Looking at Emperor Wei who was pretending to be confused, Zhao Hongrun asked again with a suspicious expression.
"You doubt me?"
Emperor Wei had an expression on his face like "Do you think I am that kind of person?"
Unexpectedly, his son didn't give me any face at all. He narrowed his eyes and said with increasing suspicion: "If you think about it carefully, this really seems like something your father would do..."
You know, in Zhao Hongrun's heart, no one can compare to his father in terms of evil deeds.
To use an inappropriate analogy, the father and son made an appointment to steal melons from someone else's melon field. They agreed that each of them would take one. However, when the melon farmer found him running home, the father stretched his leg and tripped his son, leaving him holding two melons.
He ran away, but the poor son didn't get any benefits, and was chased everywhere by the melon farmer.
When the son came home and angrily questioned his father, the father said, "I am training you so that you can run faster in the future."
This is no longer enough to be described as burning bridges.
Of course, this is just a joke metaphor, but in fact, is the reality any different from this joke?
The father and son made an appointment to deal with the clan. Zhao Hongrun worked hard, but what was the result?
Emperor Wei got his wish and severely reduced the power of the clan, and allowed his brother Zhao Yuanyan to take over the clan in a real sense. Coupled with the mineral veins that the noble forces were willing to contribute, it can be said that this time he took the biggest advantage.
But what did Zhao Hongrun get?
He offended the great uncle Zhao Tairu, the third uncle Zhao Laiyu and other elders of the original clan house, and was ridiculed by a rumor as being deceitful and ambitious.
The most hateful thing is that when those elders spread that rumor, his father, Emperor Wei, could have stopped it, but in the end, his father did nothing and instead stretched his leg and tripped his son.
"My son, I finally understand why Xiong Tuo, Lord of Chu Yangcheng, hates you so much, my father..."
After gradually figuring out the key, Zhao Hongrun shook his head and said with a hint of ridicule: "But I should have thought of this a long time ago... When cooperating with my father, you should be very careful."
Emperor Wei felt a little embarrassed. After all, thinking back carefully, he found out that he had tricked Zhao Hongrun a lot. Every time, he took advantage and Zhao Hongrun took the blame. Even if it was like the sacrifice ceremony, it was clearly Yong Wang Hongyu who tricked Prince Hong of the East Palace.
Regarding the etiquette, Emperor Wei calculated that Zhao Hongrun would not interfere in the matter, so he also taught him a lesson, so that Zhao Hongrun was burdened with the mess of the Smelting Bureau, and he has invested so much energy and money so far.
Perhaps because his son, who had been confused by the authorities for a while, gradually figured out something, Emperor Wei secretly said "What a pity" and then asked seriously: "Hongrun, does my position make you look down on me like this?"
This sentence, in disguise, admitted that Emperor Wei was the driving force behind the rumor.
No, Zhao Hongrun, who heard the profound meaning of these words, suddenly turned cold and said calmly: "Father, have you ever been out of Chui Gong Hall?"
"What?" Wei Tianzi was slightly stunned, as if he didn't understand.
Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun said again: "Father, you are only forty and four this year, but your temples are all white..."
Emperor Wei gradually understood, frowned and said: "I don't think this is something worthy of criticism. Based on this, after my death in the future, when I meet my ancestors, I can straighten my back and tell my ancestors what I have done.
Their children and grandchildren have not brought them shame. I have devoted my whole life to the country left by my ancestors!...I am not a foolish king!"
"And this is just the path you have chosen, Father." Pointing to the surroundings of the inner hall of Chui Gong Hall, Zhao Hongrun shook his head and said, "And the life I want is by no means limited to this small Chui Gong Hall... Father.
You can choose the path you want to take, but it is best not to choose the path your son will take in the future."
"..."
Emperor Wei looked deeply at Zhao Hongrun, but saw his son's eyes were firm and he looked at him without fear.
...it seems it's not time yet.
Emperor Wei sighed secretly.
If it had been two years ago, I am afraid that Emperor Wei would have said that I am your father, and I can do whatever I want you to do! Such words came, but the result could only be that the father and son broke up on the spot, and then started
A new round of father-son war.
But now, as Emperor Wei gets to know his son's character better and better, he will no longer use such strong methods to force his son to submit, because he has understood that forceful means cannot make his son surrender, but will.
It will trigger a series of unnecessary disputes.
To deal with this son, you have to be soft.
Thinking of this, Emperor Wei let out a long sigh and said: "Hongrun, no prince in the history of the Wei Dynasty has ever held such amazing power, do you know that? Just talking about military power, the military power in your hands now is greater than what I have.
More to come…”
"..." Zhao Hongrun opened his mouth, and the cold look on his face gradually melted away.
"I have high hopes for you... Unfortunately, although I am not a foolish king, I cannot be said to be a qualified father."
"Father..." Zhao Hongrun couldn't help but feel a little moved, because he had never seen his father say such soft-spoken words.
Seeing this, Emperor Wei glanced at his son's face with a lively look, and secretly chuckled in his heart, then sighed: "Well, I didn't think enough about this matter. But now..."
"Well..."
Zhao Hongrun frowned and thought for a moment, then seemed to think of something, his eyes lit up, and he said: "Father, according to the original agreement, father should hand over Shangshui County to his son, right?"
"Shangshui County..." Emperor Wei was stunned for a moment, then frowned and walked a few steps in the palace, thinking thoughtfully and asked: "Do you want to stay away from Daliang temporarily until this rumor calms down?"
"Exactly." Zhao Hongrun nodded, then took a breath and said, "To be honest with my father, in fact, I have been a little tired these days and want to relax a little... I hope my father will give me permission."
"..." Emperor Wei took a deep look at his son, and then, unexpectedly, nodded and said, "Okay! I have graciously approved this matter, but on the side of the Manufacturing Bureau, please don't relax."
Did you really agree?
Zhao Hongrun looked at Emperor Wei in surprise, and then said with a face of surprise: "Thank you very much, Father! ... Father, don't worry, building the Bureau is the most important thing in my heart, how can I relax?"
Later, after Emperor Wei gave a few more instructions, Zhao Hongrun left with excitement and joy.
As soon as Zhao Hongrun left, the great eunuch Tong Xian, who had been silent just now, couldn't help but asked: "Your Majesty, do you really want to let King Su leave Daliang?"
At this time, Emperor Wei's expression had already changed. He looked at the direction in which Zhao Hongrun was leaving, shook his head and said, "I can't force this son, I can only let him change his mind."
Tong Xian hesitated and said: "It would be... difficult to make King Su change his mind."
"Not seen yet."
Emperor Wei narrowed his eyes and murmured.
At the same time, Zhao Hongrun had left the palace.
He did not go back to Prince Su's Mansion, but went to the Smelting Bureau first. After all, because of the incident at the Zong Mansion, he had not been to the Smelting Bureau since the first day of the new year. It happened to be that he went there today to report this year's plan to him.
Wang Fu, the Bureau Chief of the Smelting Bureau, will explain.
Today's Metallurgical Bureau is really a bustling scene, with officials, clerks, craftsmen, and apprentices coming and going in the bureau. It is no longer the depressed scene it once was.
It's no wonder, after all, there are thousands of officials and craftsmen in the current Smelting Bureau. If you include the craftsmen, that is, the apprentices who work for the craftsmen, the number is even higher.
Force thousands of people.
How is this still just the scale of a department?
Counting the six departments and twenty-four divisions of the imperial court, how many are comparable in scale to the current Smelting Bureau?
In addition to the Ministry of Industry, there are probably only a few other places such as the Military Casting Bureau under the Ministry of War and the Warehouse Bureau under the Ministry of Household Affairs.
You must know that many important departments, such as the Literary and Selection Department under the Ministry of Personnel, actually only have a few hundred people.
It has to be said that, looking at the people coming and going in the Smelting Bureau, Zhao Hongrun couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion: The millions of taels of silver he had thrown into the Smelting Bureau had finally yielded something.
"His Royal Highness King Su!"
"His Royal Highness King Su!"
In the Smelting Bureau, there were some people who did not recognize Zhao Hongrun, but those who recognized Zhao Hongrun all saluted him respectfully when they passed by. Even some craftsmen who were pushing wheelbarrows to transport raw materials stopped and saluted him.
Zhao Hongrun saluted.
Because they all know that without His Highness Prince Su, the Smelting Bureau would not be what it is today.
Nowadays, the officials and craftsmen of the Metallurgical Bureau are very dignified when walking on Daliang Street. Those officials from the Ministry of War who used to be arrogant towards them now greet people with smiles when they see them, even if they are just from the Metallurgical Bureau.
A craftsman.
It's no wonder, after all, the molds used by the Weaponry Foundry Bureau to produce weapons were made under the supervision of the Smelting Bureau. If they make the latter unhappy and try to tease you, those Weaponry Foundry Bureau officials can't afford it.
Facing the officials and craftsmen who saluted him, Zhao Hongrun also smiled and nodded in return.
Perhaps among the people, the general reputation of imperial officials was not high, but this only refers to a small part, such as the Personnel Department, which was originally known as the head of the Six Departments, and the Hubu, which later seemed to be trying to catch up with the Personnel Department, etc.
Many times, the common people in Daliang have a bad impression of the imperial officials. The fundamental reason is not that these officials are bad, but that they have too high a standard. The most typical example of this is the Ministry of Personnel back then. That is really the answer.
Two words: Eyes above the top, no one else in sight.
It's a pity that today's civil servants have been deprived of the power of supervision by the imperial censor, leaving only the power of election, and their glory is gone.
However, in view of this example, Zhao Hongrun also felt that it was necessary to formulate some rules and regulations to prevent the officials and craftsmen of the Smelting Bureau from becoming as arrogant and arrogant as the original officials.
Originally, there was no rush for these matters. After all, as long as Zhao Hongrun continued to sit in the Smelting Bureau, no one would dare to follow the old path of the official department and bully others. However, now Zhao Hongrun is about to leave Daliang and go to Shangshui, so there are some trivial matters that should be dealt with as soon as possible.
Better to implement.
After all, Qianli Zhiti was destroyed in an ant nest. As Zhao Hongrun's hard work, the Metallurgical Bureau was his biggest hope. He did not want the Metallurgical Bureau to gradually deteriorate in the process of development and become infected with some bad official habits.