I want to ruin the country

Yining scolded,

"Alas, what I'm afraid of is that you're still living in a dream. Ever since Eunuch Sanbao sailed to the West, Westerners have realized how big the world is. They've carried out the Industrial Revolution, switching from manual manufacturing to machine manufacturing, and yet we're still complacent!"

Su Shun asked,

“What is the Industrial Revolution?”

Yining Road,

"Simply put, it's about transitioning from handmade to industrial manufacturing. I can't explain this in advance, so just follow my instructions!"

When Wen Qing heard that the emperor had a big plan in mind, he stopped talking and asked,

"What are the two workshops going to be used for?"

Yining Road,

"I have a use for them all. As for what they are used for, I will keep it secret for now."

"I'll make arrangements right away. Where are we moving to?"

Yining Road,

"First, find a large yard. If the house isn't suitable, renovate it and vacate it within a month at the latest!"

Wen Qing sucked his teeth.

“Time is too tight!”

"No negotiation!"

Wenqing didn't dare to say anything. Why was the current emperor so unreasonable?

Su Shundao,

"It costs a lot of money to support these craftsmen!"

Yining Road,

"When their intelligence and talents are fully utilized, you will know that it is worth the money to support these people!"

Su Shun and Wen Qing still didn't quite understand why craftsmen were so important!

Since ancient times, there have been scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans. Even illiterate old farmers were ranked ahead of craftsmen. Why did the emperor suddenly pay attention to them?

Wen Qing thought for a long time and said,

"Your Majesty, this will cost a lot of money!"

"Don't you have a ready-made yard?"

Man Hing Road,

"There is a yard, but it's a bit far from the palace."

Yining Road,

"Don't worry about the distance. It will be a factory in the future. The roaring and clanging of machines in residential areas will only disturb the residents!"

Wenqing and Sushun both looked at the emperor with strange eyes. Why did the emperor say such new words today? What the hell was this machine?

Yining was too lazy to explain to them and just said,

"Machines are designed to replace human work, like Zhuge Liang's wooden horse!"

"The wooden ox and horse have long been lost. Who can make them?"

Yining Road,

"I can make one, and it will be bigger and more powerful than the wooden ox and horse!"

Man Hing Road,

"Really?"

Yining looked at him with a smile.

"That would cost a lot of money, so I asked you to come today! Didn't you expect me to ask you for something?"

Wenqing rolled his eyes and said half-jokingly,

"Your Majesty, I have served the late Emperor for decades. Is there anything I don't understand? Is the food Your Majesty gives me delicious?"

Yining Road,

"You old fox, I can't hide anything from you. Tell the truth, I need money, a lot of money!"

Wenqing became anxious again.

"Your Majesty, I am not lying. We only have that little money!"

Yining smiled and said,

"I know you won't lie to me. Even if we don't have money, don't we have something?"

Wenqing was puzzled.

"what?"

Yining Road,

"It's those antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and porcelain you mentioned!"

Wenqing was anxious.

"Your Majesty, you cannot touch these things. They are our ancestral property. Wouldn't messing with them be a waste of money?"

Yining Road,

"There are a lot of treasures lying around, things you can't eat or chew. Wouldn't it be better to exchange them for money?"

Wenqing's eyes were as big as cow eggs.

"Let alone the Emperor, even if it were the common people messing with the ancestral property, it would be considered a prodigal act and would be laughed at by everyone, let alone the Emperor. We cannot let the whole world laugh at us!"

Yining rolled his eyes.

"So what? It's because we are poor!"

"This is absolutely unacceptable. Your Majesty's reputation..."

Yining Road,

"Compared to the empire, which is more important, that pile of stuff or my reputation? If I lose my kingdom, I'll lose my life too. Where will I put my face?"

Wenqing felt like he had eaten eight bitter melons.

"Your Majesty, you can find another way. Your Majesty selling antiques is an anecdote that will be remembered for ages, and we servants are also shamed. How can we, the servants, face the late emperor in the afterlife?"

Yining also became serious.

"How about you give me a few million taels of silver to spend first!"

"Slave...slave..."

"I know you would take it if your family had it, but would giving out a few hundred thousand dollars be any use to such a big country?"

Man Hing Road,

"But we don't have time to wait and spend money. We can wait and discuss what the emperor just said!"

Yining's face darkened.

"You're so foolish and short-sighted. You said there's no place to spend money. Then let me explain the interests involved!"

Wenqing and Sushun said together,

"Your Majesty, I will listen carefully to your instructions!"

Yining Road,

"The little things we just talked about in the palace are all trivial matters. Even if we don't do anything for three to five years, it won't lead to the destruction of the country and the race!

Let’s not even mention that the Western European powers are eyeing us covetously and are ready to go to war with us in a few years!

We haven't even mentioned how many bandits are occupying the mountains and causing harm to the people all over the country, and we need to mobilize a large army to wipe them out!"

"What does the Emperor want to say?"

Yining Road,

"Let's talk about the present situation. The God Worshipping Society in the Southwest is ready to make a move. I have received news that they will rise up in a few months. Is this a serious threat? Should we prepare to eliminate them?

And things aren't peaceful here in Anhui either. There's a group of people there ready to make trouble, and they're going to start a rebellion soon. Can I just ignore it?!

When the time comes and war breaks out all over the world, we won't have a penny, so what will we use to start a war?

Should I let the soldiers go to war with only sticks on their backs and an empty stomach? Or should I hang myself on that crooked tree on Coal Hill like Emperor Chongzhen did?

"This one……"

Yining said again,

“Why are the people rebelling?”

"He must have been bewitched by a traitor!"

“If they were living a happy life with no worries about food and clothing, how many people would be willing to listen to the instigation of evil people?

Isn't it because they have no food to eat, and they are selling their children for food, and in some places they are even exchanging their own children for food? How can the people not rebel?"

After the emperor left the palace, everyone understood the true situation among the people. Wenqing and Sushun kept their heads down and said nothing.

Yining Road,

"Everyone, wake up! This is real life for ordinary people. The court's credibility has plummeted to its lowest point. Ordinary people don't know who to trust anymore!"

Wenqing asked,

"What does the Emperor intend to do?"

Yining Road,

"I need to raise a large sum of money to buy food, build warships, and train new troops. In short, there are so many places to spend money. Where do you want me to get the money?"

The two of them bowed their heads and remained silent.

Yining Road,

"Su Shun wasn't there that day. Wenqing, tell me, who can come up with a plan to get 120 million taels of silver in three months?"

Su Shun also heard about what happened that day and said,

"We have food in government warehouses across the country. Besides, we don't necessarily need so much food. Half a pound of food a day per person is enough to get by!"

Yining Road,

"Just as you said, if we reduce it by half, do you think that will solve the problem?"