Chapter 54: Get the News (Please collect! Please vote! Please invest!)

Liu Shilin was flattered when he was welcomed into the tent. He looked at Ye Mingsheng, who was smiling, and asked tentatively, "Brother Ye, what's the matter?"

Hearing Liu Shilin's words expose his thoughts, Ye Mingsheng pretended to be angry and said: "Brother Liu, who do you think I am? This time in Liujing, you and I have shared weal and woe, and trusted each other with life and death. I really treat you as a friend..."

After saying this, Ye Mingsheng sighed deeply, looking extremely sad.

After this period of contact, Liu Shilin, who had already understood Ye Mingsheng's style of doing things, naturally had deep doubts about Ye Mingsheng's words. However, on the surface, he still bowed deeply to Ye Mingsheng and said very sincerely:
"I was wrong about Brother Ye because I judged him by my own standards. I'm sorry!"

Ye Mingsheng, who had smoothed over the situation, exchanged a few pleasantries with Liu Shilin, chatting about this and that. But when he was about to get down to business, Liu Shilin always managed to get ahead of him and change the subject, talking about other things and not giving Ye Mingsheng the chance to get down to business.

Seeing that Liu Shilin was as slippery as a loach, Ye Mingsheng, who was extremely angry, could not help but curse in his heart. He could only change his strategy and simply interrupted Liu Shilin's speech. He spoke to Liu Shilin mysteriously:
"Brother Liu, let me tell you a secret. The imperial court plans to establish a new Zhenwu Army in Liaoyang. The size of the army will be about 30,000. You Liu family must prepare in advance. This is a lucrative job. If you Liu family can get a share of it, I guarantee you will live a comfortable life for several years!"

Hearing Ye Mingsheng's words, Liu Shilin not only did not look surprised, but on the contrary, there was a hint of helplessness in his eyes. Ye Mingsheng knew about the establishment of the Zhenwu Army. With his extensive network of contacts, he naturally knew about this matter through various channels a long time ago. There was no need for Ye Mingsheng to remind him here...
He knew that Ye Mingsheng came to him after talking with Shen Jianzhong, and he must have wanted to ask him about this matter. However, this matter was very sensitive, and he didn't intend to get involved too much here, so he avoided the question here. However, it seemed that Ye Mingsheng did not intend to let him go.

Seeing Liu Shilin's reaction, Ye Mingsheng was delighted, realizing that his guess was right. This Young Master Liu must know something, and he immediately stared at Liu Shilin.

Feeling the desire in Ye Mingsheng's eyes, Liu Shilin knew that if he pretended to be ignorant at this time, he would completely offend Ye Mingsheng. Thinking of how Ye Mingsheng had just asked for credit for himself in front of Shen Jianzhong, Liu Shilin felt embarrassed and continued to play dumb.

After hesitating for a while, he stopped acting with Ye Mingsheng and whispered:
"Brother Ye, what I am going to say next is known only to heaven and earth. You and I know it. Once we leave this room, if you bring up this matter again, I will not admit it!"

"Brother Liu, please rest assured. Although I, Ye, am not a good person, I still have some moral principles!" Seeing that Liu Shilin's attitude had softened, Ye Mingsheng naturally promised solemnly:

Liu Shilin nodded after hearing this, and said after a pause: "It is true that the Zhenwu Army was established in Liaoyang. Before the palace incident, the Prime Minister had been planning this matter. Originally, this matter was still being carried out in secret, and it is estimated that it will take a few months before it is ready to be made public!"

"However, Xu Zhaojie, Lord Xu's performance this time has made the Prime Minister very angry, so he has accelerated the speed of this matter. If nothing unexpected happens, this matter will be brought to the cabinet and submitted to the ministers for review in a month!" Liu Shilin's narration seemed to make Ye Mingsheng realize something. A flash of strange color flashed across his face, but Liu Shilin did not notice the change in Ye Mingsheng's expression and continued to speak:
"The first military expenditure for establishing the Zhenwu Army is about 500,000 taels of silver. Under the instruction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue have already raised the funds and can be allocated at any time. The warehouse of the Ministry of War will provide military equipment. As for the 600,000 taels of tax silver that Liaoyang Province will pay to the court every year, the court will allocate half of it to the Zhenwu Army as military expenses."

"Gongsun Heng, the Liaoyang Gongsun who once served as the Shiwei Recruiting Envoy, will serve as the Zhenwu Army's Commander-in-Chief. As for the Zhenwu Army's Commander, it has not been determined yet, but according to the news from the Ministry of War, it is very likely that Wang Muzhi, the leader of the Shenwu Army, will take the position. In addition, most of the military officers transferred to the Zhenwu Army will also come from the Shenwu Army."

After saying this, Liu Shilin spread his hands towards Ye Mingsheng and said in a very straightforward manner: "Brother Ye, as a businessman, this is all I know. I've told you everything. As for the rest, it's up to you. When you become successful, don't count on me as your friend!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingsheng immediately stood up, bowed deeply to Liu Shilin, and said with a serious face: "Brother Liu, I will remember your kindness today, and I will repay you generously in the future!"

After finishing the business, Liu Shilin did not stay any longer and immediately said goodbye and left. After seeing him off, Ye Mingsheng, who was alone in the tent, had an expression of excitement that he could not suppress!
He made the right choice by looking for Liu Shilin. This young master Liu knew a lot. If what he said was true, then the Liu family’s connections in the court were really too strong!
The information revealed by Liu Shilin seems to be a lot, but when we look at it together, there is actually only one content, that is, Prime Minister Shangguan Hongyuan’s establishment of the Zhenwu Army was not a momentary enthusiasm, but a well-planned one, which he attached great importance to and had detailed arrangements for.

If the Zhenwu Army is to be established, someone must have money. Ye Mingsheng had already heard of the name of Wang Muzhi, the commander of the Shenwu Army mentioned by Liu Shilin.

Although this man was born a commoner, he was brave in combat and had outstanding military achievements. He was entrusted with important tasks by Shangguan Hongyuan many times. He was a famous and trusted general of the prime minister in the imperial army and was loyal to Shangguan Hongyuan.

If it weren't for his poor background, which resulted in him being criticized by all officials in the court, Wang Muzhi's military achievements would have enabled him to become a fourth-rank military officer and a senior military officer in the imperial guards.

However, even so, Shangguan Hongyuan still ignored the opposition and promoted his official position to the fifth rank, commanding the 5,000 cavalry of the Shenwu Army.

This time, Wang Muzhi was sent out to serve as the commander of the Zhenwu Army, which showed that Shangguan Hongyuan attached great importance to him and the Zhenwu Army.

(End of this chapter)