Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!

Chapter 960: Chapter 960: There are words I want to say to you

Zhou Shuren touched his own face, ”Mr. Li, why are you looking at this official like that? Has this official become younger?”

Li Zhao tugged at Zhou Shuren’s sleeve, ”Come, move closer, let’s have a good talk.”

Zhou Shuren, ”...No, this official needs to return to the Ministry of Revenue to prepare the silver.”

Why did Mr. Li always like to be so handsy, especially when it came to pulling at his official robes!

Without letting go, Li Zhao lowered his voice and said, ”At the end of the previous dynasty, due to incompetence and degeneracy, the coastline was always blockaded. Not to mention a navy, there weren’t even any ships, so we have absolutely no experience in naval warfare.”

Zhou Shuren speechless, ”Mr. Li, you don’t have to tell me, this official is well aware.”

The previous dynasty was a historical detour, deviating from history. The Founding Emperor was incredible and even developed maritime trade. Sadly, the only incredible one was the Founding Emperor, and after that, everything went downhill. Not to mention the navy, the army became a mishmash. Only some forces controlled by noble families could be considered military with combat power; as for the others, laughable.

Li Zhao continued, ”Our brotherhood is not bad. Alas, my birthday celebration is thoroughly ruined.”

Zhou Shuren felt happy inside, finally, his heart wouldn’t ache.

Li Zhao went on, ”In my eyes, you are a very capable man. Look at the reminder you gave me just now. Since I can’t celebrate my birthday, and I don’t want expensive gifts, can’t you talk a bit more about what you know?”

Zhou Shuren thought to himself, he knew too much, his understanding of history was extraordinary, pirates, colonization, but he couldn’t speak of those. The reminder just now was normal; mentioning a few concerns upon detecting an issue was usual. If he really did speak more, considering the Emperor already wary of him, he did not wish for the Emperor, if dying, to drag him along for company underground as monarch and subject. It’s better not to know everything, especially in front of the Emperor, ”Mr. Li, you’re overthinking it, what could this official possibly know? My understanding of sea trade only started after becoming the Prefect of Jinzhou, and earlier, it was just doubt, I’m naturally cautious and careful, that’s all.”

Li Zhao stared intently at Zhou Shuren, feeling something was off. The Zhou Shuren he knew was definitely not simple. Then, thinking more about it, Zhou Shuren’s words were indeed reasonable. Zhou Shuren really was cautious by nature and his doubts were normal. He sighed in frustration, ”Your words have reminded this official. Originally, I didn’t take the pirates seriously, but now we need to be careful. If there’s a defeat, our coastline won’t be peaceful, and merchant ships heading out to sea won’t have any guarantee of safety.”

Zhou Shuren thought to himself, that was exactly why he had cautioned him. His son hadn’t returned yet, and if the unrest continued, not only would it affect maritime trade but also the coastal commoners. The coastline of Huaxia was vast.

Now with no turmoil inland and the two great foreign clans scared off, for the coming years, it’s all about the coastline. Luckily, last year the Emperor decided to build ships and train a navy, otherwise, heh!

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard. The Emperor must have considered this, thus taking precautions. Anyway, he hadn’t thought too much about it at the time.

Seeing Zhou Shuren had nothing to say, Li Zhao let go of his sleeve, ”Although my birthday celebration is canceled, I still expect a gift. Zhou, we have known each other for more than a year. You figure out my first birthday gift.”

Zhou Shuren, ”...This official has something to say but doesn’t know how to put it to you, Mr. Li.”

Li Zhao, ”Hmm?”

Zhou Shuren smiled, ”Better not say it.”

Because it was a curse!

Li Zhao humphed, ”You’ve received no shortage of rewards. Those unique calligraphy and paintings given by the Emperor, I covet them.”

As he spoke, he patted Zhou Shuren’s shoulder. He truly coveted those items; though a military general, he was well-versed in literature. During the years of conflict, he had collected quite a lot, but when he had headed north, he coveted the treasures of Jiangnan that he had not managed to collect much of.

Zhou Shuren coughed. Li Zhao really was not shy about taking advantage, tch, as if Zhou had a close relationship with Li Zhao. Clearly, Li Zhao was taking advantage of his higher official rank and his grip on authority to bully him. Just wait until he got promoted!

As they were about to leave the Palace, a eunuch chased after them from behind, ”Mr. Li, the Emperor summons you.”

Zhou Shuren thought to himself with a sneer, he knew it; one must be careful with their words. In the future, he would keep an even tighter control over his own mouth.

Zhou Shuren returned to the Ministry of Revenue and met with the Grand Master of Writing. ”The Emperor has ordered the preparation of Silver for the use of the Ministry of War.”

Xiao Qing’s face lost its leisureliness, ”The Emperor intends to use pirates to train the Navy!”

Zhou Shuren hummed a response, ”The pirates are not simple; this Silver will be used in no small amount.”

Xiao Qing’s eyes grew more solemn, ”Did the Emperor not specify an amount?”

Zhou Shuren shook his head. ”No, the Ministry of War will send over the amount after their statistics are completed.”

This was the benefit of his small changes; it wouldn’t be a direct ask for tens of thousands of taels!

Xiao Qing sighed, ”There are already many matters to attend to, and now one more is added.”

In the Palace, within the government hall, the Emperor waited for Li Zhao to leave and carefully inspected the new map of the Haihan lines, saying softly, ”The map is still incomplete, if only we had the maps of all countries.”

Even though envoys had been sent with merchants to the sea to draw maps, they couldn’t be completed in a short time.

The Emperor looked at his own reflection in the mirror, touched his face, and if he were a bit younger, if he could grant the Navy a few more years, the nearby island nations - he sighed, for now, he had the will but lacked the power.

The Emperor handed the map to the Crown Prince, ”You will need to complete this in the future.”

The Crown Prince was excited inside, he touched the map after taking it, but after the excitement came calm. The newly established Navy dreaming of domination was just that - a dream. It was debatable whether they could even win this time. Thinking of this, Zhou Shuren was indeed meticulous; without the reminder, it would be easy to underestimate the enemy.

At the Zhou residence, Zhulan was chatting with her eldest daughter, watching her granddaughter carefully wipe the books.

Her granddaughter had changed greatly after half a year in the capital; even at the Zhou residence, she was a bit reserved when she first arrived.

Jiang Miu had always had a scholarly air about her, and now it was even more pronounced. The girls in the family, Yushuang and Yu Lu, preferred books, paintings, musical instruments, etc., and were not particularly eager about reading. Jiang Miu was different, she genuinely loved reading. Having a teacher in the capital, the young girl delved even deeper into her studies.

But she had no talent for musical instruments, her piano playing was completely discordant. However, her painting and crafts were not bad.

The girl grew up pretty, didn’t turn out bad as she got older, and became more skilled in dressing up – she was quite likable.

It was just that now, Jiang Miu was unhappy.

It had rained last night, only stopping when the sky began to brighten, leaving puddles everywhere. Jiang Miu’s book had fallen to the ground and gotten dirty.

Zhulan saw her granddaughter’s tears swirling in her eyes, genuinely distressed, ”Grandma will buy you a new one.”

Jiang Miu shook her head, ”No need, Grandma. I’ll write over the blurred parts of this book.”

Zhulan laughed, ”You just bought that book and haven’t read it yet, how will you write it down?”

When the grandchildren were back in the old home, she would send New Year gifts and incidentally give pocket money to the kids, which the daughter would keep – the grandchildren couldn’t get their hands on it.

This year, after coming to the capital, she made up for the pocket money. Su Xuan herself was also generous, every child in the family had received a gold or silver peanut.