unclear

Chapter 328 Sensitive Topics

Putting aside whether morality and etiquette are in line with the customs of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor must be superb in how to make money. Wang Zheng has already taken out a small notebook and charcoal pen to listen and take notes. These are all good words of wisdom. Taking them back and thinking about them carefully will definitely benefit you a lot.

"Your Majesty, expanding the machinery factory will naturally increase production, and opening a mechanical school is also a great thing. However, without a sufficient supply of refined steel, no matter how big the machinery factory is, it will be in vain. Can we send a few master craftsmen to teach at Wu Qingbo's ironworks? Its method of refining refined steel will be effective in less than half a year!"

But in the end, I realized that a very important link was missing, that is, raw materials. The machinery factory does not produce pure iron and refined steel, but relies entirely on the iron smelting plant along the Yongding River for supply.

If you want to expand the machinery factory, pure iron and ordinary refined steel should still be available. After all, the refining process is relatively simple. However, the refined steel used for springs, bearings and turning tools is definitely not enough, and the gap is large. Without these raw materials, even if the machinery factory is as big as Tongzhou City, it will be in vain.

How to solve this problem? This time Wang Zheng no longer waited for the emperor to make suggestions, but took the initiative to come up with a solution that seemed to have the best of both worlds. Didn't the distinguished generals also open several iron smelting plants, which can be fully utilized.

Although the technology and equipment cannot keep up with the Yongding River Iron Works and can only produce pig iron and wrought iron, the transformation and upgrading is not difficult. In this way, the investment is very small and the results are quick. It is also in line with the emperor's no-waste theory and kills three birds with one stone.

"Sigh... I'm afraid it's not possible right now." But after hearing this, the emperor's face immediately turned gloomy. He put down his fishing rod and looked at the peaceful Taiye Pond and let out a long sigh.

"But there is an inside story. I wonder if I can share your Majesty's worries?" This sigh made Wang Chengen and Xu Guangqi immediately alert, and they gathered their minds and stood upright. Only Wang Zheng didn't notice it and continued to ask.

"Liangfu, do you know why I have placed Dongchang fanzi and Yumajian warriors inside and outside the machinery factory, shipyard, gunpowder factory, ironworks, glazed kiln, and coke kiln? Even the sugar factory in Guangdong has arranged Are the Jinyi Guards on duty day and night?"

Fortunately, the haze on the emperor's face lasted only a short time. After a while, it was dispelled by the scorching sun, and he returned to his harmless appearance. He also waved to Xu Guangqi, who was standing upright, and motioned to lean under the parasol. .

"...I don't dare to speak nonsense!" If Wang Zheng is young and energetic but lacks experience in officialdom, he also knows what words are sensitive in front of the emperor and should not be said from his own mouth. It's just that the level is not very stable. Sometimes I can remember it and sometimes I forget it.

"Didn't I just say that if you want to keep peace for the rest of your life, it's best not to imitate the mistakes of the officials in the court? Just remember the four words "seeking truth from facts"! But the emperor didn't seem to attach much importance to this taboo, and wanted to hear the truth. talk.

"...You should be worried about the trivial matters in the court, and don't want to waste all your efforts like Wang Gongchang did in the past, right?"

Wang Zheng glanced at Xu Guangqi from the corner of his eyes, but saw no hint on the teacher's face. Then he looked at Wang Chengen who was standing opposite, and he didn't even have an expression at all. Now I could only make my own decision. I licked my lips several times and tried to follow the advice given by the emperor. I wanted to be realistic and say whatever I thought.

"Ah... that's right, just say whatever you think. I ask myself, there has never been any precedent of being punished for words. In this regard, your teacher has been at a disadvantage for many years in the officialdom and has been infected with bad habits. . Mr. Zi, please don’t stay out of it and guess the reason together. Wang Chengen, turn your face away!”

Even though Hong Tao kept staring at the seven-star float made of feathers, he could see the expressions and mentality of the people around him as clearly as if he could see it with his eyes. In order to prevent Xu Guangqi and Wang Zheng from being disturbed too much, Wang Chengen was directly ordered to stay where he was and turn around, so as not to use the tricks used by Mingzhe in the palace to protect himself. "If the secret is not kept secret, it will lead to harm! Your Majesty should have done this to keep it secret. Stainless steel can not only make machines, but can also be used to forge weapons and armor. It is also the best choice for muskets. If outsiders get their hands on it, what will happen to the Ming Dynasty?" Harmful rather than beneficial.”

Xu Guangqi actually had the answer for a long time, but it was too involved to talk about this kind of thing, and the sentence of "incomplete guarantee" hit the emperor's sore spot, and then the civil and military affairs of the dynasty had to be purged again.

He firmly believed that the emperor now had this ability, but he did not know how many officials were involved. If too many people are implicated, even if outsiders don't know the inside story, it will be difficult to let go. After all, we are all colleagues. We meet and say hello today, but tomorrow we will be in danger of life and death. How desolate!

"You see, the master is the master after all, you still have to learn more. Yes, I am just afraid that the technology will be leaked. Some things seem quite difficult, but once you have someone who knows the inside story, it is not impossible at all. Come out. Before eliminating the threats around Ming Dynasty, I cannot take the lives of the border troops lightly."

This topic is indeed not suitable for chatting in public. Once word gets out, even if the emperor has no intention of investigating immediately, it will become so under the interpretation of a caring person. It is the so-called guilty conscience of a thief.

But they couldn't let Xu Guangqi and Wang Zheng know that as the actual managers of the machinery factory and the forging plant, in addition to speeding up the digestion and absorption of new technologies, they must also improve their confidentiality ideas as soon as possible, otherwise the failure to protect them will become unintentional one day. A traitor in the world.

"...This... Uncle Wu Qing shouldn't do it, right?" But this answer made Wang Zheng fall into deeper confusion. Uncle Wu Qing and Li Mingcheng were the nephew of the Empress Dowager, the emperor's cousin, and a standard royal relative. If you can't even trust your relatives, then who else in the Ming court can be trusted?

"Liangfu, this matter has nothing to do with the machinery factory, don't make unreasonable comments!" Xu Guangqi couldn't bear it anymore. He was afraid that Wang Zheng would discuss the harem issue in depth with the emperor again, so he quickly stopped him.

"Hey, seek truth from facts, and the speaker is not guilty. If Zi Xianru blocks me from hearing the truth again, then just turn your back like him! If I remember correctly, Liangfu's home should be Xi'an Mansion, right? "

But the emperor was very interested in talking and didn't even care about topics that might expose his family scandal. Not only did he continue the conversation, he also gave Xu Guangqi a serious warning for interrupting.

"Reporting to your Majesty, I am from Jingyang County, Xi'an Prefecture. I grew up outside my family since I was a child and studied with my uncle. I know more about Datong than Xi'an Prefecture." After hearing the emperor ask about his hometown, Wang Zheng finally had an idea. Once, I quickly told the truth to avoid being asked about the situation in Xi'an Mansion and it was difficult to answer.

"Well, Dr. Xu mentioned to me that your uncle worked as the Tongzhi of Datong Prefecture for 6 years. He not only adjusted the army's salary comprehensively, but also made a lot of defense equipment, which was indispensable.

But I also heard that some businessmen in Shaanxi and Shanxi colluded with the local border guards and violated the imperial ban on trading with the northern captives. Its goods not only include tea, silk, and cloth, but also grain, ironware, and even armor and weapons. Have you ever heard of it? "

(End of this chapter)