Steel Dynasty - Chapter 162

[Chapter 162 Preparations before the war]

Bishui Pavilion is fresh, simple and elegant, quiet and peaceful, just like Concubine Zhen’s temperament.

I don’t know since when, Xiao Wenxuan began to get tired of those vulgar fans, and coveted this kind of tranquility, where he seemed to be able to temporarily forget all his worries.

Maybe he is old, maybe he is too tired, but these days he always thinks of the time when he was a prince.

At that time, he had King Wei, King Ning, and many other princes by his side, but now, he only has the cold throne.

The throne he was crazy about all his life.

“If the throne belonged to Prince Ning now, would the country of Chongqing still suffer such humiliation?” A terrible voice remembered in his mind, and he drove it away in horror.

When he came to his senses, a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

With a wry smile, he now had to face the barbarian’s credentials and the endless quarrels among the ministers.

Looking carefully at Concubine Zhen’s drooping slender eyelashes, Xiao Wenxuan seemed to have made up his mind. He said: “Now that King Qi is burdened with a heavy burden, how can I turn a blind eye to it? His affairs are state affairs now.” Concubine

Zhen .

He sighed and said, “There is nothing else. It seems that there is no such thing as saltpeter in the fiefdom. Are you saying that no merchants are going to Qingzhou to sell this stuff?”

“Saltpeter?” Xiao Wenxuan frowned, ” Is King Qi making gunpowder? I didn’t expect him to be so knowledgeable now. “

I’m surprised too. Ming’er seems to know a lot of things now. I don’t know where he learned it.” Concubine Zhen was holding the lotus seed porridge. Feed Xiao Wenxuan.

Xiao Wenxuan shook his head, “No matter where he learned it from, he is still much better than the one who had no skills before.”

Then he said: “The saltpeter in the Chongqing Kingdom can only be found in the saltpeter caves in Shu, so it must be from Shu.” The king interfered, and the two men were at odds when they were in Chang’an. At this time, the king of Shu knew that he needed saltpeter, and he must make a fuss out of it. “There

is no better son than a father, and Xiao Wenxuan knew the character of the king of Shu very well.

“Hey, even at this time, the princes are still so intrigued by each other.” Concubine Zhen frowned lightly and couldn’t help but feel a little angry.

Xiao Wenxuan rarely saw Concubine Zhen angry, so he couldn’t help but feel a little surprised, but he said: “This is just my guess. Even if it was the King of Shu’s instruction, I probably wouldn’t admit it if I asked him.”

“Then what should I do? ? This saltpeter seems to be very important to Ming’er,” Concubine Zhen said worriedly.

“It doesn’t matter, I will allocate the gunpowder and saltpeter from the Equipment Department to him now, and then ask the King of Shu to send the saltpeter to Chang’an to see if he dares to obey.”

After all, Xiao Wenxuan has been the emperor for more than thirty years. I’m used to making little plans.

Concubine Zhen nodded. Like Xiao Wenxuan, she still didn’t know the importance of this gunpowder to Xiao Ming. She only thought it was the same as coal and iron.

Sighing, Xiao Wenxuan got up from the bed, and then said: “There are still twenty fire tubes in the Equipment Department, and they are sent together this time.”

“Your Majesty, where are you going?” Concubine Zhen saw Xiao Wenxuan getting up. , asked worriedly.

“Prince Qi’s affairs cannot be delayed. Besides, these ministers must be dealt with.”

Xiao Wenxuan put on his clothes and walked out.

At this time, the ministers who were kneeling on the ground outside the Chengqing Palace saw Xiao Wenxuan coming out. At this time, the minister cried: “I hope your Majesty will think twice. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the barbarian envoys to come. I hope your Majesty will think about all the people in the world.”

“In this case, whoever of you has a daughter will be sent to the palace. I am willing to accept her as a righteous daughter. The marriage will depend on all of you.”

Xiao Wenxuan’s expression was as calm as ever. He was able to win the throne not only because King Zhao was supportive and extremely smart.

In the past, he might have agreed to the barbarian’s request in exchange for more than ten years of stability, but since the last time he saw in the court that these vassal kings with different surnames had ulterior motives, he came back to his senses.

Because if this continues, the royal family’s land will become less and less, and the feudal kings with different surnames will use the name of resisting the barbarians to ask for money and food. If this continues, the royal family will become weaker and weaker, and the feudal kings with different surnames will become stronger.

In a few decades, the country of Chongqing might have to change its surname, so this time he simply pushed the matter out.

All the ministers looked at each other in confusion after hearing this. You looked at me and I looked at you. It had nothing to do with them to send the emperor’s daughter away, but it was different to send his own daughter away.

Who doesn’t know the cruelty of this barbarian tribe? How can he survive if he is sent away?

No one answered for a while, and then Xiao Wenxuan said: “As for the treasury, you must also know very well that the treasury is already stretched thin by the annual tribute. Why don’t you, my beloved, think of which vassal king I can borrow some money from to meet this annual tribute?” .”

These words once again caught all the ministers by surprise.

Looking at these ministers who were hesitant when it came to their own interests, Xiao Wenxuan snorted coldly, rolled up his sleeves and left, leaving behind a sentence, “This matter does not need to be discussed again, just do what was said in the court last time. If King Qi and King Wei cannot hold Cangzhou, and I admit it. This is the royal incompetence. If he can hold it, I will chop off the head of anyone who talks about peace!”

Xiao Wenxuan left, and the ministers stood up. .

Everyone asked the leading minister: “Master Cui, what should we do?”

“What should we do? Do you want to send your daughter out?” This Master Cui is Cui Hao.

“Of course I don’t want to.” The minister shrank his neck.

“In that case, let’s wait until the city of Cangzhou is destroyed. Our emperor never sheds tears before seeing the coffin.” Cui Hao sneered and left humming a tune.

Seeing this, the other ministers dispersed, knowing that no matter how much they knelt, it was useless.

Qingzhou.

News of the purchase of saltpeter has been published in newspapers for more than 20 days. The purchase of real gold and silver by the government office has made the people no longer hesitate. Saltpeter making has gradually become popular. Every day, people can be seen lining up at the entrance of the government offices in various states and counties to sell saltpeter powder. .

Although the fleet from Chang’an also brought a lot of saltpeter, Xiao Ming did not stop buying saltpeter.

Because the information coming with the fleet forced him to prepare gunpowder with all his strength.

“Three months! So now we only have more than two months left.” Pang Yukun said in the Governor’s Mansion.

Before the fleet arrived, Xiao Ming received a reply from Xiao Wenxuan. In the letter, Xiao Wenxuan reported what the barbarian envoys had done in Chang’an. The angry words in the letter showed that Xiao Wenxuan was very angry this time.

However, the time for the barbarian attack has basically been determined, and now it seems that it is only more than two months.

Looking at the twenty fire tubes that were sent to the ground at the same time, Xiao Ming said: “Yes, so we must prepare now. If I remember correctly, the wheat outside the city will be harvested in three days. You now Notify the various government agencies to prepare for the purchase of grain reserves, and organize civilian workers to deliver supplies to Cangzhou City now.”

Pang Yukun nodded, “Leave these matters to the lower officials, and they will not delay His Highness’s important events.”

(End of this chapter)