Qing Dance is a courtesan whom Chen Mo specially "borrowed" from an upscale restaurant. Her talents and appearance are exceptional, and Chen Mo uses her to attract customers.

But after all, she's a borrowed person, so Chen Mo can't keep borrowing her. Meanwhile, the restaurant cannot be without someone to attract patrons, and Chen Mo can't let his own women expose themselves publicly. Thus, he simply redeemed Qing Dance from the brothel.

Moreover, according to the shopkeeper, Qing Dance has quite strong business abilities. By training her, she can also mentor new recruits.

"Uh-huh."

After what transpired earlier, Ning Wan spoke less, her jade cheeks persistently tinged with a rosy hue.

Chen Mo continued discussing serious matters with Ning Wan.

First, the Fu Ze Hot Pot Restaurant must be opened in a county town with more than five thousand people; if fewer, it won't be profitable.

Chen Mo currently governs the Qing, Yu, and Lin Three States and is thoroughly familiar with the household registrations of all counties. In Yu State, he can open over twenty establishments.

...

Early February.

The second Fu Ze Hot Pot Restaurant opened in Jiapin County. To boost its profile, Chen Mo specially dispatched a team, dressed in festive attire, to parade through several main streets in Jiapin County. Each person held a sign saying "Fu Ze Hot Pot Restaurant opening, new customers enter to spend and get a General Token — spend as much, receive as much."

On that day, the county magistrate of Jiapin County attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Fu Ze Hot Pot Restaurant, standing in support of the establishment.

The hot pot, with its superior taste and novel dining method, coupled with the restaurant's ways of attracting customers, made the second Fu Ze Hot Pot Restaurant once again a citywide sensation.

A day later.

In Longmen County, Chen Mo listened to his subordinates' report on the Fu Ze Hot Pot Restaurant in Jiapin County, contemplating inwardly that if every restaurant could achieve such a level of popularity upon opening, he would have enough funds to expand his weapon workshop.

In less than a year, he could build a force of five hundred heavy cavalry, with the Divine Brave Guard all armored.

At this time, Sun Meng came to report that Nangong Wen, nephew of Nangong Jin, the patriarch of Si Hai Nangong Family, had come to seek refuge.

"Nangong Family?" Chen Mo was taken aback, to be blunt, the Nangong Family is not among the Seven Great Noble Families.

He asked Sun Meng if he knew of the Nangong Family.

Sun Meng indicated he did not know; he came to report because the newcomer was gorgeously attired and eloquent, and when introducing his background, his confidence and pride made Sun Meng feel this person had significant origins.

The marquis is already recruiting talents, and seeing this, Sun Meng came to report.

After listening to Sun Meng, Chen Mo raised his eyebrows. To avoid embarrassment when meeting this person, Chen Mo intentionally went to Xia Zhiqing to ask about the background of Si Hai Nangong Family.

As Qingzhou's top talent, Xia Zhiqing's reputation is well-earned. Besides being impressive with poetry and song, she is also widely knowledgeable.

"I don't know much about Si Hai Nangong Family, but I've heard the Nangong Family rose from the maritime trade, frequently going overseas for commerce. Due to the many pirates at sea, they established a navy, and in just a few years, virtually monopolized overseas trade in the River Sea. After over a century of development, the wealth accumulated by their family is not inferior to the Seven Great Noble Families."

Xia Zhiqing told Chen Mo everything she knew in full detail.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo's eyes lit up.

Seeing the glimmer in Chen Mo's eyes, Xia Zhiqing vaguely guessed something, saying: "Mo Lang, could it be someone from the Nangong Family has come?"

Chen Mo nodded: "Earlier, Captain Sun reported that Nangong Wen, the nephew of the head of Nangong Family, has come to seek refuge."

Hearing this, Xia Zhiqing couldn't help but feel happy for Chen Mo: "Mo Lang, you must treat this person well. If I'm guessing correctly, you will soon have your own navy."

Xia Zhiqing was thinking from the perspective of the noble families.

Now that Chen Mo occupies the Three States area, in the entire Great Song Dynasty, he is a force that cannot be underestimated.

As they say, a hundred years of dynasty, a thousand years of noble family.

Noble families remain for centuries not only because of their profound foundation, which reigning powers of various eras cannot disregard, but also their adeptness at backing the right parties.

Chen Mo's control of a region already merits the noble families placing their bets.

And the Nangong Family, not being a true noble family, would all the more need to back a promising power.

Now that the people from the Nangong Family have come, they evidently see potential in Chen Mo, and the Nangong Family's advantage is exactly what Chen Mo currently lacks.

After hearing Xia Zhiqing's analysis, Chen Mo was so thrilled that he kissed her smooth, pale cheeks.

Chen Mo desperately needed a navy, for there are few people with experience in this field, and training one himself is too challenging.

After all, whether advancing into Linzhou or retreating to Jiangdong in the future, the role of the navy is essential.

Xia Zhiqing's face reddened slightly as she looked up at the young man's handsome face, pursed her pink lips, and softly said: "If Mo Lang wants absolute certainty, it's best to ask Sister Liang Xue, who likely knows more than I do about this matter."

Chen Mo nodded, and to avoid keeping Nangong Wen waiting long, he promptly went to inquire with Liang Xue. Upon learning that the Nangong Family had long allied with the Celestial Master Army, with their naval forces being the main strength in attacking Fengzhou, Chen Mo's prior joy slightly waned.

However, after hearing Liang Xue mention that it's normal for large families to hedge both sides, his happiness was restored to its former state.

With a bit of understanding, Chen Mo personally met with Nangong Wen, giving him great respect and hospitality.

After a brief conversation, the two reached an agreement.

Chen Mo needed to establish a navy, and the Nangong Family was seeking development and a way out, making Chen Mo the most suitable person, as both parties had their needs.

For a deeper collaboration, Chen Mo even casually mentioned during the conversation that he had not yet married.

In essence, Chen Mo was hinting at his intention to marry a girl from the Nangong Family.

Indeed, for the sake of the navy, Chen Mo was willing to go all in.

However, the Nangong Family did not have any daughters of suitable age, and they did not want the Celestial Master Army to know about the family's connections with Chen Mo yet. A marriage would certainly not be low-key.

So to bind their connection further, Chen Mo needed to take a collateral daughter from the Nangong Family as a concubine. After all, taking a concubine was less complicated and could be done simply, even skipping the formalities; the Nangong Family could directly send their collateral daughter to Longmen County.

Chen Mo agreed immediately, as he could marry even to gain an entire navy, let alone take a concubine.

After the agreement, Chen Mo began preparations to establish a shipyard in a county near Celestial River in Linzhou, build warships, and secretly recruit sailors for the navy.

Chen Mo named his navy the Fish Scale Guard, and based on Nangong Wen's experience, it was best to select recruits with good swimming skills.

Meanwhile, in the deep mountains of Yu State, large-scale logging of trees began. Many of these ancient woods, some hundreds or even thousands of years old, required several people to embrace the trunk.

After logging, they were transported to Linzhou.

Since it was an allegiance, Nangong Wen naturally brought along the construction blueprints for warships, extensive naval combat experience, and dozens of veteran shipbuilders.

For example, if one wished to build a massive warship, its keel should use ironwood or red cinnamon wood, which were best for their flexibility and water resistance over time, and ironwood was tough enough to resist termites.

...

While Chen Mo was planning to establish the navy.

From mid-March to late April, as the weather warmed, the footsteps of war quietly spread.

In early April, the Celestial Master Army attacked Jing County again, and after the Huai Army exhausted the Celestial Master Army's forces by relying on fortifications built during winter, they retreated to within the borders of Huai State and continued to entrench themselves.

During this time, the land of He Dong and He Xi also erupted into conflict.

Xu Guozhong, located in Luonan, continued to destabilize the situation, but this did not mean he merely watched from afar.

He knew he was a thorn in the side of Prince Huai and King Chong, countless noble families loathed him, eager to eliminate him quickly.

If he watched them from the sidelines and let Prince Huai eliminate those forces, they would surely concentrate their power against him.

So while the Celestial Master Army attacked Jing County, Xu Guozhong sent Lu Sheng with fifty thousand troops, divided into two routes, to "deal with the rebels."

King Chong suffered a surprise attack and was defeated multiple times by Lu Sheng, forcing him to seek aid from Prince Huai.

The war became increasingly intense and gradually spread towards the far south.

...

May fifth.

Chen Mo took a concubine.

The concubine was a collateral daughter sent from the River Sea by the Nangong Family, named Nangong Ru.

Since she was sent to deepen the bond, Nangong Ru was of excellent stature and appearance.

Chen Mo was not overly pretentious; he favored Nangong Ru that evening.

Seeing Nangong Ru resting her head on a pillow embroidered with red mandarin ducks, her smoky brows slightly furrowed as if enduring great pain, with tears at the corners of her eyes, Chen Mo stopped the engagement.

Nangong Ru was naturally pure; being her first night, having martial arts knowledge, but not being a martial artist, she could not withstand Chen Mo's affection.

"Husband, are you not coming anymore?"

Seeing Chen Mo get off her, Nangong Ru endured the pain to sit up, picked up a white cloth from beneath her, and showed Chen Mo the "maiden blood," which represented purity, then carefully folded the cloth.

She then tightened her legs together, placed a square pillow under her waist to prevent leakage...

The Nangong Family had developed to its current scale mainly through decades of continuous marriages and alliances with local and surrounding noble families.

Thus, girls from the Nangong Family, even legitimate daughters, were destined for arranged marriages from birth, and upon reaching the age of understanding, the Nangong Family would assign someone to train these young maidens.

Of course, this training was not for new recruits to a brothel, but rather to teach them how to be good wives or concubines, how to support and educate children, and how to serve men, without the vulgarities found in brothels.

Nangong Ru had naturally undergone training as well, learning how women could easily conceive and win a man's favor.

She glanced towards the door and softly called, "Dongmei, Xia Zhu."

These were the two personal maids who accompanied Nangong Ru in her marriage, and Nangong Ru wanted to summon them in to share the duties of the night.

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