Chapter 307 – The Most Precious Treasure

After a pause, Zhang Anshi put away that bit of hesitation, put on a straight face, and immediately said, “Your Majesty, they had to go and learn how to build a machine gun, and of course I fulfilled their wishes, so how is it that, right now, their families are blaming me instead?”

Zhu said, “Then why don’t you inform your family?”

Zhang Anshi s face was slate and serious: “This …… can t be said.”

Zhu Di looked odd: ”Why can’t we say? Now people can’t be found, their parents, wives and children, how anxious they must be! This is an unexplained disappearance, they won’t go to Qixia to look for you, they’re anxious, they’ll come to me to ask for someone.”

Zhang Anshi said, “The matter involves military secrets, of course, I can not say, your majesty ……鑷ｅ澶�, can not say, I have a special research weapon in Qixia where, if I said, teach people to know, if someone raids how to do? Only a thousand days to be a thief, I have not heard of a thousand days to prevent a thief.”

That does make sense!

Zhu Di heard, but also serious, nodded: “So, why did not you say earlier, but will I also blinded.”

“His Majesty didn’t ask.”

Zhu Di said angrily, “You don’t even know about this matter, so how can you ask?”

Zhang Anshi awkwardly said, “Minister …… minister ……”

“Alright, alright.” Zhu said, “No matter what, so many days have passed, quickly release them to their homes, don’t let their families worry.”

“Ah …… this ……” Zhang Anshi had his heart rise.

“What’s wrong again?” Zhu Di saw that Zhang Anshi’s face looked a bit off, so he said, “Something couldn’t have happened again, could it?”

Zhang Anshi had to say stiffly, “Your Majesty, it cannot be released.”

Zhu Di frowned, “Can’t be released? Why can’t you release it? These guys ……”

When he thought of these guys, especially Xu Jingchang, Zhu Di seemed to have sensed something and said angrily, “Did Xu Jingchang cause something again?”

“This is not.” Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty, not said it, the matter of military secrets, that research workshop, there are many projects are advancing, many of them, the relationship is significant, all the skillful craftsmen involved in this matter, are incognito, in order to prevent the news from leaking, or leakage of technical information.”

“Your Majesty …… that machine gun is only one of the items, and there are seven or eight items of the same level as the machine gun, and three items more important than the machine gun, and in order to keep it secret, I have not only established a large number of guard posts on the periphery, but also built three high walls, and all the people involved in this matter are to make sure that they are foolproof, is the afraid …… of being detected beforehand. Your Majesty, this much technical information, and the manufacturing process, and even the formula for alchemy, once it has been shed, it is not a joke, and Your Majesty does not want the Tartars to suddenly take a machine gun on the battlefield in the future and shoot at my Ming army.”

Chu: “……”

Zhang Anshi saw that Zhu Di did not say anything.

Zhu Di took a deep breath and said, “Do you mean …… they stay there for the rest of their lives?”

“It doesn’t have to stay for a lifetime.” Zhang Anshi said, “The starting stage of research is something that must be kept secret, and when many of the research programs have come to fruition, and even have a finished product, then there may be a new plan to move on to the next step of the research, and this finished product comes out, and begins to be produced and assembled, and by the time that my Daming has been riding high on this aspect, then there will be nothing left to hide.”

Zhu Di was relieved, so he said, “Scared me, so how long does it take to release them?”

Zhang Anshi thought for a moment and said, “Slowly three to five years, quickly one year.”

Chu: “……”

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty …… Your Majesty ……”

Zhu Di said, “Then how am I going to explain to their families? This person can’t just vanish into thin air and disappear, right?”

Zhang Anshi smiled bitterly and said, “Your Majesty, this is not my fault, I told them not to don’t don’t don’t ah, but they had to go, this is their own request, I didn’t stop it.”

Chu: “……”

Zhang Anshi put on a very difficult look and finally said, “Forget it. Then it’s even my fault, or else, I’d better release them.”

“Put out a bird.” Zhu Di backfired angrily and said, “Even if you die, you have to die inside, it’s the foundation of the gods of the earth and grain.”

“Ah ……” Zhang Anshi scratched his head, “How can I explain that?”

Zhu Di said, “I will tell their families that I have given them an account of a confidential matter and taught them to do it.”

Zhang Anshi said, “I’m afraid they won’t believe me.”

Zhu snorted coldly and said, “You have to believe it even if you don’t.”

“Your Majesty is wise.”

Zhu added, “These people, keep a close eye on them, especially Xu Jingchang, this guy is the most mischievous, maybe this guy will escape.”

Zhang Anshi very seriously said: “Your Majesty, you can rest assured! Not to mention that there is a post in three steps, a post in five steps, the wall is three feet high, this high wall, but also poured glass slag, they can not run away, even if they dig a hole …… can not be dug out, I specially chose the site in the mountains and rocks it.”

Zhu Di immediately showed a reassuring look and nodded, “Well …… you are attentive.”

Zhu Di suddenly remembered something and added, “How is Taipingfu now?”

Zhang Anshi said with a hesitant face, “Not quite.”

Zhu raised an eyebrow, “Huh?”

Zhang Anshi is not stupid, there are benefits to screaming more, maybe his majesty’s heart is soft and suddenly give some sweetness again.

“The manpower is tight, and there are also many stragglers, the newly recruited group of civil and military officials are also still not familiar with the business, and …… there is also …… the housing problem is also prominent, and there are quite a lot of poor people … … “Zhang Anshi spoke out many problems in quick succession.

These issues are, indeed, the main conflicts in the Taiping Mansion at the moment.

It is a completely blank social experiment; for every old problem solved, a new one inevitably emerges; development solves some of the problems, but it also creates new ones.

It’s not the same as other state capitals, other state capitals, just rely on the three axes, but if you’re diligent, you can solve the problem.

But in the Taiping Mansion, all people are inexperienced, and every time they encounter a brand new problem, no one can find the final answer to solve the problem, and they can only rely on a little bit of figuring out.

Zhu Di listened and frowned: “I didn’t realize that you also have a problem with stragglers. That Ningguo Fu previously also had a problem with stragglers, it is said that it is now solved, and many people are bragging about Jianqing.”

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “After all, Mr. Jian is the Minister of the Ministry of Appointments, a veteran minister of three dynasties, how can I compare myself to him?”

Zhu Di said, “You don’t have to be modest, your situation in Taipingfu, I also know a little about it. It was well done, and you will have to work hard in the future.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Yes, I will do my best.”

Zhang Anshi did not stay too long, Zhu Di specially summoned him this time, mainly to ask Xu Jingchang those guys whereabouts of the problem, since this matter has been concluded, Zhang Anshi did not stay too much.

Taking his leave and leaving the palace, he immediately returned to Sutera again.

But when he saw that there were many more lieutenants on the street, he revealed a displeased look and summoned Chen Li: “Why are so many lieutenants appearing on the street?”

Chen Li wiped his sweat before saying, “A group of Zhenjiang’s stragglers and a group of Fengyang Prefecture’s stragglers fought, there were too many people, the inspectors couldn’t suppress them, so I took someone to help out.”

Zhang Anshi exasperatedly said, “Into the heck, what’s the point of fighting, it’s really outrageous! Just now, His Majesty praised me for my prudence and the good governance of Taipingfu, but in the next breath, you guys are causing trouble!”

Chen Li with a few points of aggrieved: “Mainly too many stragglers South Zhili provinces of the stragglers, are to this side, everyone’s customs are different, different accents, a little friction, they each go to find fellow townsmen to help, one out is a nest, densely packed, and even my humble feel intimidated.”

Hearing the reason, Zhang Anshi’s face eased a little, then he said: ”The patrols of the Inspection Division, it seems that they need to be increased in size a bit. In addition to this, to severely punish those who make trouble. Of course …… also have to find a way around, let the counties take the lead, do some resettlement houses. Many people come to our Taiping Province, unfamiliar with this place, do not know how to settle, and those who want to recruit manpower, also lack of manpower, and do not know where to go to recruit people. The urgency of this dental line comes to the fore.”

Chen Li said: “Your Excellency, don’t mention these dental firms. Many dental firms are very cunning, they collect a sum of silver from the employer of the workshop on the one hand, and then turn around and fool the migrants, saying that they are introducing them to work, but also teach them to sign a contract of sale, saying that they have to deduct a portion of their salary to offset the introduction of the money. They ate at both ends, and when the hired workers realized it afterward and made a fuss, the dental firm took advantage of their lack of familiarity and went back to bullying them.”

Zhang Anshi became furious and said angrily, “Into his mother, it looks like it’s time to take charge!”

“One word from Your Excellency, and I will go and dispose of it.”

Zhang Anshi is shaking his head: “Jin Yiwei do their own thing, such things are the police officer management, you are not convenient to interfere, we all do their own work is good. However, the government needs to come up with a way to, have to raise a labor hall, specializing in mediating such things, not in line with the norms of the dental office, directly closed, so as not to cause disputes.”

Before taking a break, Zhang Anshi only took a deep breath, and then without stopping, went to find Gao Shaoyin and Li Zhaoma again to discuss.

Turning the corner on the year.

As soon as the New Year’s Eve, is the palace imperial wine best-selling time, many mansions, liquor piling up, but Zhang Anshi no one to send gifts, there are also some of the disciples of the old officials to pay a visit.

Everyone knows that the Zhang family is rich, so it can be said that they can’t take that little gift.

Zhang Anshi, in a rare moment of leisure, hugged his own child Zhang Changsheng and teased him for a long time, and his eyes showed the warmth of being a father.

Xu Jingyi’s stomach was gradually getting bigger again.

But Xu Jingyi mentioned to his cousin Xu Jingchang, can not help but be very sad: “I do not know what is burdened with imperial orders, the New Year’s Day also do not see people, Dingguo Gongfu cold as much, father is also very worried about this.”

Zhang Anshi looked at his own lady’s furrowed brow before he rested Zhang Changsheng on the bed and let him sit by himself.

Zhang Changsheng opened his eyes wide, a face of confusion, his mouth issued ah ah sound, his body wrapped like a dumpling, it seems that he did not want to sit, so his body tilted directly back, and then he fell on the pillow, and then skimmed his legs, and adjusted his sleeping position, and then he stretched out his tongue, and licked and ate his lips.

Zhang Anshi looked at his son’s self-indulgence and couldn’t help but tickle a smile.

But still forced himself to look away, looking at a worried lady said: “Yes, really poor, the New Year, it is the time for family reunion. But he is also an adult, he will take care of himself. On the contrary, you, your body is heavy now, don’t think too much!”

When Xu Jingyi looked at her own husband’s concern for herself, her frowning eyebrows gradually relaxed a bit, and she smiled slightly, “Hey, it’s fine, he’s the Duke of Dingguo, and it’s only right that he should be running imperial errands.”

Only she was still slightly worried, “I heard someone say …… they …… they had an accident.”

“Something happened?” Zhang Anshi froze, “What happened?”

“It is said to be dead, only that His Majesty feared the grief of their families ……”

“No way, I don’t think His Majesty is such a person.” Zhang Anshi said.

Xu Jingyi said: “This can not be eaten, husband you think about it, what errand, so that not even a little news? His Majesty’s side, also incoherent, husband …… my uncle was killed in the first place, already poor, if now …… again …… hey… …”

Zhang Anshi then hastened to comfort: “Xu Jingchang’s face, at a glance, is the face of a king, belonging to a king, usually not so easy to die, you should not worry too much. You are now pregnant, do not be sad, I guarantee that more than three or five years, less than one or two years, he will definitely be able to come back.”

Xu Jingyi breathed out, trying to keep herself from thinking about this, her hand gently cupping her stomach as she said, “There’s only so much that can be done to look on the bright side.”

At this time, Zhang Changsheng seemed to be a bit tired of licking his lips, so he began to chirp and grunt.

Zhang Anshi had no choice but to pick him up again, and seeing that this little face seemed to carry resentment and a look of dissatisfaction, Zhang Anshi, in a moment of childishness, deliberately stared wide-eyed and said, “Son, who are you looking at?”

Zhang Changsheng’s eyes also stared at Zhang Anshi, seemingly startled, flattening his mouth, wanting to cry but not daring to cry out, seemingly feeling that Zhang Anshi’s fierce look made him uneasy, so he hastened to obediently stick his head on Zhang Anshi’s chest, rubbing against it in a gesture of intimacy.

Xu Jingyi was heartbroken, and busied herself with saying, “Don’t be mean to him, he’s timid.”

Zhang Anshi instead smiled and said, “It seems that this does not need to be examined, it must be my own.”

“How can it not be your own ……” Xu Jingyi snapped.

“I was just joking.” Zhang Anshi gently stroked Zhang Changsheng’s head before saying, “Seeing him being so timid, I’m relieved that this child will be able to live for a hundred years in the future.”

Time passed quietly, and by the beginning of spring, news came from Deng Jian’s side that a large number of seeds were ready for promotion.

Not only that, but it comes with good news.

Zhang Anshi hurried to the farmhouse.

The size of this manor has been a lot bigger, enough thousands of hectares of land, the fields are even strangers, and the manor is also very much, enough to several villages.

The most notable of these is a village for the families of criminal officials.

The brothers and children of these criminals were sent to the imperial prison at first, and the place …… was like Hades in their eyes.

But how could I have known that they would all be sent here.

They fearfully settled down here, and then gradually found that no one tortured them, and no one insulted the female family members, and even …… even the guards who watched over them were very few, just let them listen to the arrangement of Deng Hou, and look for their own food, whether it is textile or farming, to feed themselves is.

In the beginning, if they had sent these people directly, they must have complained, but if they had gone to the Imperial Prison first, but then sent them, their hearts were only grateful.

At this moment, all pride has been shattered, and it is already a blessing to be able to survive.

So they also began to gradually adapt, picking manure, transplanting rice seedlings, harvesting, and observing the conditions of each field, and even because the vast majority of them had read books and had quite a bit of insight, Teng Jian even had them specifically tasked with recording the data from the various test fields.

When Zhang Anshi arrived, a young man following Deng Jian, Zhang Anshi looked familiar.

Deng Jian looked pleased, and when he saw Zhang Anshi looking more at the young man, he said, “His name is Jian Ying, guess whose son he is?”

Zhang Anshi said, “It won’t be Jianyi, will it?”

Teng Jian then laughed, “My family Anshi is just smart.”

“Yeah.” Zhang Anshi laughed bitterly, “I’m such a big smartass.”

Jian Ying went to pour tea and water for the two.

When he left the lobby, Zhang Anshi whispered, “Is this person reliable? It won …… t be wrathful at heart, right?”

Teng Jian shook his head, ”He is already content to have survived and not been humiliated. Doesn’t Anshi know how the children of an offending official would be treated? His wife, and his two sisters, are all very good, and he is grateful.”

Zhang Anshi said resentfully, “This is good, this is good, how is this person …… here?”

“At first not accustomed to, there are a lot of people are still some arrogance, but gradually also adapted, but also willing to put their heads down and work hard, this Jian Ying, once even dressed to be helped, now they can go down to the ground, and …… learn very quickly, and now a few important experimental fields, but also given to him to take care of. He is still doing things carefully, and people are also smart.”

Teng Jian said, looking smug: ”I also didn’t expect that the readers plowed the land, so well! There are many things that they will understand if they are given a few pointers. And they can figure out some techniques themselves, many of the data, are recorded by them, how much fertilizer is used, how the daily growth is, and the situation of insect pests.”

Zhang Anshi also couldn’t help but sigh, “Yes, people reading is still useful, but can’t hold a useless learning to death, but people who have read books, easy to grasp the method of learning, this method used in other places, can also be integrated.”

Teng Jian said, ”That’s why I’m much more free now, and many of the things that I purposely let them do are just to let them all experience the experience. How many people who have read books are willing to care about the knowledge of farming? I’m afraid that if I die one day, all these things I’ve accumulated will be gone. So I am now mainly repairing a book on farming with Jianying’s help, talking about some of the insights I have gained from plowing on a regular basis, and I hope that these things, will be of some help to the people.”

Saying this, he said quietly, “Hey, I served half a lifetime of people in my last life, and in the next half of my life, I’m going to serve half a lifetime of crops, and no matter what I serve, I always hope to do a good job.”

“Fixing the agricultural book?” Zhang Anshi joyfully said, “Well, well, well, this is a good thing!”

“This is Jian Ying’s proposal.” Teng Jian said, “He is after committing an offense, and His Majesty’s decree is clear that he shall not be pardoned. For the rest of his life, I’m afraid he’ll have to join me here as a companion. Other officials, there are many smart and capable, our farm, the benefits are still good, I intend to build some mansions here, my crippled body, as well as Jianying them, the rest of their lives do not expect to enjoy any blessings. But the women are in the hut, there are many inconveniences. Their father and brother have committed a crime, but the crime should not be on them.”

Deng Jian was kind-hearted, Zhang Anshi was silent, and from a personal emotional standpoint, he agreed with Deng Jian’s words.

Only sometimes, it feels ungrateful.

But for Zhang Anshi, as long as Deng Jian was happy, it was fine.

So he said, “Then you told me earlier, and I’ll call in a construction crew, and I’ll pay for the silver.”

“No need.” Teng Jian shook his head and said, “We have to let our own money and food from the ground to go camping to be realistic. When they were first sent here, it was to teach them to earn their own living, this rule cannot be changed, if it is changed, some people may think differently. In their lives, they have relied on their families and the power of their fathers and brothers, and they have been rich for so many years. In the future, it can’t be like that anymore.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Deng Gong …… not …… Deng ……”

Zhang Anshi momentarily do not know what to call Deng Jian is good, looking at Deng Jian, the corners of the eyes have wrinkles, in fact, he is still quite young, may have experienced a big storm, and the face of the yellow soil back to the sky, the temples have been some gray.

Zhang Anshi finally said, “I’ll call you Uncle Deng.”

Teng Jian was busy being flattered and said, “No way, no way.”

Zhang Anshi, however, said with a face that could not be refused: “There’s nothing that can’t be done. Well, Uncle Deng, let’s get down to business, in the end what is the happy event?”

“There are two.”

Can be called uncle by Zhang Anshi, Deng Jian heart full of warmth, at this time cheerfully said: “Potato seeds, and now by carefully selected, began to distribute the counties of the farmers to cultivate, has been enough. There is another seed that was brought back, and now it has also matured.”

Zhang Anshi could not help but be surprised, “This open spring …… mature ……”

Ken Deng smiled and said, “Let’s go, let’s take a look.”

Zhang Anshi was full of curiosity and waited for Deng Jian to leave the hall, then Jianying followed.

Zhang Anshi deliberately stopped and glanced at Jianying, “How is it, are you used to being here?”

“Getting used to it, just ……”

He paused.

Zhang Anshi gazed at him and said, “Speak.”

Jian Ying said, “I don t know the news of my father, after all …… the heart is not solid.”

“Your father was more comfortable than you.”

“That’s good.” Jianying smiled.

Zhang Anshi said, “Be good here and keep your feet on the ground.”

“Yes.” Jianying nodded.

At that moment, Jian Ying led Deng Jian and Zhang Anshi to a test field.

From a distance, Zhang Anshi understood it all.

In the distance, a glass house.

The closer he got, Zhang Anshi could already feel a bit more heat in this spring day that still had a bit of chill.

It’s someone who burned the geoduck.

The ground seemed to be bubbling with the slightest bit of heat.

The glass room, however, was a sliver of gold that showed up faintly amidst the emerald green.

Zhang Anshi couldn’t help but see a light in front of his eyes.