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

Chapter 456

After eating and drinking, he was a little tipsy.

Zhou Yuan whistled and hummed when he returned to the palace. He was in a very happy mood.

What's the big deal about solving a case? What's the big deal about guarding Lin'an Prefecture? What's the big deal about transforming the capital? What's the big deal about traveling thousands of miles to serve the king? What's the big deal about recovering the Central Plains?

None of them can compare to this technology of strong ships and powerful guns!

With this, everything will be convenient in the future!

We have the technology and the craftsmen, but we still lack two things.

Money and power.

Building ships and guns requires money. Compared with the 200,000 taels given to Kolodiya, the money for building ships and guns is simply an astronomical figure.

According to Kolodiya, the cost of a battleship is about 1.4 million taels of silver, and the cost of a cruiser is about 600,000 taels of silver.

This doesn't even include the guns.

The cost of a gun reached 30,000 taels of silver.

Even if it is 60 battleships, a total of 3.2 million taels of silver are needed.

If you want to reach the configuration of the Portuguese in Haojing, one 80-gun battleship, two 60-gun battleships, and three cruisers.

A total of 12.8 million taels of silver are needed!

This does not include flintlocks and matchlocks.

Damn, this... this is too damn expensive!

Fortunately, Zhou Yuan later figured it out. The high cost of the Portuguese side is mainly due to expensive raw materials and labor costs, while Dajin has sufficient iron ore, and the cost is much lower, not to mention labor. What is least lacking here is extremely cheap hard labor.

After multiple judgments, Zhou Yuan estimated that at least 10 million taels of silver would be needed to meet the demand.

And the key is, are three battleships and three cruisers really enough?

Zhou Yuan plans to... build six battleships and four cruisers.

Fujian-Guangdong Navy and Leiden Navy, three battleships and two cruisers each.

As for flintlock rifles, two thousand are needed! Firing rifles! Six thousand!

Damn, countless money!

Zhou Yuan scratched his head frantically. It would be difficult for him to collect this money unless he confiscated their property.

If all the eight major salt merchants in Jiangnan were killed, it would be enough. After all, the six major families in Kaifeng had 30 million taels, and the salt merchants were no less.

Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes and wished he could take up his sword and kill in Yangzhou right now.

But it seems that the timing is not ripe for him at all. The eldest sister has not returned to the capital yet.

If she does not return to the capital, everything cannot continue.

He has to wait, and Zhou Yuan just needs time to make plans.

"Brother Zhou! Brother Zhou!"

Luo Zhiyuan became excited when he saw Zhou Yuan, and his eyes were shining.

He said with expectation: "Have you reached an agreement? When can my sister come back?"

Zhou Yuan smiled and said: "It's still under discussion. We need to continue to work together before we can reach an agreement."

"But I also asked clearly that your sister is living well over there, and the other party has promised to treat her with courtesy."

Luo Zhiyuan's eyes suddenly dimmed, and he sighed: "She can't come back yet. How long do we have to wait!"

Zhou Yuan patted his shoulder and said: "Don't worry, it's confirmed that she is safe. It's just a matter of time before she goes home."

"Okay then."

Luo Zhiyuan responded and walked away dejectedly.

Looking at his back, Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

In fact, Luo Diya took the initiative to mention Luo Ruanzhi. She asked Zhou Yuan whether she was included in the Han people he wanted to release, but Zhou Yuan refused.

As long as she is safe, it's fine, but Ruanzhi can't come back for the time being.

If she comes back, the attitude of the King of Xunnan may change.

Now that Luo Yunhe can be controlled, on the one hand, Zhuang Xuansu is strong and directly uses poison, on the other hand, the identities of Princess Qinshui and Guan Caixi give Luo Yunhe a certain sense of security.

Another important aspect is that Luo Yunhe is indeed worried about the safety of his daughter, and he hopes that Zhou Yuan can save his daughter.

Zhou Yuan still has a lot of things to do, and he needs to maintain a relatively healthy relationship with Luo Yunhe, so he plans not to let Luo Ruanzhi come back for the time being.

Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan couldn't help but smile bitterly, wondering if Ruanzhi would blame him when she found out the truth.

Can she still be coaxed with stories after not seeing each other for a long time?

I'm afraid it's hard enough.

Guan Lu hurried in, panting, "My Lord, my Lord, I'm here, I'm here!"

Zhou Yuan turned around and asked, "What's the matter?"

Guan Lu said, "The Holy Mother of No Life is here. She was discovered by our spies as soon as she entered Xiangzhou City. She seemed to be doing it on purpose and didn't take a carriage."

Zhou Yuan was shocked and said immediately, "Don't bring her to the palace. Let's go to the manor where we used to wait for her and ask someone to invite her over."

While speaking, Zhou Yuan was already walking out. He was very excited. He and Cai Ni had been separated for three months and were finally going to meet again.

It was hard to describe how hard it was to travel back and forth and wander around. Zhou Yuan must bring her back this time.Stay by my side.

Anyway, I'm already a wanted criminal, so why should I be afraid?

He hurried to the manor, waiting anxiously, pacing back and forth in the yard.

After a while, the door finally opened.

After more than three months, Zhou Yuan saw Li Yu'an again.

She has changed a lot.

Although she is still so beautiful and charming, like a stunning goddess, like a banished fairy in a painting...

But she has indeed changed, her eyes have become much deeper, and there seems to be an insoluble melancholy and sorrow in them.

Her dress has also changed. She used to like to wear bright colors, and she could do it as boldly and noblely as she wanted.

But today, she was just wearing an ordinary white dress and a gray waistcoat.

She looked at Zhou Yuan, without any change in expression, but walked slowly and smiled slightly.

Her smile was not bright, but rather had an inexplicable vicissitude.

"So, you've lost weight too."

Li Yu'an's first words were full of sighs.

Zhou Yuan looked behind her and asked in confusion: "You're the only one here, where's Cai Ni?"

Li Yu'an was stunned for a moment, then laughed again.

She said softly: "Yes, it should be like this, you should care more about Cai Ni, and not take me to heart."

Zhou Yuan realized her state, so he walked up to her, sighed, and said: "Don't sigh, Virgin Sister, let's sit down and talk."

Li Yu'an shook her head and slowly stepped back a few steps.

She looked into Zhou Yuan's eyes with a dim gaze, and said calmly: "I don't dare to be called sister."

"Last year in Lin'an Prefecture, you said you would help me."

"Zhou Yuan, I want to ask you seriously, do you still remember your promise?"

Zhou Yuan's heart was slightly shaken, and before he could answer, Li Yu'an spoke again.

Her voice was still calm: "Don't feel any psychological burden, just say what you really think. I won't do anything to you anyway."

"After all, you are my nephew and my sister's last disciple. I, Li Yu'an, have done bad things, but I never do anything to my relatives."

"Besides, although I have helped you a lot this year, you have also taught me a lot. We are even."

She locked Zhou Yuan's eyes, not leaving for a moment, and slowly said: "Tell me, do you remember?"

It's a lie to say that they are even. She has helped Zhou Yuan so much and it is so important. Zhou Yuan never dares to deny it, and will not deny it.

So he took a deep breath and said solemnly: "Sister Virgin, I have always remembered the promise I made in Lin'an Prefecture and have never forgotten it."

"I have many shortcomings, but I am never confused about major issues."

Li Yu'an looked at him, tilted her head slightly, and said: "Really?"

Zhou Yuan said: "Really."

So, on this sunny afternoon, in the unique courtyard...

Li Yu'an looked at Zhou Yuan and slowly knelt down.

Her face was still calm, but her voice was hoarse and choked.

"Zhou Yuan, save me...save Gao Li..."

"The Li family is dead, and I am the only one left..."

"I...can't fall down, can't give up."

Her tears flowed, and her voice was crying: "I only have you left."