Iron Dynasty

As long as you eat oil, you can.

This was the last sentence Xiao Ming said before sending Wang Shijie away.

At present, he doesn't want to waste too much time on the four families. The reason why he shares the benefits with the four families is to give the four families the illusion that we are still friends.

For him, he could not tolerate the existence of gentry and clans in his fief, because it would seriously threaten his rule.

At present, the drawbacks of the current clans and clans in the Great Yu Kingdom cannot be lost, and he will not repeat the same mistakes.

After sending Wang Shijie away, Xiao Ming sent Qian Dafu to call Pang Yukun over. Now with the output of technology, there will be more and more products produced in the equipment department and the palace in the future.

Zuiqingzhou and perfume were arranged in the palace, and only the family members of the palace were involved in order to keep it secret.

He didn't believe that other people would be so honest and would not send people to spy on the craftsmanship in the equipment department and the palace, so he now asked Pang Yukun to formally establish the patent department.

The equipment department's technology will all be recorded in the patent department, and Chen Wenlong is personally responsible. Any individual, businessman, or official who plagiarizes the patent will be sentenced to a serious crime, and the serious case will be directly executed.

Anyone who uses a patent must pay the patent fee.

Of course, Xiao Ming has no plans to sell patents at present, but patent regulations need to be established in advance.

At the same time, he also discussed with Pang Yukun that any private invention can be patented to promote the research atmosphere of the common people.

In addition to the establishment of the Patent Department, the Minerals Department was established at the same time. This is the prelude to Xiao Ming's preparation for the construction of official mines. As long as he has mastered the minerals, the industry will be in his hands.

Pang Yukun has no objection to Xiao Ming's measures one after another. In his opinion, as long as King Qi is willing to do the right thing, it is impeccable, and the rest of the implementation problem is his problem.

Because the snow stopped, Qingzhou seemed to be alive, and the city suddenly became lively again.

Xiao Ming took advantage of Wang Shijie to buy cooking oil, and organized the servants of the palace to make soda ash. Although this method of cooking limestone and plant ash together is earthy, it is indeed the most suitable method at present.

In this busyness, the days passed, and on this day, a person suddenly appeared in the palace, and all the people in the palace were boiling.

His Royal Highness, Li San is back. Xiao Ming, who was studying how to make a large batch of disposable soap, was suddenly interrupted by Luluo's surprised cry.

Xiao Ming dropped the brush and laughed loudly: To sum up the days, I said it's time to come back.

As he was talking, he saw Li San carrying a package to the front. Seeing Xiao Ming, Li San bowed and said, Your Highness, the little slave is back.

No gift. Xiao Ming smiled brightly. He was eager to know the details of Li San's trip to Chang'an, so he asked, How about you talk about it?

Li San handed the package to Luluo, and he said: Concubine Zhen sent Liuli to tell me that your highness's perfume is very popular with the empress, and the concubines in the palace also like it very much. It is said that the emperor in Qingzhou got drunk at the empress's place. I couldn't bear to give up the cup, and the emperor also praised the wine that His Highness brewed.

Luluo's face flushed with excitement, I just said the girls will like it.

Xiao Ming nodded, it's not normal that they don't like these magical things. He asked, Is there nothing else.

Li San smiled knowingly and said, This time, the Emperor Longyan Dayue personally instructed Cui Zhang, the minister of households, to allocate 200,000 taels of silver to His Highness at the court meeting, saying that if His Highness could be diligent in government affairs in the future, he would divide the million taels of silver. Grant it to Your Highness.

Stingy. Xiao Ming was speechless for a while. The million taels of silver were allocated by the imperial court every time the prince became a vassal.

The purpose is basically the same as that of modern wealthy businessmen giving the second-generation rich business capital.

It has been more than a hundred years since the founding of the Great Yu Kingdom. Although there were constant wars in the north, the people in the south lived very comfortably, and the commerce and handicraft industries were also very developed. In Xiao Ming’s opinion, the annual taxation level of the Great Yu Kingdom was basically comparable to that of the Song Dynasty in the prosperous period. .

So the court is still rich, and Xiao Wenxuan is still stingy with this money, he can't help but despise it.

At this time, Qian Dafu was also alarmed, came over, and said with a smile: His Royal Highness, 200,000 taels is not a lot, it can always relieve the urgent need. It's better to give these silver taels to the Minerals Department. of.

Xiao Ming had a headache for a while, and said, You are a new official, and you know you need money before you take office. You can't give all 200,000 taels, but only half.

Thank you, Your Highness. Qian Dafu said with a smile, 100,000 taels is better than nothing. After the establishment of the Minerals Division, his responsibilities were very heavy, because not only coal, iron, limestone, and graphite mines need to be mined, but also other designated by Xiao Ming. mine.

It is estimated that the 100,000 taels of silver are also snowflakes entering the water, and even a sound cannot be heard.

Li San gave Qian Dafu a salute and said, His Royal Highness, in addition to the money given by the emperor, this time Concubine Zhen asked Xiaonu to bring 200,000 taels of silver notes to His Highness.

Where did concubine mother get so much money? Xiao Ming was taken aback.

Li San said: Naturally, it is the credit of His Royal Highness's perfume. This is the deposit made by the ladies to His Highness. The reason for this is in the letter.

With that said, Li San sent a letter to Xiao Ming.

After opening the letter and looking at it, Xiao Ming frowned immediately. The money was made by the concubines and concubines of each palace, but this was not the point.

The point is that Concubine Zhen's letter mentioned Queen Zhao and the Crown Prince. If Queen Zhao is mentioned, it is understandable, but when it comes to the Crown Prince, the problem is big.

Although Concubine Zhen only mentioned a few words in the letter, Xiao Ming also understood that Empress Zhao's purpose of helping her this time was not simple.

His Royal Highness, what's wrong? Qian Dafu asked when he saw Xiao Ming's expression was wrong.

Trouble, I was misunderstood with the fourth prince. This prince was assassinated. This time Queen Zhao intends to draw this prince as a support for the prince. Didn't this prince offend all the princes who wanted to abolish the prince. Xiao Ming Handed the letter to Qian Dafu.

After sweeping his eyes, Qian Dafu frowned, Indeed, the letter said that Empress Zhao and the Crown Prince were sympathetic to His Highness's hardships in Qingzhou, and would take out 100,000 taels of silver to go to Qingzhou with the Emperor's silver. Understood.

After thinking for a while, Xiao Ming said lazily: Since the money has been sent, let's not give it up in vain. The most important thing now is the development of the fief. If we can have both sides among the princes, that would be the best.

His Royal Highness said that even if there is no Crown Prince, His Highness will be framed by the Fourth Prince. Instead of letting the Fourth Prince take advantage of it, it is better to stand on the Prince's side temporarily to gain benefits. After all, the Prince is the orthodox now.

Xiao Ming also thought the same, as long as Xiao Wenxuan was still there, it was almost impossible for the crown prince to be deposed. He is also happy to be a free and easy prince, so why are other princes afraid at that time.