My eunuch godfather

Chapter 34 Drinking

Chen Jizong's cousin-in-law was clearly taken in by Li Cheng as a hanger-on, and he praised and flattered Li Cheng in various ways.

Although Zhang Ye was the official in charge of the Imperial Horse Administration, he spent most of his time supervising taxes in Zhangjiawan, Tongzhou, so the Imperial Horse Administration was actually managed by Li Cheng.

For Chen Jizong, who came from the Imperial Guard, and his cousin-in-law, Li Cheng, who was in charge of the Imperial Horse Administration, held considerable weight.

After a few rounds of drinks, seeing Li Cheng give a signal with his eyes, the cousin-in-law smiled and said to Chen Jizong:

"Jizong, your river engineering camp is making great progress! I visited your main camp, and it's doing quite well."

At this rate, construction should begin soon, right?

You spend all your time eating, drinking, and having fun, so why are you suddenly interested in the river engineering camp? There's definitely something fishy going on.

Seeing Chen Jizong nod and offer a few perfunctory words without taking the initiative to speak, his cousin-in-law cut to the chase:

"Jizong, you know what kind of person I am. I have no hope for a career in government."

I'd like to take advantage of your position in charge of the river engineering camp to do some materials business. Would you be willing to help me?

"If you're willing, I'll give you a 30% share, no money required!"

The 30% equity stake certainly isn't given away for free. How can they make big profits from materials? By exaggerating usage and using inferior materials...

"Brother-in-law,"

Chen Jizong put down his wine glass, pretending not to understand what was going on, and advised his cousin-in-law:

"The materials industry is a very complex and dangerous place. Don't blame me for being blunt, but I'm afraid you won't be able to make it!"

The construction of the nine gates and city moat was approved by the Emperor and personally overseen by Governor Xu of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Minister Zhang of Zhangjiawan.

If you get tricked into joining a shady school and cause any trouble, I can't protect you!

"Don't worry, Chen Zuoying."

Li Cheng, who was at the head of the table, suddenly spoke, pointing to Zhang Guotai beside him, and smiled at Chen Jizong:

"My sworn brother also has a stake in the business and will help oversee it. How could it possibly fail?"

"So, even Commander Zhang was involved?"

Chen Jizong feigned surprise and smiled at Zhang Guotai:

"As the commander of the river works battalion in charge of grain, wouldn't Zhang face criticism if outsiders found out that he was doing this?"

"Oh dear, Jizong, what are you worrying about so unnecessarily?"

My cousin's husband said urgently to Chen Jizong:

"Which government office doesn't do this nowadays? What, you don't trust Commander Zhang?!"

The implication is that you want to refuse Li Cheng's offer to recruit you.

"General Zhang is the adopted son of Zhang Neixiang, so of course I trust him."

Chen Jizong brought up Xu Bengao and tried to persuade the group:

"But I'm afraid Governor Xu won't agree to this approach, will he?"

"Governor Xu will soon be removed from the title of Acting Governor."

Li Cheng spoke again, smiling slightly at Chen Jizong:

"Once the title of Acting Governor is removed, Governor Xu will most likely not personally take on the position of Commander of the River Works Battalion."

Chen Zuoying personally went south to recruit river workers and build a large camp. I think Chen Zuoying is very suitable to fill this official vacancy.

Zhang Guotai, who was standing next to him, also chimed in:

"Chen Zuoying's rank is not high enough. I think the Admiral of the River Works Battalion should at least be a Deputy Commander."

First, help Chen Zuoying rise to the rank of Deputy Commander of the Guard, then Commander of the Guard, and finally Acting Commander of the River Works Battalion.

"good,"

Li Cheng nodded and smiled at Chen Jizong, saying:

"Chen led his troops south to recruit river workers, and he achieved military merits in suppressing bandits in Hejian Salt Office and Linqing Prefecture."

I think we should have a serious talk with the Ministry of War and get our military merits verified as soon as possible; promotion will be just around the corner!

Hearing this, Chen Jizong couldn't help but be tempted:

If the Chen family's hereditary position could be promoted from Vice Commander of the Guard to Deputy Commander of the Guard or even Commander of the Guard.

This is enough to warrant Chen Jizong having his own chapter in the Chen family genealogy, and his ancestral tablet being placed in one of the most prominent positions!

Moreover, given the influence of the Imperial Horse Administration on the Imperial Guards, if he were to become Li Cheng's disciple...

This is what made the Chen family one of the top families in the Imperial Guard, perhaps even number one!

From now on, as long as nothing major goes wrong, each generation will be able to produce officials with real positions!

It's unlikely that my family will decline like my cousin's husband!

"Jizong, what are you still thinking about?"

Seeing that Chen Jizong was still hesitating, his cousin-in-law couldn't help but urge him:

"Since Lord Li values ​​you so highly, are you really going to refuse his kindness?!"

...Wait a minute?

I've already become Zhang Ye's disciple through Zhang Kun!

You, Li Cheng, are indeed powerful, but you are also Zhang Ye's adopted son, and on the surface, you and Zhang Kun are brothers!

Laozi and Zhang Kun are sworn brothers. If I were to become your disciple, would I have to call Zhang Kun "uncle" and Zhang Ye "grandpa"?

Thinking of this, Chen Jizong ignored his brother-in-law and said respectfully to Li Cheng:

"Thank you for your high regard, Lord Li. However, if I were to participate in this matter, how could I possibly take a 30% stake without contributing any money?"

I'm not afraid of being laughed at, but I'm henpecked. My wife manages all the money in the house, and I have to go back and discuss it with her.

After speaking, he stood up and bowed to Li Cheng, saying:

"I will go home immediately and discuss this matter with my wife!"

As I stepped out of the private room and went down the stairs, my cousin-in-law hurriedly chased after me from behind.

Looking furious, he lowered his voice and said to Chen Jizong:

"Are you crazy?! That's Li Cheng, the one in charge of the Imperial Horse Stables!"

Chen Jizong grabbed his cousin-in-law's clothes, dragged him quickly out of the restaurant, and pointed at his nose, sternly saying:

"Listen to me carefully, they only took you in as their dog because of me, the battalion commander!"

"My position as battalion commander was given to me by Li Cheng's godfather. Now I'm bypassing Li Cheng's godfather and directly becoming Li Cheng's disciple. What kind of nonsense is this?!"

Not wanting to push things too far, she pointed to the restaurant and said coldly to her brother-in-law:

"Now get back inside and serve those gentlemen properly, settle the bill, and I'll pay you back later."

......

Meanwhile, Zhang Kun was also entertaining his trusted subordinates at a restaurant:

Zhang Kun sat at the head of the table, with Wei Sengteng and Xu Xin on his left and right, followed by Yang Desheng, Cao Meng, Sun Shoucheng, Zuo Liangyu, and others.

The dozen or so tables besides this one were occupied by other skilled fighters and servants who were willing to follow Zhang Kun.

Secondly, there were Zhang Kun's old acquaintances and fellow villagers in Xinzhuang, among whom were those who were quick-witted, skilled, or respected.

Third, they stood out from the river workers recruited by Zhang Kun.

However, Wei Sengteng, who was seated at the very front, actually did not intend to stay:

Wei Sengteng said that he gets along very well with Zhang Kun and approves of Zhang Kun, but he has become accustomed to being free.

This indicates that Zhang Kun will be available at any time, unless the speaker is not in the capital, for any future tasks.

But I don't want to work in the river engineering camp and be restricted.

Zhang Kun did not insist. Tonight's banquet was both to entertain his confidants and to bid farewell to Wei Sengteng.

Because Wei Sengteng was planning to go to Datong to visit some of his comrades whom he had met there.

"Gentlemen, our river engineering camp will begin work tomorrow!"

After several rounds of drinks, Zhang Kun raised his glass and smiled at his trusted confidants present, saying:

"I, Zhang Kun, hereby guarantee that as long as you all work with me to do a good job in the river engineering camp, you will be rewarded with wealth and honor!"

Come, let's toast the river engineering camp! Wishing them a successful start to their work!

"Homage to Master Kun!" "Homage to the Foreman!" "May the door open and bring good fortune!"

Zhang Kun's confidants raised their glasses, stood up, and laughed loudly.

Although there were many setbacks along the way, especially the two dangerous encounters in Hejian and Linqing.

But watching the river engineering camp go from nothing to something, completing recruitment, building a large camp, and about to start construction.

Everyone is optimistic about the future, full of confidence, and highly motivated!