"I'd like to report to the official family that I have something important to do, so I'll leave first."
Kou Ji bowed his hands and exited the side hall under Chen Lin's cannibalistic gaze.
Zhao Zhen raised his hand, wanting to keep him, but when he saw Kou Ji walking out of the side hall with long strides, he had no intention of staying any longer, so he could only slowly withdraw his hand.
His eyes fell on Chen Lin, and Zhao Zhen hesitated: "Am I really wrong?"
Chen Lin hugged the fly whisk and said seriously: "The official family is not at fault. The fault lies with the slaves and Kou Ji. It has nothing to do with the official family."
Zhao Zhen laughed out loud, pointed at Chen Lin and said, "You can make me happy."
Chen Lin said seriously: "Everything I said came from my heart."
Zhao Zhen shook his head and said no more.
Kou Ji left the side hall, his head hanging all the way out of the Donghua Gate.
When I arrived outside Donghua Gate, I let out a sigh of relief.
When he was in the side hall just now, Kou Ji looked relaxed, but actually his heart was heavy.
Zhao Zhen's unintentional test today seemed like a joke, but it gave Kou Ji a different feeling in his heart.
Who is Zhao Zhen?
Today's officials.
True Dragon Emperor.
And he, Kou Ji, was just a minister of Zhao Zhen.
When Zhao Zhen was young, it was nothing for him to call Zhao Zhen brothers.
Because at that time, Zhao Zhen was easy to coax and deceive.
Even if he did something sorry for Zhao Zhen, Zhao Zhen wouldn't care.
But now Zhao Zhen has obviously grown up and his mind is gradually maturing.
He has already begun to learn the art of the emperor.
And it has gradually begun to be applied.
Then Kou Ji needs to consider his attitude towards Zhao Zhen in the future.
From now on, Zhao Zhen must be treated with two attitudes in public and in private.
Just like how he treated his grandfather Kou Zhun.
When he was in the court, Kou Zhun was the grand master and the chief regent of the country. When he faced Kou Zhun, he could not face him as his grandson, but had to face him as a subordinate official.
When facing Kou Zhun at home or in private, he must use his identity as a grandson instead of a lower official.
Distinguishing between public and private matters is a necessary process for becoming an official.
It is also a required course for every official.
Now that Kou Ji has reached this point, he must learn to distinguish clearly.
After returning to his house, Kou Ji changed out of his official uniform, washed himself, and then rested.
The next few days.
Everything is calm in Bianjing city.
After receiving Kou Zhun's handwritten letter, the Privy Council immediately issued a troop deployment document and sent people to Baozhou as quickly as possible.
It will take some time for the Tiger Character Army to get from Baozhou to Bianjing City.
To reach Bianjing before the New Year's Day, we need to march at full speed.
The dispatch of troops and horses is not just a simple mobilization of troops and horses.
The corresponding military supplies also need to be mobilized together.
Although the Tiger Character Army does not have many soldiers and horses, its military requirements are quite large. It will take a long time to mobilize them together with the Tiger Character Army.
Before the Tiger Army arrived in Bianjing City, Kou Ji only needed to quietly make steel.
Kou Ji plans to oversee the Shaofu, and he needs the help of the Tiger Character Army to have the power to serve as a prisoner.
Kou Ji didn't go out, but someone came to the door.
When Liu Heng walked into Kou's house with his head hanging down, Kou Ji looked surprised.
After welcoming Liu Heng to the side hall of the Kou Mansion, Kou Ji looked at the somewhat sad Liu Heng suspiciously, "What's wrong with you?"
Kou Ji asked words of concern on his lips, but he was guessing in his heart.
Could it be that there is a relationship problem between Liu Heng and An Ziluo's sister?
Liu Heng raised his head, stared at Kou Ji, and sighed.
"Why……"
"Stop sighing and tell me what's going on."
Koji asked with wide eyes.
Liu Heng glanced at Kou Ji and said angrily: "I want to get a wife..."
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows and said unexpectedly: "An Ziluo's sister?"
Liu Heng nodded.
"You two are developing so fast?"
Although he knew that Liu Heng and An Ziluo's sister were in love with each other, Kou Ji did not expect that the two would actually reach the point of discussing marriage within a few days.
Kou Ji looked at Liu Heng and said, "This is a good thing, why are you sighing?"
Liu Heng looked sad, "I told my dad, but my dad didn't agree."
When Kou Ji heard this, he was thoughtful.
Liu Mei did not agree to the marriage, which was expected by Kou Ji.
An Ziluo's sister is just a vassal girl. Even if she has a great brother, it can't change her identity.
There was no benefit for Liu Heng to marry her.
In this city of Bianjing, everything must be done based on interests.
A marriage without any profit is unlikely to be fruitful.
"Shall I find a time to persuade your father?"
Kou Ji suggested.
Liu Heng finally found a woman he liked. If a good marriage was broken up because of Liu Mei's objection, it would be a kind of harm to Liu Heng.
Liu Heng said firmly: "No, I will handle my own marriage."
Kou Ji heard this and asked no more questions.
Since Liu Heng had already made a decision in his heart, it was hard for Kou Ji to interfere.
But once Liu Heng gets into trouble with Liu Mei over marriage issues, Kou Ji will not stand aside.
Liu Heng chatted with Kou Ji for a while about other matters, then stood up, cupped his hands, and left Kou's house.
After Liu Heng left, Kou Ji murmured to himself, "This kid ran into trouble and went to Kou's house without asking me for help. Most likely it was to seek some inner comfort.
I hope Liu Mei can be open-minded and consummate this marriage, otherwise there will be a lot of trouble."
Kou Ji muttered to himself for a while, then called the steward of the house and asked him to send someone to keep an eye on Liu's house's movements at all times.
Once Liu Heng encounters trouble, he will definitely take action decisively.
Not long after Liu Heng left the Kou Mansion.
Mu Chong, Qian Le and Meng Weizhong arrived at the Kou Mansion.
When Mu Chong saw Kou Ji, he said anxiously: "Kou's Ministry of Industry, something bad is going on."
Kou Ji invited the three of them to sit down in the side hall of Kou Mansion.
After sitting down.
Kou Ji asked: "What's so bad?"
Like an ant on a hot pot, Mu Chong said anxiously: "Is there something wrong with the forging iron workshop?"
Kou Ji was stunned and raised his eyebrows, "Is there something wrong with the blast furnace?"
Mu Chong mentioned that there was a problem in the iron forging workshop, and Kou Ji's first thought was the blast furnace.
Mu Chong said with a grimace: "There is nothing wrong with the blast furnace...it's the iron material that has the problem."
"Iron material?"
"Yes, iron material."
Qian Le took over Mu Chong's words with a solemn look and said: "The Third Division has issued a document to strictly investigate the private reselling of iron materials among the people. We are the first to suffer.
Those officials who secretly resold iron materials to us were thoroughly investigated and punished by the Third Division.
The Third Division not only investigated and punished the officials who resold iron materials to us, but also investigated and punished the traders who resold iron materials privately.
He also spread the word that anyone who dared to sell us a piece of iron would have his job destroyed and his life taken.
Nowadays, people who resell iron materials from top to bottom in the Song Dynasty are afraid of us as they are afraid of tigers and wolves."
Meng Weizhong said with an ugly face: "The three of us sent out hundreds of people to purchase iron materials, and the iron materials purchased were less than a hundred kilograms. Now the iron materials in the forging iron workshop are only enough for the workshop for three days."
"In three days, the forging iron blast furnace in the workshop will probably shut down."
Mu Chong hurriedly said: "If the flames are only turned off for a day or two, then we can bear it. But if the Third Division keeps targeting us, then our iron forging blast furnace will be built in vain, and the forging iron business will not be possible."
Qian Le nodded and said: "Without the forged iron business, after next spring, the profits from the textile workshop alone will not be enough to feed so many people outside the city."
"How about... you talk to the big boss of our iron forging workshop?"
"..."
The three of them talked a lot.
It looked like he was really anxious.
After finishing speaking, the three people looked at Kou Ji expectantly.
They very much hoped that Kou Ji could invite the big boss of the iron forging workshop, take care of Li Shen, the third chief minister, and then protect the smooth development of the iron forging workshop.
Kou Jixian had already expected that Li Zhen would make a move.
I also expected what approach Li Zhen would take.
After all, Li Shen's words have been released. If we don't do something, we will be sorry for his status.
So after hearing what the three people said.
Kou Ji smiled calmly and said: "Since there is not enough iron in the workshop, let's stop now. Let the craftsmen lead the people and continue to build houses. The houses we built before were only for emergencies.
Now that I have settled down, I have to think about the future.
In order to retain them and let them take root outside Bianjing, we need to help them rebuild their houses."
When Mu Chong heard this, the bitterness on his face became even stronger, "Seeing that the forging iron workshop is almost out of business, why are we still building houses? What a waste of money?"
Qian Le and Meng Weizhong nodded in agreement.
Ko Ji stared at the three of them sideways, "Who told you that the blacksmithing workshop can't continue?"
Mu Chong and the other three were stunned.
Mu Chong stared at Kou Ji and said, "The Third Division no longer allows those vendors to resell iron materials to us. Without the iron materials, what can we do to continue forging iron?"
Kou Ji said calmly: "I have my own plan for this matter. After the new year, there will definitely be enough iron material to supply the forging workshop."
Mu Chong and the others heard Kou Ji's words and nodded in embarrassment.
Kou Ji saw that they didn't seem to believe it, so he continued: "If after the new year, the forging iron workshop still does not have enough iron supply, I can allow you to withdraw from the iron forging workshop.
Moreover, I can compensate you for the expenses you spent on resettling the refugees and building the iron forging workshop."
When Mu Chong and the others heard this, they looked in disbelief.
From the time they met Kou Ji until now, Kou Ji has been squeezing them out of money, and Kou Ji rarely spends enough money to support the situation.
Now that Kou Ji has promised to compensate them, they are a bit unable to react.
Did Kou Ji take the wrong medicine?
That's impossible.
Based on their understanding of Kou Ji, Kou Ji never engages in loss-making business.
Will this matter really turn around after the new year?
The three people thought about Kou Ji's words, but remained silent.
Agreeing to Kou Ji's words is equivalent to agreeing to Kou Ji's conditions.
If after the new year, the problem of iron materials in the forging iron workshop really improves, and if Kou Ji uses this to clear them out of the iron forging workshop, wouldn't they miss out on a profitable business?
If they don't agree to Kou Ji's words, then by the end of the year, if the problem of iron materials in the forging iron workshop does not improve, then the money they invested in the iron forging workshop will be really wasted.
So the three of them tacitly chose to remain silent.
Neither agreed nor refused.
Wait until after the new year to see if the problem of iron materials in the forging iron workshop can be solved before making a decision.
Kou Ji saw the three people's thoughts, but did not expose them or force them to make a decision.
After sitting with Muchong and the other three, he sent them away.
After Mu Chong and the others left.
Kou Ji sat alone in the side hall and thought.
"Taking the fire under the cauldron..."
Kou Ji whispered.
Li Shen used the method of removing the fuel from the bottom of the cauldron.
Cutting off the way to obtain iron materials in Ruisheng Village, the forging process in Ruisheng Village cannot be started.
He used this to force Kou Ji to admit his mistake, and then respectfully sent the cast iron template to Zhao Yuanyan's house.
However, since Kou Ji had expected what methods Li Zhen would use to deal with him, how could he let him get his way?
"Let you be rampant for a few days... wait until the Tiger Character Army enters Beijing, and then we will deal with you."
"..."
The days of waiting for the Tiger Character Army to enter Beijing are long.
But the New Year waits for no one.
Three days after the flames were turned off at Ruishengzhuang outside the city.
The New Year is also approaching.
The imperial court began to calculate the income and expenditure for the year.
After the liquidation is completed, the total amount will be reported to the inner court.
The inner court will send someone to check and confirm that it is correct.
The yamen can be closed and officials can take annual leave.
There are still fifteen days until New Year's Eve.
All major yamen in the imperial court were granted yamen status.
Kou Zhun did not return home, but remained in the palace.
There are still only two masters in the house, Kou Ji and Xiang Yan.
It’s ten days before New Year’s Eve.
Kou Ji's cheap father Kou Li brought his group of wives and concubines to Bianjing City.
Compared with previous years, Kou Li's group of wives and concubines has grown a bit stronger.
When Kou Li led a group of warblers and swallows into Kou's mansion.
Kou Ji decisively took Xiang Yan, Kou Zhong and others to hide in Ruisheng Garden outside the city.
It's just that Kou Ji just arrived outside the city not long ago.
Someone found him.
Kou Ji was at Ruisheng Village, playing with the children in the village, when a carriage stopped beside him.
A woman got out of the carriage with the help of her maid.
Walked to Kou Ji.
When Kou Ji saw her, he casually distributed the cakes in his hand to the children surrounding him and bowed to the woman.
"I've met Aunt Qiao..."
The woman who came to see him was none other than Kou Li's concubine, Mrs. Qiao.
Before Madam Qiao could speak, the maid beside her raised her head and said, "Young Master, Madam has now straightened up and is now the Master's wife. You should call Madam Mother."
Kou Ji slowly straightened up and glanced at the maid.
Not old, about sixteen years old.
He is very articulate.
I haven't seen it before, it must be a new one.
If you dare to talk to him like this, you should be very favored.
only……
Somewhat unruly.
Kou Ji stared at the maid and narrowed his eyes slightly.
When Mrs. Qiao saw this, her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly scolded the maid next to her: "You unruly thing, why don't you bow to the young master when you see him?"