Soon, Qin Ming took Qin Da and Shui Yi back to the Qin Mansion.
When Qin Ming stepped into the front hall, Duan Lun, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, was talking in a low voice with a middle-aged man wearing a scarlet official robe.
Qin Ming looked around and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when he didn't see that familiar figure.
He took two steps and came to Duan Lun, bowed and saluted, and said:
"My lower official, Qin Ming, paid homage to Duan Shangshu. I was disappointed to receive him from afar. I hope Duan Shangshu will forgive me."
Duan Lun stood up and laughed, saying:
"Oh, my dear nephew, why should I be so polite? Please get up quickly."
As he said that, Duan Lun helped Qin Ming up.
Then he turned sideways, took Qin Ming's arm, pointed at the middle-aged official beside him, and said:
"My dear nephew, come, let me introduce to you. This is Mr. Zheng from the Ministry of Industry. He comes from the direct lineage of the Zheng family in Xingyang."
Zheng He smiled slightly, cupped his hands towards Qin Ming and said:
"Mr. Qin County, we meet again."
Qin Ming was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and looked at the person carefully, and soon remembered that he had seen this person before on the Lantern Festival.
Qin Ming bowed in return and said:
"I didn't recognize Mr. Zheng just now. I was rude."
Zheng He smiled and waved his hand and said:
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."
Duan Lun couldn't help but look puzzled when he saw that the two of them knew each other.
"My nephew and Mr. Zheng have known each other for a long time?"
Qin Ming nodded, and while greeting the two of them to sit down, he told Duan Lun about how Shangyuan Festival and Zheng He met.
After listening to Qin Ming's story, Duan Lun stroked his long beard and said with a smile:
"Since we are all old acquaintances, the next thing will be easier to handle."
Qin Ming heard this and said doubtfully:
"What did Duke Ji Guo say?"
Duan Lun chuckled and said:
"Your Majesty, you were worried that the craftsmen sent by the Ministry of Works were slacking off and delaying the construction period, so you sent someone to the Ministry of Works and delivered an oral message."
"Let Mr. Zheng stay at the house and supervise the work for a few days."
Qin Ming was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and smiled bitterly.
[It seems that Li Er is still worried! ]
But then he thought about it, it would be nice to have a deputy to keep an eye on her. In this case, Xi'er wouldn't have to work so hard and go to the depot every day to keep an eye on her.
Qin Ming stood up, cupped his hands towards Zheng He and said:
"Then we'll have to work hard for Mr. Zheng next."
When Zheng He heard this, he cupped his hands and said:
"When working for the imperial court, I dare not say anything about the hardships."
"I hope the men from Qin County will take care of me."
Qin Ming smiled and nodded, saying:
"Easy to say, easy to say."
After a while,
Qin Ming took Duan Lun in a carriage and drove towards the depot.
Duan Lun and Zheng He had heard about the Qin Mansion's four-wheeled carriage for a long time.
Now that I sit on it myself, I can truly appreciate the joy of riding in a car.
Duan Lun followed Qin Ming's example, leaned on the sofa and said with a smile:
"My dear nephew, I wonder how much this carriage costs? If it's not expensive, when the house is free, can you build two of them for me?"
Qin Ming straightened up, narrowed his eyes and smiled:
"It's not expensive. It only costs a thousand guan per car."
Duan Lun's jaw almost dropped when he heard this. He stared and asked:
"A thousand guan is not expensive? Why don't you go and rob it?"
Zheng He on the side smacked his mouth when he heard this.
[so expensive! ]
He couldn't help but think of how his brother spent 100,000 yuan with Qin Ming to purchase cement formula a few days ago.
Qin Ming had expected this, so he leaned back on the sofa and said calmly:
"A few days ago, I built a carriage for His Majesty based on the structure of this carriage."
"Not counting the interior of the car, the total cost is eight hundred dollars."
"As for whether it is worth the price, Duke Ji can ask His Majesty when he has the opportunity."
Duan Lun's expression froze when he heard this.
[This boy, must he be crazy? He dares to cheat His Majesty’s money? ]
[its not right! His Majesty was showing off his carriage to a certain person two days ago. ]
[Is there some mystery in it? ]
Qin Ming glanced at Duan Lun, who was bowing his head in thought, and then at Zheng He, who was silent next to him, and said with a smile:
"Master Zheng, do you want to purchase one?"
Zheng He waved his hand and said:
"Someone, my family is poor and I can't afford it."
Soon, the carriage stopped at the gate of the factory.
Factory director Zhang Zhaoyang came up to him, bowed and said:
"Sir, are you here?"
Qin Ming nodded, introduced Zhang Zhaoyang to the two important officials in the court, and explained their purpose of coming.
After Zhang Zhaoyang learned the identities of the two of them, one of them lost his footing and almost fell to the ground.
Qin Ming rolled his eyes, gave Zhang Zhaoyang a hand, and asked:
"How many personnel carriers have been assembled in the factory today?"
Zhang Zhaoyang calmed down, bent down and said respectfully:
"Sir, I have assembled one hundred and two vehicles today, and we expect to be able to build two hundred vehicles by the time we get off work tonight."
Qin Ming nodded and said:
"Very good, then you can lead the way and take Duan Shangshu and Zheng Shilang to have a good visit."
"Here."
After speaking, Zhang Zhaoyang walked sideways to the front, bent down and led everyone towards the assembly workshop.
Duan Lun recovered from the shock, took Zhang Zhaoyang's arm, and asked in disbelief:
"You just said how many vehicles could be assembled in one day today?"
Zhang Zhaoyang raised his head and glanced at Qin Ming. Seeing Qin Ming nodding, he bowed and said:
"If I get back to Master Duan, the workshop can assemble two hundred vehicles in one day today."
Duan Lun heard this and murmured:
"How is this possible?"
Although Duan Lun's voice was very low, Qin Ming still heard it.
[Okay! It turns out that it’s not just Li Er who doesn’t believe it, it turns out that Duan Lun doesn’t believe it either. ]
Thinking of this, Qin Ming felt somewhat better.
"Duan Shangshu, if you don't believe it, you might as well go inside and have a look."
...
Youshi, Chang'an City, the Imperial Palace Ganlu Hall.
After listening to Duan Lun's report, Li Shimin stood up and said:
"Duan Qing, do you really mean what you said?"
Duan Lun bowed and replied:
"It's absolutely true. I dare not deceive Your Majesty."
Li Shimin clapped his hands when he heard this, laughed loudly, and said:
"Okay, okay, great."
"I originally thought that it would be great to be able to assemble seven or eight hundred vehicles before the expedition. I didn't expect that this guy could actually build a thousand troop carriers in seven days."
Having said this, Li Shimin said to the young eunuch in the palace:
"Give me a seat."
The two young eunuchs quickly moved a chair and placed it in front of Duan Lun.
Duan Lun bowed and said:
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Shimin sat on the chair, pressed his palm down, and motioned for Duan Lun to sit down.
"Duan Qing, tell me carefully, how did that boy do it?"
Duan Lun said yes, and then told Li Shimin what he saw in the workshop.
Li Shimin looked dazed for a while after hearing this, and he murmured:
"How can it still be like this?"
"Duan Qing, do you think this method can be implemented in the Ministry of Industry?"
Duan Lun said with a smile:
"Qin Ming's method was born out of the assembly line production method."
"If you want to implement this method in the Ministry of Industry, it is not difficult. You only need one thing as an aid."
As he spoke, Duan Lun took out a ruler from his sleeve, stood up and handed it to Li Shimin with both hands. He said in front of Li Shimin:
"Your Majesty, please look at this."
"I brought this from the workshop."
Li Shimin took the ruler, looked at the densely packed scales and the familiar Arabic numerals, frowned and asked:
"What is this?"
"Qin Ming named this object ruler..."
.....
