"Your Highness, I have already visited the remaining workshops as per your order."
"There is nothing unusual at the glass kiln, but at the firearms workshop and steel kiln, there have been cases of craftsmen getting lost recently."
"Also, the Korean named Wang Zaixian...has left this afternoon."
After hearing the dog's report, Zhu Su was startled, and his mind suddenly started to spin.
In several other places, craftsmen have gone missing these days.
These craftsmen are all registered with the Ministry of Industry. Although their income is not high, they are more difficult and more tiring. But it can be said that as long as you don't offend the nobles, what you are holding in your hands is an iron rice bowl for generations.
There was no way he could just run away into the mountains without a reason.
It doesn't matter that the steelmaking workshop has no results yet, and the firearms workshop only has a preliminary improved gunpowder formula. However, the cement calcining process in the cement workshop has been basically perfected. If the assembly line system is not strictly implemented and someone knows the entire calcining process and is deceived...
"Mei Ying." Zhu Su said coldly. "I'll ask you again, have you followed the production principles of the assembly line?"
"Is there any craftsman who escaped with a complete cement recipe..."
"Tell the truth, maybe I can spare your life."
Why did Mei Ying hide it so much and urgently asked someone to set it on fire for public viewing? Apart from discovering that the cement formula may leak and worrying about the impact on oneself, what other reasons could there be!
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, your Majesty, your Majesty, how dare you disobey Your Majesty's orders..."
Mei Ying was excited and managed a flattering smile. It's just that the thinner face looks more and more guilty the more crowded it is.
Zhu Su's face turned red with anger.
"Di Meng!"
Di Meng, who was behind him, stepped out of the queue. Zhu Su pointed at Mei Ying with his finger.
"Let him tell the truth."
Di Meng cupped his fist and whipped the riding crop in his right hand into the air with a loud crack. Mei Ying's whole body trembled, her legs softened and she knelt on the ground.
"Your Highness! Your Highness! The official is recruiting, the official is recruiting!"
"Xiaguan did... indeed privately recruited a few refugees and asked them to learn all the methods of cement calcining without following the assembly line..."
"Your Majesty is always very diligent in his work, but... he just has a little selfish intention and wants to make a living for his family, Your Highness!"
"The lower official didn't know that those thieves were so bold as to sneak out during the chaos..."
As he spoke, tears streamed down his cheeks, and he continued to kowtow to himself.
Zhu Su watched coldly. As a cement kiln manager, he naturally knows how profitable cement is. He was not a close confidant of Zhu Su, and it was reasonable for him to secretly seek some benefits from Fang Zi with selfish motives.
However, what Zhu Su was most worried about was the missing Wang Zaixian and the Jenny. If Wang Zaixian really stole the cement recipe and left, and then discovered the secret of Jenny's machine spinning thread, the Northeast of the Ming Dynasty might have a strong neighbor!
Zhu Su never believed in so-called vassal states! The so-called vassalage is nothing more than fear of power and not daring to make mistakes. It’s okay to travel through time by myself and not make any contribution to the Chinese nation. If instead he created a powerful enemy for China in history, how could he still claim to be a descendant of Yan and Huang?
Therefore, on normal days, he should have been softened by Mei Ying's crying. Today he is furious. Pishou dodged the riding whip in Di Meng's hand, and struck Mei Ying, who was kneeling on the ground, head and face.
“Tell me where the people are!”
"If you don't tell me, I will kill you!"
"Your Highness! Your Highness, don't fight me! I don't even know if you are a low-ranking official or a villain!"
Mei Ying did not dare to dodge and was beaten with several whips until she howled miserably. "The villain... The villain was having a drink at the Jinfeng Tower tonight. When I got the news and rushed here, the thief had already disappeared..."
"Damn it!" Zhu Suren couldn't help but utter a curse word that he hadn't said in many years, and kicked this loser to the ground. Recalling that this guy just said that Li Rong arrived at the cement kiln earlier than him, he immediately turned around and asked Li Rong: "Li Qianhu, when you came just now, did you see any trace of the craftsmen who took advantage of the chaos to escape?"
"Back to Your Highness, the night was already dark, and when I came here I was only focused on putting out the fire..." Li Rong sounded a little regretful.
"His grandma's! I didn't expect a thief to steal the recipe!"
Zhu Su was speechless for a moment, looking towards the dark Bifeng Mountain behind him. It was obvious that these refugees were deliberately recruited by this idiot Mei Ying just for the cement recipe.
Since we have already prepared, it is impossible not to prepare a way out.
"How many roads are there from Yingtian to Gaoli?" Zhu Su asked in a deep voice.
"Your Highness is suspicious... was that Korean student responsible for this?" Yao Guangxiao was startled and immediately understood the hidden meaning of Zhu Su's words.
"But... the Korean people have always feared me, the Ming Dynasty, and are extremely respectful to our Celestial Empire, so how could they..."
"The Koreans are stealing the country. They have always stolen the clothes of our Chinese civilization. They appear to be obedient and submissive, but in fact they are fearful of power and unethical."
"Don't forget that they were vassals of Beiyuan before. If they really knew their shame, would they be slaves of such three surnames?" Zhu Su said coldly. "Monk, please don't ask so many questions. Let me ask you, can you guess where these thieves are going?"
"Concrete squares are a powerful tool for building a city, and that loom cannot easily fall into the hands of this country-stealing person!"
Yao Guangxiao was stunned. He didn't know why Zhu Su was so gnashing his teeth at Goryeo and calling him "stealing the country". But seeing that Zhu Su's face was so gloomy, even when he was impeached by Ru Taisu that day, he didn't dare to ask any more questions.
He lowered his head and thought for a while, "Those lost craftsmen were probably bribed by other people."
"Buying people's hearts with gold and silver will make them changeable. Moreover, the nights are long and there are many dreams. If our Chinese people thought clearly, who would be willing to go to a bitter and cold place like Goryeo? Therefore, they would not hide in the mountains and forests for a long time without food and clothing. We must return north in a hurry."
"If you really want to return north, you must cross the Yangtze River. And if you want to cross the river, I think you will take Qixia Ferry in the east."
"There are many river crossings near Yingtian, and there are more than ten. How can we be sure that the bird thief will go to Qixia Crossing?" Li Rong asked puzzled.
"Qixia Ferry is located in the east of Yingtian. Although it takes a lot of effort to go from west to east, it is also unpredictable. This is one of the reasons." Yao Guangxiao explained.
"Second." He looked at Mei Ying who was still prostrated on the ground. "Didn't General Li notice it?"
"There were accidents in cement kilns and steel kilns, but the most prosperous glass kiln today was fine."
"Over there at the glass kiln, Old Man Zhuang, who was promoted by the prince himself, is in charge."
"But the steward of the cement kiln is a relative of the Hou Mei family of Runan; the steward of the glass kiln is the brother-in-law of the Marquis Tang of Yan'an; and the steward of the firearms workshop is the brother-in-law of the Marquis Lu of Ji'an."
"..." Zhu Su narrowed his eyes slightly. So, these things are likely to involve the princes' mansions?
Remembering that Wang Zaixian was originally attracted by Zhu Xian, Yao Guangxiao's conjecture is really possible!
"Then how can we be sure that the thief will go to Qixia Ferry?" Zhu Su asked.
"Korea is just a small country, so you don't dare to turn against me. There will definitely be no clues left. If you cross the boat from other ferries, you need to show the road documents." Yao Guangxiao continued.
"But Qixia Ferry is guarded by the trusted generals of Marquis Yongjia!"
(End of chapter)
