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Chapter 26 The role of relatives

A few days later, what Hong Tao was waiting for was not good news from Chen Ju, but a reward from the emperor.There are a lot of things, but none of them are useful. It takes up space to leave them, but I don't dare to take them out to exchange for money.

It would be inappropriate to say that it was all useless. The emperor was finally willing to delegate power and allowed the prince to go to Honglu Temple.What does it mean? It means that in addition to the economic feast, it is given the power to participate in government affairs.

From now on, being an adult prince is no longer just a decoration. You can go to Honglu Temple to listen to how officials handle the court's diplomatic affairs.But it is just listening, without the right to dispose, and even participating in discussions is redundant unless officials are really willing to listen.

In fact, the prince can only officially participate in politics when he comes to court. Whether he is standing or sitting in the court, he can hear and see how civil and military officials discuss world affairs. After becoming familiar with it, he can express his opinions.

It's a pity that Emperor Wanli himself did not go to court, so the prince naturally had no chance to participate in politics.The next best thing is to go to Honglu Temple and have a look, which can be regarded as making the best use of everything.Who told the prince to learn Spanish in his dream? It is better than being 20 years old but knowing nothing about government affairs.

"Your Majesty has spoken! The self-ringing bell is very good. My son has understood what he wants. From now on, he must study hard with the bachelor and never slack off." In addition to this harvest, Hong Tao also had his first meeting with the largest eunuch leader in this dynasty, the Chief Eunuch. Tian Yi spoke face to face.

Compared with Chen Ju, Tian Yi looks slightly older and fatter.His face was expressionless when he spoke, and every word seemed not to come from him, but to be possessed by Emperor Wanli.After saying that, he didn't talk to the prince anymore and left directly with a group of eunuchs.The attitude cannot be called cold or enthusiastic, it is completely business-like.

"Fortunately..." Hong Tao didn't feel that he had been left out, but instead said he was lucky in his heart.As the saying goes, the king of hell is very difficult to deal with. Although he met an emperor with a very eccentric personality and was not well received, he did not meet an eunuch who was too arrogant and domineering.

Tian Yi and Chen Ju, the first and second leaders of the Supervisor of Ceremonies, are quite good in terms of reputation and actual conduct.In the Ming Dynasty, when factory governors were running around the streets and Chitose were everywhere, just be content with having such luck, and what else would you need for a bicycle?

From that day on, Hong Tao went to Honglu Temple every single day for prayer feasts and even days. Although he had one more job, it didn't take up much time.Apart from memorizing a few lessons from the Sutra Banquet to prevent the attendants from finding too many faults, the rest of the time was basically spent in the time workshop.

As the craftsmen gradually became familiar with the process, the production of self-ringing bells gradually got on the right track. Almost two finished products were produced every month, with first-class quality and a low scrap rate.This is still under the premise of striving for excellence. If the requirements can be relaxed a little, about two more aircraft can be produced every month.

Hong Tao did not urge the craftsmen to increase production, and stipulated that they would only work four hours a day, and spend the rest of the time studying, reading the numeracy book he showed to the princess and the selected attendants.There will be an exam every month, and two people with good scores will be selected to have their salaries doubled to encourage everyone to study.

Hong Tao was very satisfied when talking about these ten craftsmen. Although they were all eunuchs, they knew that it would be difficult to leave this huge palace in this life, and they did not abandon themselves and live in peace. Their craftsmanship was not good at all.

If you look at them, you should understand why many ancient buildings are still as stable as ever after hundreds of years. Without the assistance of construction machinery and the blessing of modern materials, they relied on their almost abnormally high standards and strict requirements to complete them bit by bit. of.

Of course, the cost issue must also be taken into consideration. If the cost is not considered, modern craftsmen will definitely be able to restore ancient craftsmanship and most of them will even surpass it.

In addition, if defective products are found during work at this time, they will be beaten with a stick. If they are not kept in good condition, they will lose their heads.Compared with having your salary deducted or even doing nothing if you do something bad, the deterrent effect is indeed much higher.

In July, the emperor, the empress dowager, the empress, the noble concubine and Wang Gongfei all received the self-ringing bells produced in the East Palace. The shape, material, pattern and carving, size and function were all the same.The only thing that was the same was that it was well received by everyone. Even Concubine Zheng expressed enough courtesy and gratitude to the prince in front of the emperor and Chen Ju when she received it.This may be why she is favored, she knows when to pretend and when not to pretend.

Counting in total, including the emperor's two, six self-ringing bells have been sent out. In addition to the property rewarded by the empress dowager, empress and emperor, it is regarded as dry compensation.

It doesn't matter, any business requires upfront investment. If Tian Yi and Chen Ju didn't dare to take it, they would have given away two more.But from now on, they can no longer be given away, and the material used to produce the self-ringing bells must be changed from gold and silver alloys to copper alloys, because they have to exchange them for money.

How to change it?Is it possible that every time the prince goes to Honglu Temple or listens to a sutra banquet, he carries two self-ringing bells in his arms and sells them to bachelors and scholars?You definitely can't do that. It's okay to sell chiming bells to senior officials, but you can't sell them like this. It's too low-priced and it's easy to follow the truth.

"The foot-high copper bell is sold for 300 taels, and the silver bell is sold for 480 taels. If you want to customize the size and pattern, the price will be negotiated. The golden bell is not for sale. Only the emperor, empress dowager, empress, and noble concubines are qualified to use the golden bell. Mr. Chen is willing How about the next one?"

"That's great. I wonder if Chitose has chosen a manager?"

Youdao means doing nothing but doing two things. Since you want to do business, you can't do it in the palace. If you want to go outside, you will naturally ask Chen Ju to do it.After more than three months of operation, the coking plant and glass kiln have been successfully set up in Tiancun on the east bank of Marco Polo Bridge. If nothing goes wrong, the finished product will be ready in about a month.

As long as Chen Ju doesn't let his shoulders slip, there should be no surprises.The Superintendent of Ceremonies, Bingbi, supervises the East Factory. If he can't protect a small workshop with dozens of people, then he really should step down and make way for others.

"There are still juniors in the concubine's family..." Manpower is really the shortest thing for Hong Tao at the moment.People are trapped in the palace and are not allowed to go out at will. Besides eunuchs and palace maids, they are also unable to go out at will.Since my mother’s nephew can help keep an eye on it, he should also join the watch shop.

"Uh... this is inappropriate. Qiantose Master can't give the benefits to every household. It's better for everyone to benefit from the rain and dew." However, this suggestion was opposed by Chen Ju.

"Eunuch Chen, do you have a suitable candidate?" Hong Tao trembled in his heart when he heard this. Why, he wants to eat him alive so soon!But the face cannot be moved, and one must humbly ask for advice.

"Although Bo Pingbo has been granted a title and has taken on the role of royal guard, the family has a large population, and the Crown Princess should also share some of the burden for His Highness."

"Crown Princess? Oh, that's very good. It all depends on my father-in-law's arrangement."

When he first heard about Uncle Bo Ping, Hong Tao was stunned and didn't remember who this person was. It was only when he heard about the Crown Princess that he suddenly realized it.Hehehe not only ignored his legal wife, but also his father-in-law. It was a sin.If the Crown Princess and the two family members who were selected as attendants can also be utilized, then there will be no shortage of manpower for a period of time.

As for whether they will be loyal to themselves, they are all a family, how can they turn their elbows outward.In this regard, the ancients were still relatively traditional. They were very particular about how one person could achieve enlightenment and ascend to heaven. They were accustomed to protecting their own interests deep down.

(End of this chapter)