"Ren, has the candidates of the Minister of Industry been selected?" Akaland stood up and asked anxiously.

"sit down!"

Before Renn answered, Belissaliu chuckled, "Akaland, when can you get rid of your impetuousness? The consul hadn't finished saying anything, what are you anxious about?"

Akaland's face stopped, and then he realized that Renn's invitation today was prepared, and he acted so impatient that the Mechanical Union was passive in the subsequent discussion. He glanced at Belissaliu, thinking that the Chief Lord was still calm.

"Sorry, I'm so excited, chief." Akaland lowered his head and admitted his mistake, sat down honestly.

Belisaliu nodded.

His eyes returned to Renn and asked, "Consul, what is the purpose of establishing the Ministry of Industry, and what are the powers and responsibilities of this department?"

It turns out that he is an old man!

Rennes secretly praised, and the Soul Eye was actually very excited to see Belisaliu's emotions, but he was still able to stay awake, and he grasped the point in one sentence.

"Frank." Renn signaled to his chief of staff.

Frank took out a document from the ring and handed it to Belisaliu, "This is the plan to establish the Ministry of Industry, please check it out."

Belisaliu took the light and fluttering document with only a few pages, but his expression was as solemn as if he was holding a mountain. He opened it immediately and read it carefully word by word. Akaland next to him couldn't help but come over and stretched his head to watch it together.

There is not much content on the file, but each paragraph is highly concise, which is obviously a result of wisdom after long-term thinking.

The first is to explain the word "industry".

Industry is a social material production department that exploits natural resources, collects and processes various raw materials.

The document explains the importance of industry, which is the main force in promoting a country and even a civilization.

It can promote agriculture, be the cornerstone of commerce, and play a decisive role in the economy and development of the entire country. The status of industry is no less than extraordinary power or even higher.

Industry has freed mankind from agriculture with limited output, replaced manpower with machines and replaced individual manual production with large-scale factory production. The invention and application of steam engines are landmark events, and its significance to human civilization is of great significance. People will increasingly realize it in the future, which can be called the "industrial revolution."

A country that has experienced the industrial revolution is essentially different from a country that is still in the agricultural era.

Seeing this, Belisaru's hands couldn't help but tremble.

Akaland was even more excited.

In their understanding, industry is a steam and machinery union, and Rennes actually elevated the status of industry to a level that is comparable to extraordinary power!

This is simply amazing!

For a long time, most people in the world, including many mechanics, have only regarded steam engines and mechanical unions as emerging forces, enjoying the convenience and benefits brought by technological progress.

However, few people have thought about what all this means?

Now someone finally said it, and it was clearer than the mechanical union itself, which made Belisarius and Akaland feel suddenly enlightened, as if they had cleared the fog in front of them. The unreachable questions that had been thought about finally got a clear answer.

And this person is not an ordinary person.

He is the consul and holds the administrative power of the empire!

The two continued to read excitedly, and the document divided industry into two types: "light industry" and "heavy industry". Light industry tends to people's daily lives and produces various common products; heavy industry provides light industry with materials and machinery equipment, including steel, metallurgy, mining and machinery manufacturing, etc.

Industry is so important that it is necessary for the empire to establish the Ministry of Industry.

The responsibilities of this department include formulating industrial policies, industry management regulations, managing and auditing industrial companies, guiding, learning, promoting, applying industrial technologies, managing a series of industrial companies that will be established directly operated by the empire, organizing and cultivating industrial talents, etc.

The organizational composition of the Ministry of Industry is also listed later in the document.

The headquarters is directly under more than a dozen sub-departments, from provinces to various cities, and corresponding industrial bureaus will be set up. Just looking at the number of departments, you can know that this is a huge department with huge power and is almost no less than the three major departments of internal affairs, finance and military affairs!

After watching it, Belisaru took a deep breath.

Akaland glanced at Rennes with a calm expression, and wanted to speak but stopped, but finally decided not to speak.

The Mechanical Union is bound to win the position of Minister of Industry. This is completely the head boss of the Mechanical Union in the empire. If the person sitting in the position is not his own, the Mechanical Union will not be able to eat or sleep.

Of course, the establishment and operation of the Ministry of Industry is also inseparable from the Machinery Union.

So Renn invited himself and the chief to discuss today that he would not hand over the position of Minister of Industry to others, but would not easily hand over to the Mechanical Union.

Belisaru closed his eyes and pondered for a few minutes, and finally spoke.

But instead of immediately seeking benefits for the mechanical union, he asked: "Consul, the Ministry of Industry is not just the establishment of a department, does it affect your policy for the next ten years?"

"Yes."

Renn nodded, looking at Belisaliu a little more high, revealing: "Industry and education will be the two most important aspects of my term, and I will devote most of my energy."

When Akaran heard this, he had an unconcealed look of joy in his eyes.

Belisaru suddenly realized on his face and praised sincerely: "It is the blessing of the empire to have you as the consul and the people of the empire."

Renn waved his hand, "I just wanted to make some contribution to the people of the Empire."

"The consul is modest." Belisarius did not compliment Rennes anymore, and instead said: "The establishment of the Ministry of Industry is a major event, and it must be approved by the Supreme Parliament..."

"You don't have to worry about this." Rennes interrupted him, "I won't be sure that I will not raise it. The current situation of the Supreme Parliament should be clear to the chief. The Ministry of Industry will be the permanent body of the empire, and even if I step down, the Ministry of Industry will continue to exist."

Belisaliu nodded slightly.

Who doesn't know that the Modu faction now has half of the votes of the Supreme Parliament and almost controls the Supreme Parliament. With Rennes' status in the Modu faction, his proposal is difficult to reject.

Renn continued: "We have worked together happily in Glamorgan and the Principality of Augustus in the past few years. The Chief of the Principality of Augustus is also very clear that the population and territory of the Principality have not changed much, but in a few years, national strength has increased several times, and people's lives are very different. These are driven by industrial development."

"August experienced the industrial revolution and moved from an agricultural country to an industrial country." Belisarius suddenly said.

"That's right!"

Renn smiled, "The chief has understood the true meaning of this document. The industrial country's economy, military and living standards, and all other aspects are far superior to the agricultural country."

"August Principality has limited territory, insufficient population and natural resources, and has a small base in all aspects. Even if it becomes an industrial country in the future, its comprehensive national strength will increase by dozens of times, which will appear insignificant compared to the empire..."

Speaking of this, Renn paused.

Belisarius and Akaland's eyes lit up, and their breathing became faster unconsciously.

They already understood what Rennes meant.

The Principality of Augustus was too small, and the empire was very large!

Sure enough, Rennes said: "The empire's industry is the most developed and advanced in the world. It is in the transition stage of the transition from agricultural countries to industrial countries. However, the speed is too slow, and there is a lack of comprehensive and clear policy guidance, as well as interference and pressure from all aspects."

Belisa couldn't help but nodded repeatedly.

Rennes's words were simply to his heart. For hundreds of years, steam and machinery unions have promoted the development of the imperial society, and are everywhere in people's lives and have great influence, but only among ordinary people, they have never been able to reach the top level of imperial power.

The biggest concern and resistance is naturally the Supreme Parliament.

The members of the Supreme Council are all holy soul wizards, with extraordinary powers that ordinary people cannot imagine.

A new force that is completely different from magic has risen. The Holy Soul Wizards may not realize the huge potential of the Mechanical Union, but instinctively acquiesced to the suppression of the Mechanical Union by previous consuls. The power of the Supreme Council cannot be shaken, so the Mechanical Union naturally dares not challenge head-on, and even dares to expose a little idea of ​​exceeding the rules, so they can only make a fortune in silence.

There are also the Church of Justice and the Church of Earth, which are also wary of the Mechanical Union.

Because the application of mechanical equipment will make people think and shake their firm belief in God.

The imperial nobles, especially the old nobles, hated the mechanical union to the core. The established factories robbed the interests of the nobles, gave the farmers an extra way of survival, and weakened the importance and value of the land. They had to cooperate with the mechanical union and were subject to the mechanics.

In short, the mechanical union offended all vested interests!

Renn knew this clearly.

The same situation happened countless times in the previous life.

His words, coupled with the content of the documents in his hand, made Belissaliu and Akaland almost burst into tears. They wanted to attract Rennes as their confidants, and they were even more benefactors of the Mechanical Union!

The Eye of Soul knows their emotions well.

Renn smiled secretly, but said with a serious expression: "The establishment of the Ministry of Industry is to accelerate the transformation of the empire into an industrial country, which triggered an industrial revolution in the empire. This is just the first step. I will also launch the empire's first five-year plan, and promoting industrial development is the focus of the plan."

"Industry cannot be separated from the application of mechanical technology, which requires the support of steam and machinery unions."

"So, I'll ask you two to discuss."

As soon as he finished speaking, Belisari immediately expressed his opinion, and his tone was raised unconsciously, and he shouted: "The Mechanical Union will definitely support the work of the consul! We will never refuse anything that the Mechanical Union can do as long as the consul needs it."

"Then I'll feel relieved."

Ren nodded with relief, and suddenly changed his words, "Gotham is also the territory of the empire. Recently, Gotham's construction lacks some supplies..."

Belisaliu understood immediately.

Gotham is the city of Rennes, nominally belonging to the empire but is essentially completely autonomous. Rennes puts forward conditions under Gotham as an excuse.

"The mechanical union is willing to contribute to the construction of Gotham." Belisa replied with understanding.

Frank took out another document at the right time.

Belisaliu took it and read it quickly. This was a list of materials, hundreds of materials were written in a full dozen pages, and each type marked the required quantity. The most was a high-quality refined steel, which was as many as 500 million pounds, which made his eyelids twitch.

This refined steel has a high yield and is widely used, but 500 million pounds is too exaggerated, equivalent to the total output of the machinery union in two to three years.

Moreover, in recent years, the refined steel on the market is very easy to sell and the prices have risen a lot.

The other materials on the list are also huge in quantity, including mitril silver, pure gold, Aujin iron and dozens of magic alloys, ranging from tens of thousands of pounds to millions of pounds. There are also various alchemy materials, rune stones, precious magic gems, minerals, a large number of mechanical equipment, etc.

Some things can't be bought even if they have money, so they can only be retrieved from the mechanical union in warehouses across the empire, or purchased from other places at a high price.

Roughly estimated, the total price of materials on the entire list exceeds 100 million gold shields!
To be continued...