Chapter 97 Industry
Inside the Imperial Examination Hall.

Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, both wearing dark blue official robes and holding leather belts at their waists, walked side by side on the small path between the rows of examination rooms.

In the examination room, scholars were writing furiously, and behind them were a group of officials following silently.

When they walked out of the examination room, Zhang Zhuo glanced at Chen Liqin beside him, dismissed the officials behind him, and chuckled, "Lord Chen is a good father. He came to the Imperial College on the day of the Autumn Examination to support your two sons. Could it be that he is afraid that they will fail? If the censor knows about it, he will definitely report you and accuse you of not avoiding suspicion."

Chen Liqin looked a little unnatural: "Your Excellency has misunderstood. I am just worried that there will be trouble in the Autumn Examination."

Zhang Zhuo laughed, patted Chen Liqin on the shoulder, and said in a low voice, "Don't worry, the curtain officials this time were all personally selected by Old Master Xu. They are all his students and old friends, so they are a sure thing."

Chen Liqin slowly smiled. As the co-magistrate of Luocheng, he had no control over the examination of papers by the officials behind the inner curtain, but only over the officials outside the curtain.

The power to select inner-curtain officials has always been in the hands of Xu Gong, the chief minister of the cabinet. Zhang Zhuo is the son-in-law of Xu Gong's nephew, and now all foreign affairs are handled by him.

Now that Zhang Zhuo had made his promise, Chen Liqin could rest assured.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Liqin said hesitantly, "I have a son at home."

Zhang Zhuo smiled and said, "Is it the one who beat Prince Jing in chess?"

"That's right," Chen Liqin said frankly, "He made some mistakes before, and I saw that he didn't change despite repeated teachings, so I sent him to Taiping Medical Clinic as an apprentice."

Zhang Zhuo was surprised: "Oh? I think that child has good character and is calm and reserved. What mistakes can he make?"

Chen Liqin hesitated for a moment and said, "A few years ago, he was led by his bad friends to the gambling house in Hongyi Lane, and he owed hundreds of taels of silver in a year."

Zhang Zhuo laughed: "I don't think it's a big deal. Who hasn't made mistakes when they were young? Why send him to be an apprentice? Look at my more than ten sons, how many of them are worry-free?"

Chen Liqin sighed, "I never thought that he would be able to reform himself in the past two years. I sent people to ask his neighbors, and everyone praised him for being well-educated, sensible, and hardworking."

He looked at Zhang Zhuo and said, "Sir, I plan to bring him back to the palace and send him to Donglin Academy in the spring of next year. I will need your help to make arrangements then."

It was said to be a communication, but in reality he was asking Zhang Zhuo for another promise.

It is extremely difficult for ordinary people to pass the imperial examination, but for Zhang Zhuo and Xu Gong, this is a very easy task.

Zhang Zhuo stroked his sparse beard and said, "A few days ago, one of Mr. Xu's cabinet proposals was rejected by the Ministry of Revenue. It's not a big deal. Mr. Xu just wanted to build a few roads for his hometown. I wonder if your father can be flexible on this matter?"

Chen Liqin frowned for a long time: "I will write to my father and tell him about this."

Zhang Zhuo smiled and patted Chen Liqin on the shoulder: "Mr. Chen is a good father. He really cares about his children."

Chen Liqin sighed, "It's a pity that children can't understand their parents' painstaking efforts. I'm not afraid of being laughed at by the adults. My son has refused to follow me back home and doesn't even want to call me father."

"It's okay," Zhang Zhuo tried to comfort him. "He's just angry with you now. Can he really abandon the Chen family? How much money can you make as a royal doctor in a year? When he has suffered enough in the market and understands the loneliness of a hero being unable to make ends meet, he will go home in disgrace."

Zhang Zhuo laughed and said, "My third son said a while ago that he wanted to be a knight-errant in the martial arts world and learn how to be chivalrous and righteous. As soon as he left, I sent someone to steal his purse on the street. The boy left at 7:00 in the morning and returned home at noon, just in time for lunch. I would say that you should just cut off your son's tuition money and he will come home on his own."

"This is a way..."

At this moment, Zhang Zhuo's eyes flickered: "By the way, does your son Chen Wenzong have anyone looking for a matchmaker? I have a daughter who is as beautiful as a flower and is waiting to be married..."

"Sir!" An official came forward to report.

Zhang Zhuo said unhappily, "What's the matter? Can't you see I'm discussing important matters with Lord Chen?"

The official said in embarrassment: "Sir, the prince sent someone to summon you to Liujiatun, saying that he has come up with a solution for you to deal with the refugees. Your political achievements are saved."

"What?" Zhang Zhuo's eyes sparkled. "Are you serious?"

"Really?" The official turned to look at Chen Liqin again, "Master Chen is here too. Prince Jing has summoned you to the Liujiatun Kiln Factory."

"What do you want to call me for?"

"The prince said that your riverbank can also be saved."

Chen Liqin was stunned. Liujiatun Kiln Factory, wasn't that the place where he had gone to look for traces before? How could there be a way to save the riverbank there?

……

……

Inside the kiln factory, everyone was still celebrating.

"Chen Ji, we did it!"

"When Chen Ji said that we would go down in history, I didn't believe it! But in the future, our cement will be used to build riverbanks, and our cement will also be used to build city walls in various states and prefectures. History books can't forget to remember us!"

The prince asked excitedly, "Will the history books really write: In the autumn of the 31st year of Jianing, Chen Ji, She Dengke, Liu Quxing, Liang Maoer, Luo Zhui Saga, Zhu Baili, and Zhu Yunxi made cement, which will be passed down for generations!"

Bai Li smiled and said, "Once the work at the kiln factory is done, I will invite everyone to the Yingxian Tower for a banquet. You can eat whatever you want and get drunk!"

The prince looked at Bai Li in confusion and asked, "Didn't father take away all your monthly salary?"

Bai Li said confidently: "I still have some hidden!"

In laughter.

Liang Gou'er, who was lazily lying on a straw mat nearby, secretly glanced at the group of cheering young men through the gap between his nose and his straw hat.

One of the happiest things when you are young is to do something with your friends.

If there is anything happier than this, it is to get this thing done.

He saw the smile on Liang Maoer's face, and unconsciously, the corners of his mouth also curled up slightly, as if his youth was passing through him again.

But as he watched, the light in Liang Gou'er's eyes dimmed again. He pulled the brim of his hat and completely covered his face under the straw hat.

"Old traces."

At this moment, Prince Jing spoke, and everyone's laughter stopped abruptly like an imperial decree.

The prince and Liang Mao slowly put Chen Ji on the ground. Chen Ji straightened his messed clothes and said calmly, "Your Highness, please speak."

But Prince Jing was holding a brick in his hand, rubbing the cement stuck on the brick with his fingers: "Let's talk about this business. Seeing that you are close friends with Yunxi and Baili, I won't take advantage of you. The price is five thousand taels of silver, and you sell me the cement formula."

Chen Ji fell into deep thought.

Seeing that he did not answer, Prince Jing said seriously: "The annual tax revenue of Lianghuai Salt Administration is only 950,000 taels of silver, and the annual tax revenue of the imperial court is only 550,000 taels of silver. Five thousand taels of silver is enough for ordinary people to live a life of wealth and glory. Don't miss out on this overwhelming wealth."

She Dengke slowly looked at Chen Ji, his voice trembling: "Chen Ji, five thousand taels of silver!" Liu Quxing was also eager to move: What does five thousand taels mean? An ordinary official's annual expenditure, including welcoming and seeing off guests and managing social relationships, is only one hundred taels of silver!

Not to mention that the two apprentices were moved, even Bai Li felt that his father's move was quite generous this time.

However, Chen Ji laughed and said, "The prince is setting a trap for me."

Prince Jing raised his eyebrows: "What do you mean?"

Chen Ji calculated carefully: "Your Majesty said that the court's annual income is 550,000 taels of silver, but he didn't mention that the court's fiscal revenue is mainly in the form of grain, which is probably tens of millions of taels of silver; Your Majesty said that the Lianghuai Salt Administration's annual fiscal revenue is only 950,000 taels, but he didn't mention the embarrassment of Lianghuai Salt Administration's long-standing problems and inability to collect taxes."

Prince Jing gradually stopped smiling.

Chen Ji continued, "Your Highness didn't even mention that there is a civil official family like the Liu family in the Ning Dynasty that controls a state. 70% of the state's finances go to the Liu family, and the remaining 30% goes to the court. Your Highness used the court's finances to confuse concepts. I can hear the sound of his calculations in his mind from five thousand miles away."

He looked at Prince Jing and said sincerely, "Your Highness and I know the value of this cement, so why don't we be frank and speak frankly."

Prince Jing stared straight at Chen Ji, as if he wanted to see through the soul of the young man in front of him, but Chen Ji did not dodge or avoid, just waited for his answer.

Prince Jing suddenly smiled and turned to look at Wang Kezhi: "Have you memorized the recipe?"

Wang Kezhi said honestly: "Remember, Doctor Chen didn't avoid us on purpose."

Prince Jing nodded and said, "Very good. We can modify the kiln and make cement ourselves. We don't need to bother Doctor Chen anymore."

Bai Li glared: "Dad?!"

Prince Jing put his hands behind his back and said with a cheerful smile, "Bai Li, please don't interfere. Cement involves national policy, how can it be controlled by a few young men? The court's treasury is in a tight spot right now, and being able to offer 5,000 taels of silver is my greatest sincerity. If you are willing to accept it, that would be the best. If you are not willing to accept it, then there is nothing I can do."

The powerful prince, who failed to plot against a young apprentice, ended up acting like a rogue.

Chen Ji said sincerely, "Your Highness, this matter is too big. I have to go back to the Chen family to ask. If Master Chen Liqin can't make up his mind, then let him write a letter to the head of the Chen family to ask how much they think I should sell it to you, or whether they are interested in this business."

Prince Jing's smile faded again: "Don't you want to go back to the Chen family?"

Chen Ji's eyes were sincere: "I can go back."

Prince Jing was silent as he carefully considered the pros and cons. After a moment, he looked at Chen Ji and asked, "What did you say last time?"

Chen Ji: "I need to go back to the Chen family to ask?"

"One more sentence."

Chen Ji: "Why don't we speak frankly?"

"it is good."

Chen Ji: "..."

Prince Jing paced around the kiln factory with his head down for a few steps, and when he looked up again, he frankly stated the pros and cons: "Chen Ji, you are very smart, so you must know that this business cannot be done in your hands, and you may even lose your life for it."

Bai Li frowned: "Dad, don't scare me..."

Chen Ji raised his hand to stop Bai Li: "Your Highness is right, money can move people's hearts, and the road to profit has always been bloody and cruel."

Prince Jing nodded and said, "It's good that you haven't been blinded by the benefits. Then you should also understand that as a bastard, even if you bring cement back to the Chen family, this inheritance will not fall into your hands, but will be divided up by the first and second branches of your Chen family. So your best choice is actually the Prince Jing's Mansion. At least my Prince Jing's Mansion is fairer than theirs."

Chen Ji agreed: "I understand."

Prince Jing looked at Chen Ji and was about to say something else when he saw a carriage slowly stop in front of the kiln factory.

Everyone looked and saw Old Man Yao being supported by the driver and slowly getting out of the car.

Old man Yao walked slowly in front of the crowd, scanned everyone's faces, and then asked, "What are you discussing? Why are you so serious?"

Liu Quxing hurriedly said: "Master, the prince wants to buy the formula for Chenji's cement!"

Old Man Yao said, "How much did the prince charge?"

Liu Quxing replied, "Five thousand taels, but Chen Ji disagrees and they are arguing about it right now."

Old man Yao said "oh" again, and took out six copper coins from his sleeve and threw them on the ground, then turned to look at Prince Jing: "Five thousand taels per year."

"How many?!"

Liang Gou'er sat up suddenly and his straw hat fell to the ground.

Bai Li was stunned. The price of cement had increased from five thousand taels of silver to five thousand taels per year?
Old Man Yao looked at Prince Jing and said slowly, "Your Majesty will not suffer any loss if you buy this."

After that, he looked at Chen Ji again: "That's all. You can't hold on to more money."

Everyone looked at Prince Jing silently, fearing that their loud words would anger this powerful vassal king.

But Prince Jing suddenly smiled and said, "Deal."

Chen Ji was stunned.

Deal made?
Is this a deal?
Chen Ji suddenly looked at his master. He didn't know what kind of relationship this skinny master had with Prince Jing that he could convince the other party to reduce the price from five thousand taels to five thousand taels per year with just one opening.

This kind of relationship cannot be explained in just a few words.

"Master," Chen Ji asked, "Did you come all the way here to help me?"

Old Man Yao glanced at him and said, "Why are you so shameless? I just came to see what you are up to."

Chen Ji: “…Oh.”

At this moment, Liu Quxing looked at She Dengke in disbelief: "Isn't this a dream? Five thousand taels a year?"

She Dengke punched Liu Quxing in the chest, causing him to cough several times: "Does it hurt?"

"Fuck you!"

Liu Quxing was about to pounce on She Dengke, but Prince Jing raised his hand to stop him: "Don't worry, wait until I finish. Five thousand taels a year is not without conditions. In addition to the cement formula, I want the technique of carburizing steel."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "Okay."

He is not greedy, he just wants to find a safe and stable job and a way to support the tiger.

(End of this chapter)