Red Mansion Taoist

Chapter 299 Struggle
"Your Highness, do you really have a way to make the road smooth and strong?" When returning to the city, Academician Deng couldn't help but ask.

"This palace is going to recruit a group of craftsmen to study this method in the name of the royal family. Once this method is completed, it can also enrich the internal treasury of this palace!" Li Qiang said with a smile.

"Your Highness, you are competing with the people for profit!" Academician Deng admonished with his eyes wide open.

"Why compete with the people for profit? I have opened a workshop to research and manufacture this method, which allows thousands of people to make a living, allows Daqian to obtain tax revenue, and enriches the internal treasury of this palace. Is this wrong?" Li Qiang looked at Academician Deng and asked.

"This is an ancestral system. The royal family and officials are not allowed to compete with the people for profit!" Academician Deng insisted.

"Hahahaha!" Li Qiang couldn't help laughing.

Academician Deng's face was very ugly. He could tell that Li Qiang was laughing at him.

"It's really interesting. Royal officials are not allowed to compete with the people for profit. Which official in Daqian is not doing business? For example, when I was in Jiangnan, the eight major salt merchants of Jiangnan Salt Affairs were all powerful people in Beijing.

When you come to this palace, you have to research and create things that are beneficial to the people, which means competing with the people for profit! "Li Qiang said while laughing.

But his smile became weaker and weaker as he spoke, and his voice became heavier at the end.

If Li Qiang did not fully control the army of Daqian, even if Li Qiang was the prince at this time, he would not be able to get the proud soldiers from the nine sides to obey the order and send 500 sergeants each back to the capital, not to mention that each province of Daqian would have to send 1,000 soldiers. sergeant.

But he didn't expect that he would be in conflict with the cabinet just after he came into contact with government affairs.

When Daqian needed money, those businessmen and officials did not see anyone taking the initiative to take out the money, and they were not supported by the money in the inner treasury! "Li Qiang said in a deep voice.

He thought of the interests of the two cabinet bachelor representatives, and knew why they were opposed to his earning money.

"Five hundred sergeants from each of the nine sides, a thousand sergeants from each province, one guard from the capital camp, and five hundred private troops from this palace!" Li Qiang said lightly.

In the past, business in the name of the royal family was all done by the imperial merchants. The imperial merchants made a lot of profits from it, and the palace took a small part of it.

For example, Li Qiang participated in the salt industry in Jiangnan and had a large fleet and multiple salt terminals.

He has studied the history of Li Qiang's fortune, and Li Qiang's business ability is simply a genius.

He had no intention of becoming emperor, but now that he had been pushed to this point, he also knew the benefits of holding imperial power as the prince of Daqian, so he could no longer give it up.

In the inner room of the cabinet, the two sat facing each other in silence for a long time.

"I don't just want to make things that make roads smooth and solid. I also have many ideas. There are many things that can be made. Do I want to give these things to merchants to make, and merchants will earn money that belongs to me?" The palace's silver.

Whether it was the matter of the craftsman or his intention to study the manufacture of cement and other things, it was impossible to give in.

"I will perform martial arts on Chang'an Street in March. Officials from various provinces will return to Beijing to participate. People on both sides of Chang'an Street can watch!" Li Qiang sighed inwardly. He didn't want to show off his strength so soon, but It is obvious that there is a conflict of interest between the Daqian officials and the emperor. If the officials are not allowed to regress, he, the prince, and future emperors will not be comfortable.

Academician Deng wanted to defend himself, but Li Qiang was not a prince who had grown up in the palace. Li Qiang had traveled almost everywhere in Daqian in recent years, and Li Qiang knew many things.

With Li Qiang's ability to make money and the convenience of the royal family, Daqian's business will be greatly affected.

The cabinet could limit imperial power by controlling the treasury.

Li Qiang saw that Grand Scholars Deng and Tian were hesitant to speak, and understood that they would not compromise on this matter.

If these sergeants are rebellious, tens of thousands of them can pose a great threat to the capital.

The second requirement is that the prince does business in the name of the royal family.

Once Li Qiang has the ability to earn a lot of money, many important matters no longer need to go through the cabinet. They can just pull the money directly from the inner treasury.

Later, this business method was continuously expanded, and Qingfeng Tower had branches in all provinces of Daqian.

Originally, he thought that his relationship with the cabinet was very good and everything could be easily discussed.

He did not want Daqian to be ravaged by Western artillery fire in the future. Instead of being ravaged by the West, it would be better for Daqian to take the initiative to ravage the West.

To be honest, Li Qiang's request was not excessive. There were only two requests in total. One was to improve the status of the craftsman.

There were many officials and eunuchs involved in the transactions between the emperor and the palace.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ignores the ancestral system. This matter must be reported to the Supreme Emperor, who will exercise more control over His Highness the Crown Prince!" Academician Deng said as he took a sip of the cold tea in front of him.

In order for them to understand Li Qiang's thoughts, Li Qiang also took them to visit a Western-style gunboat, allowing them to realize Daqian's mistakes in the craftsman system.

Li Qiang didn't know what the two cabinet bachelors were going to do, and it didn't matter to him if they knew.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has just taken power, and he has a strong temper. If you and I don't give in, I'm afraid there will be a conflict between the cabinet and His Highness the Crown Prince!" Academician Tian said with some hesitation.

After Academicians Tian and Deng returned to the palace, they came to the cabinet.

"Let's split up. I'll go talk to Lin Ruhai and ask him to persuade His Highness the Crown Prince to go to the Daming Palace!" Academician Tian thought for a while and said.

Qingfeng Tower alone makes Li Qiang earn a lot of money every day, not to mention other businesses.

"Your Highness, I wonder where the soldiers are participating in this Chang'an Street martial arts performance?" Academician Tian's heart tightened and he asked.

In addition, the distribution of interests is also extremely important. The civil service group, including the two cabinet bachelors, all represent the interests of the squires and big businessmen. If the royal family really wants to participate in business, the power of the royal family will make the interests of the squires and big businessmen Interests have been greatly affected.

He thought that when Da Qian was short of silver, he had to ask for it from the eight major salt merchants in Jiangnan and use his power in Jiangnan to get some silver.

"You can't open this hole, especially since His Highness the Crown Prince is really a good businessman. If we really let him do business, I'm afraid he will make a lot of money. What else will our cabinet do?" Deng The grand maester said with a wry smile.

Among them, the money that the royal merchants managed was even more than the money that was handed over to the palace.

According to statistics, the annual income of Li Qiang's family is no less than six million taels of silver. This is still a conservative calculation. I believe Li Qiang still has some secret ways of making money that have not been revealed.

After a trip to the south of the Yangtze River, Li Qiang opened a shop in almost every city in the south of the Yangtze River. She opened a restaurant, Qingfeng Tower, and used the flavor monopoly of the Qingfeng Tower to expand her business throughout the whole of Jiangnan.

At that time, Emperor Jingwen, who had been emperor for so long, could not say anything to ask a large number of sergeants to be mobilized in various provinces and border towns.

The hairs on the bodies of Academicians Tian and Deng stood up. What Li Qiang said represented his control over all the armies of Daqian.

"We still need to increase investment in the Artillery Ordnance Department. It needs to be expanded. There are not enough master craftsmen, and there are not enough ordinary craftsmen. In addition, some things that do not require craftsmanship can be completed by ordinary people, and no craftsmen are needed!" Li Qiang murmured to herself.

When he first established the Artillery and Ordnance Department, it was because this matter was the most important thing to consider.

With the research results of the Artillery Corps Ordnance Department, Daqian will have enemies in the future and will have the means to deal with them.

But it was different when he had mastered the imperial power of Daqian. He needed to enable the Artillery Ordnance Department to produce artillery that was equal to or even surpassed that of the West today, so that Daqian's army could mow down the surrounding enemies.

"Jin Dong, please make a decree and appoint three master craftsmen of firearms from the Ministry of War and a hundred other related craftsmen!" Li Qiang ordered Jin Dong.

Jin Dong listened to the order and wrote the imperial edict with a pen.

Jin Dong is extremely studious and knows that if he wants to do this position well, he needs to have this ability. He reviewed a large number of imperial edicts and summed up his experience in writing imperial edicts.

Normally, the emperor would not write the edicts himself, but would only say one thing. Those colorful articles were all written by the eunuchs around him or the cabinet bachelors.

Jin Dong wrote the imperial edict and presented it to Li Qiang.

Li Qiang checked the content of the imperial edict and couldn't help but nodded. Jin Dong's handwriting was good and the content of the imperial edict was also of some standard.

He doesn't need Jin Dong to be as good as Xia Shouzhong and Dai Quan all of a sudden, as long as Jin Dong is willing to work hard.

"Use the seal!" Li Qiang ordered.

Jin Dong carefully picked up the Daqian Emperor's Seal and stamped it on the newly drafted imperial edict.

The imperial edict was sent to the cabinet office by the young eunuch, who was guarded by a cabinet bachelor.

The cabinet bachelors read the imperial edict and were a little confused as to why the prince asked the Ministry of War for these craftsmen.

But this is not a big deal. If there is an imperial decree, then it will be sent to the Ministry of War for execution.

Li Qiang sat behind the dragon case and thought for a moment, thinking about her subordinate officials.

"Preach the good news and do the good work!" He ordered to the side.

Not long after, Gan Xingzhan Shi walked into the palace.

The official structure of Li Qiang's crown prince was a palace, called Donggong Zhanshi Palace, and Gan Xingzhanshi was its chief official, a third-grade official.

"I pay homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!" Gan Xingzhan paid a courtesy visit.

He only met Li Qiang for the first time at the Prince's Ceremony. This was the second time and the most important meeting for him.

Only with Li Qiang's respect can he, the Zhan Shifu of the East Palace, be considered competent.

"Flat body, give me a seat!" Li Qiang waved her hand and said.

Gan Xingzhan sat down after thanking him. He looked calm and magnanimous.

"I have made a temporary decision to conduct military exercises on Chang'an Street in March. Each of the nine sides will send out 500 sergeants, each province will send out 1,000 sergeants, the Beijing camp will send out one guard, and I will send out 500 private troops. The corresponding order will be signed by your office and sent to the Ministry of War. , these troops will be arranged at the West Camp when they arrive!" Li Qiang knocked on the table and said slowly.

Although Gan Xingzhan was surprised why this martial arts performance was held, he still took note of it carefully.

He knew very well that this was the first thing Li Qiang ordered him to do, and he could only do it well without any problems.

"Your Highness, I have a question. Will the troops stationed in various places, especially the border troops, follow orders and mobilize their troops?" Gan Xingzhanshi quickly thought of the key thing and asked aloud.

"Anyone who disobeys this palace's order will be stripped of his or her position!" Li Qiang replied calmly.

He has nearly 20,000 warriors in the entire Daqian army, and this number is still increasing.

Where there are 100% loyal warriors, there will be near-death training as a training component.

The sergeants selected through near-death training will be sent to Zhuangzi on the outskirts of the capital, where he will regularly assist them in practicing the general body-refining technique.

This work lasted for many years. Most of the middle-level military attaches in the Daqian army were 100% loyal generals, and there were also many high-level military attaches.

"Yes!" Gan Xingzhanshi was shocked. He didn't expect Li Qiang to be so strong.

This was because he didn't know Li Qiang's confidence. If he knew Li Qiang's control over Daqian's army, he wouldn't have such doubts.

"Go and do it!" Li Qiang ordered.

Gan Xingzhan retired.

Li Qiang shook her head. This was the first day she took over government affairs.

"No, I must completely control the cabinet and let it become my think tank instead of restraining me!" Li Qiang thought to herself.

If I were so busy every day, I wouldn't be able to survive this day.

He knows the capabilities of the cabinet, and the ordinary government cabinet can handle it.

On the other side, Academician Deng entered the Daming Palace. There was singing and dancing in the Daming Palace. The Supreme Emperor even appeared on the stage and danced gracefully in the palace.

Academician Deng stood aside quietly and waited until the Emperor had lost his interest before he stepped forward.

"Deng Zhongtang is here, sit down and have a drink with me!" When the Emperor saw Grand Scholar Deng, his eyes became clear for a moment, but he soon became confused again and said with a smile.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say!" Grand Scholar Deng said in a deep voice.

"Hey, why can't I be left alone!" The Supreme Emperor couldn't help but shook his head when he saw the insistence of Academician Deng.

He waved his hand, the music and dancing subsided, and the Daming Palace became quiet.

"His Royal Highness wants to do business in the name of the royal family. This goes against the ancestral system!" Academician Deng bowed and said.

"Are you here to complain?" the Supreme Emperor asked calmly.

"I just hope that the Supreme Emperor can advise His Highness the Crown Prince to put the ancestral system first!" Academician Deng continued.

"Do you know why I didn't choose Li Qiang as the crown prince in the first place?" The Supreme Emperor pointed to the chair beside him and said.

The Supreme Emperor sat down first, followed by Academician Deng.

"I don't know, old minister!" Academician Deng lowered his head and replied.

"Once Li Qiang is chosen, nothing will happen again. The world will definitely belong to him, no matter what he does. Even if he kills all the ministers in the court, the emperor of Daqian will still be his. !" The Supreme Emperor said calmly.

The hairs all over the body of Academician Deng stood up. He felt that the Emperor's words were too much.

But what kind of person the Emperor is, especially on this kind of matter, it is impossible for him to talk nonsense.

"I would like to advise you, as long as Li Qiang doesn't have any demands that are too excessive for you to accept, it's better to agree!" the Supreme Emperor continued.

"What ability does His Highness have to make the Supreme Emperor say this?" Academician Deng asked.

He couldn't even close his eyes and sleep without asking.

"Li Qiang's bravery, one person can defeat an army of 100,000 people, his ability is beyond your imagination!" The Supreme Emperor replied in a deep voice.

(End of this chapter)