The grass in the factory should be plucked

Ever since Jiang Li figured out the "stand-in doll", he let the matter go and started to focus on the Lantern Festival.

Last year, due to the "demon book" case, the old emperor ended the officials' vacation early, and Jiang Li didn't get to visit the Lantern Festival that she had been longing for. This year, she had to go and have a good time!

Nangong Qinghe also announced the holding of the royal "Aoshan Lantern Festival" to celebrate the birth of the eldest prince.

The name "Aoshan" comes from the legendary "Giant Ao Daishan".

It is said that there are five fairy mountains overseas named "Daiyu", "Yuanjiao", "Fanghu", "Yingzhou" and "Penglai". On the mountains, there are platforms made of gold and jade, and trees made of pearls, and fairies appear and disappear from time to time.

Because the fairy mountains float on the sea, often rise and fall with the waves and drift around, the Emperor of Heaven ordered fifteen giant turtles to hold up the five fairy mountains and firmly fix them on the sea.

Since the founding emperor of the Chu State, a giant lantern shaped like "Aoshan" would be built outside the Meridian Gate during the Lantern Festival every year.

A tall lantern frame is built with bamboo and wood, and colorful silk is tied on it. Layers of lanterns are stacked up to make the "Aoshan Lantern" that looks like a giant turtle holding up a fairy mountain. There are at least thirteen layers.

There are pavilions, towers, jade branches and leaves, and various gods on it, symbolizing the prosperous atmosphere of "the country will be forever stable and the people will enjoy happiness together".

In addition to the royal "Aoshan Lantern", all government offices and businesses in the capital would make lanterns and participate in the event, competing with each other in beauty, which was a grand occasion.

On the Lantern Festival, the "Aoshan Lantern Festival" is open to the public for everyone to enjoy.

The Lantern Festival will last for three days. The huge "Aoshan Lantern" will be decorated with colorful clusters, the entire Meridian Gate will be ablaze with bright lights, gorgeous fireworks will be set off continuously, there will be music from the Bell and Drum Department, singing and dancing from the Jiaofang Department, and performances from various folk artists, making it extremely lively.

Jiang Li was overjoyed when he heard the news, and immediately issued an order: "Each business in Longmen must make a lantern, and you must do your best. The winning business will have its prize money doubled!"

In addition to the royal "Aoshan Lantern", the lanterns of various government offices and businesses would be scored by the people, and the best works would be selected and awarded by the emperor himself.

Mo Qillang was overjoyed, he was sure to win the prize!

In terms of production standards, who can compare with the disciples of Mohism?

Jiang Li was also looking forward to it. She wondered what new things the Mohist disciples could come up with on the lanterns.

She pestered Xie Changan again: "Brother Changan, we don't have to train during the Lantern Festival, right? At least give everyone a holiday."

"Okay, I'll stay with you all day, okay?"

Xie Changan kissed her lovingly. The little girl had been looking forward to the Lantern Festival for so long, so he naturally couldn't bear to let her down.

With such a grand lantern festival, the East Factory, the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Five Cities Military Department are under tremendous pressure. They are responsible for public security and have to ensure the safety of the emperor.

Although His Majesty and his concubines would only watch the lanterns on the city walls, what if His Majesty was in the mood to leave the palace in disguise and enjoy the lights with the people?

Such a huge "Aoshan Lantern", if it were ignited by someone with ulterior motives, it would definitely cause a riot!

Captain Xu came to see Marquis Jing'an again: "My Lord, can you ask your brothers to help me?"

In the middle of winter, the Queen Bee of Hundred Flowers hid in her nest and refused to come out. The Mouse Spies were unable to command her, so they had no choice but to come to Jiang Li for help again.

Jiang Li thought about it and decided that fat rats definitely wouldn’t work. If a group of rats suddenly appeared in the midst of a huge crowd of people at the Lantern Festival, wouldn’t those nobles be scared?

If a stampede occurs, it will backfire.

Cats are not suitable either, as they are naturally sensitive and timid. Fireworks are set off during the Lantern Festival, and the loud noise would have scared cats away long ago.

"That's right, dog!"

Jiang Li had a flash of inspiration: dogs are most suitable for patrolling the streets!

They can understand human commands, have a keen sense of smell, and have high combat power. With a little training, they can follow the factory guards to the streets to work.

Therefore, Jiang Li asked Captain Xu to find a few majestic dogs. After signing a master-servant contract with them and giving them a little training, the "factory dogs" officially took up their posts.

As usual, she gave the dogs some very perfunctory names, Da Huang, Da Hei, Da Hua...

The most majestic Dahei was also given the position of captain, allowing him to lead the factory dogs.

When Captain Xu heard the dogs' names, his eyes went dark. In the future, when they took the majestic factory dogs to arrest suspects, they would say, "Dahua, go!", "Dahuang, chase them!"...

It sounds like a group of kids who were fighting in the village and asked their dog for help.

But the factory dogs only recognize the names given by Marquis Jing'an!

After much persuasion, Jiang Li finally helped them change their names to some domineering ones: Black Obsidian, Yellow Piao, Leopard...

The tall and mighty factory guards, pulling the majestic factory dogs, attracted countless envious glances as soon as they appeared.

After the Aoshan Lantern was set up, Captain Xu asked the factory dog ​​to carefully inspect the venue of the lantern festival, and indeed found the problem.

There was gunpowder hidden in the bamboo used to build the lantern shed!

Nangong Qinghe was furious. Once the gunpowder exploded, the entire lantern festival would turn into a sea of ​​fire!

I wonder how many people will be killed or injured! Who has such evil intentions?

Captain Xu followed the clues and soon caught the suspect, who was a craftsman who participated in building the lantern shed.

Once they fell into the hands of the Eastern Depot, there was basically nothing they couldn't pry open. The suspects could not bear the torture and finally confessed.

It turns out that he is someone from the secret door!

This man confessed that it was the Southern Yi Kingdom that wanted to take revenge on the Great Chu, and gave a large sum of money to let the secret door cause trouble at the Lantern Festival. Even if the emperor could not be killed, there would definitely be countless casualties.

Another secret door! They are colluding with the Southern Yi again!

Nangong Qinghe read the confession reported by the East Factory, and the veins on his forehead jumped: "Call the cabinet chief Liang, the elder Shen, the elder Chang, the Duke of Zhenguo, General Xie, and the Marquis of Jing'an to enter the palace!"

Royal study room.

Prime Minister Liang looked at Jiang Li and Xie Changan with complicated eyes. This was their first time attending a cabinet meeting.

A year ago, one of these two people was a mere fifth-rank thousand households, and the other was a minor noble who was banished to the cold palace. Now they have grown to the point where they can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet!

The Duke of Zhenguo said with a smile: "I heard that the factory dogs of the East Factory were also made by Marquis Jing'an. Marquis Jing'an has made a great contribution again. Congratulations!"

Jiang Li said modestly: "I don't deserve your praise, Lord. This is the achievement of the East Depot. I just helped them train a few dogs and did not participate in the inspection. I dare not take credit for this achievement."

Nangong Qinghe said with a smile: "Marquis Jing'an has made many outstanding achievements. If I were to reward him one by one, I would be exhausted. When you and General Xie return victorious, I will give you additional rewards."

Jiang Li bowed and said, "I do not seek any reward, I only hope that the country of Chu will be peaceful and the people will be safe, and that Your Majesty will bless all the people."

"Marquis Jing'an is loyal and is truly a role model for our generation!"

Prime Minister Liang praised her, but secretly complained in his heart that when she returned from her victory in southern Xinjiang, he would probably have to give up his position to her, right?

Nangong Qinghe ordered Xie Changan to recruit 200 personal soldiers and 1,000 elite soldiers. Liang Shoufu naturally understood that this was a plan to make Xie Changan the general of the southern expedition, commanding the southern expedition army to attack the Southern Yi Kingdom.

Such a big piece of fat meat in Southern Xinjiang is naturally coveted, but they also know that in order to conquer the Southern Yi Kingdom, Marquis Jing'an and his wife are indispensable.

They were able to obtain maps of southern Xinjiang, Mongolia and Jurchen without anyone noticing. Just based on this point, no one in the entire Chu could do it!

What’s more, southern Xinjiang is a place with high mountains, dense forests, complex terrain, countless poisonous miasma and poisonous substances, as well as the terrifying Gu King!

Only the fledgling Marquis Jing'an and his wife dared to take on this tough task that no one dared to tackle.

Nangong Qinghe said: "I summoned all of you here to discuss the matter of conquering the southern army. The Southern Barbarians are so rampant, I must pacify the southern border and avenge the late emperor!"

Yuanbao stepped forward and unfolded the map of Southern Xinjiang.

Prime Minister Liang and three other important cabinet officials all gasped.

It was the first time for them to see this map. They saw that the Kingdom of Nanyi was surrounded by numerous mountains and dense forests. The size of that primeval forest was beyond their imagination.

Jiang Li and Xie Changan explained the situation of "Mihun Pond" to them in detail.

"This forest stretches for hundreds of miles. The locals call it 'the soul-confusing pond'. It is filled with poisonous miasma and is extremely dangerous..."

Liang Shoufu and the other three heard that there was poisonous miasma and a maze inside, and the magnetic field was unusual. Not only would compasses and needles become ineffective, but even birds flying overhead would lose their way. They couldn't help but frown.

This Mihun Pond is so dangerous. How can the Chu army pass through this dense forest and enter southern Xinjiang?

Jiang Li smiled and said, "The magnetic field is different, maybe it's a good thing."

Liang Shoufu was surprised: "Why?"