Generals of the Great Song Dynasty.

Summary

Zhao Zhen accompanied by Wang Ning An inspected the Imperial Guard camp. The Emperor was pleased with the progress of the camp, but his mood changed when he discovered that the armor provided to the soldiers was of poor quality. The armor was made of soft iron and could not withstand the attacks of ordinary weapons. Zhao Zhen was furious and ordered an investigation into the matter. He discovered that the Craftsmen Department, responsible for manufacturing military equipment, was corrupt and had been producing subpar armor. He decided to abolish the department and transfer the responsibility of military equipment manufacturing to the Privy Council. Han Qi suggested establishing a Military Equipment Bureau to oversee all military matters, which Zhao Zhen agreed to. However, Han Qi's true intention was to gain control over the military workshops in Hebei, which were known for producing high-quality weapons. Zhao Zhen appointed Wang Gongchen to oversee the production of military equipment, but also assigned Pan Su to inspect the quality of the weapons and the Royal Bank to handle the procurement of materials. This move effectively sidelined the Privy Council and frustrated Wang Gongchen. The chapter also mentioned the issue of jiaozi, a type of paper currency, which had been circulating in large quantities and disrupting the monetary system. Wang Ning An had been investigating the matter and discovered that officials in the jiaozi office had been colluding with outsiders to privately print jiaozi. Zhao Zhen decided to transfer the jiaozi office to the Royal Bank and appointed Wang Ning An to be responsible for the issuance of paper currency.

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