Chapter 899

Xiao Ze said nothing, took out a roll of bright yellow brocade from his bosom and handed it to him.

Xiao Yuanhang took it, unfolded it, stared for a moment, then burst into loud laughter: "Hahaha! Good! Excellent!"

He turned the imperial edict over to show everyone.

The roaring firelight shone on the eight large characters "Five years tax-free, never to be increased," clear and scorching.

Xiao Ningyuan spat out a mouthful of wine: "This is the first time I've seen an imperial edict with only eight characters!"

Xiao Ningchen's hand holding the wine cup froze midair.

Xiao Ningxun stared blankly at those eight characters, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

Luo Zhenjiang clicked his tongue in wonder: "Is that what an imperial edict looks like?"

Lu Qi and Xiao Er felt their heroic spirit surge; His Majesty's edict, like the wine in these mountains, was truly invigorating!

All together they shouted loudly: "Five years tax-free, never to be increased!"

Xiao Ze looked at Tuan Tuan, a warm feeling he could not put into words welling up inside him.

All of this is thanks to you, Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan, however, was nonchalant; she lifted her little head from the pile of rabbit meat, blinked, and said: "I said those four characters look nice, Imperial Uncle will surely like them!"

"Oh no! Wrong!" She looked again, tilted her little head, and asked: "How come there are four more?"

Everyone froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.

More than ten days later, the soldiers came again.

This time he had learned his lesson and came at night.

Seeing everyone gathered around the bonfire eating roasted meat, he rode up, dismounted, and said: "Reporting to the Seventh Prince, Prince, all the officials from the Taiyuan Prefecture have arrived today."

Everyone glanced at each other, and Xiao Ze slowly rose to his feet: "Tomorrow, we return to Relanzhecheng."

"Yes!"

Tuan Tuan pouted, put down the roasted rabbit leg in her hand, and said: "This place is far more fun than that broken castle; I don't want to go back."

Xiao Ningxun held her in his arms: "Be good, we should return to Jingcheng; Mother is waiting at home."

Tuan Tuan thought of her mother, Xiao Yueyue, Ninth Brother, Xiao Feifei… she nodded: "All right."

The next morning, everyone brought Marrian and returned to Relanzhecheng.

Xiao Ze ordered someone to summon Lin Jiang and Cai Tong, together with Marrian, and personally introduced the three to the officials of the first provincial administration.

This time he carefully inquired about all matters, keeping him busy beyond measure.

In the evening, Feng Zhou excitedly held an exquisitely crafted small firearm, found Tuan Tuan and A Dai running wildly, and said: "Chief! Look, what good thing I've made for you!"

Luo Zhenjiang, Xiao Er, and Lu Qi, who were following behind the two little girls, all gathered around.

Luo Zhenjiang asked: "Sir Feng, what have you made this time?"

Feng Zhou handed the small firearm to Tuan Tuan: "Do you like it, Chief?"

Xiao Er snatched it away: "Sir Feng! This thing can't be given to the miss!"

Tuan Tuan looked up at him: "Second Uncle, let me play with it!"

Xiao Er firmly shook his head: "No! A firearm is so powerful; if one is careless—" he shivered, not daring to imagine Tuan Tuan hurt by gunpowder—"the miss will surely be injured."

Feng Zhou beamed with excitement: "Don't worry! I've made many improvements and added something; take a look."

He took the firearm back, pointed to the small copper plate above the grip, and explained: "On an ordinary firearm, once the gunpowder and lead are loaded, a little carelessness can cause it to discharge and injure someone by accident."

"I added this here; normally it can be closed, lodged in front of the trigger, so even if the mechanism is accidentally touched, it cannot be pulled."

He pushed it lightly with his thumb, the copper plate slid open with a click: "Only when it's opened can the trigger be pulled."

After saying that, he pushed the copper plate back to its original place, gently placed the small firearm in Tuan Tuan's hands: "For the chief's item, how could I not be careful? Take it, carry it for self-defense."

Tuan Tuan took it with both little hands: "It's so heavy!"

"How could it not be heavy?" Xiao Ningxun's voice came from behind: "No matter how small, a firearm is still a lump of iron."

A few people turned their heads to see Prince Ning and his four sons walking over.

"Let big brother have a look, okay?" Xiao Ningchen asked softly.

"Sure!" Tuan Tuan handed the firearm to him.

Xiao Ningchen played with it: "It's quite a bit smaller than the previous one, Feng Zhou, well done."

"Not only smaller, but also more accurate!" Feng Zhou raised his hand and pointed at the training ground: "Shall we go try it?"

Xiao Yuanhang picked up his daughter with one hand and took A Dai's hand with the other: "Let's go!"

A Dai was no longer the timid newcomer; she asked curiously, face full of interest: "Tuan Tuan, is this fun to play with?"

"What Feng Zhou made is surely good!" Tuan Tuan beamed proudly: "He's my person!"

Feng Zhou grinned: "That's right!"

The group arrived at the training ground and ordered the soldiers to bring out a straw dummy target.

Xiao Ningchen walked to a spot about ten paces from the straw dummy, took aim, and pulled the trigger.

With a boom, the lead pellet struck the straw dummy's chest, sending straw flying.

Everyone cheered in unison; Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands, while A Dai jumped in fright, covered her ears, and hid behind Xiao Yuanhang.

Xiao Ningchen looked at the small firearm in his hand: "Not bad! If this could be issued to the entire army, it would be like adding wings to a tiger."

Feng Zhou scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed: "Unfortunately, this month I only had time to disassemble and improve the original one; I didn't have time to make a new one."

"Let's wait until we return to Jingcheng, then have the Private Works Bureau produce more and equip all the soldiers."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "How are the improvements to those cannons coming along?"

"I've already thought of a method, I just lack the time," Feng Zhou said wistfully, lifting his gaze to the cannons on the city wall, "If I had another two or three months, I could surely finish them all."

"What's the difficulty?" Xiao Ningxun laughed, "Just stay here until they're all fixed, then return to Jingcheng."

He couldn't help laughing: "Those Red-haired Barbarians right now probably haven't even reached Europa yet!"

Everyone laughed heartily.

"Feng Zhou," Tuan Tuan blinked her eyes at Feng Zhou, "Can you make three first?"

Feng Zhou was puzzled: "Three?"

"Right!" Tuan Tuan pointed at the little firearm in Second Brother's hand, "I'll take this back to give to Mother; she doesn't know martial arts, so with this I won't worry about anyone bullying her."

"The other three, I want to give them to Uncle Luo and Aunt Luo."

Luo Zhenjiang's heart jolted; he reached out with a big hand, took Xiao Tuanzi from Xiao Yuanhang's embrace, and fiercely kissed her cheek: "Uncle Luo truly didn't dote on you for nothing!"

"If Aunt Luo saw this rare item, she'd definitely be overjoyed!"

"Alright!" Feng Zhou laughed: "I'll make three first; when I return to Jingcheng, I'll stop in Jiangzhou and deliver them to them!"

"Jiangzhou?" Xiao Ze walked over, hearing this, he fell into thought.