Emperor Jing glanced at the thick stack of banknotes, and the young eunuch presented the banknotes to the table.
Then he said calmly: "The annual income of Taoyuan County for seven years is only more than 80,000 taels of silver? Fang Zhengyi, how dare you play with your little cleverness in front of me... Come on!"
Fang Zhengyi said nervously: "Your Majesty, it is indeed true. We have invested countless funds to transform Taoyuan County... It is not easy to have more than 80,000 taels left!"
"Is it true? I don't believe it."
"..."
If you talk like that, we can't talk anymore!
Beads of sweat began to form on Fang Zheng's forehead. He had to think of a way to fool the emperor today. In a new environment, he had to be coerced first, or at worst, show off his skin first.
Fortunately, Emperor Jing spoke again: "I can forget the things you did before."
"But once you enter the court, you must serve me honestly and with peace of mind!"
"I'm very happy that you have the ability to do things, but I'm very dissatisfied with your attitude as an official!"
Fang Zheng immediately flattered me and said quickly: "Your Majesty is teaching you a lesson! From now on, I will not hesitate to do anything wrong!"
Emperor Jing raised his hand and said, "Come and give me a seat."
The eunuch on duty immediately moved a chair to Fang Zhengyi, who sat down carefully.
At the same time, he secretly thought that he was lucky. It seemed that his 80,000 taels of silver were not wasted, and he was able to get a seat at least.
Seeing Fang Zheng sitting on the chair with half his buttocks like a little daughter-in-law, Emperor Jing couldn't help but feel funny.
It seems that even though you, Fangzheng, are crazy again and again, you still know how to assess the situation.
"Okay, don't be formal, I still have many things to ask you."
Seeing that Emperor Jing's attitude softened, Fang Zheng couldn't help but relax a little: "Your Majesty, please ask, I will tell you everything I know."
Emperor Jing thought as various memories about Taoyuan County flashed through his mind.
Toilet paper... pipes... greenhouses... mirrors... phonographs. For a moment, I didn't know where to start.
After thinking for a while, he said: "The merits are immeasurable...What exactly is this thing?"
Fang Zheng suddenly showed an expression that was indeed true. Anyone with a discerning eye could see the effect of this thing. It was natural for the emperor to care about it. He had already made a plan.
"Your Majesty, this thing's real name is gunpowder. It ignites when exposed to fire. If it is in large quantities and in a confined space, it will cause a violent explosion."
"Gunpowder? Is this a natural thing or a man-made thing?"
"Artificial!"
Emperor Jing immediately felt a sense of joy in his heart and quickly continued to ask: "How much can this product produce? How much does it cost?"
Fang Zheng's expression became serious: "Your Majesty, this thing was accidentally obtained by an alchemist. I left the alchemist to make gunpowder for Taoyuan County, but later this person was killed in an explosion, and the production of gunpowder stopped here. clue."
"Fortunately, there is still some leftover. Taoyuan County has kept this item for several years, but gunpowder is extremely unstable and dangerous! So the remaining inventory has been used up when the mountain was opened."
"It's even more difficult when it comes to production! I also ordered people to study it. If this thing was successfully developed a few years ago, I would definitely present it to the imperial court... It's a pity that it failed."
"Because it was a waste of money and spent tens of thousands of taels of silver without success, the county did not continue to spend more than 10,000 taels of silver to support the research..."
After saying that, Fang Zhengyi shook his head regretfully, showing an expression that seemed like he could not be loyal to his country and was ashamed to death.
joke! This thing has been in production for a long time, and I, Fang Zhengyi, am not a rookie entering the workplace.
Of course, if you have good things, you only bring them out at critical moments. Why don’t you show your merits to your boss and then force yourself to become a hard worker?
If you want to live a moist life, you have to squeeze out toothpaste slowly...
However, it is true that the cost of making gunpowder is high. Not to mention the cost of materials, Fang Zheng had no idea what things like sulfur and saltpeter looked like when he first arrived.
We could only order people to collect all the materials that could be found in the market, and then find a craftsman to compare them one by one. After a lot of effort, the gunpowder was finally successfully developed.
After all, with no system and no memory, life is a bit miserable...
When Emperor Jing heard this, he pointed at Fang Zheng and said angrily: "How stupid! The research on such a divine weapon has stopped. I immediately order Taoyuan County to continue to research and develop this item!"
Fang Zhengyi smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Your Majesty...the county has no money, so I brought all the silver this time."
"How much do you need!?"
"Forty thousand... thirty thousand... more or less." Fang Zheng glanced at the table unconsciously as he spoke.
Emperor Jing looked at Fang Zhengyi and sneered: "What? Do you still want to get this money back?"
"I don't dare! But if you want to support the research and development of this product, you will need money... I can't increase taxes on the people and exploit the people's wealth..."
Fang Zheng became more courageous. What emperor could not be tempted by this thing?
Since I have some negotiation capital, I can get back a little bit of the money I gave away. These are my coffin books!
Emperor Jing stared at Fang Zhengyi for a long time, and it didn't seem like he was faking it.
But in view of Fang Zhengyi's slippery performance, Emperor Jing was still wary.
"Twenty thousand taels...I will give you one year. After one year, I will see the production and use of gunpowder."
Fang Zhengyi quickly shook his head: "Your Majesty, if the money is less, I can always find a way, but time... is really tight. I originally studied it for two years with little results, and now the people who participated in it have already gone to other professions. "
"If we recall the old people and learn again... I think it will take at least two years. Within two years, I am still somewhat sure!"
"Okay...two years is two years. I will send people to Taoyuan County to assist in research. If it fails after two years, the consequences...you have to think about it."
Such an artifact is worth waiting for two years. Besides, the country is not at war yet, so Emperor Jing doesn't care much about time.
Fang Zhengyi showed a subtle smile, twenty thousand taels are back! It’s really hard work to get some research funding, and it’s your own money!
If you send someone, just send someone! Gunpowder is the most important secret of Taoyuan County. The people who participated in the research were all human beings and worked in the county government.
As soon as the imperial edict arrives, everyone will naturally know what to expect... Fang Zhengyi still has this certainty.
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty! I will fulfill my mission and live up to my great trust!"
Emperor Jing nodded with satisfaction, then smiled and said: "Yes, I want to know, is the poisonous oath I made back then still in your hands?"
Fang Zheng laughed twice: "When you signed the contract, your Majesty used a false name. It cannot be genuine. When I get back, I will revise a letter and let them burn it all!"
Emperor Jing looked at him and said nothing.
"Oh... and the gramophone is also presented to Your Majesty. The phonograph... is ready for production, but it is a secret of Taoyuan County, so there is only one. If Your Majesty needs more, you can order someone to make it again. Your Majesty Mingjian!"
As soon as Fang Zheng confessed everything honestly this time, he thought that Wu Sheng must have sold him out!
Emperor Jing had of course been to Taoyuan County, so he naturally wanted to find out what was wrong. It would be strange if he didn't know the function of a gramophone.
Besides, I have to deliver some goods to the big boss when I come here, or will I still be able to hang out in the future?
There are still a lot of things in the county, so let’s show some of them first so it won’t get in the way...
"Okay, keep talking."
...
