Chapter 504 When can I discuss matters myself?

"Hmph! A mangy dog ​​with long hair!" Changsun Wuji snorted coldly. These poor people have abandoned the integrity of scholars in order to curry favor with the powerful.

The voice was sudden and there was no attempt to conceal it. Everyone nearby heard it and turned to look.

They were all smart people and they immediately knew who was being scolded, and the happy atmosphere froze in an instant.

No one wants to be unlucky on New Year's Eve.

But if you are scolded by someone and don’t fight back, it would be too frustrating and shameless.

If you curse back, wouldn't that be taking it personally? They didn't mention anyone by name!

Anyway, Zhang Sun Wuji scolded you, so what? If you have the ability and the courage, scold him back!

"Uncle!" Li Tai was unhappy and the little bully got angry.

Lord Su stayed here on his own initiative. Now that he is making indirect accusations in public, isn't this just slapping himself in the face?

"Uncle, what do you mean?" Li Chengqian also looked displeased.

My uncle used to love me very much, but since I resigned from the position of Shangshu You Pushe, he has become increasingly cold to me.

It is said that when beating a dog, look at its owner. Knowing that Lord Xiao Su is someone they value, they humiliate him in person. Who are they beating in the face?

Minister Fang took a sip of sake slowly, looking very excited.

Being suppressed by the Queen, Changsun Wuji felt resentful, and now he was just picking on the weak to vent his anger.

Su Ying stood up calmly, walked up to Changsun Wuji and bowed deeply.

"Master Changsun, could you please give me a copy of this secret recipe? The other day I went to the countryside and saw many sick bald dogs along the way.

"I need to get it treated quickly, lest I get stung by a wasp in the spring and contract rabies. It'll be troublesome if it bites someone again! After all, there's no cure for rabies!"

"Puchi!" Li Tai laughed arrogantly. He liked this energy. Lord Su was deeply in his heart.

Li Chengqian didn't smile, but the corners of his mouth turned up and the smile in his eyes was not hidden at all.

"You!" Changsun Wuji glared angrily.

As a prominent relative of the emperor and the emperor's right-hand man, he is not suspected or alienated by the emperor, but is suppressed by his sister. It is so frustrating to be the emperor's uncle!

Now, a mere seventh-rank official dared to jump out and challenge him without any scruples.

"What's the matter? Lord Changsun, what's wrong with what I said?" Su Ying looked puzzled.

Then he remembered something, "Oh, by the way, how much is it? I will definitely pay it to you. I only ask for a good prescription to save the bald dog in the countryside."

"Master Xiao Su, when did I ever say I had a secret recipe?" Changsun Wuji said arrogantly and disdainfully.

"Oh? Really? I heard you say that mangy dogs with long hair and lichen scars are really difficult to cure, so I thought you had a secret recipe! I came to ask for it!" Su Ying was neither soft nor hard.

"No! How could I have such a filthy thing!" Changsun Wuji found that this female official was not easy to bully and had a sharp tongue.

Seeing the emperor and empress looking over here, Xu Zhi signaled to go down the stairs and come over to inquire without any explanation.

After listening to a few words, he asked the palace servants serving nearby, then went back and whispered to the emperor.

"Puchi!" The emperor laughed, "This little Lord Su is so mean! He really won't take any loss!"

The queen also heard Xu Zhi's words, but she didn't laugh. She frowned slightly. Her brother was taking his anger out on her!

"Today's palace banquet ends here. You all should go back home as soon as possible to celebrate the New Year together!" The emperor said at the right time.

"Your Majesty, the Queen, are respectfully seen off!" All the ministers stood up.

"Mr. Fang, Mr. Su, Gao Ming, and Qing Que, let's discuss matters in Liangyi Hall!" The emperor said this and left first, taking the queen's hand.

The ministers had different thoughts. A trace of unwillingness flashed in Changsun Wuji's eyes, and then he lowered his eyes.

"Let's go, Master Su!" Li Tai called Su Ying happily.

"Prime Minister Fang, Lord Su, please come in!" Li Chengqian was respectful and courteous.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please come in, Your Highness the Fourth Prince, please come in, Prime Minister Fang, please come in!" Su Ying was of the lowest rank and strictly observed etiquette.

Several people followed the eunuch to Liangyi Hall.

"Third brother, you said that the emperor didn't even celebrate New Year's Eve, so why did he summon Lord Su and fourth brother to discuss something?" The fifth prince Li You said with a sour tone.

"How should I know?" Li Ke looked at the backs of the people leaving with envy. When would he be able to discuss matters himself?

In the Liangyi Hall, the emperor had changed into his regular clothes, and the queen returned to the Lizheng Hall to rest.

"Su Qing, please continue and tell us how to make military rations using milk powder, sugar and soybean powder!" The emperor took a sip of hot tea.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Su Ying said.

"Milk powder, sugar, soybean flour, mung bean flour, glutinous rice flour, salt, honey, and cooking oil are mixed in proportion.

Compressed into a block two fingers wide and two taels in weight, this block can provide an adult with one day's energy.

It is durable and easy to transport, saving time on making fire and cooking, and preventing smoke and fire from exposing our whereabouts and our troops during the march."

Fang Xiang didn't know what milk powder was, but sugar, salt, honey, cooking oil, and glutinous rice flour were not things that ordinary people could afford.

Immediately, his brows furrowed slightly. This expenditure! Wouldn't it empty the national treasury?

"Master Xiao Su, what is milk powder?" asked Prime Minister Fang.

"Extracting it from cow's milk and goat's milk is the same as extracting white sugar from sugarcane juice." Su Ying replied.

"Is this possible?" Prime Minister Fang was surprised and doubtful. Although he was good at major policies, he really didn't understand these production technologies.

"If sugar can be extracted from sugarcane, why can't milk powder be extracted from cow's milk and goat's milk?" Su Ying said with certainty.

"Your idea is good, but Master Su probably doesn't know that the things consumed by these military rations are beyond the reach of even ordinary wealthy families.

"How can we supply such a large army? This alone would cost the national treasury a considerable sum, as much as the cost of the equipment!" Prime Minister Fang asked.

Military rations generally consist of corn, soybeans, fodder, oil and salt.

Things are not expensive, but the difficulty of transportation and the consumption of food and fodder for transportation personnel, cattle, horses, mules and donkeys are expensive.

Of the ten carts of food and fodder, at least half was consumed on the way. The long journey and the heavy rain and floods blocking the road made the consumption even greater.

This new type of military rations is convenient to transport, but the cost of raw materials is ridiculously high!

When considering the overall cost, it is not as good as ordinary food and fodder.

When Prime Minister Fang mentioned this, the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the Fourth Prince all looked at Su Ying to see how she would solve this problem.

"Minister Fang is absolutely right!" Su Ying looked calm.

“Today’s productivity is low, food production is low, and military rations like this are indeed expensive!

It can be produced in small batches and used only in emergency military operations such as raids and strikes!

After all, our eating habits are hot soup and hot rice, so just treat it as dry food!

If we are willing to use them, and add enough horses, I believe the Tang army can quickly conquer the Western Regions, even the Arabs, and even further west!"

Relying on cavalry and milk powder, the Mongolian army marched westward and reached the middle reaches of the Danube River.

Men can't stand the sound of war. The emperor's face was filled with uncontrollable excitement. "Su Qing, put aside the production costs for now and extract the sugar and milk powder as soon as possible."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Su Ying bowed.

"I also have to take care of firearms research, so I'm too busy to handle this matter. The Fourth Prince should be given priority!"

"Yes, yes!" His Majesty nodded. "Qingque, are you sure?"

"Father, I can do it, but Master Su can't just leave it all behind. He has to take care of this side as well." Li Tai happily accepted it.

"I will tell you everything I know!" Su Ying promised solemnly.

His eyes casually swept over Li Chengqian, and he gently made the number three with his fingers.

Li Chengqian understood immediately and suggested, "Father, my third brother has many ideas and suggestions. Why not join in?"