The red building is so arrogant

Chapter 184
Sister-in-law Liu thought about it, and she didn't go to see Jiao Shun until the afternoon, but when she went to the West Wing, she looked around and found out that Lord Jiao had already gone to the yamen to be on duty after lunch.

Not to mention how she regretted it.

But when Jiao Shun arrived at the small courtyard of the handyman's office, as soon as he entered the door, he saw several yellow-haired and green-eyed people, gesticulating with Liu Changyou, his master and apprentice, by the kerosene pool.

Ever since I saw the method of refining kerosene that day, the Wuxi Mission has sent people to the handyman's office every now and then, one is to systematically learn the process of refining kerosene, and the other is to discuss and solve some related problems with the help of craftsmen from Xia Kingdom .

Seeing Jiao Shun coming in from the outside, Liu Changyou, who had already been annoyed by those foreign devils, hurriedly left his disciples behind to greet him.

Jiao Shun slightly raised his chin in the East Chamber: "Go and invite Mr. Zhao here, let's discuss what happened yesterday."

Liu Changyou immediately took orders and went to the West Chamber.

When Jiao Shun sat down in the lobby, Zhao Yan and Liu Chang came together and lined up on both sides of the case.

Jiao Shun unhurriedly opened the folding fan, shook it lightly and asked, "Where did we discuss yesterday?"

Zhao Yan hurriedly said: "Yesterday we talked about the Ordnance Department's request to purchase more pig bristles, but the lower officials thought that this matter should not be rushed, and we should discuss it first, the cost and pricing of kerosene lamps."

Seeing that Jiao Shun had no intention of objecting, Liu Changyou continued: "I have asked the Metallurgical Institute and the Liuli Bureau of the Imperial City Department, because His Majesty plans to build more than ten large factories in three years, and the iron materials are getting tighter recently. Possibility of price reduction—but if we can wait until the new steel plant is put into operation in three years, the price of this iron material is expected to drop a lot.”

Jiao Shun shook his head when he heard the words: "This is an act of benefiting the people, and it is also an act of the court to inspire the hearts of the people. There is absolutely no possibility of delaying it—besides, Xiyi is still waiting to sell lamp oil, and we have received subsidies here. But there is no progress for a long time, wouldn't it damage the reputation of the court?"

After a pause, he added: "Although I have repeatedly asked for cost reduction, we can't just count economic accounts and ignore political accounts."

"That's what my lord taught me."

Liu Changyou hurriedly bent his spine a few more times, and said embarrassingly: "Actually, there are not enough iron materials, and there are some alternative methods. For example, the brackets and handles can be replaced with wood or even bamboo materials-but transparent glass is inevitable. It can be avoided that even if you choose thin, brittle and flawed ones, the cost will account for more than half of the overall cost.”

Thanks to Xia Taizu, colorless and transparent glass has been produced on a large scale, but Xia Taizu died young after all, and this technology tree is only half-finished, so that the production cost remains high, and it is far from the common benefit of the public. degree.

The most inescapable thing about this kerosene lamp is the colorless transparent glass cover.

Jiao Shun has been thinking about how to solve this problem recently, but now he has some clues.

He closed the folding fan, picked up the kerosene lamp sample placed on the table, tapped on the chunky glass cover, and said, "If that's the case, you might as well subtract half of the glass cover."

"This……"

Liu Changyou hesitated and said with a bitter face: "The humble position has been reduced as much as possible. If it is thinner, it will affect the fire, and it will easily burn the color on the glass cover. If it is shorter, it will not be able to hold the flame, and it will be vulnerable to wind." Swaying, and secondly, it is easy to walk in the water..."

"I'm not talking about reducing height and height."

Jiao Shun stopped him, and cut the lampshade vertically with his fingers, explaining: "Cut it in the middle, use half of it as a glass shade, and half of it as a refractory material, such as rough pottery or stone slabs. Just let it provide light in one direction - this part is best made flat so that it can be placed against the wall, which can also increase a certain degree of safety, so as not to be knocked over."

In fact, this is also because Jiao Shun initially limited the shape of the kerosene lamp, so the people below did not dare to think about it.

"This……"

Liu Changyou pondered for a moment when he heard the words, and said hesitantly: "In this way, the cost can indeed be reduced a lot, but in terms of the range of illumination, I'm afraid it's not as good as the oil lamp."

After getting along for a long time now, he is already familiar with Jiao Shun's temperament. Although he is a scheming man, his heart is much wider than that of the previous officials. Jiao Shun does not know how to refute politely in person. If you don't mind, but you are hesitant and secretive, you will be reprimanded by Jiao Shun afterwards.

Therefore, he does not deny the disadvantages of it.

But Jiao Shun also considered this point, and immediately said: "Then try to get some cheap reflective paint, spread it on the inner wall of the rough pottery, and gather the light in one place, so that although the lighting range is not as good as it is, the brightness is better than ordinary candles. It consumes less than oil lamps, which should be enough to meet the daily lighting needs of ordinary people's homes."

The range of illumination that the old-style oil lamps can illuminate is also limited. Compared with the kerosene lamps with directional lighting, it is just that the angle of illumination is wider.

But for ordinary people, it is actually very cost-effective to exchange lighting angles for more brightness improvements when the consumption gap is not large.

After listening to Jiao Shun's general explanation, Liu Changyou made a careful calculation in his heart, and immediately bowed and bowed with joy: "Your Excellency has a good opinion, I will bring some people to try and make some samples!"

"Not urgent."

Seeing that he was about to leave in a hurry, Jiao Shun hurriedly called out to him: "Let's wait until the discussion is over—since the matter of the kerosene lamp is settled, let's discuss the purchase of additional bristles."

This is still the follow-up effect caused by Xiyi's trouble in the sea.

While the imperial court sent troops to the southwest to show its prestige outside the region, it also sent commissioners to the southeast to investigate, review the before and after of several battles with Xiyi, and sum up many experiences and lessons.

One of them is the poor maintenance of artillery and other equipment.

When the Wuxi fleet invaded the Yangtze River Estuary for the first time, not many cannons deployed in Ding and Zhen were destroyed by the fire, but many were scrapped directly afterwards. The reason is the lack of maintenance for a long time.

This also led to the fact that when the Wuxi invaded for the second time, the imperial court had already deployed more troops, but the counterattack firepower decreased instead.

For this reason, the imperial court decided to buy more pig bristles [making brushes] and tung oil.

Tung oil has always been supplied by the smelter, and the purchase of pig bristles to make brushes is the job of the handyman's office.

This matter is not difficult to say. Many bristles are wasted by the people. As long as the publicity is expanded and the purchase price is increased, the purchase target can be easily completed.

But the difficulty lies in the fact that the higher authorities did not allocate additional funds for this part.

This requires the horse to run without feeding the horse, so things will naturally become difficult.

But it was said that the three of them were racking their brains in the lobby, when suddenly a book office came outside, and it was said that Su Shilang was invited.

Jiao Shun had no choice but to leave Zhao and Liu behind and follow the book office to Su Shilang's office.

Passing through the courtyard, I saw Xu Dabao, Zhao Jiujin and those Wuxi people with high nose bridges, discussing their opinions around a wooden barrel and an oil basket.

It seems that today's discussion is about the container issue.

When he arrived at Su Shilang's valet room, he saw the gray-bearded old man drawing circles on an official document.

When Jiao Shun came forward to greet him, he didn't even raise his head, but just said: "I'm looking for you today, firstly to understand the situation of Mengxue, and secondly, in the future, the cabinet will take the lead. , and the newly established General Administration of Customs is planning to hold a joint meeting on how to distribute the compensation.”

"Although you don't need to be present, you must prepare inquiries outside at any time, and follow the instructions of Lord Shangshu to contact and discuss with people in other yamen—it will take about four or five days. Remember to make arrangements in advance, and don't miss the people in the yamen. Business."

Needless to say, this time I took myself there specially, it must be because of kerosene and kerosene lamps.

And looking at the collegiality of the various ministries and commissions, the imperial court and Xiyi have reached a preliminary consensus on the issue of war reparations.

In fact, being defeated by Xia Guo in Shendu was not a big loss for the Wuxi people. After all, what they lost was only the northeast corner of Shendu.

However, the chain reaction caused by this incident made it difficult for Xiyi to resist - Taixi's old enemy took the opportunity to attack, and the rebel forces in the poisoned territory also rose. In addition, the trade with East Asia was completely suspended, causing huge economic losses. They couldn't help but bow their heads to Xia Guo.

Of course, the method proposed by Jiao Shun to convert war compensation into subsidies is also one of the important reasons why they are willing to go downhill.

but……

While Jiao Shun accepted the order respectfully, he couldn't help being a little puzzled.

This time, the various ministries and commissions discussed the quota of compensation, and the other departments have nothing to do with it. They are more or less related to this matter, but why is the Ministry of Punishment among the six ministries going to join in the fun?
Is it to establish Interpol?

At this time Su Shilang raised his eyebrows and glanced at Jiao Shun, as if he could see the doubts in his heart, he said again: "You are mainly in charge of contacting the Procuratorate and the Ministry of Punishment when you go back, try to discuss with them. A safe way is to put this benefit to the people into practice, so that all the subsidies will not go into the dog's belly!"

tsk~
This is a bit troublesome, but the Ministry of Criminal Affairs can say that the Procuratorate is the headquarters of the Kodao officials, and a lucky person like Jiao Shun can't resist it. It seems that there will be another intrigue at that time.

While crying secretly, Su Shilang asked about Meng Xue's situation again.

Jiao Shun picked up the important ones and explained them in detail. At the beginning, Su Shilang was still sketching on the official documents, but then he gradually stopped writing, stroking his beard and meditating incessantly while listening.

When Jiao Shun's narration came to an end, Su Shilang immediately nodded and said: "The word work-study student is also appropriate, but for work-study work-study students, the first thing is to learn more things that can be used in the workshop. "

After a pause, he added another sentence: "Just take care of it yourself, this old man won't admit it!"

"Humble job thinks so too."

Jiao Shun laughed and said: "So the requirements for those craftsmen are higher than those of the school teachers."

"It's not polite for you to let the work-students vote and weed out the unqualified craftsmen, but it's a good way to avoid the dead." Su Shilang couldn't help sighing and said: "If you can If it works, the old man really wants to promote it to the world, but it's a pity..."

Halfway through, he shook his head, obviously knowing that this was impossible.

After all, this craftsman is not a serious school teacher, and this method can barely be used in the past. If it is used in a serious school, I am afraid that those old scholars will jump out and defend the tradition of "respecting teachers and respecting the way" to the death.

After a long silence, he gestured again: "What else, continue talking."

In fact, the report was almost done, but since he asked him to continue, Jiao Shun could easily search for words.

"Furthermore... when this batch of work-study students graduates, the lower officials will choose the best to keep some, and the master craftsmen of the Ministry of Industry will lead them and be responsible for improving related technological processes."

Speaking of this, Jiao Shun suddenly thought of something else, and hurriedly said: "I heard that there is a patent law in Xiyi, which is clearly stipulated by the government: if the things invented by oneself are used by others, they have to pay part of the money, so as to encourage them Those skilled craftsmen, talented scholars and wise men study hard."

Su Shilang pondered for a while, nodded and said: "This method has merits, but it must not be rushed—you first draw up a statement and submit it, and then we can discuss it with the Ministry."

There should be a procedure, so Jiao Shun could only respectfully obey his orders.

He only hoped that this matter could be implemented as soon as possible, and then he would not have to look for any other sources of income. He would cooperate with Liu Changyou to invent some inventions, and then wait to reap the benefits.

Seeing that Jiao Shun had nothing else to say, Su Shilang instructed again: "You have been employed for a while, so you don't have to keep your eyes on the three-acre land in the handyman's office. You should be familiar with everything in the yamen. .”

With just this one sentence, Jiao Shun knew that his promotion to the head of the Department of General Affairs was done—Su Shilang was obviously beating around the bush, reminding himself to familiarize himself with the overall situation of the Ministry of Industry in advance, so as not to be at a loss after being promoted.

Immediately, he couldn't help but agree, and under the signal of Su Shilang, he bowed and left the guard room.

After watching Jiao Shun disappear outside the door, Su Shilang couldn't help but let out another sigh.

At the beginning, he had the biggest opinion on Jiao Shun's entry into the Ministry of Workers, but after more than half a year, Jiao Shun has been a clean and honest official. - The workshops that have implemented the "work-study" program have more or less increased output.

In terms of ability and vision alone, there are probably no more than five fingers in the Ministry of Industry who can stand shoulder to shoulder with him!
It is precisely because of this that now he has become the person who supports Jiao Shun the most in the yamen.

It's a pity that Jiao Shun's background...

According to the current fashion, I'm afraid it will be difficult to be elegant in the end.

　Hospitals in Beijing don’t need to accompany me in bed, so I’m fine for the time being, and I may have to go to Beijing when I’m discharged from the hospital—the brothers in the group may have heard me say that my uncle’s younger brother is currently in a state where he can’t help state, so it is necessary to put in some effort.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)