My father is Jiajing

Chapter 280 Do You Really Think This King Won't Make a King Bomb?

Hai Rui's words also made Zhang Juzheng's expression solemn. This problem was indeed quite serious, and he actually didn't notice it for a while. It was really wrong.

Zhang Juzheng said, "Ruxian is right about this question. I was not thoughtful enough and was so busy with the work of the City Construction Department that I overlooked this matter. I have to remind Wang Fuyin again and ask him to be more careful and not fall into the trap of the young cabinet minister."

After Zhang Juzheng finished speaking, Zhu Zaigui waved his hand and said, "No, no, don't worry about Wang Youzhao for now. People like him need to be let go. Don't be too nice to him. If you are too nice to him, he will think it's his due."

"When he suffers a loss and can't afford it anymore, you come forward to help him. Then he will regard you as a lifeline. At that time, you can use him to help me directly manage the workers and laborers for the expansion of the capital. It will be more handy and he will be more loyal to his duties."

"Otherwise, the benefits of city construction are so great. If we help him now, he might become as greedy as Yan Shifan, and might even implicate you."

"So, what I mean is to help him in an emergency but not in poverty. When he is targeted by Yan Shifan and has nowhere else to go, we will help him. Only then will he be grateful."

Zhu Zaigui's words immediately made Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, Hai Rui and others feel a chill in their hearts. They never expected that such words would be uttered by a fifteen-year-old.

But at the same time, they were also very happy in their hearts that the prince they assisted could have such clear ideas and mind. Doesn't that mean that in the future, the Ming Dynasty will have a better hope of completing its revival and eliminating the accumulated problems?
Zhang Juzheng bowed to Zhu Zaigui and said, "Thank you for your teachings, Your Majesty. I understand."

Zhu Zaigui smiled shyly and blushed, "Mr. Zhang, what are you talking about? You are my teacher, how can I teach you? You must not say that. If this gets out, how will others see me? Maybe someone will say that I don't know how to respect teachers and I am bullying my teacher by relying on my status."

Zhang Juzheng also smiled when he heard this. He knew that this was Zhu Zaigui's joke. Zhang Juzheng said, "Your Highness, you are too serious. Han Changli once said, 'A disciple does not have to be inferior to his teacher, and a teacher does not have to be better than his disciple. There are differences in learning and specialization. That's all.' If Your Highness can surpass our teacher and have higher knowledge and insight than us, it will be a blessing for the Ming Dynasty!"

As soon as Zhang Juzheng said this, everyone in the room started laughing.

Whether it was Zhang Juzheng who came later or Gao Gong who came earlier, they were all extremely satisfied and pleased with Prince Yu, their student.

Sometimes they even felt that when they were teaching Zhu Zaigui, they were not educating him but discussing him.

Because there were many times when some of Zhu Zaigui's insights and opinions could refresh them and give them new inspiration.

After finishing talking about these serious matters, Zhu Zaigui looked at the empty tea in the teacup and said with a smile: "There is really no meal for lunch today. You should go back to do what you need to do. You eat at my mansion every day. I am almost bankrupting my mansion."

After hearing what Zhu Zaigui said, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, Hai Rui and others couldn't help laughing. The three of them stood up and said, "We will take our leave."

Zhu Zaigui smiled and escorted the three people out of the front hall. "Then I won't see you off. I've been quite busy recently. If you really don't have anything to do in the future, don't come here every day. It's too tiring."

However, when the three heard Zhu Zaigui's words, they acted as if they didn't hear them. Finally, the three of them bowed to Zhu Zaigui again before leaving Prince Yu's Mansion.

Watching the three people leaving, Zhu Zaigui couldn't help but sigh again, and said to Meng Chong beside him: "Do you think these three can understand my thoughts?"

Meng Chong smiled and said, "The three gentlemen are all very thoughtful people. I'm sure they can understand the prince's thoughts."

Zhu Zaiqi chuckled, "I'm glad you understand. Look at the three of them lately. They come to the palace just like they're going to work. They come every day, leaving me no time to rest. Teng Xiang is still waiting for me to send someone to help him improve his technology."

Speaking of Tengxiang, it is indeed very tight now. The limestone field in Xishan is the largest limestone field near the capital, and is destined to take on the main supply of construction materials.

However, if we rely on the previous lime production capacity, it would be simply a drop in the bucket and would not be able to cope with the needs of such a large project. By then, the people of northern Zhili would certainly have to do voluntary labor to help the court get these construction materials.

But the lives of these common people are already hard enough. If they give up other livelihoods to help the court, not to mention whether they will be even more miserable, the food, drink, and defecation of such a large number of people will eventually be charged to the court.

However, the budget allocated by the court for the expansion of the capital was only one million silver coins per year for salt tax, and this money was so difficult to get in the first year. By the second year, Zhu Zaigui couldn't believe what tricks Yan Shifan and Yan Maoqing would use to shirk their responsibilities.

So, this task is really not difficult.

But if Zhu Zaigui had just laid down and done nothing, then the capital's expansion project would most likely have ended up like in history, with only the southern wall being built and an unfinished project.

Therefore, it is really not easy to do this job well.

On the one hand, we have to ensure the supply of construction materials, and on the other hand, we have to compete with others.

It’s so fucking tiring!

No wonder the average life expectancy of ancient people was not high. It turns out that in addition to nutrition and medical issues, such meticulous calculations every day are also quite annoying.

"Have all the craftsmen in the mansion who are familiar with steam engine technology been sent?"

Zhu Zaigui was lying on a rocking chair in his own courtyard, holding an unfinished copy of the "Yongle Encyclopedia" in his hand. Si Hua and Si Qin were serving him attentively, one rubbing his shoulders and the other massaging his legs. Such a little life was so comfortable.

When Meng Chong heard Zhu Zaigui's voice, he quickly replied, "I have sent someone to take them over."

Zhu Zaigui hummed, "That's good. Let these craftsmen pick some smart, sensible and studious disciples over there, and help them research and manufacture the steam transmission belt for the lime field, and strive to improve the work efficiency of the lime field by several levels."

"There is also the issue of road construction. Don't hesitate. If the road is not repaired, how can materials be transported back and forth quickly? If the material transportation is slow, how can lime be burned efficiently?"

"You should explain these things to Teng Xiang clearly. Don't dwell on the three melons and two words in front of you. When this limestone field is built, can I still not benefit from him?"

"We need to send someone over from the coal yard to negotiate. If they still try to fool me, then go find Huang Jin and let him arrange for someone to take care of them. These bastards are really used to being wild and want to take advantage of everyone. Do you really think I won't come up with a trump card?"

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(End of this chapter)