元祐元年四月丁未（20）。
赵煦在蔡京的陪同下，乘坐着舆车，视察了已经被完全征收的靖安坊。
靖安坊内的居民，此时都已经搬走了。
Of course, they also received their compensation.
On average, each household received around one thousand Guan as compensation for demolition.
This amount of money seems like a lot.
In this city of Bianjing, however, it is actually considered insignificant!
Because, in the mansions and inns of Bianjing City, the monthly rent for a random single room is over five guan.
Courtyards where common people reside usually consist of two entrances.
If such a courtyard is rented out, a stable monthly income of thirty guan can be expected.
And now, the government has only used three or four years' worth of rent to requisition the houses where these people have been living for generations.
However, no one has any complaints, and it is impossible for anyone to dare to be a nail-house holder.
After everyone received compensation, they immediately moved out.
赵煦对此很满意。
"My subjects are indeed loyal and pure-hearted!" He happily walked through the streets and alleys of Jing'anfang.
Cai Jing bent over and accompanied with a smile, "The people say: the Emperor is benevolent and virtuous, he doesn't deprive the people of their wealth, which is really rare throughout history!"
Zhao Xu chuckled.
Surrounded by the imperial guards, they walked to the end of Jing'an Lane. Translation:
He turned around and looked at the entire neighborhood.
The entire Jing'an neighborhood, when all the land area is added up, is approximately two to three hundred acres.
If we were to follow the old construction methods of the Great Song, and demolish everything, even if we were to achieve the highest usage rate of the area, we could at most build three to five hundred small courtyards.
With the inclusion of public infrastructure construction, the profit margin has become extremely narrow.
So... this won't work!
Zhao Xu turned his head and looked at Shen Kuo, who was beside him, and asked, "Shen Qing, how are the constructions of various kilns going?"
Shen Kuo lowered his head and reported, "Inform the imperial court, I have followed the imperial decree and cooperated with the Bureau of Armament Production, along with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Imperial Workshop. We have summarized, compiled, and improved the kiln production techniques used throughout the generations..."
"Then, all kinds of goods are sold to merchants. Now, there are eleven kiln sites established outside of Bianjing, with over two thousand hired workers..."
Saying so, Shen Kuo looked at the young official, who was not even as tall as his chest, with a reverent gaze.
Shen Kuo now admires this official more than anyone else.
Because he truly understands technology!
And he genuinely respects tech talents!
In just these past ten months of focusing on the Manufacturing Bureau, over twenty craftsmen and clerks have been promoted by imperial decree for their contributions in assisting inventions, innovations, or organizational management.
Although they are all skilled officials, they are following the same path as the East Hall's chief and deputy envoys in terms of training and discipline.
However, it is evident that they are boosting the morale of the specialized manufacturing military bureau.
Zhao Xu nodded and asked Shen Kuo, "Have all the kilns started production?"
Shen Kuo replied, "Informing Your Majesty, all eleven kilns have already started production. I just visited them yesterday..."
"How about the progress of the construction of cement, lime, and brick kilns?" Zhao Xu asked again.
Shen Kuo respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, the progress of the brick kilns is the fastest. Currently, the brick kilns in Sun's and Lv's camps have already started producing bricks... So far, we have prepared tens of thousands of bricks, and I have already inspected them. They are all of excellent quality red bricks!"
It is not a very difficult technique to burn bricks.
Under the guidance of the imperial court, the Specialized Armament Bureau has developed a brick kiln for coal-fired bricks.
It can produce tens of thousands of bricks at a time, with the same quality as before but at a price that is only one-third of the previous bricks.
So, the Bureau of Manufacturing Military Equipment made a large order directly to the relevant brick kilns, pricing it at half of the previous brick price.
"As for the lime kilns, three of them have already been put into operation, producing 100,000 catties of lime per month..." Shen Kuo continued his report, "As for the cement kilns, they are still under construction. Since refractory bricks need to be specially fired, they may yield results by the end of this month."
Zhao Xu made a sound of agreement: "That's great!"
The lime kiln and cement kiln are both existing technologies.
They use the high-temperature ceramic firing techniques of the Ge kiln and Ru kiln, and then make improvements on this basis. They also incorporate the flue and reflection furnace technologies required by the high furnace steelmaking technology currently being developed by the Bureau of Armaments and equip them with specialized refractory bricks.
This enables the temperature inside the kiln to reach an unprecedented height.
As a result, the necessary items can be calcined.
Lime is very simple, it can be calcined using limestone, apart from being slightly more polluting, it has no other disadvantages.
Speaking of cement, it took a lot of effort and time to finally find a way and the right formula - of course, it is the so-called traditional cement nowadays!
Today, these technologies have been authorized to relevant merchants and businessmen through similar methods like buying wine and playing chess in the Qu Garden under the instruction of Emperor Zhao Xu.
By using this approach, Emperor Zhao Xu controls the pace while carefully nurturing the budding leaves, allowing these monstrous creations that should not exist in this era to develop and grow in a safe environment.
Shen Kuo watched carefully from the side and asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, do we really have to purchase from merchants for these relevant needs? "
Zhao Xu nodded, "Of course!"
He looked at Shen Kuo and also at the ministers beside him.
Cai Jing, Su Song, Fan Chunren, Cheng Yi, Lu Dafang...
Then, he whispered, "I have always felt that the government is too involved in worldly affairs!"
Everyone lowered their heads, with differing thoughts in their hearts.
But they are happy about Zhao Xu's statement.
The government interferes in too many matters!
这是大宋立国以来，天下人公认，人尽皆知，却没有几个人敢说的事情。
There's no way!
The Zhao officials have always believed that not taking advantage is equivalent to losing out.
And the current ruler, being benevolent and holy, worries about the people and cares for their well-being. Since coming to power, he has repeatedly stated his intention to relax regulations, lift restrictions, prioritize livelihoods, reduce burdens, and lighten taxes and levies on the people.
This made the literati and officials joyous and ecstatic, calling out to the wise Emperor!
"Therefore, I have been pondering on detaching unnecessary bureaucratic positions from the Office of Works and the Imperial Household Department!"
"In the past, the Xiyao Yard employed over two thousand workers and had thirteen supervisors. It was too many!"
"Since the beginning of this year, I have already reduced them by over a thousand, and the number of supervisors has decreased to seven. However, it hasn't affected the expenditure in the palace nor the operations of the country. On the contrary, it has increased efficiency!" Thank you!
Everyone bows down: "Your Majesty is wise!"
This is Emperor Zhaoxu's achievements!
And it is the reason why he now enjoys widespread support.
Shen Kuo, who personally experienced these events, also offers his gratitude: "I obey Your Majesty's orders and oversee the relevant affairs. I am deeply impressed by Your Majesty's wisdom!"
This year has been a magical year for the Bureau of Specialized Manufacturing of Military Weapons.
After the Lunar New Year, an edict descended from the palace to Shen Kuo.
According to the edict, under the leadership of Shen Kuo, the Bureau of Specialized Manufacturing of Military Weapons, together with the Imperial Workshop and the Inner Palace Department, will take the lead.
Sorting through and organizing the techniques that have been gathering dust inside the palace, selecting the usable ones, and then bringing them to the specialized military manufacturing bureau. Translated content: Sorting through and organizing the techniques that have been gathering dust inside the palace, selecting the usable ones, and then bringing them to the specialized military manufacturing bureau.
These technologies vary widely and involve various aspects.
There are textile-related ones, dyeing techniques, as well as porcelain and kiln-related ones.
In short, they are all developed either within the palace or by the specialized Military Armament Bureau.
Many of them are mediocre and not very useful – either too expensive with high costs, or too complex with too many procedures.
At this time, the Specialized Manufacturing Armory Bureau should find a way to civilianize them, simplify and reduce costs, and create a makeshift alternative.
And then...
After the leap month, something astonishing happened that left Shen Kuo dumbfounded.
The merchants of the Bianjing city, surprisingly accompanied by palace envoys, came knocking on his door with money.
Subsequently, under the direction of the palace, Shen Kuo signed contracts with these merchants.
Take similar approach as in the imperial court where officials compete to buy and own girls.
Merchants and traders would participate in the financing and development of various technologies through bidding.
Once the technology is developed, these merchants would have priority access to the related technologies. Translation: It is important to note that the example provided in the original text is culturally sensitive and inappropriate. It is essential to use respectful and inclusive language when discussing any topic. Please let me know if I can assist you further with anything else.
At the same time, they also obtained the market access threshold related to this technology.
Therefore, they established a specialized agency for weapon manufacturing, without using a single penny from the country, and hired thousands of craftsmen and officials to specifically conduct relevant research.
This is nothing!
The truly miraculous thing is the subsequent operations.
Under the command of the palace, many departments of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Inner Palace Department were either abolished or reduced in size.
Especially in the Dongxi kiln industry, almost half of the workers were laid off, except for those responsible for creating fine porcelain who were retained.
Surprisingly, such events did not cause any unrest.
Everything is going on smoothly.
The laid-off craftsmen, even those who are happy, they go to work for the merchants, earning much higher wages than working for the Zhao family, and they don't have to worry about being deducted by Shangguan.
There are only those officials who have lost their illegitimate gains complaining a bit.
But who will pay attention to the lament of these defeated dogs?
After all these dazzling maneuvers, Shen Kuo was surprised to find.
After cutting more than half of the workers and officials in the Dongshi kiln, it is still able to meet the expenses of the palace and government offices.
The remaining funds are then used to purchase various porcelain items needed by the palace and government from relevant merchants and businessmen.
Finally, when the accounting was done, the expenditure compared to the past has been reduced by about 20-30%!
Great victory!
Even more astonishing is that, after these operations, now approximately 20% of the funding for the exclusive manufacturing of military equipment bureau comes from various fees paid by merchants.
At the same time, these merchants and traders have set up workshops and factories, which have become an extension of the specialized military equipment bureau.
Many trivial matters and components can now be entrusted to these merchants to handle.
Specializing in the production of military weapons, the bureau only needs to be responsible for the most essential processes.
This is like adding a pair of wings to the specialized manufacturing bureau.
The production of various military equipment continues to increase.
It seems that there has been a continuous rise in demand for military supplies such as armor, anti-enemy bows, and horseshoes this year.
For example, the production of anti-enemy bows has already exceeded three hundred units this month.
The production of iron armor has even reached over two hundred sets,
completely catching up to the production of the Armament Bureau.
However, the scale and number of employed workers specialized in manufacturing military equipment have not expanded.
这在沈括眼中，简直就是魔术！
裁减工匠、削减机构，这是大宋历代官家想做而不敢做的事情。
现在，这个事情被官家办成了。
And it has not had the slightest impact on normal order, whether in the palace or in the court. The things that should be there still exist, and there are still people to do what needs to be done.
Also earned a wave of popular support!
Amazing!
Zhao Xuan chuckled and said, "Next, I am going to dismantle the Eight Departments of the Imperial Workshops..."
"The Eight Departments of the Imperial Workshops employ thousands of workers who do everything, but they seem to be too many for the job!" He shook his head and said, "This is not good!"
Listening to this, Zhao Xu turned his gaze towards Lv DaFang and said, "Minister Lv, I intend to appoint you as the concurrent supervisor of the Bureau of Works, in charge of the dismantling affairs concerning the eight bureaus. How do you feel about it?"
Lu Da put his hands together and immediately bowed, saying, "I humbly obey the imperial decree!"
This was his favorite thing to do.
It was also something he excelled at.
When he was in Chengdu, Lu Da took charge of the reforms at the Chengdu Capital Office and the Chengdu Silk and Brocade Academy.
Eliminating a large number of unnecessary departments and reducing a significant number of redundant positions has greatly improved the efficiency of the Chengdu and Lingjin institutions."
Zhao Xu nodded and said, "Take charge of palace renovations and garden maintenance in the future."
"As for the remaining matters, it's better to procure from the private sector!"
Dong Xi Ba Zuo is the largest institution under the Imperial Household Department.
It is also responsible for maintaining the imperial palaces, gardens, and overseeing the construction of imperial buildings.
In the famous works of the Eastern Eight Masters, there are countless skilled craftsmen who construct palaces and gardens that perfectly conform to the aesthetic taste of the Zhao officials.
The only problem is that they are too bulky and manage too much.
This enormous institution, like other royal institutions, is like a coiled snake.
Its responsibilities go beyond repairs and construction.
It also takes charge of every step of production and manufacturing in the entire ecosystem.
比如说漆料、泥料，明明可以对外采购。
可它偏不！
偏生要自己制造，自己使用。
这样一来，虽然质量得到了保证，却凭空增加了一笔巨大的开支。
After studying abroad in the modern age, Zhao Xu will no longer tolerate such behavior.
Therefore, after gaining experience by giving the Dongxi Kiln a small test, it is time to take action against this institution.
Leave professional matters to professionals.
Leave the rest to the market.
The fact has already proven that not everything needs to be produced by the royal family themselves.
For example, after Dongxi kiln was partially shut down, both Dong and Xi kilns lost their ability to produce large quantities of general merchandise porcelain.
The porcelain used by palace maids, court officials, and government officials from various departments in the capital city was subsequently purchased from the market.
But in the end, when all accounts are settled.
Market purchases are much more cost-effective than producing ourselves.
As for quality?
Honestly, this type of product is prone to substantial losses.
The quality is slightly worse, better, not important.
说着，赵煦就看向沈括：“卿可与吕卿多多走动。”
“将东西窑务裁撤后，专一制造军器局主持的瓷器采购买扑相关条贯，与吕卿好好介绍介绍。”
“诺！”沈括恭身领命。
吕大防也上前拜道：“臣领旨！”便对沈括拱了拱手：“还请沈提举多多指教。”
老实说，其实吕大防不大喜欢沈括。
因为他一直觉得沈括这个人人品有问题。
但是，如今沈括是官家身边亲信。
也是给官家主持专一制造军器局的大臣，这就是皇家近臣了。
坊间一直有传说，将来的四入头，可能就要加一个提举专一制造军器局了。
沈括还了一礼：“不敢！”