Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 19 The Emperor's Confidence

"Your Majesty, please listen to His Majesty's words."

Li Suide stood there respectfully, with his hands arched, looking cautious.

Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "Since that's the case, tell me about my expenditure and income last year!"

"According to the order!"

Li Suide bowed his hands, and told Zhu Houzhao truthfully about last year's expenses and tax payment.

Zhu Houzhao compared the booklet in his hand, and found that it was not bad at all. It is not easy for the Ministry of Industry to record the annual expenditure and income to this share.

"Well, well, needless to say, the Qing family has indeed fulfilled their duties as the minister of the court said."

Li Suide bowed humbly again.

He didn't dare to flirt like Li Dongyang anymore. At this time, he knew how to say nothing, which was much better than flirting.

Zhu Houzhao took an account book from the side, pushed it to the table, and said: "This is the account book submitted by the Ministry of War. I compared it carefully, and it is not bad at all!"

In fact, one of the things Ming officials do all year round is to check numbers, which is already a tradition passed down.

High-level officials do one thing throughout the year, and of course they can do it right.

"I did a comparison. There are some differences in the repair of firearms, which is also the most suspicious aspect. To be precise, the expenditure of these repaired firearms is enough to make firearms for half a year. The gap in this aspect is still relatively large."

Li Suide, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, listened carefully to Zhu Houzhao's teachings. He stood there with his head bowed. It was hard to imagine that the emperor was really just a boy?

Even Liu Jian, the chief assistant of the cabinet, and Li Dongyang, the old fox, are probably not as scheming as the emperor.

"The loss of the firearm is so serious, how to improve it should be a priority for your Ministry of Industry!"

Li Suide's heart trembled suddenly when he heard the words of the emperor.

"Your Majesty, because this firearm has been used too much, there is some wear and tear, plus."

Before Li Suide finished speaking, Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and said, "I didn't summon you today to give me a reason, or to explain to me."

Li Suide bowed in fear: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Houzhao stood up slowly, and stood with his hands behind his back: "I read the papers submitted by the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War, and found that the firearms used in recent years are still left over from the Yongle period. The production of these firecrackers and cannons is basically not the slightest bit. Improvement, which means that the Ministry of Industry has been standing still in recent years."

Zhu Houzhao's words were very serious, but there was something in his words, and Li Suide knew the meaning as soon as he heard it.

"Your Majesty forgive me, I know I was wrong!"

Zhu Houzhao's eyes slowly moved to Li Suide, looking at him with a feeling of being seen through. Zhu Houzhao's vision of seeing people has rarely been used since he took the throne.

"When Emperor Yongle used my Ming-made artillery to conquer Tatar and Mongolia, it showed my great power!"

"What is all this based on?"

"On the one hand, we are united, but we still rely more on our sharp guns and firearms. Without these, can those prairie wolves be so easily conquered?"

"If one day, when foreigners invade, and they also take their most important weapons to show off against our Ming Dynasty, can we still rely on our firearms to resist?"

"Can you?"

Under Zhu Houzhao's questioning, Li Suide felt the same in his heart, and at the same time was dripping with cold sweat.
The reason why the Ming Empire dared to look down on the world was not only the capital of a rich country and a strong army, but the most important thing was to rely on these strong ships and sharp guns.

Without these important weapons of the country, how can the emperor be confident?How to fend off the enemy?

"Your Majesty's holy words, I will always keep in mind." Li Suide lowered his face, revealing firmness in his words.

Hearing this, Zhu Houzhao showed a satisfied smile, nodded and said: "Whether it is a firearm or a firearm, it needs to be seriously improved and reformed."

"Since you are ready to do it, then let go of your hands and feet and do it with confidence."

Having said that, Zhu Houzhao picked up a drawing and handed it to Li Suide.

Li Suide caught the blueprint with both hands, and when he opened it, his face suddenly changed.

"This, this is."

Zhu Houzhao did not explain more to Li Suide, but said with a dignified face: "This thing is of great importance. If it falls into the hands of others, I will definitely behead your head!"

Li Suide knelt down at Zhu Houzhao's feet immediately, and said firmly: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will definitely keep this thing safe."

Zhu Houzhao nodded, nodded and said, "That's very good, you should step back for now!"

"How much silver is needed for this change, you can get it from the household department!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

"I retire!"

Li Suide kowtowed to Zhu Houzhao, got up slowly, and retreated from the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

When he came out of the Forbidden City, he immediately returned to the carriage and hurriedly urged the driver to return to his mansion.

Along the way, Li Suide kept looking out, for fear that some thief would miss the things in his arms, which were more important than his life.

It wasn't until Li Suide returned home and hurriedly ordered his family to lock the door that he felt a little relieved.

But only slightly relieved.

Mrs. Li Suide came out from behind. She had never seen her husband so nervous when he came back from the court.

Could it be that Jin Yiwei was following him?

When she was about to ask, Li Suide closed the door with a bang.

In the room, Li Suide carefully took out the drawing from his arms and slowly opened it.

On the rice paper, what is drawn is really the weapon map given by the current emperor.

Li Suide didn't know where the young emperor got it, but he could see the difference of these weapons at a glance!
If all such firearms can be manufactured, then Daming is likely to show its former glory. At least in foreign wars, Daming Dynasty will not suffer.

Silent night!

Li Suide was lying on the bed alone, preoccupied.

Sometimes he wept with joy, walked down from the bed and waved his fist a few times in mid-air, and sometimes sat and stood silently, tears streaming down his face.

All night long, he didn't close his eyes.

He knew that the Ming Dynasty would usher in a Mingjun, a good monarch who truly belonged to this country.

As a result, Daming underwent earth-shaking changes from Emperor Zhengde.

Although Li Suide is not a great talent, he has a heart to serve the country, he is willing to be a pillar of the Ming Dynasty, and he is willing to dedicate his life energy.

Now, the emperor has given him the most precious thing, the blueprint, which is the direction, and he is asked to work hard in that direction.

He was thinking, how can he fulfill the emperor's delivery order very well next?How can he live up to the emperor's painstaking care for him?
If it is done well, it will be a good thing to honor the ancestors and leave a name in history. Not only will it contribute to the country, but it will also leave a valuable wealth to future generations.

If I don't do well, I won't be able to raise my head to see the emperor, and I don't know who cut off my head, and then not only my family, but also the entire Ministry of Industry will be affected.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

As soon as Li Suide, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, left, a young eunuch hurried into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Qizou Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager asked your Majesty to go to the Palace of Compassion and Peace, saying that there is something very important to discuss."

"Well, I know, I'll be there soon."

Zhu Houzhao put the memorials on the table, stood up, left the Yangxin Hall, and walked towards the Cining Palace.

Along the way, Zhu Houzhao was thinking carefully about something.

The queen mother said, there are very important things, what are the important things?

　Ask for collection!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)