In the Qianqing Palace, the two palaces came to discuss matters with the emperor and the five eunuchs, the Supervisor of Ceremonies.
"What's going on!" Concubine Li said slowly with a sinister look on her face and awe-inspiring eyes: "As soon as Dongchang tortured out Chu Zhiyuan's involvement in the case, the man died in the moat. Who was doing the killing? Silence?"
Concubine Li was very angry, but Empress Chen sat still, her face showed no emotion or anger, and she seemed to have no intention of speaking.
The young emperor Zhu Yijun stood beside the two palaces with his hands down, looking down at his feet, as if he felt that the patterns on the underground gold bricks were far more worthy of study than who killed Chu Zhiyuan.
Chen Hong and Zhang Hong ignored the matter and stood aside with their eyes and noses in mind. It seemed that unless they were called by name, they would not be able to take the initiative to speak.
Feng Bao glanced at Huang Mengyu and asked aloud: "Director Huang, I heard that the magical pomegranate that attacked our house that day was not the equipment of the Beijing camp? Has Dongchang found out where these things come from?"
Feng Bao's words were very polite and his tone was very gentle. He seemed to be very considerate to Huang Mengyu.
Huang Mengyu knew the murderous intention, but he had to answer: "Haojiao Zhangyin learned that the pomegranate and the several pomegranates later used by the assassins at Fahua Temple came from Gao Guanzheng's Sanshenyuan Firearms Research Institute."
Feng Bao was very satisfied with this answer. He did not speak directly anymore, but glanced at the expressions of the two palaces.
Empress Chen's eyelids moved slightly, and then she said nothing. She seemed to be slightly surprised, but she was not worried.
Concubine Li frowned visibly and asked: "Gao pragmatism? What is the Firearms Research Institute?"
Feng Bao was about to answer, but he was overtaken by Zhu Yijun: "I'll report this to my mother. I know this. The Firearms Research Institute was established by Gao Pragmatically after he came back from Datong. He felt that the border weapons were unusable and wanted to improve them." ...The mother and concubine also knew that because his father approved him to make his own soap, he had made some money in the past two years. Gao was pragmatic and wanted to do something useful, so he told Erchen about it. Naturally, he did not dare to make a decision, so he went to ask his father. The emperor thought that his loyalty was commendable, so he agreed. But later he felt that doing this alone would not be in line with the ancestral system, so he reported it to the Ministry of War and the Beijing Camp. When I saw that it was my father's permission, I issued a request for the Sanshenyuan Firearms Research Institute to assist in the trial production of firearms, so the Firearms Research Institute has the power to trial production of new firearms."
Oh, so that’s what happened?
After listening to Zhu Yijun's words, Concubine Li didn't think anything was wrong - since it was approved by Emperor Daxing, it was certainly not privately made ordnance, but there was still a problem.
"Then what kind of cannon he made, how did it end up in the hands of assassins? Huang Mengyu, have you found out this matter? Has Gao Pragmatic himself explained it?"
Huang Mengyu said calmly: "Reporting to the imperial concubine, after I found out that the gun was produced by the Sanshenyuan Firearms Research Institute, I immediately approached Gao Guanzheng to ask about the situation. According to Gao Guanzheng, various types of weapons that were trial-produced by the Sanshenyuan Firearms Research Institute Firearms, from the purchase of materials to the finished product, even the parts consumed when verifying the power, and the parts submitted to the Ordnance Bureau, the War Bureau, etc., are all recorded in detail, and nothing is missing. The slave has already sent someone I went to get the records, and Dongchang is verifying them in detail. At least based on the current verification results, everything Gao Guanzheng said is true."
Concubine Li thought for a while and asked: "Since the problem does not lie with him, are there any missing trial firearms received by the Ordnance Bureau and the Military War Bureau?"
Huang Mengyu glanced at Chen Ju and then said: "Reporting to the Imperial Concubine, the Arms Bureau and the Military Warfare Bureau have records of the firearms submitted to the Sanshenyuan Firearms Research Institute, but they are not very detailed. They are usually mentioned in one stroke.
For example, "Received a batch of pomegranates from the Jinghua Firearms Research Institute on a certain day in a certain month", there are records but no specific number. Moreover, both parties used these firearms to test the effects, but there is no clear record of how much was spent on the tests.
It’s because there is really no way to find out the truth from Dongchang.”
Oh, now it's a dead end.
Concubine Li also knew about the moral integrity of the Arms Bureau and the Military Warfare Bureau. It was not just a matter of time. At least her younger brother Li Wenjin had managed the Military Warfare Bureau for a period of time. She also knew that the management of these two bureaus was very lax.
Very - having said that, if we didn't relax, why would there be so many substandard firearms produced by the two bureaus and distributed to the border troops?
But you know, you still have to criticize. The Arms Bureau is under the direct control of the Ministry of War. No one is present now, and there is no one to scold. Concubine Li has no choice but to target Chen, who is now in charge of the War Bureau.
Ju: "Chen Ju, I know that you have only recently taken charge of the military affairs. You should not be blamed for the previous problems, but since you happened to be involved, I have to punish you...
…Are you convinced by the three-month salary penalty?”
Three months' salary? This punishment really doesn't matter to Chen Ju. Although he is an extremely rare eunuch who is not very greedy for money, he can't stand up to his current high status, and he already has many "children" who have taken refuge under him. Just these little eunuchs
As a filial piety, he does not lack this salary. In addition, the amount of punishment this time has something to do with Gao Pragmatism, so there is no need to worry: Gao Guanzheng is a man of justice and never causes his friends to suffer, and his generosity is well known to the world.
, thinking about it, he would never let Chen Yuma lose his old fortune.
Chen Ju honestly accepted the punishment, had a respectful attitude and was not picky.
The fine was just an expression of attitude. Concubine Li was very satisfied with Chen Ju's acceptance of the punishment, and pointed out: "After you go back, go and ask Gao Pangshi for advice. He has a set of records that clearly record everything from the purchase of materials to the flow of firearms."
Once you learn the method, you will have to follow his example in military affairs, so that if something goes wrong, you won’t be able to find someone to take responsibility for it.”
Of course Chen Ju didn't mind the extra trouble, because it gave him a more convenient reason to get close to Gao Pragmatic, which was helpful for conveying information and other matters, so he immediately and respectfully agreed.
Concubine Li also told the emperor: "In a while, the emperor will write a handwriting to the cabinet and ask the cabinet to draft an edict and order the Ministry of War to reprimand the Ordnance Bureau. In the future, the Ordnance Bureau will also have to act in this way and cannot be careless."
What can Zhu Yijun say? He can only respond honestly, but for him this is just a matter of writing a note, so it is not a trouble.
But after this, things came to a standstill again. Although Concubine Li believed that she had the obligation to help her son as regent, her ability was really not outstanding, so she had no choice but to ask: "It seems that we need to verify the source of the firearm."
The road is closed, do you have any other ideas for solving the case?"
The investigation is now mainly the responsibility of Huang Mengyu, so others can remain silent, but Huang Mengyu has to speak. He had no choice but to come out and answer, saying: "My dear concubine, there is actually a simpler idea, which is to find out Zhiyuan's whereabouts, especially the whereabouts of Zhiyuan.
He met someone before he died."
Feng Bao's eyelids twitched, he calmed down, and asked: "Chu Zhiyuan has been working as an errand in Dongchang for many years. He has been responsible for dealing with those so-called reckless people for a long time. This person should be very vigilant. If he wants to find out
I’m afraid it’s not easy to trace his whereabouts, right?”
"Of course it was not easy." Huang Mengyu said calmly: "But it was a coincidence that after Chu Zhiyuan got off duty last night, he did not go back to his residence in Beicheng. Instead, he went to Nancheng. As a result, he was sent by the Jin Yiwei to patrol Nancheng in civilian clothes.
Two Tiqi met."
Feng Bao suddenly became nervous, his voice changed a little, and he hurriedly asked: "What did they find?"
