The battle between the party and the government is not expressed for the time being, but the problem with Wei Zhongxian in front of him will not break out, and the most important thing at the moment is the problem of silver.

After all, later generations also said in their evaluations of the Ming Dynasty's destruction.

The end of the Ming Dynasty was not so much destroyed by peasant uprisings as by economic collapse, and the weakness of the central government made the Ming Dynasty often appear passive in the face of natural and man-made disasters.

In a word, it is, poor!

People are poor and short-sighted, let alone such a huge Ming Empire?

Zhu Youzhen deeply agrees with this, and the most important thing at the moment is to start the development of the Migne rifle as soon as possible, after all, he can still recognize the deep connection between military power and imperial power.

Dongchang has now figured out the background of the families of officials of the Beijing Division, although there are more or less gaps in the accuracy of some of the data, but seeing the statistical list sent by Wei Zhongxian, Zhu Youzhen is still very shocked.

originally thought that Chongzhen had just started, and corruption had not yet reached the point of in-depth plainment, but the result was.

At this moment, there are still more than ten years before Li Zicheng breaks through the Beijing Division, but at this moment, the wealth of the families of the officials in the Beijing Division is no less than that of more than ten years later.

Suddenly, he recalled that when the soldiers came to the city in "History of the Late Ming Dynasty", Chongzhen solicited donations from the officials of the Manchu Dynasty, and his affection was deep, and he could have already been regarded as a plea from the emperor, but...

You must know that when Emperor Chongzhen persuaded the ministers to donate, the ministers cried poor and said that they had no money, and the most annoying thing was Emperor Chongzhen's father-in-law, Chongzhen asked him to donate money, he said that he had no money, and even went to his daughter (queen) to cry poor and ask for money, and then took out a small part to donate to Chongzhen, and said that he was a loyal minister.

As a result, after Li Express's Dashun rebel army entered the city, these ministers who said they had no money turned out to be rich one by one, and some even spit out hundreds of thousands of taels of silver in one go.

While kneeling on the ground and begging Li Zicheng to spare his life, he asked for a position in the Dashun New Dynasty.

Zhu Youzhen shook his head, he came to such a situation and should not appear again.

"Does the king know how much silver I still have in my inner money?"

Zhu Youzhen actually had some ignorance of his financial situation at this time, after all, the treasury of the household department was empty all the year round, and it was necessary to rely on internal funds to make up for it, and it was unbearable.

"Back to Your Majesty, Inside... There are about 23 million taels of silver in the treasury..."

With that, Wang Chengen knelt on the ground.

In fact, Wang Chengen is not to blame for this, there are only more than 230,000 taels left in the internal money, and the Emperor of the Apocalypse has to be blamed.

Since ancient times, unless the dynasty changes, it is only a transfer between emperors, and the internal money is also to be inherited by later generations.

Emperor Tianqi reigned for just a few years, and he squandered all the money and belongings that Wanli had worked so hard to save.

If not, why is there such an emptiness in the interior?

But the speaker is complicated, but the listener is full of joy.

At this moment, Zhu Youzhen really didn't expect that there was such a huge amount of money in the inner treasury, after all, in his eyes from later generations, when the treasury was empty, how much money could the emperor have?

If you have money, then you can do something.

Immediately, Zhu Youzhen spoke.

"Wang Companion, follow me to the Ministry of Works."

Although I don't know why His Majesty didn't call the servants of the Ministry of Works to come and meet the saint.

Instead, he personally set up the Ministry of Engineering, but Wang Chengen didn't say much, just turned his head and ordered.

But I have felt that Emperor Chongzhen seems to attach great importance to the Ministry of Industry.

At this time, Xue Fengxiang, who had just taken office, was still the secretary of the Ministry of Industry of the Ming Dynasty, and Huo Weihua, the original secretary of the Ministry of Industry, was kicked to the Ministry of War by Chongzhen, who had just ascended to the throne, because he had been unclear with the apocalypse.

Hearing that Chongzhen was going to come to the Ministry of Industry, after the news arrived, Xue Fengxiang did not dare to delay at all.

Chongzhen's rare ruthless face above the court is still vivid.

As soon as Long Yuan arrived, Wang Chengen saw from a distance the officials of all sizes waiting outside the Ministry of Industry, lined up and waiting for the arrival of the Son of Heaven.

Wang Chengen waved his sleeves and signaled the guard of honor to stop.

Xue Fengxiang hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.

Along.

Zhu Youzhen also calculated the general situation at the end of the Ming Dynasty in his heart, first of all, it is known that the Jingying erosion, Liaodong can still contain the Jurchen, but it is limited to containment.

And every year, the imperial court was required to bear a heavy salary, so that the Chongzhen court gradually overwhelmed it, and assessed taxes year by year.

In the real later period of the Chongzhen Dynasty, the complexity of various tax items and the amount of tax collected in advance can be called a historical wonder.

If you want to completely solve the problem of Liaodong, in the final analysis, you must solve the Jurchen.

If the tartar is not removed for a day, the external trouble will not stop for a day.

Seeing that the Ministry of Industry had arrived, in order to confirm whether the Minie rifle in the Huaxia Library could be produced at this stage, Zhu Youzhen did not hesitate to make a trip himself.

"Weichen didn't know that His Majesty came to the Ministry of Industry in person, and if he was neglected, please ask His Majesty Haihan."

Zhu Youzhen didn't come to listen to Xue Fengxiang say these polite words, he has only one purpose here in recent days, to finalize the production of Migne rifles.

"Xue Fengxiang, let me ask you, where is the Daming firearm manufactured today? Can it be used? ”

As soon as Zhu Youzhen's words came out, Xue Fengxiang was a little stunned for a while, why did His Majesty come all the way to the Ministry of Industry today for this little thing?

In fact, the production of firearms in the Ming Dynasty began a long time ago, the earliest can be traced back to the Hongwu period, in the Yongle Dynasty to set the rules, by the royal jurisdiction, unified in the Wang Gong factory production after the distribution of military departments.

There was nothing wrong with this system, but the bad thing was that during the Ming Dynasty, the craftsmen of the Ming Dynasty were lowly and could save some money or have a more flexible mind.

Most of them left their nationality based on relationships, and naturally left some old, weak, sick and disabled.

In addition, the funds are becoming thinner and thinner, and at the end of the Ming Dynasty, only six or seven of the "ten guns" of the Beijing Camp Shenji Camp Firearms Army were issued; Among the six or seven, there are only two or three middle ears. ”

As a result, in the later period, when facing the impact of the Manchu Qing Dynasty's highly mobile cavalry and archery troops, the Shenji Battalion was often unable to form an army and fled at the first touch.

Although he has not served in the Ministry of Industry for a long time, Xue Fengxiang can be regarded as competent, not to mention repairing the water conservancy in the territory of Jingshi with the only remaining funds, and also sending craftsmen to guide the farmland and water conservancy facilities in Zhili.

But for Wang Gongchang's situation, Xue Fengxiang was speechless for a while.

When Zhu Youzhen saw this situation, he secretly said in his heart, it will be bad.

Then he said bluntly: "I see that you are also conscientious as the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, but how can you not even know what the core status of my Daming Firearms is, how can this reassure me?" ”

Xue Fengxiang also broke out in a cold sweat when he heard this, and several people in his entourage behind him were also shocked, seeing that Xue Fengxiang was about to kneel on the ground to plead guilty, they also knelt on the ground and shouted guilty.

Zhu Youzhen did not want to waste any more time.

Swing Wang Gong factory.

The rest of the people hurriedly followed, and before Xue Fengxiang left, he also beckoned people to go to Wang Gongchang to inquire first, if the emperor came and saw something that should not be seen.

He can't afford to be guilty.

However, because the messenger didn't say anything, and he didn't know what to do, he was a step too slow, and the dragon guard of honor had arrived, and he saw it from a distance out of breath.

Everything was hit by Zhu Youzhen.

As soon as he arrived at the place, Zhu Youzhen's brows furrowed.

I saw that the door of Wang Gong's factory was open, and there was only a small official, wearing an embroidered cotton jacket, although it seemed to be a cotton jacket, but it was already filthy to see that the cotton jacket was already filthy.

Not only is the appearance dark and shiny, but the cotton wool has also run most of it, and it looks poor.

Originally, it was okay to do so, after all, Wang Gongchang was already poor, and this matter was well known in the capital.

The bad is bad in this person, it seems that he went to spend two copper plates in the early morning to drink the morning wine that has only recently become popular in the capital, greedy for a few sips, and at the moment he is following the threshold as a pillow, and he is asleep.

This can make Xue Fengxiang, who arrived with Zhu Youzhen on the side, complain.

Even Wang Chengen couldn't help but secretly say in his heart: "Xue Fengxiang, this old guy, I'm afraid I'm unlucky this time." ”

Xue Fengxiang hated.

How high-spirited he was when he first took up the post of secretary of the Ministry of Industry, the official to the book, looking at the entire Ming Dynasty, there were a few people, although it was only the most inconspicuous Ministry of Industry above the court.

The work is often despised by others, and sometimes he is reprimanded by the Emperor of the Apocalypse for poor water conservancy governance, but in the end, life is barely comfortable.

In this huge capital, he can be regarded as a figure with a head and a face.

But at this moment, because of the little Wang Gong's factory, he felt uncomfortable in his heart.

But at this moment, Zhu Youzhen is abnormal.

Watching all this with interest.

"The gatekeepers of Wang Gong's factory can still drink a morning wine and come here to sleep, it seems that your Ministry of Industry is doing well."

"Minister. The minister is guilty..."

And at this moment, a large number of people and horses arrived, and no matter how sweet the little official slept soundly, it was time to wake up.

I saw him rubbing his eyes, looking in a trance, but the next second, he was like hitting a ghost, kneeling on the ground and trembling uncontrollably, even if he didn't see it again.

That can be regarded as a person who lives under the feet of the imperial city, how can he not recognize the holy drive of the Son of Heaven?

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty.."

Rao is little official scratched his scalp and couldn't figure out why the Son of Heaven and the officials actually gathered in front of the small Wang Gongchang today, and they also bumped into the scene of themselves falling asleep.

"Don't be nervous, take me into Wang Gong's factory to have a look, I am very curious about where my great fire weapon comes from now, and how it is made, and look at my skilled craftsmen."

But these words are not answered by the little official.

I saw Xue Fengxiang rushing out from behind, kneeling on the ground and shouting.

"Obey."

A group of people walked into Wang Gong Factory, if the outside looks like Wang Gong Factory is only slightly withered, then the inside can be said to be dilapidated to describe the most appropriate.

Weeds had grown next to the long-unlit steelmaking furnace, and the tools used to roll the pipes were scattered haphazardly on the wooden worktop.

Wang Gongchang, who couldn't see a craftsman, came into view.

"Lord Xue, I don't know where this Wang Gongchang craftsman is today, is there any other arrangement?"

"Back to Your Majesty, this Wang Gongchang... It's been a long time since I've received a list from the Ministry of War.,So this.. Craftsman.. I'm afraid we're going out looking for something else... bar. ”

In fact, when he said this, Xue Fengxiang risked cutting off his head.

Since the opening of Wang Gong Factory by our ancestors, we have already established a rule that craftsmen should not leave without permission in any case, after all, it contains all the secrets of Daming firearms.

Seeing Zhu Youzhen's expression gradually turning cold, Xue Fengxiang became even more frightened.