In order to show his appreciation for Fang Zhenghua, Zhu Youxiao also included him in. Now that Chen Hong was out, it was normal for Fang Zhenghua to come in and serve.
Glancing at Fang Zhenghua, Zhu Youxiao said with a rather unhappy expression, "What's the matter?"
Looking at Zhu Youxiao's expression and hearing his voice, Fang Zhenghua felt a little scared and didn't know whether he should say it or not.
However, Fang Zhenghua thought about it and said, "Your Majesty, Elder Xu from the cabinet is here."
Zhu Youxiao suddenly smiled bitterly.
Shen Tingyun just left, and now Xu Guangqi is here. This matter is not over yet.
"Okay, let him in." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said.
Anyway, my mood is already very bad, so I just let them tell me everything. Otherwise, it would be very uncomfortable to keep it in my heart.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Soon Xu Guangqi walked in from outside.
Seeing Xu Guangqi's dusty appearance, Zhu Youxiao knew that something was wrong with him.
The most crucial point is that Xu Guangqi definitely came from the Baigong Academy, which means that the matter is related to the Baigong Academy.
If Xu Guangqi could come here in such a hurry, it must be no small matter.
"My dear, please sit down and have a cup of tea." Zhu Youxiao looked at Xu Guangqi and said to Fang Zhenghua at the side: "Please sit down and give my dear Xu a cup of tea."
"I thank Your Majesty." Xu Guangqi said.
After Xu Guangqi sat down and took a sip of tea, Zhu Youxiao asked, "My dear minister, you came here so anxiously. Is there something urgent? Or did you tell me something?"
"Your Majesty, nothing has happened. However, I do have something to ask for." Xu Guangqi nodded and continued, "I came here to ask Your Majesty for a government office. I hope Your Majesty will grant me this."
After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao felt a headache.
Want a government office?
Is it so easy to get this government office?
Judging from what Xu Guangqi said, this yamen is definitely not an ordinary yamen.
Zhu Youxiao then asked cautiously, "Which government office do you want, my dear?"
"Your Majesty, it's Wang Gongchang." Xu Guangqi said in a firm tone and with a serious expression.
When Zhu Youxiao heard the name Wanggongchang, his head buzzed.
Wanggongchang may sound unremarkable, but it is not an ordinary place, nor is it an ordinary government office. What's more important is that Wanggongchang belongs to the Ministry of Industry.
"I wonder which government office you want Wanggongchang to be under?" Zhu Youxiao asked tentatively.
In fact, Zhu Youxiao had already guessed that no one would want Wang Gongchang except Baigongfang.
Bi Maokang didn't dare to ask for Wang Gongchang himself. The reason was actually very simple. He was not important enough and had no way to ask for it.
Wanggongchang was established very early, dating back to the Yongle period.
When it was first established, although Wanggongchang was under the Ministry of Works, it was actually within the palace because there was a eunuch in charge of supervising the factory.
Wanggongchang was able to produce a large amount of gunpowder every day, and a large amount of gunpowder was stored all year round, and it was specially used for the Beijing camp.
After years of development, Wanggongchang is no longer what it used to be.
With the decline of the Beijing Army, other supporting industries naturally declined, and power completely fell into the hands of the Ministry of Industry.
Touching Wanggongchang is not as simple as it seems, because once you touch Wanggongchang, you will also have to touch the Military Equipment Bureau.
Although each place has its own military equipment bureau, they usually only make things like swords; all firearms are manufactured in the military equipment bureau in the capital.
Once he took action against Wang Gongchang, the Military Equipment Bureau would inevitably be weakened, which would involve a power struggle.
Whoever holds power in his hands is unwilling to let go.
But looking at Xu Guangqi, Zhu Youxiao didn't know what to say. He certainly couldn't say no, and even if he was asked to wait a moment, Zhu Youxiao couldn't bring himself to speak.
Xu Guangqi must have known why he brought up this matter, and everyone knew his relationship with the Academy of Hundred Craftsmen.
Now Xu Guangqi wanted to take away Wang Gongchang for the sake of the Academy of Hundred Workers. Many people would not think that Xu Guangqi was working for the country and the public, but would think that he was trying to seize power.
You have to know that Xu Guangqi is now the second-in-command of the cabinet. He must be aware of the consequences of doing so, but he still did it.
Xu Guangqi was not doing this for himself.
In fact, Zhu Youxiao also knew that it would be more appropriate to give Wanggongchang to the Academy of Hundred Craftsmen.
From a business perspective, the Baigong Academy was responsible for scientific research, and Wanggong Factory was responsible for manufacturing. If they were grouped together, it would be more conducive to management, research and development, and manufacturing, which is similar to the factories under the research institutes of later generations.
From a personal perspective, Zhu Youxiao wanted to take back Wanggongchang. To put it bluntly, he wanted to take back power.
But it was really difficult to do so, because there were too many things going on. There were things happening with the Imperial Household Department, things happening with the Academy, and now there was the matter of Wanggongchang, and everything was so urgent.
"I know about this matter." Zhu Youxiao nodded and said.
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