“Father, leave it to you then. I’ve completed my task. I haven’t gotten a good rest for the past few days. Don’t bother me unless it’s important!”
With that, Zhao Chen waved his hand and turned to leave!
“Wait, how do you use these things…?”
“The diagrams detail the methods. Those alchemists are at the Yin Yang House. You can just bring them back. The method of making gunpowder is written down as well. I’m sure with their alchemy skills, it won’t be difficult to make gunpowder!”
“Alright, I understand. You may leave.” Ying Zheng waved his hand and turned his attention away from Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen: …………………………
It feels like I’m putting in all the effort and getting no appreciation.
Is this what they call “killing the donkey after crossing the river”?
Oh well, as long as I’m not bothered, it’s all good. I can go back to being a lazy bum.
Zhao Chen left without turning back.
“Your Majesty, we’ll take our leave!”
“Hmm!!”
Yan Fei, Yue Shen, and the other two bowed to Ying Zheng and went after Zhao Chen.
“Gongshu Chou, how many diagrams did the Young Master give you? What weapons are there? Are they all as powerful as the grenade?”
Wang Jian couldn't wait to ask Gongshu Chou.
“General, to be honest, I don’t know. I only built many of these weapons according to the diagrams. The finished products were all taken by the Young Master. He only used the grenade today. The other ones weren’t brought here.
Now, to find out, we’ll have to wait for them to be built.”
“Then what are you waiting for? Go and make them now!” Wang Jian said in a hurry. He was clearly very eager, and he didn’t even care about Ying Zheng.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me for my lapse in manners.”
“Hahaha, to make my General Wang lose his composure, that’s quite extraordinary. Quite extraordinary indeed.
Gongshu Chou, how soon can you build a few of the weapons according to the Young Master’s diagrams?”
“Your Majesty, if the gunpowder can keep up, in three days, I can build the grenades, flintlock rifles, and cannons!”
“Good, I’ll give you three days. Build the weapons first. And for the gunpowder, I’ll have the alchemists expedite their production!”
“This subject will not fail you.”
Ying Zheng nodded.
“Meng Yi, Tun Weak, Zhao Gao!”
“This subject is here!”
“This general is here!”
“This servant is here.”
“Mobilize the Hei Bing Tai, Shadow Secret Guard, and Luo Wang. Strictly guard the alchemists. If the secret of gunpowder leaks out, bring their heads to me.”
“Yes!!”
Ying Zheng glanced at the civil and military officials present and said nothing. He waved his hand.
“That’s all for today’s court meeting. All of you may leave!”
“This subject will take his leave!”
……………………
Zhao Chen’s life returned to his usual lazy routine. Besides continuing to impart the Dao, he spent his time accompanying the four women in their cultivation.
Of course, he was the one guiding them.
Especially Xiao Meng.
Despite her cold appearance in front of others, she was undoubtedly a martial arts fanatic and always loved to ask Zhao Chen for advice!
Zhao Chen, without getting tired, guided Xiao Meng.
He even passed on his own summarized cultivation methods to the four women.
While Zhao Chen enjoyed himself, rumors started spreading throughout Xianyang City, even throughout all of the Qin Dynasty.
The rumors were all about Zhao Chen.
He tested the grenade in the Xianyang Palace. The loud boom was spread by spies of the six other states as proof of Ying Zheng’s tyranny and that heaven was sending down thunder to punish him.
Surprisingly, many people believed it.
After all, the deafening sound like a thunderbolt genuinely scared a lot of people.
With the rumors spreading, they started to doubt whether their King had done something to incur the wrath of heaven.
They even started to slander Zhao Chen, claiming that the strange occurrences three years ago were proof that he was a demon born.
Zhangtai Palace.
“Meng Yi, Tun Weak, Zhao Gao, have you caught the people spreading rumors?”
“Your Majesty, this general has captured two. After interrogation, they were Zhao spies!”
“Your Majesty, this general has captured three as well. They were Wei and Chu spies!”
“This servant has also captured three. One was a Han spy, and the other two were from the Mohist School.”
“The six states have nearly all gathered here! Very good. Very good!”
Ying Zheng’s voice was ice-cold!
“Wang Jian!”
“This subject is here!”
“From now on, select 3,000 elite soldiers. Have them train with the flintlock rifles and cannons, and learn how to use the grenades. Once they are fully equipped, give me the quickest possible time to exterminate Han!”
“This subject accepts your order!!”
“Prime Minister! Is there any way to stop these rumors?”
“Your Majesty, this subject… has no solution! These rumors have spread too fast, and it’s clear that the six states have been plotting this for a long time. It’s difficult to stop them now!”
“Difficult? Then find a way! I don’t want to hear these rumors anymore.”
Ying Zheng said in a deep voice!
“Your Majesty, unless you strictly forbid everyone from talking about this, but that might incite resentment from the people!”
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng fell silent.
In the past, Ying Zheng might have issued such an order, forbidding the people from discussing this matter.
But after studying Zhao Chen’s plan, he realized that everything must be based on the people.
Therefore, he couldn’t issue such an order.
Right, his son. Since he caused these rumors, he should be the one to resolve them.
“Zhao Gao, go and call the Young Master over!”
“Yes!!”
At this point, everyone realized that perhaps the Young Master might have a way to solve these rumors.
Soon, Zhao Chen walked in!
“Father… King, what’s the matter? Did something go wrong with the weapon manufacturing?”
“Didn’t you ask Zhao Gao?”
“Ah, I was afraid you’d be anxious, so I just teleported over.” Zhao Chen wouldn’t admit that he hadn’t asked at all.
Ying Zheng didn’t care about this and told him about the rumors spreading in Xianyang City.
“It’s likely those people from the six states spreading rumors!”
“The Young Master is wise, it truly is the people of the six states spreading panic! Right now, the entire Xianyang City, and even many parts of the Qin Dynasty, are talking about this matter.”
“Father, can’t you resolve it?”
“Cough cough!” Zhao Chen’s question directly choked Ying Zheng.
“Alright, stop being cheeky. Do you have a solution?”
“Of course, I do. If they can spread rumors, why can’t we? There must be plenty of things going on in the nobility of the six states. We can just expose them. Like, how a certain king stole his brother’s wife, or how a certain nobleman oppressed the people… and how, in a certain place, a sow could climb a tree!
Just divert the topic. It’s better to let it out than to suppress it. We just need to divert the attention of the Qin people, right?”
Everyone:………………
Ying Zheng stared at Zhao Chen with a black line on his face.
What kind of nonsense are you spewing?
“Your Majesty, the Young Master’s method is excellent. Rumors themselves have no credibility. As long as we use other rumors to break the current ones, it’s good enough.” Feng Wan said excitedly.
“Father, now that our printing technology and paper have become widespread, why don’t we publish a newspaper? We can control public opinion. This would be a good thing for the Qin Dynasty. It can enrich the lives of the Qin people and also let them know about what’s happening in the Qin and the six states.
We can also use the newspaper to convey our policies targeting the people. It would prevent the people from being like blind people with eyes!”
“Hmm??”
“A newspaper?”
Everyone thought for a moment, and their eyes lit up. What a brilliant idea!
This way, we control what’s said!
This way, we can control public opinion!
Good, truly amazing. Everyone cheered silently in their hearts.
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