Chapter 55: Zhu Di's Thoughts

"Let's set other things aside for now. I came this time to ask you all: when can the first batch of Daming Guns be finished? If this method is feasible, how many Daming Guns can be produced?"

Hearing Zhu Gaoxu's question, Yang Yan and the others exchanged glances, whispered among themselves for a moment, and then replied to Zhu Gaoxu: "The Daming Gun already has blueprints, so manufacturing them is not difficult. We can start after a day or two of study. If this mold method is feasible, the first batch of Daming Guns will be produced in a month. The quantity of this first batch will be smaller, but there should be around a hundred or so. However, the second batch can have at least four or five hundred. If we increase the manpower, the output will be even higher."

Hearing this from Yang Yan, Zhu Gaoxu nodded; this already exceeded his expectations.

"Good. In three months, I am to lead troops to the North to suppress rebels. I hope to have the New Army test our Daming Guns first. These men need at least a month of training, and some must be weeded out, so in two months, you must provide me with at least two thousand Daming Guns. As for the manpower issue, I will personally report it to the Emperor; I believe that will not be a problem."

Hearing this from Zhu Gaoxu, everyone offered their compliance.

With the official business concluded, Zhu Gaoxu really could not stay in this place any longer, and subsequently left with Yan Zhenzhi.

As soon as they stepped outside, Yan Zhenzhi said with an admiring look, "Your Highness the Prince is truly a pride among men, solving in a few words the problem that had troubled a group of old craftsmen with twenty or thirty years of experience in manufacturing firearms."

After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand modestly. Just as he was about to speak, a eunuch walked in from outside.

Seeing that Zhu Gaoxu was also there, the eunuch was startled, then bowed to Zhu Gaoxu and said, "Greetings, Nanyang Commandery Prince."

Zhu Gaoxu nodded, thinking that Lao Zhu had some other imperial decree for him, but he did not expect that the person Lao Zhu wanted to find was Yan Zhenzhi.

"Lord Yan, the Emperor summons you to the palace."

Upon hearing that the Emperor wanted to see him, Yan Zhenzhi did not dare to delay. After bidding farewell to Zhu Gaoxu, he left in a hurry with the eunuch.

That Lao Zhu was looking for Yan Zhenzhi was also within Zhu Gaoxu's expectations.

He figured it was also to ask about the Daming Guns; after all, what Zhu Gaoxu had told Lao Zhu in the morning was too outlandish and lacked detail, so it was only natural for Zhu Yuanzhang to ask.

Now that he was alone, Zhu Gaoxu walked slowly out of the compound. Too lazy to wander elsewhere, he saw his sedan chair still parked at the entrance, so he got in and returned to the Wangfu.

Rarely, as soon as Zhu Gaoxu returned to the Wangfu, he saw his father, Zhu Di.

Even though Zhu Di was back and not in his fief, he had plenty of matters to attend to, so both father and son left early and returned late. Plus, Zhu Gaoxu had not been eating at home for the past two days, so despite living in the same place, they truly had not met.

Zhu Gaoxu was still quite afraid of this father, so after seeing Zhu Di, he offered a salute and was about to walk around him.

But at this moment, Zhu Di called him to a halt.

"Come to the Study and chat with me."

Withdrawing the foot he had just lifted to slip away, Zhu Gaoxu followed behind Zhu Di, looking reluctant.

Arriving at the Study, Zhu Di sat behind the desk and then pointed to a chair to the side, signaling for Zhu Gaoxu to sit as well.

Sitting down obediently, Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Di, waiting for him to speak.

Zhu Di first looked at Zhu Gaoxu, then asked, "I heard you took your eldest brother to Wanhua Pavilion to drink flower wine yesterday?"

Hearing this from Zhu Di, Zhu Gaoxu subconsciously wanted to get up and run for his life.

However, reason kept him sitting still.

He figured if he ran, the beating would be even worse.

Denying it was useless; Zhu Di was not stupid, and bringing up Lao Zhu probably would not help either.

Seeing there was no other way, Zhu Gaoxu simply admitted it openly.

But the scolding he imagined did not come. Instead, Zhu Di said with hidden meaning, "I heard the Minister of Works, Lord Yan, was there too?"

Seeing Zhu Di ask this, Zhu Gaoxu did not know what he meant for a moment, but he still nodded.

Seeing his son did not deny it, Zhu Di continued, "You have grown up. Your father rescinds the previous punishment imposed on you. From now on, eat what you want at home, and when you spend money outside, just keep a record. If you want silver, tell your mother and let her give it to you."

These two sentences from Zhu Di seemed unrelated, but Zhu Gaoxu seemed to have grasped some information, and was so startled he stood up straight from the chair.

"Father, could it be that you..."

Before Zhu Gaoxu could finish, Zhu Di reached out and interrupted him. Seeing his son's reaction, he knew this little brat must have figured it out.

"My son is truly clever, just like your mother, and like me."

But hearing Zhu Di's praise, Zhu Gaoxu did not feel happy; instead, beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Father, isn't it a bit too early... actually..."

"You don't need to say more. Your father knows what he is doing. It is just a test; it is still too early to say. If it doesn't work, we will just go back to the North." Zhu Di interrupted Zhu Gaoxu again.

Afterward, he spoke to Zhu Gaoxu about other things.

"I see you have been quite busy lately; it seems you have come up with some fresh gadgets."

With Zhu Di's current status, he naturally had his own channels of information. Even though Zhu Gaoxu thought he had kept it well-hidden, in the eyes of those with real power, it was too easy to inquire; it just depended on whether they wanted to know or not.