Construction is in full swing across the various prefectures and counties, but Chu Chen, the initiator of these projects, is not attending any ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Instead, he is holed up at the government affairs desk, poring over documents.
"The Magistrate of Pingliang County, Weiping Prefecture, in Liaonan Prefecture, has bribed the special envoy dispatched by the court? A single official, with a chest of silver, over three thousand taels of silver?"
Chu Chen is taken aback by a secret memorial.
"As expected, worthy of the saying 'a county magistrate who ruins a sect, a prefect who destroys a family,' and 'three years as a clean prefect, a hundred thousand taels of silver'! A mere county magistrate can produce over ten thousand taels of silver in one go for bribery, so how much has he personally embezzled?"
"Such a fellow must be investigated and punished!"
"Guards!"
Chu Chen shouts, and the guards at the door, along with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, look over.
"Go summon a thousand-household commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to me!"
"Yes, sir!"
Before long, a thousand-household commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who was on duty in the adjacent hall, enters.
"Prime Minister, you summoned me?"
"Mmm, take a look at this. After you've read it, you're responsible for resolving it."
Chu Chen hands the secret memorial to the thousand-household commander and then turns his attention back to his government affairs, not looking up.
The thousand-household commander takes the memorial and reads it. His heart immediately burns with anger. The Embroidered Uniform Guard was investigating in Pingliang County, and they were actually beaten?
Although their investigation methods were not entirely honorable, how could the Embroidered Uniform Guard be insulted by just anyone?
After reading the memorial, the thousand-household commander, suppressing his rage, clasps his hands and says, "This is outrageous! I will immediately send men to resolve this matter!"
"Mmm, go. Remember not to beat them to death on the spot. The Court of State Ceremonial is very dissatisfied with the Embroidered Uniform Guard's methods of apprehending people and has protested to me many times."
Chu Chen replies without looking up.
"Yes, sir!"
The thousand-household commander acknowledges and quickly departs.
"The grain and material allocations needed for the prefectural seats are a headache. Approved, approved."
"A county in Quzhao Prefecture has experienced an earthquake and urgently needs relief funds and grain. Approved, approved. However, we need to add more Embroidered Uniform Guard supervision, otherwise, who knows if it's a real earthquake or if it will be embezzled upon arrival."
"Two scholars fighting... Who wrote this nonsense? Why is it being sent to me instead of the Ministry of Personnel? Just approve it to be forwarded to the Ministry of Personnel for handling. Such trivial matters are also being brought to me. This person must be punished!"
Chu Chen looks at these memorials with a headache, wondering if he should exchange some talent summoning cards to summon some capable individuals to help him with these government affairs.
"Hmm? What is this? A memorial from the Ministry of Works? When did the Ministry of Works start sending memorials to me with eunuchs? Oh, it's Xiao Huzhi, that little eunuch who almost ran me over with his handcart carrying night-blooming jasmine."
"Let me see what he's written. Hmm~ Not enough pig iron? The price of iron and iron farming tools in the market is soaring? This won't do!"
Chu Chen frowns. Just as he is about to call someone, he feels that it would be better to go and see for himself this afternoon to get a clearer understanding of the situation.
Time flies by as he handles government affairs. After lunch, Chu Chen estimates that the Ministry of Works will be in session and heads there with his retinue.
When Chu Chen arrives at the Casting Department, he finds that the place has changed significantly since he was promoted from here last time.
Half of it is still made of wood and stone, while the other half has been demolished and replaced with two-story buildings constructed with blue bricks.
"Good heavens, whose idea was this? They even know to use blue bricks to build houses!"
Chu Chen marvels inwardly. One should never underestimate the wisdom of the ancients. Without him taking the lead, someone has already come up with the idea of using blue bricks and multi-story buildings.
"Your subordinate, Wang Tong, Vice Minister of the Casting Department, pays his respects to the Prime Minister!"
"Your subordinates pay their respects to the Prime Minister!"
"You are all dismissed."
Chu Chen replies, raising his hand.
"Prime Minister, you've finally arrived!"
Behind Vice Minister Wang Tong, Wang Erhu looks at Chu Chen with teary eyes, full of joy.
But his appearance makes Chu Chen feel a bit disgusted. He waves his hand and says, "Don't make that face. Tell me, what's going on with the shortage of pig iron you mentioned in your memorial?"
Wang Erhu wipes his tears and complains, "Since you established the Casting Department in the Ministry of Works, Prime Minister, and with the large number of apprentices graduating, we should not be lacking in pig iron. However, the Royal Trading Company has placed a large number of orders for iron farming tools with the Ministry of Works, and the newly emerging road construction also requires a large number of iron tools. While the refined steel method can supply enough, the pig iron still needs to be forged by human labor, and it is simply in short supply!"
"Prime Minister, the Casting Department can no longer fulfill the orders for pig iron from the Sword and Saber Department and the Armor Department, nor the Machine Department!"
When the Sword and Saber Department and the Armor Department have work, they forge weapons and armor for the court. With the large amount of pig iron previously stockpiled, and the refined steel method, they were able to meet the armament needs of the fifty thousand strong army and thirty thousand imperial guards within a year, producing high-quality steel weapons.
When there are no court orders, the craftsmen of the Ministry of Works do not remain idle. Instead, they undertake a large number of civilian farming tool orders to make a living. These two departments can be considered state-owned enterprises.
Now, with the surge in orders for farming tools and road construction tools, the finished products can be forged at a faster pace. However, the large amount of pig iron previously stockpiled has been depleted. The rate at which the Forging Department can produce pig iron is far from keeping up with the consumption of the two departments, which has put them in a difficult position. They are scolded by the people from the two departments every day, but they are helpless.
"Uh~"
Chu Chen rubs his nose. This is indeed something he overlooked.
Forging pig iron involves no complex techniques. It simply involves crushing and selecting iron ore, then melting it into molten iron, pouring it into molds to cool and form iron blanks, and then hammering it dozens of times to remove impurities and produce pig iron.
Before Chu Chen invented the refined steel method, the weapons and armor used in the Yunyue Kingdom were all made of pig iron. Now, steel weapons are used.
For farming tools and road construction tools, which will encounter stones during excavation, it is better to use steel tools if conditions permit.
Of course, this is limited to shovels, hoes, and plows. Other tools like forks, rakes, and hammers can be made of pig iron.
"Let's go inside first. Also, send someone to fetch the ledger of the Casting Department's production output."
Chu Chen sighs and walks forward.
As he wanders through the Casting Department, he finds that the technology for forging pig iron is no different from before. Only the second floor has been built with blue bricks, cement, and steel bars for use as a warehouse, while the first floor is still used for forging.
"The technology hasn't changed, no wonder there's not enough pig iron."
Chu Chen's words cause Wang Tong and Wang Erhu, who are accompanying him, to look ashamed.
For a thousand years, the land of the Yunyue Kingdom has experienced three dynasties, yet the technology remains unchanged. It was only when Chu Chen previously served here that he invented the refined steel method to increase steel production.
Soon, the ledger is handed to Chu Chen.
"Annual output of 1268 tons? Shuangyue Prefecture produces 680 tons of iron, and the rest is iron contributed by various prefectures. This output is too low!"
At a glance, Chu Chen feels a headache. Can this output support infrastructure construction? It's a joke.