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

Chapter 260 Empress: Su Mo is a lecherous and shameless scoundrel!
Sitting inside the carriage, Nangong Sheyue looked at the Empress speechlessly.

She was suddenly summoned to the palace by the Empress. She thought the Empress wanted to question her about cheating in the imperial examination, but to her surprise, the Empress had someone hand her ordinary women's clothes and then let her go out of the palace incognito with the Empress.

Nangong Sheyue never expected that the Empress would leave the palace this time, head straight for the outer city gate, and then travel eastward, far away from the capital.

Three hundred li from the capital, Nangong Sheyue finally couldn't hold back any longer: "Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness, but may I ask Your Majesty... why are you leaving the capital at this time?"

At the end of the year, the court was busy with many affairs, and he also had to investigate a case of corruption.

Normally, it would be impossible for the Empress to travel incognito at this time, let alone summon her, the Left Commander of the Phoenix Cry Division!
Besides, he not only had to investigate the fraud case, but he also promised Su Mo to take care of the rice and grain business!

The Empress's expression was rather unpleasant.

She never imagined that she would see such a situation just 300 miles from the capital!

The bodies of disaster victims who had frozen or starved to death were frequently seen by the roadside!

The Empress sighed and looked at Nangong Sheyue: "I didn't even know the situation outside was like this until I left the capital!"

"My Grand Secretaries should really come out and see for themselves!"

Nangong Sheyue didn't know how to reply to the Empress.

The Empress's face suddenly darkened, and she said coldly, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is supposed to be the Emperor's eyes and ears, monitoring the world on my behalf, but it seems they are completely useless!"

"Those local officials only report in their memorials that the area is suffering from a severe drought and countless people are being affected, requesting disaster relief and tax exemptions, without ever considering how to help the victims or alleviate the harm caused by the natural disaster!"

Nangong Sheyue hesitated for a moment: "Your Majesty need not worry too much."

“Isn’t Su Xianzi just sharing Your Majesty’s burdens? Gufeng Mountain has taken in a large number of disaster victims. Judging from the current situation of Gufeng Mountain, the work-for-relief method should be a good solution.”

She paused, then gritted her teeth: "As long as County Magistrate Su can help the disaster victims get through the famine year safely, Your Majesty can implement this law. Local officials will not dare to disobey the imperial court's orders."

The Empress gave Nangong Sheyue a deep look and slowly nodded: "What you said may be somewhat presumptuous, but it is not without reason!"

Nangong Sheyue's beautiful face immediately changed color, and she quickly knelt down: "Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

As the commander of the Phoenix Cry Division, my only duty is to obey the imperial decree and not to have my own ideas!

The Empress waved her hand slightly: "Get up!"

"You're right, I won't blame you!"

She snorted: "All the civil and military officials in the court are useless, but Su Mo, this henchman of the court, knows how to help the disaster victims for me!"

She glared at Nangong Sheyue with a dark expression: "Knowing full well that he was doing this to help me and the court, yet he repeatedly made things difficult for Su Mo for petty gains! Tell me, shouldn't that kind of person be killed!"

Nangong Sheyue hesitated for a moment: "He truly deserves to die!"

The Empress snorted heavily again, then her expression softened: "Let's not talk about such unpleasant things!"

As she spoke, she looked down at the antique bronze mirror on the table.

Inside was a scene of Su Mo stopping and looking around.

"Why do you think Su Mo insisted on going to Wanghai County at this time, regardless of his fief and Qinghefang Hundred Household Office?"

Nangong Sheyue hesitated for a moment: "Your Majesty, Su Xianzi once told me that the son of the Marquis of Heyuan stole the soap formula and interfered in the soap trade. Su Xianzi..."

The Empress waved her hand to interrupt her: "That's just his excuse!"

"Su Mo's real purpose is to build ocean-going ships!"

Nangong Sheyue was suddenly startled!
The Empress gave a soft snort: "They're afraid I'll kill them after they've served their purpose, so they're preparing for their escape!"

"I'd like to see what's so special about his ship that makes him so confident that even if I were to kill him, he would still believe he can escape my grasp!"

Nangong Sheyue gasped inwardly!
At this time, the Empress abandoned court affairs and left the capital, all for this very reason!

This shows how important Su Mo is to the Empress!

Is it because they're afraid Su Mo will develop rebellious intentions, or because they're afraid Su Mo will leave without saying goodbye later?

Nangong Sheyue dared not speak.

The Empress snorted again, clearly annoyed: "Tell me, in Su Mo's heart, am I really such a heartless and ungrateful person?"

Nangong Sheyue immediately knelt down again: "Your subject does not agree!"

The Empress snorted, "That's exactly what he thinks!"

Nangong Sheyue hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty knows that Su Xianzi's actions are a way to prepare for the future, so why does Your Majesty still allow Su Xianzi to build ships?"

The Empress said calmly, "I will not betray Su Qing, and Su Qing will certainly not betray me!"

Then, he looked down at the Xuan Tian Jian magic weapon and was slightly surprised: "Are the people in the Mountain God Temple bandits?"

Nangong Sheyue's gaze fell on the Xuan Tian Mirror, and she felt envious.

This Mysterious Heaven Mirror is a magical treasure, far more powerful than my own fifth-grade matching magical artifact, the Sparrow Observing the Sky Mirror!
Within a few miles, in any open space, everything can be seen in the mirror!

Of course, Nangong Sheyue did not know whether the Xuan Tian Jian had any conditions for use or other defects. He only knew that the mana and spiritual power consumed to activate this magic weapon were extremely large. Even a Golden Core expert could only support it for three breaths at most.

Even a powerful being like His Majesty, a Heavenly Infant level expert, rarely activates the Profound Heaven Mirror unless absolutely necessary.

Nangong Sheyue looked at the image in the mirror and frowned slightly: "I believe that this is not a bandit... but rather a person who sells smuggled salt."

The Empress's expression darkened slightly.

Salt tax was a major source of revenue for the imperial court. Selling smuggled salt, under the two taxes alone, was, to put it bluntly, robbing the imperial court of its money!
"Hmph! How exactly did the Prefect of Wanghai become a ruler!"

The Empress's face was very grim: "There are actually such large-scale salt smugglers in the county!"

The administrative divisions of Dawu are: Dao, Zhou, Jun, Fu, Xian, and Xiang.

Wanghai County is extremely large, and this area is already within its boundaries. The rampant smuggling of salt is definitely the fault of the county governor.

……

As Su Mo and Chen Qian approached the mountain god temple, the salt smugglers immediately became extremely wary and stared intently at them.

Their palms were placed on their waists or on the carrying pole.

Selling smuggled salt was a life-threatening business with one's head on the line.

Five men riding fine horses, clearly not ordinary people, dared to approach even though they knew the salt smugglers were staying at the mountain god temple. It would be hard for the salt smugglers not to be wary!
Nine out of ten are government spies!

The group of salt merchants were clearly ready to fight, and many of them were looking in the same direction.

Su Mo subconsciously looked over as well.

A slender figure sat beside a bonfire.

The other person slowly stood up.

With a wheat-colored complexion, a slender and athletic figure, and a head of naturally flowing black hair, this young woman bore an striking resemblance to the actress Zhou Ye from my previous life, dressed in ancient costume!

The woman had short guns hanging on both sides of her waist, and she exuded a dangerous aura like a female leopard.

Su Mo was slightly surprised.

The salt smuggler was actually a woman?

The female salt smuggler glanced at Su Mo with a cold glint in her eyes.

His cold, electric gaze seemed to pierce the night and strike Su Mo directly, causing a slight stinging sensation in Su Mo's eyes.

Su Mo was taken aback and immediately became alert.

He was actually a martial arts master, and it seemed he was also proficient in magic!
How could such a powerful figure have fallen into the life of a salt smuggler?
I was careless this time!
Unexpectedly, there was a group of salt smugglers in the mountain god temple, and the leader of the salt smugglers was a martial arts master!
Will we accidentally capsize in the gutter?

However, now that his strength has greatly increased and he has two trump cards, the Sword Embryo and the Dragon Binding Rope, he is not really afraid of his opponent.

Nevertheless, Su Mo's expression remained extremely solemn, and his hand unconsciously rested on the battle blade.

Zhang Xuzu and Cao Feng knew how powerful Su Mo was, and seeing Su Mo's solemn expression, they were both inwardly alarmed!
The palace guards should be brought along!
For such desperate criminals, official status may not be useful.

Remorseful, the two spurred their horses forward without hesitation and stood side by side with Su Mo. Outside the mountain god temple, the atmosphere was heavy, as if a conflict was about to erupt.

The female salt smuggler squinted at Su Mo for a while.

Then he said in a deep voice, "Let's go!"

Upon hearing this, the other salt merchants ignored Su Mo and his group of five, packed their things without hesitation, picked up their baskets, and quickly and orderly left the mountain god temple.

Throughout the entire process, not a single human voice was uttered!

Su Mo's eyes suddenly lit up!
The discipline of salt smugglers is surprisingly strict!
Could it be that she was personally trained by a female salt smuggler?

Later military training theories emphasized discipline first!
If you lure her to Lonely Peak Mountain and pass on to her the Militia Training Manual, one of the three great divine books... your own private army will be formed!
The female salt smuggler brought up the rear, and as they were about to leave the mountain god temple, Su Mo finally couldn't hold back any longer.

"and many more!"

Upon hearing this, the female salt smuggler turned around abruptly, her gaze turning increasingly cold and sharp as she looked at Su Mo.

The salt smugglers behind them, along with several fierce-looking men on horseback, all stopped at the same time.

Su Mo smiled and said, "Young lady, there's no need to be nervous. I mean no harm!"

"This young lady is highly skilled in martial arts and has extraordinary abilities; she is no ordinary person. It's a real pity that she's doing this deadly business!"

"If you, young lady, are interested in seeking a better life, you may take this knife and come to Lonely Peak Mountain outside the capital to find me!"

As he spoke, Su Mo unfastened the manganese steel battle knife from his waist, and with the scabbard, drew an arc in the air and threw it toward the female salt smuggler!

The female salt smuggler reached out and firmly grasped the battle knife.

He then slowly withdrew the blade.

In the firelight, a flash of cold light appeared! It was definitely an excellent battle sword! Its value would not be less than five hundred taels of silver!
The female salt smuggler looked at Su Mo suspiciously, then turned and left without a word!

Su Mo...

But there is no rush.

Let's deal with the ship issue first.

When the female salt smuggler is at her wit's end, she will naturally come to Gufeng Mountain to seek refuge with him.

As for why the female salt smuggler, who was clearly doing very well and had hundreds of fierce subordinates, suddenly came to a dead end, don't ask Su Mo why, Lord Su refuses to answer this question!
……

The Empress, inside the carriage, was astonished to see Su Mo give the battle sword to the female salt smuggler and even try to recruit her.

She knew that Su Mo's battle blade was extraordinary, on par with the precious sword Su Mo had given her.

"What's so special about this female salt smuggler? Why does Su Mo value her so much?"

The Empress frowned slightly and looked at Nangong Sheyue.

Nangong Sheyue was also puzzled and could only guess: "Did Su think that she was highly skilled in martial arts, so he developed a fondness for her talent?"

The Empress slowly shook her head: "It's not that bad."

"As for the Martial Grandmaster realm, Su Mo knows the importance of things and will not casually recruit salt smugglers of unknown background just because the other party is a Martial Grandmaster!"

Nangong Sheyue remained silent.

Su Mo is quite bold!

They used to employ salt dealers to sell refined salt for profit!
The empress transferred the image in the mirror onto the salt merchant.

After looking for a while, I couldn't see anything special. They just walked in a more orderly fashion, but I couldn't hear any noise.

It's not that the salt merchant didn't speak, it's just that the Xuan Tian Mirror can only observe objects, not hear sounds.

In the Empress's eyes, these salt smugglers were completely ignorant of military tactics and did not follow any established formations or troop deployments. They were clearly a rabble, and a dozen elite cavalrymen could easily wipe them out in two or three rounds of fighting.

The more she looked, the more suspicious she became, until finally the image froze on the pretty face of the female salt smuggler.

He suddenly realized what was happening and couldn't help but spit out a curse: "Hmph! What a shameless lecher!"

Nangong Shoots the Moon...

……

Su Mo was unaware that in the Empress's mind, he had been labeled a "lecherous and shameless scoundrel" once again.

Honestly, he didn't recruit the female salt smuggler just because she was pretty.

In Su Mo's view, military strategy can be improved through learning and practice.

But it is truly remarkable that they could train such desperate salt merchants to be so disciplined!
While the armies of this world also had requirements for military discipline, they emphasized more on military formations and tactics. Moreover, the so-called military discipline was a different concept from the discipline emphasized in later generations!

Later armies emphasized strict adherence to orders.

An army that obeys orders without question, coupled with lofty ideals of fighting... well, in this ancient era, there's no need to emphasize lofty ideals—brainwashing is enough.

Orders were strictly enforced, brainwashing was implemented, and full military pay was provided, with clear rewards and punishments.

It should be able to easily defeat all armies from the era of cold weapons.

Without a doubt, the female salt smuggler was the general candidate in Su Mo's mind who best fit his military philosophy!
Reluctantly turning his gaze away from the female salt smuggler (at this moment, the Empress couldn't help but mutter angrily under her breath), Su Mo said to Zhang Xuzu and the others, "Brother Zhang, Brother Cao, and Second and Third Uncles, please rest first."

"I'll have to trouble Brother Zhang to keep watch for the rest of the night."

Nothing happened overnight.

The five continued their journey early the next morning.

Finally, before sunset, we arrived at the seaside of Wanghai County.

Looking at the surging, boundless sea.

Su Mo and Chen Qian were alright, but Chen Zhong, Zhang Xuzu, and Cao Feng were all amazed!
It is truly awe-inspiring for someone seeing the vastness of the ocean for the first time!

Near the shore, several small fishing boats, in this frigid season, are still battling the raging waves at sunset, casting their nets to catch fish, desperately trying to earn their daily bread.

Zhang Xuzu turned his gaze away from the sea and looked at Su Mo: "We've arrived at Wanghai County. Lord Su, the sea vessel you mentioned?"

Su Mo smiled and said, "Brother Zhang, there's no need to be impatient. I will not let you two down."

As he spoke, he surveyed the surrounding area and then beckoned everyone to head towards a small fishing village not far away.

The old saying "fishing for three days and drying nets for two" doesn't mean that ancient fishermen were really lazy.

Ancient fishing nets were woven from hemp fibers, which easily rotted after absorbing water and swelling. They had to be dried for two days after fishing for three days to extend their lifespan.

Today is a sunny day, and many fishing nets are drying on wooden racks outside the fishing village.

Fishermen, young and old, men and women, dressed in tattered clothes, some even wearing only a pair of ragged burlap trousers, were sorting through the fish they had just caught.

Su Mo dismounted and walked towards the nearest fisherman.

The fishermen exchanged glances and stared warily at Su Mo, which surprised Su Mo slightly.

Why does it seem so xenophobic?
Could it be a salt merchant's den or a pirate's lair?
People who live near mountains live off the mountains, and those who live near the sea live off the sea. It is common for fishermen to boil and sell salt, and even to work as piracy.

Su Mo cupped his hands in greeting to the fisherman: "Greetings, sir."

"May I ask you gentlemen, do you know of a place nearby called Shenluo Bay?"

The fishermen, seeing that Su Mo spoke in a refined manner, referred to himself as "this humble scholar," and dressed like a scholar, were no longer as wary as before.

One of the fishermen, an old fisherman with dark skin, large hands and feet, and skin full of cracks and calluses, also bowed to Su Mo, and then asked suspiciously, "Young man, why do you want to inquire about this Shenluo Bay?"

Su Mo was slightly pleased. Judging from the other party's tone, they knew about Shenluo Bay.

He smiled and said, "To be honest, sir, I have some business to attend to at Shenluo Bay."

As he spoke, he took out a piece of silver worth about three qian from his money bag and handed it to the old fisherman: "Old man, could you please lead me to Shenluo Bay? I would be extremely grateful!"

(End of this chapter)