From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 439

Zhou Yuan was still in deep thought. The key to this matter was still the weapon. He had just carefully observed the gun of the Portuguese.

The barrel was very long, with a tamping hook, a fork, and a fire line wrapped around it. It should still be a more traditional fire line gun, and it has not yet evolved to the stage of flint ignition. This is good news for the entire Dajin.

At least one conclusion can be drawn, that is, in the field of firearms, Dajin is not far behind, only one generation behind.

This generation gap is still easy to make up.

However, it is far away and it is not very clear. Only after getting a fire line gun can we make a detailed judgment.

He sighed deeply and looked up, only to see Princess Qinshui standing next to him, looking at him carefully.

Seeing Zhou Yuan looking at her, she hurriedly said: "Zhou Yuan, I have comforted them, promised to give each of them ten taels of silver, and guaranteed their safety."

"These are all poor people. Their homes are here, and they dare not run away, so they all said that they will do their work with peace of mind."

"They are already cooking, and the rooms are all cleaned up."

Zhou Yuan nodded.

Princess Qinshui said: "Are you tired? Do you want some tea? I'll make you some tea."

Before Zhou Yuan responded, she hurriedly made tea and brought it to Zhou Yuan in the yard.

It was a little hot, and Zhou Yuan couldn't eat it.

Princess Qinshui continued: "Are you hungry? Here are fresh pomegranates. I'll peel two for you."

She just turned her head and heard a voice behind her: "Pei Xian."

Princess Qinshui trembled and stopped.

Zhou Yuan sighed and said, "Stop busying yourself. Sit down and take a rest."

"Hmm..."

Princess Qinshui nodded and sat on the stone bench obediently, with her hands on her thighs, looking particularly dignified.

Zhou Yuan looked at her and couldn't help laughing, "What's wrong with you? You seem like a different person."

Princess Qinshui said, "I... I've always been like this."

Zhou Yuan said, "Really? I remember the first time I met you was in the Minister of War's residence. At that time, you were very irritable and scolded Wu Qingrong."

Princess Qinshui was a little embarrassed now.

Her face was a little red, and she whispered: "At that time, I... I had a bad temper... I was just a broken jar, anyway, no one thought I was a good person, so I showed it to everyone."

"Now, I still want to change those bad tempers, I'm afraid..."

She lowered her head and her voice became even smaller: "I'm afraid... you don't like..."

Zhou Yuan didn't know how to answer this sentence, but was silent for a moment before saying: "Be yourself, don't think too much."

He stood up and strode towards the inner hall.

Princess Qinshui raised her head, looked at Zhou Yuan's back with resentment, and sighed softly.

She knew that Zhou Yuan didn't like her.

Beishan's mistakes are still affecting her... Maybe he has forgiven me, but it is too difficult to change my image in his heart.

Princess Qinshui smiled bitterly, picked up the hot teacup, and whispered: "Hey, you haven't taken your tea yet."

She followed him, sat next to Zhou Yuan again, and handed him the tea.

Zhou Yuan took a sip of tea, shook his head and smiled: "Her Royal Highness the Princess poured the tea herself, I am a wanted criminal and I am treated quite well."

"I am happy with that."

Princess Qinshui also poured herself a cup, took a sip, it was a little hot, her mouth shivered.

Zhou Yuan said unhappily: "Why are you so anxious to drink tea? Fortunately, you only took a small sip, otherwise your tongue would be burned."

Princess Qinshui said faintly: "If I get burned, will you feel bad?"

Here it comes, the bloody drama lines are arranged.

Zhou Yuan didn't buy it and said directly: "I'll burn you to death, why are you still being so pretentious here."

Princess Qinshui felt bad and forced a smile, saying: "Zhou Yuan, how will the situation in Guangdong Sea develop in the end this time?"

Zhou Yuan frowned and said in a deep voice: "This kind of burning, killing and looting may continue for several days. After the Portuguese have eaten, drunk and looted enough, they will withdraw to Haojing and the two sides will enter the negotiation stage."

"The other party will definitely draft an unequal treaty. If we don't sign it, they will continue to burn, kill and loot until the contract is signed and implemented."

"Compensation , cede land, trade, God knows what conditions the other party will propose..."

Princess Qinshui couldn't help feeling a little sad, and whispered: "Zhou Yuan, do you think our Great Jin is really going to run out of luck?"

Zhou Yuan said: "Why do you ask that?"

Princess Qinshui said: "When I was in Shenjing, I didn't feel anything. I came all the way south. Although I didn't see all kinds of people, I at least saw a lot of things I had never seen before."

"The biggest feeling I had was that it seemed that everyone's life was not easy and they were all disappointed with the court."

Speaking of this,She shook her head and said, "Looking at Xiangzhou now, I really feel that... our Great Jin is not as strong as we imagined."

"Anyone can bully us, the Portuguese, the island pirates, the northern Mongolians, the eastern barbarians, and even the chieftains want to make trouble..."

"Alas, I didn't expect that there would be a day when I would worry about the country."

Zhou Yuan tapped the table lightly, thinking about how to answer Princess Qinshui's question.

It's mainly about the relationship between depth and shallowness.

If it's shallow, just say a few words and deal with her.

If it's deep, tell her what you really think in your heart.

If it was in the past, maybe Zhou Yuan would deal with her.

But at this moment, Zhou Yuan felt that she seemed to be asking this question very seriously, and she was not frivolous or frivolous in her heart.

"Well, if the current situation continues, the Great Jin can only last for twenty years at most."

Zhou Yuan's tone was very calm, but there was an inexplicable sense of heaviness.

Princess Qinshui looked at him, and her face gradually turned pale.

Zhou Yuan said: "The dynasty has reached its end, and the land annexation of the gentry and nobles has come to an end. This means that the people have no place to stand, the court has no tax base, and the nobles are becoming more and more extravagant and exploiting the people."

"The result can only be that the people are desperate and rebel. The court has an empty treasury and no soldiers to use. In order to suppress, it can only further exploit the honest and obedient people, so more people rebel, forming a vicious circle."

"The loss of national strength will lead to foreign invasions, and the internal and external contradictions will continue to intensify, and the court will not be able to hold on."

Princess Qinshui couldn't help but say: "Those nobles have so much money, why don't you take action against them? "

Zhou Yuan said: "Because the emperor also needs officials, people who do things, and the support of the nobles, otherwise he will not be able to sit firmly. Moreover, if the nobles are paid, the nobles will ask the people below for money, which is ultimately meaningless."

Princess Qinshui's body was trembling, and she murmured: "Is there no way?"

Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment, and then slowly said: "Yes, reform is the only way out, but it takes time, and it also requires the courage and ability to dare to change the world."

Princess Qinshui looked at him, her eyes like water, and said: "So the emperor sister trusts you, she knows that only you can do it."

Trust? Maybe.

When Zhou Yuan does not conflict with the overall situation, Zhou Yuan is important.

When Zhou Yuan conflicts with the overall situation, the overall situation is important, and Zhou Yuan is put behind.

Isn't this the emperor's way of the eldest sister?

"Today's Great Jin is like a patient with tumors all over his body. Countless maggots and flies are surrounding him, and he smells like rot."

"If you want to survive, you must cut off the tumors one by one with a knife."

Zhou Yuan said in a deep voice: "But it will hurt and bleed, and the tumors will emit more odors and attract more flies."

"After all, those tumors don't want to die."

Princess Qinshui closed her eyes and finally sighed: "I understand, there is hope for Great Jin, but the hope is very slim."

"At least... Brother Fu Wang doesn't have the courage, only the emperor sister can do it."

Zhou Yuan shook his head and said: "Only I can do it."