Dingsi (29), the leap month of the first year of Yuanyou.

Zhao Xu left the palace as usual and went to Kaifeng Mansion to oversee the government.

But he didn't stay all day in Kaifeng Mansion like he did in the past.

But after leaving the affairs in Kaifeng Mansion, mainly the street invasion work, to the banquet officials and accompanying readers.

He left Kaifeng Mansion and, under the escort of Yan Yuan, arrived at Jinchengfang in the new city of Bianjing City.

Jinchengfang is a typical government-run workshop area.

In addition to the bureau that specializes in manufacturing weapons, there is also the behemoth of the Sai Dyeing Institute.

As the largest dyeing workshop in Bianjing City, the West Dyeing Institute employs as many as 700 dyers.

Each dyer has seven or eight apprentices and handymen.

There are thousands of people working in this workshop alone!

Cloth was dyed and colored every day. Most of the fabrics used in the palace were dyed here.

As for the Bureau that specializes in manufacturing weapons?

There are tens of thousands of employees!

It's just that most of the workshops and workshops are outside the city.

When Zhao Xu's car arrived at the Ordnance Manufacturing Bureau, Shen Kuo led the officials of the Bureau to greet him at the gate early.

When they saw the driver, they all knelt down to greet him.

"I respectfully welcome the official's sage."

Zhao Xu, served by Feng Jing, stepped out of the chariot.

"Excuse me, sir." Zhao Xu waved his hand and said.

Shen Kuo immediately led his ministers to stand up, while Zhao Xu, escorted by Yan Yuan, walked towards the official office.

Shen Kuo led the officials in the bureau and hurriedly followed.

As Zhao Xu himself acknowledged, it was an inheritance that was "bequeathed to me by the late emperor and to be passed on to all descendants."

The Bureau that specializes in manufacturing weapons is an organization with countless privileges in the current Song Dynasty.

Including the expenses and fees of the bureau, all are transferred to the sealing warehouse without going through the household department or Zhongshu.

Except for those appointed by the bureau, all the officials in the bureau are assigned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, rather than to the Ministry of Personnel and Capital Hall.

And it mainly includes the person in charge of the department.

For example, the first and second supervisors of newly established agencies such as the Gunpowder Department and the Movable Type Department were all directly removed from their posts by imperial decree.

Naturally, the bureau, which specializes in manufacturing weapons, has been regarded as Zhao Xu's private industry by internal and external officials.

As soon as he entered the official gate, Zhao Xu saw a picture on the wall.

Strange rocks and strange trees stand alone.

It is obviously Guo Xi's handiwork.

Zhao Xu deliberately stopped in front of the wall photo, looked at it for a moment, and then asked Shen Kuo who was following him: "Shen Tiju, this must be a work by the national master Guo Xi, right?"

"Your Majesty, this is indeed the case." Shen Kuo lowered his head and replied.

Zhao Xu put his palms together and praised: "Shan, you are indeed worthy of being a national player."

He then told Feng Jing: "Feng Jing, write it down and tell the ministers about my will when you get back!"

"Guo Xi, who is waiting for the imperial edict, is loyal to the king and diligent in his work. However, he is specially awarded the deputy envoy Dong Lingjin!"

Deputy Ambassador Dong Lingjin is from the rank of seventh-grade craftsman.

The magic officer had the lowest status in the official system of the Song Dynasty.

But this is also an official!

Not to mention a high-ranking official from the seventh rank?

Within the system of the Great Song Dynasty, magicians could also be benevolent.

Although, the person who favors him is just a magician.

Guo Xi, who was following the crowd, immediately came out to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty, I am so kind to you. I will never repay you with my death!"

Zhao Xu smiled and said: "I still need Aiqing's efforts to hand over my son in the future."

This is actually a transaction.

Use a seventh-grade magic officer to bribe Guo Xi.

At the same time, he also bound Guo Xi with the wealth and honor of his future descendants.

It is similar to Taizu's drinking of wine to release military power, exchanging wealth and honor for loyalty.

Others may be able to bribe Guo Xi with money, but what they gave is what Zhao Xu can give?

cannot!

Especially Guo Xi looks to be in his fifties.

Apart from wealth and a stable life, what else can a painter of this age pursue?

Therefore, Guo Xi's loyalty is almost guaranteed.

Of course Guo Xi understood, so he bowed his head and bowed again: "I am willing to go through fire and water for your majesty!"

Other officials were nearby, watching Guo Xi receive the reward, and their hearts were surging.

Guo Xi just painted.

The officials are willing to reward you like this!

If they have achieved something, they will be rewarded!

Especially the ministers were in high spirits.

Whether a minister is promoted or not depends entirely on the emperor!

With a decree, there are many people who go straight from the small yellow gate to the east end to worship the officials!

Walking past the wall photo, you will find an empty courtyard.

In the yard, there were already wooden boxes placed on tables.

Zhao Xu looked at it, turned to Shen Kuo and asked: "Shen Tiju, what are these?"

Shen Kuo replied: "Your Majesty, I have learned that these are the things I have been ordered to make in the Ordnance Manufacturing Bureau since I took office."

He led Zhao Xu to the first table and opened the box on the table.

Inside is a small sand table.

What is shown on the sand table is the layout of the official mansion in Jinchengfang of the Bureau that specializes in manufacturing weapons.

Zhao Xu smiled and nodded: "Good!"

"I have recently been in charge of government affairs in the Kaifeng Mansion, and I often discuss matters with the ministers at the Bianjing Sand Table of the Sha Table Division!"

"Your merits are great, and Shapansi's merits are great!"

Zhao Xu said, and then ordered Feng Jing: "Feng Jing, write it down, there is an official who is responsible for the sand table, and it is dedicated to him. He has made merit in building the sand table. The chief and deputy envoys of the sand table will be moved to one official each. The craftsmen who have made merit will be given three official posts."

The rest will be rewarded with twenty guan each."

"promise!"

Shen Kuo immediately bowed and said: "Your Majesty is so kind, I would like to thank you on behalf of Shapansi."

"My merits will be rewarded, and my mistakes will be punished!" Zhao Xu said with a smile.

Under the leadership of Shen Kuo, they came to the second table.

The wooden box on the table was opened, and inside was a piece of pig iron soaked in bile alum water. There was already a layer of copper clay on the iron piece.

Zhao Xu saw this and said to Shen Kuo: "This is your merit!"

"This is the only way to gain knowledge by studying things."

Shen Kuo immediately bowed and said: "I dare not take credit, this is the teaching of the sage!"

Zhao Xu and Shen Kuo had already unified their external rhetoric on this matter.

Smelting copper with gallbladder water is a principle that Shen Kuo, under Zhao Xu's enlightenment, observed the laws of nature and everything in the world based on the great meaning of saints' character and knowledge, and derived it from it.

Shen Kuo himself also wrote an article "On the Theory of Smelting Bronze with Danshui to Observe Objects".

He took his own Confucian views, mixed them with Zhang Zai's Qi theory, and Wang Anshi's new views.

Not to say it is closely related to modern physical chemistry, at least it is far off topic.

This is also something that can't be helped.

Contemporary people don’t even talk about chemistry, they don’t even have the concept of oxygen.
To be continued...