CHAPTER 831: CHAPTER 829: HIDDEN MEANING, OR JUST STATING THE FACTS

In the discussion of this matter, besides the emperor and the four grand councilors, there were the Crown Prince, two princes, as well as the ministers of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue.

Prince Fu was the first to speak: "The two railway lines we had before were not long, and at that time we weren’t sure they would succeed; they were only experimental, so it didn’t matter who did the construction. Now that the railway transportation has successfully operated, such an important project should naturally be taken back into the hands of the court."

Jinrong frowned slightly, just about to speak, when Prince Fu turned to him and said, "Sixth Brother, don’t overthink it. Seventh Brother is also considering it for the court. Such a grand project, indeed, cannot rely entirely on private construction companies."

The Crown Prince, unable to bear Prince Fu basking in the spotlight, preempted Jinrong with a smile: "What Seventh Brother said is not wrong. The problem is, the railway line you previously presided over used two to three times the labor and money compared to Lao Liu’s project. The court has been continuously constructing railways for two years now, especially with the first one under your supervision, and it used up too much silver tael. Here, I’m struggling to raise funds, really can’t support such a lavish project of yours."

He was just watching the spectacle, nothing to worry about. Since Lao Liu was at a disadvantage, he had to help a little, else all the benefits would be taken by Lao Qi, which was unacceptable.

Prince Fu’s face instantly darkened. Previously, the Crown Prince always found faults with him, but without solid evidence, it was just lip service. This time, with the railway project compared by Jinrong and Guangsha Construction, the difference was immediately apparent.

The project he previously supervised indeed had some padding in the silver used, but he would never dare to embezzle two or three times the silver, and Lao Er was seizing the opportunity to step on him.

Never had Prince Fu regretted so much as now, how at the beginning of the year, he was possessed and handed the railway project to Jinrong? This was definitely something only a fool would do.

The emperor didn’t mind giving his sons some discipline, but if such discipline arose from brotherly conflict, that was not his desire.

He cast a slightly reproachful glance at the Crown Prince and said to Prince Fu: "Though the Crown Prince speaks bluntly, he wants you to take it as a warning. This year’s railway construction was indeed done well. For the same project, staffing and equipment usage are very particular matters; you should pay more attention. Royal projects should be managed and implemented by the Ministry of Works. Are you confident you could complete the work if it were handed to you, with personnel and expenses identical to Guangsha Construction?"

Prince Fu resented Guangsha Construction for only caring about its own reputation and turning a lucrative project into something worthless.

Guangsha Construction’s methods were very efficient, with various engineering tools to assist, enabling them to accomplish large amounts of work with fewer people. If such a thing fell into the hands of those accustomed to court projects, it was a job where one could make huge profits in a single project.

However, Guangsha Construction, in their initial reception of court-assigned projects, lacked the operational experience; and without any Ministry of Works inspectors to cover them, they dared not boldly embezzle court funds.

Thus, undertaking such a clear and honest project was inevitable; the main cause was still his negligence at the beginning of the year.

Thinking of these, Prince Fu’s heart was filled with bitterness; had the project landed in his hands at the beginning of the year, Prince Fu’s Mansion would have had years of financial inflow.

If initially, he had taken on this project himself, and then in the name of the Ministry of Works recruited Guangsha Construction to lay the railway, even old man Qi Younian would likely not dare object.

But even if he couldn’t reap the benefits, he wouldn’t dare let the railway project fall into Jinrong’s hands again. By reducing more than half the labor used each year, Jinrong could earn immense popular support. His method of achieving more with less would make many court officials view Jinrong in a new light, something undesirable for him.

He must intercept the railway project, "Your Imperial Father, I shall guarantee, following Liu Brother and Guangsha Construction, to deliver a well-executed project."

Saying this, Prince Fu was secretly gritting his teeth, waiting for next year, when the Northern Zhejiang line would be frequently used, marking the downfall of Jinrong and Guangsha Construction.

The Crown Prince sneered: "Seventh Brother, your Ministry of Works should also make a big effort to reorganize. Having been lavishly supported by the court for so many years, it has become slack. Without Lao Liu’s project this year as a comparison, we wouldn’t have known how sluggishly, and silver-costly, your Ministry of Works operates."

Prince Fu’s face grew darker; this was a blatant accusation of corruption, at least being an incompetent. Although frustrated, he wasn’t as crude as the Crown Prince, always focusing on appearances.

He respectfully said to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness is right in your reprimand. For the Ministry of Works’ railway construction this time, I will invite skilled craftsmen from Guangsha Construction for guidance. Additionally, with equipment from two shops in our capital for support, both project progression and costs should see improvement."

The emperor sighed silently and said dryly: "It’s good that Prince Fu has this inclination. As the ancient sages said, learning enriches understanding. Maintaining humility and being open to others’ strengths always yields progress."

After speaking, the emperor looked somewhat apologetically at Jinrong: "You’ve performed excellently in this role, not only saving treasury silver for the court but also greatly contributing to nurturing the people’s strength. However, project matters are better left in the hands of the Ministry of Works; do you understand?"

During the preceding exchange, Jinrong had been appearing as though he wanted to speak but didn’t get the chance.

Now hearing the emperor’s inquiry, he promptly leaned forward and said: "I understand, Your Imperial Father. In truth, it would be best for the Ministry of Works to retake the project. Guangsha Construction is just starting out and lacks the capability to handle such large projects. The hasty employment of all sorts of disorderly hands just about completed the wooden track laying of this year. Up until today, Guangsha Construction has not had the chance to effectively organize their workforce. It is a very generous deed that Seventh Brother willingly shoulders some of the court’s burdens."

Prince Fu’s gaze inadvertently swept over Jinrong. He was unsure if Jinrong, when mentioning Guangsha Construction’s disorganized manpower, spoke from knowledge of something deeper or merely stating the facts.

The emperor’s face was full of comfort: "It is marvelous that you have such a sense of the bigger picture. The fact that Guangsha Construction, though just beginning, managed to complete the project under such strain is indeed commendable."

Then, the emperor turned again to the Crown Prince and Prince Fu, "Jinrong, despite his lack of interest in politics, his carefree and non-competitive nature is indeed rare. You should often observe your brothers’ strengths; brotherly love and mutual support are the royal family’s great fortune."

The Crown Prince’s face was dark. He had come to be an observer, intending to incite a dispute in front of the emperor between Jinrong and Jinyi, to make them lose decorum, yet hadn’t expected this outcome.

The Crown Prince glanced between Jinrong and Prince Fu. Although Lao Qi was annoying, Lao Liu taking the spotlight was neither in his interests.

Though Prince Fu was inwardly angry, he didn’t display it as obviously as the Crown Prince. He promptly complied, saying to the emperor, "I have another matter to request your approval on, Your Imperial Father."

The emperor, heartened, knowing at least Jinyi was open to guidance, said, "Say what you must without hesitance."