Chapter 4708 Heart-wrenching words
The special paper was ready, and the "paper money" was printed very quickly. It was completed in less than a month. Fang Jun took Liu Shi into the palace to meet the emperor and asked him to present the "paper money" to His Majesty.
Such an opportunity is what every official dreams of. Liu Shi was extremely grateful and said a bunch of disgusting words of gratitude, expressing his loyalty again and again...
The banknotes were placed on the imperial desk. Li Chengqian and the ministers looked over and over again, marveling at the exquisite patterns and marveling at them.
In order to prevent counterfeiting, complicated patterns are painted in various colors on the banknotes. In fact, it is unnecessary. In the absence of large-scale issuance, the serial number in the lower left corner of the banknotes is enough to prevent counterfeiting, because every time the issued banknotes flow into the national treasury, they will be registered...
But the dazzling colors and complicated patterns do give the banknotes a luxurious and high-end feel.
Liu Ji pointed to a spot on the banknote: "This color is 'ultramarine'? Why is it so bright?"
"Ultramarine" is not cyan, but a deep blue with a slight red light. However, the "ultramarine" on the banknotes is extremely bright, which is very different from what you usually see.
Liu Shi glanced at Fang Jun, saw the latter nodding slightly, and then explained: "It is indeed 'ultramarine', but after dozens of dyeing craftsmen from the foundry bureau studied and tested it, some special mineral powder was added to it. The color becomes brighter and more vivid. This is a very confidential formula, and all the craftsmen involved in the development and testing have been issued a silence order. Even their own nephews are not allowed to reveal it, otherwise they will be severely punished. "
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Liu Jie had no intention of exploring the formula and asked in surprise: "There are still dyeing craftsmen in the Foundry Bureau?"
As the name suggests, the "Foundry Bureau" is definitely related to steel and has nothing to do with dyeing...
Liu Shi was a little angry. Today, the achievements of the "Forging Bureau" cover all aspects and have unparalleled promotion for the entire empire. However, these ministers and ministers above the court refuse to take a second look and habitually use "strange skills and tricks". "Looking at it, the efforts of countless people at the top and bottom of the "Foundry Bureau", Fang Jun's huge expenditure of money and hundreds of research results are always considered to be inferior in the eyes of these people.
"There are not only dyeing craftsmen, but also blacksmiths, carpenters, cobblers... and even people who are proficient in arithmetic. There are more than 20 types of work, more than 3,000 craftsmen, and tens of thousands of apprentices."
Apart from being angry, there is also a hint of pride.
Where these high-ranking officials and great scholars have never paid attention, the "Forging Bureau" has relied on countless research results to change the empire, the world, and even the era bit by bit. Military, agriculture, navigation, etc. are bearing the burden. Change, until one day they suddenly wake up, they will find that the "Forging Bureau" is incomparable.
Therefore, Liu Shi admired Fang Jun who single-handedly created the "Foundry Bureau" and insisted on investing huge amounts of money.
What a unique and sharp vision and courage that transcends the times?
In comparison, what did these high-sounding and dignified ministers in the court do? Spending the whole day fighting for power and profit, living side by side, focusing on small profits and forgetting the great righteousness, at best, they are just a few words in the history books, that's all.
And under the leadership of Fang Jun, he will make a mark on the history of history...
Everyone was surprised by Liu Shi's words. They knew that the "Forging Bureau" was now very large, but they did not know that it was so large.
Who would usually pay attention to such "wonderful skills" and "despicable" things?
Even though the "Forging Bureau" is responsible for the research, development and manufacture of various firearms, it is the work of craftsmen after all. How can the big bosses in the court have the energy to care about this?
Liu Ji frowned: "Such a huge scale consumes countless manpower and material resources. At present, all industries in the empire are waiting for prosperity, and countless people are still hungry. Even many state government management salaries are unsustainable. Should they be reduced?" ? At 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 "Forging Bureau" is the core of the Ministry of War, where all resources are focused. Not to mention interfering, not everyone can get in to find out what's going on.
Having such a hugely influential workshop in Fang Jun's hands would give Fang Jun an extra boost. How could Liu Jie be willing to do so?
Liu Shiqi said: "Don't Zhongshu Ling know that the Foundry Bureau is responsible for its own profits and losses to this day? Whether it is the central government or the treasury, there has never been any investment in the Foundry Bureau from the beginning to the end, so how can it be reduced? Say?”
Liu Jie lowered his face: "Isn't the 'Foundry Bureau' the government office of the Tang Dynasty? Nowadays, all the industries in the empire are waiting for prosperity, and it is one step away from the real prosperous age. How can you and other officials only care about your own one-third of an acre of land, but ignore it?" National plan? ”
Liu Shi shook his head repeatedly: "The so-called holding one's position and planning one's government, the lower official is just a doctor in the Ministry of War, and his responsibilities are only in the 'Foundry Bureau'. The national plan is the business of you prime ministers, how can we, a small official, do it?" Participate in it? Zhongshu Ling is too fond of Xiaguan, and he must not be a subordinate."
Neither humble nor arrogant, and outspoken, Fang Jun pushed Liu Jie back without any need for action.
However, in this situation, how could Fang Jun let his subordinates charge forward while he stayed behind?
He smiled and said to Liu Jie: "Liu Langzhong has an upright temperament. If there is anything offensive in his words, Zhongshu Ling should not be offended... But Liu Langzhong's saying of 'in his position, he plans his politics' is very good. You are According to Zhongshu Ling, the responsibilities that should be shouldered by you should be borne by yourself and cannot be passed on to others. If you think you can't afford it, it doesn't matter, just ask His Majesty to become an official."
After a pause, he looked at Liu Jie with a smile: "The official position of Zhongshu Ling is your Majesty's support. If anyone feels that he can't do it well, just go down, and someone who can do it will naturally do it."
You actually tried to stretch your hand towards me. Do you really think I dare not chop it off for you?
Liu Shi felt extremely happy, this is the Shangguan! When his subordinates were targeted and wronged, Shangguan stepped forward without hesitation. Even when facing Zhongshu Ling, he spoke fiercely and aggressively.
How could you not love such a superior official?
Li Chengqian waved his hand to stop Liu Ji who wanted to say more, and said warmly: "The 'Minting Bureau' is a matter of the Ministry of War, and it has always been the responsibility of the Duke of Yue. Outsiders do not need to participate... How to issue this kind of banknotes?"
Fang Jundao: "You can send people to escort directly to Henan, Hedong, Shandong, Jiangnan and other places. As long as the land measurement in each place is completed, you can sign a contract with the local aristocratic family members, and use banknotes instead of money to lend money, and then the aristocratic family members will pay with banknotes." The amount of land that needs to be redeemed is then taken back to Chang'an and paid into the treasury. ”
Back and forth, out and in, the center never took out a penny, only printed a few banknotes, and earned tens of millions in loans from famous families.
What you borrow is not paper money. When you repay it in the future, it must be real gold and brass...
This operation is naturally praised by everyone.
Tang Jian then recommended himself: "Quinzi Jiahui, now he is a doctor in the Ministry of Finance. He is usually quite smart and is qualified for this matter."
Everyone was speechless for a moment.
The "Ministry of Finance" is one of the agencies under the Ministry of Civil Affairs. It is mainly responsible for auditing the cashier's accounts of money and silk in the country's treasury, as well as coin casting...
In fact, printing "banknotes" should have been the authority of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the "Ministry of Finance" controlled by Tang Jian's son Tang Jiahui was even more responsible. As a result, Fang Junlai acted like this, and the "infringement" effect was extremely serious.
But Tang Jian was very human after all. Not only did he not get angry or complain, he even asked his son to run errands for Fang Jun...
Under such circumstances, no one could explain why Tang Jian would let his son serve under him.
Li Chengqian nodded: "Then let Tang Jiahui handle it. If you are successful in this matter, you can go to the East Palace and serve as the 'Donggong Qianniu' after you come back. After all, he is a military commander, how can he mess around with the Ministry of Civil Affairs all day long? After all, back then, He has also protected me, and his hard work has made him more meritorious.”
Regarding Tang Jiahui, he had complicated feelings.
In the early years of Zhenguan, Tang Jiahui's official position was "Qianniu of the East Palace", and the prince of the East Palace was Li Chengqian. Logically speaking, Tang Jiahui should be Li Chengqian's confidant and fully trusted. In fact, this is not the case. Tang Jiahui's first wife, Yuanshi, died very early, and his successor Xian's wife was Yan Lide's second daughter. Yan Lide's eldest daughter married Wei Wang Li Tai, and Tang Jiahui and Wei Wang Li Tai were brothers-in-law...
Therefore, Li Chengqian did not trust Tang Jiahui, but he tolerated it because his father Tang Jian was a veteran of two dynasties and had contributed to the founding of the country.
It's just that Tang Jiahui has never been disrespectful. Later, he asked for external transfer and never participated in those rebellious things. Today, the throne is stable, and there is no need to worry about the past thoughts.
Tang Jian left the table, bowed his hands to the ground, and said gratefully: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
He had many sons, most of whom were able to start their own families. However, Tang Jiahui was jealous of Li Chengqian because he was the "Thousand Bulls of the East Palace" but became brother-in-law with the King of Wei. He never had the chance to go further, so he had to arrange himself in the Ministry of Civil Affairs for fear of leaving him. His eyes were beguiled by others to do something stupid and bring harm to the family.
The real purpose of taking this opportunity to recommend Tang Jiahui is to test His Majesty’s attitude. I am naturally overjoyed to see that there is no barrier between His Majesty and His Majesty...
*****
Returning to the Zhongshu Provincial Office, Liu Ji sat alone in the check-in room. The more he thought about it, the more depressed he became. Today, the "Foundry Bureau" has unknowingly become a behemoth with great influence, and all its funding sources are Coming from "self-financing", this "responsible for profits and losses" operation method makes it completely free from central control and self-contained, and outsiders cannot get involved at all.
More importantly, will anyone follow suit?
Liu Ji couldn't sit still anymore, so he got up and left the official office, and went straight to Wude Hall. After asking for an audience, he was taken to the imperial study by the chamberlain.
Li Chengqian changed his clothes, washed his hands and face, and met him in the imperial study room.
He raised his hand for Liu Ji to drink tea and said with a smile: "Just after we parted, Zhongshu Ling was eager to see him, but did he miss something just now?"
Liu Jie didn't drink tea either. He went straight to the point and stated the many shortcomings of the "Casting Bureau" one by one. At the end, he said worriedly: "If it is just a 'Casting Bureau', that's it. After all, the Duke of Yue State has the ability to use tools to set cauldrons and follow the dragon." If His Majesty orders him to abolish the 'Foundry Bureau' due to his ability to protect him, it is inevitable that there will be few The suspicion of favor cannot last long. If the subordinates of each of the six departments and nine temples create this "bureau" and that "department" and engage in corruption and dereliction of duty in the name of "taking responsibility for their own profits and losses", if things go on like this, the central government will be placed at the center. Where? Where would you put your Majesty?"
This is a bit heartbreaking. Why can Fang Jun set up a "Forging Bureau" within the Ministry of War and "take responsibility for its own profits and losses"? Isn't it just because he is self-proclaimed and ignores the laws of the court, not just once or twice. But if this continues, everyone in the "Forging Bureau" will only know Fang Jun. Who will remember that there is a center and His Majesty?