Chapter 234: The Parting of a Beauty

"Your Highness, this subordinate wishes to make this thing independently."

Gazing at the blueprints, Wang Chong's eyes were filled with pleading.

Zhao Xu shook his head, "It is not that this Prince underestimates your ability; you cannot do it."

Just like that popular saying of the modern era, the principles of building a nuclear bomb are open to the world.

Why is it that only a few countries can independently manufacture nuclear bombs?

It is evident that behind any achievement, there must be a powerful industrial system to support it; it is not something that can be made just because one wants to.

In this purely agricultural era of Great Song, the industrial foundation is almost zero.

Therefore, before building Artillery, he must first solve the problems of iron and steel smelting.

Following that is the problem of cannon molds; only when these two are complete will the Armory Bureau have the capability to manufacture Artillery.

In the modern era, the Flintlock was born in Europe in 1547 and was subsequently equipped for two hundred years.

But the reason the Flintlock could be made during that period was because its precision clockmaking industry was already very prosperous.

It possessed the capability to manufacture precision parts.

The same logic applies.

For the Flintlock in Yanzhou, the three problems of the gun barrel, the firing mechanism, and the Flint must all be solved before production can proceed smoothly.

And among these problems, he intends to use cast iron parts to drill out the gun barrel directly, so as to solve the problems of the barrel bursting and the uneven inner wall weakening the power.

But to do this, he must first get a water-powered Drilling Machine created.

The firing mechanism is the core component of the Flintlock.

The Flint is clamped onto the firing mechanism; when the Trigger is pulled, the Flint falls, striking sparks to ignite the Gunpowder.

The structure of this component is relatively complex, possessing a Spring-wheel Mechanism.

What he wants Wang Chong to do is to focus solely on making this thing.

As for the Flint, it is relatively simple; the Fire-striking Tool used by the ancients requires a Flint to strike sparks for ignition, and many smooth stones from riverbeds are just that.

All of the above is precisely why it requires multiple processes, which is why he said Wang Chong could not do it alone.

Even if he were left to do it alone, it would consume a massive amount of time.

Most importantly, the firing mechanism cannot be made just by copying a blueprint.

The steel required for the Spring-wheel Mechanism must be Spring Steel.

"Your Highness, do you still not trust this subordinate?" Wang Chong felt increasingly aggrieved, yet still refused to give up.

Zhao Xu recalled Wang Ying saying that Wang Chong had been complacent lately due to having achieved a few minor successes.

So he chuckled twice, "Then you first make this firing mechanism; if you succeed, this Prince will hand everything over to you."

"Yes, Your Highness." Wang Chong was overjoyed.

Having ordered this matter, Zhao Xu returned to the Prince's Mansion.

At the entrance of the mansion, he saw a carriage.

The carriage had beaded curtains hanging down, and the inner side was lined with red fabric; at a glance, it was a carriage for a young lady.

With a trace of doubt, Zhao Xu entered the mansion.

He saw Xu E standing in the center of the courtyard, smiling as she looked at him.

"Miss Xu," Zhao Xu called out.

When Yancheng was under siege, he had heard from Feng'er that Xu E had led the people of Tianxiang Lou to help defend the East Gate.

He had originally intended to pay a visit to express his gratitude, but with so many affairs, he had forgotten for a moment.

"Your Highness." Xu E curtsied, her joy tinged with a hint of reluctance.

During this time, she had witnessed with her own eyes the Yan Wang grow from a mad, foolish prince whom even the Zhang Family looked down upon, into a feudal prince who could not be ignored and who held the power of Yanzhou in his hands.

Yet the more noble the Yan Wang became, the further she felt the distance between herself and him.

"Your Highness, this humble woman has received orders to leave Yancheng, and has come specifically to bid you farewell."

Just as Zhao Xu was about to speak, Xu E said.

"Miss Xu is leaving?" Zhao Xu was stunned for a moment, feeling a slight disappointment in his heart.

After all, Xu E had helped him a great deal during this time, and there had been a tender, ambiguous warmth between them.

Xu E nodded, "Tianxiang Lou was originally in Yanzhou to assist Your Highness in opposing the Yuan Family; now that the Yuan Family has been destroyed, there is no longer any need to remain in Yanzhou."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xu said, "Since the Yuan Family is destroyed, can you not now say who the owner of Tianxiang Lou is?"

Xu E shook her head gently, "Your Highness, please do not force this humble woman; when the time is right, Your Highness will naturally understand."

Zhao Xu sighed slightly; this was the barrier between him and Xu E.

"Since that is the case, this Prince will not mention it." Zhao Xu cupped his hands, "Then where is Miss Xu going?"

"This humble woman is not very sure either; I can only say that if there is fate in the future, this humble woman and Your Highness will meet again," said Xu E.

"I only hope that by then, Miss Xu and this Prince can be open and honest with each other," said Zhao Xu.

Xu E's eyes dimmed; the Yan Wang had always maintained his guard against her, but he was right to do so.

In the treacherous struggle for power, one careless move could lead to total defeat.

How could the Yan Wang know that she and Tianxiang Lou were not using a Beauty trap on him?

Who could not act out a performance convincingly?

With a bitter smile, she bowed to Zhao Xu and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Zhao Xu reached out a hand, but then lowered it again.

Getting straight into the carriage, Xu E looked up at the plaque of the Prince's Mansion.

Lowering the beaded curtain, she ordered the coachman to drive toward the South City Gate.

In the carriage, Xu E felt as if all her strength had left her, and she leaned her entire body against the carriage wall.

Xiao Huan sighed and said, "Young Lady, you should have known this day would come long ago. Like all the women in Tianxiang Lou, you and I are merely tools for our master. No matter how sincere our hearts may be, in the eyes of others, they are still false."

Xu E stared blankly and said, "I know, but so what? Moths know they will die, yet do they not still throw themselves into the fire?"

As she spoke, she let fall a tear.

The carriage exited Nanmen and continued south along the imperial road.

Having traveled less than a li, suddenly the sound of horse hooves rang out.

Then Xu E heard a familiar voice, "Miss Xu, please stop the carriage."

"It is Xu Lie." Xiao Huan lifted the beaded curtain, and sure enough, Xu Lie was sitting on his horse.

"Commander Xu, what is the matter?" Xu E wiped away her tear stains inside the carriage and stepped down.

"His Highness asked me to give this to Miss Xu." Xu Lie dismounted and pulled a pair of Gold Buyao from his bosom.

"His Highness also said, thank you for your kindness, Miss Xu; he will not forget it. If Miss Xu ever encounters difficulties in the future, feel free to come to Yanzhou to find him."

Xu E took the Gold Buyao, and a brilliant smile suddenly bloomed on her face, "Please thank His Highness on my behalf, Commander Xu."

Xu Lie nodded, glanced at Xiao Huan, pulled on his reins, and galloped back the way he came.

Staring blankly at Yancheng for a moment, Xu E boarded the carriage.

Caressing the Gold Buyao, a trace of a smile lingered at the corners of her mouth.

The Prince's Mansion.

Zhao Xu arrived at the study, gave a bitter smile, and then picked up his brush to organize the knowledge in his mind, compiling it into textbooks.

At this moment, Mi Wen knocked on the door with a smirk.

"His Highness has quite the fortune with beauties. I saw it clearly just now; she truly is a beauty of peerless, city-toppling grace. But what I admire even more is that Your Highness could remain unmoved by such beauty. If this were in Jingshi, I don't know how many sons of officials would break their heads fighting over her."

Zhao Xu looked up and shot him a sidelong glance, "Are you idle?"

"I am a bit idle," Mi Wen said. During this time, he had wandered all over Yancheng, but he still had not figured out what to do.

"Then take these books back and copy each one ten times." Zhao Xu pointed to the six books he had compiled on the table.

Mi Wen looked at the six books, each as thick as a thumb, and his face turned pale, "Your Highness, I am not *that* idle."

"Enough nonsense, hurry up." Zhao Xu glared at him.

Mi Wen wore a bitter face; had he known, he would not have come to tease Yan Wang.

He had truly brought this discomfort upon himself.