Chapter 249: Lesson 1

"This is only right. Artillery is clearly a rare item, and furthermore, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world." Han Zheng exchanged glances with the others.

The remaining seven nodded one after another.

"Mm, that is good." Zhao Heng continued to yawn.

He had summoned these people so early because he was worried they would truly do as Liang Cheng said and find a scapegoat to steal the artillery Yan Wang had given him.

That would be a loss that outweighed the gain.

Rising to walk toward the back hall, wanting to take a nap, he remembered one thing and said to Liang Cheng: "Yan Wang sent thirty-six pieces of artillery. Take them to look at those eighteen pieces. Five thousand taels of silver per piece; those who want them can take them immediately. Just have the silver delivered to the Yanzhou Trading Firm in Jinling."

Ever since he took charge of Yanzhou, the Yan Commandery Trading Firm had changed its name; it was now called the Yanzhou Trading Firm.

Liang Cheng replied "Yes" and made a gesture of invitation.

When Dou Wei and the others heard that one piece of artillery cost five thousand taels of silver, they felt a sudden pang of heartache.

At this rate, ten pieces of artillery would be fifty thousand taels, and one hundred pieces would be five hundred thousand taels of silver.

This Yan Wang was truly black-hearted.

Yet even so, they had no choice but to buy.

The Eight Great Influential Clans could certainly unite when opposing the Royal Clan.

But when it involved their own respective interests, they would be scattered like loose sand.

If he didn't buy, other families would.

In that way, the armies controlled by their own families would naturally be a cut below those equipped with artillery.

While Dou Wei was secretly pondering this, the others were having almost the same thoughts.

Finally, they looked at each other and simultaneously laughed with a guilty conscience.

They arrived at the Imperial Guard armory.

Everyone saw the artillery lying on the ground.

This artillery was exactly the same as the artillery from the test fire.

Dou Wei said: "There are eighteen pieces of artillery here in total, two for each family. As for the remaining two, why don't we decide by playing rock-paper-scissors?"

Everyone agreed.

None of them wanted to be magnanimous and give them up, so it was better to leave it to luck.

Upon hearing this, Liang Cheng secretly smiled.

It was his first time seeing the ministers of the influential clans value something so highly.

In the past, they would still show mutual courtesy.

After a round of rock-paper-scissors, Wang Zi'an won; he cupped his hands, looking exceptionally smug.

They had people bring the silver, collected the artillery and the method for operating it, and then everyone dispersed in a hurry.

Returning to their respective mansions, they almost all made the same decision: to send the artillery back to their own commanderies to have craftsmen replicate them.

At five thousand taels of silver per piece, they did not want to be the suckers.

The only exception was Ma Yuan.

After he had the artillery sent back to Qinzhou, he advised Ma Xuan to quickly purchase artillery in Yanzhou to deal with Xiliang.

Although he had always been at odds with Ma Xuan, he was, after all, a member of the Ma Family.

In recent years, Xiliang had repeatedly raided the borders; many Ma Family descendants had died in battle, and the Ma Family had lost quite a few cities.

With artillery, perhaps the current situation in the northwest of Dasong could be saved.

……

Yanguan.

Under Mo Yu's gaze, Tiemuta departed from the city gate.

After walking less than a hundred paces, Tiemuta suddenly turned his head and pointed at his crotch, his face full of mockery.

He knew that this young general was none other than the youngest son of the Yanguan Great General Mo Di, so he wanted to humiliate him.

But the mockery on his face quickly froze.

Mo Yu took a bow and arrow from a soldier beside him, drew the curved bow, and notched an arrow; a sharp arrow flew straight toward him.

Terrified in his heart, he dodged immediately, and the arrow just grazed his face.

He could even feel the chill in the wind.

"Bastard!" Seeing Mo Yu notch a second arrow, he immediately reined in his horse and galloped forward.

A burst of mocking laughter came from behind.

A voice came: "Remember this, this general is Mo Yu under Yan Wang, not an Imperial Guard general, and I won't indulge you! If you're not convinced, feel free to attack!"

Tiemuta glared at Mo Yu with hatred; from the journey all the way from Jinling, all the Dasong officials had been respectful to him.

He had almost forgotten the uniqueness of Yanzhou, and now he had just been jolted awake.

After galloping for a distance, he slowed his horse's pace.

A Northern Di official said: "Once we leave Yanzhou, it is our Northern Di territory. This Mo Yu actually dared to shoot an arrow at the Great Khan; this is deliberately provoking a war."

"If we weren't currently looking for a way to break the artillery, why would we have to suffer such humiliation?" another said.

Tiemuta's eyes flickered. "Say no more. If you cannot even suffer a little grievance, how can you talk about achieving great things? Upon returning to the Grassland this time, there is immediately a major matter to be done that is even more important than artillery."

"A major matter more important than artillery?" The officials all looked at Tiemuta, their faces showing curiosity.

Tiemuta nodded. "Whether this matter can succeed will determine whether I can continue to hold the Khan position in the future."

"It is actually that important? What is it?" The officials were increasingly astonished.

"I cannot say yet, because it requires the Khan's consent, but what I can tell you is that it has to do with the note Dou Kuang gave me." Tiemuta suddenly admired his own brilliance.

After Dou Kuang showed him the note that day, a method to resolve the Northern Di's predicament suddenly popped up.

This method was like the sun piercing through dark clouds; he had found a way to break the current deadlock.

Why must they keep staring at Yanguan?

In the belly of the Northern Di, and to the northwest of the Great Song, lies Xiliang.

As long as the route through Xiliang is opened, the Northern Di Cavalry can head south from Yin Mountain and outflank Yanzhou.

However, to do this, they might need to form an alliance with Xiliang.

Or they might need to directly annihilate Xiliang.

Which of the two they specifically choose depends on how the Dou Family stirs up the winds and clouds in the northwest.

It is precisely for this reason that he so easily agreed to the demands of the powerful clans.

To him, Warhorse are certainly important.

But the unity of man and horse of the Northern Di Cavalry is something practiced from childhood on horseback.

It is not as simple as just giving them a horse, so selling a few is of no consequence.

"Next, we only need to wait quietly for the changes," Tiemuta added.

During this period, they can also redouble their efforts to find the Artillery.

Yancheng.

Zhao Xu appeared in the Armory Academy with a textbook.

This is a small courtyard to the west of the Armory.

The small courtyard has wing rooms on three sides and a large hall in the front.

The students sit quietly right here.

At this moment, he held the textbook in one hand and chalk in the other.

The manufacture of chalk is very simple; it is just Lime mixed with water, solidified and that is it.

The Armory has plenty of Lime, so there is naturally no shortage of chalk.

Besides this teaching tool, at the very front of the academy is a wooden board painted with black lacquer.

After giving the students seven days to report to the academy.

The students of the Three Great Academies had all arrived.

Thus, he began his lecture according to his own plan.

"Greetings, Your Highness." As Zhao Xu entered, three hundred students bowed in unison.

In addition to two hundred scholars who could read, the Technology Academy also had one hundred children of craftsmen who had been selected.

Ordering everyone to sit, Zhao Xu said, "Many people say the Technology Academy is a prison, but this King wants to tell you that some people's prisons are on the outside, while others' prisons are in their hearts; as long as your hearts are free, no one can truly bind you."

Pausing for a moment, he continued, "The Technology Academy is the most important priority of Yanzhou. The things this King teaches you might confuse you at first, but you will soon understand. For this first lesson, this King will first tell you about some interesting things."

As he spoke, he took out a Glass Cup, a candle, and brought over a basin of water.

Lighting the candle and placing it in the water, he inverted the Glass Cup over it; soon the candle went out, and the water level inside the Glass Cup rose.

At this moment he said, "Who can tell this King why the candle went out, and why the water rose?"