Chapter 444 Changsun Wuji takes chestnuts from the fire
The old chamberlain couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this.
Because according to previous years' practice, shouldn't the Metropolitan Water Supervisory Authority arrange for manpower to be cleared?
But he didn't dare to say it, and he didn't dare to ask.
Li Shimin's oral instructions reached Zhongshu Province. Fang Xuanling, who was handling government affairs, could not help but frown slightly, but then he remembered the farce and waved his hand calmly.
"Follow your Majesty's instructions and prepare the decree."
Therefore, this tacit imperial edict quickly passed the seal of Zhongshumen and was sent to Shangshu Province.
While Wei Zheng was using the seal, he looked at Gao Shilian with a tangled expression next to him with a smile, and joked.
"Mr. Gao, who are you showing this face to? You can just have fun -"
Gao Shilian was not annoyed when someone exposed him, he smiled and stroked his beard.
"A disadvantage is a blessing. As for today's young people, we have to let them have a longer memory——"
No matter what you say, Gao Ting is also his nephew, so it would be a lie to say he doesn't care at all.
Is it okay for a person to offend the emperor and be remembered by the emperor?
If the emperor had been indifferent to Gao Ting, he would be really worried. Now that the emperor has taken action, and just asked him to clear the sewers in Nancheng, he is simply getting a big deal!
After all, as an emperor, he would naturally not catch such a junior without mercy. If he took action, it would mean that the matter was over.
Of course, the premise is that this piece of shit is fooled again.
Thinking of this, Gao Shilian simply packed up the things on the table and stood up leisurely.
"Everyone, I will take the first step——"
When he walked to the door, he smiled and shook his head.
"As I get older, I value the younger members of my family more and more. I have to go and see that villain and tell him not to be confused again this time..."
When he said it so openly and aboveboard, everyone stopped teasing and laughed.
"Brother Shi Lian (Gao Gong), walk slowly——"
Everyone waved their hands very understandingly and let him go first.
Unlike others, Gao Shilian has a detached status in Shangshu Province. Although he no longer holds the position of minister, he has been authorized by His Majesty to serve as counselor in government affairs, and there are obvious signs of returning to a more important role. What's more, he is still the eldest grandson Wuji.
and the uncle of Queen Changsun.
But with this level of status, you have to be respected by others.
Gao Shilian left happily.
As soon as Gao Shilian left, Duan Lun and Huang Xu rushed in in a hurry.
"My lords, I am so happy!"
As soon as the two people entered the door, they couldn't help but smile.
Looking at these two old guys who were over a hundred years old together, they were so happy that they almost floated. Everyone couldn't help but feel curious.
You know, Duan Lun is better. That Huang Xu is the second most famous Wei Zheng, and he has a dead face.
What good thing happened to this?
“Where does joy come from?”
"Today, we got two new iron forging methods from Chang'an Marquis Wang Zi'an!"
Huang Xu glanced at Changsun Wuji, Wei Zheng and others with some pride.
"One of them has been verified to be more than a hundred times more efficient than the original one!"
hiss--
Everyone couldn't help but take a breath of cold air.
The efficiency is more than a hundred times higher than before!
This means that the production efficiency of binite is much higher than that of ordinary iron tools. In other words, the entire army of the Tang Dynasty will soon be equipped with magical weapons made of binite.
When I thought about the hundreds of thousands of Tang troops, all holding weapons made of iron, everyone suddenly became excited.
When that day comes, who in the world can still stop the Tang Dynasty's military front?
"Is this true?"
Several people couldn't help but turn pale in shock, with disbelief on their faces.
"This is the handiwork of the Marquis of Chang'an. You can say it yourself——"
Huang Xu sneered and glanced at them with disdain.
Everyone:…
No, Lao Huang, can you still do it?
Last time, weren't you still bitter about Wang Zi'an selling radiators at high prices and defrauding your family of thousands of dollars?
In the blink of an eye, you have become a die-hard fan?
However, everyone knew about this guy's bad temper, and they didn't dare to make fun of him because they were worried that he would become angry.
Resist the urge to complain.
However, every face couldn't help showing a look of ecstasy.
"We must immediately seal off the weapons inspection and strengthen our defenses. We must not let this technology be exposed—"
Wei Zheng looked serious.
"Yes, once this kind of technology spreads, the consequences will be disastrous——"
Changsun Wuji and others also reacted one after another.
A consensus was quickly reached to once again strengthen the defense force of the weapons supervisor and conduct in-depth screening within the weapons supervisor to prevent spies from being mixed in.
Looking at these normally stable bosses, each of them acting like they were facing a formidable enemy, Huang Xu and Duan Lun couldn't help but look at each other, revealing a meaningful smile.
Guys, if you know how to pour steel, you won't be so nervous that you can't sleep.
However, they were not prepared to let the news out until they built a blast furnace and saw real results.
Don't be like these young people who can't hide things!
The two old guys finished sharing and left triumphantly.
I have nothing to do today, I just came here to show off!
After discussing the matter of strengthening the defense force, several big bosses could not help but calm down and carefully consider the chain reactions that this new forging method might cause.
For a while, the atmosphere was somewhat silent.
Changsun Wuji thought about it for a while, packed up his things, apologized, got up and prepared to leave.
Now that the salt and iron tax has been implemented, as the leader of the Guanlong family, he is under great pressure.
He gritted his teeth and asked the eldest son's family to step forward and pay taxes in accordance with the court regulations. This was almost equivalent to breaking away from the Guanlong family, and life would be difficult.
Although everyone didn't say anything openly, they kept making small moves in private. Changsun's family's property was besieged and attacked by these people from all aspects almost at the same time. These attacks made him extremely anxious and exhausted to deal with.
If this forging method is used well, it seems to be an opportunity to break the situation!
But the blacksmithing method was too involved, and he couldn't get involved without His Majesty's nod.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! However, as soon as he stood up, he saw Tang Jian and Wei Zheng also standing up.
"As for the salt and iron tax, we still need to discuss it with His Majesty. Duke Qi, do you want to come with us?"
Changsun Wuji:......
"Ah good--"
Changsun Wuji hesitated for a moment, then quickly adjusted his mentality, and the others rushed to the imperial study together.
As a result, several people rushed to the imperial study and found that there was no one in the imperial study. After asking, they found out that His Majesty had gone to the imperial garden!
When did Your Majesty become so leisurely and relaxed?
Several people couldn't help but look at each other, turned around in a tacit understanding, and went to the Imperial Garden.
However, as soon as a few people reached the entrance of the Royal Garden, they were stunned and almost thought that they had gone to the wrong place.
What are you doing?
Are you trying to demolish the palace?
"stop--"
Wei Zheng couldn't help but get angry, raised his mustache, and shouted loudly.
The palace maids and eunuchs who came and went were frightened. They all held the flowers and plants in their hands and lowered their heads, not daring to look at him.
"Who gave you the courage!"
Tang Jian and Changsun Wuji were also a little confused. Was it because they had eaten the courage of a bear's heart and a leopard's courage?
How dare you move things out of the imperial garden so blatantly.
"Ahem, Xuancheng, don't blame them -"
Just when Wei Zheng was about to run away, Li Shimin's familiar voice suddenly came from the imperial garden.
Ah, this——
Standing at the entrance of the Royal Garden, looking at the messy Royal Garden, several people were dumbfounded and didn't know what to say.
"Your Majesty, this is-"
Looking at the astonished faces of his confidants, Li Shimin couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed, and inexplicably felt guilty.
It was already embarrassing enough to secretly dig up flowers and plants from his own garden and give them to Prince An, but in the end, he was blocked on the spot!
"Ahem - I think these flowers and plants are of no use if they can't clothe them when they're cold and they can't eat them when they're hungry -"
Having said this, he paused slightly, put his hands behind his back, turned around with emotion, and looked at the sky.
"What's more, now that the world is experiencing repeated famines, the people of the Tang Dynasty are suffering from hunger and cold, and are crying out for food. As their king, I cannot push them for clothes or food. I already feel deeply guilty. How can I no longer linger on such wonders?
Among the flowers and grass——"
After speaking, Li Shimin turned his head with compassion and looked at Wei Zheng and others.
"I have decided to free up part of the imperial garden. I will lead the concubines in the harem to personally handle the farming. I will plant some fruits, vegetables, millet, rice and wheat here to supplement the needs of the palace.
To lighten some of the burden on the court—to abstain from extravagance and to be frugal, starting from me—"
Wei Zheng, Tang Jian, and Changsun Wuji couldn't help but stand in awe.
He solemnly straightened his clothes and bowed deeply to Li Shimin.
"Your Majesty's kindness touches heaven and earth. I would like to congratulate the people of the world and congratulate the Tang Dynasty - with your Majesty, the Tang Dynasty will definitely be able to overcome the difficulties and create a prosperous age unprecedented in the ages!"
Ah, the effect is so good——
Li Shimin couldn't help but secretly twitch the corner of his mouth, and glanced at Wei Zheng and others who were half shorter than him.
Hey, I’m not lying to you either.
I'm really jealous of Wang Zi'an's glass greenhouse——
If you want to make room, get one.
"Ahem, although I am not talented, I am willing to let the people of the world overcome this difficulty together - and I also ask a few dear friends to help me -"
Li Shimin said, stepped forward, and personally helped Wei Zheng and others up one by one. Then he stood side by side with them, pointing to the imperial garden where the space had just been cleared.
"When this area is freed, I will plant a greenhouse here, and in other places, wheat will be planted in the spring - I will personally try Chang'an Houna's wheat farming method to see how much yield can be increased -
"
Having said this, Li Shimin suddenly thought of something and turned to look at Changsun Wuji.
"Brother Auxiliary Machine, how is the situation with Chamchendao going?"
"We encountered some resistance there. Some local nobles refused to let our people purchase rice seeds, but they have been convinced by our people. Before the spring begins, Chong'er can personally escort the Champa rice back to Chang'an -
—”
Having said this, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and quietly thanked his son.
Because of this Champa rice, the Changsun family suffered heavy losses this time!
After sacrificing more than 3,000 bodyguards, and promising huge profits to some local nobles, they persuaded the local aborigines.
Hearing this, Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction.
"Chong'er has done a great job in this matter. I will definitely reward him generously when he comes back——"
"This is what he should do -"
Before Changsun Wuji could finish speaking, he was blocked by Li Shimin.
"Brother Fuji, there is no need to refuse. If you have merit, you will be rewarded. If you make mistakes, you will be punished. I can't depress the minds of meritorious ministers——"
"Then I would like to thank Your Majesty for Quanzi first——"
Changsun Wuji said and bowed deeply to Li Shimin.
Wei Zheng and Tang Jian couldn't help but feel a little envious.
Champa rice——
It's a pity that my family doesn't have the strength of Changsun's family.
Li Shimin had already arranged which flowers and plants to plan, so he didn't have to keep an eye on them himself. He immediately led Wei Zheng and others to sit down in a pavilion aside. Then he looked around at the people and asked in a leisurely manner.
"My dear friends, do you have something to discuss with me?"
"Your Majesty, it has been more than half a month since the Salt and Iron Tax was implemented, but so far it has had very little effect——"
Tang Jian couldn't help but frown when he mentioned this issue. As Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he had high hopes for this policy, but he didn't expect that it would be met with failure. After more than half a month of implementation, those who can take the initiative to hand over taxes, except for today's Shu
Your Highness, this is the eldest grandson Wuji in front of you.
Other people didn't say they wouldn't pay, but they just made various excuses and delays, and some even simply closed their stores temporarily and no longer opened to the public.
"Now many of them have closed their stores, which has caused panic among the people. As far as I know, the price of salt has doubled in the past half month, and the price of pig iron has also begun to rise——"
Wei Zheng couldn't help but frown.
"If things continue like this, I am worried that before the end of the year, not only will Chang'an City be in danger of a shortage of salt, but even the iron tools needed by the army will be affected -"
Li Shimin couldn't help but frown when he heard this.
Even the joy of just getting the steel filling method and forging method has faded a lot.
Without the supply of pig iron, even if you have the steel filling method and the forging method, you can't change the iron.
He subconsciously looked at Changsun Wuji.
Changsun Wuji couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart, but he had to bite the bullet and stand up.
"There is no problem on Wei Chen's side, but with the strength of Wei Chen's family alone, I'm afraid it won't last long -"
Li Shimin had no idea either.
Although he could catch the Changsun family's continuous efforts to pluck the sheep's wool, it wouldn't take long, and he was worried that the sheep would soon be bald with such a plucking method.
"So, Wei Chen has an immature idea——"
As Changsun Wuji spoke, he subconsciously glanced at Tang Jian and Wei Zheng beside him.
But he knew that sooner or later this matter would not get around the two of them, so after a slight hesitation, he still said it bravely.
"We heard that your majesty has obtained the method of forging iron, which can increase the efficiency a hundred times."
Speaking of this, Changsun Wuji subconsciously lowered his voice.
"If your Majesty agrees, I can take advantage of the fact that the outside world doesn't know the news, and use Wei Chen's shop secretly to exchange iron for pig iron with the outside world..."
Wei Zheng and Tang Jian couldn't help but take a breath of cold air.
This old thief Chang Sun has such a huge appetite and courage.
This is obviously trying to draw chestnuts out of the fire.
The Changsun family can get His Majesty's permission to sell pig iron exclusively, so it will definitely be a rare commodity. It is conceivable that the sound of the Changsun family's pig iron will definitely expand rapidly and become popular.
But the court can indeed benefit from this and solve its urgent needs.