Fang Zian pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness, but I don't want to leave the Fangyu Army Yamen. I don't want to go to the Hanlin Academy or any other place."

Zhao Gou looked at Fang Zian in surprise and frowned: "Why is that? Don't you want to be promoted? Do you really have no ambition? You just want to hang out in the Fangyu Army for the rest of your life?"

Fang Zian smiled bitterly and said: "Your Majesty, who is an official who doesn't want to be promoted? Unless it's a saint or a fool. The humble minister is neither a saint nor a fool, so naturally he wants to be able to enter two palaces, enter the Hanlin Academy, or go to key departments.

Serving an office is what an official hopes for most, so how can I not think about it?"

"Then why are you like this?" Zhao Gou said.

Fang Zian said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I have my own reasons. First of all, it is my duty to put out fires and save people. I rescued the Queen Mother, but that is precisely my duty. I cannot take my responsibilities as my own.

This is not my original intention to ask for credit from the emperor. Secondly, I said that no matter where I serve, as long as I fulfill my duties, I will do my best for the Song Dynasty and the court. I don't feel aggrieved. Furthermore, I feel more and more,

The Fangyu Army Yamen is a suitable place for me. I can put out fires and rescue people, protect the people, and ensure the tranquility and safety of the capital. This is what I hope to do most. The emperor also said it just now. I am still very immature and have an out-of-touch temperament.

, I may not be qualified to serve in key departments. It’s better to let experienced and wiser people go to those places. This is also the best use of people, isn’t it?”

Zhao Gou looked at Fang Zian silently, feeling very surprised. He initially thought that Fang Zian was being hypocritical, but Fang Zian's words were sincere and did not seem like he was lying. This shocked him quite a bit. All the ministers in the court,

Who doesn't cut his head and dig up? It's rare to see Fang Zian like this. Zhao Gou was really surprised.

"You mean, I don't need rewards to promote you, you don't want anything?" Zhao Gou said.

Fang Zian said: "That's not the case either."

Zhao Gou laughed, it turned out that Fang Zian was not as upright and upright as he said, and he still had an agenda.

"Oh? Then what do you want?" Zhao Gou said.

"Your Majesty, fire and water are ruthless. This is the biggest feeling I've had since I became the Fangyu officer. What I'm exposed to in the Yamen every day is the fire in the city. I've seen many people's homes burned down and their shops burned down. After all the hard work,

The property that they have worked so hard to save was destroyed in one fell swoop. For the people, it meant that all hope was lost. As a defense officer, I sometimes cannot fully help them, so I feel very guilty.

The Emperor also saw the fire in Cining Palace. Although the Queen Mother was fine, more than 20 palace residents were burned to death and Cining Palace was almost completely destroyed. It can be said that the losses were extremely heavy. I estimate that the subsequent reconstruction will cost at least tens of

Ten thousand taels of silver." Fang Zian cupped his hands and said solemnly.

Zhao Gou frowned and said, "What are you talking about? These are accidental disasters that are unavoidable. The imperial court has already set up the Huozheng Yamen, what else can be done?"

Fang Zian said: "Your Majesty, these can be avoided, or the losses can be reduced in time. If the fire in Cining Palace started, the Ministry of Internal Affairs' submersible fire team could put out the fire at the first time and stop the spread. How could it be possible?

What are the subsequent consequences?”

Zhao Gou said dissatisfied: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs' submersible fire team failed to put out the fire. I have my own

Severe punishment, but this is none of your business."

Fang Zian said hurriedly: "I'm not accusing them of not being able to put out the fire well. How dare I have the courage to do so. Moreover, I can't blame them. It's not that they don't want to put out the fire, but that they don't have the ability to put out the fire. On the one hand, their fire-fighting equipment is really backward. Very, it is impossible to extinguish this kind of fire. On the other hand, I am afraid that there is also a lack of usual training. The most important thing is the backwardness and insufficiency of fire-fighting equipment. The emperor also saw it. After our Fangyu Army Yamen transferred a few water trucks, For such a big fire, we can use three waterwheels to open a channel to save people. This is the difference between fire-fighting equipment. If there were such equipment in the palace, the fire would have been suppressed from the beginning and would not have spread at all. possible."

Zhao Gou was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said: "Yes, I forgot to ask you. Where did your waterwheel come from? I don't think I have ever seen this thing. Its fire-fighting power is really amazing."

Fang Zian said: "Your Majesty, that is the Dragon King Cart made by Weichen. It can store thousands of kilograms of water. With the height of the ladder car, it can spray water dozens of steps away. It is extremely effective for large fires. If there is no such thing, I will not There was no way we could go in and rescue the Queen Mother that night."

Zhao Gou said: "Did you make it yourself?"

Fang Zian nodded and said: "Yes. It was precisely because the Anti-Japanese Army could not put out the fire in time and one of the problems was that the fire-fighting equipment was backward, so I made a few of them to put out the fire. A total of seven were built and distributed in the capital. Everywhere. The night before yesterday, I could only mobilize three vehicles to the scene as quickly as possible, and it took too much time to get the rest from various places. If they all arrived at the first time, not only could the fire in the side hall be put out calmly, but even the main hall could be put out. There won’t be any fires, and the number of casualties won’t be that many.”

Zhao Gou said: "Since this thing is so useful, why don't you make more of it?"

Fang Zian smiled bitterly and said: "Your Majesty, the annual expenses of my Yamen are only a few hundred taels of silver. These equipment and vehicles are expensive to build. Lord Zheng of the Huozheng Yamen allocated some silver, and I paid several thousand taels of silver from my own pocket. Seven sets have been built, plus the cost of the mules and horses to pull the carts, etc., I really can’t afford it.”

Zhao Gou said in shock: "You mean...you spent your own money to build these Dragon King cars?"

Fang Zian nodded and said: "Exactly."

Zhao Gou found it unbelievable. He had been the emperor for so many years, but he had never seen a minister pay out of his own pocket for official matters. What's more, he was a small seventh-grade Fang Yu officer, and Fang Zian's family seemed to be in a bad situation.

"I remember that both of your parents are dead and your family is poor. You have recently entered the official position. Where can you get thousands of taels of silver?" Zhao Gou couldn't help but ask, which was why he felt a little doubtful.

"Your Majesty, please don't laugh. I... sold some of my lyrics to Qin Xiqing in Wanchun Garden to raise some money. My lyrics... are still worth some money." Fang Zian said softly.

Zhao Gou was speechless for a long time, feeling indescribably moved in his heart. In all these years, he had never seen a courtier like Fang Zian. Isn't such a courtier exactly what he dreamed of? For the sake of his country, he even found ways to raise money. Yinzi, this loyalty is really touching. Compared with those in the court, it is simply a model. Those people may cause trouble if their salary and treatment are worse, let alone corruption.

, secretly bowing and accepting bribes to make money, and doing some shady things.

"Every official in the Song Dynasty is like you. Why worry that the Song Dynasty cannot be revived? Why worry that the Song Dynasty cannot be strong and prosperous? Fang Zian, I look at you with admiration." Zhao Gou sighed loudly.

Fang Zian said hurriedly: "Wei Chen didn't dare to take this seriously. Wei Chen did this just because he wanted to do his own thing well. We, the officials of the Song Dynasty, also have many people who dedicated themselves to the court. Compared with them, Wei Chen is worse."

Far away."

Zhao Gou nodded and said: "That's right. But I understand what you mean. Do you want me to give you money to make more fire-extinguishing equipment?"

Fang Zian nodded and said: "Your Majesty, this is exactly what I asked for. I think that having about thirty sets will be more than enough. The Ministry of Internal Affairs can arrange three or four sets, which will be enough to ensure the safety of the palace. The equipment will be better.

By building strong livestock that can be driven by vehicles, and building some large vehicles that can carry people, we can ensure that firefighting personnel can quickly arrive at the scene to deal with the fire as soon as it breaks out. As the saying goes, sharpening the knife will not waste time cutting firewood, although these things will cost some time.

Money, but if something like Cining Palace happens again, the price paid will be even greater. In fact, this is saving money for the court."

Zhao Gou nodded and said: "I understand what you mean, and I promise you. You can then calculate the required amount of silver and report it to me, and I will arrange the payment for you."

Fang Zian was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your permission!"

Zhao Gou waved his hand, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, looked at the flowers in the garden outside the window, and pondered for a long time: "Fang Zian, when the hurricane hit last time, you and your people saved many people.

I still remember it fresh. I remember that when Yang Cunzhong came to see me some time ago, he also said that when he went to commend you, you mentioned to him about establishing an emergency government office in the capital, right? "

Fang Zian was heartbroken and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, this is indeed the case. I don't understand the rules and talked nonsense in front of Mr. Yang. Your Majesty, please don't be offended."

"No, Yang Cunzhong actually thought that he could do this, but I didn't think it was necessary at the time. After all, there are many yamen in charge of affairs in the capital, so there seems to be no need to set up a separate emergency yamen. Fang Zian, although you don't want to take this opportunity to get promoted, your

I agree with the reason. However, it is a fact that you saved the Queen Mother. If the Queen Mother wants me to reward you, I cannot go against the Queen Mother’s wishes. From the perspective of the Son of Man, I should reward you. From the perspective of the Emperor, I cannot do that.

Rewards and punishments are unclear. In that case, who will be willing to sacrifice their lives and do their best for the imperial court in the future? I have to do something both public and private. However, for this emergency yamen matter, I will fulfill your wish and establish this yamen.

How about you taking charge?"

Zhao Gou turned around, looked at Fang Zian and said.

Fang Zian was overjoyed, bowed and said: "The Emperor is a wise man, I should do my best to live up to His grace."

Zhao Gou nodded and said with a smile: "Okay. Then I will call Yang Cunzhong to discuss and discuss. The responsibilities, levels and equipment of the new Yamen need to be agreed upon. You can go back and wait for the imperial edict."

"My lord, I obey the order!" Fang Zian said loudly, bowing and exiting.
Chapter completed!