Song Hongshen's strategic tactics and sensitivity in state affairs are more powerful than those of the Song family's father and son combined.
Song Zan chuckled, "This child's strengths are all inherited from his mother."
In fact, he is somewhat like his father, but Song Zan doesn't want to admit it.
Shen Zhixiu had no choice but to tell Song Zan that the situation in the capital was unclear these days, so he should discuss things with Song Hongshen.
Song Hongshen put most of his energy into the new warships. So during this period, he was either studying blueprints in the Ministry of Works or discussing the defense of the southeast coast in the Ministry of War.
The drawings of the Ministry of Works have reached the final summary stage. Song Hongshen keeps an eye on them all day, and Su Zhilan is also busy with them.
Su Chengxun and his wife tacitly agreed to her helping Song Hongshen draw the blueprints, but they did not reveal any information to anyone else.
Song Hongshen once mentioned that he wanted to wait until the task was finally completed so that he could give credit to Su Zhilan.
In Song Hongshen's opinion, if they could defeat the Japanese pirates with these warships next year, Su Zhilan's achievements would be enough to be recorded in history books.
He also believed that with his abilities, he could protect her.
However, it was rejected by Su Chengxun and his wife. In their opinion, asking for credit was both an honor and a burden.
Su Zhilan only needs to take care of her husband and children and be a loyal and brave princess.
Song Hongshen disagreed, but he didn't say much, but he didn't change his mind in his heart.
That day, Song Hongshen secretly took Su Zhilan to the Ministry of Works.
Whenever Su Zhilan came to the Ministry of Works, she did so quietly. If she was seen, she would say she was visiting her uncle or strolling around with the King of Loyalty and Bravery.
Of course, Song Hongshen not only brought her to the Ministry of Works, but sometimes also took her to other government offices.
So these days people in the capital are saying that King Chungyong is raising his unmarried princess as his own child.
However, some people have questioned this, saying that Su Zhilan does not understand the rules and does not know how to avoid taboos.
But no one who has seen Su Zhilan can say this.
Firstly, she is young, and those gossiping ladies would not have the nerve to gossip about a child.
Secondly, she behaved properly, and her clear eyes seemed to reach right into the depths of her eyes, a rare display of frankness and innocence.
In addition, Song Hongshen was a decent person, not the kind of person obsessed with lust. So gradually everyone got used to it, and the rumors gradually died down.
After the two arrived at the Ministry of Works, Song Hongshen went to talk to several assistant ministers, while Su Zhilan went to the room where Hai Xingjian handled official business.
Hai Xingjian was the Minister of Works, and he was in charge of designing the new warships of the Fujian Navy.
Seeing Su Zhilan come in, Hai Xingjian said, "In the cabinet, there is some dried meat sent by colleagues, and some tongue biscuits specially prepared for you by your aunt."
"I have something else to do, you can play here by yourself."
Hai Xingjian was in his early thirties, tall and thin. As he brought food to Su Zhilan, calluses appeared on his hands.
Su Zhilan's attainments and interests in these things all come from this uncle.
During those years, Su Chengxun and his wife were exiled to Suzhou, and Hai Xingjian happened to be working in the Water Conservancy Department of the Ministry of Works, and was exiled to Nanjing for three years.
He often went to Suzhou to visit his sister and brother-in-law, and taught Su Zhilan a lot when he was free.
Later, seeing that Su Zhilan liked it, he collected a lot of books for her.
So while other young ladies were reading the Four Books and Five Classics and looking at unofficial history and travelogues, Su Zhilan had already started studying how to build waterways, how to repair houses, and how to make bridges strong.
Su Zhilan was also close to this uncle, and after sitting down, she said casually, "Uncle, go and get busy."
In fact, Hai Xingjian went to get the latest summary blueprints. The part about weapons was designed by Su Zhilan, and Su Zhilan needed to compile it.
According to the rules, these things are not allowed to be taken out of the Ministry of Industry.
So, to avoid trouble, Su Zhilan would come to the Ministry of Works to quietly review the revisions before the Ministry of Works integrated them.
She had been here many times before and was not shy. As usual, she picked up the dried meat on the table and started eating.
With nothing to do, he started looking at the drawings on Hai Xingjian's desk about building a waterway outside the capital.
Every time she looked at these things, she was so focused and engrossed that she even forgot to eat the dried meat and tongue biscuits.
At this time, Su Zhilan did not notice that a figure flashed outside the window.
Immediately afterwards, a faint wisp of green smoke floated in through the window lattice.
She frowned slightly. Why is there such a bad smell?
As soon as I raised my head to check, I felt dizzy and fell onto the table.
Immediately afterwards, a man dressed in coarse cloth climbed in through the back window, carried Su Zhilan away.
Song Hongshen didn't expect that the prince's men had set their sights on Su Zhilan. He was discussing the final details with several assistant ministers in the hall of the Ministry of Works.
The ship would be built in Fujian and launched directly after completion. Therefore, they had to discuss how many people the Ministry of Works could send to accompany him south.
Just as they were talking about the crucial moment, someone suddenly rushed in and said, "My lords, something bad has happened. There's a fire in the style room."
The style room is a room specially used by the Ministry of Industry to store drawings. It contains not only drawings but also samples.
For example, for the warships of the Fujian Navy this time, many miniature samples were built and placed in the style room.
When they heard that there was a fire in the style room, several senior officials from the Ministry of Works panicked and ran out quickly.
Those are the result of their hard work. It would be troublesome if they were burned.
Song Hongshen thought of Su Zhilan first. He didn't expect Su Zhilan to be kidnapped, but he was afraid that she would be choked or smoked by the fire.
So after leaving the hall, Song Hongshen hurried to Hai Xingjian's room, intending to take Su Zhilan away first.
After entering the house, Song Hongshen did not see Su Zhilan. There were pieces of dried meat scattered on the table, as if they had been knocked over.
Song Hongshen's heart sank, and he turned around and walked out of the house, just in time to meet Hai Xingjian who was coming back with the blueprints.
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