Chapter 125 Big Trouble
"Isn't this a win-win situation for everyone?" Old Zhu was very proud of getting the cement formula.
Even when dealing with his own son, he used this overwhelming momentum and the feeling of winning without fighting, which made him suddenly realize the feeling of defeating Chen Youliang.
Zhu Chong pursed his lips and followed Old Zhu outside, where Old Zhu waved his hand and asked Qin Kui to come over to listen to his orders.
The content of the decree was nothing more than asking the Ministry of Works to start producing cement immediately. Then Zhu Yuanzhang walked away with a loud laugh, leaving behind the civil and military officials kneeling on the ground.
After seeing Zhu Yuanzhang leave, the ministers naturally dispersed in groups of three or four. Only Prime Minister Hu Weiyong got on the same carriage with the Imperial Censor Chen Ning after leaving the Treasury Department.
As the prime minister of the Ming Dynasty, Hu Weiyong's carriage looked ordinary from the outside, but there was something else inside.
Even Zhu Yuanzhang's imperial carriage was far inferior to his. Hu Weiyong and Chen Ning sat opposite each other inside, with a tea table in the middle, and it didn't seem crowded at all.
Old Hu pondered for a moment, glanced at Chen Ning, and asked, "This King of Qin seems to be very active lately, just like today. What do you think of this, Lord Chen?"
Chen Ning knew that Hu Weiyong would invite him into the car to discuss this. He frowned and sighed, "Prime Minister, let's not get involved in the affairs of the Zhu family. You saw what happened today. Both father and son are evildoers!"
Hu Weiyong frowned upon hearing this. "Master Chen, you are wrong. The King of Qin is one of our officials. You and I have important responsibilities. How can we sit back and watch the chaos in the court?"
"Just like what happened today, the Emperor and the King of Qin sang the same tune, and a matter worth millions of guan was settled as if it were child's play. If such a major event in the court is handled like this, what use is there for you and me?"
Chen Ning looked up at Hu Weiyong and shook his head slightly. "Prime Minister, I always feel that this matter today is mysterious. Who is doing things now is becoming more and more incomprehensible. He is acting purely based on his own preferences. Let's not rashly offend others."
"In today's matter, whether it's based on reason or anything else, we're not in the dominant position. Even if we bring this up in court, we're not sure we'll get any good results!"
"Master Chen seems to have been frightened by that young brat." Hu Weiyong laughed. "There are many ways to deal with a fool like the King of Qin. Today, I underestimated him and caused Master Chen to suffer!"
Chen Ning nodded in agreement, but did not agree. He just picked up the teacup in front of him and sipped it.
Seeing Chen Ning's expression, Hu Weiyong also picked up the teacup in front of him, but when he tilted his head back to drink the tea in the cup, the look in his eyes when he looked at Chen Ning was full of disdain.
On the other side, in the Baochao Tizhusi, after sending away all the high-ranking officials from the court, the craftsmen stood up from the ground one by one as if in a dream, but most of them were still kneeling on the ground stupidly with silly smiles on their faces.
"Oh my god! I can actually see the emperor, the prime minister, and the Duke of Wei today. This old man's life is worth it!"
"Yes, yes, the emperor just looked at us and praised us."
"I heard it too. The emperor said our cement is good and asked us to work hard!"
"It's all thanks to the Lord Tijuan, otherwise, how could we have the chance to see the Emperor in this lifetime?"
"Yes, yes, yes, all thanks to Lord Tiju. Long live Lord Tiju..."
…
Some people reacted and started shouting, and the entire Baochao Tizhusi was filled with cheers.
When Zhu Chong heard them shouting "Long live him" again, his face turned pale instantly and he quickly stopped them with a stern face.
Just because he shouted "Long live the emperor" I lost 200,000 strings of cash. If I shout it again now, I don't know how much trouble I will get into next!
In Zhu Chong's opinion, he neither gained nor lost today, so there was no point in being happy. He even felt bored with the rest of the work and planned to slip away. However, just as he was about to leave, he was stopped by someone.
"Your Highness Prince Qin, we meet again." Qin Kui stood in front of Zhu Chong with a smiling face.
"It's Minister Qin. Why did you come here in person?" Zhu Chong certainly knew the reason why Qin Kui came to see him, so he quickly invited him in.
"Your Highness Prince Qin, I am here on a mission ordered by the emperor. What do you think about the cement issue..." Qin Kui did not dare to act arrogantly in front of Zhu Chong, and asked Zhu Chong's opinion in a negotiating tone.
"Which one is easier? All the craftsmen here know how to make cement. I'll ask them to come over. You can pick a few and take them back to teach your craftsmen over there for a few days, and then they will all be able to learn it." Zhu Chong did not make it difficult for Qin Kui at all.
Qin Kui had just watched the whole process of how Zhu Chong argued with Chen Ning, and thought that he would also be embarrassed. Unexpectedly, Zhu Chong was so easy to talk to and let him choose anyone he wanted. A huge stone suddenly fell from his heart.
But when Qin Kui really started to choose people, Zhu Chong's face changed again.
Qin Kui was really not polite to him. If he hadn't said that Old Liu was the one in charge here, Qin Kui was going to transfer all the craftsmen who knew how to make cement.
However, Zhu Chong did not think it was a big deal. After Qin Kui and his men left happily, Old Liu came to Zhu Chong with a worried look on his face and said, "Sir, please have pity on my old bones. If this continues, I won't be able to hold on any longer!"
"What's wrong with you?" Zhu Chong looked at the bitter-faced Old Liu in surprise. "Did someone bully you or what? Tell me, I'll support you!"
"Sir, this is indeed a big trouble!" Old Liu rarely complained to Zhu Chong, but when he did, Zhu Chong suddenly felt overwhelmed.
"You know, the number of craftsmen in our Baochao Tizhusi is not large to begin with, and most of them are old, weak, sick and disabled."
"Although we only own 10% of the coal mine, it has also taken away nearly half of the craftsmen in our Ministry of Works."
"The main thing is that even with so many people going there now, we can only dig out less than 300 kilograms of carbon a day."
"What?" Zhu Chong looked bewildered. "So many people can't dig 300 kilograms of coal a day? Why? Is someone giving you guys a hard time? Tell me, who is so blind!"
"Sir, you misunderstood." Old Liu saw Zhu Chong's angry look and quickly explained, "Coal is easy to dig, but you know that the mine is on the mountain. No matter how many people we have, it will be useless if we can't carry it all!"
When Zhu Chong heard what Old Liu said, he suddenly understood and couldn't help feeling ashamed.
He had been a hands-off boss for a long time and was too lazy to take care of some minor matters. Unexpectedly, he had exhausted a group of craftsmen during this period.
The road to the coal mine is indeed not smooth at its current location, and it is estimated that because of the many mountain roads, the three hundred kilograms of coal a day would make the craftsmen almost vomit blood.
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