A few steel ingots were placed on the table, Zhao Hong picked them up and watched carefully, Hu Mengyu, who could not suppress his excitement, respectfully introduced them.

"Your Majesty, this is the latest steel of Daye Iron Works, which is much tougher than the wrought iron of the Jiangnan East Road Ordnance Manufacturing Division, and the cast firearms are also stronger and more durable, which can be said to be as stable as a rock!"

Hu Mengyu's joy was in his eyes, Zhao Hong nodded and whispered.

"Hu Mengyu, you are very good!"

Daye Iron Works came out, hundreds of years earlier than the later Hanyang Iron Works, and the new "iron" smelted was obviously better than the iron works on Jiangnan East Road. Good steel can cast rails, you can make steam engines, and soon it will be train steamships.

"Your Majesty, the sword and weapons trade of the Jiangnan Weapons Manufacturing Division is thriving, and the supply exceeds demand. There are many maritime merchants who are in a hurry, and there are also maritime merchants who ask if they can buy my Great Song firearms, and they don't care if the price is high. Daye Iron Works is strong, can it share the burden for the Ordnance Manufacturing Division? ”

Jiangnan East Road made Wang Gang and followed suit.

Overseas countries, including Japan, Goryeo, and the South and Indian Oceans, were very interested in the weapons cast by the Great Song Dynasty, especially firearms, which also surprised him.

More than a dozen artillery pieces for a boatload of grain, I feel heartwarming when I think about it.

"Why not?"

Zhao Hong nodded, and his heart was also excited.

"Whether it's knives, guns, weapons or firearms, you can sell them as long as the price is right. Technology and craftsmanship are the top priority, and these things are in our hands, which is fundamental. ”

He almost said that "science and technology are the primary productive forces."

"Hu Mengyu, steelmaking has made great achievements, and it can produce elastic iron, whether it is a spontaneous fire gun or a clock, you can try to develop it."

The ministers nodded ignorantly, and Zhao Hong smiled slightly.

It seems that he still has to go to the Jiangnan Ordnance Manufacturing Division or Daye Iron Factory in person to discuss face-to-face with the craftsmen.

Wang Gang coughed, and the forbidden army and craftsmen brought in a box of porcelain and placed them on the table one by one.

"This is bone china?"

Zhao Hong watched under the light, it was really delicate and transparent, warm as jade.

"Your Majesty, this is bone china from Jingdezhen, fired twice, containing forty percent of beef bone powder, each piece is a fine product, whether it is a merchant of my Great Song Dynasty, or overseas maritime merchants, they are very interested."

Wang Gang was a little excited. Since the successful development of blue and white porcelain last year, and now the bone china has been completed, which is a weapon to make money.

"Wang Gang, you are also very good!"

Zhao Hong praised it, and suddenly asked:

"How's the glass, is it coming out?"

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid there will be some time. The glass of water has been made, and it is also transparent, but it may take time to form. ”

Wang Gang's old face turned red and he stood up.

Zhao Hong pondered for a moment, and some memories of later generations came to his mind, and he couldn't help but say it.

"Bowls, plates, vases, and other things, can they be molded like ceramics? To make flat glass, you can build a tin pool, let the glass level, and then transport it out with a hand-cranked conveyor belt, and cut and polish it after cooling. ”

He remembers pouring liquid glass into a mold, cutting scissors, and pressing it under heavy pressure, which is basically the same as ceramic roll molding, which can be replaced by a manual machine.

As for float production glass, all technical otaku who pay a little attention to the Internet probably know.

Seeing that Wang Gang was ignorant, Zhao Hong gently told him that before going to Sichuan, he would go to Jingdezhen to solve his doubts on the spot.

Transparent molten glass has been created, how can it be difficult to be molded? Maybe he hasn't arrived in Jingdezhen yet, the craftsmen have already figured out a way.

"Gao Dingzi, the implementation of the new policy on Liangzhejiang Road, you have made great contributions, the people of the Great Song Dynasty of the Song Dynasty, thank you!"

Zhao Hong looked at Gao Dingzi and nodded appreciatively.

"With His Majesty's support, the minister does not dare to be greedy! It's just that some officials in the DPRK and China are constrained, and the ministers are very troubled! ”

Compared with Sichuan, Gao Dingzi has lost a lot of weight, and it seems that he is overworked.

"Liangzhejiang Road is at the foot of the Son of Heaven, and the resistance is naturally the greatest. Do you want me to share it for you? ”

"Not really. Give the minister three months, and the minister will definitely solve all the cows, ghosts, snakes, and gods! ”

Gao Dingzi said categorically, generous and heroic.

"Good! However, I could not stand by and watch my courtiers work for the affairs of the state, but I did nothing. ”

Zhao Hong looked at Gao Dingzi and his expression became serious.

"Gao Dingzi, you must be ready to be promoted to the pacification envoy of Lin'an Mansion Yin and Liangzhe Road at any time, so as not to be caught off guard when you get it. I won't leave any of you alone! ”

Some things are really time to end.

Gao Dingzi's heart was shocked, and he hurriedly received the order.

"I am not a ruthless person, but whoever dares to obstruct the new policy and ignore the interests of the Great Song Dynasty with his own selfishness, no matter who he is, I will never show mercy!"

Zhao Hong said coldly, all the ministers were frightened, it seems that the emperor can't bear it, it is not enough to kill a governor Hu Yu, he has to do something to the ministers who are hindered by the court.

Zhao Hong's gaze swept to another black, thin but energetic official, with a look of appreciation.

"Du Fan, I used to be disrespectful to you at the Arsenal, and I apologize to you. You are seeking reason to soothe the people, build water conservancy, reclaim wasteland, open factories and mining, you have done a good job! You can do it for me! ”

In the first year, Du Fan expanded the cultivated area of Liuqiu to more than 2 million mu, built an iron and coal factory, and produced cane sugar to supply the interior of the Great Song Dynasty, and sulfur mines also made up for the lack of gunpowder production.

"Your Majesty, Shi Miyuan is in power, and the minister is just messing around in the military office. On that day, His Majesty drank the first stick, and the ministers were empowered. The ministers have done things for the country and the people today, and His Majesty has made great contributions. ”

Du Fan's half-true compliment made Zhao Hong laugh.

"Du Fan, Liuqiu opened the Yajian Mansion, and in the future, it will also be the hub for the Great Song Dynasty sailors to go north and south. It won't take three or five years, Liuqiu Mansion is Liuqiu Road, and if you work hard for a few more years, I will be of great use! ”

Zhao Hong was proud and raised his voice.

"Bring it up!"

Wine, meat, tea, and stacks of cakes were brought up. This is Zhao Hong's usual trick, and it is also the way he likes.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Great Song Dynasty is in ruins, the treasury is tight, these rewards, as well as a thousand yuan per person, are my intentions, thank you for your efforts and contributions to the Great Song Dynasty."

Zhao Hong looked at everyone and was meaningful.

"I still say the same thing, Eryu Erlu, the people's fat and the people's anointing; For one term of office, for the benefit of one party. If you are short of money, just come to me, don't be greedy for ink, let alone be a traitor. Doing so not only hurts the righteousness of the monarch and ministers, but also implicates the family and leaves a reputation for eternity. ”

"Follow Your Majesty's teachings! Thank you, Your Majesty! ”

All the ministers stood up together, bowed and saluted, and everyone was solemn.

The emperor mentioned his orders, and they dared not to take it to heart.

The courtiers left, Zhao Yan sat on a chair and pondered, the sound of firecrackers outside came, and the atmosphere of the Chinese New Year's Eve festival was heartwarming.

"I don't know, have the soldiers who reinforced Western Xia have enough food and clothing?"

Zhao Hong leaned back in the chair and said a leisurely word.

"Your Majesty loves soldiers like sons, and his heart is the blessing of my Song Dynasty soldiers!"

Dong Songchen complimented the emperor and cautiously put forward his opinion.

"Your Majesty, the Sichuan border army has reinforced Western Xia, and the ministers of the DPRK and China have trouble sleeping. Once this matter became known to the Tatars, the conflict between the Great Song and the Tatars would inevitably intensify. It's not a good thing for me to reinforce the soldiers of Great Xia! ”

"God knows if it will reach the ears of the Tatars?"

Zhao Hong shook his head and sneered.

"Official! Sure enough, it's a good official of my Great Song Dynasty! ”

Fortunately, the Western Xia is thousands of miles away, and there is a golden realm in the middle, otherwise, the military information of the border army to reinforce the Western Xia will be revealed to the Mongolian army, and such a thing will definitely be done by the minister.

"Have the gifts for the Sichuan border army been distributed to the border army?"

The New Year's gifts issued to the Northwest Frontier Army are higher than those of Hanxiang and Huaidong, but they are nothing more than a new set of clothes and two or three catties of salt. The officers were better, and only two bags of tea.

Compared with the previous deductions and exploitation suffered by the officials and troops of the Great Song Dynasty, Zhao Hong's move was intended to reflect the importance of the imperial court to the border army and enhance the sense of superiority and honor of the soldiers.

The sense of superiority and honor is the most needed and indispensable in the army.

"Your Majesty, Fan Xianggong played three days ago, and the rewards in the army have been transported to the major battalions of the border army. If you want to know if it will be distributed, I'm afraid it will have to wait until after New Year's Day. ”

Dong Songchen's words made Zhao Hong smile awkwardly.

Thinking about it is a play, in the northwest frontier affairs, he is too enchanted.

"Dong Songchen, send a message to Cao Youwen, let the two roads of Lizhou, especially the west road of Lizhou, step up preparations for war, once the Tatar army enters the Golden Realm, immediately fortify the wall and clear the wilderness, in case of contingency."

Now that Western Xia has been reinforced, it is necessary to prepare for the upcoming war.

Historically, the Mongol army invaded the Southern Song Dynasty without declaring war. With the usual arrogance and slaughter of the Mongol army, history will not change.

In addition, a decree was sent to Cui He, Fan Zhong, Cao Youwen and others, and the military situation in Sichuan would be reported at any time. Tell them that the Chengdu camp and the Lizhou camp are on standby, and I will arrive in Sichuan at any time. ”

Full of worries, Zhao Hong made arrangements step by step.

The undercurrent of the government and the opposition was surging, so they simply postponed the trip, let Cao Youwen and Cui He and others deal with it by themselves, and also gave those officers who graduated from the martial arts hall a chance to practice in actual combat.

Lizhou West Road is steep in mountains and mountains, Cao Youwen is guarding the city, and there are firearms to assist, there should be no problem, right?

"Dong Songchen, this year, the two Zhejiang Road, Sichuan Road, Jiangnan Road and other new policies have been implemented, and the imperial court's taxes have greatly increased, and I am very happy."

Thinking of the orderly implementation of the new policy, Zhao Hong also relaxed.

Although he was a layman, he finally relied on an iron-fisted ruler and relied on a group of "upstarts" in the court to do something.

"Your Majesty has rewarded Wang Gang, Gao Dingzi, Hu Mengyu, Cui He and other officials a lot, and under the grace of the king, everyone is smeared with liver and brain, in order to repay the Holy Lord."

Dong Songchen's compliment made Zhao Hong laugh.

"Dong Songchen, I will reward you with two jars of wine, two bags of good tea, and a thousand yuan of money, I will go back to my hometown tomorrow, accompany my family well, and come back after the Yuan Xi Festival. You must remember that you must not use power for personal gain, nor accept bribes, let alone be the eyes and ears of ministers. They have a lot of ways to get you into the water. Do you understand? ”

Dong Songchen is a native of Lin'an Mansion, and the Song Dynasty attaches great importance to the Lantern Festival, and is relatively light on New Year's Day (the first day of the Lunar New Year).

"Slave, thank you, Your Majesty! Slaves obey His Majesty's teachings! ”

Dong Songchen was sweating profusely, and hurriedly bowed to thank him.

As a close attendant of the emperor, it is inevitable to accept some bribes. The emperor told him that he would not have the courage to commit it again.

The emperor wants to punish corrupt officials, if he is involved, the emperor will not lose face, and he will also be ruthlessly punished.

You can't do such a stupid thing.