Gao Zhang slowly entered the deep palace, and as usual, a eunuch came to guide him straight inside.
It was still the quiet and elegant study room, with the two calligraphy works still hanging there.
Every time he entered and saw these two calligraphy works, Gao Zhang felt as if he had seen the mark left after playing the game for the first time.
It’s also like the words XXX carved on some historical monuments. Come here.
It feels quite secretly satisfying, but unfortunately it can only be enjoyed secretly and cannot be shared with others.
After entering the study, he started wandering around as usual, waiting for the eunuch to serve him tea, cakes, fruits, and tea.
After a pleasant meal, he walked over to the desk.
I was wondering whether I should continue to practice calligraphy today or think about the serious matters to report to my master.
While I was thinking about this, I heard familiar footsteps coming from outside the study.
As soon as he raised his eyes, he saw Master Zhao Ji striding towards him, followed by his confidant eunuch Yang Jian.
Gao Zhang quickly stepped forward to greet him, bowed respectfully, helped his master sit down, and eagerly took the tea from Yang Jian's hand and handed it to his master.
"..." Yang Jian looked at his empty hands with a sense of loss, and at the official who took a sip of tea and stroked his beard and nodded.
I always feel empty inside, as if even my job has been taken away by Gao Zhang.
#####
Zhao Ji, an official, listened as Gao Zhang began to describe the various shortcomings in the Song Dynasty's armaments that he had collected these days.
As well as various data related to the military equipment of the Song Dynasty, in short, there is one point: either we must sort out the arms manufacturing industry and related management departments of the Song Dynasty from top to bottom.
But the problem is that the benefits brought by military equipment manufacturing involve too many people and institutions.
If you want to resolve conflicts from within, it would be equivalent to cutting off an arm of the Song Dynasty, maybe during the reform period.
The army has no way to obtain suitable military equipment. How can soldiers fight without weapons? You can't just whistle to scare the enemy, right?
Official Zhao Ji listened with great interest, mainly because Gao Zhang did not make any nonsense throughout the article.
He even made a list and spread it out in front of the official Zhao Ji, introducing in detail the respective problems caused by the extreme tension between various departments.
"For example, the imperial court purchased the standard hand knives in my army of the Song Dynasty. The total cost was two knives and three hundred and fifty yuan..."
In this era, you could get a piece of silk for two guan of money, and the selling price of a hand knife was about the same price.
But the problem must be taken into consideration. When manufacturing for the imperial court, there are so many departments reaching out, and if the cost does not increase, how can anyone make money?
The data collected through repeated collection showed that the forging cost of a hand knife was about three dollars.
This is the average data compiled by Gao Zhang after he spent countless efforts and even used intelligence giants like Goulan to compile it.
Considering that the price of hand knives on the market ranges from two to five hundred yuan, there is no middleman to make the difference.
If you open a direct-operated store, you can earn almost the same amount. If the volume is large, the cost will naturally be reduced.
But even if it were fifteen thousand, the cost would be at least around two.
After calculating this, the price of hand knives made in the imperial court's own workshop was actually more expensive than those purchased.
Such a comparison made Zhao Ji, the official, look a bit grim, and his breathing suddenly became heavy. "How brave!"
I never thought about those court officials who were working hard to serve the country and the people all day long.
To actually make money like this, it’s no wonder that every department in the ordnance manufacturing industry wants to have something to do with it.
They all want to get involved, and this must be the reason why those states and counties are happy to set up their own armaments.
Isn't it just because this special girl has become a good reason for officials up and down to eat the flesh of the imperial court and drink the blood of the imperial court?
He saw the official Zhao Ji standing up angrily, with his hands behind his back and muttering something unknown.
Gao Zhang sat on the spot as quietly as a chicken, motionless, but his eyes full of concern and worry were focused on the master.
After all, I have figured out the master's temper, and he likes to go around when things happen.
As long as I maintain the necessary attention, it will not affect the master's freedom of strolling, and at the same time let him feel the care from his disciples, it is enough.
The official Zhao Ji was very angry. He knew in the past that if the armaments were weak and the organization was complicated, there must be problems inside.
The imperial ministers, ministries, supervisors, and even many workshops greatly obstructed the armament reform, and the banners they used were all affecting the combat effectiveness of the imperial army.
But in fact, this group of ministers made money from it, and I am afraid they made a lot of money.
After being angry for a long time, he finally noticed his beloved disciple Gao Zhang, who was sitting there obediently and looking at him with worry.
Official Zhao Ji reluctantly showed a smile, exhaled the tightness in his chest, and then said in a solemn voice.
"No wonder Xiao Gao, you have proposed before that you want to imitate the tax package method. It seems that your worries are not unreasonable."
"Master, please have tea. Please don't get so angry."
"Now that Master has understood the fundamental reason why this armament reform is so difficult, I feel that this armament reform is at least half successful."
"???" Official Zhao Ji's expression was stunned. Looking at the serious Gao Zhang in front of him, I always felt that my beloved disciple's words were a bit too much...
Yang Jian on the side rolled his eyes covertly, "Xiao Gao Zhuangyuan, please show evidence when you brag. Can you stop bragging?"
Gao Zhang saluted the dull master Zhao Ji and explained his flattery in detail.
"The armament is depleted and there is an urgent need for change. It is like a person who is sick and needs treatment."
"Master already knows the root cause of his disease and has a good cure for it. Although this disease has not yet been cured, he already has a winning chance."
"You only need to take the medicine according to the prescription to treat it, and you will be cured. Doesn't this mean that you have mostly succeeded? What else can it be?"
“…Guan Jia, Xiao Gao’s words really hit the mark.
The slaves also feel that there is a holy emperor like Guan Jia in the court, and there are good talents like Xiao Gao Zhuangyuan to assist.
The disadvantages of depleted armaments must be eliminated. "
#####
The look of shock on official Zhao Ji's face gradually turned into a smile of relief, and he patted Gao Zhang's shoulder gently with his big hand.
He raised his hand and nodded Yang Jian, letting out a hearty laugh.
Gao Zhang cooperated with a smile, and by the way, he held his hand towards Yang Jian, which was regarded as accepting the favor of Zhongguan Yang.
But he saw Yang Jian smiling flatteringly at him, still standing by with a humble look.
"As expected of you, worthy of being the number one prodigy, my beloved disciple, yes. Since I know the root cause of the disease and have a good cure, why worry about not curing this evil disease?"
"Just as you said, Xiao Gao, if you want to solve the shortcomings of depleted armaments from within the imperial court, it will not be achieved overnight."
"So, you intend to adopt a method similar to the tax package system and try some arms outsourcing first."
"Do you want to start with that knife?"
"Exactly."
(End of chapter)
