Chapter 266: The Emperor's Daily Tasks and Rewards Summary...
Qi Chengming closed his eyes briefly to relieve the dryness.
In any case, he should take advantage of the current favorable situation and make the most of his first three moves as a new official.
"I intend to find a county under the jurisdiction of Luoyang to try this out, and move all of the proceeds from Liuzhou here. Do any of you ministers have any recommendations?" Qi Chengming asked.
Luoyang City is teeming with powerful and influential figures, their influence deeply entrenched and complex. Qi Chengming, looking at the infrastructure projects, was at a loss as to where to begin without causing widespread repercussions. However, he realized that a gradual approach, coupled with incentives, might be much faster than a forceful push.
really.
Many people below lit up with excitement.
Liuzhou.
As Liuzhou was a fiefdom before the new emperor ascended the throne, they were already familiar with its various scenic spots and were extremely envious. The people there were so lucky that they didn't have to do anything and were made a fortune by Prince Rui, living a life like paradise.
There was clearly already a mature and complete plan there, and some learned scholars who tried to imitate it when governing their respective districts and counties could only manage to copy a few fragments. Most importantly, there were the endless stream of new things emerging in Liuzhou… they simply couldn't handle it!
When the retired emperor was still in power, the crown prince brought various new things to Luoyang, but this was merely integration. The majority of the profits went into the national treasury, while the remainder was divided among those involved. Many officials were left with nothing but scraps and left only with envy!
Now that a new opportunity has presented itself, many officials immediately put aside their previous concerns and enthusiastically began to recommend the county: "Your Majesty recommended Yiyang County. It was rectified there in the early years, with simple litigation and clear punishments, and the people are living in peace and contentment. It is just right to try this out!"
—The son of the person who said this was the magistrate of Yiyang County.
“Shengxian County is located south of Luoyang and has been famous since ancient times. The local gentry have always been open to new changes, making it more suitable for trial implementation…”
"Shou'an County is still better!"
Li Banhui's father was even more enthusiastic, his eyes darting around: "I am the deputy mining supervisor of the official coal mine in Yanshi County. I've heard that there are many mediocre people in the Yanshi County government... Sigh, the county government is a complete mess. It seems they got a mediocre rating this year?"
"Huh?" The others who were vying to recommend him were taken aback, not understanding why this person was going against the grain.
Qi Chengming made the decision: "Then let's go with Yanshi County."
"...Oh dear!" "How could I not have thought of that!" After a moment of stunned silence, the others realized what he meant and exclaimed how cunning he was. Father Li smiled smugly, his fat face beaming with joy: "Thank you for your kind words."
The official who had a past relationship with the magistrate of Yiyang County sighed regretfully and shook his head.
He clearly saw His Majesty show some interest just now.
Around Luoyang, he was quite confident that His Majesty would prefer a more familiar county, one with whom he had shared past ties and memories. His Majesty had passed through Yiyang County when he took up his fiefdom years ago, causing quite a stir. Wasn't that a good choice?
Who knew that fellow was even more skilled! He had accurately predicted His Majesty's thoughts!
The scenery seen through the Emperor's eyes was ultimately different from what they imagined. A county town with greater challenges and difficulties naturally evoked a stronger desire for challenge than a county town that excelled in everything! And the Emperor, being a newly enthroned young monarch, was probably still trying to consolidate his authority.
Once the officials understood these things, they stopped complaining and instead focused their attention on the process of gaining control of Yanshi County.
Qin Liusong, who had only overheard his colleagues' discussion, shook his head slightly in disagreement.
...I still don't understand the new emperor!
These thoughts should apply to Qin himself; only he would consider doing something more challenging, something to demonstrate his abilities and skills to the new emperor. The new emperor, from beginning to end, never intended to prove himself to anyone. He was clearly…
He was only thinking of the people and didn't want the people of Yanshi County to suffer any more.
Qin Liusong gave Li's father a deep look, unsure whether this smiling tiger had stumbled upon the truth by chance or had gained a deep understanding of the new emperor's nature. In any case, he made a note of him. This person was probably not his next formidable opponent.
"Although the new regulations are being piloted in Yanshi County, it is not advisable to disrupt the daily lives of the local people." After a moment's thought, Qi Chengming looked meaningfully at someone below and called out, "Prince Ning, you will be in full charge of this matter. I will assign you a few deputies. From now on, the magistrate of Yanshi County will follow your instructions. The first phase will be limited to the autumn harvest. Do not let me down."
"Huh???" This was the Prince of Ning, who was caught off guard and suddenly took office.
"..." These were the other officials who were eager to try, but were also absent-mindedly preparing to stuff people into the crowd.
A new opportunity has arrived, and they are determined to get a piece of the pie this time!
"Court adjourned!" At Qi Chengming's signal, Eunuch De called out these words. No one objected. The officials of the Six Ministries were distracted; they had heard too much in court today, enough to digest for a long time. Most of what had happened before had become unimportant; it was when their own interests were involved that they were most concerned.
"Third sister, you go back first. I'll go and ask to see the Emperor again." Prince Ning hurriedly reassured the Third Princess and ran to the side hall to ask to see him again.
He was truly annoyed by his elder brother's practice of giving him a sweet treat after each beating, yet he knew he was in the wrong and understood that the beatings were for those around him, while the sweet treats were his brother's way of comforting him. So he was torn between love and hate, and extremely conflicted.
This time, the Emperor granted me an audience very quickly.
Prince Ning, disregarding everything else, knelt on the ground in a panic, pleading earnestly, "Please, Your Majesty, rescind your order! Your humble servant... Your humble servant knows nothing!"
He knew that this was a great responsibility and trust placed in him by his elder brother.
But... other tasks were alright, but when it came to the intricacies of Liuzhou City... Prince Ning had witnessed his elder brother's methods during the battle against the powerful families, and that was just a small part of Liuzhou City's new regulations—a drop in the ocean! He didn't quite understand them. From then on, he harbored a deep fear.
So even he finds these things difficult, how could we possibly let him manage them?!
"Calm down, get up and sit down." Qi Chengming gestured for Prince Ning to sit down, and showed him the handwriting he had just written, the ink still wet. "I've found you a few deputies. Leave the things you don't understand to them. You're in charge of overseeing the whole situation—support them as always, understand?"
The neat and elegant handwriting read: Zhao Ju'er, Assistant Director of the Research Department; Zhang Rui, Magistrate of Yulin Prefecture; Li Banhui, Deputy Commissioner of Mining Supervision of Yanshi County; Mo Zhuoshou, Clerk of the Agricultural Department of Taiyuan Prefecture.
"If you encounter any new items you don't understand, ask Zhao Ju'er. He was involved in the production of those things in Liuzhou." Qi Chengming began to instruct. "Leave the troubles in officialdom to Zhang Rui, and Li Banhui is familiar with local affairs and can help. But the most important person is Master Mo. Follow the new rules and laws he proposes."
Prince Ning's heart calmed down instantly, and he breathed a sigh of relief: "...Your subject understands."
So he was just a scapegoat.
—The straw boat from the story of "borrowing arrows with straw boats." Because of his high position, he could help eliminate many troubles. His deputies were the ones who actually did the work.
When Qi Chengming was doing practical work, he didn't let too much scheming get in the way and would hinder his progress. He stared at Prince Ning with sharp eyes that left no room for doubt: "Who should you befriend, who should you refuse, what is the most important thing to do in this mission... I think you know the answer."
Prince Ning didn't need to be reprimanded to be on high alert; now, with his tail between his legs, he solemnly replied, "Yes!"
The young man walked away easily.
Qi Chengming summoned his study companion Chu Hong and asked him to convey these new instructions.
Zhang Rui can be transferred to Yulin Prefecture immediately.
He no longer holds his former position, only the title of Imperial Envoy, and has been working for Prince Ning for the past six months... essentially sent to take the blame. But if he handles both open and covert attacks exceptionally well, he will continue to serve as a sharp blade at the forefront in the future... This is both an opportunity and a danger.
Mr. Qin is Qi Chengming's most capable assistant, and Qi Chengming still needs him for daily government affairs, so he can't send him out to build a second "Liuzhou." Others don't quite understand his thoughts and political views. What should be done?
We must ask Master Mo for help—he has been Mr. Qin's page since childhood, is experienced and seasoned, and has been influenced by his surroundings in Liuzhou, making him the most suitable person to be sent to oversee the construction.
After this mission, his position will be much more important, and he should be able to be promoted to an official post in the imperial court.
Qi Chengming was lost in thought when he saw a new change pop up on the infrastructure system:
[Emperor's Daily Task: A New Official's First Three Actions (Completed)]
At this point, Qi Chengming had cleared all the Emperor's daily tasks on the current panel in one fell swoop.
"That feels so good!" Qi Chengming couldn't help but clench his fist tightly, a gesture that revealed a bit of youthful liveliness.
He only glanced around after he had finished his task. Gan Tang, who was serving in the hall today, was setting out fruit platters by the window in the distance without even blinking, as if he hadn't heard a thing. Xiao Chengzi, who was responsible for announcing things outside the door, didn't even turn his head.
Qi Chengming was even happier. He curled up on the tatami like a hamster hibernating, taking advantage of this moment of leisure to secretly open the reward.
...[Stage speaker x1], [20L industrial oil drum x10], [organophosphorus pesticide x10], [ammonium sulfate fertilizer x10], [yarn processing method].
Qi Chengming simply threw the stereo speaker into the system space, so that it could be used whenever he manifested his divine power, and he wouldn't have to go through the trouble of recording and playing it using a drone anymore.
Industrial oil drums are great!
Those drones are hybrid electric vehicles, consuming a lot of fuel and electricity. Qi Chengming originally only had one generator, but it had many large components, and he was always short of electricity. With the addition of the drones, the shortage became even more severe. These fuel drums were a lifesaver for him.
pesticide……
Let's leave the pesticides for now. Bishu—Fang Bi is already busy enough every day. She's the only all-around researcher; we can't keep exploiting just one person, can we? She's practically bald from all that work. Let's study these bottles of material later when we discover someone with expertise in chemistry.
Qi Chengming could also make ammonium sulfate fertilizer when he was in Liuzhou, but the quality of the handmade products made in the ancient non-laboratory environment was ultimately inferior. Now, with the ten-bag finished product, it is much more convenient.
Yarn processing is a great thing!
Before going to court, Qi Chengming was worried that there might not be enough cotton! He was overjoyed. Throughout history, how many times had the wool trade been used to reduce wars? He wrote it down!
"Quickly, go and summon Fang Bi, the Minister of War, and the Minister of Works!" Qi Chengming couldn't wait a moment longer.
The seamless steel pipes used to make cannons, which were part of the previous reward, were given to Fang Bi for research. The fertilizer was also given to her as propellant. The gunpowder and shell formulas accumulated and hidden in Liuzhou could now be openly handed over to the Ministry of War, preparing to upgrade their artillery. The Ministry of Works should quickly thoroughly study the wool processing method and, taking advantage of the cold weather, seek trade with the Di and Qiang people!
...
However, Fang Bi, who arrived first, said something that left Qi Chengming completely dumbfounded:
"You said... that those steel pipes could be made into even more powerful weapons than cannons, what do you mean?"
Fang Bi's eyes sparkled with excitement and fervor. She murmured, "Your Majesty, I have discovered that the cannon should be able to fly! And the distance is estimated to be quite long. I dare not test it casually in the suburbs of Luoyang... It must be done in a remote, uninhabited mountain area. I beg Your Majesty's approval."
Qi Chengming was almost dumbfounded, and a concept slowly emerged in his mind:
'Fire...fire arrows?'
Is this something I could see in ancient times?!
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Author's note: Hmm, fire arrows/bullets.
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