Chapter 144: Unexpected Visitors! (Thanks to the book friend Wang Shi Sui Yuan for the reward!)
If the imperial court was able to win over the Gongsun family, it must have contacted the Cui family in advance, and the result of the winover was undoubtedly that the Cui family did not agree. Otherwise, with the support of the Cui and Gongsun families, not to mention that Song Wenhui had been directly escorted to Beijing, he would definitely be in trouble, and Liaoyang would not have been as peaceful as it is now.

Since the imperial court had not done it, Ye Mingsheng did not think that he, who had no contact with the Cui family for so many years and was only a relative, could win over the Cui family.

For a large family like the Cui family that has been passed down for hundreds of years, it is impossible to make a decision easily because of the impact of one move on the whole family. They will definitely wait and see how things develop before deciding who to bet on...
In Ye Mingsheng's opinion, his relationship with the Cui family can only help him communicate better with the Cui family and establish connections. As for whether he can get the Cui family to support the Zhenwu Army, it still depends on the development of the Zhenwu Army and the changes in the situation in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Precisely because he had such a clear understanding of himself, Ye Mingsheng originally planned to rely on the Ye family's own strength to recruit soldiers in Fengshan County, and had no intention of asking the Cui family for help.

However, man proposes, God disposes. Chen Dechang actually has to recruit 10,000 soldiers on his own. So he has to go to the Cui family. Without the help of the Cui family, it would be difficult for him to complete the task of recruiting 10,000 soldiers assigned by Chen Dechang alone.

It would definitely not be possible to go there myself and ask the Cui family to support the Zhenwu Army, but it might be possible to get some benefits and conveniences from the Cui family.

Thinking of this, Ye Mingsheng had a plan in his mind.

Just when Ye Mingsheng was thinking about some details, Ye Tie's voice came from outside the door.

"Master, it's already the hour of night. Let's have a meal. This man is made of iron and this meal is made of steel..."

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingsheng looked out the window and saw that it was indeed pitch black outside, with a bright moon hanging high in the night sky.

It turned out that he had been thinking about it for more than an hour. Ye Mingsheng shook his head slightly. When he was thinking about things, he could not feel the passage of time at all.

Ye Tie, who was holding a lunch box outside the study, saw that he did not get a response and said anxiously:

"Master, I bought your favorite braised pork noodles. Do you want me to take it in, or do you want me to come out..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Mingsheng opened the door of the room, took the lunch box from Ye Tie's hand, and then instructed:
"Go to the kitchen and get me two cloves of garlic!"

"Got it!" Seeing Ye Mingsheng finally come out to eat, Ye Tie finally put down his worry.

Opening the lunch box and smelling the strong aroma of braised pork and noodles, Ye Mingsheng couldn't help but feel hungry. He immediately picked up the chopsticks and started to devour the food.

Although he had eaten a meal at Chen Dechang's house at 3 p.m., Ye Mingsheng felt embarrassed to eat much at his boss's house. Besides, the dishes at Chen Dechang's house did not suit his appetite, so he only took a few bites of the dishes and ate half a bowl of rice before putting down his chopsticks.

He has not eaten anything since the afternoon. When he was thinking just now, his mind was highly concentrated and he did not feel hungry. But now that he is not thinking, he can clearly feel the hunger in his stomach!
After eating a few mouthfuls of noodles, Ye Tie also took the garlic. As the saying goes, eating noodles without garlic will reduce the flavor by half. Although the braised pork noodles are delicious, they are indeed a bit greasy. The spiciness of garlic can just neutralize it. After eating the remaining noodles with garlic, Ye Mingsheng, who was full of wine and food, touched his slightly bulging belly and said to Ye Tie:
"Tomorrow you take out the remaining eight gold bars in the cellar, go to the West Market and find a goldsmith, melt the gold, and make me a small golden Buddha. Make it as exquisite as possible!"

Today, when he was having dinner at Chen Dechang's house, he vaguely heard the faint sounds of chanting Buddhist scriptures and beating wooden fish in the backyard of Chen Dechang's house. After asking the maids and servants, he learned that Chen Dechang's wife, Li, was a Buddhist and a very pious one. Not only did she eat vegetarian meals, but she also chanted scriptures and worshiped Buddha every day.

Because he didn't have much money left, and he had other things to do, he couldn't spend money like he did on Li Guangbin. So this time, Ye Mingsheng could only try to go the lady's route and give her a golden Buddha to please her and see what effect it would have.

"I understand, Master!"

Although he didn't know what Ye Mingsheng wanted the golden Buddha for, Ye Tie still did his duty, nodded and agreed to the matter without asking any more questions.

······················
······················
Now that he had the official position and the staffing promised by Chen Dechang, Ye Mingsheng began to prepare for the next step in his plan - recruiting talents!
Although Chen Dechang would definitely send some military officers to assist him, as a fifth-rank general of the Zhenwu Army, Ye Mingsheng still had a lot of autonomy in personnel issues.

In order to better carry out various tasks in Liaoyang and to make it easier to control the troops in his own hands, Ye Mingsheng would of course look for a group of trustworthy people to take to Liaoyang.

In addition to loyalty, Ye Mingsheng also planned to find a capable military officer to assist him. After all, although he had commanded several battles in the palace and luckily never lost, Ye Mingsheng knew his own command level...

When he arrived in Liaoyang, where all the forces were mixed and there were bandits of different ethnic groups everywhere, it was conceivable that there would be no shortage of wars and conflicts, so he had to have a good general to protect him. Otherwise, he would be beaten before Ye Mingsheng could develop.

Just when Ye Mingsheng was about to take action, an unexpected yet reasonable person came to his courtyard with gifts.

Looking at the somewhat embarrassed Lin Huaiwu in front of him in the study, Ye Mingsheng vaguely guessed the purpose of his visit and said lightly:
"Captain Lin, what's the matter with you coming here this time?"

Feeling the coldness in Ye Mingsheng's words, Lin Huaiwu, who originally felt that he had come here with a sure thing, immediately became a little restless, his face changed a little, and he did not make any more preparations. He stood up directly, bowed deeply to Ye Mingsheng, and said in a deep voice:
"I am willing to follow you to Liaoyang!"

Seeing that he came here for this purpose, Ye Mingsheng sneered in his heart. He did not immediately reply to Lin Huaiwu, but remained silent.

Looking at Ye Mingsheng who said nothing, Lin Huaiwu, who was standing beside him, felt really nervous...

(End of this chapter)