Two luxurious carriages stopped at the entrance of Fangjiazhuang.
Fang Fu came out to greet him: "Master Chief Assistant?"
Zhuge Qingshan: "I have disturbed your mansion."
Fang Jue said with a smile: "What a disturbance, the old pavilion master happens to be here, please ask him to take a look at his illness."
"Ah?" Fang Fu was surprised, who would dare to use the old pavilion master as a doctor, even though the medical skills of Emperor Zun Pavilion are indeed second to none.
"The old pavilion master is not here." Fang Fu reminded.
"Then let's talk about it another day. Sir, please come," Fang Juezuo said.
After Zhuge Qingshan was introduced, Fang Jue asked Fang Fu: "Where did the old man go again?"
"Master should know, right?"
Fang Fu looked around and whispered: "I heard that the Ministry of Industry's treasury was stolen in a fire last night. The old master was very interested and went to investigate."
"..." Fang Jue was speechless, "The old man is very free."
It's none of your business if the Ministry of Industry loses money. Why are you doing this?
…
study.
Fang Jue, Zhuge Qingshan was sitting across from him, and Dian Yi was guarding the door.
Tea, water and cakes were all available, but neither of them ate them, it was just a courtesy.
"Your Majesty wants to build water conservancy projects, what do you think of the young master?" Zhuge Qingshan asked with a thoughtful expression.
Test me?
Fang Jue poured tea for him, poured himself a cup, and blew on the foam:
"It's good for the country and the people," Fang Jue said calmly.
"Yes, it benefits the country and the people."
Zhuge Qingshan nodded and said with a smile: "But it is hugely expensive and takes a long time. If you are not careful, you will waste millions of taels... I feel that it is inappropriate at the moment, but I can't disappoint His Majesty. After all, it is the right thing to do.
"
Zhuge Qingshan's attitude towards the Jiangnan Water Conservancy Project is that he supports it, but he doesn't think it should be so anxious.
"Floods in the south of the Yangtze River have been around for a long time. The tributaries of the river are different every year. The Ministry of Industry needs to investigate and modify the plan in advance. Only one winter is not enough time."
Zhuge Qingshan said: "I think your Majesty is impatient. Do you think so, Young Master?"
"Of course."
Fang Jue didn't hide it and expressed his approval.
"Then why, young master, don't you advise your majesty?" Zhuge Qingshan was confused.
In his opinion, Fang Jue is very popular now, and as long as he opens his mouth, His Majesty will definitely consider it carefully.
Fang Jue said: "Your Majesty has a heart for the country and the people, not for the royal family or personal enjoyment. This idea is excellent. Even if it is slightly imperfect, it should not be criticized."
"Lest, over time, your Majesty will be hesitant to act forward and backward, and not dare to have any great talents or strategies."
"Oh?" Zhuge Qingshan suddenly thought about it, his hand holding the tea cup paused slightly, and nodded, "Young Master's words are something I have never thought of."
As the chief minister of a country, Zhuge Qingshan ranks first in the list of famous ministers in Emperor Zun Pavilion. His ability and structure are beyond doubt.
However, no one is a saint, and it is impossible to cover everything.
In Fang Jue's view, Zhuge Qingshan was meticulous in his work and had the demeanor of a chief minister, but he was not considerate enough for the emperor in terms of details.
This is not flattery, but psychology.
Qin Tietou often criticized the emperor, scolded the cabinet, and beat all the courtiers, but the emperor tolerated him and entrusted him with important tasks.
Why?
Because the emperor knew that Qin Shiyi was right and that his powers had failed him. The emperor needed an iron-headed censor to alert himself and his courtiers at all times.
The purpose of the chief minister is to control the officials, suppress the courtiers, and handle government affairs for the emperor.
What is needed is fairness, seriousness, uncompromising execution, and the ability to coordinate and control the overall situation of various departments.
As for whether he fully understands the emperor's thoughts, it's actually not that important. The emperor doesn't have to care.
The power of people is used, and it depends on who is used in what place.
"One Qin Shiyi is enough. The entire dynasty is opposed to His Majesty's decree, especially you, the chief minister, taking the lead in opposing it. I'm afraid His Majesty will become more ambitious."
"This is the truth. I have understood it a little bit before. It was only when the young master said it today that I really understood it." Zhuge Qingshan slightly cupped his hands to show that he was taught.
In this era of increasing seniority, Fang Jue also admires the humility of Yipinshoufu.
He can think carefully about what he says and listen to it. Don't think that this is a basic ability. In fact, most people do not have this quality.
"I don't have to worry about the water conservancy in the south of the Yangtze River. Even if your Majesty wastes several million taels, I can still find a way to make up for it." Fang Jue said confidently.
Let the emperor build it!
Spend money on him and see how much he can owe the famine.
Just because he doesn’t want to spend money!
Fang Jue's strategy was to use the treasury to bind Yan Lanfeng and then indirectly influence the emperor.
If the king of a country doesn't have the confidence to spend money, what kind of hero can he be? It is better to imitate the Qiong Kingdom and settle down in a corner, eat well and lie down.
As long as the Xia Emperor does not spend money on extravagant enjoyment, Fang Jue will not object to his spending money.
"Young Master's words... I am quite confident." Zhuge Qingshan put his hands in his hands and rubbed them in his sleeves. It was indeed cold today.
Although the charcoal stove was burning, it was not burning brightly and the room was not very warm.
"But that's right. In less than half a year, the household department has made a lot of money with fireworks and glass... Young Master's contribution is indispensable." Zhuge Qingshan admired him sincerely.
Making money is generally looked down upon, and businessman behavior belongs to the lowest status.
But making money for the country is different. Making profits for the country and competing for benefits with the people are completely different concepts.
In particular, in the past few months, the courtiers have realized the practical benefits of having wealthy offspring in the Ministry of Household Affairs.
"Thanks to the blessing of Young Master, Your Majesty has earlier ordered the cabinet to issue an edict that this year's annual rewards for all officials will be 20% more than in previous years." Zhuge Qingshan said with a smile, feeling very happy.
The annual gift is the New Year benefit given by the court to officials.
Each year's annual gift is approximately equivalent to three months' salary.
"Twenty percent more this year?" Fang Jue was surprised that Yan Papi was so willing to do it?
"Yan Shangshu was so generous that he personally wrote to Your Majesty, saying that all the debts owed by the Ministry of Revenue in previous years were given to him as well," Zhuge Qingshan said.
Fang Jue was confused: "Is it owed from previous years?"
"Young Master, don't you know?"
Zhuge Qingshan sighed and said: "There were years of great disasters, and the courtiers wrote to waive the annual gifts, otherwise the Ministry of Revenue would have been unable to survive... Now that we have money, there is no need to compensate."
"I can still owe..." Fang Jue laughed and covered his face. He really couldn't imagine how embarrassed the emperor was at that time.
He was so poor that he had no money to give annual gifts to his courtiers. He was really too poor.
"If this is the case, compensation should indeed be made."
Now Hube is starting to stand up.
"With the Fireworks and Glass Factory No. 2 and the promotion of new grains, next year's treasury revenue will probably increase by several percent." Zhuge Qingshan looked forward to it and felt that the days were promising.
The most difficult thing about being a human being is that life becomes more difficult every year, and you can’t see when you will get through it.
"Oh, by the way, what is the way to make money that Young Master promised Yan Shangshu?" Zhuge Qingshan suddenly thought of this and asked curiously.
