All the ministers before the emperor were completely dumbfounded as they stared at the scene before them.

Emperor, are you kidding me?

Have you lost your mind again?

Your style has changed way too fast. Aren't you the tyrant who only knows how to shout for war and killing?

What's with you talking so seriously about engineering with people from the Academy of Sciences?

Han Gonglian, Sima Qi, and Chen Gui said in unison, “Your Majesty’s wisdom is as vast as the sky and as deep as the sea. We are far inferior to Your Majesty.”

Zhao Huan looked completely innocent. "I don't know anything! I'm just a shameful liberal arts student. I was just saying it offhand. Please don't do this, it makes me feel embarrassed."

Zhao Huan's eyes gleamed, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly—the standard pose of all novel protagonists when they're trying to show off.

"I don't know anything, I was just mentioning it casually."

Just a casual remark!

Your Majesty, we have already acknowledged that you are more powerful than all of us. Is it really appropriate for you to continue to humiliate us like this?

How can we dare to display our talents in front of you in the future?

Zhao Huan was telling the truth. Although he had traveled back in time from the future, he really didn't dare to act recklessly in areas he didn't understand.

Especially in engineering-related fields, even a small mistake can lead to big problems.

He never doubted the scientific achievements of the ancients.

Ancient Chinese science was actually quite advanced, and it was not, as later generations believed, entirely derived from the West.

Take mathematics as an example. Ancient Chinese architecture did not use a single nail. It required various elements to work together to achieve balance and stability, which would have been absolutely impossible without profound mathematical knowledge.

Furthermore, the design of the Divine Arm Crossbow, with a range of nearly 500 meters, was even more powerful than a flintlock musket. Without high-quality materials and a scientifically designed structure, it would have been absolutely impossible.

Therefore, Zhao Huan felt that he only needed to bring up some general information that he knew, tell them what they wanted, and mention something he knew at the key points.

Although his wisdom may not be greater than that of these ancient people, he at least had a wider range of knowledge.

Zhao Huan said, "My dear ministers, please rise quickly. It's freezing cold outside. Let's go inside and talk."

The emperor led everyone into the house.

There was a stove inside, and a servant from the Academy of Sciences was brewing tea.

"There is something very important that I would like to discuss with you all."

The ministers all pricked up their ears.

Zhao Huan took the musket and gently stroked the barrel. The smoothness of the steel and the outline of the animal patterns on it seemed to convey boundless power.

"Since the firearms from the Ordnance Bureau and the Academy of Sciences will be ready for use next April, shouldn't the Council of State Affairs help me find more raw materials to manufacture these muskets?"

Xu Churen's eyelids twitched. In fact, the imperial court had been developing iron and copper mines all along.

However, in the past, half of the copper and iron needed to be used to mint coins, but now that Jiaozi (the paper money) is being implemented smoothly, a lot of copper and iron has been saved.

However, after the new emperor ascended the throne, he began to abolish the vacant positions in the Imperial Guards, but instead set about expanding the source of soldiers.

This undoubtedly increased the demand for copper and iron significantly. While iron ore mining could be solved by increasing manpower, forging could not be solved simply by increasing manpower.

Especially the muskets, judging from their shape, required a completely new manufacturing process.

Xu Churen said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the key to improving copper and iron production lies in accelerating the forging process, not in increasing mining."

Tang Ke also said, "Your Majesty, I agree with what Minister Xu said. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has already begun recruiting private merchant caravans in various prefectures and is making good progress. There is no shortage of people for mining copper and iron. The key issue is how to speed up the forging of copper and iron."

"You two are indeed my trusted ministers, sharing my concerns and thoughts," Zhao Huan said. "Regarding copper and iron forging, I have Minister Sima. I remember that Minister Sima wrote a book specifically on the methods of copper and iron forging, entitled 'The Treatise on Metallurgy'!"

Sima Qi said, "I have indeed gathered the essence of my ancestors to write this book."

In fact, China's iron smelting technology made great progress during the Northern Song Dynasty.

The amount of iron increased significantly. According to the statistics of the total amount of iron smelted last year reported by Xu Churen at the beginning of this year, it reached tens of thousands of kilograms, including weapons and all copper and iron coins.

This figure is higher than the steel production of the country after its first industrial revolution.

But this is nothing for a superpower with a population of over 100 million. Zhao Huan believes there is still a lot of room for improvement. China is a vast country with abundant resources and minerals. If they are unwilling to mine their own resources, they can mine resources from other places.

In short, advanced technology is the key.

Zhao Huan asked, "In that case, has this book been distributed through the Arsenal, the Mint, and the Three Departments' Iron Cases Bureau?"

After the emperor said this, the ministers all fell silent.

Zhao Huan looked at them with suspicion: "Is there some difficulty?"

Sima Qi replied, "Your Majesty, I have already submitted the 'Records of Metallurgy' to the Ministry of Works, the Arsenal, the Mint, and the Imperial Treasury."

Zhao Huan immediately understood. These departments must have been staffed by bigwigs who, relying on their centuries of experience in their respective industries, looked down on Sima Qi's "Treatise on Metallurgy".

Zhao Huan said, "Since you have all been given the opportunity, then you should all work hard to improve it. As the ancient saying goes, 'Change leads to progress, and progress leads to success.' There is no end to learning, and I wish that all of you would strive together to achieve this."

"Your Majesty is wise; your subjects have learned much."

Now that the emperor has made his stance clear and hasn't pressed further, the heads of each department should go back and reflect on their actions, and accept what needs to be accepted.

Otherwise, if the emperor asks again and there is no change, the emperor will lose his temper again.

Xu Churen didn't want his salary to be withheld any more times.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!