The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Yan Chengjin raised his head and met Emperor Hongzhi's eyes.

Two messages are conveyed.

Firstly, the iron smelting plant and Huimin Pharmacy were converted into public-private joint ventures. Secondly, I have made great contributions and it’s time for me to be promoted!

Emperor Hongzhi could not make a decision easily: "What do you think?"

Li Dongyang's family did not have the skills to make iron, and he did not care whether the imperial court cooperated with Liangxiang. As long as the military preparedness was sufficient to compensate for the nine sides, it was good governance.

"No, the amount of forged weapons is a secret of the imperial court. How can we let Liangxiang know about it?"

"And if the price of refined steel is high, then letting the Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce get involved is not seeking public benefit for private gain?"

The six subjects gave a personal account of the matter one after another.

Liangxiang and the imperial court co-organized it, and they will definitely order the workshop to ban steel forging.

Just like the prohibition on smuggling of salt, only those with salt leads can participate in this business.

Good guy, Yan Chengjin, a bad official, has a direct monopoly.

"I second that the method of forging fine steel should not be spread to the public, to avoid smuggling weapons and starting an army to cause chaos." Jiang Mian said.

Yan Chengjin walked back to the team.

Nowadays, people all over the world are gradually reclaiming wasteland, and their food and clothing are temporarily solved. This is the golden age for capital to sprout.

When the people have money, they want to spend it, and they can build various workshops.

However, the imperial court controlled fine steel forging and only forged weapons, not farm tools.

This is like having a treatment that covers the entire field, but only using it for yourself.

The faces of all the gentlemen are different.

All the officials who opposed it stood up, but those who supported it did not say anything to avoid being regarded as belonging to the Yan Chengjin faction.

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Yan Chengjin and said calmly: "What do the Yan Qing family want to say?"

What Baiguan said may not necessarily make sense.

"This technique was created in Liangxiang, and now there are many iron smelting factories in the market. Within three years, the method of fine steel forging will definitely flow into the market."

Craftsmen move around frequently. This year they will work for the imperial court, and next year they may work for the gentry.

Jiang Mian said: "A ban can be issued!"

"What if the gentry is smelting overseas? Foundries can be set up in North Korea, island countries, Siam and other places. Can the imperial court arrest them overseas?"

When going to sea, the most important thing is to prepare the boat.

Secondly, there are the soldiers and soldiers who are willing to fight without hesitation. The thought of the sky-high price and waste is enough to make the court give up.

The ministers remained silent.

Yan Chengjin said: "The imperial court and the Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce jointly operated the iron smelting plant and forged large quantities. The gentry could not make money, so they would not think about fine steel."

From the mining and transportation of raw materials to furnace burning and forging, hundreds or thousands of people are needed, which is more than the iron-making process.

You also have to pay mining tax and commercial tax.

If you invest in such a big stall, you might go bankrupt.

Moreover, there were not many places where steel was used in the Ming Dynasty. It was mostly used by the court to build bridges, refine troops and build roads.

The market was monopolized by the imperial court, so the gentry naturally no longer wanted to make steel.

Emperor Hongzhi thought for a moment and looked at the ministers calmly: "As Yan Qing's family said, the imperial court and Liangxiang forged a trial."

All the officials were as silent as cicadas and had no choice but to bow down and obey the order.

Yan Chengjin looked at Emperor Hongzhi.

Emperor Hongzhi's old face moved slightly, and he became a little embarrassed: "The Yan Qing family has made great achievements, and I have been promoted to the next level."

The second rank was promoted to the first rank, above the ministers of the six ministries.

The faces of all the gentlemen changed slightly. Many people could not be promoted to bachelor's degree even when they were old.

This guy got promoted again...

He actually looked dissatisfied!

Yan Chengjin said: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Mao Ji was slightly moved. His son was a scholar. If he entered the court and became an official, he would probably be promoted.

When he returned to the house feeling depressed, Mao Ji felt that something was wrong when he saw the housekeeper walking up to him with a troubled expression on his face: "What's the matter?"

The butler took out the blood book and a strand of hair and hesitated: "Master, master wants to sever the father-son relationship with me!"

A mouthful of blood rushed out of his chest and went up his throat. Mao Ji's vision went dark and he felt sick. He almost spit out blood and fell to the ground.

Sever, sever the relationship between father and son?

I never thought that this scoundrel would use such an operation.

He has been taught to read and write since he was a child, and he is an upright and unyielding man. How could he treat me like this?

The housekeeper quickly helped Mao Ji up: "Master?"

"Master, where is the master?"

"Run out."

At this time, Yan Mansion.

Mao Qu waited here for a long time, looking left and right, but there was no one in the alley.

Suddenly, there was the sound of a young boy humming. He looked up and saw a sedan slowly approaching.

"The student has met Master Yan."

Yan Chengjin heard the voice was familiar, and after thinking for a while he realized it was Mao Qu, "I have fired you from your job, so why are you here?"

"Students want to go back to the Chamber of Commerce and become engineers."

There was silence in the sedan.

Mao Qu hurriedly said: "Master Yan, don't worry, the student has severed ties with his father."

My father insisted on following his father's ways. He insisted on following his ways and severed the relationship, so that he would not be afraid of injuring his father in the future.

Yan Chengjin couldn't help but lift the curtain of the sedan chair. These gentry children were each better at playing than the other.

In the past two days, I looked at Mao Ji's archives and found that Mao Qu was Mao Ji's only son and had a bit of Zhu Houzhao's courage and resourcefulness.

Ordinary children would have been beaten to death long ago if they did this.

Being an only child is just different.

"What is your dream?"

Mao Qu raised his head blankly, becoming a little anxious, not knowing what dreams were.

If you fail to answer Master Yan's assessment, I'm afraid you will never be able to return to your good hometown again in your lifetime.

He Neng lowered his head and smiled secretly. Once the young master asked this question, the eight-headed cow could not pull him back. He smiled seductively and said: "The young master is asking you about your ambition."

Mao Qu's eyes gradually became clear: "Be like Master Song and become a leading craftsman."

The imperial court and Liangxiang jointly established the Steelmaking Bureau, which was in short supply of supervisory officials.

Mao Ji from the Ministry of Industry is responsible for supervision. If Mao Qu serves as the supervisor, there will be much less friction and fighting between the court and engineers, and between Yamen and Lifu.

Yan Chengjin thought for a while, picked up a pen and paper, wrote down the deed, and handed it over: "Sign this. From now on, you will be the junior chief engineer of the Steelmaking Bureau, and you will supervise the steelmaking tomorrow."

Mao Qu froze in place, as if hearing the sound of nature.

There are only four chief engineers in Liangxiang, and he was promoted to junior chief engineer within one month of joining the engineering profession.

My hands couldn't help but tremble as I read the contract again: I voluntarily serve as an engineer in Liangxiang, abide by the engineer's confidentiality contract, and supervise the craftsmen in smelting fine steel...

Early in the morning, Wenhua Hall.

Emperor Hongzhi was about to go to the morning court.

Xiao Jing stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Mr. Mao is going to take three days' leave. I heard that he is seriously ill and has been admitted to the ward of Huimin Pharmacy."

Emperor Hongzhi frowned: "What's the matter?"

"I heard that his son Mao Qu wants to sever the father-son relationship with him and join the Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce as an engineer."

Emperor Hongzhi's expression froze.

It's really treasonous.

Are there such scoundrels in the world? Although the prince is stubborn, he cannot do such a thing.

During the morning court, eyes from all directions were looking at Yan Chengjin. They had all heard about Master Mao.

Sure enough, no one can escape that sentence so far, this person is misleading others!

Zhang Fuhua's face was solemn, and he held a fluorene report: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of War has something to report today."

The minister's eyes gradually shifted to him.

"According to reports from my spies, there are people selling military positions in exchange for money in Yansui, Datong, Xuanfu, Shaanxi and other places.

A hundred households sell for three hundred taels, a deputy thousand households sell for five hundred taels, a thousand households sell for eight hundred taels, the commander-in-chief sells 1,500 taels, and the commander-in-chief sells two thousand taels...

As long as you collect enough money, you can be promoted. "

The hall gradually became quiet.

The ministers looked solemn.

Yansui and Datong were not the areas under the jurisdiction of Yan Kesong, the Marquis of Anding.

How could such a rotten thing happen? !

Yan Chengjin's heart skipped a beat, he was actually selling his official position in the army at a clearly stated price? Dad doesn't know?