Chapter 828 Cutting Meat

People have to die more than people, and goods have to be thrown away.

I'm afraid of a comparison of everything, how do you say something in one sentence? There is no most handsome, only more handsome; There is no best, only better.

Just like the 500 sets of clothes, pants, shoes, and hats in front of Li Ji's eyes, he originally felt that although the clothing of the government army was not as good as those of those rich and noble families, it was already much better than that worn by ordinary people, and it was already good that the court could spend a lot of money to buy these clothes for them.

Even Li Ji himself felt that these clothes were several times better than when he first became a soldier more than ten years ago, enough for his soldiers to survive the cold winter, so Li Ji never considered the idea of changing the clothes of the soldiers in the army.

But now, when he saw the 500 sets of clothes sent by Liu Cheng, Li Ji suddenly felt that all the soldiers in his army were wearing like garbage, with rough workmanship and simple texture, sleeves that did not cover their wrists, trousers that did not cover their ankles, and what was even more infuriating was that many hemp boots were filled with straw, so that many soldiers now had their hands and feet frozen to the point of redness, swelling and ulceration.

For the same price, why is it that on the one hand, there are shoddy linen pants and even straw sandals, while on the other side they are high-quality cotton clothes, cotton pants, cotton boots and even cotton hats?

They are also garment workshops, and they offer the same price, why is there such a big gap between the two?

Even if these cotton clothes and pants are Liu's specialties, and the garment workshop of the Ministry of Industry cannot produce them, why is there such a difference between heaven and earth for things of the same price? Couldn't Mai and hemp make the military uniform better?

Or do some people think that these soldiers, who may die in battle on the battlefield at any time, deserve to use inferior clothes, and deserve to be cold and cold in the ice and snow?

Li Ji's cloudy face told everyone present that Li Ji was very angry, and the consequences were serious.

As the commander of the first army, Li Ji usually attaches importance to and focuses on the soldiers' usual physical training and formation rehearsals, the rest is the tactical terrain deduction in wartime, and he rarely has time to pay attention to the small things such as food, clothing, housing and transportation of the soldiers.

In fact, if it weren't for the five hundred sets of refined cotton clothes brought by Liu Cheng today, Li Ji would not have noticed that there were such huge hidden dangers and cats on the clothes of his soldiers.

Someone actually hit the Tang Dynasty soldiers who worked hard for the country and the people to kill the enemy? A cloud of anger welled up in Li Ji's chest, he couldn't bear that someone would put the health of the Tang warriors at risk for some benefits.

Like them, the soldiers who are about to go on an expedition are still like this, and it is not difficult for Li Ji to imagine what kind of treatment some of the other standing garrisons will have.

The desire for profit is smoking, the courage is bold, and it is not a pity to die

Holding back the anger in his heart and politely sending Liu Cheng and his entourage out of the barracks, Li Ji directly walked to the quartermaster barracks, and questioned Li Huai, the quartermaster in charge of army logistics, with a gloomy face.

"The lower officials don't know, the lower officials really don't know" was obviously frightened by Li Ji's tone and actions, the quartermaster was so anxious that tears were about to fall, and he hurriedly pleaded out, he didn't understand why the generalissimo, who had always been indifferent to the affairs of the munitions, provoked the problem of their munitions depot all at once.

"Since the subordinate officer took up this position," the quartermaster said frankly: "Whether it is here in the general or in other camps, all the food and clothing utensils are basically the same specification. ”

He has been a quartermaster official for at least three years, and Li Huai has long been accustomed to all the material arrangements in the barracks, and he does not feel that there is anything wrong with this military camp that is about to go to Gaochang, whether it is military salary, diet, or clothing, weapons, the imperial court is all equipped according to the highest specifications, no one dares to slack off, Li Huai really doesn't understand, what is the reason why they can provoke their marshal to be so dissatisfied and angry with the soldiers' clothes?

"I really don't know?" Li Ji stared at Li Huai with an unkind face, and casually pointed to the clothes and pants of a soldier next to him and asked Li Huai in a loud voice: "Since you are a military quartermaster, you should have some understanding of the price of clothing and ready-to-wear, and I will ask you, how much is the actual price of this clothing?" And how much is the money for each set of clothes that the imperial court stipulates and pulls off? ”

"Huh?" Li Huai was stunned for a moment, and then looked at their marshal with some incredulity and disbelief, he finally understood the reason why their marshal was angry and angry, but what was the use of this? The stipulation that money does not match practical clothing has lasted for nearly three years, and has long become a hidden custom among military quartermasters.

All the conditions are faintly pointed out, behind this matter stands a big man who no one can provoke, so there are few people who touch this moldy head again, and over time, this has become a hidden custom by default in all military camps and quartermasters.

Moreover, although the texture of these military clothes and boots is not good, they can be used for two or three years, and it may be a little uncomfortable to wear on the body, but it is enough to protect from the wind and cold.

It does not affect the marching training, nor does it affect the battlefield tearing and killing, so over the years, there has been no big mistake because of these inferior military uniforms, Li Huai doesn't understand, how could their marshal set his eyes on this matter?

"Returning to the marshal," found the reason for the matter, Li Huai's heart was also a little clear, thinking about their marshal's problem, Li Huai replied: "The set of clothes worn by the soldiers, from the emperor's nod, to the appropriation of the household department, to the production of materials in the garment workshop, until the clothes are made and distributed to the hands of the soldiers, the link is too complicated, and it is not surprising that there will be some price difference in the middle, and the lower officials suggest that the marshal is still ......."

"There's no need to talk nonsense," interrupted the quartermaster's words, Li Ji said coldly: "You only need to tell the general that the imperial court's appropriation and the market price of a ready-to-wear garment are enough." ”

Li Ji also has some ability to observe faces, and he was still wondering in his heart, why did Li Huai show confusion when he questioned the quartermaster about the rough clothes, and there was even a trace of calmness with a clear conscience in his normally frightened eyes, which made Li Ji think that he was not thoughtful and wronged this quartermaster official.

However, when he asked about the specific price of the clothes, Li Ji regained a little confidence, because he saw a trace of real panic and understanding in Li Huai's eyes.

It's not a question of the quartermaster, he doesn't have that much guts and skills yet. However, Li Ji can also be sure that although this matter has nothing to do with the military quartermaster in front of him, he must know a lot about the so-called 'insider' here, so Li Ji will continue to question Li Huai.

"Back to the marshal," stopped the topic of Fang Cai, and Li Huai, who was stared at by their marshal a little unbearable, replied directly: "For each set of clothes, the household department stipulates that the money is 300 yuan, and the market price of the clothes made is 100 yuan. ”

"One hundred wen?" Li Ji's body was a little trembling with anger, three hundred wen money, but only one hundred wen of goods, if things can be good, it would be a strange thing? More importantly, where did the two hundred wen in the middle go? In whose hands did it all fall into the end?

Although the matter of military supplies is not large, not everyone can get involved, and if you want to make huge profits from it in such a big way, in addition to having the courage to cover the sky, if there is no power that others are difficult to regret and unwilling to provoke, I am afraid it will be difficult to achieve such a point.

Li Ji is not a fool, if he was only angry when he pursued this matter before, then now, knowing the huge difference in profits that exist here, as well as some or even some unknown power hidden in it, he can't help but not take it seriously.

Up to now, Li Ji even began to have some doubts, did Liu Yiyi already know about the flower and flower path here, the reason why he sent someone to send him five hundred sets this time, in addition to really wanting to take over the military clothing business, did he also want to borrow his own hands to eradicate some commercial opponents and obstacles for him?

"His grandmother Dripping Bear" Gongsun Helan, who has been following Li Ji's side, was also so angry that he was rude, and even learned the mantra of a former comrade-in-arms: "Lao Tzu said that when I was in the northwest, I always felt that what I was wearing was not warm, even when I slept on the couch, I was shivering from the cold, and I made trouble for a long time, and it turned out that the roots were here."

"Said" kicked Li Huai to the ground, Gongsun Helan raised Li Huai's placket again with a small temper, and asked viciously: "Who are you doing it?" Even Lao Tzu, you dare to tease? ”

Knowing that Gongsun Helan was using the topic to play, it was obvious that he had already seen the purpose of his big brother Liu sending people to deliver clothes, and wanted to force out the people behind the scenes and remove obstacles for Liu Yiyi.

Li Ji stood quietly on the side like this, not scolding or blocking. In fact, he also wanted to learn more accurate information from the mouths of this quartermaster, and now that Gongsun Helan had a bad temper and knew how to unload his bones, it would be better.

"I don't know, I really don't know" was kicked in the stomach, and Li Huai's painful tears fell out, and now he was carried by Gongsun Helan to look at him, and he was even more frightened, crying and said: "I am just a small military quartermaster, since I took office, in the past three years, all the military uniforms have been dominated by this, Marshal Mingjian, the little general, really doesn't know."

"Don't know at all? You are the second to be Lao Tzu" Raising his leg is another kick, he has been a quartermaster for so long, and he has been lacking in virtue for so many years, Gongsun Helan doesn't care if this kid really doesn't know, anyway, he will beat it up.

"Don't fight, don't beat me, I say" I have to say, Gongsun Helan kicked this kick very well, and directly made Li Huai sit on the ground and vomit a mess, and then regardless of wiping the filth on it, seeing that Gongsun Helan still wants to make huge profits again, Li Huai cried and shouted: "I heard, I heard that the garment factory that supplies clothes to the government army and the garrisons of various departments is the confidant of His Royal Highness the Prince." ”

"So," he raised his arm and wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and Li Huai continued: "Therefore, no one has dared to pursue it more in the past few years, and these clothes and boots have naturally been distributed to the hands of the soldiers of each battalion. ”

"Don't hide it from the marshal," anyway, the words have been spoken, Li Huai simply let go of his mind, and said bluntly: "The clothes assigned to us this time are already the best batch that the lower officials have seen in the past three years, Marshal Mingjian, the lower officials really have no deductions and replacements, this matter really has nothing to do with the lower officials."

"Prince?" Hearing these two words, Li Ji's heart suddenly slipped away, his eyes tightened, he didn't expect that there was still the shadow of the prince in this matter, and in a small matter that was not too big, it really made him provoke a bottle of Buddha.

"Li Huai, slander the prince, sow discord, you are so bold" Li Ji was stunned, and before everyone could react, he opened his voice and ordered to the left and right: "Someone will take this nonsense villain to the general without the general's order, no one shall be interrogated or visited"

Regardless of whether it is true or not, first lock people up and then talk about it, after all, it is about the prince, if it is fake, it is better, if what Li Huai said is true, it will really be a big trouble. Li Ji was secretly thinking in his heart, is it worth it to offend the prince for this trivial matter?

If nothing else, the prince must be the overseer of the army on this trip, Li Ji is worried, if he offends the prince at such a time, will the prince embarrass him during the war?

"Uncle Li, what should I do next?" Seeing Li Huai being escorted down, Li Ji hesitated again, Gongsun Helan rolled his eyes, deliberately approached Li Ji, and said in a strange voice: "Otherwise, let's directly hand over this Li Huai to the prince, so that this matter will not be resolved, anyway, those clothes can't freeze to death, there is no need to offend His Royal Highness the prince for a group of big-headed soldiers who may die at any time, right?" ”

"What kind of bastard is this?" Knowing that this kid was deliberately agitating himself, Li Ji slapped Gongsun Helan on the head angrily, and said sharply: "Do you really think that Uncle is the kind of mediocre general who bullies the weak and fears the hard, cares about the safety of the soldiers, and only cares about his own future?" ”

In a moment, Li Ji already had a countermeasure in his heart, since this matter was difficult to solve by himself, it was better to simply throw it to the emperor for a decision.

Don't say anything, don't do anything, when the time comes, as long as the cotton clothes sent by the Liu family and the linen clothes that the soldiers are wearing now are put in front of the emperor, and then the price offered by Liu Yiyi is mentioned, the advantages and disadvantages are clear at a glance, and the emperor will naturally make the best choice.

As long as the cotton clothes can be replaced with linen clothes, and the soldiers can wear the best cotton military uniforms, then his Li Ji's purpose will naturally be achieved, as for the difference in the price of those linen clothes, it doesn't matter whether it is implicated by His Royal Highness the Prince.

As long as you don't put things in the open, as long as you pretend not to know the joints, even if this move damages some of the prince's interests and will cause some dissatisfaction or resentment, it will not offend him too much, so that there is no room for ease between them.

"Go" figured out this section, Li Ji was in a good mood, waved his hand, and said to Gongsun Helan: "With Uncle Wei, take the five hundred suits and enter the palace to face the saint"

At the same time, Li Qing, the chief attendant of the East Palace, also hurried to the prince's bed, and reported to Li Chengqian in a screaming voice about the many things that had happened in the Sanyuan Liufu in the past two days.

"Didn't Lone say," lying on the couch, too lazy to turn his head to look at Li Qing, Li Chengqian said lightly: "During this time, Lone should calm down and recuperate his injuries, in order to prepare for the battle of Gaochang in the coming day, during which he must let go of all distractions, no joy and worry-free, if it is not necessary, there is no need to bother again?" ”

Since the last time I listened to the persuasion of Empress Changsun, during this time, Li Chengqian's temperament has been a lot more restrained, cultivating his mind and temperament, and temporarily letting go of everything, even if he has always paid attention to Liufu, he will no longer pay much attention to it.

The queen mother said well, the current Liu Yi is not much of a threat to him, and the first thing he needs to do now is not to solve the grudge with Liu Yiyi, but to follow the army Gaochang, win the trust of his father earlier, and sit in the position where his father is sitting early.

As for Liu Yiyi, Li Chengqian has long been out of his mind, if he sits on the throne and becomes the king of a country, if he wants to clean up these businessmen and civilians, isn't it a matter of moving his mouth and every second?

"Go back to Your Highness," Li Qing bowed and replied: "The villain doesn't want to come over and disturb His Highness's Qingxiu, but this matter is really very involved, and the villain has to come over to report to His Highness." ”

"Since they have already come in," turning his head to look at Li Qing, Li Chengqian said lightly: "Then let's talk about it?" ”

"Yes, Your Highness" The body bent down a little more, and Li Qing said in a respectful voice: "The villain got a secret report, saying yes, saying that an hour ago, Liu Cheng, the steward of Liufu, brought a cart of goods suspected of cotton clothes and pants directly into Li Ji's barracks. It seems that they want to sell their Liu's cotton clothes to Li Ji, and intend to do business in the military quartermaster's field. ”

"Considering the excellent quality of Liu's cotton clothes, I am afraid that it will affect His Royal Highness the Prince's plans in terms of military supplies," Carefully looking up at Li Chengqian on the couch, Li Qing replied: "It is a small talent who does not care about disturbing His Highness's Qing Xiu, and I have come to communicate to His Highness." ”

"Huh?" After a sound of surprise, Li Chengqian sat up straight, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and asked Li Qing in a cold voice, "What about Li Ji?" What is his attitude? ”

"Back to His Royal Highness," knowing that the prince would ask like this, Li Qing replied: "Half an hour ago, Li Ji had already entered the palace directly with the Liu family's cart of clothes. ”

"Directly into the palace?" Li Chengqian looked at Li Qing with some suspicion and said, "Did he go to some other places before entering the palace?" For example, the garment workshop of the Ministry of Industry, or some other ordinary clothing store? ”

"Back to His Royal Highness," Li Qing replied bluntly: "After leaving the barracks, Li Ji and his entourage entered the palace directly, and never went anywhere else during the period. ”

"Well, okay, Lone knows." Hearing the news, Li Chengqian's heart was slightly relieved, and he slowly lay down on the couch again, while closing his eyes slightly, and waving his hand to signal Li Qing to retreat.

Another way to make money was snatched away by Liu Yiyi.

Li Chengqian clenched his fists tightly, and his teeth clenched, as if a piece of fat on his body had been cut off by force