I want to ruin the country

Peng Yunzhang thought to himself that the emperor had learned to speak sarcastically, and said hurriedly,

"The report below stated at least 800,000. I have already cut 300,000 off. I have done my best!"

Yining Road,

"You cut three hundred thousand with a stroke of your pen, but can you repair the riverbank?!"

Wen Qing sighed helplessly,

“It’s all because they have no money!”

He knew that in the past, the Ministry of Works had to spend money penny by penny, and the money of the Ministry of Revenue was tied to the ribs of that old man Sai Shang'a with wire.

Anyone who wants the money has to use pliers to pull it down, and it will be stained with his blood!

"I have no other choice. The budget for river repairs clearly requires ten taels of silver. When it comes to Lord Saishang'a, after all the deductions, you can only be given eight taels. You should be thankful!"

Yining Road,

"Don't think I don't know. You guys are over-reporting. You asked for ten taels for a job that needed five taels of silver. Even if they were smart, they still fell into your trap in the end!"

Peng Yunzhang said,

"It's sometimes like that, but this time, I don't dare ask for more than what we need to build the riverbank. I won't get any more than that!"

Yining looked at Wenqing,

"Give it to him!"

Wen Qing took out a silver note from his sleeve and said seriously,

"Master Peng, this is silver given to you. The Emperor has earmarked it for flood control. You must carefully consider how to spend it!"

Peng Yunzhang took it and looked at the silver note. He was shocked to see that it was worth five million taels!

Giving five million taels of silver all at once to control the flood, isn't that a dream?

Looking at his dazed look, Yining said,

"Since ancient times, floods have been a major concern. Year after year, efforts to control them have been in vain. Once a dam breaks, the people are displaced and forced to leave their homes, suffering untold."

Therefore, we must make great efforts to eradicate the flood. I hope you can find someone who really understands flood control to do this.

We must avoid the same situation as before, with floods breaking out year after year!"

Peng Yunzhang said with trembling lips,

"Your Majesty, I will definitely live up to your trust!"

In previous years, he might not be able to get five million silver from the Ministry of Revenue in a year. How could Peng Yunzhang not be excited when the emperor gave him so much at once?

Yining Road,

"My requirement is that the construction of reservoirs and dams be carried out simultaneously, the layout must be scientific and reasonable, and the management must be thorough.

Even if you only manage one foot or one inch a year, I won't blame you, but problems are not allowed to occur in the areas that have been managed!

Otherwise, all officials responsible for the project will be held accountable, and those found guilty of corruption and dereliction of duty will be beheaded!"

Peng Yunzhang was sweating profusely. He felt that the five million taels of silver had turned into a piece of red-hot charcoal, extremely hot!

Yining Road,

"I know that not all of the project funds you received in previous years were used on the project!"

Peng Yunzhang lowered his head.

"I have some expenses here and I have no choice but to embezzle some!"

Yining Road,

"I will not pursue the past, and from now on I will not deduct your normal expenses, but you cannot embezzle a single cent of the project funds!

Cutting corners will lead to serious consequences. If someone dies, I will take your lives to pay for it!"

Peng Yunzhang felt a chill on his neck after hearing this and said hurriedly,

"I will never let down the emperor's love for the people!"

Yining said again,

"This is the money I earned from selling my property, and I have to bear the blame!"

Peng Yunzhang said,

"I understand!"

"Get up, let's go to your powder house and have a look!"

The imperial court had very strict management of gunpowder. The Ministry of Works had an office specifically responsible for gunpowder, called the "Gunpowder Management Bureau", which was located inside You'anmen.

There was a "Zhuoling Factory" under the Gunpowder Bureau. The emperor appointed a specially selected minister and a vice minister of the Ministry of Works to be in charge of the manufacture of gunpowder.

The originally appointed minister in charge of this place was Qi Ying. Since Qi Ying was arrested, Yining has not sent anyone to be in charge of this place.

The person in charge of the Ministry of Industry now is the Left Vice Minister Na Qin. He hasn't been to the "Zhuoling Factory" for more than half a year. When he arrived at the factory, Yining asked some questions, but Na Qin basically didn't know the answer to any of them.

Yining became more and more unhappy as he watched. The workers were gathered in groups of three or two to chat idly, and gunpowder was piled everywhere. If something happened, half of the street would be blown up!

As the emperor's expression grew increasingly ugly, Peng Yunzhang's heart beat faster and faster.

Yining said to Naqin,

"Call the most experienced gunpowder master here to see me!"

After a while, a man named Cao Xingwang was brought to Yining.

"How many years have you been here?"

"I've been doing this for over 30 years!"

Yining took out two pictures.

"Master Cao, see if you can understand it!"

Cao Xingwang took it and looked at it for a long time.

"Your Majesty, they are both big firecrackers!"

Yining was very satisfied with his performance.

"You're lucky you can spot the firecrackers!"

Then, Yining gave a detailed introduction to the functional principles of the "heartless cannon" and "grenade".

Cao Xingwang understood.

"Your Majesty, I don't think this conscienceless cannon is too difficult, but this grenade is a bit difficult!

This thing needs to be able to be thrown dozens of steps away, explode when it hits the ground, and kill people within a few steps!"

"Right, that is it!"

Cao Xingwang thought for a moment and said,

"Making big firecrackers isn't difficult, but I don't know how to get the cast iron!"

Yining Road,

"That's why I came looking for you. It looks like a lump of iron in front, but it's actually hollow inside. Fill it with enough gunpowder and blow it apart, and the iron pieces will fly out and hurt people!"

Cao Xingwang asked,

"What's that wooden handle at the back for?"

Yining Road,

"One is that it can be thrown far, and the second is that if it's on a hill, it will spin in place after being thrown and won't roll very far.

The most important thing is that the wooden handle is hollow inside. After unscrewing the cover on the top, the fuse will be exposed.

When you use it, just pull the fuse and throw it out to explode!"

"It explodes as soon as you pull it, doesn't it require a fire?"

"It's inconvenient to light a fire. What if it rains?"

Cao Xingwang frowned.

"How can it light without a fire?"

Yining Road,

"Can you use iron tools when making gunpowder?"

"No, it will explode if there's even a spark!"

"Yes, gunpowder doesn't have to be ignited by fire to explode!"

Cao Xingwang thought for a long time, nodded and said,

"I can try, but I can't do it myself. I don't know how to cast iron!"

Yining Road,

"Go find Lord Peng. He will give you his full support. Once you have a sample, please let me know. I will come over to watch you test it!"

"The common people obey the decree!"

Yining handed another picture to Peng Yunzhang.

"When these two things are completed, give them this diagram and continue studying!"

Before leaving the Ministry of Works, Yining Road,

"Peng Yunzhang, this marriage is not right! It's too chaotic here, and if something goes wrong, it will be a big deal!

From now on, you will let Du Han be in charge of the gunpowder bureau here. If there is anything, report it directly to me. I will no longer appoint other ministers to interfere in the affairs of the gunpowder bureau!"

Du Han quickly agreed.

"The minister obeys the order!"

Peng Yunzhang was very nervous. From the moment the emperor called him by his name, he knew that the work here did not satisfy the emperor!

Although they didn't know why the emperor attached so much importance to this place, they understood that the emperor must have his reasons for doing so. The emperor is becoming more and more unpredictable!