"You are...... Zeng-sama? ”

Ye Yongjia walked into the lobby of the household department and saw an official sitting in front of the desk, turning a pen in one hand and playing with his sleeve in the other.

"Who are you?" The man hurriedly put down what he was holding and walked out.

"Ye Yongjia, the secretary of the military department." He didn't know the details of this person, so he had to answer carefully.

"Fortunately. The contemptible person is Zeng Liang, the word 芗之. He bowed politely, but his tone was as hard as iron.

Ye Yongjia saw that this person was not very good at talking, so he stopped getting close to him, and replied lightly: "Fortunately." ”

"Sit down." Zeng Liang stretched out his hand slightly, pulled out the sub-circle chair, and raised his eyes to look at him, but the latter was still standing upright, silent.

Zeng Liang smiled and patted the back of the chair a few times: "I just sorted out the official affairs of the household department, and I probably already understand your intention to come." In any case, I advise you to remember that the rights and interests of our department are the first, and they are by no means a tool for your military department to sign and pledge! ”

Ye Yongjia saw him competing against each other, so he naturally couldn't help it: "First, Ye has never met you before, and he has never treated his colleagues as tools; Second, training the new army is a policy determined by the prime minister, and it is not something that Ye can do with a few words. ”

"Are you trying to scare me with Bong-sang?" Zeng Liang's hand tightened the circle chair, "Let me tell you, I am still the emperor's personal order of Tanhua, and Prime Minister Liu Cheng's protégé!" If you want to engage in seniority, the Ministry of Officials and the Criminal Department will go with you, but you can't come to me. The so-called 'one general will succeed and ten thousand bones will wither', it is always a good thing for the military department to implement a new policy, but don't think that if you go to a Liu Mian, you can be powerful! ”

"I, Ye Yongjia, am an upright official, I only know for the country, but I don't know for power. I hope you don't speculate maliciously...... Leave. Ye Yongjia hurriedly saluted, and walked out of the government office in great strides.

"Old Cai, let's go." He and Cai Xianqing, who was leaning against the wall, said coldly.

Cai Xianqing saw that his face was wrong, so he stroked his palms and laughed: "Sure enough!" I inquired about this person, but he was a well-known minister. ”

"It's just a hawk dog." So saying, he walked away.

got rid of the shackles of officialdom and returned to Suidi, Ye Yongjia was particularly comfortable. When they arrived in the town, the two of them did not plan to rest, but first looked at a few military camps with Du Qing, and then watched the drills of the new army in the school field.

After the dispersal, Ye Yongjia entered the big tent with Du Qing, and he couldn't help but admire: "Since Du Dudu has such ability, why worry about the new army!" ”

Du Qing was sitting on the stool, frowning, staring at the cowhide map on the table, and replied: "The quality of this new army is still uneven, and I don't know how much effort it took to barely get these people right." ”

"How's the war going?" Cai Xianqing also looked at the map closely, and saw that the corners were all burned.

"Due to the recent outbreak of the plague in the court, a lot of cattle, sheep and horses died, and this period of time has been very quiet, and no war has broken out."

"Then the combat strength of these new armies is afraid that it will be difficult to test."

"Why test?" Du Qing shook his head, "What matters now is the weapon!" In the past few months, the problem of exploding has emerged one after another, and the soldiers are using old guns and old artillery, how can they resist the enemy? ”

"That's what we're worried about." Ye Yongjia also sighed.

"What's the saying in the imperial court?" Although Du Qing was annoyed, his face was still normal and he was not angry.

"I've made a little noise. It mainly revolves around the cost of the household, which has been undecided for a long time. Now the imperial court does not have a reserve of extra bird guns, only a way to make a now. However, iron is only a good thing, whether it is land transportation or sea transportation, it is necessary to let the household bear a high amount of use, which is the cause of worry. ”

Du Qing agreed: "Yes, I tried to build cannons here before, but the craftsmen complained that the iron was too brittle and difficult to cast. If the household department refuses to give out the money now, the fall of Suidi is only just around the corner. This group of civil officials also did not know the situation at the border gates, and only cared about guarding their own one-third of an acre. When the time comes, the barriers will be lost, and the Celestial Empire will be in danger of losing the country, so they will have nothing to say! ”

Ye Yongjia sighed together, but Cai Xianqing kept silently staring at the map, not caring about the discussion between the two.

"Cai Lao...... Do you have an idea? Ye Yongjia asked.

"I do have an idea," Cai Xianqing said, "It can only slow down the urgent need, but it can't last long." I just don't know if it's successful or not. ”

"Please!"

He pointed to the boundary of Yongping Mansion: "When I was in Jingshi, I often heard that there were Western merchant ships doing business on the seaside. It is expected that it has arrived in Beijing, and it will inevitably be along the coast to the north, and Yongping will have many ports, and it will inevitably gather foreign businessmen. I heard that Westerners often sell weapons in the South Seas, so it is better to buy them from many sources, not only do not need to be cast with great effort, but also avoid the cost of shipping. ”

Du Qing stomped excitedly and said with great joy: "Wonderful! Ye Shangshu said to the household department, isn't this the end of the matter? ”

Ye Yongjia was suddenly full of ambition, but his actions were still calm, he looked at Cai Xianqing and said, "I didn't expect to come to Suidi, Lord Cai thought of such a plan!" So easy to save trouble and money, why is it called not long-lasting? ”

Cai Xianqing sighed: "The bird gun is expensive, and I can get hundreds of guns from Western merchants in a short time, but I have a lot of appetite, and after a few days of tossing, I bought all their inventory." If someone's artillery factory is located in a foreign country, it will inevitably take care of the local business first, and it will take several months, or even more than a year, to be assigned to us. If you want to increase the price to attract them, the household department is reluctant. ”

"The main thing is to solve the border troubles first, so that this new army can fight a good battle," Ye Yongjia said, "Let's think about the current matter first." I'll write a letter to the household department to see how Zeng Liang reacts. ”

Ye Yongjia returned to the barracks, and immediately wrote a sprinkling letter, wrapped in brown paper, and asked Du Qing to arrange for a primary school to send it quickly.

Because Jingshi was not far from Suidi, the reply from the household department arrived quickly. Ye Yongjia picked up the letter, looked at the smile on Xiao Xiaoxiao's face, and asked, "What did Zeng Xiangzhi say to you?" ”

The little colonel stepped forward and replied: "My lord, Zeng Gong treated me well, left me a meal, and asked me to send the letter back!" ”

"How's his face?" Ye Yongjia wanted to ask him thoroughly.

"The face is ruddy, and the breath is okay."

Ye Yongjia laughed out loud, and hurriedly ordered: "I didn't ask you this. Rest well! ”

"Thank you, sir!" The little school departed.

Ye Yongjia opened the letter very confidently, exposed the head of the book, and saw that it was written 'Zeng Liangjing Hui Shangshu', and he was even more convinced, but once he unfolded it, his face changed suddenly.