Xudu Palace.
"Zhongda, how are you discussing the construction of Luoyang Palace?"
Cao Pi looked at Sima Yi in the hall.
When Sima Yi heard this, a look of embarrassment appeared on his face.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the national treasury is tight now, and it may be difficult to squeeze out the funds to build the palace."
After Cao Cao ordered Xuchang to be the capital, he carried out extensive construction of Xudu.
But despite this, Xudu is still a small town.
After Cao Pi ascended the throne as emperor, he was not satisfied with staying here.
So he decided to move the capital to Luoyang.
It's just that after Dong Zhuo burned down Luoyang, if it wanted to become the capital, it had to invest a lot of manpower and material resources.
But now Cao Pi not only wants to reward Sima Yi, Chen Qun and other court officials generously, but also wants to start a war with Sun Quan, Liu Bei and others outside.
Although with Yang Ling's help, the treasury is now full, there is not enough money to renovate Luoyang.
"I know there are some difficulties in this matter, but it is because of the difficulties that you appear to be capable, Zhongda."
Cao Pi said with a smile.
Sima Yi thought for a while and then said,
"I do have some suggestions."
"Zhongda, please speak."
"Your Majesty, please issue an edict to re-measure the land and count the population. In addition, eliminate redundant personnel in the court and reduce expenses, especially the craftsmen's workshops!"
"Oh? Why is that?"
Cao Pi said a little doubtfully.
"Your Majesty is unaware of something. I have checked the court's expenses in the past few days and found that the expenses of the craftsman's workshop accounted for almost half!"
Sima Yi explained.
"Is it possible that this guy Yang Ling has been embezzled?"
Cao Pi suddenly became furious.
In his opinion, no matter how much money the craftsman's workshop burns, it will not burn out to this extent!
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Although Yang Ling is a bit hateful, he runs Moutai and perfume businesses, so he probably doesn't like this small amount of money."
Sima Yi paused and continued,
"If we can reduce the cost of the craftsman's workshop to one-third and add more from other places, it shouldn't be a problem to renovate Luoyang."
Cao Pi nodded,
"Okay, hurry up and invite Ji Zhong!"
"Here!"
Sima Yi handed over his hands and left.
After a while, he turned back, followed by a thin, dark-skinned scholar.
"Your Majesty, Wu Zhi, pays homage to your Majesty!"
"Ji Zhong doesn't need to be polite."
Cao Pi chuckled and said,
"I called you here today. I guess you already know what happened, right?"
"I know that your Majesty is doing it for the craftsman's workshop, right?"
Long before Yang Ling handed over the craftsman's workshop, Cao Pi sent someone to notify Wu Zhi and asked him to take charge of the matter.
"It's good that you know. The elite military weapons such as the Lingyue Repeating Crossbow and the Three-Eyed Gun used by our army in the Wei Dynasty are all produced by the craftsman's workshop."
"I entrust you with the responsibility of such a confidential place. You must not let me down!"
Cao Pi warned.
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will take good care of it!"
Wu Zhi was solemn and honest.
"That's good!"
Cao Pi nodded with satisfaction and followed,
"But I have a request, and I hope Ji Zhong will agree to it."
"Your Majesty's words are serious. As long as your Majesty speaks, I will complete it!"
"Zhongda, please tell Ji Zhong about the matter."
"Here!"
Sima Yi on the side accepted the order, smiled lightly and said to Wu Zhi,
"The cost of the craftsman's workshop is very high, which has affected the imperial court's finances. Your Majesty means that after taking over the craftsman's workshop, you can reduce the usual expenses without affecting the normal operation!"
"What did I think it was? It's a trivial matter, and it's all on me!"
Wu Zhi smiled nonchalantly.
He has always been knowledgeable and quick-thinking. Seeing him say this, Cao Pi felt relieved.
"Please leave it to Ji Zhong!"
…
There are two government offices inside and outside the craftsman's workshop. The one inside the city is responsible for administrative work, while the one outside the city is mostly used for testing and manufacturing.
After Wu Zhi said goodbye to Cao Pi, he swaggered to Craftsman's office in the city.
Knowing that the new chief had arrived, everyone in the government office came to pay their respects!
Wu Zhi narrowed his eyes, looked them up and down, and said lukewarmly,
"Why don't you see Craftsman Huang?"
The great craftsman Huang he mentioned naturally refers to Huang Yueying.
Huang Yueying is proficient in mechanical skills, and she founded the craftsman's workshop, plus Yang Ling's relationship is there.
Therefore, Cao Cao has always appointed her as the highest-ranking craftsman.
"Reporting to General Zhonglang (Cao Pi became the emperor and empress, appointed Wu Zhi as General Zhonglang), Mrs. Huang has resigned from the position of great craftsman."
A craftsman said carefully.
"Resigned?"
Wu Zhi was a little surprised, but then sneered and said,
"Good resignation, what kind of words does a woman come out to show her face and serve as a court official?"
"My wife doesn't know etiquette, doesn't her husband also know it?"
The craftsmen present were not fools, so they could naturally tell that he was troubling Yang Ling and Huang Yueying.
They all lowered their heads and didn't dare to take a breath!
"Okay, I called you here today to tell you that from today on, I will be the master craftsman for the time being, and I have the final say in everything in the craftsman's workshop!"
"Understand?"
Wu Zhi looked at everyone with a majestic expression.
"clear!"
Everyone responded sparsely.
"As long as you understand, who is the chief bookkeeper? Bring me the accounts of the craftsman's workshop in recent years!"
Wu Zhi ordered.
The chief bookkeeper of the craftsman's workshop did not dare to delay and took the order. Not long after, he held a thick stack of accounts and placed them on the table in front of Wu Zhi.
Wu Zhi picked up the account, flipped through a few pages casually, and his eyes widened instantly.
"The salary of you people is actually as good as that of your superior, the Commander-in-Chief?"
Yang Ling knows very well that science and technology are the primary productive forces.
He was not stingy with the craftsmen in the workshop.
Not only are they given generous salaries, but there are also other incentives.
For example, if you invent new ordnance, improve existing ordnance, etc., you will receive generous rewards.
In addition, there will be a high temperature subsidy in summer and a heating fee in winter.
Even when their family members are sick and their children go to school, Yang Ling will help.
The sum total of miscellaneous money is comparable to that of officials such as the Fifth Colonel and Sili Colonel of the Northern Army of the imperial court who weighed two thousand dan.
Under such generous treatment, a group of craftsmen worked extremely hard, which allowed Cao Wei's ordnance to continue to innovate!
But in Wu Zhi's opinion, this was too much.
Although the craftsman's workshop is a subordinate institution of the imperial court, whether it is Wu Zhi, Sima Yi, or Cao Pi, they all feel that these craftsmen are inferior people!
However, Yang Ling actually paid the lower class a salary comparable to that of a court official.
How could this not shock Wu Zhi!
No wonder the cost of the craftsman's workshop is so high!
This Yang Ling is really too much!
Wu Zhi frowned, and he had already made up his mind to start with the treatment of the craftsmen!
Thinking of this, he raised his head and looked at the craftsmen in the hall.
