Lu Qingshan smiled slightly and said: "Don't worry! All the humble positions have been arranged, and you won't miss it!"
Lu Qingshan is now in charge of intelligence and supervision. Zhang Miao, who was originally in charge of intelligence and supervision, was transferred to the Department of Civil Affairs to take over Zhou Kuan's job, while Zhou Kuan took over Zhao Kai's Finance and Taxation Department.
Chen Qing nodded and asked, "Is there any news from the supervisor on Shandong Road?"
"There is a letter from Fei Ge. Currently, a total of thirty-three county magistrates and eight prefecture magistrates have been assessed. Among them, seven county magistrates and two prefecture magistrates have failed. Four huge corruptions have even been discovered. There may be a formal report soon.
Come here, it won’t all be over until next year.”
"Tell them that not only the officers in charge must be assessed, but other deputies such as county magistrates, county captains, general magistrates, and Sima must also be assessed."
"I understand my humble position, I'll take my leave first!"
Lu Qingshan bowed, turned and left.
Lu Qingshan came to report to Chen Qing on the situation of inserting an spy in Zhang Junjun. The spy had already been arranged, but the harvest had not yet been achieved. Chen Qing could only wait patiently.
He temporarily put Zhang Jun's matter aside and began to review the ultimatum.
At this time, Chao Qing reported at the door, "Your Highness, Lu Sima wants to see you!"
Lu Wei is here, and he is looking for him! Chen Qing quickly said: "Please invite him in quickly!"
Not long after, Lu Wei quickly walked into Chen Qing's official room, bowed and saluted, "See you, Your Highness!"
"Without being too polite, let me ask you something. Why did Lu Qiao come back to Jingzhao again? What happened?"
Last night, my wife Lu Xiu told herself that yesterday afternoon Lu Jiao came to her and asked her for money. She gave twenty taels of silver and asked the housekeeper to send him away.
Money was not a problem, but what alarmed Chen Qing was that Lu Jiao actually returned to Jingzhao again. He was like a night owl, and it was an ominous sign wherever he went.
Lu Wei smiled bitterly and said: "He also came to see me the night before yesterday. My wife sent him away on the pretext that she had important guests at home and didn't have time to see him. I don't know why he showed up in Jingzhao again?"
Chen Qing thought for a while and said: "It's not a good thing for him to come to Jingzhao, but I want to know if someone arranged for him to come to Jingzhao. After all, his identity can be used. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I understand the humble position!"
Chen Qing smiled and said: "I won't mention this matter anymore, let's talk about your business!"
Lu Wei said quickly: "Your Highness, all eight teams that went to various places to verify Tie Huolei have returned."
Going to various places to verify the iron fire mines was naturally a big trouble caused by the Qinzhou incident. Since Zhong Huan brought back two medium-sized iron fire mines from the Chengji County warehouse, Chen Qing was furious. He immediately instructed the Military Department, Firearms
The bureau and internal guards set up eight mixed teams and rushed to garrisons in various places to verify and collect excess iron fire mines.
"Is the verification over in Lingzhou also completed?"
"I just came back yesterday, and it took only two days to find out. The person responsible for that matter is named Xu Gui, who is in charge of the warehouse. The owner of the warehouse is named Luo Wen, who is also derelict in his duties. At that time, Tie Huolei had just come out.
It was not as strict as it is now. At that time, it was stipulated that dumb mines should be destroyed on site or sent back to the Firearms Bureau for destruction.
They decided to destroy it on the spot, and put Xu Gui in charge of the matter. However, Xu Gui forgot about the destruction, and Luo Wen also thought he had destroyed it, so the report to the Military Department was that it had been destroyed.
It wasn't until the Qinzhou garrison was transferred to Lingzhou and a batch of debris was thrown to the county government for disposal. Xu Gui didn't notice this batch of iron fire mines. He had long forgotten about it. He only remembered it when our investigation team asked.
, Luo Wen did not verify it on the spot, and took it for granted that it had been destroyed, so both of them were responsible, and they have been dismissed from their posts."
"Are you sure there are only eleven pieces and they haven't been stolen and sold?" Chen Qing asked again.
"The investigation team verified their receipt and use records and determined that there were only 11 dumb mines and all of them had been surrendered."
Chen Qing nodded, "What about the other groups? Have you gained anything?"
"Your Highness, I have brought back a total of twenty-one iron fire thunders, all of which are iron hedgehogs."
Chen Qing frowned, "What's going on?"
"Your Majesty, these twenty-one iron fire mines are not illegal and have been reported to the police. They are the last batch of iron fire mines. They have been sealed up but have not been transported back yet. I brought them back together this time."
"Does this mean that all armies no longer have iron fire thunder?" Chen Qing asked.
"That's what I mean. We have checked carefully to see that nothing has slipped through the net. Then all military commanders have signed a guarantee, guaranteeing that there will be no more iron fire thunder."
Chen Qing breathed a sigh of relief, and then gave instructions: "I will make four final points. First, only 300 large iron fire mines will be left, and all other iron fire mines will be destroyed. The Firearms Bureau will be responsible for the implementation, and the internal guards will supervise it.
, the military department is responsible for review. Every iron fire mine must be recorded. Don't be careless, and all the iron shells will melt. Second, all the drawings are destroyed, leaving only one set of drawings, which I will keep.
, we will continue to make double-layer wooden barrel mines in the future; fourth, we must strengthen the surveillance of gunpowder makers and their families, and we must repeatedly warn them that leaking the secret of iron fire mines will be a serious crime of genocide."
"I remember all my humble duties!"
At noon, Zhou Kuan invited Chen Qing to dinner and tea. Today it was Zhou Kuan's treat. The two had a simple meal and each ordered a cup of hot tea.
“The weather is a little weird this year!”
Zhou Kuan took a sip of hot tea and smiled: "It got cold very early. It's only late September, but when it rains it's like winter."
Chen Qing smiled slightly and said: "In previous years, it was because September was relatively sunny and dry, with little rain, so it was warmer. This year, there is more rain, so it is normal for it to be colder."
Zhou Kuan nodded and said, "Zhang Miao came to see me last night and we talked about Zhang Jun's affair."
"Any suggestions?"
Zhou Kuan said slowly: "We all think this is an opportunity. If we support Zhang Jun and encourage him to destroy the imperial court, does your Highness understand what I mean?"
Chen Qing put away his playful expression and pondered for a moment: "I have considered this possibility you mentioned repeatedly."
"Does your Highness think it's feasible?"
"Whether it is feasible or not does not depend on me, but on Zhang Jun. In fact, the support I gave him is enough. He has at least 40,000 barrels of kerosene, four to five hundred warships, 20,000 war horses, and five hundred
Wan Guanqian, nearly 3 million shi of grain, and an army of 200,000 people. However, the imperial army had no kerosene, no warships, and only a few thousand thin horses. The money and food were not sufficient. The number of troops was the same as Zhang Jun's.
Two hundred thousand people.
In terms of strength, Zhang Jun has surpassed the imperial court and has such a huge advantage, but he still cannot defeat the imperial army. Then such an army is not worthy of my support. "
"Your Highness, you mean to wait and see?"
"It should be deployment and wait-and-see. This time I will also deploy an army of 200,000. The minimum goal is to capture Jianghuai, the medium goal is to capture Jianghuai plus Jiangnan West Road, and the highest goal is what you said, waiting for Zhang Jun to destroy the imperial court."
"What if Zhang Jun borrows troops from us? In order to achieve the highest goal, should we borrow troops or not?" Zhou Kuan asked again, picking up the teacup.
Chen Qing laughed and said, "First of all, correct your concept. The highest goal does not necessarily mean the best. If you are going to lose your heart for the highest goal, it is better not to have such a goal."
Zhou Kuan nodded, "I understand what Your Highness means, you want to gain both fame and wealth!"
