Chapter 51

"Later, your grandson thought that the immortal bestowed this firearm to protect our Great Ming, and since you, Imperial Grandfather, are the founding monarch of Great Ming, the leader of all people, the Son of Heaven, and follow the will of Heaven, your grandson told those people that this firearm was bestowed by Imperial Grandfather and named it the Daming Gun."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed, feeling thoroughly pleased by this bout of flattery from Zhu Gaoxu.

Thinking that once these firearms were produced and used to guard the borders of Great Ming, the common people would know that he had invented them, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a sense of elation.

But at this moment, Zhu Gaoxu took the opportunity to say: "But I didn't expect that as soon as you called me over, you would interrogate me; how could your grandson not feel aggrieved?"

As he spoke, Zhu Gaoxu put on a show of being about to cry.

Hearing this from Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a bit awkward.

He did not believe that everything this little monkey said was the truth; for one thing, why would you ask why the blueprints required calling everyone to the Wanhua Pavilion?

However, since the atmosphere had reached this point, it was not easy for Zhu Yuanzhang to ask more, so he could only turn the page for now; instead, he now had to comfort Zhu Gaoxu.

"Oh, it's my fault, stop crying, tell me what you want."

There were not many people who could make Zhu Yuanzhang admit his mistakes so readily; even Ma Huanghou could barely do it.

Why was Zhu Gaoxu putting on this act? Wasn't it just to get a reward?

Seeing that his goal was achieved, Zhu Gaoxu spoke directly: "Then Imperial Grandfather, just give your grandson one million taels of silver, or one hundred thousand taels of gold would also be fine."

"Pfft, cough, cough, cough."

As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, his saliva choked directly into his lungs.

He understood now that this little monkey had been acting with him the whole time, just like before, climbing up the moment a stick was offered.

Now that he was making such an exorbitant demand, his true nature was exposed.

But since the words had already been spoken, it was not easy for Zhu Yuanzhang to refuse directly, so he could only say tactfully: "Why do you need so much money at such a young age? Change to another condition."

Zhu Gaoxu thought he had asked for too much, so he continued: "Imperial Grandfather, ten thousand taels of silver is fine, one thousand taels of gold is even better."

Hearing that Zhu Gaoxu still wanted so much, Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened: "Do you think I am the Coin Casting Pavilion or a big gold mine? Forget about the money, change to something else."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu became a bit anxious.

He was not eating well or drinking well, and he just wanted money right now.

He had originally planned to ask for more, and then agree when Zhu Yuanzhang countered; after all, one can always counter an offer, and perhaps I would have agreed once he countered, but who knew that Lao Zhu would stop countering altogether and seal off the retreat.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu said directly: "Imperial Grandfather, your grandson doesn't want money for himself; the point is that you previously asked me to solve the food problem for the refugees in the North. I am a clever housewife who cannot cook without rice; I need money mainly to solve the problem in the North."

Hearing this from Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Yuanzhang fell silent for a moment.

As for what ten thousand taels of silver could do, it was indeed not much for solving the food problem in the North; after all, because of the disaster in the North, food prices were rising crazily, and Zhu Yuanzhang believed that Zhu Gaoxu's method would certainly not take long.

But the key was that the Ministry of Revenue was crying poverty every day; if he asked the Ministry of Revenue to take out ten thousand taels for a four or five-year-old child like Zhu Gaoxu, the Ministry of Revenue would definitely refuse to the death.

Thinking this, Zhu Yuanzhang said helplessly to Zhu Gaoxu: "You go do this matter first, and we will talk when you really need the money. You should change to another condition."

Seeing that it was impossible to squeeze money out of Lao Zhu today, Zhu Gaoxu could only change his condition: "My father treats me cruelly at home and doesn't give me food every day; please help me talk to him."

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and refused directly.

He knew about Zhu Di punishing Zhu Gaoxu, and he even approved of it.

This little monkey needed to be disciplined.

He knew the personality of this little monkey, Zhu Gaoxu, all too well.

He was a pure little tyrant, fearless and reckless; the people who could keep him in check could be counted on one hand, and Zhu Di and Xu Miaoyun were among the few who could.

Sometimes Zhu Yuanzhang even felt pity for Zhu Di and his wife for having such a father-trolling son.

If he were to help this little monkey rebel against Zhu Di again, wouldn't Zhu Gaoxu turn the world upside down in the future?

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang could not agree to this request either.

Seeing that neither the left nor the right way worked, Zhu Gaoxu also got temperamental.

"You are, after all, the monarch of a nation; everything was fine just a moment ago, so why can't you agree to even this small request now?"

Consequently, Zhu Gaoxu said directly, "Sigh, actually, Grandson does not want any reward; it is mainly because those craftsmen told Grandson yesterday that the Daming Gun has a flaw."

Hearing this, the corners of Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth curled up, knowing this little monkey was about to pull a stunt again.

But the Daming Gun was indeed very important, so Zhu Yuanzhang could only be led by the nose by Zhu Gaoxu.

"Oh? What flaw does it have?"

"The internal parts of the Daming Gun are very delicate, the manufacturing process is cumbersome, production is very slow, and it cannot be mass-produced."

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned; he understood firearms too well.

Before he ascended the throne, he had used firearms in large quantities when fighting against Chen Youliang and other rebel armies, so he attached great importance to firearms.

But once firearms cannot exert a numerical advantage, their practical significance on the battlefield is not great, and no matter how good they are, they are useless.