roccoschili Chapter 4708 Heart-wrenching words
Chapter 4708 Heart-wrenching words
Chapter 4708 Heart-wrenching words
The special paper was ready, and the printing speed of the "banknotes" was extremely fast, completing the printing in less than a month. Fang Jun brought Liu Shi into the palace to meet the emperor and asked him to present the "banknotes" to His Majesty.
Such an opportunity is what every official dreams of. Liu Shi was extremely grateful and said a bunch of corny words of thanks, expressing his loyalty again and again...
The banknotes were placed on the imperial desk. Li Chengqian and a group of ministers looked at them over and over again, marveling at their exquisite patterns.
In order to prevent counterfeiting, complicated patterns are painted in various colors on banknotes. In fact, this is unnecessary. In the case of not issuing on a large scale, the serial number on the lower left corner of the banknote is enough to prevent counterfeiting, because each issued banknote will be registered every time it flows into the treasury...
But the bright colors and intricate patterns do give the banknotes a luxurious and high-end feel.
Liu Li pointed to a spot on the note and said, "This color is called 'Ultramarine'? Why is it so shiny?"
"Ultramarine" is not cyan, but a dark blue with a slight red tint. However, the "Ultramarine" on the banknotes is extremely bright and very different from what we usually see.
Liu Shi glanced at Fang Jun, and when he saw the latter nod slightly, he explained, "It is indeed 'Ultramarine', but after dozens of dyeing craftsmen in the Foundry studied and tested it, some special mineral powders were added to it, making the color even more shiny and vivid. This is a very confidential formula, and all the craftsmen involved in the research and testing have been ordered to keep their mouths shut. Even their own sons and nephews are not allowed to reveal it, otherwise they will be severely punished."
Liu Li had no intention of exploring the formula, and asked in surprise, "Are there dyeing craftsmen in the foundry?"
As the name suggests, the "Foundry" must be related to steel, and has nothing to do with dyeing...
Liu Shi was a little resentful. To date, the achievements of the "Foundry Bureau" involved all aspects and had unparalleled contributions to the entire empire. However, the prime ministers in the court were unwilling to even take a second look at them, and habitually regarded them as "strange and cunning tricks". The efforts of countless people in the "Foundry Bureau", the huge amount of money spent by Fang Jun, and the hundreds of research results were always considered to be inferior in the eyes of these people.
"There were not only dyeing craftsmen, but also blacksmiths, carpenters, leatherworkers... and even people who were proficient in arithmetic. There were more than 20 kinds of work, more than 3,000 craftsmen, and tens of thousands of apprentices."
In addition to being angry, I also feel a little proud.
In places that these high-ranking officials and great scholars have never paid attention to, the "Foundry" has been changing the empire, the world, and even the era bit by bit with countless research results. Military, agriculture, navigation and other aspects are all undergoing changes. Until one day they wake up suddenly, they will find that the "Foundry" is unparalleled.
Therefore, Liu Shi admired Fang Jun who created the "Foundry" and invested huge amounts of money.
What a unique and sharp vision and courage that transcends time!
In comparison, what did these high-sounding and well-dressed prime ministers do? They fought for power and profit all day long, cared about petty gains and forgot about the greater good. At best, they were just a few words in history books, that's all.
Under Fang Jun's leadership, I will go down in history with great distinction...
Everyone was surprised by Liu Shi's words. They knew that the "Foundry" was now very large, but they didn't know it was so large.
Who would normally pay attention to such "strange and tricky" and "despicable and mean" things?
Even though the "Foundry" is responsible for the research, development and manufacture of various firearms, it is ultimately the job of craftsmen. How could the bigwigs in the court have the energy to care about these things?
Liu Li frowned, "Such a large scale consumes countless manpower and material resources. At present, the empire is in need of development, and countless people are still starving. Even many state governments can hardly afford to manage their salaries. Should we cut back? At the very least, reduce the scale and save unnecessary waste."
The Ministry of War is Fang Jun's territory, and it is difficult for outsiders to interfere. The "Foundry Bureau" is the core of the Ministry of War, where all resources are focused. Not to mention intervening, not everyone can go in and find out what's going on.
Such a workshop with such a huge influence is in the hands of Fang Jun, which is equivalent to giving Fang Jun an extra point of strength. How could Liu Li be willing to accept this?
Liu Shi was surprised and asked, "Doesn't the Minister of the Central Secretariat know that the Foundry has been responsible for its own profits and losses until now? The central government and the national treasury have never invested a single cent in the Foundry from the beginning to the end, so how can there be talk of cutting back?"
Liu Li's face darkened. "The Foundry is not a government office of the Tang Dynasty? Now that the empire is in the process of reviving, it is only a step away from a truly prosperous era. How can you officials only care about your own little piece of land and ignore the national plan?"
Liu Shi shook his head repeatedly: "As the saying goes, you should do your job. I am just a doctor in the Ministry of War. My job is only in the Foundry. The national affairs are the business of you, the prime ministers. How can we, the small officials, get involved in it? The Minister of the Central Secretariat is too kind to me. I don't deserve it."
He was neither humble nor arrogant, and spoke frankly, and without Fang Jun having to take any action, he pushed Liu Li back.
However, in this situation, how could Fang Jun let his subordinates charge in the front while he himself retreated behind?
He smiled and said to Liu Li, "Doctor Liu is a straightforward person. If my words offend you, please do not be offended... But Doctor Liu's words 'do your job' are very good. You are the Minister of the Central Secretariat, and you should shoulder the responsibilities that you should shoulder. You cannot pass them on to others. If you think you cannot bear the responsibility, that's fine. You can just ask His Majesty to retire."
After a pause, he looked at Liu Li with a smile and said, "The position of Zhongshu Ling is an aid to your majesty. If anyone feels that he can't do the job well, he can step down. There will naturally be someone who can do the job well."
You actually tried to stretch your hand towards me. Do you really think I dare not chop it off for you?
Liu Shi was extremely happy in his heart. This was Shangguan! When his subordinates were targeted and wronged, Shangguan stood up without hesitation. Even when facing the Minister of the Central Secretariat, his words were fiery and aggressive.
How can I not love such a superior?
Li Chengqian waved his hand to stop Liu Li who was about to say more, and said gently: "The Foundry is the business of the Ministry of War, and it has always been in charge of the Duke of Yue. Outsiders don't need to get involved... How do we issue this kind of paper money?"
Fang Jun said: "We can send people to escort them directly to Henan, Hedong, Shandong, Jiangnan and other places. As long as the land is measured in various places, we can sign a contract with the local aristocratic families and use paper money instead of money to lend money. Then the aristocratic families will pay the amount of land they need to redeem with paper money, and then bring the paper money back to Chang'an and put it into the national treasury."
In all the goings and comings, the central government did not spend a penny. It only printed a few banknotes and earned tens of millions of loans from the aristocratic families.
What you are borrowing is not paper money, but real gold and brass when you repay it in the future...
Such operation will naturally be praised by everyone.
Tang Jian recommended himself: "My son Jiahui is now a doctor in the Ministry of Finance. He is usually quite smart and can handle this matter."
Everyone was speechless for a moment.
The Ministry of Finance is one of the subordinate agencies of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. It is mainly responsible for reviewing the national treasury money and silk accounts, as well as the minting of coins...
In fact, printing "banknotes" should have been the responsibility of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the "Ministry of Finance" headed by Tang Jian's son Tang Jiahui was the most qualified to do so. However, Fang Jun did this, and the "infringement" effect was extremely serious.
However, Tang Jian was an extraordinary person. Not only did he not get angry or complain, he even asked his son to run errands for Fang Jun...
In this situation, no one could say that Tang Jian had made his son work under him.
Li Chengqian nodded, "Then let Tang Jiahui do it. If he is successful in this matter, he can go to the Eastern Palace to serve as the 'Eastern Palace Thousand Bull' after he returns. After all, he was born a military general, how can he hang out with the civilians all day? After all, he also protected me in the past, and he has worked hard and made great contributions."
He had complicated feelings towards Tang Jiahui.
In the early years of Zhenguan, Tang Jiahui's official title was "Eastern Palace Qianniu", and the crown prince of the Eastern Palace was Li Chengqian. Logically, Tang Jiahui should be Li Chengqian's right-hand man and trusted him to the utmost. In fact, this was not the case. Tang Jiahui's first wife Yuan died very early, and his second wife was Yan Lide's second daughter. Yan Lide's eldest daughter married Wei Wang Li Tai. Tang Jiahui and Wei Wang Li Tai were brothers-in-law...
Therefore, Li Chengqian did not trust Tang Jiahui, but he tolerated him only because his father Tang Jian was a veteran of two dynasties and a founding hero.
It's just that Tang Jiahui has never been disrespectful, and later he even requested to be transferred to another place, and has never participated in any rebellious activities. Now that the throne is stable, there is no need for him to worry about his past thoughts.
Tang Jian left the table, bowed to the ground, and said gratefully: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
He had many sons, most of whom were able to establish themselves and start their own families. However, Tang Jiahui was the only one who was suspected by Li Chengqian because he was a "Thousand Cows of the Eastern Palace" but became the brother-in-law of the King of Wei. He never had the opportunity to move up the ladder and could only be arranged in the Ministry of Civil Affairs, for fear that he would be misled by others to do something stupid and implicate the family if he was out of his sight.
The real purpose of taking this opportunity to recommend Tang Jiahui was to test your Majesty's attitude. Seeing that your Majesty had no aversion, I was naturally very happy...
*****
Back in the Secretariat office, Liu Li sat alone in the duty room. The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became. The "Foundry Bureau" had unknowingly grown into a behemoth with enormous influence. All funds came from "self-raised funds". This "self-financing" mode of operation allowed it to completely break away from the control of the central government, becoming an independent entity and outsiders had no chance of getting involved.
More importantly, will anyone follow suit?
Liu Li could no longer sit still, so he stood up and left the office, went straight to the Wude Hall, and after asking for an audience, he was taken to the imperial study by the eunuchs.
Li Chengqian changed his clothes, washed his hands and face, and met him in the imperial study.
He raised his hand to let Liu Ji drink tea, and said with a smile: "Just after we parted, the Minister of the Central Secretariat was eager to see you, but did you miss something just now?"
Liu Li did not drink tea either. He went straight to the point and listed the many drawbacks of the "Foundry Bureau". At the end, he said worriedly: "If it is just a 'Foundry Bureau', it would be fine. After all, Duke Yue has the ability to support the country and protect the emperor. If Your Majesty orders him to abolish the 'Foundry Bureau', it will inevitably be suspected of being ungrateful. But this trend cannot be allowed to continue. If each of the six ministries and nine temples sets up this "bureau" or that "department", and uses the name of "self-financing" to commit corruption and dereliction of duty, in the long run, where will the central government be placed? And where will Your Majesty be placed?"
This is a bit hurtful. Why can Fang Jun set up a "foundry" in the Ministry of War and "be responsible for his own profits and losses"? Isn't it because he is so proud of his achievements that he ignores the laws of the court, and it is not the first time or the second time.
But if this continues, everyone in the Foundry will only know Fang Jun. Who will remember the Central Government and His Majesty?