Everyone agreed that the Mohists' improvement of the Northern Plow would not be a burden for His Majesty the King of the Northern Territory.
In fact, letting Huo Guang know about this would be an exaggeration. This kind of thing should be handled by the Minister of Agriculture Lin Xiu, but everyone knows Lin Xiu. He can make decisions on small matters, but once it comes to big things, he lacks a bit of courage. Maybe he will have to trouble the Prime Minister at that time.
It would be better to let the Prime Minister know from the beginning.
At this time, Huo Guang's focus had actually shifted from people's livelihood to war.
Everyone knew that the war was still a long way off, but Wu Shilu suddenly disappeared. Huo Guang felt that with Lu Xuan's cunning military tactics, he might send troops soon. Once they established an advantage, it would be the Northern Border's turn.
To be honest, if Huo Guang were to say it, he would rather start fighting now.
After all, the weather is not too cold yet, so there is no need to buy warm equipment, and at least a lot of money can be saved.
But this is not his decision. All he can do is to prepare everything as soon as possible.
So when Gongshu Yi came to ask for a meeting and explained that Mo's disciples had improved the northern plow, Huo Guang was stunned.
He asked in surprise, "What? They came here and locked themselves in the inn for so many days just to do something like this?"
Gongshu Yi smiled wryly and said, "They certainly have their reasons for doing this, but... they're doing a really good job. If the new Northern Plow is promoted, more people will be able to use it. That's why my father asked me to ask the Prime Minister for his opinion."
Huo Guang understood the twists and turns here almost instantly. There was no way, it was too easy to guess. The struggle between the Mohists and the Gongshuists had been going on for a long time. It would be strange if the two schools did not fight each other.
Huo Guang asked, "Does it really work?"
Gongshu Yi said, "I don't know the details. I haven't tried what they made yet, but it should be pretty good."
Huo Guang smiled and said, "If that's true, then that's great. Your Highness has already set up rewards for these...inventions. According to the regulations, this is enough for them to become officials. If they are interested, then let the Winter Official take charge."
Gongshu Yi's eyes widened: "Prime Minister."
Huo Guang said, "When His Highness promoted your father to the position of Winter Official, it was natural that he wanted your father to be in charge of these matters. Is there any problem with putting them under the Winter Official's jurisdiction?"
Gongshu Yi quickly waved his hand and said, "No problem, no problem."
He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Then...His Highness..."
Huo Guang smiled faintly: "Your Highness is naturally aware of the situation, you don't have to worry."
Liu Tan is truly magnanimous when he is generous, but he is also truly vengeful when he holds a grudge. Anyway, it does not affect the overall situation. Liu Tan's original intention was probably to let these Mohist disciples be tempered first, and then discuss how to use them.
Of course, if these Mohist disciples couldn't bear it and ran away, it wouldn't be a big loss.
But... Huo Guang felt that it would be better to keep these people.
After thinking about it, Huo Guang went to the palace.
He mainly reported on the recent preparations and the official start of conscription.
When Liu Tan heard the conscription had begun, he said, "Send Li Ling and Wei Deng over there later to select some reserve troops from the elite regiment. Don't wait until the elite regiment leaves before selecting them. Otherwise, there will be a gap between the old and the new."
Huo Guang had no objection. The selection criteria for the elite regiment were very strict. Even if Liu Tan intended to gradually eliminate other soldiers from the elite regiment and thus relax the conditions, it was still stricter than conscription in other places. It would be a pity to send the selected soldiers to the battlefield to die before they had even received any training.
As for the others... we are all human beings. The Northern Border Kingdom will do its utmost to reduce casualties, but there can be no casualties in a war. The Cheshi Kingdom is very important, and it is reasonable to take it down, so this is the only way.
After Huo Guang finished his report, he asked, "Would you like to meet one of Mo's disciples?"
Liu Tan was a little puzzled. "Why would I want to meet them? If the head of the Mo family came in person, perhaps it would be worthwhile for me to meet him. Of course, that would also depend on his attitude. These few people... are not qualified."
With Liu Tan's status, even the head of the Mohist School might not be able to meet Liu Tan. This means that Liu Tan attaches great importance to mechanical engineering, otherwise he would not meet anyone from the Mohist School.
Huo Guang raised an eyebrow and said, "Your Highness even met Gongshu Yi back then. Gongshu Can was also received when he arrived in the Northern Border Kingdom. Aren't you afraid that the Mohists will think you are partial?"
Liu Tan said, "What they think is their business. Back then was back then, and now is now. I already have Gongshujia, and my desire for mechanical engineering isn't as high. Of course, it's not the same now. And most importantly, Gongshujia was very humble back then, while the Mohists have always been very arrogant. Even if they wanted to meet me or seek official positions in the Northern Border Kingdom, the first thing they thought of was improving farm tools, hoping to show Gongshujia their power."
Huo Guang said, "Isn't this a good idea? It's not a good thing for the Gongshu family to dominate alone."
Liu Tan nodded. "That's true, but if the Mohist School wants to take root in the Northern Border Kingdom, they must first learn to humble themselves. Don't worry, the Mohist School has been able to survive for so many years, and they are much more flexible than the Gongshu School. If they don't stay, it's fine. But if they do, who knows what will happen in the future."
After he said this, he couldn't help but ask, "Is the new Northern Plow useful?"
As Huo Guang handed him the blueprint, he said, "I don't know whether it is useful or not, but I know it saves a lot of money."
Liu Tan took the drawing curiously and took a look at it. He found that the Mohists had almost eliminated all the mechanisms set up by Gongshujia. The only thing that was retained was probably the traction mechanism, which was actually very simple.
As for the part involving the lifting and turning of the plow body, all the mechanisms were directly eliminated and replaced with a simpler method - two operating levers were installed on the upper part of the plow body. One operating lever can be directly lifted up to get stuck in a hook. This operating lever controls the lifting and lowering of the plow body.
The other operating lever is not controlled by it, but by an iron chain inside. The iron chain is directly connected to the plow body. A hole was punched in the upper part of the plow body by Mo Shi, and the iron chain is stuck in the hole, forming a "Y" shape on each plow body.
When you want to turn the plow, run to one side and pull the iron chain, and when you want to turn next time, run to the other side and pull it.
This problem was solved by an operating rod and an iron chain, but Gongshujia had to set up a very complicated mechanism to achieve this goal.
Liu Tan looked at the blueprint and sighed deeply, saying, "The Mohists are truly experienced in this area."
He didn't know how much a Northern Plow cost, but even so, he could see that it was much easier to make.
After the reduction, the materials used will be reduced, the labor used will also be reduced, and the corresponding costs will definitely drop a lot.
Huo Guang also nodded and said, "Indeed, Gongshujia seems to have made things a bit too complicated."
"As for mechanical engineering, it progresses little by little. Moreover, the Mohists have done more than the Gongshuists, so naturally they have developed more convenient methods."
Liu Tan thought for a moment and said, "They have made great contributions. How about this? In addition to the rewards stipulated above, we will give them three gold cakes as a commendation."
Huo Guang smiled slightly. The gold cake was actually something engraved with the mark of the King of the Northern Territory, and was used to reward those who were not worthy of the horseshoe gold and unicorn gold.
The reward of this kind of gold cake represents the consent of the King of the Northern Territory, which means that the King of the Northern Territory is already aware of the affairs of the Mo family.
This will invisibly give Mo's disciples a hope that if they work harder, they will be able to have a place in the Northern Kingdom.
Thinking of this, he said, "I will arrange for them to work under Gongshu Can."
Liu Tan nodded: "Of course. If they behave well, we will eventually be separated."
Huo Guang was somewhat surprised: "Separate? Why separate? Wouldn't it be better to let them fight?"
Liu Tan said, "This kind of suppression by one side is fine in the short term, but if it lasts longer, I'm worried they'll just fight to the death like they did back then. It would be a good idea to keep them on the same level and compete with each other."
Huo Guang frowned, "But there is only one Winter Officer. Your Highness must not make any special exceptions for them."
Liu Tan nodded: "I know what's going on. I'll make sure they're properly accommodated when the time comes."
Huo Guang expressed his doubts about this, but he didn't say much. Anyway, all this had to wait until the Mo disciples stayed. If they were unwilling to stay, then nothing would be of any use.
In fact, Liu Tan was not sure about Mo's disciples. Since they were so proud, it seemed normal that they were unwilling to work under Gongshu Jia.
What he didn't expect was that these Mohist disciples were actually willing to stay. Gongshu Can was caught off guard and went to find Liu Tan in a daze - what kind of official positions should be given to these people?
Because the position of Dongguan was set up separately, if we really want to trace it back, the functions of Dongguan should be in conflict with Sikong. After all, it's just the name that is different. In fact, in ancient books, these two official positions are actually the same, but the corresponding names are different in each dynasty.
But how do we calculate this now?
Liu Tan directly handed Gongshu Can a document and said, "Take a look."
After Gongshu Can received it, he found that it was an arrangement of official positions. The top one was Qiu Guan, and below it were Si Ping, Si Yu, and Si Chuan.
Gongshu Can asked carefully, "Your Highness, please enlighten me."
Liu Tan said: "Si Ping is in charge of engineering, Si Yu is in charge of bridges, roads, boats, carriages, and weaving, and Si Chuan is in charge of water conservancy."
In fact, there should have been four originally, and there was also a Si Tian, who was in charge of the entire agricultural affairs. However, Liu Tan set up the Dongguan department, which was equivalent to dividing the power of Si Nong. These should have been in the hands of Si Nong. Now Si Nong probably only has the economy and agricultural affairs left. If agricultural affairs are removed, the position of Si Nong will be a joke.
Liu Tan wanted to refine the distinction of functions rather than to sideline anyone. Of course, Lin Xiu might not think so.
Gongshu Can looked at him for a while and asked, "Then... Mo Shi?"
Liu Tan nodded and said, "Let him take over Si Yu's position temporarily."
I didn't dare to directly give Mo Shi the position of Si Yu because I was worried about what to do if Mo Shi's elders came to the Mo family in the future? But now Mo Shi represents the Mo family, and I can't bully him too much, otherwise it would be bullying the Mo family. I have to strike a good balance between the two.
As for why it wasn't Si Ping, you're just kidding. Liu Tan didn't trust them that much. Si Ping was in charge of the siege. The repairs of the city, the royal palace, and even the Changshou Palace were all in Si Ping's hands. There was no way Liu Tan would just hand it over to a stranger.
As for Si Yu and Si Chuan... Si Chuan is easy to deal with. He is Xu Lin. Originally, Xu Lin served as the Messenger of Mountains and Rivers, but that was an official of the King of the Northern Territory, not an official position of the imperial court. Based on Xu Lin's recent achievements, Liu Tan felt that it was unfair to give him the position of Si Chuan.
Liu Tan thought about Si Ping's words and said, "Si Ping will let Gong Shu Yi take over temporarily."
He also wrote down that the temporary position is half a level lower than the full-time position, so that they can be distinguished.
After dividing the power of Si Nong Lin Xiu, what Liu Tan needed to think about was how to appease him.
Before he could come up with anything, Wei Buyi came hurriedly and said, "Your Highness, someone has spotted Wu Shilu."
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