Looking at Zhang Siwei's memorial, Zhu Yijun narrowed his eyes and reached out to tap the memorial. Zhu Yijun sighed. This was indeed Zhang Siwei's way of doing things. He was asking for benefits from him.
I can support you, but you have to support me as well. What tacit understanding!
In reality, Zhu Yijun did not have a good impression of Zhang Siwei. However, he had no choice but to use such a person. As for Zhang Siwei using him as a Grand Secretary in the Cabinet, Zhu Yijun rejected it in his heart. However, the current situation was that he needed such a person.
He could not guarantee anything else, but once this person entered the Cabinet, he would definitely support his soldier's silver.
For the soldier's silver, he had to accept this matter even if he had to pinch his nose. Putting the memorial aside, Zhu Yijun had a plan in mind.
After looking at Zhang Siwei's memorial, Zhu Yijun was no longer in the mood to look at the other congratulatory memorials. His good mood had been ruined by him.
However, this also allowed Zhu Yijun to calm down. Now was not the time for him to slack off.
He had to solve the problem with Wala, implement the Daxing Demonstration County as soon as possible, and settle the soldier's silver as soon as possible. He could not wait for Zhang Siwei to retire.
One had to know that Zhang Siwei had retired and would not be able to come back.
The construction of the shipyard, the construction of the Armaments Department, and so on, he still had a lot of things to do.
"I've unknowingly opened so many instance dungeons!"
Zhu Yijun could not help but mutter, "I also have to settle the salt department as soon as possible. Once the salt department and soldier's silver are settled, I should have money!"
Although it was difficult to settle the soldier's silver, Zhu Yijun had to push it down.
"Imperial Majesty, Lord Xu is here!"
Chen Ju heard the young eunuch's report and turned to speak to Zhu Yijun.
Zhu Yijun was stunned. Why was Xu Wenchang here?
Don't tell me he's here to get drunk again?
Recently, Zhu Yijun noticed that Xu Wenchang was becoming an alcoholic.
Glancing at Chen Ju, Zhu Yijun said, "Let him in!"
Not long after, Xu Wenchang walked in from outside with a smile that Zhu Yijun was familiar with.
Glancing at Xu Wenchang, Zhu Yijun said faintly, "Don't always think of coming to my place to drink. I don't have that many good wines for you."
"Your Majesty, I didn't come here to ask for wine," Xu Wenchang said with a smile. "I came here for official business."
Looking at Xu Wenchang acting like a subject, Zhu Yijun felt uncomfortable. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, then say it. I'll see what official business you have."
Xu Wenchang said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I went to have a meal a few days ago. The person who invited me was an old friend from Shanxi. This person asked me for something, so I'm here to discuss it with Your Majesty!"
"Why is your official business a meal?" Zhu Yijun said impatiently, "You want me to do something?
Then you have to treat me to a meal. "
Xu Wenchang said with a smile, "That's Your Majesty's honor. If Your Majesty doesn't mind my cooking, I'll cook for you myself."
"Your cooking?" Zhu Yijun curled his lips and said, "You'd better get to the point!"
Xu Wenchang looked hurt, but he still said, "Your Majesty, the person who invited me to a meal is surnamed Wu. His family is a big merchant in Shanxi, a salt merchant." Saying this, Xu Wenchang stole a glance at Zhu Yijun.
Zhu Yijun was stunned. Salt merchant?
He invited Xu Wenchang?
This was rather interesting!
"A salt merchant in Shanxi?
The biggest salt merchants in Shanxi are Zhang Siwei and Wang Chonggu, right?
It's new that he came to you to ask for a meal. Tell me, what does he want? "
"Your Majesty, this person wants to see you!" Xu Wenchang directly told Zhu Yijun about Li Zhonghang's matter.
Squinting his eyes, Zhu Yijun said with a smile, "Among the four biggest salt merchants in Shanxi, this Li family is ranked last. It seems that this Li family isn't simple. Interesting.
I approve, bring him here tomorrow! "
Xu Wenchang didn't expect Zhu Yijun to agree so quickly. He was slightly stunned, then immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty!"
Seeing that Xu Wenchang still didn't want to leave, Zhu Yijun said directly, "I won't ask you to stay for a meal. You go and find that salt merchant with the surname Li. You've done such a big thing for him, you have to extort a lot of money from him."
"So that he doesn't come here all day to ask for money or sell paintings for others. It's a disgrace to me."
Xu Wenchang said with some grievance, "Your Majesty, how can the business of a scholar be considered selling?"
"Hurry up, I don't want to see you now!" After driving Xu Wenchang away, Zhu Yijun immediately smiled. It was quite fun to chat with Xu Wenchang.
Thinking of Xu Wenchang, Zhu Yijun thought of Song Yingchang.
The person that Xu Wenchang recommended to him was currently a doctor in the Ministry of War and was quite suitable to build ships.
Glancing at Chen Ju, Zhu Yijun directly ordered, "Go to the Ministry of War and find a doctor called Song Yingchang."
"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will go immediately!" Chen Ju agreed and turned to leave.
After Chen Ju left, Zhu Yijun prepared to continue reading the memorials. He had been staying in Kunning Palace for the past few days and had yet to deal with many memorials.
As a doctor in the Ministry of War, Song Yingchang was dumbfounded when he saw Chen Ju. Right now, the bureaucracy was paying a lot of attention to this newly appointed eunuch of the Bureau of Rites, especially after Zhang Jing left the capital. Chen Ju had taken over Zhang Jing's position.
Although Song Yingchang knew about this matter, he didn't think that it had much to do with him.
After all, he was only a fifth-rank doctor in the Ministry of War. The matters of the upper echelons had nothing to do with him.
When Song Yingchang saw Chen Ju, he was dumbfounded, especially in front of the Minister of War, Wu Dui.
Wu Dui looked at Song Yingchang and then at Chen Ju. He didn't know why Chen Ju was looking for Song Yingchang. Seeing that Song Yingchang had arrived, he said, "Chen gonggong, this is Song Yingchang."
After sizing up Song Yingchang, Chen Ju nodded and said, "I'll have to trouble Minister Wu!" He then said to Song Yingchang, "Come with me!
The Imperial Majesty has summoned you. "
Song Yingchang was even more dumbfounded. The Emperor summoned him?
Why did the Emperor summon a fifth-rank doctor like him?
When Wu Dui heard Chen Ju's words, he raised his eyebrows. To be honest, Wu Dui was really tired of being the Minister of War. Ever since he became the Minister of War, the Ministry of War hadn't been at peace.
He had just caused a ruckus at the Arsenal Department. What was he doing now?
Wu Dui also knew what the outside world was saying about him. He was about to become the Minister of War.
If things continued like this, Wu Dui felt that it would be better for him to retire. Now that he was looking for Song Yingchang, Wu Dui had made up his mind. If the Emperor acted recklessly again, he would definitely oppose it. If it really didn't work, he would give up his position as the Minister of War.
Song Yingchang followed Chen Ju to the palace. After entering the palace, Song Yingchang still didn't understand what was going on.
Although Song Yingchang really wanted to talk to Chen Ju and get some information, Chen Ju clearly had no intention of paying attention to him. This made Song Yingchang depressed.
With no other choice, he could only follow behind Chen Ju.
When they arrived at the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Chen Ju first went in to report and then came out to greet Song Yingchang.
"Subject Song Yingchang greets Your Majesty!"
After entering, Song Yingchang hurriedly knelt on the ground and kowtowed. After being an official for so long, this was the first time he had seen the Emperor.
There was nothing for him to do in court, let alone in court discussions.
Zhu Yijun glanced at Song Yingchang, nodded, and said, "Rise!"
Looking at Song Yingchang, who was standing there, Zhu Yijun could clearly feel his cautiousness. Zhu Yijun didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "We have an errand for someone to do. Xu Wei, Xu Wenchang, recommended you to us."
Song Yingchang suddenly realized that it was Xu Wenchang. He immediately let out a sigh of relief.
"Your Majesty, please instruct me. This subject will naturally obey!" Song Yingchang hurriedly bowed.
"Don't be in such a hurry to talk about this. You might not be able to do this errand."
Zhu Yijun smiled as he walked down from the dragon throne. He pulled over his small blackboard and hung the map of his warship on it.
Picking up his small wooden stick, Zhu Yijun pointed at the map and said, "Do you see this ship?"
"This subject sees it!" Song Yingchang hurriedly nodded in response.
"It's good that you see it. We are preparing to build a shipyard and need someone to manage it. Xu Wenchang recommended you to us.
Although this map only has the outer shape, the general size and shape are all on it.
"The shipyard we want is for this ship to be built. We intend to place this shipyard in Tianjin Wei.
"What you need to do is to go to Tianjin Wei and do a site search for us. Choose a place and make a budget for us to see how much it will cost to build such a shipyard and how much manpower it will cost.
"When the time comes, write a detailed memorial to us. When you are done, we will let you manage this shipyard."
Song Yingchang was stunned. Such a big matter?
Do it himself?
He subconsciously wanted to retreat. "Your Majesty, isn't this a little too difficult?
It is beyond this subject's power alone! "
"Of course it won't be just you. We will send people for you. We have already sent people to find a few old craftsmen from the Longjiang Shipyard."
Zhu Yijun said with a smile.
Song Yingchang was still a little hesitant. This was clearly not a good job. It would be extremely tiring, and it was uncertain if there would be any results. If something happened, it would be really bad.
"That's right, the person in charge of this shipyard is an assistant minister. If you build this shipyard, we will give you the position of an assistant minister in the Ministry of War.
When you build the ship that we want, we will give you the position of a minister. "Zhu Yijun looked at Song Yingchang and said with a smile.
If he wanted a horse to run, he had to feed it with good grass. Zhu Yijun was definitely willing to spend money.
Song Yingchang was stunned. If he built a shipyard, he would get an assistant minister. He didn't know when he would be promoted to an assistant minister!
Hearing the position of an assistant minister, Song Yingchang felt that the difficulties he had previously thought of were no longer a problem.
He could become an assistant minister just by building a shipyard. It was worth it. He clenched his teeth and did it.