The ministers in the court were almost unanimously opposed to Long Chen's appointment as minister of the Ministry of Industry. Although the empress agreed, she could not express her position.
Baili Bing, the Minister of Civil Affairs, is responsible for the appointment and dismissal of officials. Even for other ministers, she also has the power to draft and recommend officials.
Bai Libing said to Bai Qiulian and Jing Heng: "Her Royal Highness the Princess recommended Manager Long because he made great contributions to Linjiang City, invented the magical powder, and rebuilt Linjiang City in a short period of time."
"My lords are opposed because Director Long is a eunuch and he is worried that the world will laugh at him."
"In my opinion, it's better to let Mr. Long take over the position of Minister of Industry for the time being. If Mr. Long does a good job, he will take up the post. If he is incompetent, we will remove him. How about that?"
The empress nodded and said: "Shang Shu Baili is right, I agree."
Jing Heng, the Minister of Household Affairs, came out and said: "Shang Shu Baili said that if he is incompetent, he will be removed from his post. How to judge?"
Other ministers also nodded and said: "Yes, how to judge whether Long Chengen is competent or incompetent?"
The empress looked at Baili Bing.
"This is simple. At present, we have two big problems that need to be solved by the Ministry of Industry. One is the problem of firewood burning by the people in Daughter City. You adults are also aware of this problem."
"Our daughter city has a population of over one million. We need a lot of firewood every day to burn firewood. However, the mountains and forests around us have been cut down. The firewood has to be transported from other places. You adults are often unable to distribute the firewood."
"If Manager Long can solve this big problem, he will have passed a level."
"The other issue is the defense of the northern border. Several cities in the northern border have fallen into disrepair and are in urgent need of reconstruction."
"The princess said that Manager Long invented a magical powder that can quickly rebuild the destroyed Linjiang City. Then rebuilding the city in the north will definitely not be a problem."
"These are two major problems for the Ministry of Industry and our government. If Mr. Long can solve them, it means he has the ability to serve as Minister of the Ministry of Industry."
"We in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty appoint people on a merit basis. As long as Chief Long is qualified, he will not be afraid of criticism from others even though he is a eunuch."
After Baili Bing finished speaking, the ministers in the DPRK basically agreed.
Because they felt that Long Chen could not solve these two problems, especially the first problem of burning firewood.
Di Luoxi knew that the problem was difficult to solve, so she objected: "Mother, the problem of burning firewood has existed for decades. How can Long Chengen solve it? Isn't this deliberately making things difficult?"
Ever since Di Luoxi was not born, Daughter City has been short of firewood, and even more so of charcoal.
Di Luoxi likes to take baths very much, but the supply of firewood in the West Palace is also limited, so she cannot take baths without restraint.
Good charcoal had to be transported from Nanliang, and Nanliang even threatened the Eastern Zhou Dynasty with this.
It can be seen that the problem of burning firewood is difficult to solve.
"Luo Xi, this little eunuch is very capable. I believe he can solve it."
The fat man Jing Heng said with a sinister smile.
Long Chen came out and bowed: "Wei Chen is willing to accept this challenge. I hope all of you will not go back on your word."
Bai Qiulian, the Minister of War, said with a smile: "Mr. Long has great courage. I hope you can create a miracle this time."
They knew that Long Chen Douwen had defeated Yu Shinan, but solving the firewood problem was two different things than fighting against him.
"Thank you, Lord Bai."
Long Chen smiled.
"Okay, our army has returned from victory. Today we will give a banquet in the Daming Palace to welcome all the soldiers."
The empress decreed that the imperial dining room would prepare wine and food, and a grand banquet would be held in the palace to celebrate the victory.
Long Chen sat behind Di Luoxi. After the banquet, Long Chen returned to the West Palace first.
Di Luoxi entered the Fengming Palace of the Empress alone.
"My son, I pay homage to my mother."
"Come on, thank you for your hard work this time. I heard that Shangguan Wei set up an ambush, and you fought hard."
During the war in Linjiang City, in addition to Di Luoxi's battle report, the empress also had her own intelligence system.
Emperors are like this. They don't trust the words of their ministers. They all have their own ideas.
"Yes, fortunately Long Chengen has a backup plan, otherwise this time he would have failed miserably."
The empress praised: "Long Cheng'en has repeatedly made great contributions and should have been rewarded, but his status is too special, and the opposition in the court was loud, as you have seen."
"I know that I want to ask something. What is Long Chengen's true identity? I suspect that he may be...Long Chen."
A faint glint flashed across the empress's eyes, but her expression returned to normal immediately.
"I have checked Long Chengen's identity. He was once a guard of the Long Family Army and followed General Long Ye. Later, the Long Family Army was destroyed and he wandered to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty."
"Wu Jian, the knife maker in the cleansing room, is a knight of the Long family army. The two of them often interact with each other. I know all this."
The empress made up an identity background for Long Chen.
After hearing what the empress said, Di Luoxi was completely relieved.
She doubted Long Chen, but she would never doubt the empress.
"That's good. That's what he told Erchen. Erchen was worried that he had concealed his identity."
"I have checked it out a long time ago. Who dares to use such a man of literary and military skills without knowing the details?"
"Yes, Xiao Longlong is really smart, capable of writing and fighting. The key is that he knows what happened in Nanliang. He is the one who launched the Jade Broken Plan this time."
Di Luoxi dispelled her doubts and smiled happily.
The empress smiled and said: "Six taels of silver to buy a genius eunuch, isn't it worth it?"
Di Luoxi chuckled and said, "Yes, it's so worth it."
The empress said: "Ask Long Chengen how he plans to solve the firewood problem. If you want to secure the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry, you must come up with ways to convince the public."
Di Luoxi's happy expression disappeared instantly and she muttered: "Mother, this problem cannot be solved at all. Should we let him use magic to create a forest?"
The empress smiled and said: "You have to believe that this Long Cheng'en has many clever ideas."
Di Luoxi had no choice but to leave Fengming Palace and return to the West Palace.
Long Chen was playing cards with Xuan Yi and Qing Yue.
I saw three people holding several pieces of paper with some strange symbols written on them.
"Two!"
Qingyue threw out two cards.
"Pass!"
Xuan Yi looked at Long Chen with suspicion.
"King Zha!"
Long Chen threw out two cards, with the Emperor of Nanliang and the King of Xixia on them.
"Ah? Why do you have Wang Zha?"
Xuan Yi threw the cards on the couch in disappointment.
"You lose, this time you have to take off...your obscene clothes."
Long Chen pointed at Xuan Yi's green clothes and said.
Xuan Yi reluctantly took out the obscene clothes inside and covered Long Chen's face. A girl's body fragrance hit her nostrils.
"What are you doing?"
When Di Luoxi came in, she saw Xuan Yi taking off her obscene clothes, and Long Chen obscenely smelled the body fragrance on the clothes.
"Princess, we are fighting the landlord."
Qingyue shook the cards in her hand and she was almost finished taking off her clothes.
Di Luoxi was speechless and asked Long Chen: "Xiao Longlong, how do you plan to solve the problem of firewood? If you can't help it, the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry will not be given to you."
Long Chen chuckled and said: "The mountain man has his own clever plan, don't be in a hurry."
"Your Highness, do you want to have a game? If you lose, take off your clothes."
Di Luoxi snorted: "You are a eunuch, you don't look good if you take off your clothes."
Qingyue pulled Di Luoxi and said, "Princess took revenge for us and took off Xiao Longlong's clothes."
Xuan Yi said: "Your Highness, we have never won the Landlord Battle."
Di Luoxi was very competitive. When she heard that her two subordinates had never won, she felt uncomfortable. She took off her shoes and got on the bed, rolled up her sleeves and said, "Come on!"
