96. Industry
Inside the Imperial Examination Hall.
Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, both wearing dark blue official robes and holding their leather belts, walked side by side on the small path between the rows of examination rooms.
In the examination room, scholars were writing furiously, and behind them were a group of officials following silently.
As they left the examination room, Zhang Zhuo glanced at Chen Liqin beside him, dismissed the officials behind him, and chuckled, "Master Chen is a good father indeed. He made a special trip to the Imperial College on the day of the Autumn Examination to support your two sons. Could it be that he's afraid they'll fail? If the censors learn of this, they'll definitely report you for not avoiding suspicion."
Chen Liqin looked a little uneasy: "Your Excellency has misunderstood. I am just worried about the chaos in the Autumn Examination."
Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily. He patted Chen Liqin on the shoulder and said in a low voice, "Don't worry. The curtain officials this time were all personally selected by Old Master Xu. They are all his students and old friends. They are a sure thing."
Chen Liqin slowly smiled. As the Tongzhi of Luocheng, he had no control over the review of papers by the inner curtain officials, but only over the outer curtain officials.
The power to select inner-curtain officials has always been in the hands of Xu Gong, the chief minister of the cabinet. Zhang Zhuo is Xu Gong's nephew-in-law, and now all foreign affairs are handled by him.
Now that Zhang Zhuo had made the promise, Chen Liqin could rest assured.
After thinking for a moment, Chen Liqin hesitated and said, "I have a son at home."
Zhang Zhuo smiled and said, "Is it the one who beat Prince Jing in chess?"
"That's right," Chen Liqin said frankly, "He made some mistakes before, and seeing that he refused to change despite repeated admonitions, I sent him to the Taiping Medical Clinic as an apprentice."
Zhang Zhuo was surprised. "Oh? I think that kid has good character and is calm and reserved. What could he possibly do wrong?"
Chen Liqin hesitated for a moment. "A few years ago, he was led by his cronies to the gambling den in Hongyi Lane, and within a year, he had accumulated hundreds of taels of silver."
Zhang Zhuo laughed. "I thought it was nothing. Everyone makes mistakes when they're young. Why would I send him off to be an apprentice? Look at my dozen sons. How many of them are worry-free?"
Chen Liqin sighed, "I never thought he would be able to reform himself in the past two years. I sent people to ask his neighbors, and everyone praised him for his knowledge, good manners, and hard work."
He looked at Zhang Zhuo and said, "Sir, I plan to bring him back to the palace and send him to Donglin Academy in the spring of next year. I will need your help to make arrangements then."
It was said to be a way of smoothing things over, but in reality he was asking Zhang Zhuo for another promise.
It is extremely difficult for ordinary people to pass the imperial examination, but for Zhang Zhuo and Xu Gong, this is a very simple task.
Zhang Zhuo stroked his sparse beard. "A while ago, one of Mr. Xu's cabinet proposals was rejected by the Ministry of Revenue. It wasn't a big deal; Mr. Xu simply wanted to build a few roads in his hometown. I wonder if your father would be willing to be flexible on this matter?"
Chen Liqin frowned for a long time: "I will write to my father and mention this to him."
Zhang Zhuo smiled and patted Chen Liqin on the shoulder: "Master Chen is a good father. He really cares about his children."
Chen Liqin sighed, "It's a shame that children can't understand their parents' painstaking efforts. He's not afraid of being laughed at by the adults, but my son still refuses to come back home with me and won't even call me dad."
"It's okay, it's okay," Zhang Zhuo tried to console him. "He's just angry with you now. Would he really abandon the Chen family? How much money can a doctor earn in a year? Once he's had enough of the hardships of life and understands the loneliness of a hero, he'll go home in disgrace."
Zhang Zhuo laughed and said, "A while ago, my third son said he wanted to go out into the world as a knight-errant and learn to be a hero. As soon as he left, I sent someone to steal his purse on the street. The boy left at noon and returned home at noon, just in time for lunch. If it were you, you should just cut off your son's tuition and he would come home on his own."
"That's a good idea..."
At this moment, Zhang Zhuo's eyes flashed: "By the way, does your son Chen Wenzong have anyone looking for a matchmaker? I have a daughter as beautiful as a flower, who is waiting to be married..."
"Sir!" An official came forward to report.
Zhang Zhuo said unhappily, "What's the matter? Can't you see I'm discussing important matters with Lord Chen?"
The official said in embarrassment: "Sir, the prince has sent someone to summon you to Liujiatun. He said that he has found a solution for you to deal with the refugees. Your achievements in government are saved."
"What?" Zhang Zhuo's eyes sparkled. "Are you serious?"
"Really?" the official turned to look at Chen Liqin. "It just so happens that Lord Chen is here too. Prince Jing has summoned you to the Liujiatun Kiln Factory."
"Call me
What is it?
"The prince said that your riverbank can also be saved."
Chen Liqin was stunned. Liujiatun Kiln Factory, wasn't that the place where he had gone to look for traces of the past? How could there be a way to save the riverbank there?
…
…
Inside the kiln factory, everyone was still celebrating.
"Chen Ji, we've done it!"
"When Chen Ji said we'd be remembered in history, I didn't believe him! But from now on, our cement will be used to build riverbanks, and so will the city walls of various prefectures and cities. History books won't be able to forget about us!"
The Crown Prince asked excitedly, "Will the history books really say this: In the autumn of the 31st year of Jianing, Chen Ji, She Dengke, Liu Quxing, Liang Maoer, Luo Zhui Sakya, Zhu Baili, and Zhu Yunxi made cement, leaving a legacy that will last forever?"
Bai Li smiled and said, "Once the work at the kiln is done, I'll invite everyone to Yingxian Tower for a banquet. You can eat whatever you want and get drunk!"
The prince looked at Bai Li in confusion and asked, "Didn't father take away all your monthly salary?"
Bai Li said confidently: "I still have some hidden!"
Amidst laughter.
Liang Gou'er, who was lazily lying on a straw mat nearby, secretly looked at the group of cheering young men through the gap between his nose and his straw hat.
One of the happiest things when you are young is doing something with friends.
If there is anything happier than this, it is to get this thing done.
He saw the smile on Liang Maoer's face, and unconsciously, the corners of his mouth also curled up slightly, as if his youth was passing through him again.
But as he watched, the light in Liang Gou'er's eyes dimmed again. He pulled the brim of his hat and completely covered his face under the straw hat.
"Chen Ji."
At this moment, Prince Jing spoke, and everyone's laughter stopped abruptly like an imperial decree.
The prince and Liang Mao slowly placed Chen Ji on the ground. Chen Ji straightened his messed-up clothes and said calmly, "Your Highness, please speak."
Prince Jing was holding a knocked-off brick in his hand, his fingers rubbing the cement stuck to it. "Let's discuss this business. Seeing that you are close friends with Yunxi and Baili, I won't take advantage of you. I will sell you the cement formula for five thousand taels of silver."
Chen Ji fell into deep thought.
Seeing that he didn't answer, Prince Jing said seriously, "The Lianghuai Salt Administration's annual tax revenue is only 950,000 taels of silver, and the imperial court's annual tax revenue is only 550,000 taels of silver. 5,000 taels of silver is enough for an ordinary person to live a life of wealth and glory. Don't miss out on this overwhelming wealth."
She Dengke slowly looked at Chen Ji, his voice trembling: "Chen Ji, five thousand taels of silver!"
Liu Quxing was also eager to make a move: What does five thousand taels mean? An ordinary official's annual expenses, including entertaining guests and managing social relationships, would only be a hundred taels of silver!
Not to mention the two apprentices were tempted, even Bai Li felt that his father was quite generous this time.
However, Chen Ji laughed and said, "The prince is setting a trap for me."
Prince Jing raised his eyebrows: "How do you mean?"
Chen Ji calculated carefully: "Your Highness said the court's annual revenue is 550,000 taels of silver, but he didn't mention that the court's tax revenue is mainly in kind, grain, which is probably tens of millions of taels of silver. Your Highness said the Lianghuai Salt Administration's annual tax revenue is only 950,000 taels, but he didn't mention the embarrassing situation of Lianghuai Salt Administration's long-standing problems and inability to collect taxes."
Prince Jing's smile gradually faded.
Chen Ji continued, "Your Highness didn't even mention that in Ning Dynasty, there's a civil servant family like the Liu family that controls a state. Seventy percent of the state's finances go to the Liu family, and the remaining thirty percent goes to the court. Your Highness is using the court's finances to circumvent the issue. I can hear the calculations in your mind from five thousand miles away."
He looked at Prince Jing and said sincerely, "Your Highness and I are well aware of the value of this cement. Why don't we be frank and honest?"
Prince Jing stared at Chen Ji, as if he wanted to see through the soul of the young man in front of him, but Chen Ji did not dodge or avoid, just waiting for his answer.
Prince Jing suddenly laughed and turned to look at Wang Kezhi: "Have you memorized the recipe?"
Wang Kezhi said honestly: "Remember, Doctor Chen is not avoiding us on purpose."
Prince Jing nodded and said, "Very good. We can modify the kiln and make the cement ourselves. We don't need to bother Doctor Chen anymore."
Bai Li glared: "Dad?!"
Prince Jing put his hands behind his back and said with a cheerful smile: "Don't interfere, Baili. Cement involves national policy, how can you
"It's in the hands of a few young men? The imperial treasury is in dire straits right now, and offering five thousand taels of silver is my greatest sincerity. If you're willing to accept it, that's great. If you're not willing, then there's nothing I can do."
The powerful prince failed to plot against a small apprentice and ended up acting like a rogue.
Chen Ji said sincerely, "Your Highness, this matter is too big. I have to go back to the Chen family and ask. If Master Chen Liqin can't make up his mind, then I can have him write to the head of the Chen family and ask them how much they think I should sell it to you for, or whether they are interested in this business at all."
Prince Jing's smile faded again: "Don't you want to go back to the Chen family?"
Chen Ji's eyes were sincere: "I can go back."
Prince Jing was silent as he carefully considered the pros and cons. After a moment, he looked at Chen Ji and asked, "What did you say last time?"
Chen Ji: "I need to go back to the Chen family and ask?"
"One more sentence."
Chen Ji: "Why don't we be frank and speak frankly?"
"good."
Chen Ji: “…”
Prince Jing paced around the kiln factory with his head lowered for a few steps. When he looked up again, he frankly stated the pros and cons: "Chen Ji, you are very smart, so you must know that this business cannot be successful in your hands. You may even lose your life for it."
Bai Li frowned: "Dad, don't scare me..."
Chen Ji raised his hand to stop Bai Li: "Your Highness is right, money can move people's hearts, and the road to profit has always been bloody and cruel."
Prince Jing nodded. "It's good that you haven't been blinded by profit. You should also understand that as a bastard, even if you bring cement back to the Chen family, this inheritance will not fall into your hands. Instead, it will be divided up between the first and second branches of your Chen family. Therefore, your best choice is actually the Prince Jing Mansion. At least our Prince Jing Mansion is fairer than theirs."
Chen Ji agreed: "I understand."
Prince Jing looked at Chen Ji and was about to say something else when he saw a carriage slowly stop in front of the kiln factory.
Everyone looked and saw Old Man Yao being supported by the driver and slowly getting out of the car.
Old Man Yao slowly walked in front of the crowd, scanning their faces before asking, "What are you discussing? Why are you so serious?"
Liu Quxing hurriedly said, "Master, the prince wants to buy the formula for Chenji's cement!"
Old Man Yao said, "How much did the prince charge?"
Liu Quxing replied, "Five thousand taels, but Chen Ji disagrees and they are arguing over it right now."
Old Man Yao uttered another "oh" and took out six copper coins from his sleeve and threw them on the ground. He then turned to look at Prince Jing and said, "Five thousand taels per year."
"How many?!"
Liang Gou'er sat up suddenly and his straw hat fell to the ground.
Bai Li was stunned. The price of cement had actually increased from five thousand taels of silver to five thousand taels per year?
Old Man Yao looked at Prince Jing and said slowly, "Your Highness will not suffer any loss if you buy this."
After that, he looked at Chen Ji again and said, "That's all. You can't hold on to more money."
Everyone looked at Prince Jing silently, fearing that this loud mouth of theirs would anger this powerful vassal king.
But Prince Jing suddenly smiled and said, "Deal."
Chen Ji was stunned.
Deal made?
Is this a deal?
Chen Ji suddenly looked at his master. He didn't know what kind of relationship his skinny master had with Prince Jing that he could convince the other party to reduce the price from five thousand taels to five thousand taels per year with just one word.
This kind of relationship cannot be explained in just a few words.
"Master," Chen Ji asked, "Did you come all the way here to help me?"
Old Man Yao glanced at him and said, "Why are you so shameless? I just came to see what you are up to."
Chen Ji: “…Oh.”
At this moment, Liu Quxing looked at She Dengke in disbelief: "Isn't this a dream? Five thousand taels a year?"
She Dengke punched Liu Quxing in the chest, causing him to cough several times. "Does it hurt?"
"You fucking bastard!"
Liu Quxing was about to pounce on She Dengke when Prince Jing raised his hand to stop him. "Don't be impatient. Wait until I finish. Five thousand taels a year is not without conditions. In addition to the cement formula, I want the technique of carburizing steel."
Chen Ji smiled and said, "Okay."
He is not greedy, he just wants to find a safe and stable job and a way to support the tiger.
(End of this chapter)
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