In all fairness, Zhao Hongrun does not like the means of "wanting to capture the old and indulging" and "retreating as advance", and his personality determines that he prefers a more convenient and direct way of negotiation, but Zhao Yuanyan, the uncle of the six princes, made him understand that this method is necessary, and it is the usual means of political orientation.

"Would you like to ask me to help you wait?"

Zhao Hongrun crossed his hands and ten fingers, and looked at Li Fu, the secretary of the military department who made this plea, with an expressionless face, trying to play the image of "King Su who has not disappeared from his anger": "King Shu really can't understand, what can my smelting bureau help your department?" ”

This is a typical shelf.

No, Li Fu, Xu Guan, and Li Jin of the Ministry of War heard a strong sense of ridicule from Zhao Hongrun's words, but they had nothing to do about this ridicule.

After a long time, it was the elderly Li Fu who was thick-skinned, and pleaded without changing his face: "I hope that the Smelting Bureau will help build those 130,000 sets of armaments together." ”

"Huh?" Zhao Hongrun raised his hand and gently scratched his face, and sneered: "This is interesting." …… This king remembers that a while ago, it was your ministry who wrote to my father, asking me to withdraw from this matter......"

"Misunderstanding, that's a misunderstanding." Li Wei had a smile on his face, as if the incident he had gone to the Vertical Arch Hall a few days ago was really just a misunderstanding.

"Misunderstanding? Hum! Zhao Hongrun snorted coldly with a mocking face: "Thanks to your ministry, this king was reprimanded by his father." ”

"That's when you crossed the line......

Li Wei took a deep look at the Su King in front of him.

It is undeniable that since His Royal Highness King Su led 25,000 Jun Shui troops to repel the 160,000 army of Chu at a very small price, Li Wei has been impressed by His Royal Highness the prince, and he no longer dares to regard this son as a naughty boy.

On the contrary, with Zhao Hongrun entering the smelting bureau. Changing the Smelting Bureau step by step, Li Fu felt more and more that His Royal Highness King Su was by no means an ordinary person, and because of this, he had an inexplicable vigilance against His Royal Highness King Su.

It's no wonder that you think about it, after all. The officials and households have all suffered a big loss in the hands of His Royal Highness, and even their military department lost face last year because of the "great gift of King Su", and now the six departments of the court, who would dare to despise His Royal Highness King Su?

As a result, when the smelting bureau controlled by Zhao Hongrun showed signs of trying to take a step in armament building, Li Fei felt a great threat.

To put it bluntly, Zhao Hongrun was so sharp in the past that Li Feng was afraid and wary of him.

I thought about it. Li Feng said tentatively: "Your Royal Highness King Su, I don't know what you think of our Soldier Casting Bureau?" ”

『……』

This cold inquiry made Zhao Hongrun slightly flustered.

"This old man...... Aren't you guarding me?'

Zhao Hongrun frowned and glanced at Li Man, feeling a little strange in his heart: Could it be that my intention to annex the War Casting Bureau is really so obvious?

I remember that a few days ago, when Zhao Yuanlian, the uncle of the six kings, asked about this matter, Zhao Hongrun was still a little unimpressed, but now this sentence started from Li Yan's mouth. couldn't help but make Zhao Hongrun a little concerned.

After all, this is what Zhao Yuanyan, the uncle of the six kings, mentioned to him, and it is easy to "erect unnecessary enemies" due to being sharp and coercive.

To put it bluntly, it is. When a person is too aggressive, unfamiliar people will subconsciously distance themselves and become wary of you, so it is generally not advisable to be politically aggressive.

Like Zhao Hongrun's style, it is suitable for the army and the battlefield. But in politics, like his sixth uncle Zhao Yuanyan, who is well-connected and has a lot of connections, he is more suitable for standing in the temple.

"The ...... of the Armor Bureau"

Zhao Hongrun pondered the words and thought about how to answer in order to dispel the vigilance in Li Man's heart and save the situation.

I thought about it. He said frankly, "Hey! It seems that this kind of immutable and inflexible department will be merged into our smelting bureau as soon as possible. ”

"Huh?"

Li Fu, the secretary of the military department, Xu Guan, the left waiter, and Li Jin, the director of the military casting bureau, were taken aback when they heard this, you know, although they had some guesses in their hearts, they really didn't expect that His Royal Highness King Su would be so direct and straightforward.

"Is this true? Or is it just a temptation?'

Li Wei was a little confused.

He originally wanted to test whether Zhao Hongrun had any intentions for the War Casting Bureau, but he didn't expect Zhao Hongrun to admit it with residual anger, which made him a little confused.

After all, it stands to reason that the true intentions of the heart should not be buried deep in the heart?

For some reason, Li Wei subconsciously thought of Wei Tianzi, after all, when he went to the Vertical Arch Hall to try to find out the mind of that majesty, that majesty also didn't let him get what he wanted to know.

"It's like ......

Li Yan muttered in his heart.

Maybe he didn't realize it before, but now that he looked carefully at the Royal Highness King Su in front of him, Li Wei vaguely felt that the Royal Highness of King Su in front of him was really similar to the Great Wei Tianzi they were loyal to.

That...... It's hard to figure out what it's going to be like......

After thinking about it, Li Fu arched his hand and said, "His Royal Highness King Su, I don't know what you want the War Casting Bureau to do?" ”

“……”

Hearing this, everyone in the room looked at Li Feng in disbelief, especially Xu Guan, the left attendant of the Military Department, and Li Jin, the director of the Military Casting Bureau.

Of course, it also includes Zhao Hongrun.

"This old man...... What do you mean by that?'

"This king doesn't understand what Li Shangshu means." Zhao Hongrun said expressionlessly.

Hearing this, Li Fu arched his hand and said: "The old man dealt with His Royal Highness King Su last year, although the process was unsatisfactory, but His Royal Highness King Su's virtue, the old man still deeply admired. …… Thinking about the "Chu Zhen" worth at least more than 20 million taels of silver that was transported back to my Great Wei from the Chu State, His Royal Highness King Su not only handed over a part of it to the household department, but also subsidized the military expenses of our military department, the Ministry of Industry, and the military expenses of several armies such as the Junshui Army, the Fencheng Sai, the Dangshan Battalion, and the Shangshui Army...... His Royal Highness King Su is dedicated to my Great Wei, this noble character, I really admire the old decay! ”

“……”

“……”

Hearing this, the house was silent.

Everyone present felt incredible: this stubborn old man would even compliment?

No, Li Yan's son, Li Jin, the director of the War Casting Bureau, was already dumbfounded, as if he was wondering if this was his stubborn father.

"That's really ...... Accident.'

Zhao Hongrun scratched his face, and was speechless in shock.

"It's not a compliment."

As if seeing through the surprise of everyone present, Li Feng said with a straight face: "His Royal Highness King Su's contribution to my Great Wei is obvious to all, and His Royal Highness sincerely hopes that my Great Wei will become steadily strong and strong. …… But the old man doesn't understand, obviously there is already a military casting bureau, why does His Royal Highness King Su still plan to intervene in the armament building? Is it because of the scarcity bureau's financial constraints, or is it something else? I hope Your Highness will make it clear. ”

"This old man ......."

Zhao Hongrun looked at Li Fu deeply for a long time, and said in a deep voice: "Because of the development of the War Casting Bureau, this king has not been satisfied. ”

"Sure enough!"

Li Fa's heart suddenly understood.

He was wondering before, because according to the temperament of His Royal Highness King Su, this is not like a prince who is simply fighting for power and profit, but now that he heard about this, he finally understood.

At this time, Li Jin, the director of the War Casting Bureau, heard this, but he was a little angry, and couldn't help but say: "His Royal Highness King Su said this, forgive the officials for not agreeing!" …… Your Highness, please! ”

It's no wonder, after all, Li Jin is the bureau leader of the War Casting Bureau, and he decides all the affairs in the War Casting Bureau, which is the same reason that parents can't see outsiders say that their children are not good.

In the face of Li Jin, who was forcibly dissatisfied, Zhao Hongrun said lightly: "As far as this king knows, the War Casting Bureau was using the current way to build weapons and equipment decades ago, and it was the same more than ten years ago, and to this day, it still uses the old craftsmanship...... No progress has been made for decades. ”

"This ......" Li Jin's face turned red when he heard this, and he defended: "That's to blame the Smelting Bureau......"

Before the words fell, Wang Fu of the Smelting Bureau said dissatisfiedly: "What does Li Jucheng mean by this? ”

"Isn't it?" Li Jin was not afraid of Wang Fu, and when he heard this, he mocked: "Our Soldier Casting Bureau follows the process of the Smelting Bureau, and it is precisely because the Smelting Bureau has not made any progress in the past few decades that our Soldier Casting Bureau has not made any progress in the past few decades, isn't it?" ”

"You ......," Wang Fu was speechless.

Thinking about it carefully, Li Jin's words really make some sense.

At this time, Zhao Hongrun said lightly: "In this case, my Smelting Bureau can also cast weapons and equipment, what else do you need the War Casting Bureau to do?" Other than that...... The new process improved by my Smelting Bureau, have you thoroughly eaten it in the War Casting Bureau? My Smelting Bureau has clearly told you the method of mass production of blades, and it stands to reason that in addition to the fact that your bureau is not able to mass-produce armor for the time being, it is not a problem to mass-produce guns and swords. Then this king comes to ask you, do you have the energy to produce weapons other than iron swords? ”

"......" Li Jin opened his mouth and was speechless.

Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun sneered and said coldly: "Are you used to taking other people's things, don't you know how to draw inferences, touch on the analogy, and cast molds by yourself?" …… Just waiting for someone else to bring you ready-made things? ”

"Xiaguan ......" Li Jin's face turned red, but he couldn't speak.

It's no wonder, after all, the problem pointed out by Zhao Hongrun hit the nail on the head, and they really didn't think about casting molds themselves in the way used by the Smelting Bureau.

Are they unable to do it?

I'm afraid not, but they haven't thought about it.

The Arsenal Bureau, which has been using the craftsmanship of the Smelting Bureau for decades, has long since fixed their way of thinking.

And at this moment, Li Yan, the secretary of the Ministry of War, interjected and said: "His Royal Highness King Su has taught a good lesson, but this is the War Casting Bureau." …… Your Highness, the foundation of the Arsenal Bureau is to inherit the craftsmanship of the Smelting Bureau to build armaments, and Your Highness cannot ask our Arsenal Bureau in the way of requesting the Smelting Bureau. ”

Vaguely, Li Feng had already felt the true thoughts of His Royal Highness King Su: This Highness felt that the existence of the War Casting Bureau was dispensable.

Thinking of this, Li Fu Zhengse said: "Your Highness, how about you let the Military Casting Bureau and the Smelting Bureau cooperate in depth?" For example, the Metallurgical Bureau and the Ministry of Industry under the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household under the Department of Warehouse, the division of labor and cooperation between the three. ”

"Huh?"

Zhao Hongrun glanced at Li Fu with some surprise.

"This old man...... I think I'm prepared." (To be continued.) )