Chapter 184: What to keep

Everyone was uproaring. It was fine if they could not see clearly when they were far away, but if they were close, they were shocked after looking carefully.

The largest gear is indeed as Xie Hong said. According to Xie Hong's words, looking at other smaller gears, although they are intact in shape, they are more or less worn, and the teeth are also of different lengths. I think it is a minor problem that Xie Hong said.

"What if it's a little worn? The pocket watch still runs as usual?" Ambassador Jin was strong. Although he realized the problem, he still kept his neck tampering and refused to admit defeat.

Xie Hong smiled coldly and said, "So what can it be? The impact now is that your pocket watch will have an error of about one minute every day. When it takes longer, the error will increase day by day, and of course it will be completely useless in the end."

"This pocket watch has been passed down for thousands of years, and it is normal to have some wear and tear. How can you conclude that the pocket watch will inevitably be damaged in two months?" Xie Hong said the truth. Ambassador Jin was convinced of this statement, but he still refused to give up and pointed it out again.

"This question alone really cannot judge the time, so I said that there are two severely damaged places in this pocket watch, and the gears are one of them..." Xie Hong shook his head, and the disdain in his eyes became even stronger.

No matter how the North Koreans get pocket watches, the original source of this thing must be Europe. It took countless days to come from Europe to East Asia, and then it was turned to the hands of the North Koreans. What time is this even more immeasurable.

Moreover, Europe in this era did not carry out an industrial revolution, and the steelmaking process there was just about the same as the Ming Dynasty. The elders were just in Europe with better innate conditions. Most of the iron ore there were rich ores, which were of higher grade than the iron ore in China.

After a long time, with the average quality of steel, the craftsmanship may not be very high, and the life of the pocket watch itself will not be too high. Before seeing the pocket watch, Xie Hong had already confirmed 80%. When the North Korean envoy took out the things, he confirmed 100%.

"... Whether it is a pocket watch or a pendulum clock, it can run by itself, relying on the power of the mechanical force, and the device for the accumulation of power is the machine spring! How about the machine spring of the pocket watch? You can see it yourself for two months? Humph, that's all the time for me to tell you. Judging from this, it's probably difficult to last for a month."

"This, this..." Ambassador Jin was panicked, his pocket watch was in his hands, and he was of course the clearest view. There were many applications of machine springs in this era, and he had seen them. At this time, under Xie Hong's guidance, he looked carefully and found that the reed was almost broken. How could he not be surprised?

"Are you planning to use such a waste to fool the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty? Don't you know that the king's law is ruthless?" Xie Hong made the last blow at the right time. His voice was cold, and the content in his words made the listener tremble.

"The emperor is kind-hearted. Although he knows that the pocket watch has been damaged, he is tolerant with a kind heart. He even ordered his official to make a pendulum bell to return it. On the one hand, he cannot let the vassal state be heartbroken, and on the other hand, he also let the vassal state see my magical skills in the dynasty and learn to apply it. But how do you repay the vassal state for his charisma? Don't you feel ashamed?"

Not forgiving others is one of Xie Hong's principles for being a human being. At this time, he has completely gained the upper hand, so of course he will not miss the opportunity.

He first said to the two envoys with a heartache: "The emperor is kind, but you actually took the opportunity to speak out to the emperor's lion and actually wanted to exchange a waste for one million taels of silver. Ask your conscience, are you worthy of the emperor? Apart from accusations of caesarean section, do you have any other way to save your sins?"

The two envoys were completely stupid and had accused him of caesarean section? There is no such custom in our place? It's too cruel.

Xie Hong turned to the court officials again and said with a deep face: "My lords, you are all pillars of the court. You are deeply aware of the great righteousness and your knowledge is naturally far greater than your subordinates. If you collude with foreign vassals and harm the interests of the Ming court, you don't need to say much about the subordinates... In short, after you hand in your resignation, the subordinates will advise the emperor to keep you, so you can rest assured."

The court officials were so angry that they didn't say anything. You were convicted of this, so I won't say much. Then say more, what do you want to say? Push all the officials in the court and chop them up?

Besides, can this be considered a deception? No one opened his pocket watch to see it. At most, it was just a missed inspection. Is this a crime?

When it comes to the name of punishment, Shangshu Min was responsible for it. He brushed his sleeves and said something.

"Mr. Min, no!" Before Min Gui could speak, he was stopped by Xie Hong with an anxious look on his face. "Mr. Min is the Minister of the Shang Dynasty, the pillar of the court, and the six ministers of the Ministry of Justice. How could he resign so resign so rashly?"

"You..." Min Gui's beard was raised and he was so angry that he was so old that he was really no match for Xie Hong's voice just by competing with his speed and voice.

"Even if you want to resign, you will have to be ranked among the top and bottom, so that the adults with higher positions will come first." Xie Hong said nonsense and aimed at Liu Jian with malicious intentions.

Grand Secretary Liu was also angry. A jester dared to offend him, the chief minister of the current dynasty. How could he bear it? He went out to work and bowed to Zhengde and said, "Your Majesty, old minister..."

"Sir Liu, are you really going to resign from office?" Liu Jian was interrupted by Zhengde as soon as he started. Zhu Houzhao was worthy of being the best actor in the Ming Dynasty. He looked sad and tears were about to come down. He seemed very reluctant to leave, but what he said almost made Liu Jian faint.

"I really can't bear to give up, but there is nothing I can do. Didn't Zigong say it? A gentleman's fault is like the eclipse of the sun and the moon... Since Grand Secretary Liu is brave enough to admit his mistakes and has to take responsibility, I have to say goodbye to my beloved. Alas, I have given this heart to the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the ditch. I am so kind, but my beloved ministers deceive me and want to abandon me again at this time. How can I bear this?"

Xie Hong secretly gave a thumbs up. The second brother really had a tacit understanding and cooperated very well, although the words were used inappropriately...

Liu Jian vomited blood, why did he meet these two living treasures? What's so bad is that one of them is the emperor! I have only said four words in total, okay? Who is going to resign? What's most annoying is that these two living treasures are lying, otherwise... they will be allowed to stay!

"I'm not using the words or the occasion is wrong, but the emperor has already said such words and even wrote a poem with a rare slightest... If that is considered a poem, well, at least it is fourteen words. According to the rules, the ministers will have to apologize, so everyone had to bow and bow and thank him weakly.

Of course it is impossible to let the court officials resign. Xie Hong just plans to shock the court officials first so that he can clean up his real target.

"Two envoys, are you apologizing now, or wait a little longer? Well, should I help you find two knives? Your custom is really not good. Why do you have to have a caesarean section? It's bloody and scary. It's better to hang yourself and save trouble. Just get a rope and don't pollute the environment. Otherwise, let's consider it?"

"Sir Xie... North Korea does not have the custom of caesarean section..." The two envoys snuggled up to each other, trembling.

"That's better, it's good to hang yourself." Xie Hong advised him as if he was silent.

"The little envoy knew that he was wrong, please let us go..." The residents of the peninsula were actually aware of the current affairs. This era was for the Ming Dynasty, and later generations were for a country on the other side of the ocean. The objects were different, but they also called fathers.

"This is a dilemma. The two of you committed the crime of deceiving the emperor! And the two of you just agreed to the emperor and said that you would take responsibility. If you do not apologize, will it affect the diplomatic relations between the Ming and North Korea? It is probably not worth it to raise wars for such a small matter?" Unfortunately, they met the bad guy Xie Hong.

"No...I dare..." The two envoys' faces turned green. This threat was too terrifying. It was just like the American threat to Guatemala in later generations. For the threatened party, it was an unbearable pain. It was nothing but Xie Hong said this. The problem was that the person on the dragon throne looked indignant, which was too terrible.

The envoys were helpless, so they turned their attention to Zhang Sheng for help. The Minister of Rites was not as unreasonable as Xie Hong. The most important thing was that the Minister of Rites also accepted their thank-you gifts. He was also a person of particularity, and he had to rely on this adult to save his life.

Zhang Sheng had a headache. Zhengde and Xie Hong sang together and occupied the truth again. Who could know that the pocket watch was really a waste? It is impossible to dismiss all court officials. If everyone resigned, who would rely on to govern the world?

But the trouble is that if Zhengde narrows the attack and specializes in dealing with a person, then unless the person is a Grand Secretary, there are many people waiting for the top position! Today, this matter is directly related to him, the Minister of Rites, and he can't hide at all, so how could he think about making a breakthrough?

"Xie Qianhu, these two are envoys of the vassal states after all. You are so threatening, it would be detrimental to the majesty of the Celestial Empire. It is important to know..." Zhang Shangshu, a polite person, still came out with a slap. There was no way. The two envoys were winking at him, and they almost shouted: "Mr. Zhang, help me, how can I not save people after collecting the money?"

"It's important to know?" Xie Hong interrupted Zhang Sheng without hesitation, and then robbed him: "It's important to know that Lord Zhang has collected the silver? Well, yes, the lower official knows that this is called a hidden rule? It's just to give the silver from the emperor and the court to others, and then collect kickbacks from it. Although the lower official has read a few books, I understand this principle."

You must know that you are a chatterbox. The chatterbox is his brother-in-law, so I'm very polite, but Mr. Zhang, your sister is too old, and I can't bear it.

"Shangshu Zhang, is this true? The Ministry of Rites has such an unspoken rule!" Xie Hong's partner completed the cooperation again. Zhengde on the dragon throne leaned forward and stared at Zhang Sheng with an scrutiny gaze, as if he wanted to find something out from him.

You know it is an unspoken rule, but you still say it? Zhang Sheng is so angry, is that good? The officials of the Ministry of Rites receive foreign envoys and let the envoys feel the warmth of home. How hard it is. Isn’t it supposed to be for the envoys to express gratitude to them? Why did it turn into a kickback? They also made unspoken rules, and people who make sentences randomly without learning or ignoring skills are indeed the most annoying.

He was angry, but he couldn't refute openly. Why is it called an unspoken rule? That is, the rule is the time when it is hidden, and revealing it is the evidence of the crime.

The Ministry of Rites will accept the envoys of the vassal states. Hundreds of people in the hall know this, but if Zhang Shangshu dares to say it out loud, the impeachment of the censors the next day will overwhelm him. Whether it is conventions or unspoken rules, they are all unreasonable.

"Your Majesty, I'm wronged..." Zhang Sheng had no choice but to use the same trick again and lay on the ground and cried loudly. There was an outsider present, so he didn't want to use this trick, but now he saw that there was no way out.

Relying on others to help? Come on, one above and one below, the two of them cooperated tacitly and took the argument again. Who would rush out to find abuse at this time? Let's cry, cry for a dark day, and the matter will be over. As for the Korean envoy... I'll ask for more blessings.

Zhang Sheng started to act like a scoundrel, but Xie Hong ignored him. The hundreds of court officials present were the same. It would be useless to dismiss one or two of them. Even if they were dismissed, the people who came up again would be the same, and Zhengde could not really do that.

Since you can't forget to beat you to death, just slap your face. Anyway, there are two other disasters that can be beaten to death. Let's solve them first.

Seeing Xie Hong turn his head again, Jin and Li are so scared that they are scattered. Many things in Korea are learned from the Ming Dynasty, including the relationship between the monarch and the ministers. Zhang Shangshu is a six-department minister, but he was scared to tears by Xie Hong's words. How could they not be afraid?

"Two, do you want a rope or a kitchen knife?" Xie Hong smiled, his kind attitude was like a waiter at KFC in later generations.

"..." The two envoys were trembling all over and their teeth were fighting. Isn't this the Golden Palace of the Ming Dynasty? Aren't we here to pay tribute? Why are we asked if we want a kitchen knife? How many years have passed since the tribute from the Ming Dynasty fell to this stage, so we are the first one?

"Sir Xie, the young envoy is satisfied with seeing Tianyan today, so don't give me back, we will return to North Korea now..." Deputy envoy Li collapsed first. He was just arrogant, but not stupid. After struggling for so long, he still didn't know what the crux of the problem was.

"That's so bad. The exchange of etiquette is a country of etiquette. Since you have sent gifts, you can't let you go back empty-handed." Xie Hong's expression was very shy, but his tone was loose.

What kind of etiquette is this? The two of them cursed in their stomachs, but they still smiled on their faces: "My Lord Xie, are you polite..."

"But since you insist on this, I will accept it for the emperor first. I will send someone to the Honglu Temple to pick it up later. Please prepare for both of you."

"Yes, yes..." The two envoys finally fell into their stomachs. They nodded quickly, and then asked in confusion: "Sir, isn't the pocket watch here? What should the envoy prepare?"

"Hmm?" Xie Hong made an accent from his nose, and the two envoys' hearts hanged again. Fortunately, Xie Hong did not ask them for a knife noodles or wontons this time, but said in surprise: "Isn't there anything else on the gift list?"

"Ah..." The two of them were stunned. They thought they could get through without extortion, but they didn't expect to be extorted.

"Xie Qianhu, that tribute should be entered into the national treasury..." Han Wen stood up with a grudge. Although it was a pity that the big thing did not happen, he was secretly happy to see his old rival Zhang Sheng being unlucky. He didn't expect it would be his turn to come forward so soon. The tribute is not too valuable, but who would think that there is too much silver?

Xie Hong glanced at him, didn't say anything, but gave Zhengde a wink.

Zhengde understood and said, "Shangshu Han, didn't we have an agreement before? This time, North Korea's tribute will be handled with full authority. Do you want to repent now or say you were lying to me before?"

"I dare not." Han Wen said nothing, and said in his heart: The emperor has really learned bad things, and he uses such a crooked trick to label people. Is there any majesty of the emperor?

Seeing that Han Wen also retreated, the two envoys knew that they were unlucky. But it would be better to go back empty-handed. In that case, it would be better to be killed here. At least the feng shui of the Ming Dynasty is better, right?

You know, His Highness Li Long is not a good talkative person, and the famine last year was not a lie. If you go back empty-handed, you will have to jump into the sea.

"Sir Xie, that pendulum clock..." I really don't dare to ask for money, but it seems that I can make the pendulum clock, which is far better than a pocket watch. If I take it back, I can also pay it. No one in North Korea can afford it, but it is said that the Japanese daimyo is quite rich.

"This," Xie Hong waved his hand very generously and said, "The pendulum clock was originally given to you by the emperor's will. Do you have to deliver it to the king of your country?"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." I never expected Xie Hong to be so easy to speak. Both envoys were overjoyed. Although the bell was not very good, who cares?

"No need to thank you. I have always been convinced by virtue. What do you think?"

"yes……"

Seeing such a harmonious scene, Zhengde was very satisfied. He nodded and said, "Very good. Since everyone has no objection, then leave the court. Xie Aiqing, after you get the things, don't forget to come to the palace to see me."

Zhengde left lightly, with great satisfaction;

Xie Hong also left, with two envoys with bitter faces;

The court officials were depressed. Not only did they fail to achieve their goals today, but they were wiped out by others, and even lost their promised tribute. It was such an indignant day!
Chapter completed!