The prince of heaven only wants salted fish

After unpacking the things, Ji Cheng finally showed a provocative smile on his face.

Wen Renen's disciples were stunned for a moment, and immediately took over the wooden yuan that was injured twice, and examined it carefully: "...This cross-section is really perfect!"

"As expected of His Majesty the Immortal!"

"Your Majesty's action is extraordinary!"

Jicheng: "..."

Ministers: "..."

It seemed like I had learned something.

Wen Renen: "..."

How could he accept such a group of disciples! !

After all, he was blowing his own rainbow fart. After the initial speechlessness, Ji Cheng cleared his throat: "It's good that you know."

Then he straightened his expression: "Thank you for your hard work in this war with Bei Xia."

The apprentices waved their hands repeatedly: "It's not hard work, it's your majesty's hard work."

Wen Ren'en also said sternly: "The grassroots people promised His Majesty in the hope of doing their part. How can it be regarded as hard work?"

He looked a little ashamed: "And if it weren't for His Majesty, it's unclear whether this task could be completed on time. It's just the common people who don't do their job well."

Jicheng said: "Master Wenren, don't feel down on yourself. Without your efforts, I alone would not be able to accomplish all these things."

The business exchange session was over, and he had a more usual smile on his face: "Furthermore, when we call the master back to the capital, we also have new tasks to deliver."

Wenren En said: "Your Majesty, please speak."

Jicheng said: "I want to establish a special official department for the research of mechanism techniques."

Not only Wen Renen, but also all the ministers present were stunned.

Jicheng continued on his own: "In other words, it's not just machine skills. Other technologies that are usable and beneficial to the people, and any technology that is beneficial to Daning, must be included."

He said in a calm tone: "There are many skilled craftsmen in the world. Among the people, they are at most just some famous craftsmen. They accumulate some money and fame for themselves and help a few people in the surrounding neighbors - but what if there is support from the court?"

"Mr. Wenren's research on improved repeating crossbows can determine the outcome of a small war. What if more people and more energy were invested in these studies?"

After thinking about what Jicheng said, the people present couldn't help but be a little bright-eyed.

Wen Ren'en and his disciples can make repeating crossbows, trebuchets, and flying wooden kites. If only there were a few more...

"But this is just an idea for the time being," Jicheng said again, "It is not easy to recruit craftsmen and coordinate them. My current idea is to establish such a department first, with Master Wenren as the Take the lead, if possible, recruit more apprentices to train.”

"It is not necessarily necessary to teach them innovation and improvement, but some basic knowledge. At least we will not be too short of manpower in the manufacturing and operation of mechanisms."

He looked at Wen Ren'en: "What do you think Mr. Wen Ren is?"

Wen Ren'en couldn't help but hesitate a little - he knew the benefits of this move, but firstly, he didn't have much yearning for fame and wealth. Secondly, everyone nowadays is very stingy in teaching technology. Each family treasures their own skills and accepts an apprentice. It's not that different from raising a son.

And according to Jicheng, once this department is established, what he has learned must be disseminated.

This actually goes against his usual ideas, but...

Wen Renen finally gritted his teeth and nodded: "But it depends on His Majesty's orders."

If it can be beneficial to Daning, he is willing to give it a try.

Jicheng seemed to raise his eyelids in surprise, but then he smiled and said, "Thank you, Mr. Wenren, for your help."

He pointed at Jiang Li who was standing aside: "Then Prime Minister Jiang will be solely responsible for this matter. Just communicate with him if you have any questions."

Jiang Li looked closely at his nose and heart: "...Huh?"

Jicheng looked over with light eyes, and Prime Minister Jiang immediately responded loudly: "No problem! Leave it to me!"

Why is there one more thing happening to him?

But when superiors assigned tasks, subordinates naturally had to complete them quickly. Jiang Li appointed a few more ministers on the spot to set up a new department discussion group, and immediately went to work. Wen Renen and others had nothing else to do in the imperial study, so they left after a short time.

The functional attributes of the new department required by Jicheng are clear. Currently, Wen Renen and his few apprentices are the only ones who can use it, so the prototype of this department called "Jiang Workshop" was built. It is under the control of one of the Nine Ministers, but anyone with a discerning eye knows the energy behind it - the emperor personally ordered it, and the prime minister and other important ministers handled it single-handedly. Who dares not to pay attention to it?

However, the craftsmen's workshop recruits craftsmen, and not many officials can enter, and most people can only look forward to it.

And Wen Ren'en did not disappoint Jicheng's expectations. Within just a few months of its establishment, the craftsman's workshop produced a lot of results - but they were not weapons, but tools for agricultural production.

For example, waterwheels and wooden plows, which are more convenient and labor-saving, have been tested by Shaofu officials and can improve farming efficiency a lot.

These things were first applied in Gyeonggi and further south, and then slowly spread to the entire Daning.

Officials in the DPRK and China were also very pleasantly surprised: the new repeating crossbows and trebuchets that were used in the previous war with the Northern Xia were so surprising that they had heard Jicheng say that the idea of ​​the "Craftsman's Workshop" was only to be developed. Weapons, on the contrary, he limited his thinking and forgot that this famous master was not specialized in weapon research and development.

After all, just having strong force is not enough - don't you see that Northern Xia's territory is so large, and every winter it's not enough for food and clothing, but it's plundering everywhere?

For Daning, agricultural productivity is fundamental!

However, it was still late winter when these new tools were launched, and their true effectiveness will not be clear until next year’s harvest.

In early spring, there was another wave of movement on Daning's border. Everyone was ready to welcome Bei Xia's attack. The weather had warmed up a lot now. Bei Xia didn't get much food from Daning last year. There were new and old grudges. Counting them all together, I am afraid that a large-scale attack will be launched earlier than in previous years, right?

Read more latest popular novels at 6.9* Book Bar!

However, they waited and waited. Northern Xia's army did not arrive, but they waited for help from the neighboring country Dongyi.

Dongyi is adjacent to Northern Xia and also borders Daning, but its territory is smaller than that of Daning, and its national strength is not that great. It can be said that Northern Xia did not destroy Dongyi, largely because they regarded them as Free granary - Northern Xia people are not good at planting, so every year Dongyi will pay tribute to them a large amount of food and money in exchange for peace.

Dongyi did things well, and Bei Xia really had no intention of attacking them in the past years, and mostly focused on Daning.

However, in the spring of this year, Bei Xia did not attack Daning, which had caused them great losses last year. Instead, they targeted Dong Yi. In just half a month, they had captured two of their cities.

It should be noted that Dongyi is much smaller than Daning. The two cities are already considered a huge loss, not to mention that Bei Xia seems to have no intention of withdrawing its troops.

It was at this time that Dongyi's envoy came to Daning's capital with gifts and asked for help from Daning.

Their envoy burst into tears at the Taining Hall and spoke with certainty: "Those Northern Xia people are coming with such ferocity that they have broken through our two cities in Dongyi in just half a month. At this rate, we will be annihilated in three months." Maybe!"

"Daning is adjacent to Dongyi. Last year, it even defeated Northern Xia's many attacks. We, the people of Dongyi, were very impressed when we heard about it! It is for this reason that our monarch gave Daning a warning after much thought. Asking for help, I want to ask you to help send troops to drive away the hateful Northern Xia invaders! "

"These are some gifts prepared by our Dong Yi. It's not respectful to be too careful. I hope His Majesty Daning can accept them."

Many of Daning's ministers were ready to move after hearing the praise: "Dongyi and Daning are adjacent to each other, and we have heard of the truth that lips are dying and teeth are cold..."

"Beixia is so disgusting!"

"We are much stronger now than before. It is not impossible to consider sending troops to assist..."

Jiang Li and some of the sober ministers did not express their stance immediately, but stood there with tangled expressions.

——Of course they understand the principle of lip death and teeth cold, but can the relationship between Dongyi and Daning be as good as lip death and teeth cold?

As far as they knew, Dongyi had long been a semi-submissive vassal to Northern Xia, asking for money and food. It was strange that Northern Xia did not come to attack Daning but went to attack Dongyi, who did not have much offensive value. , now that Dongyi is in such a critical situation, are you only asking for military assistance from one country?

This sounds suspicious of fraud!

And the envoy on the other end was still actively lobbying: "We in Dongyi have long heard that Daning is now powerful in weapons. If even a little bit of it is revealed, it will be enough for us to fight back against Bei Xia!"

"And if Daning can help, this kind of righteous deed will be praised by everyone when it spreads throughout the world!"

"Of course," the envoy suddenly lowered his head and smiled bitterly, "If Daning doesn't want to... then our Dongyi Kingdom will be destroyed, and naturally he won't say anything more."

Jiang Li and others: "!!!"

Not only do you covet our weapons, but you also threaten our reputation? !

Jicheng sat on the dragon chair and watched the other party's performance for a long time, and yawned for a long time: "The gift Dongyi prepared is really sincere. I heard about your experience and I am very sympathetic, so..."

The envoy was overjoyed: "So, has His Majesty Daning agreed to send troops? It would be fine to provide some weapons and assistance!!"

Jicheng's expression was serious: "So I will tell the world and denounce Bei Xia's unkind and unhumane behavior to express my strong condemnation."