What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 158: Conquering the Aloof and Arrogant Commander!
In the Great Wu Dynasty, reputation was of great importance.

During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, at the beginning of the dynasty, the Nine-Rank System was implemented, allowing those with a good reputation in the countryside to directly enter the court as officials!

Those literary giants and sages were so respected that even high-ranking officials in the imperial court had to show them deference.

Even a domineering noble like Zhang Xuzu spoke of Mr. Zhiru's name with great respect!
But these words reached Su Mo's ears!

But it was like a thunderclap in my ear, and my eyes narrowed sharply!
He took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with a cold light, and stared directly at Zhang Xuzu, asking in a deep voice, "Where did you hear about Mr. Zhiru?"

"If life were only as beautiful as the first time we met, where did you hear that saying?"

Nangong Sheyue couldn't help but raise her eyebrows and stare intently at Zhang Xuzu.

The requirements for women to hold official positions are inherently higher than those for men.

Nangong Sheyue was able to become a commander of the Fengming Division, one of the highest commanders in the division, because he was proficient in both literature and martial arts, and was also skilled in poetry and prose.

This line of poetry truly touched her heart, and she couldn't shake the feeling of it for a long time after hearing it!

Zhang Xuzu swallowed hard: "This line of poetry is a masterpiece by Mr. Zhiru!"

"If life could always be like our first encounter, why would the autumn wind bring sorrow to the painted fan?"

He took a deep breath, his expression growing even more solemn: "Old friends change easily, yet people say that old friends are fickle."

"Such timeless masterpieces could only have been created by seasoned literary figures with a wealth of life experience!"

Su Mo's face instantly darkened.

Nangong Sheyue's eyes flashed with a strange light as she stared intently at Zhang Xuzu.

Seeing that he wasn't going to continue, she couldn't help but ask, "What's next?"

Zhang Xuzu was startled and looked at Nangong Sheyue with some awe, quickly saying, "There's nothing down there..."

Before he could finish speaking, Su Mo's gloomy voice suddenly came from the side: "After the words at Lishan, half the clear night has passed, tears fall like rain, yet there is no resentment."

"How about the unfaithful man in brocade clothes, who made a vow to be together forever?"

Nangong Sheyue took a deep breath and suddenly turned to look at Su Mo.

Her beautiful eyes showed even greater astonishment.

Zhang Xuzu was also dumbfounded, swallowed twice, and then exclaimed in disbelief, "Lord Su really knows about that Mr. Ru!"

"He even heard the entire poem by Mr. Zhiru!"

Li You sighed, "We've searched for many people, but in this vast capital, no one has ever heard of the second half of this poem!"

"I never expected to hear the second half of this poem from Lord Su!"

Wen Bi was also very surprised and looked at Su Mo in disbelief.

It was naturally shocking that the Jinyiwei, who were supposed to be crude and illiterate, actually knew poetry!

No one believes that the poem outside Baiyujing was written by Su Mo!
Ignoring the shock of the crowd, Su Mo's gaze sharpened, and he asked in a deep voice, "Brother Zhang, where did you hear the first half of the Ballad of Mulan?"

Zhang Xuzu blinked: "This poem is called 'Mulan Ci'? The title is truly beautiful!"

Seeing that Su Mo's face was getting darker and darker, and having been frightened all day, he immediately said, "This was said by a woman from Changping County."

"His name is Xue... what was it again?"

Li You quickly replied, "Xue Yishu!"

"That's it!" Zhang Xuzu slapped his thigh hard. "Let's name her Xue Yishu!"

"She went to Tianchang County with her father, told the poem to the young lady of the Ministry of Rites, and then it spread to the capital."

He paused, then sighed, "The entire social circle of noblewomen in the capital is talking about this word; it's incredibly popular!"

"Countless people are inquiring about Mr. Zhiru's identity!"

Su Mo's forehead was covered in black lines!

After all that fuss, the suspected second time traveler turned out to be himself!

Worry for nothing!

But when did I ever mention the Ballad of Mulan to Xue Yishu?

Could it be the day he drank himself into oblivion with Xue Shan and Lao Wang?
Hmm! I remember Qin Bier once said that she recited a lot of poems, and Xue Yishu wrote them down in a small booklet.

I have no idea how many poems were recited!
Next time I see her, I'll tell her not to spread it around.

These are all masterpieces, and should be used at crucial moments!
However, it's good that there wasn't a second time traveler.

Su Mo's expression softened, and then he looked at Zhang Xuzu with some curiosity: "Brother Zhang, why are you also so curious about that Mr. Zhiru?"

"This word should be more appropriate for women..."

As she spoke, Su Mo glanced at Nangong Sheyue, whose expression had changed, and knew that she must have already guessed that the so-called Mr. Zhiru was herself.

"This phrase must be something that women would really like, right?"

Zhang Xuzu chuckled: "Isn't this to find out Mr. Zhiru's identity so I can talk to those court ladies and wives of officials?"

"We've already produced 100,000 bars of soap and hand soap, investing all our money. We must make our money back as soon as possible!"

Su Mo was immediately stunned: "One hundred thousand yuan?"

Zhang Xuzu smiled smugly: "It's just a mere 100,000 yuan."

"If it weren't for the fact that money is a bit tight, I could make a million!"

"Of the 100,000 coins, we've already spent 3,000 taels of silver, much of which we borrowed from others!"

Su Mo was deeply moved!

This is the heritage of the Duke's Mansion and the Marquis's Mansion.

The available manpower and resources are truly terrifying.

If I don't cooperate with these people, my money-making ideas will be devoured, leaving nothing but bones!

In the eyes of these people, the so-called secret method, unless it is like perfume making, which requires personal effort, is not a secret at all!

However, Zhang Xuzu does indeed have an exceptional talent for business.

They actually thought of starting with the circle of wealthy women.

If it were me, at most I would have given them to brothel women to try, thereby building a reputation and expanding sales.

It's not that I'm inferior to Zhang Xuzu, it's just that I don't have his connections!

Even if you wanted to directly enter the circle of wealthy women, there's no way to do it!

Just as Su Mo was sighing, Zhang Xuzu asked anxiously, "Lord Su, please tell us quickly, what is Mr. Zhiru's identity?"

Wen Bi chuckled and said, "That's right, Lord Su, stop hiding your true intentions!"

"Once we find out Mr. Zhiru's identity, we can mention it to the ladies and casually introduce our soap, hehe..."

He couldn't help but swallow, his eyes shining.

I don't know if it was because I could talk to those sheltered young ladies in the capital, or because I could quickly sell the soap!
Su Mo smiled wryly and said, "I don't know who Mr. Zhiru is either."

Seeing the disappointed looks on Zhang Xuzu and the other two's faces, Su Mo smiled and said, "However, no one should know the second half of the Ballad of Mulan."

"With your three elder brothers' abilities, are you afraid you won't be able to blend into the circles of noble ladies and women?"

Zhang Xuzu and the other two were dumbfounded!
After a long pause, he gave Su Mo a thumbs up: "Lord Su, you are brilliant!"

"We'll get right to it!"

Just as he was about to take his leave, Zhang Xuzu's eyes suddenly lit up, and he added, "Five days from now, the Lanting Poetry Gathering will be a grand event for the literary world of the capital, and many officials and their wives will also participate."

"Before this, Lord Su, you must not reveal the second half of the Ballad of Mulan to anyone!"

He didn't forget to remind Su Mo: "Lord Su, don't forget, you get 50% of the profits from the soap business!"

Su Mo asked curiously, "What are you planning to do?"

Zhang Xuzu hesitated for a moment, but still said, "Have the craftsmen carve the poem 'Magnolia Blossom' onto the box, put some soap inside, and send it out as a prize for the Orchid Pavilion Poetry Gathering!"

Su Mo...

This guy has absolutely no sense of copyright.

To blatantly steal one's own timeless name like this is utterly shameless!

He thought for a moment and said, "We could make a woodblock printing box, and after the soap is formed, the poem could be printed directly on it!"

"Once we establish the reputation of Magnolia Fragrance, even if someone obtains this secret technique in the future, they will find it difficult to compete with us!"

Zhang Xuzu was stunned for a long time, then exclaimed sincerely, "Lord Su is truly amazing! Such ingenious ideas are beyond my reach!"

"I will immediately instruct the craftsmen in the manor to carry out the work according to Lord Su's instructions!"

In his entire life, Zhang Xuzu has never truly respected many people.

Besides his father, there was his elder brother, and then there was Su Mo.

He considered himself to be an expert in business, but one sentence from someone else amazed him.

The restaurant he ran was making a fortune every day.

What an amazing way to make a living!

Fortunately, Su Mo was obsessed with officialdom; otherwise, there would be no place for other merchants to establish themselves in the capital!
Su Mo was speechless. But before he could speak, Zhang Xuzu and the other two hurriedly left.

They invested heavily in this soap business, seeing it as a crucial battle to elevate their family's status and power—ten times more important than Su Mo's!
Nangong Sheyue waved for Yin Rou to wait outside the house.

Then, out of the blue, he asked, "Then, Mr. Zhiru, you must be one of us?"

Su Mo subconsciously looked at Nangong Sheyue and was taken aback.

Why did my favorability rating increase by two points again?

Could it be that this aloof and arrogant Fengming Si Qianhu is a brainwashed fan of poetry and songs, just like Xue Yishu?

He blinked: "Since you already know, why ask when you already know the answer?"

A strange light flashed in Nangong Sheyue's beautiful eyes. She nodded slightly and said softly, "This poem is truly excellent."

As she spoke, a look of curiosity appeared in her pretty eyes: "Did you really make this?"

Su Mo thought for a moment, then his expression turned serious: "This humble servant dares not conceal anything from you, sir."

"Ten years ago, on a clear morning when the earth was covered in snow..."

Nangong Sheyue's pretty face immediately darkened, and she waved her hand impatiently: "Stop talking!"

"This poem must have been written by that old man with the white beard!"

I was naive.

Even the Empress couldn't get any information out of Su Mo, so how could I possibly succeed so easily!

She snorted and then asked casually, "Last time Zhang Xuzu came to interrogate us, it was only after obtaining that... soap-making method that he left satisfied?"

"What is this?"

Last time, when the Empress asked her why, she couldn't explain it, so this time she naturally wanted to find out.

Su Mo casually said, "It's just a small business, with an annual income of no more than ten thousand taels. It's not worth mentioning. Only Zhang Xuzu and his group would take it seriously."

Hearing Su Mo's words and seeing that smug expression, Nangong Sheyue suddenly wanted to curse—no, she wanted to hit someone!
A small business that can earn 10,000 taels a year?

The Phoenix Cry Division has several thousand employees, and its annual budget is only 100,000 taels of silver!

Su Mo thought for a moment and then said, "I happen to have some soap here for bathing and cleansing. If you need any, I can give you some."

Seeing that Su Mo had finished speaking but hadn't moved an inch, Nangong Sheyue's face darkened: "Why aren't you going yet?"

Su Mo...

Shouldn't I wait for her to speak?

However, she holds a high-ranking position, so let's not bother with her for now!

After returning to the inner quarters, he asked Liu Siyun to fetch the Ten Directions Soap, then went back to the courtyard and handed the box to the Commander.

Nangong Sheyue nodded in satisfaction and said calmly, "Hurry up and go to the artisan camp with Yin Rou for your shift!"

"One thousand divine crossbows and ten eight-ox crossbows must be made as soon as possible!"

He paused, then reminded Su Mo, "Also, don't forget, you must take up your post as registrar in Tianchang County before the end of the month!"

Su Mo looked bitter.

Something feels increasingly off.

Didn't I come here to enjoy myself?
How come he's getting busier and busier even though he's rising through the ranks and accumulating thousands of taels of silver?

Tianchang County needs to make money from merchants, the artisan battalion needs to manufacture the Eight-Ox Crossbow and the Divine Arm Bow, and there are also two restaurants to manage...

It's still due to a lack of talented personnel under their command.

Once there are more generals like Liu Siyun in the future, they should be able to relax and enjoy their retirement.

He sighed, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Nangong Sheyue, and said, "This humble servant understands!"

After hesitating for a moment, taking advantage of Nangong Sheyue's favorability rating rising to 12%, he asked, "Please forgive my boldness, but may I ask for your name, sir?"

He paused, then added, "Please don't misunderstand, sir."

"I was just afraid of getting confused with Commander Lin Moyin."

Su Mo knew her name was Nangong Sheyue.

He knows the problem that others don't!

If I accidentally let it slip someday, it would be hard to explain even if the white-bearded old man came back to life.

The aloof and arrogant commander of the Phoenix Cry Division snorted, and with a whoosh, suddenly flew to the top of the wall and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Just as Su Mo was speechless, the aloof voice of Commander Gao Leng suddenly rang in his ears: "Nangong Sheyue!"

Su Mo raised his eyebrows immediately!
Conquering the Thousand-Household Commander of Fengming Division is half the battle!
Indeed, those who are aloof and cold often have a passionate heart inside!

Just as others see Lin Moyin as a ruthless and decisive leader, who would believe that she is actually a jealous and scheming woman at heart?
If we can also capture Nangong Sheyue.

By then, both the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Phoenix Cry Division will have powerful backers, so I won't have to worry about not being able to rise through the ranks if I become an official in the court!
Well, I'd say Leng Xixi barely qualifies as half.

No tasks posted!
In addition, his official rank was low; he was merely a centurion.

He can only be considered a half-powerful backer!
Su Mo wanted to call someone to bring over the chestnut horse, only to find that the entire mansion was guarded by just one gatekeeper.

The restaurant is extremely busy and short-staffed.

Jiang Laoshi and the others went to the restaurant to work.

Too lazy to go back and call Liu Siyun, he went to the stable himself, led the big horse, and went out the side gate.

Yin Rou was waiting outside.

Su Mo looked around: "Officer Yin, where's your horse?"

Yin Rou looked at Su Mo with a complicated expression.

She naturally knew why she, an ordinary captain, had been suddenly promoted to junior officer!
Don't be fooled by the fact that the local Imperial Guards are lawless.

But in this capital, most of the strongmen were employees of the garrison, the lowest-ranking soldiers, and had virtually no status.

Those who truly have some prestige are at the rank of colonel or general.

But it's just a bit of a show-off.

Only by obtaining an official position can one truly become a court hound that all officials in the court fear!
The difference between a junior officer and a captain is like heaven and earth!
Yin Rou knew that she had only become a junior officer because she was the first secret agent captain to come into contact with Su Mo!

Being a minor officer like this only makes me a scapegoat for Su Mo!

Upon hearing Su Mo's question, she quickly replied, "Your Excellency, I do not usually ride horses."

Su Mo frowned.

Yin Rou is in a pretty bad situation; she doesn't even own a horse.

"How about we ride together?"

Su Mo frowned and said, "The journey to Lonely Peak Mountain is not short. I will speak with the Commander of the Thousand Households another day and ask him to provide you with a horse."

Yin Rou hesitated for a moment, then replied, "This humble servant obeys."

As she spoke, she walked to the tall chestnut horse and tried to mount it, but because of her petite stature and the horse's height, she couldn't get on!

Her pretty face immediately flushed red.

Su Mo was slightly surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Does Officer Yin not know martial arts?"

Yin Rou quickly replied, "My lord, most of the Phoenix Cry Division's warriors and captains are not skilled in martial arts."

Su Mo thought about it and agreed.

An undercover agent must be ordinary so as not to arouse suspicion.

However, most of the people I saw were skilled in martial arts or were Taoist sorcerers, so I subconsciously ignored this point.

He immediately stretched out his hand: "Come on!"

Yin Rou blushed and grabbed Su Mo's big hand. Then she felt a strong force coming from him, and her body floated lightly onto the horse's back.

Su Mo said calmly, "Hold on tight!"

As he spoke, he spurred the horse's belly.

The chestnut horse lifted its front hoof and raised its head.

Yin Rou almost fell, and quickly grabbed Su Mo's waist with both hands.

Then, with a whoosh of wind in my ears, the horse galloped off!

Terrified, Yin Rou could only hold onto Su Mo tightly to avoid accidentally falling.

Her petite body, like a koala, clung completely to Su Mo's back. A strong masculine scent constantly filled her nostrils, making her pretty face turn even redder!

Su Mo felt the pressure coming from his back and was secretly amazed.

Unexpectedly, Yin Rou, despite her petite figure, is quite well-endowed, with a slim waist and large hips—her figure is quite impressive!
Hmm, I wonder if she's betrothed yet.

I was shocked today! A huge thank you to the generous donor, 【最纯纯】, for the 1000 RMB reward! This is the biggest reward I've ever received. If I don't update more tomorrow, am I even human? Tomorrow's chapters will definitely be over 10,000 words!



(End of this chapter)