Chapter 39: Tasteless to Eat, the Lumi Gun!

But very soon, Zhu Gaoxu felt that he had thought of this matter too simply.

Thinking about it, that was also true; not to mention that after transmigrating, he had lived in the Wangfu of the Prince of Yan without any worries about food or clothing.

Even before transmigrating, he had meat at every meal.

At this age of four, when he was just growing his body, drinking a bowl of white porridge paired with a small dish of pickles, Zhu Gaoxu expressed that he could not eat it, he simply could not eat it.

Touching his little mouth, watching his family happily stuffing their faces on the side, Zhu Gaoxu sighed, turned around, and walked toward the outside of the Wangfu of the Prince of Yan.

There was no help for it; out of sight, out of mind. He did not yet have the guts to challenge Zhu Di.

Walking out of the Wangfu of the Prince of Yan, Zhu Gaoxu had just felt that something was not quite right somewhere, when Mao Xiang, dressed in plain clothes, arrived behind Zhu Gaoxu without a sound.

Facing the elusive Mao Xiang, Zhu Gaoxu did not pay it any mind.

However, looking at the plain clothes on Mao Xiang's body did make him sigh slightly.

"Day after day, there isn't a single thing that goes my way. What was wrong with wearing a work uniform properly? It was so imposing and stylish. Why insist on this civilian-style look? Sigh..."

Glancing at Mao Xiang, Zhu Gaoxu simply decided not to take the Feudatory Prince Carriage and followed Mao Xiang on foot toward the Ministry of Works.

On the way, Zhu Gaoxu discovered a few familiar-looking people secretly tailing them; after a careful look, he realized they were other members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and stopped paying attention.

Chatting and laughing with Mao Xiang along the way, Zhu Gaoxu finally arrived at the Ministry of Works yamen.

Looking at the red-lacquered gate, Zhu Gaoxu looked up and saw four large characters written on the plaque hanging at the entrance of the Ministry of Works: "Instructing and Managing the Hundred Crafts."

Knowing he had found the right place, Zhu Gaoxu led Mao Xiang and was about to walk inside.

But just at this moment, the yamen runners guarding the gate stopped the two of them.

"This is a restricted area of the Ministry of Works; unauthorized persons are not allowed to enter."

Giving Mao Xiang a look, Mao Xiang understood immediately and took out a token, saying: "The Nanyang Commandery Prince has come to the Ministry of Works on imperial orders to handle business; he wishes to see your Minister Yan."

The guarding yamen runners were startled upon hearing this. Their status was low, and they only knew that a Prince might come today, but they did not know that the Nanyang Commandery Prince, the current favorite in the imperial court, was still just a toddler.

Although they were shocked inside, the runner was quite sharp; after bowing, he hurriedly ran inside to report to the officials within.

Before long, the runner came back at a trot.

"The Nanyang Commandery Prince has kept you waiting; our Minister Yan invites you in."

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and led Mao Xiang inside.

Although he wanted to be like the characters in movies and dramas and give the other party a tip, unfortunately, he was still neck-deep in debt himself, so he would not pretend to be wealthy.

Upon entering the Ministry of Works yamen, he saw a crowd of officials and craftsmen busy walking about with various tools.

Zhu Gaoxu was very curious about this; he wanted to understand to what extent the current level of industrial development had reached, and at the same time, he wanted to know the methods and techniques used by the ancients for construction.

Unfortunately, before he could get a general look, he was interrupted by someone.

"Minister of Works Yan Zhenzhi respectfully welcomes the Nanyang Commandery Prince."

Zhu Gaoxu looked toward the sound and saw a middle-aged man standing in front of an arched gate of a small courtyard, cupping his hands in a salute.

Realizing in his heart that this person was the Minister of Works, Zhu Gaoxu dared not be negligent and hurriedly stepped forward to return the salute: "Minister Yan, there is no need for such formalities. It is I who am disturbing you today."

"The Nanyang Commandery Prince is joking. I have already received His Majesty's decree; please, Your Highness, come inside to speak."

After speaking, Yan Zhenzhi stepped aside and invited Zhu Gaoxu into the courtyard, and then the two walked one after the other into the room where Yan Zhenzhi worked.

Zhu Gaoxu sat in the seat of honor. Just as Yan Zhenzhi was about to call for tea, he was stopped by a gesture from Zhu Gaoxu, who then went straight to the main business.

"My purpose in coming here today is mainly for two things."

"The first thing: I am acting on the orders of the Imperial Grandfather to build a piece of agricultural equipment. This device can save half the manpower. You surely understand the key to this; in a moment, please invite the craftsmen in this field, and I will tell them my ideas. Once the finished product is made and successfully tested, this method must be promoted nationwide."

Yan Zhenzhi was shocked after hearing this.

Previously, someone from the palace had come to give instructions, only saying that the Nanyang Commandery Prince wanted to build a type of agricultural tool and that he should just listen to the Nanyang Commandery Prince's instructions for the specifics.

But who could have imagined that the agricultural tool Zhu Gaoxu wanted to manufacture could actually save half the manpower? Yan Zhenzhi dared not be negligent and hurriedly nodded to show he would not be remiss, then waited for Zhu Gaoxu to state the second matter.

But regarding this second matter, Zhu Gaoxu became cautious.

He directly had Mao Xiang go outside to stand guard, forbidding anyone from coming near.

After Mao Xiang went outside, Zhu Gaoxu then asked cautiously: "Which craftsmen in the Ministry of Works have the best skills in manufacturing the Three-Eyed Gun?"

Looking at Zhu Gaoxu's cautious expression, and combining it with the question Zhu Gaoxu asked, Yan Zhenzhi could not help but think in the wrong direction.

"Why does Your Highness ask about these? Could it be that His Majesty has some secret decree?"

Hearing Yan Zhenzhi's words, Zhu Gaoxu was stunned; he clearly did not know what this had to do with Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Lao Zhu wouldn't even know I have the blueprints for the Lumi Gun, would he?"

He shook his head, secretly thinking that this idea of his was too absurd. Before today, he didn't even know he would have such a thing, so it was even more impossible for Lao Zhu to know.

However, seeing that Yan Zhenzhi had clearly misunderstood and thought that Zhu Yuanzhang had some arrangement, this was exactly what Zhu Gaoxu wanted. With Lao Zhu as a big tiger skin to lean on, he could save himself a lot of trouble.

At once, Zhu Gaoxu coughed twice in a showy manner, and then looked at Yan Zhenzhi with a meaningful gaze.