To be fair, Zhao Hongrun doesn't like playing hard to get and retreating in order to advance. His character determines that he prefers a more convenient and direct way of negotiation, but Zhao Yuanli, the sixth uncle, made him understand that this method is necessary.
It is a common method used by politicians.
"Can I, the Smelting Bureau, please help you?"
Zhao Hongrun crossed his hands and looked at Li Huan, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, who made the request with a blank face, trying to portray the image of the still angry King Su in place: "I'm sorry that I really don't understand. I, the Smelting Bureau, can help.
What is your department doing?"
This is typical putting on airs.
No, Li Huan, Xu Guan, and Li Jin from the Ministry of War heard a strong sense of ridicule in Zhao Hongrun's words, but they couldn't do anything about this ridicule.
After a long time, the elderly Li Huan finally became thick-skinned and implored without changing his expression: "I hope that the Metallurgical and Manufacturing Bureau will help us build those 130,000 sets of armaments."
"Huh?" Zhao Hongrun raised his hand and scratched his face gently, and said with a smile: "This is really interesting... I remember that a while ago, your ministry sent a letter to my father, asking our Smelting Bureau to withdraw from this matter..."
"Misunderstanding, that's a misunderstanding." Li Huan had a smile on his face, as if his visit to Chui Gong Hall a few days ago was really just a misunderstanding.
"Misunderstanding? Huh!" Zhao Hongrun snorted with a mocking face: "Thanks to your ministry, I was scolded by my father."
That's because you've crossed the line...
Li Huan took a deep look at the King Su in front of him.
It is undeniable that since His Highness King Su led 25,000 dredging troops and defeated the Chu State's 160,000 army at a very small cost, Li Huan looked at His Highness the Prince with admiration and never dared to do so again.
Consider this boy a naughty boy.
On the contrary, as Zhao Hongrun took charge of the Smelting Bureau and gradually changed the Smelting Bureau, Li Huan increasingly felt that His Highness Prince Su was no ordinary person. Because of this, he was inexplicably wary of His Highness Prince Su.
It's no wonder when you think about it. After all, so far, the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Household Affairs have all suffered heavy losses at the hands of His Highness. Even their Ministry of War was disgraced last year because of that great gift from King Su. Now in the DPRK
Liubu, who dares to despise His Highness King Su?
This led to Li Huan feeling a huge threat when the Smelting Bureau controlled by Zhao Hongrun showed signs of trying to get involved in armament building.
To put it bluntly, it was just that Zhao Hongrun was so sharp in the past that Li Huan became afraid and wary of him.
After thinking for a while, Li Huan asked tentatively: "Your Highness, King Su, what do you think of our Bingzhu Bureau?"
…
Zhao Hongrun was slightly stunned by this sudden inquiry.
This old man...could he be guarding against me?
Zhao Hongrun frowned and glanced at Li Huan, feeling a little strange: Is my intention to annex Bing Zhu Bureau really so obvious?
I remember that a few days ago, when Uncle Sixth Prince Zhao Yuanli asked about this matter, Zhao Hongrun was a little disapproving, but now that this sentence came from Li Huan's mouth, Zhao Hongrun couldn't help but become a little concerned.
After all, this is what Zhao Yuanli, the Sixth Prince's Uncle, mentioned to him, that being sharp and over-intimidating can easily lead to establishing unnecessary enemies.
To put it bluntly, when a person is too strong, unfamiliar others will subconsciously alienate you and become wary of you. Therefore, it is generally not advisable to show your sharpness in politics.
A style like that of Zhao Hongrun is suitable for the army and the battlefield, but in politics, a style like that of his uncle Zhao Yuanli, the Sixth Prince, who has far-reaching connections and can play both sides, is more suitable for standing in a temple.
"Weapon Casting Bureau..."
Zhao Hongrun pondered over his choice of words, thinking about how to answer to dispel Li Huan's wariness and save the situation.
After thinking for a while, he said calmly: "Hey! This kind of rigid and unchangeable department should be merged into our Smelting Bureau as soon as possible."
Huh?
Li Huan, Minister of the Ministry of War, Xu Guan, the left minister, and Li Jin, the chief minister of the Military Casting Bureau, were shocked when they heard this. You know, although they had some guesses in their minds, they really didn't expect that His Highness King Su would state his words so directly and straightforwardly.
.
Is this the truth? Or is it just a test?
Li Huan was a little confused.
He originally wanted to test whether Zhao Hongrun had any intentions towards Bing Zhu Bureau, but he didn't expect Zhao Hongrun to admit it with Yu Nu, which made him a little confused.
After all, logically speaking, shouldn’t the true intentions of the heart have to be buried deep in the heart?
For some reason, Li Huan subconsciously thought of Emperor Wei. After all, when he went to Chui Gong Hall and tried to explore the thoughts of His Majesty, His Majesty also did not let him get what he wanted to know.
So similar...
Li Huan murmured in his heart.
Perhaps he had never noticed it before, but now that he looked carefully at His Highness Prince Su in front of him, Li Huan vaguely felt that His Highness Prince Su in front of him was really similar to the Emperor of Wei whom they were loyal to.
That feeling...it's hard to figure out his inner thoughts...
After thinking for a while, Li Huan raised his hands and said, "Your Highness, Prince Su, what do you want the Bing Zhu Bureau to do?"
"..."
After hearing this, everyone in the room looked at Li Huan in disbelief, especially Xu Guan, the left minister of the Ministry of War, and Li Jin, the chief minister of the Military Casting Bureau.
Of course, including Zhao Hongrun.
This old man... what does he mean by saying this?
"I don't understand what Li Shangshu means." Zhao Hongrun said expressionlessly.
Hearing this, Li Huan cupped his hands and said sternly: "Last year, I had dealings with His Highness King Su. Although the process was not satisfactory, I still deeply admire His Highness Su's virtue... I think back when I first started working with him.
The Chu treasures that Chu State carried back to our great Wei Dynasty were worth at least more than 20 million taels of silver. In addition to handing over the treasures, His Highness King Su
Part of it was given to the Ministry of Household Affairs to subsidize the military expenses of our Ministry of War, the Ministry of Industry, and several armies such as the Dredging Army, Fenxing Fortress, Dangshan Camp, and Shang Shui Army. In the end, His Highness Prince Su only received more than 30 yuan.
Ten thousand taels can be said to be insignificant... Your Highness, Prince Su, is devoted to the great Wei Dynasty. I really admire this noble character!"
"..."
"..."
Hearing this, there was silence in the room.
Everyone present felt incredible: This stubborn old man could actually compliment?
No, Li Huan's son, Li Jin, the director of the Bingzhu Bureau, had already been dumbfounded. He seemed to be doubting whether the man in front of him was his stubborn father.
This is really... unexpected.
Zhao Hongrun scratched his face, but was also shocked and speechless for a while.
"That's not a compliment."
As if seeing through the surprise of everyone present, Li Huan said sternly: "His Royal Highness King Su's contribution to our Wei Dynasty is obvious to all. His Highness sincerely hopes that our Wei Dynasty will grow steadily stronger... But I don't understand that there is already a
Weaponry Manufacturing Bureau, why does His Highness Prince Su still plan to get involved in arms building? Is it because the Smelting Bureau's funds are tight, or is it for other reasons? I hope His Highness will make it clear."
This old man...
Zhao Hongrun looked at Li Huan deeply for a long time and said in a deep voice: "Because the development of the Bingzhu Bureau has failed to satisfy me."
really!
Li Huan suddenly understood.
He was puzzled at first, because according to the temperament of His Highness Prince Su, he did not seem to be a prince who was simply fighting for power. Now that he heard about this, he finally understood.
At this time, Li Jin, the chief minister of the Bingzhu Bureau, was a little angry after hearing this, and couldn't help but said: "I'm sorry that I don't agree with the words of His Highness King Su! ... Please make it clear, Your Highness!"
It's no wonder, after all, Li Jin is the chief executive of the Bingzhu Bureau, and he decides all the big and small affairs in the Bingzhu Bureau. This is just like a parent who doesn't want outsiders to say something bad about his children.
Facing Li Jin who was suppressing his dissatisfaction, Zhao Hongrun said lightly: "As far as I know, the Weapon Casting Bureau was using the current method to build weapons and equipment decades ago. It was the same way more than ten years ago.
, and now, the old craftsmanship is still used...with no progress for decades."
"This..." Li Jin blushed when he heard this and defended: "That's the fault of the Smelting Bureau..."
Before he finished speaking, Wang Fu, the Chief of the Metallurgical Bureau, said dissatisfiedly: "What do Chief Li's words mean?"
"Isn't it?" Li Jin was not afraid of Wang Fu. Hearing this, he mocked: "Our Bingzhi Bureau follows the technology of the Smelting Bureau. It is precisely because the Smelting Bureau has made no progress in decades. Our Bingzhi Bureau has such a number of
It would take ten years to make no progress, right?"
"You..." Wang Fu was suddenly speechless.
If you think about it carefully, Li Jin's words really make some sense.
At this time, Zhao Hongrun said calmly: "In this case, our Smelting Bureau can also cast weapons and equipment, what else should the Military Casting Bureau do? In addition... you, the Military Casting Bureau, have fully understood the new technology improved by our Smelting Bureau.
What? Our Smelting Bureau has made it clear
In vain, I told you how to mass-produce weapons. Logically speaking, apart from the fact that your bureau is currently unable to mass-produce armor, mass-producing guns and swords is not a problem. So I’m here to ask you, can you produce iron-removing weapons?
Are there any weapons other than swords?”
"..." Li Jin opened his mouth and was speechless.
Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun sneered and said coldly: "You are used to taking other people's things, so you don't know how to draw inferences from one example, draw analogies and cast your own molds? ... Just wait for others to give you ready-made things?"
"Your Majesty..." Li Jin's face turned red, but he was speechless.
It's no wonder, after all, the problem pointed out by Zhao Hongrun is spot on. Their Bing Casting Bureau has indeed never thought of casting molds themselves according to the method used by the Smelting Bureau.
Is it because they can't do it?
I'm afraid not, but they haven't thought about it.
The Bingzhu Bureau, which has been using the Smelting Bureau's technology for decades, has long been fixed in its way of thinking.
But at this moment, Li Huan, Minister of the Ministry of War, interrupted and said: "His Royal Highness King Su taught you a good lesson, but this is the Bingzhu Bureau... Your Highness, the foundation of the Bingzhu Bureau is to inherit the Smelting Bureau.
Craftsmanship creates armaments, and His Highness cannot ask us to ask for the Weapons Forging Bureau in the same way as the Smelting Bureau."
Vaguely, Li Huan had already sensed the true thoughts of His Highness Prince Su: His Highness felt that the existence of the Bing Zhu Bureau was dispensable.
Thinking of this, Li Huan said sternly: "Your Highness, how about in-depth cooperation between the Military Casting Bureau and the Smelting Bureau? It is like the division of labor between the Smelting Bureau and the Ministry of Industry under the Yu Department, and the Ministry of Household Affairs under the Warehouse Department."
Huh?
Zhao Hongrun glanced at Li Huan with some surprise.