Daming: The system rejected my request for salted fish

Chapter 1338

"It's impossible to counterfeit! Uncle Zhu, I told you before that even I couldn't make this thing."

"It was obtained solely through my special abilities; the technology involved is something that cannot be replicated in this era."

As he spoke, a look of doubt appeared in Wei Wu's eyes.

"I was just thinking the same thing. Even if the printing process for banknotes was leaked, it would be impossible to make banknotes without color-changing ink."

"If I can't even make this, then where do those people who counterfeit banknotes get the ink from?"

After saying that, Wei Wu looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and asked a question.

"Uncle Zhu, what happened to that barrel of color-changing ink that I gave you back then? Who took care of it?"

"And what about the printing of banknotes? How are those arrangements made? Could there be any problems?"

If anyone else had said those words, they might have been dragged out and beheaded on the spot by Zhu Yuanzhang's order.

After all, these words sounded like shifting the blame onto the emperor, and how could the ruler of a country not be angry?

But since it was Wei Wu who said this, Zhu Yuanzhang had no dissatisfaction with him. On the contrary, he even cooperated by explaining.

"Only the Ministry of Industry and the Bureau of Printing and Minting have access to the color-changing ink, but it's impossible for anyone from either of those departments to have any problems."

"We did not entrust the color-changing ink to a single person for safekeeping. Instead, it was entrusted to the Ministry of Works, with two vice ministers jointly supervising each other."

"The printing of banknotes was also done by a specially established printing bureau. All the craftsmen were not allowed to leave without permission, just like at the Academy of Sciences."

"In your words, it's a closed management system. You need to apply to leave, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard will send someone to accompany you the whole time."

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang paused for a moment before continuing:

"Even if the printing bureau runs out of ink, it will still require the approval of two vice ministers when applying for another one."

"In addition, the presence of a craftsman from the mint is required, with both parties acting as witnesses, before the warehouse storing the color-changing ink can be opened."

"If the color-changing ink is really problematic, then it's equivalent to both vice ministers of the Ministry of Works and the craftsmen of the Printing Bureau all being at fault."

After hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's explanation, Wei Wu frowned even more, because Zhu Yuanzhang's arrangement was indeed without any problems.

The key point of color-changing ink is absolutely impossible to overcome in this era; the technology simply cannot achieve it.

Therefore, the color-changing ink could only have flowed out from the imperial court, but that doesn't make sense either.

According to Zhu Yuanzhang's plan, if the color-changing ink could still flow out, it could only prove one thing.

The likelihood of two high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Works colluding with people from the Bureau of Printing and Minting to betray the imperial court is extremely low.

But this brings us back to the original question: how did people obtain the color-changing ink?

Just as Wei Wu was frowning in thought, he heard Zhu Yuanzhang's voice again.

"Since color-changing ink is absolutely impossible to counterfeit, there's no need to overthink it; the problem must lie with the Ministry of Industry and the Bureau of Printing and Minting."

"This matter is already common knowledge in the Ministry of Revenue, and it cannot be suppressed. Someone will definitely bring it up at tomorrow's morning court session."

"Xiao Wu, someone might use this as an excuse to make trouble for you, so you should be mentally prepared!"

Is this an opportunity to make trouble for me?

Upon hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Wei Wu immediately thought of Li Shanchang, the Duke of Han.

Of all the civil and military officials in the court, the one who most wanted to see him get into trouble was probably this cunning old fox who could survive.

However, just as Wei Wu was thinking this, Zhu Yuanzhang's words suddenly came to mind.

Old Zhu rarely reminds him to prepare mentally in advance, so his sudden mention of this is probably meant to be pointed.

Thinking of this, Wei Wu looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, knowing that the other party would definitely reveal the truth next.