Unlike the red walls and green tiles of the Imperial Palace, the Ministry of Industry boasts blue tiles and gray walls, grand in scale and solemn in appearance.
Outside the main gate, flanking either side, are majestic stone lions weathered by ti. Their bodies are speckled with moss, and raindrops from the previous day still cling to their curled manes. Above the vermilion gate hangs a large plaque, inscribed with the bold characters "Ministry of Industry" in vigorous regular script.
"Gentlen, please follow ."
Not to ntion that the Mo Sect, the most influential faction within the Ministry of Industry, has a good relationship with Li Yan. Even with Luo Mingzi's waist badge, no one dared to put on airs. Soon, a clerk ca out to greet them.
Crossing the high threshold into the main courtyard, what greeted the eye first was the expansive ceremonial gate courtyard.
The ground was paved with square bricks, turned dark by the rain's dampness.
On the east and west sides, long corridors of side chambers are where the various civil affairs departnts conduct their business.
Under the corridors flanking the entrance hall, a mountain of new model components and rolls of plans are stacked, nearly blocking the passage. Little clerks and n in livery scurry along in groups of three or five, clutching thick docunts or carrying wooden trays filled with materials as they traversed the courtyard and corridors, faces all marked with urgency.
The air was filled with the mixed scent of ink, tung oil, freshly cut lumber, and sweat.
The doors of various governnt offices were mostly open, shadows flitted inside, and urging voices rose one after another:
"Quick! Has the list of materials for the Tuntian Bureau been sent to the Yu Hengqing Bureau? Supervisor Yan has urged for the third ti!"
"Who has signed off on Doctor Zhang's plans from the Construction Bureau? It's urgent!"
"When will that batch of waterproof felt sheets for the Ministry of Water be delivered to the West Mountain?"
"The river dredging can't wait, the rainy season is upon us!"
The public offices of the Construction Bureau and the Yu Hengqing Bureau were particularly crowded.
As Li Yan and his group passed the window of the Construction Bureau, they overheard a loud debate inside.
A chief with a goatee was slapping a huge construction drawing: "No! The overhang of the ceremonial stage's beamfra is too much! The soil quality on the Academy's side is newly filled and can't bear the load!"
Across from him, a younger official anxiously replied: "This is the designated style! The construction ti is long, and it uses a lot of materials. But the Academy's inaugural ceremony is imminent. The Divine Artifact display stage and the ceremonial stage must be completed simultaneously! We can only design it this way!"
"Adding another auxiliary support will spike costs, where will the funds and grain co from? Should I go beg those bookkeeping leeches at the Ministry of Revenue?"
"We can't worry about that now! Even if we squeeze in, the Divine Artifact must be displayed stably!" The young official's voice was resolute.
Not far away, officials from the Yu Hengqing Bureau were checking lists, their voices urgent:
"Coal, refined iron, tung oil, sulfur... The material supply for the Divine Machine Camp and the Academy must be flawless. Especially for the 'Divine Artifact' rehearsals, all marked as top priority!"
The clerk leading the way showed a tired face, "Please don't mind, gentlen. The Academy's inauguration is imminent, the Emperor suddenly decreed that the Divine Artifact be displayed, many plans had to be altered. We've been busy since yesterday without rest."
"No problem."
Luo Mingzi glanced around and whispered, "Where is Doctor Lu?"
With a na, it was easy to identify the person.
This Lu Xun is a doctor at the Ministry of Water, a standard fifth-rank official.
The core officials of the Ministry of Industry naturally include the Chief of Staff and the Assistant Ministers.
Within the governnt, there are also four large civil affairs departnts.
The "Construction Departnt" is responsible for the construction of palaces, mausoleums, official offices, and city walls. The "Yu Hengqing Bureau" manages the collection and production of mountains and rivers, the manufacturing of military equipnt, and the standards for asurents. The "Ministry of Water" handles water conservancy projects and the construction of bridges and roads. The "Tuntian Qingli Bureau" in na manages military farms, but in practice oversees the construction of imperial mausoleums and procurent of timber.
The doctors of each bureau are the chiefs.
The clerk led the group to a tea room, bowed, and said: "Gentlen, please wait for a mont. I will go and invite Doctor Lu here."
Having said that, he rushed out.
Li Yan and his group were not in a hurry; they were simply here for inquiries.
The temple priest of the Five Dao General Temple had disappeared, and it might not necessarily be related to this Doctor Lu.
As the two of them were drinking tea, a Captain of the Captain's Office beside them surreptitiously handed over a note.
The Captain's Office also monitors all officials, naturally having a clear understanding of the background of officials from various departnts.
Luo Mingzi took one look, frowned, and handed it to Li Yan.
Li Yan examined it carefully and was imdiately lost in thought.
This Lu Xun, indeed, is not an easy character.
He is an old subordinate of the forr Minister of Ministry of Industry.
The previous Minister of Ministry of Industry fell due to the "Yellow River Breach Corruption Scandal," although Lu Xun himself was not implicated, but after Han Mo of the Mo Sect ascended to the position as Chief of Staff, he initiated reforms in the Ministry of Industry, pushing "Mo Skill in Engineering" and heavily employing practical-minded officials with a craftsman background.
Thus, people like Lu Xun naturally beca marginalized figures.
Most likely, it won't be long before he loses his position as the doctor of the Ministry of Water.
Therefore, this Doctor Lu has been quite active since the beginning of the year, moving around everywhere...
"There's probably an issue."
Li Yan whispered to Luo Mingzi.
Such people, when driven into a corner, are most easily swayed by Zhao Qingxu's allurents.
"Oh no! Doctor Lu has hanged himself!"
Just as they were speaking, a commotion suddenly erupted in the courtyard.
Without another word, Li Yan and Luo Mingzi dashed out imdiately.
Following the voices, they quickly located the left side chamber of the central courtyard, where chaos reigned inside, with many small clerks gathered outside to watch the spectacle.
"Captain Bureau is investigating the case, make way!"
The accompanying Captain of the Captain's Office shouted angrily, parting the crowd.
Li Yan and Luo Mingzi entered the room, and saw an old man lying on the ground, wearing a coronet, clothed in a green robe, with a white pheasant embroidered on the badge, his face thin and gaunt, hair and beard white with age, currently gasping for breath, eyes vacant.
"What happened?" Luo Mingzi asked coldly.
"This..."
The clerk's face was filled with bitterness, he said, "I ca to invite Doctor Lu, he closed the door saying he was organizing so books, then I heard an unusual sound, went in, and found him hanging himself."
"Lu Xun!"
Luo Mingzi shouted angrily, "You've committed a cri and think you can end it all by dying?"
This was purely a bluff.
But Lu Xun clearly had guilt in his heart, and upon hearing this, his face turned ashen.
Just then, a voice shouted from afar: "The Chief of Staff is here!"
It was Han Mo, the busy Minister of Ministry of Industry, who ca upon hearing the news.
Li Yan looked up and saw the newcor, about fifty, with a physique like an old pine, bones knotted like iron, temples frosted yet showing no signs of decline, draped in a red official robe with peacock embroidery, worn loose, face stern.
The most captivating were his hands:
Knuckles coarse like knots on a jujube tree, the tiger's mouth covered in thick calluses and freshly healed burn marks.
This showed exceptional skill with the hands.
Li Yan was not surprised to see this.
Han Mo was not only the Minister of Ministry of Industry, but also a master in the Mo Sect.
To hold this position, whether in martial arts or spells, or craftsmanship, he was top-notch in Mo Sect.
His rise to prominence was indeed related to new-style firearms.
"Greetings, Lord Han."
Li Yan and Luo Mingzi bowed.
"Mm, no need for formalities."
Han Mo nodded, surveyed the surroundings, his eyes flashing cold, "Everyone seems quite idle?"
With a low shout, the surrounding minor officials dispersed imdiately, each busy with their own tasks.
After driving away the idle people, he turned to Luo Mingzi, "What happened?"
With a near-death incident, it could not be hidden.
After Luo Mingzi explained, Han Mo pondered, and coldly said to the person on the ground, "Take him to the back courtyard first, clarify what cri he committed, and then let the Emperor decide!"
Soon, they took Lu Xun to the main hall in the back courtyard.
Seeing Lu Xun kneeling there, looking dazed, Han Mo impatiently said, "If you wanted to die, you would have cut your own throat long ago. Quickly state your cri, and I might plead for you, don't implicate your whole family."
He was busy to the point of missing als, evidently not wanting to waste ti on this matter.
If it wasn't related to the Ministry of Industry, he probably wouldn't have shown his face.
Hearing ntion of his whole family, Lu Xun finally felt fear, hurriedly kowtowing, "I'll speak, I'll tell everything, please lord, plead for ."
"Recently, I did et with Priest Zhou, even held a banquet in 'Su Courtyard,' invited the Prince Yan Mansion Chief Steward and Iron Anchor Association President Luo Gongseng, but I truly don't know about Priest Zhou's death!"
Su Courtyard, Prince Yan Mansion, Luo Gongseng...
These nas made everyone present frown.
In the Capital, no one wanted to involve themselves in the Crown Prince's succession matters.
Yet Li Yan astutely sensed sothing amiss, smirked coldly, "If it were a regular banquet, why the panic? And Priest Zhou, what qualifications could he have to be invited by you all?"
"Why the eagerness to die, what are you afraid of?"
His voice turned stern and cold, like a deity.
This was a tactic learned from Sword Immortal Cheng Jianxian, to boost one's aura and pressure others.
Next to him, Han Mo looked at Li Yan with slight surprise.
He had certainly heard Li Yan's na, Elder Tian Fengzhang often praised him, now indeed he seed remarkable.
So young, he had already grasped the secrets of Astral Force.
While he pondered, breaking through Lu Xun's psychological defense, Lu Xun finally spoke:
"I, accidentally, discovered sothing, Your Majesty wants to use that Divine Artifact to make an Iron Ox Car..."
"What did you say!"
Han Mo's face changed dramatically, he jumped up.
Li Yan was also full of shock.
Iron Ox Car,
isn't he talking about a steam car...
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