Back at Yaxing, Guo Dan had forgotten that he was on vacation, so he couldn't help but go to his office and sit in the office thinking.

If this is really Fang Fengshi's desire to borrow me to promote the improvement of the bird gun, then there are no more than two reasons.

For one, he tempted me by expecting that I must be eager to buy more arms.

The second is that he has seen the true purpose of King Lu's change of domain, so he knows that I am eager to obtain approval for the production of firearms.

It shouldn't be the latter, even Shen Shixing didn't notice it, how could Fang Fengshi think about it.

I think it's still the former.

Take 10,000 steps back and say, even if he sees through it, his actions also mean that he supports me, at least we have a relationship of mutual use, and it will not pose too much threat to me for the time being, but I also have to guard against him.

Knock knock!

A knock on the door interrupted Guo Dan's thoughts, he looked at the back door, then hurriedly got up, stepped forward, and opened the door, "Madam, you... Reside... Layman. ”

Generally speaking, only Kou Liansha would go to the back door, he thought it was Kou Liansha, who knew that it was Aunt Xu who knocked on the door.

Aunt Xu didn't care, she knew that Guo Dan didn't mean it, and it wasn't the first time she called, so she asked, "When did you come back?" ”

"Just came back."

Guo Dan hurriedly turned sideways, "Layman, please." ”

After Aunt Xu sat down, Guo Dan asked, "How is my wife's condition?" ”

Aunt Xu smiled: "Liansha's body is fine, you can rest assured." ”

Guo Dan said sincerely: "Thank you so much. ”

Aunt Xu just nodded her head slightly, and suddenly asked, "How did you talk with the military department?" ”

"It's relatively smooth."

Guo Dan groaned for a while, and then said: "But there were some accidents during the period. ”

"Accident?" Aunt Xu was surprised.

Guo Dan nodded, and then informed Aunt Xu about the bird, and asked, "For the time being, I haven't decided whether to win this deal, I don't know what the layman suggests?" ”

Aunt Xu shook her head and said, "If you are in business, I don't really recommend that you take this deal." ”

Guo Dan sighed: "How do you say this?" ”

Aunt Xu said: "The main reason is that the ministers of the DPRK and the Central Committee think that the bird gun is useless, and this is also because the bird gun requires a very high production process, if you want to produce excellent bird guns, the cost must be higher than the current cost of the imperial court."

If you can't get a higher price, then it will be difficult for you to make a profit, however, if you go for a higher price, the court will definitely not agree, because they don't think it's worth it, it's a thankless task, especially if it's you. ”

"The layman has a point."

Guo nodded with a smile, and said curiously: "If you put aside this cost issue, what advice does the layman have?" ”

Aunt Xu smiled and said: "Then of course I support, not only birds, I am very supportive of any armaments contracted to you, because now the imperial court armament is slack, and many soldiers and armor are cutting corners, which is a great hidden danger for my Ming Dynasty, if you contract it, I believe that it is better than the imperial court production." I remember when we were in Weihui Mansion, we discussed that if this skin does not exist, Mao will be attached. ”

Guo Dan sighed: "Having said that, if it is not profitable, it will naturally not be able to get it for a long time, I still try to strive for a reasonable price, I can make a little less, but I can't let me lose money." ”

Aunt Xu smiled: "Regarding bargaining, I won't do anything about it." ”

Guo smiled lightly: "The layman has helped me enough, and if I can earn it, I can earn it, and if I can't earn it, it can only mean that the time is not ripe enough." ”

But in fact, he is determined to get it, no matter what the purpose of Fang Fengshi is, there is no reason not to eat the meat that is sent to the door, and what the capitalist is best at is to eat the meat and then spit the bones back.

And Fang Feng over there really didn't say anything, he quickly gave the emperor a recital, explaining the role of the bird gun to the Ming army, the court should pay attention to it, and pointed out that the court technology is not yet mature, and there has been no progress for many years, so he asked to contract to Guo Dan for production.

And when this recital was drafted by the cabinet, the advice given by the cabinet ministers was unanimously opposed, firearms were very important to the Ming Dynasty, how could they be easily contracted to merchants, and they also listed the disadvantages of birds.

Then it was presented to the Emperor.

Because they only have the right to vote, that is, to write suggestions, the emperor only needs to look at it, and the emperor does not need to use his brain for everything, but it can also be seen that the emperor must always be the emperor, if the emperor has certain habits, such as doing carpenter work, then it can also be thrown to the eunuch.

In history, Wanli slack, the biggest harm to the Ming Dynasty, is that there are many problems that cannot be solved, because he neglected the government and did not delegate power to the eunuchs, although some big problems, he will still deal with them, such as the three major expeditions, but many internal problems, he just let them go, all left to the apocalypse and Chongzhen.

If it was usual, Wanli would probably throw it aside, this kind of thankless task, he wouldn't do it, but he already knew in advance that Fang Fengshi would have such a concert, and after he saw this recital, he immediately convened a cabinet meeting, and invited Fang Fengshi to come to the East Pavilion for a meeting.

As soon as Shen Shixing saw Fang Fengshi, they knew why Wanli was holding a meeting, but they were not surprised, because it involved Guo Dan, for the sake of money, Wanli was diligent, which was very understandable.

"Regarding the twist and turn of Fang Qing's family, I have carefully read it, and I think what Fang Qing's family said is very reasonable."

Sure enough, Wanli came up to the topic, and said: "Since Qin, the war between our Central Plains and the northern peoples has never stopped, although both sides have their own victories and defeats, but my Central Plains has always been in passive defense, the ancestors have tried all kinds of methods, but they have all failed, Fang Qingjia mentioned the strategic significance of the bird gun for the northern peoples, I think it is very reasonable." ”

Shen Shixing immediately said: "Your Majesty, regarding the role of the bird gun, the court has long been decided, this bird gun can only be used as an auxiliary, and can not replace the bow and arrow, not to mention its production process is complicated, its disadvantages are also very obvious, the operation is cumbersome, it can not be used on rainy days, and it is easy to expose the target when ignition, etc., so our dynasty did not equip the armies with a large number of bird guns, but only used to assist." ”

Fang Fengshi immediately said: "Although the operation of the bird gun is cumbersome, as long as the sound person can use it, at most, as long as it takes ten days and a half months of training, it will be able to operate proficiently, if you want to practice the bow and arrow, it will take at least one year, and you will also score the talent, but not everyone can become an archer."

As for the shortcomings that Shen Shoufu said, they do exist at present, but the lower officials think that these can be solved through improvement, and they are afraid that the imperial court will not pay attention to them, so that they will never be able to make progress. ”

Wang Xijue said: "If those drawbacks can be solved, it will be solved a long time ago, this empty talk is unfounded, and it is difficult to convince the public!" To produce a large number of birds, but it takes a lot of money, you can't just because of Fang Shangshu's words, the imperial court can invest a lot of financial, material and human resources, what if it can't be solved? ”

Fang Fengshi said: "In the past thousand years, our Central Plains Dynasty has tried all kinds of ways to deal with the northern peoples, but no matter which way, the manpower, financial resources, and material resources spent are unimaginable.

We can't always take a bow and arrow to compete with them, it's very difficult for us to win, and even if we win, it won't be long before they come back again, because their people are warriors on horseback, and waging war is just a matter of words, and if we want to fight a war, it will break our bones. If the bird can succeed, then all of us in the Central Plains can be soldiers, and then we no longer need to worry about the northern peoples. ”

Wanli nodded again and again, and said, "It makes sense, it makes sense!" ”

Shen Shixing and the others all glanced at Wanli, thinking in their hearts, you are too biased.

Be mindful of how you eat.

Wang Xijue said suddenly: "Even so, there is no need to contract it to a businessman, most of the weapons used in the Shenji Battalion are made and produced by military weapons." ”

Fang Fengshi said: "Nowadays, whether it is the number of craftsmen or the level of manufacturing, the munitions are not as good as before, many weapons are handed over to the local production, and some of the local subcontracts are subcontracted to the production of merchants' workshops, and the imperial court also knows this, so it strengthens the supervision of the production of firearms." ”

As he spoke, he said to Wanli: "Your Majesty, in fact, the minister has already asked Guo Dan, and he said that improving this arquebus is just a simple matter. ”

"Really?"

Wanli nodded with a smile and said: "For Guo Dan, I still trust him very much, he has never disappointed me, and the cotton armor sent to Liaodong last time is also deeply loved by the soldiers of Liaodong, so I think this matter is decided." ”

Shen Shixing hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, this matter is very important, you can't make a hasty decision, according to the minister's opinion, this has to be considered in the long run!" ”

Wanli waved his hand and said: "Aiqing and rest assured, I don't mean to immediately contract all the bird guns to Guo Dan, give him a small order first, and try it, if he does well, and then make a final decision, of course, I will also personally send people to closely monitor the production of firearms." ”

As he spoke, he swept his eyes and said with a smile: "Although all of you Aiqing have the wisdom to seek the country, if you want to lead troops to fight, and your understanding of weapons, you may not be as good as Fang Qing's family!" ”

As soon as these words came out, Shen Shixing was embarrassed and silent.

The meaning of Wanli is obvious, people lead troops to fight in the early years, they are invincible, invincible, and at the same time the local governance is very good, saying that it is both civil and military, it is not an exaggeration, and you don't even have to touch the bow and arrow, you will talk about the army on paper, you say I should listen to whom.

With Wanli's support and Fang Fengshi's strong respect, it is much easier than cooperating with Guo Dan.

If Guo Dan said this, he wouldn't be able to convince the public at all!

You're a businessman, you know a ball!

When Wanli left, Wang Jiaping and they also retreated, and Shen Shixing and Fang Fengshi were left in the palace.

"Shen Shoufu, I'm really sorry."

Fang clenched his fists and saluted at the right time.

Don't look at Shen Shixing's perennial harmony and mud, but those who can occupy a high position are not idle people, these six books are all his people, and Fang Fengshi is no exception.

But this time, Fang Fengshi did not communicate with Shen Shixing in advance, but he avoided Shen Shixing, which undoubtedly brought some political risks to Shen Shixing, and there will definitely be ministers who think that this will not be instructed by Shen Shixing.

Shen Shixing said expressionlessly: "I just want to know, why is this?" Do you know that if you do this, you will be spurned by your colleagues, and this night will not be guaranteed? ”

Guo Dan is the public enemy of the ministers, and doing so at the right time is tantamount to cooperating with Guo Dan.

Fang Fengshi sighed: "Xiaguan is now the year of the broken candle, and with the favor of His Majesty, he can still occupy the position of this scholar, not only eating the king's luck, but also sharing the worries of the king, and the lower official does not want to waste this year of the broken candle." ”

"Does this bird really matter?"

"Don't hide it from Shen Shoufu, about the bird gun, Xia Guan has always studied it, and has also discussed it with General Qi, we all think that firearms will be the main weapon in the future war, as long as the production process comes up, it can make our army's combat effectiveness to a higher level."

He fought in the south and the north, and also commanded Qi Jiguang and them to resist the Japanese, as far as their group of generals were concerned, they all attached great importance to firearms, and they also respected the bird gun very much, but it was the emperor who made the decision, it was the civil minister, the court did not pay attention to it, and they had no choice.

However, this time Fang encountered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, of course, he had to go out of his way to advance this matter, and if he missed this opportunity, he might not be able to wait any longer.

Shen Shixing was silent for a while, then suddenly sighed and said, "Since you have already decided, then I can't say anything more, so you can do it yourself." ”

With that, he walked out.

Of course he wouldn't help Fang Fengshi, he didn't blame Fang Fengshi, it was already very good, this was also because he could understand Fang Fengshi.

It's already this age, and there's nothing to be afraid of.

And this matter will not make him stink for 10,000 years, at most, he will be excluded by his colleagues in the DPRK.

If he does this, he will definitely pay a price.