Chapter 419: The Curved‑Yoke Plow

"So this is your hot air balloon?"

Li Shimin walked over curiously and pinched the already packed hot air balloon.

"Yes, Father Emperor!"

Speaking of it, Li Tai, his whole body aching, came over excitedly to give Li Shimin all sorts of explanations.

Li Shimin was initially listening with great interest, but when he later saw Li Tai's smug expression, his temper flared instantly.

"Are you still feeling smug? Doing such a dangerous thing yourself is one thing, but you also had to bring your imperial brother, I......"

"Stop, stop, stop, don't say any more, Father Emperor," Li Tai said with a bitter face, "Your son has already taken a beating from you, I admit my mistake, and I promise not to do such dangerous things again; perhaps we should just drop it."

Empress Changsun sighed, stepped forward and said gravely: "Tai'er, you're already a grown adult, not a child. You have a wife and children; in everything you do, you can't just follow your own whims—you must first consider those behind you."

"You built a hot air balloon, which is indeed a great achievement, but you didn't conduct any tests before personally taking it, and you also brought your imperial brother. If something were to happen, what would you have Mother Empress do? What about Yu Er and Xin Er?"

Li Tai glanced back at the still‑upset Princess of Yue and his son, hung his head and said dejectedly: "I understand, Mother Empress. I promise I won't do such dangerous things again."

"Good child." With that, Empress Changsun finally felt completely at ease.

However, from behind, Chen Yan slipped up next to the Princess of Yue and whispered, "I know that guy in your family; he'll definitely dare to do this again. When you go home tonight, give him another beating so he remembers his lesson."

Princess of Yue: "......"

She had been a bit angry at first, but hearing that, she was instantly left speechless, half crying, half laughing.

Li Tai has already taken two hefty beatings and several scoldings today—still not enough?

"Fine then!" Li Shimin said irritably, "Speaking so loudly—are you afraid we can't hear? Stop fanning the flames."

He casually brushed the matter aside, then said with interest, "Tai'er, have someone ignite the hot air balloon so I can see with my own eyes whether it's as magical as you claim."

"Alright!" Li Tai's mood cleared up, his back no longer aching and his legs no longer sore, and he cheerfully went to summon people to prepare the balloon's ignition.

It must be said that relighting the hot air balloon was indeed troublesome; a dozen or so people had to exert great effort to get it floating again.

Just as Li Chengqian saw the first time, it was firmly tethered by four ropes about a meter above the ground.

Li Shimin ran his hand over one of the ropes, exclaiming, "It truly is marvelous. Zi An's idea is odd, but not without purpose. If this hot air balloon could be used on the battlefield, it might have extraordinary effects."

Empress Changsun stepped forward, touched the gondola, and marveled, "It really can lift off. Looking at the interior space, it should be enough to carry several people, right?"

The couple gathered around the hot air balloon for a heated discussion, and even the Princess of Yue leaned in curiously.

Anger aside, she certainly wanted to look at the thing her husband had spent months making.

After viewing the hot air balloon, the group left the place where Li Tai had built it, and Li Shimin surveyed the surroundings, "Zi An, you built this so‑called Research Institute to create these strange and wondrous things, right?"

"Of course not!" Chen Yan shook his head, laughing, "I built the Research Institute to create things that truly advance the world."

"For example, the horseshoe, Moe Blade, and Mysterious Night Armor you saw last time were all forged in the Research Institute."

"Oh?" Empress Changsun showed interest.

Since Li Shimin returned from Weinan County last time, he brought back a pair of horseshoes and boasted about them before her, and the same went for the Moe Blade, Mysterious Night Armor, and other weapons and gear.

She had long been curious how these items were forged, and never expected it to be this very place.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, would you like to take a tour with me?"

Chen Yan invited, "Recently the Research Institute, following my specifications, has produced a few externally useful items. This is a good time to show them to both of you."

"Later we might still need your help to promote them outward."

"Fine, let's tour!" Li Shimin had originally come to see his granddaughter today, but since Chen Yan said so, they would first look around the Research Institute.

"Then please follow me."

Chen Yan extended his hand in a beckoning gesture and then led the group onward.

Soon they arrived at a fairly large building, and Chen Yan led them inside, "Your Majesty, this is the Manufacturing Division; many of the Research Institute's creations are produced here."

"For example, our Hydraulic Weaving Machine was made by them."

"Today we will see a derivative of the Hydraulic Weaving Machine, an optimized Drum Cart—the Water Wheel!"

Chen Yan waved his hand to tell the people inside not to bother them, and brought Li Shimin and the others before a large Water Wheel.

Li Shimin placed great importance on it, examined the Water Wheel Chen Yan had built, and nodded appreciatively: "It really does look like the real thing, far better than the old Drum Cart. If we can popularize it, irrigation for the people should become much easier."

For Li Shimin, an emperor who deeply values agriculture, the appearance of the Water Wheel is undeniably significant, yet Chen Yan's many surprises have steadied him; now he can remain composed and no longer act erratically as before.

Although Empress Changsun also valued the Water Wheel, her attention was more drawn to the group of workers in the distance assembling the Hydraulic Weaving Machine.

Women, after all, tend to be more curious about such things, and Empress Changsun was no exception.

"Hey, Zi An, what's this?"

Suddenly, Li Shimin noticed a uniquely shaped plow beside the Water Wheel and asked, pointing at it.

Chen Yan looked in the direction he indicated, smiled knowingly, and said, "Your Majesty, this is the Curved‑Yoke Plow, a heavyweight item for today."

"If the Water Wheel is merely a decorative flourish, the arrival of the Curved‑Yoke Plow is revolutionary for current agriculture!"

Li Shimin's expression grew solemn as he stared straight at him, awaiting his explanation.

"What you hear may be false, what you see is true; I could say a lot, but it's better for Your Majesty to see it with his own eyes!" Chen Yan turned his head and called for Uncle Tao, "Prepare a bit; I need to test the Curved‑Yoke Plow!"

"Duke, this needs no preparation; we have a sturdy ox on the empty ground behind, just harness it and it can be used."

"Fine, then come with me!"

Saying that, Chen Yan gestured for Li Shimin and the others to follow him, and Uncle Tao also came along.

When they reached an open area, a robust old yellow ox was lazily swishing its tail. Uncle Tao deftly fitted the Curved‑Yoke Plow onto it.

"Your Majesty, let me demonstrate," Chen Yan said as he prepared to act, but Li Shimin stopped him.

"No need, I will try it myself!"

"......"