Chapter 184: Olive Branches from All Sides

Of course.

This so-called mechanic is not the heaven-defying mecha mechanic of later generations...

Rather, it is the scholar skilled in mechanical mathematics as Liu Zheng understands it. Liu Zheng chatted with him excitedly for a long time, only then learning that he was originally a scholar from England who later wanted to follow the trend of the Great Age of Discovery to make a fortune, which is how he became a Preacher.

This Rhodes not only has extremely high attainments in mechanical mathematics but has even dabbled in geometry and some advanced Western disciplines.

A talent!

Liu Zheng was extremely excited.

At a time when the entire Longyan Dynasty is still immersed in the dream of being the Celestial Empire, he is actually eager to obtain information about the outside world.

Not just technology; he also wants to grasp intelligence on other countries.

The Great Age of Discovery...

How yearning that is.

Rhodes, who has a foundation in mechanical mathematics and geometry, is also a master shipbuilder. Liu Zheng knows that in the early days of the Western Great Age of Discovery, their Karike Fanchuan had already brought shipbuilding craftsmanship to its peak. Later, after many evolutions, the Karike Fanchuan finally evolved into the near-perfect Galleon.

This is also known as the British Battleship!

The Galleon once dominated the seas; the Netherlands, a major colonial power that was at its peak at the time, was defeated by the British Galleons. From then on, the position of hegemon in the Great Age of Discovery changed hands.

"Good!"

Liu Zheng did not sleep all night; he had been communicating with Rhodes the entire time.

Who would have thought that this chat would last the whole night.

Jiang Xuan yawned, looked at the tightly closed door, and then looked at Zheng Yueru to the side, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Zheng Yueru was expressionless: "Go back to sleep!"

"Hey, Sister Yue Ru, no... could it be that this young master likes men? Oh my, you have no chance!"

"Get lost and go to sleep!"

"Ah!"

In the night, the sound of Jiang Xuan's pained cry rang out.

Zheng Yueru rolled her eyes in annoyance and returned to her room, but she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Could it be that this Brother Liu really likes men, and even likes this kind of foreigner?

Thinking of this, she shuddered.

A few days later, Liu Zheng finally emerged from Rhodes's room in high spirits.

He did not care at all about the strange looks others were giving him.

"From today on, no one is to disturb Rhodes!"

Liu Zheng coughed.

This sentence made Jiang Xuan's eyes widen even further, and even Liu Dahao couldn't help but run over, calling out with a bitter face: "Zheng, oh Zheng, what is going on?"

"If you like someone like Qingyang Shuo who is half-woman, that would be one thing, but you like a foreigner too?"

"Oh my, your father is heartbroken. Could it be that I will not be able to hold a grandson in this lifetime?"

Liu Zheng was completely bewildered; what was all this about?

Seeing their expressions, he gave a wry smile: "Please, what are you all thinking? How could I like men!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Qin Zhangfeng couldn't help but ask: "Young Master, that Rhodes..."

Liu Zheng said excitedly: "This person is indeed a great talent. He has no place to put his skills to use for the time being, but if we want to take Hanzhong, we cannot do it without him!"

"What?"

Liu Zheng soon took Jiang Xuan and Qin Zhangfeng to see Qingyang Shuo again.

"Galleon?"

Qingyang Shuo was startled after hearing Liu Zheng's words.

Liu Zheng nodded and said: "I gave that Rhodes half a month to design it, it should be about right. This Galleon can go in both deep and shallow water; it is very flexible and can not only carry soldiers but also has a large space for cargo."

Qingyang Shuo's eyes flickered as he listened: "Young Master, if this Galleon is truly so perfect, then Hanzhong can definitely be taken!"

Several people were overjoyed.

Just as they were plotting to take Hanzhong, Heaven sent them a Rhodes. Could it be that there is a hidden will of Heaven?

This day.

Grand Eunuch Zhou was finally leaving.

Liu Dahao, Liu Zheng, and the others naturally saw him off with great hospitality.

Grand Eunuch Zhou, who had been well-fed with Yinzhou Coins by Liu Dahao, still wore an affectionate smile as he left: "Liu Prefecture Marquis, there are only a few months left until the Mid-Autumn Festival. You must go to the Western Regions to take up your post early; you must not let the Emperor down!"

Liu Dahao hurriedly agreed.

Liu Zheng, however, gave a cold smile.

Take up his post?

Going to take up the post now would be falling right into the Emperor's trap. He had long ago decided with Qingyang Shuo that no matter what, they would not let Liu Dahao return to the capital for the Mid-Autumn Festival to report on his duties.

According to the rules of the Longyan Dynasty, there are two duty-reporting arrangements each year.

One is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the other is the Lantern Festival.

It is already June now, and with only three-plus months until the Mid-Autumn Festival, there is simply not enough time.

Therefore, in their plan, they would use these three-plus months to take Hanzhong and then head straight for the Western Regions. By then, they could use the excuse that the war in the Western Regions was critical and not return to report on their duties; the imperial court should be able to understand.

"Finally gone!"

Watching the Imperial Envoy's procession leave in a grand manner, Liu Dahao wiped the cold sweat from his brow and let out a long sigh of relief.

Liu Zheng asked, "Father, how many Yinzhou Coins did you offer as a tribute to that Grand Eunuch Zhou?"

"One hundred thousand!"

Liu Dahao said.

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zheng felt an immense heartache.

One hundred thousand Yinzhou Coins, at current prices, that was nearly two hundred thousand gold, two million silver! And looking at the current market, which was booming, with Yinzhou Coins appreciating every day, this Grand Eunuch Zhou had made a killing just by coming to Yinzhou once!

Squandering!

Greed!

Fortunately, at this moment, good news arrived from Jinghua.

"Patent Law?"

Liu Zheng was stunned, yet simultaneously overjoyed.

He had always wanted to promote the perfection of this law, but his status was too low and his words carried little weight; recently, there were too many knock-offs of Yintan City products on the market. They couldn't replicate the fine wine yet, but the Yinzhou Plow had already spread across the country; for local farm implement manufacturers, it was not difficult to copy the design and produce the Yinzhou Plow.

This had also caused Yintan City to lose a lot of profit.

Now, with the issuance of this "Patent Law," it would directly protect the interests of Yinzhou.

Patents, combined with branding—Yinzhou was about to take off.

"Zhu Zhen?"

Very quickly.

Liu Zheng also fell into deep thought.

A Western Regions Commissioner had made those big shots in Jinghua unable to sit still. The Zhu Zhen who pushed for the "Patent Law" this time was none other than the current Minister of Personnel.

This olive branch offered was exactly what Liu Zheng needed.

However.

Over the next few days, marriage proposals from various Feudatory Kings represented the attempts of these Nobles to win Liu Zheng over.

A single Commissioner had actually brought about such subtle changes.

Liu Zheng could not help but wonder.

What did the Emperor mean by this?

Could there be some other hidden meaning buried within this difficult problem?

Jinghua.

Imperial Palace.

"Hahahaha, let's see how you make your next move!"

The old Emperor Xie Tianyao was playing chess by himself, laughing up at the sky.

"This is my empire!"

"My empire!"

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes: "If I cannot even outplay a mere yellow-mouthed child like you, then what kind of Emperor am I!"

"In this world, in my eyes, there is no such thing as a variable!"

"Variables, just kill them in the bud, and that's it, understand?"

"I give you the opportunity, the opportunity to inflate."

"And then, I will come to kill you!"

He laughed heartily.

At this moment, a young eunuch walked over, following closely behind, and said cautiously: "Emperor, it is time to take the Immortal Pill."

"Good, bring it to me! I shall live for another five hundred years!"