The project to build a dock port in Bolangsha was finally decided upon by Zhao Hongrun.
It has to be said that this is a big project. The Metallurgical and Manufacturing Bureau alone will never be able to complete such a huge project. Therefore, after Zhao Hongrun returned to Daliang, he immediately came to the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and planned to discuss it with Cao, the Minister of Industry. Let’s discuss this matter.
However, when Zhao Hongrun arrived outside the main office of the Ministry of Works, he happened to bump into Meng Wei, the left minister of the Ministry of Works, and several subordinates riding horses from the other side of the street, so he said hello out of curiosity.
"Where has Mr. Meng gone?"
"Where else can I go? Xianguan has been busy these days for His Royal Highness Prince Su's palace... His Highness, on the other hand, has come to his own palace twice in total. That is your palace. , Aren't you afraid that you will screw up if you lower your rank?" Meng Wei, the left minister of the Ministry of Industry, joked.
It has to be said that Meng Wei was on the battlefield with Zhao Hongrun. Although he did not directly participate in the battle with the Chu army at that time, he had a decisive impact on the entire battle. If he had not supervised and consolidated the Yanshui camp, It is really invulnerable, just like a hedgehog, and the army of Yangcheng Lord Xiong Tuo has no way to kill it. How can Zhao Hongrun drag Xiong Tuo's army to death in the Yanshui area?
Not to mention, Meng Wei also led the officials and craftsmen of the Ministry of Industry at that time to repair the wells and carriages in the rain of arrows when the Chu State was attacking the camp. Zhao Hongrun really admired his courage.
Since then, among the friends Zhao Hongrun recognized, there was the left minister of the Ministry of Industry.
"Haha, how can this king not trust Minister Meng?"
The two exchanged a few words, and Zhao Hongrun learned from Meng Kai that the Prince Su's Mansion he had asked Meng Kai to renovate had entered the final acceptance stage, and Meng Kai had just left the Ministry of Industry and Headquarters to go to that palace specifically. The palace went to inspect the repairs.
It could be seen that Meng Kai was very satisfied with the work done by the craftsmen of the Ministry of Industry, so he swore to Zhao Hongrun that Zhao Hongrun would be very happy when he moved into Prince Su's Mansion in the next few days.
"Oh? Are you ready to move in?"
"The official has ordered people to clean up and get rid of some leftover materials. It will probably take some time... Well, tomorrow, after noon tomorrow, His Highness can move in at any time. However, the official sees that the house lacks some practical equipment. "I don't know His Highness's preferences, so I didn't ask the people of Yu tribe to provide anything on my own."
Zhao Hongrun knew that Meng Wei was referring to some practical things such as quilts, tea bowls, and teapots, so he waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter, my king's guards will take care of it."
Meng Wei nodded, and then he realized that His Highness Prince Su was standing in front of the main office of the Ministry of Industry. He asked curiously: "His Royal Highness Su Wang came to our Ministry of Works this time. Is there anything else?" thing?"
"Shilang Meng thinks that this king is here for that palace?" Zhao Hongrun joked, and then said bluntly: "This king plans to build a river port in Bolangsha on the north side of Daliang in the name of our Smelting Bureau. "
Meng Wei was stunned when he heard this. He was really confused: "Why did your Highness build the river port?" After asking, he realized that it was inappropriate to ask, and quickly waved his hand and said: "This is just a casual question, Your Highness, don't mind. "
Zhao Hongrun smiled when he heard this and said: "There is nothing to say. Meng Shilang has also been to Chu State. You must have heard that Xiong Tuo built a river port and dock in Chen County, right?"
Meng Wei nodded. How could he not know about the river port of Chen County in Chu State? Although it was nominally the fiefdom of Xiong Hu, Lord of Pingyu. But in fact, Xiong Tuo, Lord of Yangcheng, built many buildings in the river port of Chen County. Many large warships.
In fact, Wu Ji, the 3,000-man general of the Shang Navy, seized many warships after conquering Chen County to transport the huge sum of money and goods collected from the Chu State. But now, those ships In the name of transporting grain to Shangshui, the team actually transported a large amount of grain to Chen County and Xiangcheng.
The only two Chu warships seized are still anchored in Xiangfu Port south of Daliang City.
Although Meng Kai did not see with his own eyes what the size of the Chen County port was, from the size and number of the many Chu warships, it was not difficult for him to deduce how huge the Chen County port was.
"Does His Highness also want to build a huge dock and river port?" Meng Wei stroked his beard and then asked clearly: "Your Highness wants to build a ship?"
"Hmm." Zhao Hongrun nodded and said with a frown: "Cangbe's ship is too small... I'm afraid Meng Shilang doesn't know that our Smelting and Manufacturing Bureau is saving raw materials and preparing ambitiously for a big fight. Unexpectedly, Cangbe's ship is too small." The speed at which the ore is transported..."
"Oh." Meng Wei was relieved in his heart, but understanding was understanding, which did not prevent him from secretly feeling embarrassed: His Highness, King Su, was really grand in his work. In order to enable the required ore to be transported faster, The Metallurgical and Manufacturing Bureau could simply build its own docks and transport ships. How much would it cost?
"I understand why His Royal Highness Prince Su is in front of our Ministry of Industry." Meng Wei smiled bitterly and shook his head, making a gesture of invitation.
Think about it, if Zhao Hongrun really plans to follow the example of Chuyangcheng Jun Xiong Tuo's Chenxian River Port and build such a huge river port in Bolangsha, then the Smelting Bureau alone will not be enough to complete such a huge project. If something unexpected happens, His Highness is here to seek help from their Ministry of Works.
"Please!" Zhao Hongrun and Meng Wei walked into the main office of the Ministry of Industry together. During the process, he said jokingly: "Mr. Meng, please give me the best tea later..."
"Of course." Meng Wei laughed.
After all, it is undeniable that Zhao Hongrun is currently the largest customer of the Ministry of Industry. Whether it is the renovation of Prince Su's Mansion and the Smelting Bureau in the city, or the construction of several underground furnaces outside the city, His Highness Prince Su has paid a large sum of money to the Ministry of Industry for this purpose. The amount of money was as high as 250,000 taels of silver.
In addition to the funds allocated by the Ministry of Accounts in the past, how has the Ministry of Works ever received such generous remuneration?
What makes Meng Wei even more excited is that the Smelting and Manufacturing Bureau is obviously on the rise now. It is not difficult to guess that His Highness King Su will have more projects handed over to their Ministry of Industry in the future, which will be extra income. .
No, Bolangsha's river port is, as expected, a major project, enough to enrich the finances of their Ministry of Industry.
"We can discuss the river port matter later when we meet Cao Shangshu... I have heard that Cao Shangshu plans to hand over the Ministry of Industry to Minister Meng?"
Zhao Hongrun asked with interest on the way to the compound of the Ministry of Industry.
As soon as he heard about this, Meng Wei suddenly became a lot more cautious. With an embarrassed look on his face, he waved his hands and said, "Those are all rumors and cannot be taken to be true."
"Really?" Zhao Hongrun looked at Meng Wei with a half-smile, making the latter look even more embarrassed.
Zhao Hongrun has not dealt with Cao Zhi, Minister of Industry, so far, but this does not prevent Zhao Hongrun from having a good impression of this veteran minister.
After all, when the Metallurgical Bureau announced its separation from the Ministry of Industry a while ago and announced new weights and measures, the Ministry of Industry was the first among the six ministries of the imperial court to come forward to support it. Without the acquiescence of Cao Zhi, the Minister of Industry, the Ministry of Industry would have given this to the Metallurgical Bureau.
Tolerant treatment?
Unfortunately, Cao Zhi, an old minister, is really too old. He is the eldest among the six ministers of the imperial court, and is said to be sixty-five years old. Although he is still in good spirits and has a good memory, he even
It is said that you can eat two large bowls of rice with each meal, which can be said to make you strong and healthy.
However, these are not enough to make up for the potential risks brought about by the age of 65.
Therefore, if nothing unexpected happens, in the past one or two years, this veteran minister will probably retire from his position as Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and either retire or work in the Ministry of Industry to take care of himself.
As for the person who will succeed him as Minister of Finance, it is no surprise that he should be Meng Wei, the left minister of the Ministry of Industry next to Zhao Hongrun.
Zhao Hongrun is very confident about this.
After all, Meng Wei was a loyal man with both political integrity and talent. More importantly, he had assisted Zhao Hongrun in repelling the army of Yangcheng Lord Xiong Tuo, so his prestige among the government and the public, especially within the Ministry of Industry, had greatly increased.
Therefore, except for him, Zhao Hongrun really couldn't think of anyone else who could succeed the veteran Cao Zhina as Minister of Industry.
Meng Kai will succeed Cao Zhi as Minister of the Ministry of Industry. This is not unfounded gossip.
In fact, Cao Zhi has gradually begun to hand over all the large and small affairs within the Ministry of Industry to Meng Kai. Meng Kai himself is well aware of this.
But despite this, Zhao Hongrun's teasing still made Meng Wei feel embarrassed.
"Your Highness, please stop teasing me. Your Excellency Shangshu once said frankly to me that I don't have the ability to lead the Ministry of Works." Meng Wei sighed slightly, looking slightly disappointed.
Does the so-called talent that is enough to lead the Ministry of Industry refer to self-confidence and government?
Zhao Hongrun smiled faintly and said nothing more. After all, in his opinion, Meng Wei was indeed lacking in these two aspects.
Comparatively speaking, Li Liang, the Minister of Household Affairs who was a few years older than him, was much better than Meng Wei in these two aspects.
Under Meng Wei's guidance, Zhao Hongrun came to the house of Cao Zhi, Minister of Industry.
Because of his advanced age, this old man no longer interfered much with the affairs of the Ministry of Works, and gradually handed over those matters to Meng Kai.
Zhao Hongrun guessed that the reason why this old man was still sitting in the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry was probably because he felt that the current Meng Wei was not able to stabilize the entire Ministry of Industry, or in other words, he was still unable to take advantage of the money conflict with the Ministry of Household Affairs.
Advantage.
"Cao Shangshu."
Zhao Hongrun took the initiative to say hello to Cao Zhi, the minister of industry, who was sitting on a low couch in the room.
"Prince Su...your highness?"
It could be seen that Cao Zhi was really surprised. After being stunned for a moment, he wanted to get up and put on his shoes, but Zhao Hongrun waved his hand to stop him.
"It's okay, Sir, just sit on the couch." Zhao Hongrun took a few steps forward, sat on the edge of the bed, glanced at the chessboard on the low table on the couch, and shook his head with a half-smile: "My lord, I'm very interested.
Play chess with yourself... By the way, Cao Shangshu, I came here today to ask the Ministry of Industry for a favor."
Cao Zhi blinked his slightly cloudy eyes in confusion and said sternly: "His Royal Highness, Prince Su, you are so polite. Just tell me what your Highness has to say."
"It's like this. I plan to build a river port in Bolangsha..." While Zhao Hongrun was speaking, Zongwei Shen Yu behind him took out the map from his arms and slowly spread it out on the low table.
Cao Zhi opened his eyes and took a look, then there was a hint of hesitation on his face, and he stopped talking several times.
Perhaps he also saw from the map that Bolangsha was within the territory of Yuanyang Kingdom. (To be continued.)