The old chamberlain couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this.
Because according to previous years' practice, shouldn't the Metropolitan Water Supervisory Authority arrange for manpower to be cleared?
But he didn't dare to say it, and he didn't dare to ask.
Li Shimin's oral instructions reached Zhongshu Province. Fang Xuanling, who was handling government affairs, could not help but frown slightly, but then he remembered the farce and waved his hands calmly.
"Follow your Majesty's instructions and prepare the decree."
Therefore, this tacit imperial edict quickly passed the seal of Zhongshumen and was sent to Shangshu Province.
While using the seal, Wei Zheng looked at Gao Shilian with a tangled face next to him with a smile, and joked.
"Mr. Gao, who are you showing this face to? You can just enjoy yourself—"
Gao Shilian was not annoyed when someone exposed him, he smiled and stroked his beard.
"A disadvantage is a blessing. As for today's young people, we have to let them have a longer memory——"
Regardless, Gao Ting is also his nephew, so it would be a lie to say he doesn't care at all.
Is it okay for a person to offend the emperor and be remembered by the emperor?
If the emperor had been indifferent to Gao Ting, he would be really worried. Now that the emperor has taken action, and just asked him to clear the sewers in Nancheng, he is simply getting a big deal!
After all, as an emperor, he would naturally not catch such a junior without mercy. Taking action means that the matter is over.
Of course, the premise is that this piece of shit is fooled again.
Thinking of this, Gao Shilian simply packed up the things on the table and stood up leisurely.
“Everyone, I’ll take the first step——”
When the man walked to the door, he smiled and shook his head.
"As I get older, I value the younger members of my family more and more. I have to go and see that villain and tell him not to be confused again this time..."
When he said it so openly, everyone stopped teasing and laughed.
"Brother Shi Lian (Gao Gong), walk slowly——"
Everyone waved their hands very understandingly and let him go first.
Unlike others, Gao Shilian had a detached status in Shangshu Province. Although he no longer held the position of minister, he was authorized by His Majesty to serve as counselor in government affairs, and there were obvious signs of regaining his role. What's more, he is the uncle of Changsun Wuji and Queen Changsun.
But with this level of status, you have to be respected by others.
Gao Shilian left happily.
As soon as Gao Shilian left, Duan Lun and Huang Xu rushed in in a hurry.
"My lords, I am so happy!"
As soon as the two people entered the door, they couldn't help but smile.
Looking at these two old guys who were over a hundred years old together, they were so happy that they almost floated. Everyone couldn't help but feel curious.
You know, Duan Lun is better. That Huang Xu is the second most famous Wei Zheng.
What good thing happened?
"Where does joy come from?"
"Today, we got two new iron forging methods from Chang'an Marquis Wang Zi'an!"
Huang Xu glanced at Changsun Wuji, Wei Zheng and others with some pride.
"One of them has been verified to be more than a hundred times more efficient than the original one!"
hiss--
Everyone couldn't help but take a breath.
The efficiency is more than a hundred times higher than before!
This means that the production efficiency of iron iron is much higher than that of ordinary iron tools. In other words, soon, the entire Tang Dynasty's army would be equipped with magical weapons made of iron.
When I thought about the hundreds of thousands of Tang troops, all holding weapons made of iron, everyone suddenly became excited.
When that day comes, who in the world can still stop the Tang Dynasty's army?
"Is this true?"
Several people couldn't help but turn pale in shock, with disbelief on their faces.
"This is the handiwork of the Marquis of Chang'an. You can say it yourself——"
Huang Xu sneered and glanced at them with disdain.
Everyone:…
No, Old Huang, can you still do it?
Last time, weren't you still bitter about Wang Zi'an selling radiators at high prices and defrauding your family of thousands of dollars?
In the blink of an eye, he became a die-hard fan of his family?
However, everyone knew about this guy's bad temper, and they were worried that he would become angry, so they didn't dare to make fun of him.
Resist the urge to complain.
However, every face could not help showing a look of ecstasy.
"We must immediately seal off the weapons inspection and strengthen our defenses. We must not let this technology be exposed—"
Wei Zheng looked serious.
"Yes, once this kind of technology spreads, the consequences will be disastrous—"
Changsun Wuji and others also reacted one after another.
A consensus was quickly reached to once again strengthen the defense force of the weapons supervisor and conduct in-depth screening within the weapons supervisor to prevent spies from being mixed in.
Looking at these normally stable bosses, each of them acting as if they were facing a formidable enemy, Huang Xu and Duan Lun couldn't help but look at each other, revealing a meaningful smile.
Sample, if you know how to pour steel, you will be so nervous that you can't sleep.
However, they were not prepared to let the news out until they built a blast furnace and saw real results.
Don't be like these young people who can't hide things!
The two old guys finished sharing and left triumphantly.
I have nothing to do today, I just came here to show off!
After discussing the matter of strengthening the defense force, several big bosses could not help but calm down and carefully consider the chain reactions that this new forging method might cause.
For a moment, the atmosphere was somewhat silent.
Changsun Wuji thought about it for a while, packed up his things, apologized, got up and prepared to leave.
Now that the salt and iron tax has been implemented, as the leader of the Guanlong family, he is under great pressure.
He gritted his teeth and asked the eldest son's family to stand up and pay taxes in accordance with the court regulations. This was almost equivalent to breaking away from the Guanlong family, and life would be difficult.
Although everyone didn't say anything openly, they kept making small moves in private. The Changsun family's property was attacked and attacked by these people from all aspects almost at the same time. These attacks left him overwhelmed and exhausted.
This forging method, if used well, seems to be an opportunity to break the situation!
But the blacksmithing method was too involved, and he couldn't get involved without His Majesty's nod.
However, as soon as he stood up, he saw Tang Jian and Wei Zheng also standing up.
"As for the salt and iron tax, we still need to discuss it with His Majesty. Mr. Qi, do you want to come with us?"
Changsun Wuji:...
"Ah good--"
Changsun Wuji's feet hesitated slightly, but he quickly adjusted his mentality, and several people rushed to the imperial study room together.
As a result, several people rushed to the imperial study and found that there was no one in the imperial study. After asking, they found out that His Majesty had gone to the imperial garden!
When did Your Majesty become so leisurely?
Several people couldn't help but look at each other, turned around in a tacit understanding, and went to the imperial garden.
However, as soon as a few people reached the entrance of the Royal Garden, they were stunned and almost thought that they had gone to the wrong place.
What are you doing?
Are you trying to demolish the palace?
"stop--"
Wei Zheng couldn't help but get angry, raised his mustache and shouted loudly.
The palace maids and eunuchs who came and went were frightened. They all held the flowers and plants in their hands and lowered their heads, not daring to look at him.
"Who gave you the courage!"
Tang Jian and Changsun Wuji were also a little confused. Was it because they had eaten the courage of a bear's heart and a leopard's courage?
How dare you move things out of the imperial garden so blatantly.
"Ahem, Xuancheng, don't blame them -"
Just when Wei Zheng was about to run away, Li Shimin's familiar voice suddenly came from the imperial garden.
Ah, this——
Standing at the entrance of the Royal Garden, looking at the messy Royal Garden, several people were dumbfounded and didn't know what to say.
"Your Majesty, this is-"
Looking at the astonished faces of his confidants, Li Shimin couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed, and inexplicably felt guilty.
It was already embarrassing enough to secretly dig up flowers and plants from his own royal garden and give them to Prince An, but in the end, he was blocked on the spot!
"Ahem - I think these flowers and plants are of no use if they cannot be clothed in the cold or eaten when hungry -"
Having said this, he paused slightly, put his hands behind his back, turned around with emotion, and looked at the sky.
"What's more, now that the world is experiencing repeated famines, the people of the Tang Dynasty are suffering from hunger and cold, and are crying for food. As their king, I can't push them for clothes or food. I already feel deeply guilty. How can I no longer linger on such wonders? Among the flowers and grass——"
After speaking, Li Shimin turned his head with compassion and looked at Wei Zheng and others.
"I have decided to free up part of the imperial garden. I will lead the concubines in the harem to personally handle the farming. I will plant some fruits, vegetables, millet, rice and wheat here to supplement the needs of the palace. To lighten some of the burden on the court—to abstain from extravagance and to be frugal, starting from me—"
Wei Zheng, Tang Jian, and Changsun Wuji couldn't help but stand in awe.
He solemnly straightened his clothes and bowed deeply to Li Shimin.
"Your Majesty's kindness touches heaven and earth. I would like to congratulate the people of the world and congratulate the Great Tang Dynasty - with Your Majesty, the Great Tang Dynasty will surely be able to overcome the difficulties and create a prosperous age unprecedented in history!"
Ah, the effect is so good——
Li Shimin couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth secretly, and glanced at Wei Zheng and others who were half shorter than him.
Hey, I’m not lying to you either.
I'm really jealous of Wang Zi'an's glass greenhouse——
If you want to make room, do the same thing.
"Ahem, although I am not talented, I am willing to let the people of the world overcome this difficulty together - and I also ask a few dear friends to help me -"
Li Shimin said, took a step forward, and personally helped Wei Zheng and others up one by one. Then he stood side by side with them and pointed to the imperial garden where the clearing had just been cleared.
"When this area is freed up, I will plant a greenhouse here, and in other places, wheat will be planted in the spring - I will personally try Chang'an Hou's wheat farming method to see how much yield can be increased - "
Having said this, Li Shimin suddenly thought of something and turned to look at Changsun Wuji.
"Brother Auxiliary Machine, how is the situation with Chamchendao going?"
"We encountered some resistance there. Some local nobles refused to let our people purchase rice seeds, but they have been convinced by our people. Before the spring begins, Chong'er can personally escort the Champa rice back to Chang'an— —”
Having said this, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and silently thanked his son.
Because of this Champa rice, the Changsun family suffered heavy losses this time!
After sacrificing more than 3,000 bodyguards, and promising huge profits to some local nobles, they persuaded the local aborigines.
Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction after hearing this.
"Chong'er has done a great job in this matter. I will definitely reward him generously when he comes back——"
"This is what he should do -"
Before Changsun Wuji could finish speaking, he was blocked by Li Shimin.
"Brother Fuji, there is no need to refuse. If you have merit, you will be rewarded. If you make mistakes, you will be punished. I can't depress the minds of meritorious ministers——"
"Then I would like to thank Your Majesty for Quanzi first——"
Changsun Wuji said and bowed deeply to Li Shimin.
Wei Zheng and Tang Jian couldn't help but feel a little envious.
Champa rice——
It's a pity that my family doesn't have the strength of the Changsun family.
Li Shimin had already arranged which flowers and plants to plan, so he didn't have to watch them in person. He immediately led Wei Zheng and others to a pavilion to sit down, then looked around at the people and asked in a leisurely manner.
"My dear friends, do you want to discuss something with me?"
"Your Majesty, it has been more than half a month since the Salt and Iron Tax was implemented, but so far it has had very little effect——"
Tang Jian couldn't help but frown when he mentioned this issue. As Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he had high hopes for this policy, but he didn't expect to be met with a cold reception. After more than half a month of implementation, the only person who can take the initiative to hand over taxes, apart from the current King of Shu, is the eldest grandson Wuji in front of him.
Other people didn't say no, they just made various excuses and delays, and some even simply closed their stores temporarily and no longer opened to the public.
"Now many of them have closed their stores, which has caused panic among the people. As far as I know, the price of salt has doubled in the past half month, and the price of pig iron has also begun to rise——"
Wei Zheng couldn't help but frown.
"If things continue like this, I am worried that before the end of the year, Chang'an City will not only face the danger of salt shortage, but even the iron tools needed by the army will be affected——"
Li Shimin couldn't help but frown when he heard this.
Even the joy of just getting the steel filling method and forging method has faded a lot.
Without the supply of pig iron, even if you have the steel filling method and the forging method, you can't change the iron.
He subconsciously looked at Changsun Wuji.
Changsun Wuji couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart, but he had to bite the bullet and stand up.
"There is no problem on Wei Chen's side, but with the strength of Wei Chen's family alone, I'm afraid it won't last long -"
Li Shimin had no idea.
Although he was able to catch the Changsun family gathering wool, it wouldn't take long, and he was worried that with such a method, the sheep would soon be bald.
"So, Wei Chen has an immature idea——"
Changsun Wuji said and subconsciously glanced at Tang Jian and Wei Zheng beside him.
But he knew that sooner or later, this matter would not get around the two of them, so after a slight hesitation, he still said it bravely.
"We heard that your majesty has obtained the method of forging iron, which can increase the efficiency a hundred times."
Speaking of this, Changsun Wuji subconsciously lowered his voice.
"If your Majesty agrees, I can take advantage of the fact that the outside world doesn't know the news, and use Wei Chen's shop secretly to exchange iron for pig iron with the outside world..."
Wei Zheng and Tang Jian couldn't help but take a breath of cold air.
This old thief Chang Sun has such a huge appetite and courage.
This is obviously trying to draw chestnuts out of the fire.
The Changsun family can get His Majesty's permission to sell pig iron exclusively, so it will definitely be a rare commodity. It is conceivable that the sound of the Changsun family's pig iron will definitely expand rapidly and become popular.
But the court can indeed benefit from this and solve its urgent needs.
