Chapter 143: Technological Upgrade
As soon as he left the palace gates, Li Chongjin spat.
“Why is that old man Wang everywhere? We already explained everything, and he dragged us back to scold us.”
Zhang Yongde said, “Minister Wang is worried that his father-in-law is too lenient with the younger generation, so it’s only right for him to be strict.”
Xiao Yi glanced at the official document in Shi Deyu’s hand, which was only worth sixteen hundred guan, and felt displeased, but said nothing.
He could remain calm.
Shi Deyu said, “If Minister Wang passes away, he will surely be posthumously ennobled as a prince.”
“Heh heh.” Li Chongjin was amused and said, “Da Lang Shi is indeed an interesting person. Let’s go, I have a headache, I’m going to sleep.”
Zhang Yongde said with a bitter smile, “I shouldn’t have treated Chong Jin to drinks; last night was quite a scene.”
Xiao Yi then realized they had drunk more later. The current atmosphere was already poor, and if young generals were not disciplined, who knew what they would become. Wang Jun should have been stern with them.
“Did Chong Jin have a drunken fit?”
Zhang Yongde pointed to the dark circles under his eyes and said meaningfully, “You should avoid him.”
Xiao Yi heard this and thought that he would likely have to fight Li Chongjin again sooner or later.
“Noted, I will take Da Lang to collect the money.”
“Alright, first go to the Bureau of Military Affairs to sign the document, then go to the Imperial Household, but not to the Three Judicial Offices. The Imperial Household manages the Son of Heaven’s expenses, while the Three Judicial Offices manage official expenditures, which is slow and involves deductions.”
“Thank you, Military Head.”
“You’re welcome, we can call each other brothers in private.”
Zhang Yongde, being adept at handling people, patted Xiao Yi’s shoulder and, not forgetting Shi Deyu, bowed with a slight smile.
“Da Lang, I bid you farewell.”
“General Zhang, safe travels.”
After everyone else had left, Xiao Yi saw Shi Deyu’s eyes flickering and knew that Shi Deyu believed scolding Wang Jun could bring him closer to the young generals, and he wanted to build connections again.
But this kind of petty cleverness was useless. In the Great Zhou dynasty, he could crush Shi Deyu like an ant.
Without speaking, their eyes met for a moment. Shi Deyu lowered his head, hunched his back, and handed over the official document, saying, “Young Master, I have fulfilled my mission.”
“Don’t give it to me, give it to Old Pan.”
Xiao Yi did not follow Zhang Yongde’s suggestion to go to the Imperial Household but went to the Three Judicial Offices.
Although going to the Imperial Household today would be convenient, it could only provide emergency funds. In the future, the imperial court’s procurement of telescopes would involve large sums of money, which would naturally have to go through the Three Judicial Offices, assuming the business went smoothly.
In short, let Old Pan get acquainted first.
Every time Old Pan encountered an official, he would give them a bag of prepared tea.
However, when he reached Li Gu, the Commissioner of the Three Judicial Offices, he stopped.
When Xiao Yi arrived, Wang Pu happened to be at the yamen. He beckoned Xiao Yi to enter, without pausing his discussion with Li Gu.
“Wei Zhen, the state has just been established, is it okay to change the cowhide tax?”
“Does that even qualify as a tax law? It is a method of exploitation by people like Su Fengji and Wang Zhang. Why should the court seize all the leather from the people? I am temporarily judging the Three Judicial Offices. For every day Su Niupi’s tax law remains, it is one more day of utter humiliation.”
Li Gu slammed his fist on the table, and hearing the commotion, turned to look.
Xiao Yi had only met Li Gu once before in passing. Now, upon closer inspection, he found that although Li Gu was a civil official, he was tall and sturdy, with a commanding presence. He was passionate in his every move, and though nearing fifty, he still possessed the youthful spirit of a young man.
“Greetings, Minister Li.”
“Haha.” Wang Pu laughed, “I will introduce Wei Zhen and Xiao Lang.”
“No introduction is needed. I have heard of him. Capturing Su Niupi was most gratifying.”
“The common people of the world have been oppressed for too long, and finally, they have met a good Commissioner of the Three Judicial Offices, allowing them to catch their breath.”
“How can a corner of the land be called the world?”
Li Gu’s remark made Xiao Yi pause slightly.
Gazing at him, Xiao Yi saw that Li Gu’s eyes were clear, possessing a chivalrous spirit rarely seen in the political arena.
Xiao Yi considered himself incapable of such a disposition. For instance, regarding the cowhide tax, he also had thoughts—instead of revising it, it should be abolished. The court should not impose it, but rather appoint specific personnel for procurement. However, he had reservations and would not say it now, only waiting for a suitable time.
“General Xiao, what brings you to the Three Judicial Offices?”
“I am accompanying Da Lang Shi to collect money for the military’s production of telescopes.”
Old Pan handed over the official document at the opportune moment.
Li Gu took it, frowned immediately, and asked, “What item costs as much as eighty guan to produce?”
Xiao Yi could answer, but he remained silent, looking at Old Pan.
Shi Deyu understood and assumed a weak posture, saying, “Commissioner Li, this junior is not in good health; all matters are handled by old servants of the manor.”
Old Pan was very nervous, rubbing his hands, and said, “Telescope… oh, replying to Commissioner Li, this object allows one to see distant objects clearly, which is greatly… um, beneficial on the battlefield. It is made of precious stone materials, and if the material is damaged during manufacturing, it requires…”
“Bring it here, let me see.”
Li Gu had a strong aura and showed little emotion. His simple command made Old Pan nervously look back.
Xiao Yi still did not step forward, watching Old Pan swallow a few times and wipe the sweat from his forehead.
“Replying to Commissioner Li, only one has been made, and it is with, with His Majesty.”
Li Gu nodded and said, “You may come again tomorrow.”
Exiting the Three Judicial Offices’ yamen, Old Pan felt quite ashamed and said in a low voice, “General, I messed this up.”
“Don’t worry, Commissioner Li didn’t say he wouldn’t give it. We’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
Shi Deyu whispered to him, complaining in a low voice, “Are all officials of the new dynasty this stingy? Young Master, should we go to the Imperial Household again?”
“No need.”
Xiao Yi knew he wanted to use this method to get closer, but it was useless.
With so many taxes reduced, it was understandable for the Three Judicial Offices to spend cautiously. Li Gu not releasing the money just because the Emperor and the Bureau of Military Affairs had signed off showed a responsible attitude.
“Where do you live?”
“I naturally return to the manor.”
“The Shi Residence?”
“Yes.”
Xiao Yi looked and saw Shi Deyu avoiding his gaze. He didn’t press further and instructed Old Pan, “Have Wang Jiu bring people to protect Da Lang Shi well.”
“Understood.”
Returning to the camp for training and selecting new recruits.
Despite being busy, Xiao Yi had Zhang Mantun hand over the attendance roster for review that evening.
“What’s going on with Lü Chou? He was listless during today’s training and didn’t even show up for roll call this morning?”
“He had diarrhea and went into the city to see a doctor last night.”
“If you get screened out during the drill, don’t say I won’t show any leniency.”
“Hey, his martial arts are among the strongest; it won’t come to him.”
The next day, Xiao Yi woke up early. After roll call, Lü Chou was absent again, claiming he was still suffering from diarrhea.
After training, seeing that the Three Judicial Offices were likely open, Xiao Yi again took Old Pan and Shi Deyu to the Three Judicial Offices to collect money.
Upon entering the yamen, Li Gu saw them arrive and picked up the telescope from his desk, rubbing and playing with it.
Xiao Yi had a bad feeling.
As expected, when Old Pan presented the official document with both hands, Li Gu did not even look at it and spoke.
“I will venture a guess: this object contains two crystal spheres. One causes the distant object’s image to enter the stone, and the other magnifies the virtual image before the eyes, thus allowing one to see far as if it were near, is that correct?”
Old Pan could not answer and looked over, but Xiao Yi shook his head slightly.
Shi Deyu said with a smile, “Minister Li, His Majesty purchased this item to observe formations and anticipate the enemy, thereby preventing the sacrifice of soldiers. Why should the Three Judicial Offices obstruct this?”
Li Gu sighed, “If the stone materials are rare and nine out of ten are wasted during grinding, the cost is naturally high. However, a price of eighty guan, is it suitable for widespread use in the military? Shi Lang, you should act wisely, lest you have no successor.”
Having said that, he took the official document, signed and stamped it, and handed it to Old Pan.
Xiao Yi understood Li Gu’s unspoken meaning—Li Gu could replicate this telescope and would do so to reduce the court’s expenses. However, he was giving them an opportunity to have Shi Deyu voluntarily lower the production cost.
Leaving the Three Judicial Offices, Xiao Yi pondered this matter all the way.
Old Pan finally received the sixteen hundred guan in gold ingots, holding a small box, and followed behind.
Returning to the camp, they sat down in the duty room.
“Old Pan, calculate how much money we can still afford to spend in total.”
“Yes, this is the ledger. After you last reviewed it, General, there were several large income and expenditures. We received two thousand guan from Liu Yun and Li Hongjian, expenditures for the cremation furnace were one hundred and seventeen guan, purchases of cotton cloth in Xiangzhou cost one thousand guan, bribes for Tai Ping Palace were sixty-five guan, and we gave Mister Li one hundred guan. Including other minor expenses, there are six hundred and ninety-eight guan remaining, and we owe Mister Li six hundred guan.”
Xiao Yi said, “Including today’s earnings, we can access approximately two thousand three hundred guan?”
“Yes.” Old Pan said, “Deducting the cost of the telescope and repaying Mister Li, there will be six hundred guan left. Then, after repaying Guo Family Young Lady three hundred guan and the interest…”
“Is it a loss?”
“General, it seems to be a loss.”
Xiao Yi felt a headache coming on. He calculated it himself and found that after all the effort, they had lost one thousand guan.
Old Pan comforted him, “General, this is only the first transaction. Once we sell more, the costs will be spread out.”
“They have decided to only do this one transaction. Once these twenty telescopes are handed over, they will definitely be dismantled and studied.”
“General, I just realized that the court gave us eighty guan less.”
“Let’s consider the sample as is.”
“There’s something I don’t know if I should say… Mister Li said that you are not suited for business, General. Should we… stop?”
Xiao Yi threw aside the ledger, took two deep breaths, and did not retreat. Instead, his attitude became more resolute.
He could not stop. Without an industry that could continuously generate wealth as a source, all his plans for establishing himself in this chaotic world were like a rootless duckweed.
The current business model is incorrect. If there is no technological barrier, then build one.
“Li Mingyuan doesn’t understand. Don’t listen to him.”
“General, what should we do?”
Xiao Yi thought for a moment and said, “Old Pan, what is your current salary?”
“Replying to General, material costs are six thousand, and stipends are two shi.”
“I will give you double that amount, plus a monthly bonus. Are you willing to take off your armor and work for me?”
“Thank you, Young Master, for your cultivation. I have long been prepared.”
“Very well, go and bring Zhao Chu to see me.”
Xiao Yi made his decision. He already had the experience, the blueprints, and over two thousand guan in capital. Now it was time for a technological upgrade, to get one step ahead.
Then, build a factory, make glass, and open the eyes of the people of this era.
