Rebirth: The wedding night, my whole family was exiled, I raised 500,000 soldiers

The court officials had no objection to this, and even if they did, they were suppressed by Shen Lanxi's next sentence.

"There will definitely be battle reports coming in later. Let's take a look at the progress and then discuss it!"

Zhao Zheng was a little anxious: "Your Majesty, if we don't make arrangements now, it will be too late if something really happens in the southwest."

Shen Lanxi said coldly: "The Southwest Army is composed of the former subordinates of the King of Zhennan. The King of Zhennan is the God of War of our Great Zhou. If the troops he led were so easily defeated by the barbarians, wouldn't it be a laughing stock?"

Zhao Zheng looked choked again.

"That's it. We'll discuss the war in the southwest later. Let's discuss opening a factory in the suburbs of Beijing first!"

When this was mentioned, the court officials became excited.

This factory is an oil refinery, and its raw materials are soybeans imported from the Moon Country and grain paid by various places.

Before, they all thought that these grains would be sent to various garrisons as food fodder, but they didn't expect that Shen Lanxi would actually use them to refine oil.

Moreover, the oil yield of this kind of beans is higher than that of rapeseed oil. Both lard and rapeseed oil are very precious. Now that soybeans can be widely planted, the people of the Great Zhou may have oil to eat.

After the final discussion, Shen Lanxi decided to go outside the city to visit the refinery in person tomorrow.

Seeing Shen Lanxi solve the government affairs in no time, Zhou Ruyuan felt uneasy.

Her every move now affects the court, so she can't just go wherever she wants.

The Imperial Observatory calculated the envoys, the Ministry of Rites prepared the accompanying list, the Imperial Household Department prepared dragon robes and brocade boots, and the Imperial Guards rehearsed the route in advance to eliminate any possible dangers.

Although it was only one day, there were no less than a thousand people behind her busy preparing for this trip.

At the oil refinery, the head of the industry department personally explained to Shen Lanxi the factory structure, personnel arrangements, and production progress.

"Some parts of the factory are still unfinished. We have recruited 200 workers so far and are still recruiting. We have used up two-thirds of the 1,500 kilograms of soybeans delivered yesterday. We plan to complete the work before noon. The Ministry of Revenue will deliver new soybeans after noon."

Shen Lanxi walked and listened, followed by accompanying officials, as well as the censors and historians who were taking notes.

The head of the Ministry of Revenue took over the conversation: "The produced oil has been counted by the Ministry of Revenue. The first batch has been sent to oil shops in and outside the capital for sale. The output this time has been reserved in advance by the imperial merchants. It will only be shipped to Ancheng, Yuzhou and other places after the production is completed."

When Shen Lanxi walked to the oil refinery, all the workers stopped working and knelt down to worship.

Shen Lanxi raised her hand: "Don't stop, do what you need to do, don't delay the progress!"

The workers glanced at the person in charge, who waved his hand and said, "Go get busy!"

Shen Lanxi continued walking, and the people from the Ministry of Households and the Ministry of Works continued to explain as they went.

When they arrived at the storage container, Shen Lanxi specifically reminded them of safety issues.

The head of the Ministry of Industry said: "The factory entrance and exit are guarded and inspected by soldiers. No open flames are allowed in. No open flames are allowed within 100 meters of the factory. The workers' dining area is 200 meters away."

Shen Lanxi nodded and pointed out: "The storage containers should also be improved. It is best to find ones that are not easily damaged. During transportation, collisions are inevitable."

The head of the Ministry of Industry said respectfully: "We have already asked people to make improvements, and have posted notices to gather everyone's ideas!"

Shen Lanxi: "The reward may be set higher. If you can really provide a good method, you can appropriately expand the conditions and recruit people into the Ministry of Industry."

The head of the Ministry of Works took note of it.

As Shen Lanxi walked, she said to the officials behind her: "We can use this place as a pilot. If the court can make a profit and the people can benefit, we can arrange for officials from all over the country to come and learn from us. It can't be just the capital that prospers. Other places are also the territory of our Great Zhou."

All the officials were amazed at the high oil yield and quickly agreed.

Afterwards, Shen Lanxi visited the cloth factory and the breeding farm outside the city, and spent a huge amount of money to invite livestock experts from other ethnic groups to train the workers in the breeding farm.

Factories and merchants advanced in an orderly manner. Ten days later, battle reports came from the southwest again.

"The foreign tribes in the southwest have relied on the terrain to lead our southwest army into the miasma-filled mountains and forests many times. Although our southwest army has lost more than a thousand soldiers, I still ask the regent to send doctors to support us."

Shen Lanxi scolded with a cold face: "Are all the Southwest Army good-for-nothings? They have been operating there for so many years and they don't even know where the miasma is."

No one spoke in the court, but everyone was secretly criticizing Zhou Ruyuan in their hearts.

The Prince of Zhennan had been stationed in the southwest for such a long time, how could he not know?

Is it true that the title of Prince of Zhennan is not worthy of his status?

This is the army of Lieutenant General Prince Zhennan. How should Prince Zhennan resolve it?

Wu Yanzhi: "I think we should send the Prince of Zhennan to garrison there. The Prince of Zhennan is the leader of the Southwest Army. Only when the army is leaderless will foreign tribes provoke us."

Zhao Zheng continued to stand up and recommend himself.

"My ancestors also shocked the southwest and made foreign tribes afraid of them."

Wu Yanzhi said impatiently: "You also said that it was your ancestors, not you."

Zhao Zheng was speechless again.

Shen Lanxi has made a decision.

"Prime Minister Wu is right!"

Wu Yanzhi glanced at Zhao Zheng and returned to his seat.

Shen Lanxi looked at Zhou Ruyuan: "Prince of Zhennan, it seems that the trip to the southwest must be for you!"

Zhou Ruyuan: "As a military commander in the court, I have an obligation to fulfill my duties!"

Shen Lanxi's eyes turned and she continued, "The capital is short of troops. All soldiers must stay in the capital to protect His Majesty!"

Zhou Ruyuan had already expected that Shen Lanxi would not let him take the troops away.

"I will only take the former Southwest Army members with me. They understand the situation in the southwest!"

Shen Lanxi: "Yes!"

"I will give you three days to complete the handover. Is that enough?"

Zhou Ruyuan wished he could leave right now.

"enough!"

Shen Lanxi raised the corner of her mouth: "The king and His Majesty are waiting for the King of Zhennan to return triumphantly in the capital!"

Zhou Ruyuan responded with a fake smile.

Zhennan Palace

Bai Qingling had already made preparations and had someone keep it a secret from Shen Yuantang.

"Princess, Concubine Shen is here again."

Bai Qingling looked at the things prepared on the table and ordered: "Take the things down and put them in the box I carry with me."

"Yes!"

Shen Yuantang looked at the two guards who suddenly appeared at the door and anger rose on his face.

In just a few days, the prince no longer cares about the opinions of everyone in the palace and only favors Bai Qingling?

"Bai Qingling, come out!"

The maidservant beside Bai Qingling said unhappily: "Princess, just deal with her."

Bai Qingling shook her head: "She has the Shen family behind her, it's not the time to touch her yet."

If she hadn't been in poor health and the prince hadn't needed a child, he would have killed all the beauties in the mansion long ago.

Shen Yuantang rushed to Bai Qingling, raised his hand and slapped her.

"Bai Qingling, you are just a concubine now, how dare you use guards to guard the gate? You don't care about the rules of the palace at all!"

Bai Qingling covered her face, a sinister rage flashed in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.

"Concubine, you misunderstood. Those are not guards, but supervisors. The prince ordered me to stay in the courtyard, and they are the ones who stopped me from leaving."