Chapter 343: Volume 1, Chapter 343 – Suizhou City Falls

Rong Luoge looks at Xu Xianfei, "I know recently because of the Weaving Workshop matters you've been constantly communicating with the inner court, it's truly tiring; after this busy period, you can finally rest properly."

Xu Xianfei immediately says, "I have Mrs. Mu Guang's help, so I'm not tired; having something to do makes each day feel hopeful."

A workaholic is probably like this—if you don't work for a day, you feel uneasy, as if you've lost the whole world.

After Xu Xianfei leaves, Rong Luoge takes a slight breath, waiting only for news from Suizhou.

She thinks carefully again; there should be no oversights on her side. The Glazed Tile Workshop's workshop department is bustling, with workshops being built one after another. She estimates that by the end of the year the basic textile industry on her side will be complete, and by next year the workshop will bear fruit.

At that time, she and Han Xinglan won't be as impoverished as now, where they have to split a copper coin in half to spend.

The next day, Jiang Yin went to the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau for a visit; expecting some verbal hassle, he was surprised that Zhang Qisen cooperated fully, and smoothly obtained the craftsmen registry.

Back when Shi Lian was still alive, that registry was his lifeline, and he wouldn't easily show it to others; now that Zhang Qisen did this, she wonders whether Shi Lian would go mad upon learning of it.

Rong Luoge hadn't expected things to go so smoothly; she thought it would take at least a few days. She watches the several large boxes being brought in—this is only part of it; there are many more behind.

She forgot that there is no modern computer system to search at will; now everything relies on human eyes.

Rong Luoge must summon her spirit to flip through the registry; the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau's registry is meticulously clear—names, native places, family members, where they worked, and what trades they practiced are recorded precisely.

This way, she can know exactly each craftsman's specialty, and the boxes are all sorted by craftsman skill categories.

Rong Luoge examines them one by one, finds the silk‑repair registry box, orders it opened; inside are more than half a box of registries. She picks up a book and flips through—whether seconded, involved in accidents, or having earned merits, each is recorded clearly.

The craftsmen currently without work are also marked; Rong Luoge notes their names, selects over twenty, and has the list sent to the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau, so these craftsmen can report to the Weaving Workshop tomorrow.

The Weaving Workshop now also has a silk‑repair process, letting these craftsmen come over to familiarize themselves; once the Glazed Tile Workshop's workshops are finished, these people will all transfer there.

After completing this, she flips through other registries and notices a phenomenon: there are actually many craftsmen without work.

In the past, the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau's craftsmen were so busy they could barely handle two each; recalling that Han Xinglan's Military Industry Bureau has indeed suppressed the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau.

Without work, these craftsmen have no income; now that we can get them to work, they certainly won't refuse, after all they have families to support.

Rong Luoge always proceeds cautiously, looking three steps ahead; this time she not only selected silk‑repair craftsmen but also chose the craftsmen for other workshops she plans to open, prioritizing those with good skills yet no work.

The stack of registry sheets by her side thickens; after she finishes, another seven or eight days have passed. During this period, Han Xinglan mostly stays in the Front Hall, and Rong Luoge is busy with workshop matters; even when Han Xinglan returns, he stays with her in the study to work overtime. To let him rest well, she simply lets him reside longer in the Front Hall, until she finishes this stretch.

Finally getting a handle on things, Rong Luoge lets out a long sigh, instructing Rong Xin to deliver the registry to Xu Xianfei, so Xu Xianfei can process it as before.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Yuan Bao says Suizhou City has fallen!" Que Cai rushes in, a huge smile on her face; she ran so fast that beads of sweat appear on her forehead.

Rong Luoge is startled at first, then asks, "When did this happen?"

"Five days ago," Que Cai replies with a smile.

Five days ago?

Rong Luoge calculates the dates; it's not early, but Xiao Shen always has his own schemes—taking that long to breach the city gate means he didn't start with cannons outright, or he didn't just launch an attack; there must have been a surrender appeal.

Rong Luoge's thoughts were correct; when Han Xinglan returns in the evening in high spirits, the couple says nothing, and he tightly embraces Rong Luoge.

Rong Luoge feels Han Xinglan's heartbeat quicken; she knows that although he appears calm and carefree, inside he's more nervous than anyone. These days he must have been uneasy; otherwise he wouldn't have taken her advice to stay in the Front Hall.

He certainly doesn't want his emotions to affect her, but now that's no longer the case.

The Suizhou city gate has been breached.

Han Xinglan releases Rong Luoge, yet still holds her hand, eyes full of a broad smile, and says, "Luoge, do you know how long it took Xiao Shen from firing the first cannon to breaching the city gate?"

Rong Luoge truly doesn't know, so she shakes her head, "How long?"

"Only three hours."

Rong Luoge is also shocked; three shi is six hours, such efficiency is remarkably high.

"That fast?" she asks Han Xinglan, looking at him.

Han Xinglan smiles and nods, "You don't believe it, and I don't either. When I saw Xiao Shen's report, I examined it carefully, over and over, many times. You didn't see it, but when I had Shi An read Xiao Shen's report aloud in the court, the faces of those old aristocratic ministers turned terribly pale—it was truly gratifying. Luoge, I've never been this happy; you… understand?"

Rong Luoge obviously understands; Suizhou's fall means the aristocratic families cannot resist the power of cannons. Suizhou City was heavily fortified, well supplied, and had support from other families, yet still couldn't stop Xiao Shen's iron hooves.

"A wall that thick, opened with just three cannon shots—who would believe that?" Han Xinglan says even he can't believe it. "Luoge, your method of having Xiao Shen train the soldiers was correct; calibrating the cannon fire indeed makes it more powerful."

Back then, to master this, who knows how much effort was spent and how many times Xiao Shen cursed, and now it's finally worth it.

The city has fallen.

It means that after this battle, he, the emperor wielding divine weapons, sitting on the throne, finally feels no longer insecure, no longer fears the aristocratic armies.

The aristocratic troops are strong, yet cannot withstand his cannons.

He can finally, with rightful authority, begin reclaiming the power from the families and start building the nation he envisions.

He can't hold back, and once again pulls Rong Luoge into his arms.

If he were alone, it might take decades or even a lifetime to accomplish this, but with Luoge, he can do it now.