...Extra! Dai Mengwei is two-faced and continues to sell out his comrades..."

"...Decoding the so-called recovery of Bianliang, the three dynasties of the Wu Dynasty, big and small..."

"...Extra, extra, excerpts from Dai Mengwei's so-called declaration of rebellion against Liu Guangshi..."

Civilian information about the changes in the situation in the Central Plains had arrived in Chengdu since yesterday morning. In the afternoon, some newspapers published supplements. By today, all the news should have swept through all the large and small public opinion fields in the entire city like a frenzy.

What Yu Hezhong couldn't tell Wei Rou was: After learning the specific news of Liu Guangshi's death yesterday afternoon, he went to Li Shishi as soon as possible, but from the afternoon until the evening, Shishi was unable to spare time to see him. This was extremely rare in the past, and he didn't know if it represented Shishi or the Huaxia Army's attitude.

He finally returned to the villa in a daze, even ignoring Wei Rou's words and falling asleep, and when he woke up at this time, the complicated mood accumulated yesterday gradually turned into actual emotions: things were bad.

After the end of the Huaxia Army's battle in the southwest, he, a down-and-out minor official, came to Chengdu to seek a career, and soared to the sky in one step because of Shishi's relationship. Such an encounter was like a dream to him, but now, Liu Guangshi suddenly died, and the dream was about to wake up.

In the past year or so, he had experienced many drunken pleasures, and the people he had been in contact with were also among the top people of this era. He talked and laughed with learned people, and there were no ignorant people. His views on the world had also improved more or less. He knew that the main reason why he could occupy such a high position in the transaction between the Huaxia Army and Liu Guangshi was naturally because of Shishi's and even Ning Yi's care, but on the other hand, it was also because there needed to be someone like him in this transaction.

For a long time, he was grateful for Shishi's kindness, but if one of the parties to this transaction was no longer there, and the business returned to zero, would Shishi or Ning Yi still hold him in such a position for the sake of a little "affection"?

He didn't have much confidence in this.

Especially since he waited in the courtyard outside Shishi's office until late last night, and Shishi didn't let him go over, such a thing made him have extremely uneasy conjectures about the development of the situation.

Of course, now he can only try to calm down.

Getting into the carriage, he traveled all the way through the city where it was snowing, and arrived at the Sifang Teahouse in the south of the city. Yu Hezhong entered through the back door in a low-key manner. This was one of the core public opinion fields in Chengdu today, and in fact, Liu Guangshi's funds were also behind it. In the past, it was always the place where he and Yan Daolun and others met. At this time, it was not yet noon, and the situation inside the building looked very lively from the outside. He climbed the stairs from the back, and Yan Daolun was already waiting for him in the box on the third floor. The members of Liu's army who were usually with Yan Daolun were not there at this moment.

"Where are Wen Zhai and the others?"

"I asked them to go out to inquire about news, and I'm waiting for you here." Yan Daolun's expression seemed calm.

"Is the news confirmed? Did something really happen to Lord Liu?"

"The rebellious declaration of Dai Mengwei was actually sent earlier. Something must have happened, and now that the news has spread like wildfire, and the news from all parties is almost the same, then there is probably no doubt."

"Dai Mengwei, this old dog!"

"Dai Mengwei made his fortune by selling out his comrades. This time, he sold out Lord Liu again. He can be regarded as being handy. It's hateful that Lord Liu didn't know people clearly..."

"I see that there are still people outside saying that he is the saint of today, and that he is Zhuge Liang..."

"A villain, not enough to conspire with!"

After exchanging some complaints that were better than nothing, the two sat down at the tea table in the room. Yan Daolun poured tea and then looked at Yu Hezhong: "The news from the Central Plains should reach the Huaxia Army's news channels two or three days faster than ours. Has Brother Yu been to see Miss Li recently?" This was the core of his appeal to Yu Hezhong.

Yu Hezhong shook his head: "Since they started land reform at the end of October, people have been hard to find, and I dare not bother her rashly. I only heard the news from the Central Plains last night, and I originally planned to go there today, but I heard Wei Rou say that Brother Yan was looking for me, so I came here first."

In front of Yan Daolun, his expression was calm. In the past, Yan Daolun was the main official in charge of trading with the Huaxia Army. Yu Hezhong rose to the top through relationships, and he was always suppressed by the other party psychologically, but now that Liu Guangshi was gone, Yan Daolun had completely lost his backer, and on his side, at least the relationship between Ning Yi and Li Shishi had not been severed. He was calm for the first time psychologically.

"Yes." Yan Daolun nodded and said, "I know that Brother Yu's family is in Shishou. What does Brother Yu think of Dai Mengwei's matter this time?"

"This... it won't kill my wife and children, will it?" Yu Hezhong frowned.

"It's hard to say, Brother Yu." Yan Daolun took a sip of tea, held the teacup in his hand and was silent for a while, and then raised his head, "General Liu suddenly left, and we people he left here are in an embarrassing position. Now we are all grasshoppers on the same boat. I won't cover it up... Brother Yu, our families are all over there. To be sent to the southwest was originally regarded as a confidant by Lord Liu, and we only got the errand if we could be trusted. Even if we want to surrender to Dai Mengwei, I'm afraid it's impossible."

"That's natural. Dai Mengwei is treacherous, and I never liked him."

"Then, in this round, our family, young and old, may be in danger. In this regard... Brother Yu, you see, Dai Mengwei made his name by opposing the Huaxia Army, and Zou Xu is a general who defected from the Huaxia Army. With the combination of the two, there is no possibility of reconciliation between the Central Plains and the Huaxia Army. If Dai Mengwei stabilizes the situation in a while and traces down from our line, Brother Yu, on your side..."

Yan Daolun looked at him, hesitant to speak, Yu Hezhong opened his mouth and suddenly froze. He suddenly realized that once Dai Mengwei and Zou Xu were combined, among this group of people in the southwest, Yan Daolun and others might be able to reconcile with Dai and Zou and have their families let go, but only on his side, knowing Ning Yi and the name of knowing Li Shishi, he would become the only one who would be targeted.

Yan Daolun reached out and shook his hand.

"It was for this matter that I went to you first last night." Yan Daolun said, "Right now, it is related to the families of all of us. No matter what, we have to make arrangements as soon as possible."

Yu Hezhong's eyes flickered, and he was silent for a moment: "I, I'll go to Shishi..."

As he said that, he was about to get up, Yan Daolun patted his hand: "Brother Yu, you must be calm when you encounter major events. This matter is not urgent, and it's useless to be anxious. Let's finish lunch before we go. I still have something to discuss with you."

"But..."

Waving his hand, he comforted Yu Hezhong, who seemed a little anxious.

Yan Daolun lowered his head and continued to make tea. After a while, he spoke with a calm expression.

"By the way, Brother Yu and Miss Li have always been on good terms. Have you ever heard her mention any big shots in the Huaxia Army with the surname Long?"

"...Long?"

Not knowing why the other party suddenly raised such a question, Yu Hezhong looked at Yan Daolun, thought for a while, and became confused.