The atmosphere in the check-in room was a bit solemn.
Everyone understood the reason for Li Zhi's sharpness and secretly looked at Li Zhi and Cui Dunli, secretly worried about Cui Dunli.
Cui Dunli had the air of a general, his face was as dark as water, he bowed slightly when he heard the words, and said respectfully: "The words of Chief Liu are actually the consensus of the top and bottom of the Ministry of War, and they are the reason why the Ministry of War has become the most efficient among the six departments.
As the foundation of the Yamen, I also hope that His Highness the King of Jin can understand the essence of the various procedures of the Ministry of War as soon as possible, forge ahead, and escort the plan of the Eastern Expedition."
Everyone couldn't help but mention it in their hearts, appreciating Cui Dunli's courage, but they couldn't help but worry about him.
Is this an attempt to confront His Highness the King of Jin?
After all, he is His Majesty's favorite prince, and he came to the Ministry of War to seize power against the imperial edict. If things get too tense, His Highness the King of Jin may be killed as a warning to others...
The corners of Li Zhi's eyes kept beating, and he felt that he could no longer suppress the anger in his heart.
You are just a child of the Bolingcui family, and you are still a side branch. You just fell in Fang Jun's eyes and gained his trust. You haven't even gotten close to the prince's team yet, so you dare to be so presumptuous in front of me?
Suppressing his raging anger, Li Zhi said slowly: "Oh? According to Cui Shilang, it means that I, the young king, insist on dictating things even though I am young, trying to disrupt the good situation of the Ministry of War, and intend to sabotage my father's plan for the Eastern Expedition?"
This crime is really serious enough. If it is confirmed, not to mention just Cui Dunli, even the prime minister of the dynasty will not be able to withstand it.
Cui Dunli showed no fear on his face, slowly straightened his waist, raised his head, and met Li Zhi's eyes.
Everyone held their breath and looked at Cui Dunli in disbelief. Damn! Does your brother want to fight King Jin to the end?
This is King Jin!
Li Zhi was even more furious, thinking that as long as Cui Dunli said even a few impudent words, he would immediately explode and make the matter worse, and then go to his father in person to cry and complain, and then severely punish him and send him to the frontier, where he would be banned for life.
Return to Beijing...
Cui Dunli looked calm and looked at Li Zhi with burning eyes, but said nothing.
For a long time, just when Li Zhi was about to lose control of his anger, Cui Dunli suddenly smiled, and all the daggers and crossbows disappeared. His fair face felt like the spring breeze blowing on his face, and he bowed his hands and saluted: "Your Highness is joking, you are the king, and I am."
Sir, how dare you disobey your Majesty? Your Majesty is just explaining to Your Highness the key points of the Ministry of War's work procedures and discussing the matter. Your Highness is now the Minister of the Ministry of War, entrusted by His Majesty. Before the Duke of Yue State returns to his post, you are
The highest officer of the Ministry of War follows the law as he says, how dare we disrespect him?"
The officials heaved a long sigh. If Cui Dunli was really loyal to Fang Jun and openly confronted the King of Jin, causing the King of Jin to become angry and go to war, all the officials of the Ministry of War might be implicated.
The King of Jin wants to seize power, so everyone can just find a way to block it. Why do they have to confront him with gongs and drums?
It is unwise to hit an egg against a stone.
Li Zhi himself breathed a sigh of relief. Unless necessary, he did not want to bear the reputation of grabbing power and profit as soon as he took office. Moreover, Cui Dunli had a high prestige in the Ministry of War. He was only under Fang Jun and was deeply supported by the officials. If General
His harsh punishment was extremely detrimental to his progress in the Ministry of War.
But if Cui Dunli is ignorant of current affairs and insists on going against him to show his loyalty to Fang Jun and the prince, then he can only move it to consolidate his prestige.
As long as you obey...
Li Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile appeared on his face: "Cui Shilang understands the righteousness, and I am very pleased. I am not slandering the poor process established by Yue Guo Gong, but I know my own family affairs, and I am far from being the same as Yue Guo Gong. Wen Tao and military strategy are compared with each other, so in order to uphold the responsibilities entrusted by my father and the political affairs hall, I have to do everything personally. Therefore, from now on, all matters of the Ministry of War must be decided by me, and they can only be implemented after my review and approval. , otherwise I will be severely punished! Can you understand this?"
The officials of the Ministry of War had no choice but to say in unison: "I understand."
But they all complained in their hearts that the appearance of His Highness the King of Jin is too ugly. Everyone knows that your purpose in coming to the Ministry of War is to seize power, but you must have some technical skills, right? Being so rough and tyrannical may make others look a little disdainful.
…
But no matter what, Li Zhi, as the Minister of the Military Academy, held a great position. On the surface, his orders could only be obeyed. If he violated them, not everyone could bear the consequences.
When all the officials filed out, Li Zhi sat alone in the duty room, feeling a little complacent.
He also knew that his methods were too crude, but the problem was that since he had the right to do so, why did he need to act euphemistically and hypocritically?
I'm a senior official, and I'm a prince. Who dares to object if I'm suppressed directly?
Anyone who objects will be killed!
In this way, he will be able to establish prestige in the Ministry of War within a few days. Although it is difficult to win over Cui Dunli and others, they can gradually penetrate from the bottom up, and there is no need to rush.
As long as you give it time, it will not be difficult to hollow out the entire military department.
He called the chamberlain who accompanied him when he took office, and ordered him to boil a pot of water and make a pot of tea. He also brought some snacks brought from the palace, and ate and drank happily, thinking about the future.
Just after having two cups of tea, a scribe came to report that it was Liu Shi who wanted to see me.
Li Zhi put down his tea cup, wiped the pastry crumbs from the corners of his mouth, nodded and said, "Invite him in."
Wiping his hands with a handkerchief, he sat upright and wondered whether this uncle-in-law could not wait to surrender because he had firmly stood by Fang Junzhi before, but after seeing his tough tactics, he became frightened and couldn't wait to surrender?
Although he is his wife's uncle, he didn't give himself any face in front of so many people just now. This debt cannot be easily solved. He must be beaten hard, and then he can be completely conquered and become the leader of his strategy department. Vanguard...
Liu Shi pushed open the door and entered, holding a roll of account books in his hand and saluting: "I have met His Royal Highness the King of Jin."
Li Zhi said "Hmm" from his nostrils and put on all the airs of His Royal Highness. Without raising his eyelids, he took a sip of tea and asked calmly: "Mr. Liu, do you have something to inquire about?"
Liu Shi's face remained as usual and he said respectfully: "Exactly."
Then he took two steps forward, placed the account book in his hand on Li Zhi's desk, and said: "This is the account book of the Foundry Bureau. Please take a look at it first."
Li Zhi felt happy.
In today's Tang Dynasty, firearms have already become the core weapons of all armies. With the continuous updating and evolution of tactics, they have become more and more the main equipment of the army. However, due to production limitations, they cannot be popularized on a large scale for a while. to all armies.
However, the role of the Foundry Bureau has only increased, and it has become the most important ordnance research and development and manufacturing office in the entire empire.
It can be said that half of the credit for the reason why the Ministry of War's status suddenly became the leading one at the end of the Sixth Division must be attributed to the Foundry Bureau.
If you can control the Foundry Bureau, it is almost equivalent to controlling half of the Ministry of War...
Since Liu Shi couldn't wait to present the foundry bureau's account books, it probably meant that Liu Shi wanted to use the foundry bureau as a bargaining chip, admit his mistake and join his own army...
While flipping through the account books, Li Zhi asked: "What is the current situation of the Foundry Bureau? Are there any difficulties?"
Since he plans to take Liu Shi under his command regardless of previous suspicions, he must show the grace and magnanimity of a superior. If he can help Liu Shi solve some practical difficulties in the foundry, wouldn't it make Liu Shi more loyal?
Liu Shidao: "The Foundry Bureau mainly focuses on casting firearms. After several expansions, the output has expanded more than ten times compared with the beginning of its establishment. Today, outside the Yanping Gate in the west of Chang'an City and in the north of Kunming Lake, the Foundry Bureau's factories and blast furnaces are lined up in rows, stretching for dozens of times.
The firearms cast here are gradually being equipped with various armies, with the Liaodong army taking priority at present. However, Your Highness also knows that the casting of firearms is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also more expensive. Now the copper and iron materials stored in the Foundry Bureau are about to run out.
, but the armies in Liaodong are desperately waiting for food. If production is stopped due to lack of raw materials, which affects the equipment of the Eastern Expedition army, then something serious will happen..."
Li Zhi flipped through the account books that contained dense numbers and accounts. He felt dizzy. After hearing this, he raised his head in shock: "So what you mean is..."
Liu Shi said: "Please also ask Your Highness to allocate military funds to purchase iron and copper materials to supply the needs of the foundry bureau."
Li Zhi closed the account book, picked up the tea cup, and said disapprovingly: "How much military resources are needed? Just come up with a number, and I will ask the Ministry of War to allocate it immediately."
Liu Shi said: "It will probably take 600,000 guan."
"puff!"
Li Zhi spat out a sip of tea, widened his eyes and said in surprise: "How much? Six hundred thousand yuan? You guys are eating money!"