Chapter 185: It's Snowing

"Your Highness, what is this? It's so beautiful."

The Prince's Mansion.

Zhao Xu brought back three beautiful glass bottles, immediately causing a huge stir in the Prince's Mansion.

The servants and maids of the mansion swarmed over to take a look.

Feng'er and Luan'er's eyes were also sparkling with little stars.

Humans love shiny, beautiful things; this is a biological instinct.

It is precisely because of this that gold, gemstones, and pearls have become expensive luxury goods.

And the beauty of something like glass is on par with these things.

The reason it is cheap in the modern era is simply because it can be mass-produced industrially.

But it is different in the Great Song.

Except for him and his own people, no one knows that the raw materials for glass are very cheap.

By utilizing this information gap, he can make glass generate huge profits for the Prince's Mansion.

"It must be some kind of gemstone, but how did it grow into this shape?" a servant asked curiously.

"It must be a gemstone, but how is this gemstone even more transparent than ice?" a maid clutched her chest, her face full of infatuation.

"So it must be the most precious among gemstones."

"..."

Everyone was talking all at once.

"Your Highness, what exactly is this?" Feng'er began to act coquettishly.

She had stayed in the palace, so she was not like the servants and maids who had never seen jewelry.

In her view, this thing was definitely not jewelry.

Luan'er tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said, "This must be something else His Highness has researched and created."

Zhao Xu pinched Luan'er's waist, "Luan'er is still the smart one."

"This servant also guessed it was like that," Feng'er added immediately.

His Highness Yan Wang always said she was big-chested and brainless; she admitted the former, but she certainly did not accept the latter.

Zhao Xu chuckled twice, "I won't tease you anymore. This thing is called glass. The shape of this bottle was blown, and it was indeed just researched and created."

Upon hearing this, the crowd was even more surprised than before, and they all gasped in shock.

That such a beautiful thing was actually researched and created by His Highness Yan Wang was simply unbelievable.

"Does Your Highness mean that this thing can be created at will, just like perfume?" Feng'er said, covering her mouth.

Luan'er's beautiful eyes were also blinking and flickering.

Zhao Xu nodded, which counted as an admission.

Feng'er was stunned for a long while, then suddenly became overjoyed.

"Your Highness, can you give this bottle to this servant?"

Luan'er did not speak, but the longing in her eyes said it all.

"Take it, take it," Zhao Xu said to the two of them.

He could not withstand Feng'er's pestering.

Upon hearing this, Feng'er snatched a palm-sized glass bottle and would not let go of it in her hands.

Zhao Xu picked up another one and stuffed it into Luan'er's hand.

As for the remaining one... he looked at the envious servants and maids, "I'll give it to you all. Feast your eyes on it for now; I'll give you each one in a while."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Upon hearing this, the servants and maids were moved.

They were different from Feng'er and Luan'er; they were all menial laborers.

That Yan Wang could think of them for such a precious item made them willing to die for him.

After the commotion, Zhao Xu went to the study.

Although glass was novel, there was no need to hide it now.

After all, it was about to be released to the public soon.

Moreover, the price should not be too outrageous, otherwise, it would easily lead to a situation where there is a price but no market.

Of course, excluding the creation of some glass art pieces to be sold as jewelry.

He was just pondering this when someone came to report that Liu Fu had returned.

"Your Highness." Liu Fu's face had a trace of fatigue, but also a trace of excitement; he entered the study and bowed to him.

"How is Shanggu Commandery now?" Zhao Xu asked.

"Replying to Your Highness, after the Rich Clans of Shanggu were uprooted, Shanggu Commandery is like a new birth. The commoners are singing the praises of Your Highness and are actively responding to the decrees of the Government Office."

"Because the Government Office lacks officials, many commoners are taking the initiative to help the Government Office measure the fields, and the distribution of land is proceeding smoothly; it should be finished before this month is out."

"Also, regarding the village head and neighborhood head systems in Yan Commandery, the commoners in each county have elected them themselves. This official has instructed them on how to supervise and coordinate production in the countryside,"

"as well as how to organize the Village Soldiers."

"General Mo's recruitment of soldiers is also going very smoothly. Not only are the young and strong in Shanggu breaking their heads to join the Prince's Personal Guard, but the commoners from Jinzhou who fled to Shanggu Commandery have also come upon hearing the news. It is said that they are about to be at full capacity now; General Mo is overjoyed."

Standing in front of Zhao Xu, Liu Fu spoke continuously like a machine gun, as if he would never finish.

Zhao Xu looked at Liu Fu and listened quietly.

Although this kid was a sycophant, he knew that Liu Fu had great ambitions in his heart.

It was precisely this ambition that made him follow him wholeheartedly.

He was willing to pay any price for it.

After speaking for a quarter of an hour, Liu Fu seemed tired and smiled, "Your Highness, this time when this subordinate returned, it was to deliver the wealth confiscated from the Rich Clans' homes to the treasury. Inside, there are 2.2 million taels of silver, and the rest are jewelry, porcelain, calligraphy, and paintings, as well as the shops of the Rich Clans in various counties. Estimating it, it is also a significant sum. As for the grain and fodder, they were left in Shanggu Commandery to provide relief to the commoners."

Zhao Xu clicked his tongue in surprise upon hearing this.

Wiping out these Rich Clans of Shanggu had truly fattened the Prince's treasury.

These goods were enough for Shanggu Commandery to be self-sufficient.

And through this, he also understood why the Northern Di and the Yuan Family both regarded him as a fat sheep.

He had only taken one Shanggu Commandery and it was already like this.

If they were to seize everything he had, they would surely burst from overeating.

"Mm, not bad, it's just been hard work for you," Zhao Xu said.

When a subordinate works for you, even if you don't mention rewards, you still have to say something heartwarming.

You cannot let people sweat and also feel aggrieved in their hearts.

Liu Fu revealed a smile, "Serving Your Highness, this official finds it not hard at all, but regarding what Your Highness mentioned last time about the examinations..."

Zhao Xu smiled helplessly; he knew Liu Fu would bring this up.

After all, this was the dream of scholars from humble backgrounds like him.

"As for this, you can put your heart at ease; this Prince will not deceive you," Zhao Xu said, and then he told Liu Fu about the matter concerning the Mi Family.

"Old Mi, no, Father-in-law of the Emperor Mi?" Liu Fu's eyes suddenly became exceptionally bright, "This is wonderful. Although this official is far away in Yanzhou, I have heard of Father-in-law of the Emperor Mi's reputation from friends. If Father-in-law of the Emperor Mi can raise his arms and call out, he will certainly be able to send scholars to Your Highness."

Zhao Xu smiled; he had not expected that Liu Fu would also know Mi Zhuang.

As the two were chatting, someone suddenly reported that Chang Wei had arrived.

Zhao Xu thought it was about the school and ordered him to come in.

"Your Highness, the Northern Di have been making constant small moves recently." As soon as Chang Wei entered the study, his expression was grave.

"What is it?" Zhao Xu had an ominous premonition.

"Northern Di scouts have attacked the Lengbao camp, and more and more scouts are appearing. This general is worried..." Chang Wei hesitated.

Zhao Xu frowned; he had guessed that the Northern Di would discover the Lengbao being built.

He just hadn't expected them to carry out harassment and sabotage so quickly.

What Chang Wei was worried about was likely the Northern Di launching a large-scale force to destroy it.

"The only plan now is to send reinforcements to Wuan County to tangle with them..."

Just as he was speaking, he suddenly heard Feng'er's joyful cry in the courtyard.

"It's snowing, it's snowing..."

Hearing this, Chang Wei and Zhao Xu rushed out of the study, leaving Liu Fu with a look of astonishment.

Seeing snowflakes like goose feathers falling thick and fast, Chang Wei laughed heartily, "Your Highness, there is no need to worry about the Northern Di scouts now."