The Empire will continue to win

Shen Moqing cursed inwardly, "Idiot!" but bowed and said, "Your Majesty, if we truly possess such a warship, the Empire could unify the world."

Empress Dowager An heard the sarcasm in his words and her face darkened: "Shen Moqing, you were originally a deserter from the battlefield, and it was only because my sister showed you special mercy that you were pardoned. If you dare to speak falsely and slander important officials of the court, you will be executed without mercy."

"Your Majesty, my humble servant's intentions are as clear as day and night. People may lie, but weapons do not. Whether they are real or fake will be known by testing. If I have lied, I am willing to accept the punishment."

Empress Dowager An was speechless for a moment.

Empress Dowager Cixi nodded secretly. It's good that he doesn't waver. I hate those two-timing men the most.

That's right.

Shen Moqing did it on purpose.

He publicly took sides, and from then on, he was deeply associated only with Empress Dowager Cixi.

.........

Emperor Xuanwu thought that what was said in the report might not all be false, maybe it was half true and half false, even if it was three parts true and seven parts false.

This involves a very serious problem.

Whether it's 37 or 73, it can all be attributed to a small group of people within Yanshan Heavy Industry attempting to deceive the imperial court, which falls under the category of official misconduct.

But if it's all fake, then the nature of the matter changes. It means that Yanshan Heavy Industry has broken free from the control of the imperial court and is no longer under imperial power.

Having figured out the reasoning behind it, Emperor Xuanwu sternly ordered, "Summon Wo Ren to the palace."

Empress Dowager Cixi said calmly, "Your Majesty, why don't we let the Sixth Prince come to the palace as well? With more people around, it will be easier to discuss and make decisions together."

"Mother is right."

Collective wisdom is always greater than individual wisdom, especially when the problem is particularly difficult.

One hour later~

"This old minister Woren pays respects to the two Empress Dowagers and Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Former Imperial Tutor, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Vice Minister of War, and Assistant Minister of Yanshan Heavy Industry, Woren, was summoned to the palace by imperial decree. In the Imperial Garden, he met the two Empress Dowagers, Emperor Xuanwu, and Prince Gong.

There's also the villain Shen Moqing.

Instantly, he flew into a rage.

Great scholars are often arrogant and disdainful of petty people.

In that instant, Professor Shen suddenly remembered the international political theory research office where he had worked before his rebirth. The office was not large and initially only had three people.

My boss is highly experienced, has a high level of theoretical knowledge, and is full of energy. His theoretical knowledge and energy cultivation are equally high, and he is also an alumnus who graduated 20 years earlier than me.

I admire you so much!

My colleague has an honest-looking face and likes to show off. Although he often says or does things that are despicable, he is also very knowledgeable in theory. He is an alumnus who graduated ten years earlier than me.

I admire them quite a bit!

The three of them lived in peace.

Later~

A highly learned scholar from the North, who had returned from studying abroad, suddenly appeared in the office. He had a rather greasy appearance, but his speech was fresh and refined.

I instantly disliked it.

It's often said that intellectuals understand each other best. But actually, intellectuals also hate each other the most.

I've been far ahead since first grade, for decades. What right do you, a "great scholar" with a certificate of not graduating from a foreign community college, have to sit in the same office as me?

What a shame!

My impression of the great Confucian scholar is the same as that of Woren.

.........

At this moment~

Shen Moqing's gaze toward Wo Ren subtly revealed a hint of petty smugness, much like the look that great Confucian scholar from the north gave him when he first entered the office.

It's like a drop of water falling into a pan of oil, or a poisonous snake falling into a chicken coop.

Instantly, Woren exploded.

Who could stand this?!

The veteran official, who had served two dynasties, strode forward, extended his right arm, pointed directly at the professor, and began to speak with eloquent words: "The treacherous minister, harboring old grudges, seizes the opportunity to plot against me."

Anxious!

He panicked!

Shen Moqing quickly feigned a state of trepidation:

"Uncle, the title of 'traitor' is too high for me to bear. I have only discovered that Yanshan Heavy Industry has many problems, such as sluggish production, lax management, and poor quality, which have resulted in insufficient bullet range, inadequate shell power, overheating of gun barrels, and wear of rifling."

Woren didn't hear the rest of the sentence; he only heard the first three words—"Worshipper?!"

Dear readers, please know that in officialdom, the form of address is an extremely serious matter.

The principle is: use the highest official rank of the other party as the standard.

For example, Wo Ren was a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and Assistant Minister of Yeonsan Heavy Industry. Therefore, he should be called Grand Secretary Wo Ren, not Assistant Minister Wo Ren.

If you call it the wrong name, it will be a serious accident.

As expected~

The Mongolian scholar, his eyes blazing with anger, shouted, "Why did you discover this problem? What are your true intentions?"

Everyone present was taken aback.

That's too much! That's really too much!

You can think that way in your heart, but how can you say it out loud?

Are the basic rules of officialdom still being upheld?

Since we are currently in wartime, the quality of weapons is still very important.

However, everyone present overlooked a crucial issue: Woren had no idea of ​​the major defeat at the front and genuinely believed it to be a great victory.

As expected~

"Shen, you scoundrel, I'm interrogating you. If what you say is true, that the weapons and ammunition produced by Yanshan Heavy Industry were utterly shoddy, how do you explain the great victory in Goryeo? Did you think the garrison troops won with firewood sticks?"

The atmosphere instantly became awkward.

.........

That's really bringing up the very thing you shouldn't have said!

Empress Dowager Cixi remained calm and composed.

Empress Dowager An lowered her head and remained silent.

Emperor Xuanwu felt his cheeks burning, and he had nowhere to vent his anger. He wanted nothing more than to beat up everyone in the room.

Shen Moqing remained calm and composed, saying, "As the sage said, 'Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me.' My colleagues who didn't graduate from the Placenta Academy also have their merits; isn't this a practical application of what I've learned?"

The effect is amazing.

Emperor Xuanwu, his face contorted with rage, stood up abruptly, trying his best to suppress his anger.

"Master, you once taught me that sincerity is the way of Heaven; and that striving for sincerity is the way of man. Here is something for you to look at first, and after you have read it, answer a few questions for me."

"Your humble servant obeys the imperial decree."

Woren received the "Annual Production Report of Yanshan Heavy Industry (Fifth Year of Xuanwu)" and the "Minutes of the Meeting on the Inspection of Yanshan Heavy Industry by Imperial Order (August 12)".

Wow~

Whoosh~

Only the sound of turning paper remained inside the West Warm Pavilion.

A great scholar is indeed a great scholar; he can read ten lines at a glance. The clock in the room had only moved half a small square when the great scholar had already turned to the last page.

.........

"To the two Empress Dowagers and Your Majesty, this old minister has read everything. Some of the descriptions may be exaggerated, but overall they are true," Woren said with a resolute look in his eyes.

This was exactly what Professor Shen had anticipated.

The officialdom is also a jungle, where the weak have no place to stand. Those who excel in their careers will never admit their mistakes, regardless of the occasion or the event.

Strong people never admit their mistakes, but they silently correct them.

Woren's answer was almost instinctive.

"Master, I'll ask you one more time," Emperor Xuanwu said sternly, "How much of this is false? How much is true?"

"Zhu Xi said: 'Nothing in a person's conduct is more important than honesty.' This old minister has spent his life studying and practicing Zhu Xi's teachings. This old minister is willing to stake the lives of the entire household on the fact that Yanshan Heavy Industry has sharp guns and cannons, loyal people, and stable order. However, the artillery factory supervisor, Ma Zhenyang, has indeed exaggerated. To say that one ship could destroy a country is too much of an exaggeration. His intentions were good, but he shouldn't have been so boastful. This old minister will make him reread Zhu Xi and sincerely repent when he returns."

Woren answered with great confidence.

But when he turned his head, he saw Shen Moqing's ambiguous smile, which held three parts moral contempt, three parts personal disdain, and four parts arrogance.

In an instant, I lost control of my emotions again.

Damn it, I, a great Mongolian scholar, can't stand that kind of look.