He was born as a blacksmith, but he dominated the world

Chapter 344 What Do the Powerful Clans Know?

As he spoke, Hong Shuai stuffed another pill of Seven Sages Powder into his mouth. The powerful medicinal power surged into his body, constantly repairing his injuries, making him so comfortable that he almost cried out.

This pill is really good stuff!
Si Hongwen flipped through the roster and saw so many blacksmithing materials that he felt dizzy.

Although he had not compared it, he was very sure that even the Ministry of Industry would not be able to produce much material that was not duplicated in the list.

Si Hongwen coughed, walked over to the drugged Hong Shuai and said, "Hong Shuai, with so many materials, it's not easy to find unique ones. I will try my best to have people look through them, but I estimate that there are only two or three hundred at most."

"Two or three hundred kinds?" Marshal Hong frowned immediately. "Si Hongwen, please don't lie to me. Although the best materials have been snatched away by the powerful clans, your Ministry of Industry has been around for so many years, you shouldn't have only this much in stock."

"It's not that the Ministry of Industry has a low inventory." Si Hongwen smiled bitterly, "It's just that there are too many materials on this list. I guess Lord Jiang Linjiang wanted them, right? Didn't he tell you that the Ministry of Industry had already sent one or two thousand different materials?"

Hong Shuai was surprised. Jiang Lin had never mentioned this and he had never seen the roster.

Are you only thinking about blacksmithing materials? What's so good about them? There are thousands of them, but only three thousand are not readily available.

Seeing Si Hongwen's sincere face, Marshal Hong said, "If that's the case, then take as much as you can. I won't make it difficult for you. But the Ministry of Industry is really poor. It can't even take out 3,000 kinds of materials."

Si Hongwen opened his mouth slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but after thinking about it, he finally kept silent.

"Go to the warehouse and bring all the unused materials to Hong Shuai."

Hong Shuai waved his hand and said, "What are you doing? Just send him to the blacksmith camp and give him to Jiang Lin."

Si Hongwen naturally had no objection. After taking a pill of Seven Sages Powder, Marshal Hong felt much better and said, "That's it. Since the Ministry of Industry can't give it to me, I'll go ask other people for it. Your Ministry of Industry is too poor. I don't know why Jiang Lin is willing to work under you. He is no match for our border troops!"

Si Hongwen laughed dryly and said, "Marshal Hong is teaching us that the Ministry of Industry is a little poor."

Hong Shuai didn't want to say more to him, so he turned and left.

An official from the Ministry of Works came over and asked in a low voice, "Why didn't the Minister tell Marshal Hong that many materials had been taken away by Marshal Yu?"

"Why would you say that?" Si Hongwen smiled complacently, and said, "Didn't Marshal Hong say that our Ministry of Industry is poor? Let's see where he can find the remaining 2,000 kinds of materials in Kyoto City today."

After hearing this, the official was slightly startled, then he understood Si Hongwen's intention and couldn't help laughing out loud.

Yes, the entire Kyoto city, from the Ministry of Works to the garrison camp to officials at all levels, everyone living in Kyoto city has been looted by Marshal Yu's men.

Any rat that ran through the gutter would be grabbed and shaken.

If Hong Shuai can find another hundred kinds of materials, he will be considered capable.

When the Ministry of Works sent the found materials to the blacksmith camp, Marshal Hong also came to the Ministry of War.

He threw the same roster at the Minister of War and said in a careless manner, "Immediately find 2,800 kinds of ironmaking materials that are not recorded in the roster and are not repeated. I want them."

After saying that, Hong Shuai took drugs again, squinting his eyes comfortably, full of enjoyment.

Deng Yufeng, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War, was stunned and asked, "What does Marshal Hong need so many materials for?"

"Jiang Lin is going to use it to forge a Saint-grade Chaos Arrow and take it to the northwest to kill those bandits from Xiyi. We need to hurry up," said Hong Shuai.

However, Deng Yufeng smiled bitterly and said, "It is indeed for Lord Jiang. I said that no one in the border army would need so many materials."

After a pause, Deng Yufeng bowed and said, "Please forgive me, Marshal Hong, I really can't get these things out. Marshal Yu has already sent General Cai to search through all the inventory materials of the Ministry of War, and collected several hundred kinds and sent them to the blacksmith camp."

"General Cai? Cai Xingchang?" Marshal Hong opened his eyes and looked over, asking, "Why did he send so many materials?"

"Doesn't Marshal Hong know?" Deng Yufeng said in surprise, "Lord Jiang promised to replace all the weapons of Marshal Yu's one million soldiers with weapons of the third grade or above, and 10% of them will be of the second grade. Marshal Yu promised to give Lord Jiang more than 100 million taels of silver, 6,000 kinds of materials, and branches of the ancient purple gold wood transplanted from Xuanhua Dao."

Seeing Hong Shuai's increasingly gloomy face, Deng Yufeng couldn't help but take two steps back and said with a dry laugh: "Hong Shuai, don't be angry. Many people know about this. Didn't anyone tell you?"

Naturally, no one told Marshal Hong about this. He didn't take such a "small matter" too seriously. In addition, in order to prevent Xu Jiandao from escaping from Daqian, he led his troops to the northwestern border early.

After hearing what Deng Yufeng said, Marshal Hong gritted his teeth and said, "So what you mean is that Marshal Yu not only requisitioned materials from the Ministry of Industry in advance in order to build weapons for his million soldiers, but also ran out of materials from the Ministry of War?"

"Of course not." Deng Yufeng said.

Hong Shuai couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Could it be that there was still stock?
However, Deng Yufeng said, "Not only the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War, but also officials at all levels, even the garrison camps, including the civilian blacksmith shops, have all been plundered by the border troops a few days ago. There should be nothing left now."

Hong Shuai held the last pill of Seven Sages Powder in his hand, but he had no interest in taking drugs at all.

His teeth are almost broken and his face is extremely gloomy.

unacceptable!

This is really too much! Not only did Yu Shuai get such a huge benefit, but he also searched all the materials. What should he do?
Thinking about how Jiang Lin only wanted one or two thousand species at the beginning, but he boasted and raised the number to three thousand, Hong Shuai suddenly felt like slapping himself twice.

He himself came from the border army, so he naturally understood the border army's style. I'm afraid that there is not a single hair left in the entire Kyoto city.

Marshal Hong took a step forward, grabbed Deng Yufeng by the collar, stared at the second-rank minister of the Ministry of War, and said angrily: "I don't care what method you use, but you must collect 2,800 kinds. This matter concerns the stability of the northwest border. Do you want to die?"

Deng Yufeng had a bitter face and did not dare to resist. He just said, "Marshal Hong, please calm down. It's not that I don't want to do it, but I really can't do it..."

At this time, an official from the Ministry of War said with gritted teeth: "There are only two ways now."

Hong Shuai pushed Deng Yufeng away and turned to look at the official: "Speak!"

"The first thing is to find the powerful clans. I'm sure they have ten or even a hundred times more materials than we do."

Hong Shuai asked without thinking: "What about the second method?"

It is not so easy to take advantage of the powerful clans. If you go to them to ask for materials without any reason, it is hard to say whether they will give you the materials.

"The second way is to go find General Ling. Dachen and Daliang are attacking on two fronts, and now the results are remarkable. I'm sure we can find a lot of materials." said the official.

Hong Shuai's eyes lit up when he heard this. Yes, there is also Ling Shuai!
Without saying a word, he turned around and walked out of the Ministry of War. In a flash, he disappeared on the spot.

Seeing that Marshal Hong seemed to really want to ask Marshal Ling for the materials, Deng Yufeng straightened his messed-up collar, looked at the official, and sighed, "Aren't you asking for trouble? Everyone knows that Marshal Yu has already sent someone to ask Marshal Ling for the materials, and he should be back by now."

The official smiled bitterly and said, "What else? If you don't give me an explanation today, Marshal Hong will probably tear this place down."

The Marshal's power was not above that of the Ministry of War, but in reality, his prestige was even greater.

If anyone from the Ministry of War demolished the Marshal's Mansion in Gubei Lane, it would be a capital crime with the entire nine generations of the clan being executed.

But if the Marshal dismantled the Ministry of War in anger, I am sure Your Majesty would just reprimand him and fine him some salary.

"But if Marshal Hong can't find the materials from Marshal Ling, he will eventually come back." Deng Yufeng said.

"Come back? In my opinion, Marshal Hong may not come back to find us."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

The official said, "Since Marshal Hong was looking for information for Lord Jiang, I believe the two of them talked about it face to face. How could a great Marshal tolerate such a loss of face if he promised others but couldn't do it?"

"Since Ling Shuai can't find the materials, I guess Hong Shuai will go directly to a few powerful clans to get some. He can't come back empty-handed."

Deng Yufeng nodded slightly after hearing this: "That's true."

The official smiled slightly and said, "It's a good opportunity to test the reaction of the powerful clans."

"Well, it's a good idea to kill two birds with one stone. Very good." Deng Yufeng praised with a smile.

The official was slightly proud in his heart, and he clasped his hands and said, "It is all thanks to the advice of the Minister that I have this..."

"Guide? I dare not guide you." Deng Yufeng's face suddenly darkened, and he said in a cold voice: "Although it is well-intentioned, how dare you use a general without the emperor's order? Strip him of his official position, put him in jail, and deal with him when Marshal Hong comes back!"

The third-rank official was stunned. Several guards had already stepped forward to hold him. He was immediately panicked and said, "Sir, I only have good intentions and have no intention of taking advantage of you, the Marshal!"

"Take him away!" Deng Yufeng said coldly.

No matter how the man protested his injustice, Deng Yufeng ignored him.

This person had just been promoted from the local government army. To a certain extent, the Ministry of War was a key area infiltrated by powerful clans.

But unfortunately, almost every person sent in by a powerful clan would be quickly identified and then beheaded for various reasons.

So much so that the powerful clans were wondering why this was happening.

They are obviously very careful in what they do, so why is it that none of them can live long?
Deng Yufeng sneered in his heart. How could those who truly stood on the side of the court want to stir up unnecessary disputes?

What's more, he is the Marshal! Each of them is one of the backbones of the Daqian Dynasty!

Those who truly work for the court would only think of charging into the enemy ranks themselves, and would never use the general to test the bottom line of the powerful clans.

If anyone could take advantage of it, it could only be His Majesty the Emperor!
However, people from powerful clans often don’t understand this point, so every time they come up, they are quickly caught and die miserably.

(End of this chapter)