Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

"Your Majesty, this clock factory is currently the most profitable state-owned factory in Taiyuan Prefecture. Not only are the profits high, but the products it produces have no competitors whatsoever."

"Currently, our monthly net profit can reach over 800,000 kan, and we are also increasing our training for apprentices and craftsmen, and providing internship positions for the Imperial University's Faculty of Mechanical Engineering..."

"We recently reached a cooperation agreement with the Imperial University's School of Art, where they will design the clocks, and our clock factory will handle the production..."

Li Shimin followed the director of the Taiyuan Prefectural First Clock Factory as they walked through the production workshop.

In the assembly line workshop, each craftsman sits on a specially made chair with two pedals under his feet. As he pedals, the knives on the table in front of him begin to spin rapidly.

Individual metal blocks are processed into precise sizes.

Then it was handed over to several apprentices behind him for measurement and standardization.

Li Shimin nodded repeatedly.

Beside her, Empress Zhangsun, who had changed into a casual robe, was also visiting such a place for the first time, her eyes filled with wonder.

"Did the Crown Prince come up with all of this?"

The factory manager nodded hurriedly.

"Yes, Your Majesty. If it weren't for the treadmill, even if we were capable of making this clock, our production efficiency would definitely not be as high as it is now. Currently, a skilled master craftsman, or as Your Highness calls a mechanical engineer, has five apprentices under him."

"After these people complete their training and pass the factory's assessment, they will be rewarded with a bonus equivalent to two years' salary for the apprentice. If they train a lot of people, they will also be rewarded with a house..."

The masters who were processing clock parts in Li Shimin's sight were clearly very strict and dedicated when dealing with their apprentices.

"Not bad......"

As he toured the exhibition, he saw the enormous mechanical clocks being assembled on various workbenches. The intricate gears and transmission rods within them impressed and puzzled him.

He couldn't help but sigh repeatedly.

"How much would a clock like this cost?"

Upon hearing this, the factory manager hurriedly stepped forward to explain.

"Your Majesty, this clock is six feet three inches tall. It was designed and produced by our clock factory specifically for wealthy merchant families. The exterior is carved from mahogany, the interior has a gold base, and the background is made of jade and agate. It is all the most exquisite craftsmanship of our master craftsmen."

"Furthermore, the internal mechanical structure is more stable, and it is the model that the School of Mechanical Engineering is currently researching and improving."

"Priced at forty-three thousand strings of cash!"

"How many?!"

Li Shimin was stunned, looking at the object in front of him in disbelief.

Although the materials were indeed of good quality, he turned to look at the dense assembly lines around him.

"This item, one piece? Forty-three thousand strings of cash? Anyone want to buy it?"

Forty-three thousand strings of cash could be enough to assemble a small, fully armed cavalry unit!

Should we replace it with a clock that can only tell time?

The factory manager smiled faintly.

“Your Majesty, if it were just an item for sale, this clock, though made of solid materials, wouldn’t be priced so exorbitantly. But what if this item is a collaboration with the Taoist sect, blessed by Taoist feng shui principles, its rotation bringing lasting prosperity?”

Empress Zhangsun was taken aback: "Is there any connection to Taoism involved here?"

The factory manager chuckled and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Yangcheng Palace.

"It was all His Highness the Crown Prince's idea. He had a Taoist master write in the newspaper that clocks are wonderful objects that can ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune to the household. Placing them in the main hall can ensure the continuation of the family's prosperity and good luck, while placing them in the merchant guild can bring booming business..."

Suddenly.

Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun exchanged a glance.

No wonder this watch factory makes such huge profits.

These are the things that merchant families and aristocratic clans care about most.

Furthermore, this clock itself is quite useful, and it suits any place. A well-placed clock can even serve as a visual statement for guests...

After leaving the clock factory, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun sat in a carriage.

They exchanged a glance, and Li Shimin couldn't help but sigh.

"I hadn't paid much attention before, but I didn't expect that almost all of these factories in Bingzhou Road bear the marks of Chengqian's involvement. It's not good to do everything personally, but the new policies here really do require him to do everything personally..."

Empress Zhangsun nodded, looking at a geomantic map of Bingzhou Road on the table in front of her carriage.

The main markings on the above are of the major factories and workshops in various parts of Bingzhou Road today.

Taiyuan Prefecture: Taiyuan First Watch Factory, Taiyuan Daily Chemical Products, Taiyuan Yiren Cosmetics Company, Taiyuan Liulichang (Liulichang Market), Taiyuan Canned Food Processing Factory...

Fenzhou: Fenzhou Canned Food Factory, Fenzhou Textile Factory, Fenzhou Paper Mill...

Xinzhou: Datang No. 1 Steel Plant in Jingle County, Datang No. 1 Forging Plant in Jingle County, Coal Mine in Jingle County...

Shizhou: The state-run winery of Lishi County, the first feed mill of Lishi County...

Yanmen: Zhenbei Textile Factory, Zhenbei Wool Processing Factory, Zhenbei Dairy Industry, Yanmen Canned Food Factory, Royal Meat Processing Factory...

"I'm afraid that in a few more years, all the other provinces in the entire Tang Dynasty combined won't be as wealthy as Bingzhou Province..." Li Shimin was no longer feeling envious; he muttered to himself.

He picked up a document from the side and began his work for the day in the carriage.

“If an ordinary person had any of these industries, they could become incredibly wealthy. However, there is a large area in Bingzhou Dao that is involved in horse breeding. Currently, the Turkic tribes of Zhenbei Dao, as well as Qinghai City and Chishui City, are investing heavily in horse breeding.”

Li Shimin shook his head and made a clicking sound.

"My crown prince is either attacking or preparing to attack..."

Empress Zhangsun chuckled: "Is Your Majesty feeling the pressure?"

Li Shimin rolled his eyes in annoyance.

He snorted.

"Pressure? Guanyinbi, you're giving me face now. I'm not under any pressure, I'm genuinely a little scared!"

"If the Crown Prince had possessed Chengqian's abilities back then... I wouldn't have needed to rebel at all!"

Empress Zhangsun smiled gently, looking at her imperial husband, who had finally returned to the wise and decisive King of Qin. She felt that the anxiety she had been feeling these past few days had finally subsided considerably.

“Chengqian has been staying at Yunxian Tower for three or four days. Today, I will have Yingying try to persuade him to come back.”

"In the end, it is more convenient for him to personally take charge of the administration of Bingzhou, with His Majesty assisting him from the side."

Li Shimin nodded.

He gripped the document tightly, his expression solemn.

"I will apologize to him! Guanyinbi, you don't need to worry about that!"

Taiyuan Prefecture, now in the depths of winter, has once again been blanketed in heavy snow this year.

However, now that people are well-fed and clothed, they can finally wear woolen clothes and stand comfortably in front of their homes, even in the face of the freezing weather that once could kill people.

One can only sigh, "A timely snow promises a bumper harvest."

After several days of unrestrained behavior, Li Chengqian finally lost his temper due to the lack of entertainment options in ancient times.

The top of Yunxian Tower was where girls used to wave their handkerchiefs to attract customers.

Li Chengqian casually reclined in a chair, draped in a fur coat, with a steaming teapot and fruit platter beside him.

Looking out at the streets, under the heavy snow, one could see the bustling scene of Taiyuan City.

The snow scenery in Taiyuan is quite nice.

Surrounding the ancient Tang-style buildings covered in snow, there are also many newly built restaurants and other buildings that have undergone certain stylistic changes this year, tending towards the new Chinese style of the past.

Coupled with the distant mountains covered in white snow, seemingly merging with the gray sky.

Li Chengqian: "...How boring! If only the Turks or the Tuyuhun would jump around like that..."

Wang De: "......"

Standing behind Li Chengqian, Cheng Yaojin held a wine gourd in his hand, which contained the newly brewed "Wuliangye" liquor that Li Chengqian had sent over the past few days.

At this moment, the man's face was somewhat ruddy.

"Hahaha! Your Highness, are you itching to get your hands on it? To be honest, I, Old Cheng, have been itching for a long time, but unfortunately the Western Turks are busy with their westward expedition, and the Tuyuhun are busy raising reparations for us..."

"Gaochang, Tubo, and the like, they're all cowardly bastards."

"There's no chance to fight~"

Li Chengqian remained silent, feeling inexplicably agitated today.

I just wanted to cut something.

Seeing this, Qian Yingying tentatively spoke up.

"Your Highness, why don't you return to the palace? The princes are very worried about you, and you should also check their studies."

Li Chengqian's eyes flickered slightly.

"What has Zhinu been up to lately?"

Qian Yingying: "The Seventh Prince has been sent to the First Official School by the Empress, and he is currently preparing to take the entrance exam for the village school. He..."

"I mean, has Zhinu been secretly eating candy lately?"

Li Chengqian's lips curled into a malicious smile, his eyes narrowed as if he were a police officer spotting a criminal.

Mouthing in his mouth.

"That boy has a thing for this, he's persistent and never learns from his mistakes. Mother hasn't had time to supervise him lately, so he must have been eating a lot of candy..."

As he spoke, Li Chengqian suddenly chuckled. He seemed to have found a way to amuse himself, even though he was bored.

"Let's go! Back to the palace!"

As he went downstairs, Wang De was so excited that he wanted to shout out, running ahead to have the carriage prepared.

The madam, who had been being watched by several Imperial Guards, was almost moved to tears when she saw Li Chengqian and his entourage coming down. She hurriedly stepped forward to see them off respectfully.

"Oh, right..." As he reached the door, Li Chengqian suddenly stopped.

He turned to look at the madam, whose smile had instantly frozen, and looked at her with a serious expression.

"I haven't paid yet, have I?"

Cheng Yaojin was about to say something when Li Chengqian glared at him and shut him up.

The madam's smile was more like a grimace: "This, young master, no need for money. It's the girls' good fortune to serve you well. I..."

Li Chengqian raised his hand, his expression serious.

"Since you have put in the work, you are entitled to a salary. This is the rule of Bingzhou Road, and I, this young master, will certainly not disobey this rule!"

"Put it in the book! Someone will take you to withdraw the money later!"

The madam felt that the money would burn her hands, but the Imperial Guards had already taken paper, pen, and inkpad from the counter.

When Li Chengqian picked up his brush, the Slender Gold style of calligraphy seemed even more rigid today.

"This account is now kept at Yunxian Tower in the west of Taiyuan City, for expenses including the service of young ladies, wine and fruit platters, song and dance performances, etc., totaling... Yangcheng Palace in the north of the city, a hall, recorded this account by Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty."

"Clap!"

Cheng Yaojin dropped his wine gourd on the ground, which startled him so much that he quickly picked it up.

Looking at the Crown Prince with a cunning smile on his face, he opened his mouth, but could only watch helplessly as the prince pressed his handprint on it.

Li Chengqian personally blew the ink dry, folded it up, and handed it to the madam, whose body was trembling like a leaf.

He patted the other person on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, the Imperial Guards will take you to collect the debt; they will definitely not let Yunxian Tower suffer any losses..."

"Your Highness..." the madam stammered, her face deathly pale.

It's already difficult to even speak.

Watching Li Chengqian's departing figure, I just wanted to faint on the spot.

But suddenly he was grabbed by Cui Xiaoguo, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Someone will come to take you to the palace tomorrow to collect a debt. Keep the IOU safe, or you'll lose your head!"

Madam: "Heh, heh..."

thump!