Back to the end of the Ming Dynasty to engage in infrastructure construction

Chapter 236 This is against the regulations, Mr. Xu
Xu Guangqi's comeback this time made both Wen Tiren and Zhou Yanru vigilant.

They are all cabinet scholars, Zhou Yanru is the chief assistant, but Wen Tiren's power is growing day by day, and the political dispute with Zhou Yanru is in full swing.

On the one hand, Xu Guangqi is getting older, and he seems to be on the verge of dying.On the other hand, he is not keen on political struggles.

That's why Wen Tiren and Zhou Yanru didn't target him and didn't take him seriously.

But after Xu Guangqi returned to Beijing this time, not only did he recover, but he also made many suggestions as if the emperor had opened his mouth, and even wanted the power of the Ministry of Households and the Ministry of Industry.

Wen Tiren and Zhou Yanru are so smart, their hair is empty, they have been engaged in party struggles all their lives, and their consciousness is very high, so they immediately became vigilant and joined hands immediately.

"Your Majesty! It is right to act cautiously. But now, we have no time! The government is corrupt, and thieves are everywhere in Shanshan and Shanxi. The strong direction..."

Xu Guangqi wanted to say that the strong direction is also unstable in people's hearts, but when the words came to his lips, he didn't say them out.

"We urgently need to train a strong army. If we can have a large army equipped with muskets, even Zhuge artifacts, it will be enough to sweep the world and put down all the thieves for His Majesty!"

After saying these words, Chongzhen was obviously moved.

When Wen Tiren and Zhou Yanru saw it, they became even more anxious.It's just that both of them are old and cunning, and they pretend to be very calm on the surface.

"Your Majesty." Wen Tiren said, "I agree with Mr. Xu, we really need to train a strong army. This Zhuge artifact musket is indeed extremely sharp."

Just when Xu Guangqi was overjoyed and thought that Wen Tiren put the overall situation first and wanted to support him, Wen Tiren changed his tone and said:
"However, I thought that this musket, the magic weapon of Zhuge, can be purchased from Qiangdi. If you make it yourself, the Ministry of Industry can preside over it. The affairs of the Ministry of Industry should be presided over by the people of the Ministry of Industry. If Master Xu is willing , you can go to the Ministry of Industry to guide craftsmen."

"Lord Wen, Mr. Xu has also thought about buying from a strong place. As Zhao Cheng said, a smoothbore gun costs one tael of silver, which is not expensive. However, the manufacture of firearms is an important weapon of the country, how can it be used?" In the hands of others? In the early stage, we can buy a batch from strong land to equip soldiers. But in the long run, we have to make it ourselves.

The manufacture of this firearm seems simple, but the process is cumbersome and requires precision.A slight difference is a thousand miles away.For example, the three-eyed blunderbuss, bird blunderbuss, and Lumi blunderbuss made by our court craftsmen are all trembling when soldiers use them.

Because when we made it, the craftsmen were slack, so that there was a problem with the firearm. After being ignited, the chamber exploded for a long time, and the enemy was not hurt, but the self was hurt first.Soldiers in the Firearms Battalion used firearms as if they were on the execution ground.

There is absolutely no such problem with the firearms produced by Qiangdi.It's not that the craftsmen of Qiangdi are more skilled than our craftsmen in the capital, but they are more rigorous.They have a set of mature management methods.This minister is willing to do it himself, supervise the craftsmen, and make a good musket for His Majesty no matter what! "

Xu Guangqi's beard trembled slightly, and he was full of thoughtfulness, so when he said the last sentence, he looked at Emperor Chongzhen with sincerity.

"Hehehe!"

Wen Tiren smiled.

"Master Xu is so sincere! Do you want to be loyal to the court and share your majesty's worries? You are clearly greedy for power!"

"Master Wen, why did you say that!" Xu Guangqi was furious.

"Lord Xu, calm down. Just now, Master Xu said that Zhao Cheng told you himself that a musket only costs one or two taels of silver?" Wen Tiren asked.

"That's right!" Xu Guangqi nodded, "A smoothbore gun only costs one or two taels of silver. I asked about the Lumi gun made by the Ministry of Industry, and one cost one or two taels of silver. The power of the Lumi gun is stronger than that of a musket." Worse than that.

Strong ground firecrackers are more powerful and cheaper. This is the wonder of Seiko! "

Xu Guangqi sighed with emotion, with admiration for the strong craftsmen in his tone.

"Oh, if Mr. Xu is to preside over the manufacture of new firearms, and the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Households are mobilized to cooperate with Mr. Xu, how much money will Mr. Xu need to make a new type of firearm?" Wen Tiren asked jokingly.

Xu Guangqi didn't like Wen Tiren's tone, but he still replied seriously:
"The production process of the new firecracker is more complicated than that of the Lumi, so it will not be less than one tael. This does not include that the production process is not skilled enough at the beginning, which will cause waste. Each firecracker costs at least one tael Two coins. Although it consumes a lot, the workshop is in our own hands, which is the lifeline of the imperial court."

"His Majesty!"

As soon as Xu Guangqi finished speaking, Wen Tiren's tone sank, and he said loudly to Emperor Chongzhen:

"I want to join Xu Guangqi! He is corrupt and perverts the law. For his own selfishness, he disregards the overall situation of the court. Under the banner of being dedicated to the public, he is actually selfish and greedy!"

"This...Master Wen, where did you start?" Xu Guangqi was stunned.

Why all of a sudden, Wen Tiren started to join him?

"Wen Tiren, do you have evidence?" Emperor Chongzhen asked coldly.

"Yes!" Wen Tiren's voice was clear and upright, "Your Majesty, unfortunately, there is a caravan from a strong place called Dongfang Company. Recently, they are selling new muskets to Weichen, and they are selling them in the capital. Your Majesty Guess how much each one cost?"

"How much?" Emperor Chongzhen asked with a slightly trembling voice.

"Nine coins!" Wen Tiren said, "Bring it to the capital, each new-style firecracker only costs nine coins! And the exact same firecracker, Mr. Xu went to Qiangdi to buy it, and it cost one or two silver. Let him If you are in charge of the manufacturing of the Ministry of Industry, you need one tael, or even one or two taels of silver..."

"Impossible! This is impossible!" Xu Guangqi said immediately, "One tael of silver for a firecracker is already cheap enough! How could there be nine coins?"

Wen Tiren couldn't believe it, his price was promised to him by Zhao Cheng himself!

Could it be that someone else can get a lower price?
"Your Majesty! I use Xiang's head to guarantee that everything is true! The Dongfang Company has been very active in the capital recently, and has opened several companies in various places. The things they sell are also extremely rare. They are considered family in the capital. The great cause is great, and I absolutely dare not deceive my ministers." Wen Tiren said.

"Weichen can testify that this is true. People from the Dongfang Company also approached Weichen. A new type of firecracker really only costs nine coins." Zhou Yanru raised his eyelids and said.

In normal times, they might deliberately raise the quotation, deceive the superior and conceal it, and take benefits from it.

But now, for a little benefit, if Xu Guangqi can be brought down, everything will be worth it.

"Okay! Xu Guangqi! What else do you have to say?"

Emperor Chongzhen was furious immediately, his eyes were about to burst into flames.

Xu Guangqi, whom he trusted the most, would cheat him and be corrupt?
"Your Majesty! You are wronged! My minister is wronged! My minister... I don't know what's going on!"

Xu Guangqi was stunned.

He thought it was impossible, but it just happened.

"Okay! You Xu Guangqi! I have always trusted you the most! I thought you had a special heart and were not good at party disputes! I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it! Xu Guangqi, you..."

Emperor Chongzhen swept all the things on the table to the ground, pointed at Xu Guangqi, and his fingers were trembling.

"His Majesty!"

What dare Xu Guangqi say at this time?
Can only kneel down on the ground.

"No wonder! Since I ascended the throne, I have been sleeping all day long and doing everything myself, just to govern the world well! But the affairs of the world have become more and more corrupt! It is because of you useless courtiers!
I am the master of Zhongxing, but you are not the ministers of Zhongxing! "

Emperor Chongzhen was furious.

He has always had this idea.

In history, before he died, he once said, "The king is not the king of the subjugated country, but the ministers are the ministers of the subjugated country."

He thinks that he has been on the throne for more than ten years and has worked hard, but the country is heading towards subjugation step by step... all because the courtiers are too useless.

Precisely because he always felt that his courtiers were useless, in the past ten years, he has constantly changed cabinet ministers, and beheaded civil servants and generals who did not have military power if they disagreed.

The Fifty Ministers of the Great Ming Cabinet!
Now, when he heard that Xu Guangqi was also corrupt, he was furious again.

"You misunderstood me! You misunderstood me!"

Emperor Chongzhen thought that since he ascended the throne, he had worked so hard for the sake of the world, spending all his clothes and food.

He is obviously an inspirational sage, comparable to Taizu.

But because the ministers don't have a famous minister, so that he, the holy king, can't make any achievements!

It's all because these ministers are too greedy!

At this moment, Emperor Chongzhen wished he could kill all his ministers.

"His Majesty……"

Xu Guangqi was struck by lightning.

He didn't know why things turned out like this.

Both Wen Tiren and Zhou Yanru's mouths secretly flashed a hint of satisfaction.

As soon as Xu Guangqi's hidden danger emerged, the two of them made a combination and wiped it out.

Let's see who dares to fight for power with them in the future!

"The new firecracker is a great weapon of the country! Xu Guangqi, you dare to cheat on this kind of thing! Is there anything else you dare not do?" Emperor Chongzhen asked coldly.

"Your Majesty! My minister..."

Xu Guangqi really wanted to say that Weichen didn't.

However, when he reached his mouth, he could only sigh, leaned down, and said:
"Wei Chen is guilty!"

"You are just greedy, but luckily you haven't caused any losses. You will be resigned from your position as a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion and continue to serve in the Ministry of Rites. At the same time, you will assist the Ministry of Industry to make firecrackers to atone for your crimes." Emperor Chongzhen said coldly .

He felt that he was really too kind.

He is so good to his courtiers, why should his courtiers repay him like this?
It was really chilly.

"My minister, thank Your Majesty for your kindness!" Xu Guangqi kowtowed.

In any case, he can still make firecrackers, which is good.

Moreover, to atone for the crime, as long as the firecracker is built, it is a matter of course to return to the cabinet in the future.

"Xu Guangqi's words are correct. This new type of firecracker is an important weapon in the country. It can be purchased, but we must be able to make it ourselves."

Emperor Chongzhen was in a very bad mood.

According to the law, a subject who makes firearms privately is counted as treason!
However, the crusading army can defeat Jiannu!

Even Zhao Cheng himself did not admit that the conquering army recovered Liaodong. Even if he knew it in his heart, he could only pretend not to know it.

He could only selectively ignore the fact that Qiangdi privately manufactured firearms.

"It's just, is this matter led by the Ministry of Industry or the Ministry of Households?" Emperor Chongzhen asked.

"I think the Ministry of Industry should take the lead." Wen Tiren said immediately.

Min Hongxue, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, was Zhou Yanru's political enemy.

"I believe that the household department should take the lead." Zhou Yanru said immediately.

Their respective followers, who all supported their master, immediately became hyped.

Xu Guangqi, an expert who has really mastered the technology, was unable to speak.

In the end, no concrete results were obtained. Emperor Chongzhen could only order that the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Households cooperate, focusing on the general situation.

After the court was over, as soon as Xu Guangqi came out, Wen Tiren followed behind.

When other people saw that the two elders were about to talk, they naturally ran away.

"Mr. Xu Ge, tell me that you have finally recovered from your health, how good it is to take care of your life? Why do you have to come and compete with us?" Wen Tiren said in a low voice.

"Master Wen, I'm afraid you have misunderstood. Xu definitely has no intention of competing with you for power. Xu only wants to make good firearms for His Majesty..."

"If that's the case, it's naturally the best. Then Master Xu, let's make firearms for the court! Hahaha!"

Wen Tiren smiled and walked away.

Next, Zhou Yanru came to him and said the same thing.

Xu Guangqi was full of depression.

Fortunately, he only needs to make the firecracker next, and that's it.This is his forte.

Although His Majesty said that he was an assistant, he was still very caring, so he didn't have time to go home and went straight to the Ministry of Industry.

To make firearms, it is natural to select a group of suitable craftsmen.

He stated his purpose.

The officials who received him were polite and respectful to him.

However, when he heard that he was going to select craftsmen, he shook his head and said that he could not cooperate, and he needed a handwritten letter from Master Shangshu.

Xu Guangqi went to find Shangshu Min Hongxue.

But it turns out that Min Hongxue is not in the Ministry of Industry at all.

Xu Guangqi couldn't wait, so he ran directly to the Min Mansion.

The butler told him that the master did not come back after he went down to court.

Xu Guangqi looked around for someone, feeling more and more anxious.

At night, at the gate of the Min Mansion, Min Hongxue was finally blocked.

"Master Xu, we have to follow the regulations! For this matter, the Ministry of Households must first approve the money. After the money is available, officials can be dispatched, craftsmen selected, and materials purchased. As the saying goes, a clever woman can't cook without rice. This Master Xu should understand the truth, right?" Min Hongxue didn't mean to say anything more to Xu Guangqi, with a business-like attitude.

Xu Guangqi looked for him for a day, but he sent Xu Guangqi away with a few words.

Seeing Xu Guangqi's lonely back, Min Hongxue snorted coldly.

The next day, Xu Guangqi went to the household department early in the morning.

This time he behaved well and went directly to the Minister of the Household Department.

But where is it so easy to find people?

It took a whole day of hard work to find Hubu Shangshu. This is because he has a lot of contacts in the capital, and someone tipped him off.

"This is against the regulations, Mr. Xu."

(End of this chapter)