As the temperature gradually rises, the garden is full of flowers, competing for beauty.

The flowers are huge, with fertile petals, and peony flowers of different colors.

As the favorite flower species of the Tang people, many peony flowers are naturally planted in the Baicao Garden.

A fresh breeze blows, and the fragrance of flowers comes to your nose.

Li Kuan accompanied Cheng Jingwen, who was already a little pregnant, and slowly walked in the garden to enjoy the flowers.

"Lord Wang, Yan Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry is visiting!"

"What is Yan Shangshu coming to me for?"

Li Kuan estimated that he touched the time, this Yan Lide should have looked for himself as soon as the dynasty ended.

Rare guests!

"Lord Wang, people are a book anyway, no matter what is looking for you, you can go and see it first."

Cheng Jingwen is still very knowledgeable and knows what to do at this moment.

"Luzhu, you help the princess to walk around again, and this king will go back when he goes."

Li Kuan has basically been accompanying Cheng Jingwen in the courtyard these days, but he is also a little curious about what Yan Lide is looking for him.

……

In the lobby of the annex of the Chu Palace, Yan Lide was holding the latest Longjing fragrant tea this year, but he was not in the mood.

During this time, Hou Junji didn't talk about trouble with him.

There are also many people in the Ministry of Industry who are reporting to him, Shangshu, about the matters affected by the rise in iron and steel prices, which makes him feel big for a while.

Originally, he liked the Longjing fragrant tea from the Chu Wangfu the most.

If in the past, if he could drink the latest spring tea, he would definitely have to taste it well.

Forget it today.

"Why did this king say that early this morning, there were magpies calling in the garden, and it turned out that there was a distinguished guest coming. Yan Shangshu, as soon as the dynasty ended, you came to find this king, but what happened at the court? ”

Li Kuan and Yan Lide are barely old acquaintances, and he still thinks about accompanying Cheng Jingwen for a walk later, so he simply doesn't talk nonsense and goes straight to the topic.

"His Royal Highness the King of Chu, you don't know anything about the world without leaving the door, that's right, I came here today, it's really because something happened in the early dynasty."

For ordinary people, the court meeting is a very mysterious existence.

But for a prince like Li Kuan, as long as he wants to go, he is qualified to go every time.

Therefore, what was discussed at the court meeting naturally had nothing to keep secret from him.

"Oh?"

Li Kuan was a little curious about what was happening at today's court meeting.

However, he wasn't too worried, if there was really something big, it was impossible for him not to hear the news at all, and it was really the Chu Wangfu Intelligence Investigation Bureau to eat dry food?

"What's the matter, what kind of palace is Your Majesty going to build again?"

Li Kuan and Yan Lide were joking.

He is a secretary of the Ministry of Industry, and under normal circumstances, he really doesn't have much intersection with himself, the prince.

"The prince said with a smile, the second phase of the Daming Palace was finally completed last year, how could His Majesty immediately want to build a new palace."

Yan Lide smiled awkwardly, thinking about how to mention this matter to Li Kuan.

It stands to reason that if you don't care about this matter, it's not impossible.

But thinking that he was so embarrassed because of the rise in iron and steel prices, he couldn't help but come to Li Kuan.

As a master craftsman of the Tang Dynasty, few people in the court knew Li Kuan's profound attainments in "strange and obscene skills" better than Yan Lide.

Especially in the process of building Daming Palace, Yan Lide's three views have been constantly refreshed.

Therefore, at today's court meeting, it was mentioned that the Household Department Shangshu Dai Xuan mentioned that the Chu Wangfu had sent people to buy iron mines many times, and the most recent one was last month, and he faintly felt that he should come to Li Kuan.

"His Royal Highness the King of Chu, I heard that the Guanshishan Academy is preparing to build a large auditorium, and it will use a large number of steel strips and concrete structures?"

Seeing Li Kuan looking at him with a smile, Yan Lide hurriedly turned the topic on track.

"Yes."

Before he figured out Yan Lide's intentions, Li Kuan didn't want to say anything.

"I heard that Xu Jingzong, a Hu Cao member of the Chu Palace, asked the eldest grandson's family to buy a large number of steel bars a year ago, but he didn't buy them?"

"That's right!"

"Lord Wang, you vigorously promote reinforced concrete structures, which means that the demand for iron and steel will rise sharply. If this situation is allowed to develop, I'm afraid it's not what the prince wants to see, right? ”

"Yan Shangshu, just say whatever you want to say, we have known each other for many years, so we don't need to go around in circles."

Li Kuan roughly guessed why Yan Lide came to visit him today, but he still wanted to hear what he had to say.

"This morning, Yang Benman impeached a person."

"Huh?"

"Don't worry, this person is not you."

Although Li Kuan said not to go around in circles, Yan Lide felt that it was better to explain some things clearly.

"Oh? But isn't it normal for the imperial history to impeach the minister? ”

"That being said, but if it is Sun Wuji, the head of Zhao State, who is impeached, this is not normal, right? And if the impeachment matter is also related to the rise in the price of iron and steel, this matter seems to be a bit interesting, right? ”

It was rare to see Li Kuan also show a surprised expression, Yan Lide suddenly felt that his mood had changed a little, and he reached out and picked up the fragrant tea on the table and took a sip.

"The price of iron and steel has risen, and then Yang Benman impeached the eldest grandson Wuji, this Yang Yushi, it is rare to have a time when his eyes are not blind!"

"Poof!"

Yan Lide had just taken a sip of tea, but before he could swallow it, it squirted out.

Fortunately, Li Kuan didn't sit face-to-face with him, otherwise he would have been unlucky.

"Ahem! Lord, what do you say...... If Zhao Guogong heard this, he would probably be angry with you. ”

Yan Lide had also heard that Li Kuan and the eldest grandson family did not deal with each other, but today it was finally completely confirmed.

It seems that in many cases, rumors are another kind of truth.

"Yan Shangshu, this wave of iron price increases, if you want to say that it has nothing to do with the eldest grandson's family, do you believe it? Whether you believe it or not, this king does not believe it. ”

Because Guanshishan Academy did not buy steel bars a few years ago, Xu Jingzong specially inquired about the ironmaking workshop of the eldest grandson's family, and reported to Li Kuan.

So Li Kuan now knows very well what the eldest grandson's family is planning.

However, I thought that the furnaces in my own ironmaking workshop were smelting steel day and night......

Hehe, the eldest grandson's family is destined to shoot themselves in the foot this time.

Yan Lide: "Believe it or not, don't say it first." Anyway, Zhao Guogong would not admit it, and even Yang Benman pointed out that there was a large amount of iron and steel in the treasury of the eldest grandson's family, and they also prevaricated on the grounds that this was an order to prepare for the delivery of Guanshishan Academy. ”

Delivered to Guanshishan Academy?

Li Kuan sneered, this reason is really speechless.

However, Xu Jingzong told himself that the eldest grandson's family never agreed to sell steel bars to Guanshishan Academy, let alone sign a contract or anything like that.

Where is the preparation for delivery?

……

The country is the world!

For the family, it has always been to have a family first, and then to think about the affairs of the country.

Although the eldest grandson's family can't be compared with the five surnames and seven wangs, it is also a noble family in size.

The eldest grandson Wuji's father, Changsun Sheng, was a famous general of the Sui Dynasty, the great-grandson of the eldest grandson of the king of Shangdang Wenxuan of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the son of Sun Ji, the third director of the Northern Zhou Kaifu Yitong.

Even according to the saying that only three generations of later generations can produce a nobleman, the prosperity of the grandson family has exceeded three generations.

In the past few years, there have been a lot of nobles in the family that I have offended, but there really aren't many people who really can't get along with themselves.

Didn't you see the whaling team in Dengzhou Mansion, many of them are noble people?

Li Kuan's ultimate goal is to suppress the power of the Tang Dynasty, but he doesn't want to make them disappear completely.

To a certain extent, these families are also the cornerstone of the stability and development of Datang, as long as the various forces are comprehensively developed, the emerging civilian forces are supported, and the development of various workshop owners is supported, so that the influence of the family can be reduced to a level that everyone can accept.

That's basically enough.

However, the eldest grandson's family never seemed to have extended an olive branch to themselves from beginning to end.

If it weren't for the face of Empress Changsun, Li Kuan would have wanted to embarrass the eldest grandson family a long time ago.

Now, Guanshishan Academy's failure to buy steel bars has allowed Li Kuan to see the face of the eldest grandson's family.

It just so happened that after several years of accumulation in its own ironmaking workshop, it finally had the results that it could get its hands on.

"Not admitting that his own family has anything to do with the rise in steel prices is basically Zhao Guogong's inevitable choice. However, there are some things that really don't matter if he doesn't admit it? ”

Li Kuan couldn't help but comfort Yan Lide when he saw Yan Lide's angry face.

"That being said, but today's impeachment of Yang Benman still failed after all. The focus of the court's discussions has now become how to return steel prices to the level of early last year within three months. ”

After Yan Lide said this, he looked at Li Kuan with hope in his eyes.

It's very simple.

No problem.

I can do it.

He hoped that Li Kuan could hear these words.

It's a pity that I was disappointed in the end.

"Oh? Did that lead to the discussion? ”

Li Kuan thought about the current situation, if there was no iron making workshop in his own house, it would be impossible to bring the price of steel back to the level at the beginning of last year in three months.

To a certain extent, the eldest grandson Wuji is not wrong, the main reason for the rise in steel prices is that there is more demand and insufficient supply in the market.

Even if the eldest grandson's family doesn't hoard, the price will also rise.

It's nothing more than that the increase is not so big, so fast.

At the end of the day, it's about increasing production.

"No result. Dai Shangshu of the household department has already proposed that as long as anyone can complete this task in three months, the iron mine under the household department outside the city will be given to him for free. Lord Wang, are you interested? ”

Li Kuan also heard about what had happened recently in the Ministry of Industry, and when he saw Yan Lide so enthusiastic, he was also speechless for a while.

Among the six ministries, the power of the Ministry of Officials is the greatest, the status of the Ministry of Rites is noble, the Ministry of Household controls the financial power of the entire imperial court, and although the Ministry of Criminal Affairs and the Ministry of War are a little worse, they are also much stronger than the Ministry of Industry.

It can be said that Yan Lide, the position of Shangshu, is not very happy.

Of course, resignation will not be resigned, and no matter how unhappy it is, it is also the leader of one of the six departments.

"Where is the mine of the household department so easy to take? Didn't the eldest grandson's family also covet that mine for a long time? Why didn't Zhao Guogong take on this task? ”

When Li Kuan asked, Yan Lide smiled a little awkwardly, "Zhao Guogong thinks that this is simply an impossible task. ”

This answer is the same as Li Kuan's prediction.

The words of the eldest grandson Wuji cannot be wrong.

Under normal circumstances, this task is indeed impossible.

But......

"Yan Shangshu, in that case, why did you come to this king today?"

"Lord Wang, you may not believe it. I don't know what other people think. But from my point of view, this Chang'an City, except for His Royal Highness the King of Chu, you still have a few possibilities to complete, and others can't count on it. ”

Sure enough, insiders know how to act best.

Although I don't know why Yan Lide is so confident in himself, but this time, he was really blinded by him.

"There are indeed some ways to let the price of steel fall, but it is not so easy to return its price to the level at the beginning of last year within three months."

As soon as Li Kuan finished saying this, Yan Lide stood up excitedly, "Lord Wang, do you really have a way?" ”

Drowsiness meets pillows.

Li Kuan was thinking about how to maximize the benefits of this matter.

It can not only pit the eldest grandson's family, but also open up the sales of its own steel, and by the way, make some contributions to the imperial court, so that the people can benefit from it.

"Yan Shangshu, where is the steel of the Ministry of Industry procured from now?"

Li Kuan did not directly answer Yan Lide's words, but was ready to understand the situation clearly before speaking.

"Basically, it's the workshop of the eldest grandson's family, and this is the specific responsibility of each Langzhong below, whether it's all like this, the old man has to ask again."

Stainless steel is only one of the various materials procured by the Ministry of Industry, and Yan Lide, as the head of the department, naturally will not handle everything.

Unless he has some white gloves to stuff into them.

Or with which workshop there is a behind-the-scenes deal.

"The household department said that if the task was completed in three months, an iron mine would be rewarded; What about the Ministry of Works? Yan Shangshu, if this king completes the task within three months, the steel purchased by the household department in the future will give priority to the iron-making workshop of the Chu Wangfu? ”

Before Li Kuan made steel bar concrete, the biggest use of stainless steel was to build weapons.

In other words, the Ministry of Industry is the largest user of stainless steel.

"Lord Wang, do you really have a way?"

Yan Lide is not stupid at all, on the contrary, his IQ is actually very high.

Hearing Li Kuan say this, combined with his own understanding of him......

"Yan Shangshu, is there a way, it depends on whether the incentives given are enough."

Li Kuan showed a smile that met social expectations.

"That's it, I don't count what I said about the future. But as long as I am still in this position, under the same circumstances, the Ministry of Industry will definitely purchase fine steel from the Chu Palace. ”

As soon as Yan Lide finished saying this, he immediately thought of something again, "Lord Wang, you just said the iron-making workshop of the Chu Palace?" Why haven't I heard of it? ”

The Chu Wangfu itself is constantly procuring iron and steel, and no one in Chang'an City has ever bought steel from the Chu Wangfu.

Although the ironsmith has been under construction for several years, there has been no movement.

In addition, the surrounding area of that place is the territory of the Chu Wangfu, and outsiders really don't know what the situation is inside.

As for the craftsmen in the ironworks, they were instructed not to talk to anyone about the things in the workshop.

After all, once the things studied there are successful, they will have extraordinary significance to the entire Chu Wangfu and the Tang Dynasty.

……

The food of the Chu Wangfu is the best in the world.

However, Yan Lide was not in the mood to stay and enjoy.

After getting an accurate reply from Li Kuan, he immediately went to Daming Palace.

And Li Kuan called Xu Jingzong over after Yan Lide left.

"Yan clan, how is the progress of the construction of the lecture hall in the academy?"

Hearing Li Kuan ask, Xu Jingzong immediately showed embarrassment.

According to the plan, the lecture hall will be completed in another month, but ......

"Lord Wang, please forgive your subordinates for their incompetence, this big lecture hall has not yet begun to pour various pillars."

"The workshop manager of the eldest grandson's family, has he contacted you recently?"

This result was not unexpected by Li Kuan.

"No, I visited him a few more times a year later, but he wouldn't even see him. Nowadays, the construction of the lecture hall is still short of a large number of steel bars, but in Chang'an City, even if the price rises, it is difficult to buy a large amount of stainless steel. ”

"Hmph, it looks like they really want to get a good handful."

Li Kuan sneered, the eldest grandson's family couldn't get along with him again and again, and for the sake of the eldest grandson's face, he endured it without retaliation.

Now, it's the muzzle of the gun they've hit themselves.

"Yan clan, if he takes the initiative to find you again in the near future, you will be with him, don't agree, don't refuse."

These things happened in the court today, in order to fulfill his words, the eldest grandson Wuji will ask the shopkeeper below to really sell a batch of steel bars to Guanshishan Academy.

Anyway, it's for sale, not for sending.

Taking this opportunity, a large-scale shipment is also a good result.

Besides, what happened today, it is definitely inappropriate to continue hoarding goods, but if the goods in the warehouse suddenly flood into the market, it will be impeached for hoarding.

The eldest grandson Wuji is naturally not so stupid.

It's just that he guessed the beginning, not the end.

I escaped the first year of junior high school, but I can't avoid fifteen.

"Lord Wang, according to the current situation, if it continues to drag on, the price of steel bars may rise. If the eldest grandson really took the initiative to contact his subordinates, I thought it would be better to take the opportunity to buy the steel bars needed for the construction of the lecture hall. ”

"No, if we delay it any longer, we will be able to handle the steel bars needed for the construction of the academy in our own iron-making workshop."

Li Kuan smiled mysteriously.

"Can we do it in our own iron-making workshop?"

Although Li Kuan asked Xu Jingzong to go to the household department last month to discuss the purchase of iron mines, he did not know about the breakthrough in the ironmaking workshop.

In order to be able to teach the eldest grandson's family a painful lesson, Li Kuan did not let anyone who had no necessary personnel know that the ironmaking workshop had successfully studied the matter of directly smelting steel.

"Yan clan, don't worry. As for the steel bars needed for the construction of the lecture hall, our workshop only needs to produce a few days to meet them, and there will be a large amount of stainless steel for sale to the outside world. ”

"Huh?"

Xu Jingzong was stunned.

The shock of this news was too great.

In the past few months, I have needed a large number of steel bars for the construction of the lecture hall, and it can be said that my hair has turned gray.

This is the first time that all beams and columns of Nanshan Construction Engineering have used steel bar concrete structure, which is a groundbreaking experimental project.

In addition, the lecture hall is very large and spacious, and the number of steel bars required to ensure safety is very large.

However, the price of steel during this period was one price a day, and money could not buy such a large amount.

Now, the prince actually said that these problems are no longer a problem.

Listening to that meaning, it seems that he is still ready to teach the eldest grandson family a lesson.

This turn of events is a bit sudden.

"You just know this in your heart, don't tell anyone about it for the time being, just treat it as if there is no such thing."

Either you don't do it, or you want to make it big.

Li Kuan is ready to wait for the amount of steel in the warehouse to be large enough to put it on the market at one time.

At that time, even if the eldest grandson's family invests in the acquisition, don't want to stop the decline in steel prices.

Once the price of stainless steel falls, the price of iron will naturally not change.

Not to mention a return to the level of the beginning of last year, even if it is a little lower, it is not impossible.

After all, the amount of steel produced by the ironmaking workshop of the Chu Wangfu every day is definitely more than the total amount of steel produced by the entire Datang Dynasty.

The epoch-making technological advantage is definitely not something that can be compensated for by manpower or hard work.

"Lord Wang, don't worry. The eldest grandson's family has dragged us for a few months, and it is definitely ill-intentioned, it is great to be able to return all this, and the subordinates will definitely not spoil the good things of the prince. ”

……

In the Daming Palace, Li Shimin soon finished meeting Yan Lide.

Although he really wanted to summon Li Kuan into the palace immediately and ask him what confidence he had to bring steel prices back to last year's level within three months.

However, based on the various unexpected achievements made by Li Kuan over the years, Li Shimin actually held back this thought.

"Li Zhong, you ask the Baiqi Division to pay more attention to it and see what is going on in the Chu Palace's Mansion during this time. Since he has already taken over this task of the household department, if he can't do it by then, it will become a joke. ”

In public and private, Li Shimin naturally hopes that Li Kuan can succeed.

However, he knew exactly how difficult it was.

"Your Majesty, the Hundred Horsemen Division has compiled a list of all the industries in the Chu Palace, and I have never seen them sell iron and steel. On the contrary, the various workshops in the Chu Palace, every year, will buy a large amount of iron and steel, this His Royal Highness the King of Chu said that three months can push the price of steel back, it is really incomprehensible. ”

Li Zhong felt that he must be busy again during this time.

But whenever I encounter things related to Li Kuan, I always have to face all kinds of confusion.

"Because of this, what kind of actions Kuan'er has is very exciting. If this really makes him successful, this credit is not small at all. ”

It's easy to fight the country, but it's hard to sit on the country.

has been an emperor for so many years, and Li Shimin has a deep understanding of this.

Therefore, in recent years, he has become more and more concerned about matters related to people's livelihood.

And the more he paid attention, the more he found that many seemingly small things were not easy to do at all.

"His Royal Highness the King of Chu is always able to surprise people, and his subordinates are also very curious about what surprises he will bring to everyone this time. Your Majesty, rest assured, your subordinates will definitely arrange the most capable personnel to keep an eye on the recent moves of the Chu Palace. ”

Whether it's a duty or to satisfy personal curiosity.

Li Zhongdu will inevitably shift the focus of the Baiqi Division to this matter during this time.

The matter of salt and iron is very important.

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