Chapter 96: In a Fit of Anger

In those years, the imperial court valued civil service over military affairs, so Zhao Shaozhu set a development path focused on the civil official career; the family hired famous teachers from the South and the North, but they never actually went out on a study tour.

The literary atmosphere in the North was not strong, and since their family members in office had to guard the border cities for years, if they wanted to go on a study tour, they would certainly head to the South, where the literary atmosphere was flourishing.

It was too far, and the journey was highly risky; after the family considered it, they felt it was unnecessary, so they invited some famous scholars and literati from the South to come over to teach knowledge from books while also speaking about the livelihoods and social conditions of various places in the South.

Wen Gu spoke of "gains from a study tour," and the father and son of the Zhao family did not doubt him.

In this era of inconvenient transportation and poor information flow, people would believe anything one said. If one could produce evidence, even more people would believe it.

And what Wen Gu produced, from the Honeycomb Coal Stove to various types of Mirror, was concrete proof!

Everyone's starting point and purpose for a study tour are different; even on the same paths and visiting the same famous teachers, the insights gained are not entirely the same.

When the literary atmosphere was flourishing, most people on study tours did not truly place much importance on craftsmen and folk techniques.

In the past, these "gains from a study tour" of Wen Gu's would have been considered neglecting one's proper work.

"What a pity, in these chaotic times, how many precious talents and techniques are buried!" Zhao Shaozhu said with immense regret.

The Head of the Family Zhao also thought to himself: when the world is peaceful in the future, he could let the descendants of the family continue this tradition of "study tours."

Study tours are truly of great use!

On the other side, Wen Gu returned to the small courtyard where they lived.

On the way, he was also pondering matters.

The Microscope he gave to his uncle as a New Year's gift had a lens combination that magnified up to nearly two hundred times.

No one knew what the Poisonous Insects that created the Evil Plague actually looked like, or how big they were.

With the limited naked-eye observation available today, magnifying a few dozen times was certainly not enough.

If the Poisonous Insects that created the Evil Plague were even smaller, and one wanted to study them starting from the eggs, two hundred times might suffice, but to be safe, even higher magnification was needed—three hundred times, four hundred times...

At high magnification, one could even see bacteria, though, of course, limited to just seeing them.

Fortunately, what triggered the Evil Plague was just a parasite, not bacteria or a virus.

Nowadays, making lenses and objectives relies entirely on manual grinding; it is not as if one can immediately produce a lens of any magnification one desires.

Perhaps after constant trial and error, a successfully ground lens might still fail to reach the target magnification.

To better study that kind of parasite, from its growth cycle from egg to adult to its living environment, it would be best to prepare lenses of all specifications, from low to high magnification!

That would require more high-precision craftsmen!

It would require more people to participate in the work of grinding lenses!

The Microscope and Telescope were of a confidential nature and could not be let known to outsiders.

Hyperopia Glasses and myopia glasses were for the outside world; there would certainly need to be workshops and shops, as well as a professional team to cultivate, and whether based on prescription or age, a large number of lenses would be needed to support them.

Therefore, no matter which kind of "Mirror," it required more craftsmen, a larger production system, and more professional craftsmen and practitioners!

It involved complex work in every aspect!

Wen Gu did not have that much time to keep an eye on it, nor did he have suitable people to manage it, so he simply threw all this work to the Zhao family.

Going everywhere to recruit craftsmen, building workshops, talent management, and so on—all these affairs were handed over to the Zhao family.

His uncle and cousin still had quite a bit of rest time every day; if they squeezed it a little, they could spend more energy on the "Mirror" project.

Thinking this, Wen Gu returned to the small courtyard and began to write a plan that would allow the Zhao family to improve their operational efficiency.

The next day, after Wen Gu finished writing the plan, he did not give it out immediately; he intended to go for a stroll to relax before coming back to check for omissions.

The adults of the Zhao family were still very busy, so Wen Gu intended to go see his nephew.

This time when he gave New Year's gifts, he gave his nephew a Kaleidoscope, and he did not know if the child liked it.

Strolling to his nephew's courtyard, he learned that his cousin was also there and had been for a while.

He had not heard of any urgent matters; was his cousin actually, for once, cultivating father-son affection here?

Walking a short distance inside, he saw that pair of father and son under the veranda.

The child stood there with a stiff face, looking as if he were angry but holding it back.

What had provoked...

Walking a few steps closer, he saw his cousin holding a cylinder, looking through it with one eye in concentration, while constantly rotating the body of the cylinder.

Wen Gu: "..."

Oh, he knew the reason.

The Kaleidoscope he gave his nephew was indeed very attractive to a child who was young and had never come into contact with such toys.

Now it seemed it was also very attractive to some adults who were knowledgeable and broad-minded.

Wen Gu did not soften his footsteps; Zhao Shaozhu, who was holding the cylinder and turning it to look, looked over, a flash of embarrassment crossing his face.

He explained: "When I first came, I thought he was holding... that thing."

When he came over, he saw his son playing with this cylinder outside, and he had been startled at the time, thinking Wen Gu had sent a Telescope over.

When he got it in his hand and looked, eh???

It was quite interesting.

He had only intended to check it, but as he looked, he began to study it.

The child, having had his toy snatched away, dared to be angry but dared not speak, and could only stand to the side with a stiff face.

In a few words, Wen Gu also understood the cause of the matter.

The child liked the newly received gift very much; the veranda was brighter, so in his spare time, he took the new toy and ran out to play, not afraid of the cold, wearing gloves to look at it outside.

Then his father saw him and had been hogging the toy ever since.

Now that Wen Gu had come over, Zhao Shaozhu was too embarrassed to continue playing with this "toy," so he returned the item to the child and walked to one side with Wen Gu along the veranda.

Listening to Wen Gu talk about the construction and principles of this Kaleidoscope, Zhao Shaozhu was very interested, but compared to the Telescope and Microscope that could turn the tide, the Kaleidoscope could only be considered a small toy; what he was truly interested in was what other interesting things Wen Gu had seen on his study tour?

"Besides this Kaleidoscope, what other objects related to 'Mirror' did you see when you were on your study tour?"

Zhao Shaozhu said, his tone sighing: "Back then, I almost went out on a study tour too, but unfortunately, it didn't happen."

Wen Gu smiled politely.

"Speaking of what I saw and heard during my Study Tour related to 'mirrors', I am reminded of another object, also related to mirrors—a type of peeping device that was created."

"Oh? Tell me about it!" Zhao Shaozhu perked up.

"The principle is actually quite simple; it is made using the reflection of mirrors. You can even make an initial version using flat mirrors." Wen Gu briefly explained the simplest version of a periscope.

Zhao Shaozhu could not quite grasp the principles of reflection that Wen Gu spoke of, but a "peeping device" might be something they could use right now!

"How long would it take to make this initial version you speak of?" Zhao Shaozhu asked.

"I can do it now. When I was making the mirrors, there were a few flawed parts, and I brought them all with me," Wen Gu said.

Even if they were flawed pieces, they could not be left at Jingxing Fang, so Wen Gu brought them along when he came to the Zhao Family. In any case, they were just a few pieces of Glass, and a small box was enough to hold them all.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shaozhu became even more interested.

"Do you have anything else to do right now? If not, why not go and start working on it now?"

"I don't have anything else to do, but Cousin, shouldn't you have a lot of official business? Shall I make it and bring it to you?" Wen Gu said.

"No need for such trouble, I will go with you," Zhao Shaozhu said decisively. "Tell me what other items are needed, and I will have someone prepare them."

"Stiffer paper, and glue that can stick the mirror pieces together."

"Just that?"

"To make a simple one, that is enough. I have scissors on my side."

Confirming that Wen Gu was not joking, Zhao Shaozhu called over the attendant following him, gave a few instructions, and then headed toward the small courtyard where Wen Gu lived.

The attendant behind him wanted to speak but hesitated. Young Master, you still have visiting guests waiting over there!

Zhao Shaozhu of course knew he still had many things to handle, but those matters were not particularly important; by comparison, he wanted to know what the peeping device Wen Gu mentioned looked like!

He had already given orders when he had someone go fetch the paper and glue; he asked the scholars over there to receive the visiting guests on his behalf.

Wen Gu also knew that this cousin had many social engagements recently, so to save time, he did not waste words. After arriving at the small courtyard, he had Tietou bring out the box containing the parts.

Inside were several square or round small pieces of Glass mirror.

Zhao Shaozhu took a look; they were indeed flawed products. Some of the small Glass mirror pieces were blurry in parts, and some had defects on the edges; one look and it was clear these were various problems that occurred during the production process.

Wen Gu took two square small Glass mirror pieces of similar size.

The paper and glue were delivered quickly.

With various types of paper stacked together, Wen Gu selected two sheets with suitable material and used a Charcoal Pencil and a small bamboo ruler to draw lines.

Having never made one before, he could only draw a rough sketch first, then have Zhao Shaozhu assist him in pasting, cutting, and making additions and corrections to craft it into the desired shape.

"My hands are rusty; it's made quite crudely," Wen Gu said.

Zhao Shaozhu looked at the two strange square tubes covered in "patches" and could see that Wen Gu was indeed rusty, but he did not mind:

"As long as it works!"

Wen Gu then attached the two Glass mirror pieces to the reserved positions at both ends of the square tubes.

The paste used for the paper was starch paste, and the glue used for the mirror pieces was another kind, freshly boiled, which stuck quite firmly.

The two of them were busy over here.

At the same time, Zhao Yifu had originally wanted to call Zhao Shaozhu over to discuss some matters, but upon asking, he learned that Zhao Shaozhu had abandoned several visiting guests and run off to Wen Gu's small courtyard.

After a moment of thought, Zhao Yifu also came to the small courtyard, arriving in a wheelchair.

Yesterday, because he was too excited about the New Year's gifts Wen Gu sent, he had used his legs for too long and experienced some discomfort.

After all, he had not fully recovered, so he still needed to recuperate well. Except for important occasions where he needed to stand for a short time, he intended to let his legs rest at other times.

There was no one else left in the courtyard. Tietou was guarding the courtyard gate and did not stop him when he saw it was the Head of the Family of the Zhao Family. Wen Gu had told him which people could enter the courtyard directly.

The Head of the Family of the Zhao Family, full of curiosity, entered the room and found the two of them squatting under the window, looking sneaky.

The Head of the Family of the Zhao Family frowned: What kind of behavior is this!

Is there not a shred of the upright and honorable demeanor of a gentleman!

"What are you doing?" he asked in a deep voice.

The two people under the window: "Simulating reconnaissance at a field outpost!"

A moment later.

The wheelchair was empty, and there was one more person under the window.

Zhao Shaozhu was squeezed to the side, the core position was forcefully occupied by the Head of the Family of the Zhao Family, and the only initial version of the periscope was also firmly grasped in the hands of the Head of the Family of the Zhao Family.

"Not bad, not bad! Very good! It works!"

The Head of the Family of the Zhao Family played with the crudely made paper tube in his hands for a good while before standing up, slowly walking to the wheelchair with Zhao Shaozhu's support to sit down, and inquiring about the whole process of making this thing.

"I originally thought this kind of flat Glass mirror could only be used as a luxurious ornament; now it seems it has important uses!" Zhao Shaozhu sighed with emotion again.

Although it could not compare to divine-tier artifacts like the Telescope and Microscope, as long as it was used well, it could also play a great role.

Between spring and summer, there are times when it is necessary to reduce the time spent exposed and strengthen concealment, but at the same time, one must maintain observation and monitoring of the outside.

The periscope is also quite good; just as its name suggests, it is suitable for lurking in the dark.

Zhao Shaozhu's heart stirred, and he asked Wen Gu: "Can this type of periscope be used in combination with the Thousand-Mile Mirror?"

Wen Gu nodded: "One could add a device like the lens of a Thousand-Mile Mirror, but those would require craftsmen to explore and improve. The difficulty of polishing the lenses..."

The Head of the Family of the Zhao Family understood, and could not help but sigh inwardly: It still comes down to craftsmen!

More craftsmen are needed!

Process improvement cannot be completed in a short time; let's produce a batch of the basic version first.

"How many of these qualified Glass mirror pieces can be produced?" the Head of the Family of the Zhao Family asked.

"The technical level for making flat Glass mirrors is limited, and the process is quite complex. I have told Aunt about this before; currently, only Qingyi Daozhang at Qingyun Temple has the highest success rate."

Wen Gu recounted the production steps, and told the Zhao father and son about the technical difficulties and the problems that easily arise.

He also took out all the flawed products brought in the box to compare and look at them.

"Many of the technical details are not something ordinary craftsmen can easily achieve; for the best quality and highest success rate, it has to be a senior expert like Qingyi Daozhang who has a background in chemistry... or rather, Alchemy!"

The Head of the Family Zhao pondered for a moment: "Since that is the case, then let Qingyi Daozhang work a little harder."

Qingyun Fang.

It's holiday time!

It's the New Year holiday!

Qingyi Daozhang was in a good mood; it was a rare time for rest, and he was very relaxed.

He didn't need to worry about other dangers, he was well-fed and warmly clothed, and he even had young Daoist acolytes to serve him—life was carefree!

Gou Shusheng had also gone to Zhao Fu and wouldn't come over from time to time to urge him on tasks; out of sight, out of mind, his mood was even better!

Thinking again about the Danguan that was about to be built, his mood became even more delightful.

Qingyi Daozhang fantasized in his mind.

The planned scale of the Danguan was quite large, to be built in several phases, but as long as the first phase was built, he could move in and wouldn't need to borrow space in Gou Shusheng's residence.

Soon he would have his own territory, and Qingyi Daozhang began to scheme again.

Currently, he had six young Daoist acolytes under him; in fact, there were a few other promising candidates he had his eye on, but he didn't dare to take in too many at once—in Xinzhou, it was better to be cautious.

One shouldn't take too large a step at once; it's easy to...

Once the Danguan is built, he would then proceed slowly.

He would brush off the tasks given by Gou Shusheng whenever he could; in the new year, he must prioritize his own Danguan and make his own plans the primary focus!

Refine some medicinal pills, refine some incense for Exorcism, and also Dharma Artifacts, to supply those who want to accumulate Merit in the future.

Recently, he had met a few new benefactors and believers, and he planned to have a heart-to-heart with them after the New Year to deepen their friendship.

Just as he was happily scheming, a young Daoist acolyte ran in hurriedly: "Master! Someone from Zhao Fu has arrived!"

Qingyi Daozhang stood up quickly.

Could it be a New Year's gift? A reward?

Every New Year festival, those in power would also send some gifts to show their appreciation.

Qingyi Daozhang looked composed, stroking his newly grown beard.

The Zhao Family still maintained a vigilant attitude toward sects like Buddhism and Daoism, and Qingyi Daozhang had often grumbled about it in secret.

However, the Zhao Family had always been quite prompt when it came to getting things done and paying rewards.

Let me see, what reward has the Zhao Family sent today?

Qingyi Daozhang smiled and went out to welcome them.

There were indeed New Year's gifts, and there were rewards too.

There was also a document.

He opened it, and his smile vanished instantly.

The warning antenna in his brain whirred!

What was written in the document, in summary:

One, strong support for the construction of the Danguan.

Two, permission to take in more young Daoist acolytes to develop the Danguan.

Three, the Zhao Family had given a task, with a very high reward.

The first point, the Zhao Family's support, was very tangible support; from construction materials to decorative items, everything was provided, and there was no need to worry about various inspections.

Added to the other rewards he had received previously, it could be said that the entire construction of the Danguan, including decorations like Glass windows, would not require Qingyi Daozhang to spend a single penny.

A good thing.

The second point meant he could take in twenty young Daoist acolytes. He didn't need to worry about taking too large a step and touching upon the taboos of those in power; he could recruit openly.

Also a good thing.

Taken individually, these two points were quite good.

But...

But!

Damn it!

The point is in the third item!

He had to refine Glass mirrors again?

And he had to refine so many!

The document detailed the specifications and quantities; although he did have a plan to produce some small Glass mirrors as "Dharma Artifacts" to supply to benefactors and believers, he hadn't intended to refine so many!

How much of his time would this workload take up!

Even the ox in the Village couldn't pull a plow this big!

Qingyi Daozhang was completely baffled.

He couldn't figure it out!

What were they going to do with so many mirrors? Subdue demons?

Logically, this kind of mirror, when made more ornate, was a luxury item for wealthy families to use, and the usage period was short.

Luxury items should be rare; they couldn't be produced in such large batches. If they couldn't be sold and the usage period passed, they would become waste.

With such a large quantity, Xinzhou certainly couldn't consume them all; were they to be used for trade with other forces?

Distressed.

He could brush off the tasks given by Gou Shusheng, but did he dare to brush off the tasks given by the Zhao Family?

Should he decline it?

Think of an excuse to refuse?

Qingyi Daozhang held the book, looking it over again and again.

The more he looked, the more wrong it felt.

This style, it faintly had the handiwork of Gou Shusheng!

Hiss—

He took a deep breath.

After applying the label of Gou Shusheng to it and looking again, those twenty Daoist acolytes were actually taken in to be Glass-making apprentices, right?

Written as Daoist acolytes, read as laborers!

If a plow cannot be pulled by one ox, then use many oxen to pull it!

He, the master, still has to labor and toil!

Having to provide so many Glass mirrors every month, he calculated the workload and only felt his vision go black!

Doing all this, how could he still have time to deepen his interactions with the benefactors and believers?

It is absolutely the handiwork of that dog thing!

Dog thing!

In a fit of anger, he "slapped" the document onto the ground.

After a moment of silence, he quickly picked it up again, sitting there and flipping through it neurotically.

The front page wrote the benefits given, the back wrote the tasks assigned.

Flip back, they really give so much!

Flip over, damn it, I don't want to do it!

Flip back, it's what I've dreamed of!

Flip over, damn it, I don't want to do it!

Conflict!!

What exactly did Gou Shusheng say at the Zhao Family?

He won't even let people have a peaceful New Year!

(End of this chapter)