The Empire will continue to win

Yanshan Heavy Industry Group is a behemoth with dozens of factories and more than 50,000 employees, but its internal management is lax and inefficient.

For example, a woodworking branch with 800 workers has an output that is not even comparable to that of a small workshop with 100 workers in the south.

Not to mention the profits.

Zero is a victory, and it's basically a negative number.

But we can't entirely blame them.

After Emperor Xuanwu ascended the throne, in order to prevent the military governors of various provinces from becoming too powerful, he reduced the transfer of guns, cannons and ammunition to the provinces year by year, which indirectly led to the collapse of Yanshan Heavy Industry.

The factory area was littered with garbage.

Inside the workshop, people were laughing and playing.

Shen Moqing reined in his horse and moved forward slowly, constantly asking himself: The qualifiers have already begun, the World Cup has begun, what should we bring to the field?

The clock tower chimed.

Ding ding ding~

When it's time to leave work, it's time to have dinner.

Workers poured out of the workshops in droves, arm in arm, chatting and laughing as they walked toward the canteen, where two meals a day were provided free of charge.

.........

Shen Moqing stared coldly at the insects, then suddenly fired a shot into the air.

bang~

bang bang~

The sudden gunshot startled everyone, causing them to crouch down and look around.

"Hey, who are you people?"

Upon hearing the gunshot, several workers carrying rifles on their backs quickly ran over.

Shen Moqing took out a gold waist token:

"I, Shen Moqing, have been appointed by order of the two Empress Dowagers and the Emperor to oversee the firearms factory of Yanshan Heavy Industry Group. Issue this notice: everyone must immediately proceed to the parade ground to receive the imperial instructions. Those who fail to do so will bear the consequences."

"Yes."

The emperor's authority is absolute; who dares to disobey?

Taking advantage of this brief pause, Shen Moqing asked again, "Who are you people?"

"Inform Supervisor Shen, we are the factory security team."

Factory protection team?

Shen Moqing had a flash of inspiration.

Yes, armed militia are soldiers too.

They live off the mountains and rivers, and they even use military factories to build up their militia.

He noticed that one of the factory security guards, after arriving at the scene, maintained a ready-to-fire stance with his gun quickly slinged over his shoulder, looking quite vigilant.

So he asked, "What's your name?"

"My name is Zhang Zongyu, Your Excellency."

"Have you ever served in the military?"

"no."

"Where are you from?"

"A native of northern Anhui."

"Have you been to school?"

"I have studied, but I have not achieved official rank."

"Did you fail the exam, or did you not even take it?"

"I didn't pass the test."

Why not give it a try?

"I have no interest in fame or fortune," Zhang Zongyu said seriously, which drew laughter from the crowd.

Shen Moqing nodded and rode away without revealing his thoughts.

Zhang Zongyu was a leader of the Nian Rebellion in northern Anhui.

Although neither the Taiping Rebellion nor the Nian Rebellion broke out within the empire in this timeline, precautions must still be taken.

Observe this person silently for a period of time, and if necessary, detain them directly.

Right now~

The empire must not fall into chaos; it must unite its will to fight against foreign invaders.

.........

Fifteen minutes later~

The lazy managers, engineers, and workers arrived at the empty playground one after another, their faces showing no respect for their superiors and appearing completely indifferent.

Once everyone had arrived, Shen Moqing announced loudly:

"Before you leave work today, all workshop supervisors should come to me to collect the 'Employee Survey Form.' Everyone must fill it out truthfully. This form is linked to your future salary increases. Tomorrow morning, I will personally be at the factory gate collecting them one by one."

"Alright, dismissed!"

The crowd immediately scattered like birds and beasts.

Zhang Zongcang said in a low voice, "Second brother, the thought that the rifle in my hand was made by these bastards terrifies me."

"Don't worry, watch how I deal with them." Shen Moqing laughed. "Big brother, with the civil officials indulging in leisure and the military in disarray, the central government is weakening, the empire's twilight is approaching, and from now on, the guns will be the only thing that matters."

"Yes."

Zhang Zongcang nodded.

Shandong people are usually the most loyal, but the experience of being thrown into a death row cell was so hellish that their loyalty crumbled and rebellious thoughts arose.

.........

That day, the workshop supervisors received employee survey forms that smelled of fresh ink and then distributed them to everyone. Nobody took it seriously, thinking it was just a new official making a fuss over nothing.

Go ahead and write it.

Do you think I'm afraid of you?

The survey form is very interesting:

First line: Name, Gender, Age, Place of Origin, Marital Status, Address

Second line: Family relationships (Note: This does not limit direct relatives; relatives within the fifth degree of kinship are included. It is recommended to only write those of the fifth rank or above).

Third line: Factory entry method

Public recruitment? Private recommendation? Choose one.

(Please be sure to fill in the recommender's name, official title, and your relationship with them truthfully.)

Fourth line: Are you satisfied with your personal salary?

Satisfied? Not satisfied? Choose one.

Fifth line: Are you willing to join the garrison's frontline repair depot, with unchanged salary and a six-month deployment period?

Willing? No? Choose one.

(Please select according to your own preference; do not force yourself.)

Line 6: Please write down the name of your most hardworking, honest, and reliable colleague in your workshop.

(Please fill in the information truthfully, as it will affect the selection of candidates for the front-line garrison's repair depot.)

Seventh line: What suggestions do you have for the development of this factory?

(If the statement is reasonable, a one-time bonus of 2 to 5 silver dollars will be awarded at the discretion of the authorities.)

.........

The factory office is a small red brick building.

The supervisor's office was luxuriously decorated, with tables, chairs, benches, bookshelves, and cabinets all made of rosewood, and expensive Persian carpets covering the floor.

Outside the window are several blooming begonias.

Shen Moqing always believed that the beauty of begonias far surpassed that of cherry blossoms.

"What's the point of this survey?" Zhang Zongcang stared at it for a long time but still couldn't figure it out.

"Catch the spy!"

"What?"

"The first four questions are just smoke and mirrors; the fifth and sixth are the bait. Think about it, brother. Overseas assignments are not only dangerous but also poorly paid. Would these spoiled brats sign up? Obviously not." Professor Shen's lips curled up. "Who would sign up? Dong Sang spies lurking in the factory! Because they're guilty, they don't seek any reward, so they're eager to prove themselves."

hiss~

The honest and simple Shandong man was stunned.

That seems to make sense.

"Won't this inadvertently offend honest people? Maybe there are honest people like me who will volunteer?"

"We won't wrong an honest man, nor will we let a spy go free," Shen Moqing said, adopting an official tone. The net was cast, catching fish, shrimp, and crabs; they were brought up first, then sorted out later.

The key is to strike first.

He was certain that, given the empire's current laxity and the neighboring country's progress, there were at least 5% spies lurking within the Yanshan Heavy Industry Group.

Having achieved remarkable results, we can now report the good news to the Empress Dowager Cixi.

"It's getting late, let's go home together," Shen Moqing said as he tidied up his office.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Zongcang, who was usually carefree and easygoing, became hesitant and timid.

"What's wrong?"

"Or maybe I should just stay in the factory dormitory."

"Did someone in my family gossip about you?"

No, no, that's not it.

"Why is that?"

"Your maids are all so beautiful, I see them every day, I'm afraid I might not be able to resist one day~"

It turned out to be the case.

Being open and honest is the mark of a true man.

Shen Moqing smiled and said, "Alright then, you can stay at the factory for now. I happen to have some money on me, I'll leave it with you."

"That's wonderful!" Zhang Zongcang chuckled, rubbing his hands together as he accepted the silver dollars. He had made up his mind; tonight he would head to Shaanxi Lane in the southern part of the city and become a happy Shandong native under the peony blossoms.