Duke of Zhenguan

"Doctor Li, I just went to the Imperial Workshop. The supervisor said that they have no timber in their warehouse. The timber that was supposed to be delivered in the next few days was burned by the thieves. Timber from other places will take at least half a month to arrive!"

"Do you think we should ask Vice Minister Pei to explain the situation to the superior and postpone the repair of the Lizheng Hall?" Lin Chuan found Li Shan and said with a cupped hand.

"If Vice Minister Pei has to handle everything, what's the point of having the people in the Ministry of Works?"

Moreover, the weather has been gloomy these past two days, and it might rain at any time. The Empress's residence is leaking. As her subjects, we can't just postpone the repair of the palace because we don't have enough timber, can we?" Li Shan asked in a deep voice.

"Doctor Li, without timber, even the Imperial Workshop can't help you!" Lin Chuan's expression was also somewhat unpleasant as he said softly.

"The officials in charge of the Imperial Workshops can just say there's no timber and that's it? Did Assistant Minister Lin personally inspect their warehouses?" Li Shan asked in an unfriendly tone.

"Doctor Li, the repair of the Lizheng Hall concerns His Majesty and the Empress. The people in the Imperial Workshop are not fools; why would they try to obstruct it?" Lin Chuan shook his head.

"Since Assistant Minister Lin knows that this matter concerns His Majesty and the Empress, he should know that this matter cannot be delayed. If Assistant Minister Lin feels that he cannot do this, he can explain the situation to Vice Minister Pei, and I will take over the task!" Li Shan said in a deep voice.

Seeing Li Shan's unfriendly expression, Lin Chuan cupped his hands and said with a smile:

"Dr. Li, I only wanted to ask you to inquire with Vice Minister Pei; I didn't say I couldn't do it..."

Li Shan stared at Lin Chuan for a while, then smiled and said to Lin Chuan:

"Master Lin, you'd better take care of yourself!"

Back in his seat, Lin Chuan took the documents and found similar files from before, and began to write a plan based on them.

A moment later, Xu Chun brought over a cup of hot tea and placed it on Lin Chuan's table, asking in a low voice:

"Master Lin, what should we do about this?"

"It's alright, I have a way!"

The next morning, Lin Chuan brought Xu Chun to the Imperial Workshop again. Yan Lide had not yet returned, and Chen Wang was the one who received Lin Chuan.

"Supervisor Chen, the repair of the Lizheng Hall is quite urgent, and the amount of timber needed is not too large. Could you perhaps move some timber from elsewhere first?" Lin Chuan asked directly.

"Master Lin, the materials used in each place are custom-made. If there is a problem with the materials used in Lizheng Hall, I might lose my head!" Chen Wang said speechlessly.

"Isn't there any other way?" Lin Chuan asked again.

Chen Wang shook his head without hesitation.

Lin Chuan hadn't had much hope to begin with, and asked with a smile:

"If I can get the lumber sorted out, then there shouldn't be any other problems with the repairs, right?"

"If Master Lin finds the timber, there will naturally be no problem!" Chen Wang nodded.

"Alright, I'll go find the timber. Supervisor Chen, please arrange for someone to go and see how to repair the Lizheng Hall!" Lin Chuan said.

"Master Lin, this is no laughing matter!" Chen Wang said.

"I know!" Lin Chuan nodded.

Chen Wang gave Lin Chuan a deep look, and finally nodded:

"I'll arrange for someone to go immediately!"

Emerging from the Imperial Workshop, Xu Chun said with a worried expression:

"Master Lin, preparing timber is the responsibility of the Imperial Workshop; how could you take it upon yourself..."

"If I don't take it on, what will happen to the repair of the Lizheng Hall? Am I really supposed to write a memorial and submit it to Vice Minister Pei, admitting that I can't even do this small thing?"

"If I really wrote a memorial, wouldn't that just be like what they said, that I, a mere official, am just lucky and haven't even read a book!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"But you can't take the blame yourself. What do we do now?" Xu Chun asked awkwardly.

"Don't worry, I have a way!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"What can you do?"

You'll find out in a minute!

The two returned to the Ministry of Works, and Lin Chuan asked Li Shan for leave:

"Doctor Li, I'm taking Xu Chun out for a bit!"

"What are you going out to do?" Li Shan asked.

"Find timber for repairing the Lizheng Hall!" Lin Chuan replied.

Go!

After leaving the imperial city, Lin Chuan led Xu Chun straight to the East Market.

Watching Lin Chuan wander around in front of furniture and timber shops, Xu Chun asked softly:

"Master Lin, you don't mean to think you can buy the timber yourself, do you?"

"The timber here isn't cheap, I don't have that much money!" Lin Chuan shook his head.

After wandering around the East Market for a long time, Lin Chuan finally found a shop selling precious woods such as golden nanmu and pear wood, and then led Xu Chun inside.

The gray-haired shopkeeper's heart skipped a beat when he saw two men in official robes enter. He quickly stepped forward and cautiously asked:

"Gentlemen, what kind of timber would you like to buy?"

"I can't afford these timbers, so I'd like to ask the shopkeeper to lend me some for free!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

The shopkeeper's expression changed, and he said awkwardly:

"Sir, please don't joke with this old man!"

"I'm not joking, but I'm not trying to force you to buy or sell. I'm an assistant director in the Ministry of Works. I have something to discuss with your boss. Why don't you go and ask him?" Lin Chuan cupped his hands in greeting to the shopkeeper.

"Please wait a moment, sir!"

Although his family had some connections, the shopkeeper dared not neglect the fact that a senior official from the Ministry of Works had come to his door in person, and he hurriedly went upstairs to ask his master for instructions.

After a while, a young man dressed in a blue robe came downstairs and cupped his hands in greeting to Lin Chuan:

"My name is Dai Zongming, the owner of this shop. May I ask your honorable surname, sir?"

"My surname is Lin, and I am an Assistant Director of the Ministry of Works. I greet you, my lord!" Lin Chuan replied.

"So it's you, Lin Yuanwailang, in person. Let's go upstairs to talk, please!" Dai Zongming said with a smile.

"please!"

Upon reaching the second floor, Dai Zongming invited Lin Chuan and Xu Chun to sit down and then had hot tea brought over.

He drank the tea and then asked with a smile:

"I just heard from the shopkeeper that Master Lin wants to borrow some timber. I am rather slow-witted, so I would appreciate Master Lin's guidance!"

"Some palaces in the palace have been in disrepair for many years. I just happened to be assigned to repair these palaces. Unfortunately, I have run out of timber from the Imperial Workshop, and there are some problems with the new timber on the way, so it cannot be delivered for the time being!"

"I was thinking of borrowing some timber from your shop to repair the palace first. Once the timber from the Imperial Workshop arrives, I will return it to your shop!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"The palaces in the imperial palace?" Dai Zongming asked.

Lin Chuan smiled and nodded.

Dai Zongming pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Lin Chuan and said with a smile:

"I have plenty of timber here. If the required quantity is small, I'd be happy to lend it to you, or even give it to you for free. But if I do give you the timber, could I please tell people that the shop's timber has been used to build a palace?"

"Of course! If the acting master needs it, I can testify on his behalf!" Lin Chuan nodded.

"It's a deal!" Emperor Daizong nodded.