Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

"Biao'er, take a look! This is the list of armaments we are preparing for the Northern Expedition!" Zhu Yuanzhang's forehead was bulging with veins, "Out of 50,000 troops, only 30% are equipped with muskets, and the rest are armed with scrap metal left over from the Yuan Dynasty!"

Crown Prince Zhu Biao took the secret letter and read it carefully, his face gradually becoming serious: "If we go to war with this level of equipment, I'm afraid we won't even be able to cross the Great Wall, and will be overwhelmed by the Northern Yuan cavalry."

"That's why we asked you to come here!" Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and slammed the table, pacing back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back. "Within three months, the railway must be opened and the military equipment must be prepared! If you need anything, just tell Biaoer directly!"

Ouyang Lun, who was standing at the bottom, bowed and stepped out: "I need three things: first, the full power of the Ministry of Industry's Military Equipment Bureau to allocate; second, transfer 200 skilled craftsmen from the Longjiang Shipyard; third" He paused, looking at Zhu Yuanzhang firmly, "allow me to use the surplus of customs duties."

The hall suddenly became quiet. Zhu Biao took a deep breath - customs duties were the lifeblood of the national treasury, and had always been controlled by his father himself. Even the Ministry of Revenue could hardly intervene.

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes, and the sound of his knuckles tapping the armrests of the dragon throne was particularly clear in the silence. Suddenly, he laughed loudly and said, "Approved! But," his voice suddenly turned cold, "the use of tariffs must be reported to Biaoer in detail every ten days."

"I understand." Ouyang Lun nodded solemnly, then changed the subject, "But what about Li Shanchang?"

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered: "Since you two are asked to cooperate, you should naturally call him to join. Li Shanchang and the Huaixi Party are still needed to deal with the Northern Yuan Dynasty in all aspects!" Seeing Ouyang Lun's eyes flickering, he simply made it clear: "Let's put it here - this time in the Northern Expedition, the railway is the bones, the armaments are the claws, and the old Huaixi people are the flesh and blood."

Zhu Biao nodded in understanding: "I understand. But father, if Li Shanchang asks who is older between him and brother-in-law Ouyang, how should I answer?"

Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes and said, "Li Shanchang is the left military advisor, and Ouyang Lun is the right military advisor." After saying that, he looked at Ouyang Lun and said, "Is this arrangement okay?"

"Since my father-in-law, the Emperor Retired, has already made his decision, how dare I, your son-in-law, object?" Ouyang Lun said in a calm tone, but Zhu Yuanzhang's eyebrows jumped.

"I am not the kind of person who is arbitrary and authoritarian!" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly raised his voice, "If you don't tell the truth today, you are not giving me face!"

Ouyang Lun raised his head and said calmly: "Then I don't agree."

The air in the hall froze instantly. The teacup in Zhu Yuanzhang's hand fell to the ground with a "bang", and the broken porcelain pieces flew everywhere.

Um!?
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, "You don't agree?"

"Father-in-law, the Emperor Retired, you asked me to say this! Don't be angry." Ouyang Lun spread his hands.

"Ahem, of course I'm not angry." Zhu Yuanzhang didn't expect that Ouyang Lun would dare to refuse. "Give me a reason!"

"The reason is not simple. Who the hell is he, Li Shanchang? Is he worthy of being my military advisor?" Ouyang Lun had a rebellious look on his face, with disdain in his eyes.

Um?!?
Now not only Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned, but even Zhu Biao was confused.

Ouyang Lun's words completely broke their previous perception of Ouyang Lun.

"Brother-in-law, are you okay?" Zhu Biao asked worriedly.

"It's okay, it's okay. I was just a little excited." Ouyang Lun regained his composure and said slowly, "Father-in-law of the retired emperor, brother-in-law of the emperor, I was just talking casually just now. I don't care whether Li Shanchang is a military advisor or not, as long as it doesn't affect me."

Forehead.
Seeing such a huge contrast between Ouyang Lun's before and after behavior, Zhu Yuanzhang and his son Zhu Biao were completely confused. For a moment, they couldn't tell which one was Ouyang Lun's true thought.

"Father, since my brother-in-law has said that he doesn't care, then this matter is settled. I will arrange it when the time comes." Zhu Biao was worried that Zhu Yuanzhang and Ouyang Lun would start fighting again, and he would be unable to stop them.

"Yeah." Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to get angry, but after thinking about it, he put out his anger. After all, he still relied on Ouyang Lun to solve the problems of railways, weapons, and logistics. A little impatience will ruin a big plan!
Let you jump around for a few days first.

"Ouyang Lun, you are now our military advisor for the Northern Expedition, and you are also a general in the cabinet. Do you have any good suggestions for the Northern Expedition? Tell me quickly, otherwise I will not let you go so easily today." Zhu Yuanzhang attached great importance to this Northern Expedition.

It can be said that this is Zhu Yuanzhang's last chance to send troops, and he must do everything perfectly.

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang say this, Ouyang Lun also had a headache. It seemed that he would not be able to leave today unless he took out some real stuff. Fortunately, he usually kept a few tricks up his sleeve, otherwise it would be difficult to get through today.

"Your Majesty, I do have some ideas." After saying that, Ouyang Lun suddenly took out a roll of blueprints from his sleeve, "This is the 'Hongwu Bolt-Action Rifle' and rail transportation system that I designed, please take a look."

Zhu Yuanzhang took the blueprint and saw that the weapon drawn on it was unprecedented: the metal gun body was engraved with spiral rifling, the exquisite bolt-type locking mechanism, and the metal fixed ammunition loaded afterward. Even more shocking was the matching rail design - wooden tracks covered with iron sheets, and the special carriages could carry 20 shi of food and grass and travel 100 miles a day.

"This gun doesn't need a matchlock? And it can be loaded from the back?" Zhu Yuanzhang's fingers trembled slightly, "Can it really be made?"

Ouyang Lun smiled confidently: "The craftsmen at Longjiang Shipyard can make a sample within three days. If we get full support, we can produce a thousand guns a month, and the whole army will be equipped within three months." He pointed to the blueprint and explained: "The range of this gun can reach 300 steps. A skilled soldier can fire six bullets per minute, and the accuracy is far superior to bows and arrows."

Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table and said, "Okay! I'll do as you say!" Then he lowered his voice and said, "You are causing trouble for us over there, Li Shanchang!"

"I understand." Ouyang Lun smiled meaningfully, "The left military advisor is in charge of internal affairs, and the right military advisor is in charge of military preparations. They each have their own responsibilities."

Korean government.

Xiao Lizi, the chief eunuch sent by Zhu Biao, stood in the hall holding the imperial edict in his hand, looking respectful but somewhat cautious.

"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: Now that the Northern Expedition is imminent, a special Northern Expedition Command Office is established, with Li Shanchang as the left military advisor and Ouyang Lun as the right military advisor, to jointly assist in military affairs. I decree this."

After Little Li finished reading the imperial edict, he looked up at Li Shanchang, only to see that the face of this founding father had become terribly gloomy.

"I obey your order." Li Shanchang slowly knelt down, took the imperial edict with both hands, and his voice was so low that it seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

As soon as Little Li left, Li Shanchang slammed the imperial edict on the table, causing the teacups to clink.

“This is too much!”

He laughed in anger, his beard trembling, his eyes full of disbelief and anger.

"I, Li Shanchang, am a founding hero, the left prime minister of the Secretariat, and I have assisted the emperor in pacifying the world. Now I want to be on equal footing with a young boy like Ouyang Lun?!"

His confidant and disciple Huang Zicheng stood aside, with an equally grim expression on his face, and whispered: "Prime Minister, Ouyang Lun, relying on his status as the emperor's consort and his trust in him, now dares to climb over your head."

"Who does he think he is!" Li Shanchang slammed the table, his eyes filled with anger that almost burst out.

"A young man who got into the imperial court by marrying Princess Anqing, and who only has some tricks, dares to be a military advisor to me, Li Shanchang?!"

His voice became louder and louder, almost a roar at last.

"Your Majesty, are you trying to humiliate me?!"

Huang Zicheng quickly lowered his voice: "Prime Minister, be careful with your words! Walls have ears."

Li Shanchang sneered, a hint of sadness flashed in his eyes.

"The Emperor no longer trusts me."

He sat down slowly, his fingers clenched tightly around the armrest until his knuckles turned white.

"I should have been in charge of the overall planning of the Northern Expedition, but now Ouyang Lun is being asked to intervene in the armaments and to be on an equal footing with me. This is clearly an attempt to undermine my power!"

Huang Zicheng whispered, "Prime Minister, Ouyang Lun is very ambitious. His new firearms and railways seem to be for the Northern Expedition, but in fact they are to build up his own power. If he is allowed to continue to expand, I am afraid..."

Li Shanchang's eyes flashed with coldness. "He thinks he can gain a foothold in the army with a few new-style muskets? What a joke!"

He stood up slowly, walked to the window, looked in the direction of the palace, and spoke in a cold voice.

"Military affairs are not a joke. What does Ouyang Lun know? The Northern Expedition cannot be won by a few tricks!"

Huang Zicheng whispered: "Prime Minister, then we..."

Li Shanchang was silent for a moment, then suddenly sneered.

"Isn't he going to be the right military advisor? Well, let him be the right military advisor!"

"I want to see what Ouyang Lun can do!"

He turned around, a fierce look in his eyes.

"Pass the order down, have the old people in Huaixi keep a close eye on him, and report any flaws in his armaments and railways immediately!"

Huang Zicheng's eyes flashed with a cold look, and he nodded and said, "The Prime Minister is wise."

Li Shanchang took a deep breath and suppressed the anger in his heart, but he could not hide the unwillingness and grief in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, are you going to force me?"

He murmured to himself, with a hint of desolation in his voice.

"I, Li Shanchang, have devoted my life to the Ming Dynasty, but now I have to be on equal footing with a young boy."

He closed his eyes and clenched his fists.

"Ouyang Lun, you'd better not let me catch you!"

otherwise
I will let you know what real court tactics are!
The next morning, the Ministry of Industry's Armament Bureau was bustling with activity. Ouyang Lun personally supervised the craftsmen in modifying the bolt-action rifle, his official robes soaked with sweat. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the door.

"Mr. Li has arrived——"

Li Shanchang strode in with a team of Huaixi generals. Seeing the new weapon parts all over the yard, a sinister look flashed in his eyes. "Lord Ouyang is so generous that he even transferred the craftsmen from Longjiang Shipyard."

Ouyang Lun said without even raising his head: "If Lord Li comes to inspect, please do as you please. If you come to give orders..." He held up a newly assembled bolt-action rifle, "Why not try out the power of this new thing."

Li Shanchang's face suddenly changed. The generals behind him came forward one after another, and someone couldn't help asking: "Why is the barrel of this gun so long? What is the purpose of the iron bolt at the back?"

Ouyang Lun raised his lips slightly, pulled the bolt of the gun neatly, loaded a brass bullet, and pushed the bolt to lock it. He turned around and aimed at the target in the yard and pulled the trigger. With a loud "bang", the target 200 steps away shattered. Everyone present was shocked.

"There will be a martial arts performance in front of the emperor in three days. Lord Li, please come and enjoy it." Ouyang Lun unloaded the shell and loaded it smoothly. "By the way, the emperor ordered me to form the 'Shenji Battalion', which requires elite troops from various armies. Here is the list, please have a look, Prime Minister."

Li Shanchang took the list and found that it was full of capable generals from Huaixi. He was so angry that his beard trembled: "Ouyang Lun! You——"

"I have the emperor's order, so I'm sorry I can't keep you company." Ouyang Lun bowed and turned to walk towards the craftsman who was casting the gun barrel, leaving Li Shanchang standing there gritting his teeth.

That night, in the secret room of Li Shanchang's mansion.

"Ouyang Lun is clearly trying to seize my military power in Huaixi!" Li Shanchang smashed the teacup to pieces, "And those strange and tricky things are shaking the morale of the army!"

Huang Zicheng smiled sinisterly and said, "Don't worry, Prime Minister. I found out something interesting - Ouyang Lun has close contacts with foreign merchants, and there are foreign characters on those drawings."

Li Shanchang's eyes flashed: "Keep investigating! We must find evidence of him selling out his country!"

The twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month is the small year.

Minister of Revenue Guo Zi wrapped his cotton robe tightly around him and hurried into the Ministry of Works on the snow. A few snowflakes fell on the account book in his hand and quickly melted into water stains. "Sir, I have something important to report."

Ouyang Lun lay leisurely in the rocking chair: "Speak."

"As the year draws to a close, construction sites across the country have begun to stop work one after another. Foremen along the Beijing-Pingcheng Railway have handed in notes, saying that they will take a holiday as usual."

Ouyang Lun slowly raised his head and said calmly: "Routine?"

"That won't do. The Emperor wants us to finish the project three months ahead of schedule. If we take the annual holiday, I'm afraid we won't have enough time."

"But, but sir." Guo Zi frowned and said, "The workers are looking forward to going home for the New Year."

"Pass the order down." Ouyang Lun thought for a moment and said, "The entire Beijing-Pingcheng Railway will not be closed during the Spring Festival. Construction will continue!"

Guo Zi widened his eyes: "I'm afraid..."

"Three times the wages." Ouyang Lun held up three fingers. "One day's work during the New Year is equivalent to three days' work during normal times. The kitchen will give out more meat every day, and wine every ten days. Officials on duty will receive double their wages and an additional merit evaluation."

The news spread like wildfire throughout the construction site in less than half a day.

"Have you heard? The prince consort said there will be no New Year holidays!" A craftsman with his face covered in coal dust said to his companion in a low voice.

"Bah! You're not allowed to go home during the New Year. Is there any law?" The companion spat fiercely.

"But." Coal Ash Face leaned closer mysteriously, "They said they would pay three times the wages!"

"How much?!" The companion's voice suddenly rose, causing the surrounding workers to turn their heads.

When the news was confirmed, the atmosphere on the construction site changed completely. The workers who were originally depressed suddenly became energetic and gathered in groups of three or four to discuss:

"If you work until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, you can get an extra month's salary!"

"I've calculated that if I don't rest for the next half month, I'll be able to have a new cow for my family in the spring!"

"Your Ma-jung is so kind and righteous!"

Outside the Ministry of Works, several clerks were whispering.

"Have you heard? Those who are on duty during the New Year will not only receive double salary but also receive performance evaluation!"

"I was just worried that the evaluation this year would not be good enough, now it's good enough!"

"That's right, the Prince Consort is bringing us a bright future!" (End of this chapter)