The hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Minister Rong's back was soaked with sweat. He really didn't mean it!
It is normal for scholars to look down on the common people. But people have always only despised him in their hearts and never showed it on their faces.
Minister Rong is a true warrior! How dare you directly refute His Majesty's face!
The young emperor frowned slightly, looking obviously unhappy. I wanted to praise him for his good parenting skills, but I didn't expect this bastard to bluntly say that parenting is not up to par!
So infuriating! Rong Weijing is simply unreasonable!
Seeing that he was a neutral party, the emperor wanted to use his son to win him over to the reform faction, but now it seems that this plan has failed.
"Rong Xi, the eldest son of the Rong family, has wonderful ideas and the ability to create tools. He is also kind and generous, and has a quiet and elegant character. I would like to give him a thousand taels of gold and a thousand pieces of silk. What do you think, my ministers?"
Cheng Hao was about to speak, but when he saw Qin Ke glance at him coldly, he suddenly became timid and felt extremely aggrieved.
The other ministers all thought that rewarding money and silk was nothing, and they believed that the emperor did not really want to promote merchants and craftsmen, so they all said, "Your Majesty is wise."
After the court session ended, all the ministers left together.
Rong Weijing's heart was still beating wildly and he was sweating profusely. Suddenly, he heard a cold snort from the person beside him and turned his head to look.
Cheng Hao just glared at him fiercely and walked away angrily.
Rong Weijing: “…”
Crazy Cheng! He really has a brain disease!
Rong Xi knew nothing about the disputes in the court.
He was asking Hu Yulin to purchase tinfoil and mercury. The Wei Dynasty often used tinfoil to make paper money for the dead, and there should be quite a lot of it on the market.
Hu Yulin had many connections and soon purchased a lot of tinfoil and mercury.
He didn't know what Rong Xi was used for, but as they became friends over time, he knew that once Rong Dalang wanted to purchase new materials, it must be that there was a new device coming out.
He waited in the dark.
As expected, within a few days, Rong Dalang brought new tools and invited him to Jiang's iron shop.
"Da Lang, what is this?" Hu Yulin was quite curious when he saw that the cloth bag in his hand was not big.
As Madam Jiang was there, Rong Xi handed the bag over and said with a smile, "This is for Madam Jiang."
The three thought he was joking. Madam Jiang took it with a smile, opened it and took a look, then she exclaimed in surprise.
Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping also moved closer to take a look.
It was a square piece of glass, but although it was called glass, it was not really glass. Glass is transparent, but it can reflect people's faces.
"This is..." Madam Jiang was in complete disbelief when she saw her own clear face in the mirror.
Rong Xi's eyebrows were curved, handsome and elegant, "A gift for you."
It is natural to give a mirror to a girl.
Everyone in the Wei Dynasty used bronze mirrors to look at their faces, but the picture was not clear enough. Therefore, after glass was invented, Rong Xi began to consider the issue of mirrors.
The tin foil and mercury are purchased to cover one side of the glass to make it into a mirror.
"Da Lang!" Hu Yulin saw another business opportunity and excitedly shook his wrist, "You really are, really..."
He was no longer able to describe it with words. Dalang really kept giving him surprises. He was simply like a god descending to earth!
Rong Xi was touched by him when he saw him like this, and said mischievously with a wink: "Do you want to benefit the people?"
These objects were very ordinary to him, but they were enough to cause a sensation in the hearts of the Wei people.
Rong Xi couldn't empathize with them, but seeing how excited the three people were, he suddenly felt heroic.
"Yes! To benefit the people! Hahahaha."
Hu Yulin smiled happily and suddenly pulled him into his arms, "Da Lang, you are doing very well."
These are excited words, but also words from the heart.
The boy in her arms is well-behaved, gentle, and open-minded. Although she has only known him for a few months, she cannot help but like him.
It was not just for the business opportunities, but more because of his gentlemanly qualities.
It makes people feel pity and admire it.
Feeling his beating heartbeat, Rong Xi smiled slightly and patted his back gently, "If it weren't for Brother Xuanshi's help, I wouldn't be able to make these artifacts."
Hu Yulin took a deep breath, let go of Rong Xi, his eyes were very gentle, "Da Lang is a genius, I should do those mundane things."
The two smiled at each other, and everything was said without words.
"I want to find Engineer Feng and ask him to make some mirror frames." After Rong Xi finished speaking, he made a gesture to leave.
The three of them immediately agreed to go together.
When he arrived at Feng's house, he met Feng Shan and explained his purpose. When Feng Shan saw his reflection in the mirror, he was also extremely shocked and naturally agreed.
"Engineer Feng, after the matter is completed, I will need you to escort me to Shengjing."
Rong Xi made several mirrors, one of which he planned to send to the Prince's Mansion as a way of repaying Qin Ke for helping him to reach the ears of God.
There was no reason for Feng Shan to refuse.
A few days later, an urgent letter arrived at the Prince's Mansion, and along with it came a package from Mengshan.
After Qin Ke returned home from the palace, he saw Chen Chuangu coming towards him with a smile on his face and something in his hand.
"Guess what Feng Shan sent?"
Hearing that it was Feng Shan, Qin Ke stood up immediately, snatched the letter and package from his hands, and opened the letter to read it first.
The handwriting was unique and easy to read, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
Chen Chuangu raised his eyebrows and moved closer to take a look, but was cruelly pushed aside and could not see a single thing. Seeing Qin Ke's extremely gentle expression, he couldn't help but touch his chin, his mind turning.
The cold-faced Prince Qin seems to have changed his character recently, and everything concerning Rong Dalang is quite different from usual.
There really is something fishy going on.
"What did Dalang give you?" Chen Chuangu pretended to open the package.
Qin Ke glanced at him sternly, snatched the package back, and said expressionlessly: "The letter said it was a mirror."
"Mirror?" Chen Chuangu suddenly burst into laughter, "Why did I give you a mirror?"
What is the point of looking in the mirror as a real man? That's what little girls do.
Dalang is really naughty.
Qin Ke's face became colder. He opened the package and Feng's wooden box, only to see an exquisite round mirror lying quietly inside the box.
The mirror surface is smooth and translucent, and every detail of the object is clearly visible.
"This is a mirror!" Chen Chuangu naturally saw it and exclaimed in disbelief.
It turns out that the mirror that Dalang was talking about was a new type of glass mirror. When this mirror reflects a person, it is as if there is a person in the mirror who is exactly the same as oneself.
Even the small mole on the earlobe is clearly visible.
"Rong Dalang..." Qin Ke murmured in an almost inaudible voice, then he chuckled again, his eyes and brows brightening.
The person in the mirror also smiled and whispered.
Thinking about what Rong Xi had entrusted him with, Qin Ke put the mirror back into the box and walked out of the house with it.
Chen Chuangu didn't even have time to ask him where he was going.
Qin Ke had just left the palace but returned again. The emperor was surprised and saw him holding the wooden box in his hands. He suddenly had an idea and felt helpless and amazed.
"Da Lang made something new?"
His eyes fell on the wooden box, waiting for Qin Ke to open it.
The lid of the box was opened, Qin Ke took out the mirror and placed it in front of the emperor. The emperor was suddenly startled by himself in the mirror.
He opened his eyes wide and saw that the faint mole next to his nose was clearly visible. He leaned forward to take a closer look, and the person in the mirror also moved closer.
He observed it repeatedly for a while, and suddenly laughed and said, "I was born with such a beautiful appearance."
Previously, bronze mirrors were not only unclear, but also easily distorted faces, so one could only roughly see the facial features.
Qin Ke put the mirror back into the box, his expression softening.
"Your Majesty, during today's court meeting, Minister Cheng proposed to protect the benefits of craftsmen's original creations. I think this is feasible." Seeing that the emperor was quite interested, he continued, "There are countless skilled craftsmen in Wei. In addition to Minister Rong, there should be even more people with ingenuity. If the court sets up special rewards, it will surely stimulate a wave of creativity and prosper Wei."
The emperor smiled helplessly and said, "You told Cheng Hao what he said, didn't you?"
The two had known each other for more than ten years. Although the emperor had never seen through Qin Ke, they had some tacit understanding.
Cheng Hao is just an enthusiastic weapon maker and he would never say such words. Observing Qin Ke's recent behavior, the emperor understood a little bit.
"Were these ideas also proposed by Rong Dalang?"
Qin Ke nodded, "I think the basis of reform is for the people."
Having said that, it is complex and not simple. Even though the new tools are convenient, they are expensive. Ordinary people can barely make ends meet, so how can they afford to buy these tools?
Only the wealthy can afford it.
If new utensils become luxuries, how can they benefit the people?
Both of them knew that it was not easy. After a moment of silence, Qin Ke suddenly said, "It was because I was anxious. Your Majesty, please forgive me."
He was so anxious that he lost his composure.
The emperor smiled and said, "It's okay. I am also anxious. But I believe that things will work out when we get to the bridge."
Qin Ke bowed and tried to take the box and leave, but was stopped by the emperor.
"Leave the mirror behind."
"Dalang has described in detail the method of making mirrors in his letter. I would like to go to the Ministry of Works, and Your Majesty will be able to get a mirror soon."
This was made by Rong Dalang himself, so naturally he had to keep it with him.
In the Wei Dynasty, only Qin Ke dared to seize things from the emperor.
The emperor glared at him and said helplessly: "Let Cheng Hao hurry up."
Qingzhou is located along the river.
Rong Xi was reading in the study when he suddenly heard a sound coming from the window. He looked up and saw a familiar figure looking at him arrogantly.
He was surprised for a moment, and immediately opened the window to welcome the little ancestor Bai Shuang.
Bai Shuang shook his long feathers and stood arrogantly on the desk.
Rong Xi took the letter box off its foot and unfolded it to look at it.
The letter was written by Qin Ke himself, saying that the emperor's reward would be coming soon, but his proposal was not approved by the emperor, and he listed the reasons afterwards.
After reading the letter, Rong Xi sighed softly, yet felt relieved.
Lament the limitations of the times and feel grateful for Qin Ke’s friendship.
He thought for a moment, wrote a letter, fed Baishuang some meat, and asked it to take the letter back to Shengjing.
Glass manufacturing was still in its infancy and could not be mass-produced, let alone mirrors.
Under the current circumstances, it is still better to proceed steadily and steadily.
Hu Yulin had great ambitions, so he built several kilns and hired a large number of craftsmen to make glass. He paid very generously, and the craftsmen were loyal and hardworking. Hu's glass gradually spread throughout Qingzhou and even further.
If glass caused heated discussions in Mengshan County, then the emperor's edict made Mengshan County as boiling as boiling water.
On the day of receiving the imperial edict, the county magistrate Chen Yi led all the officials in the yamen, together with Rong Xi, Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping, to listen to the order with great fanfare.
In Mengshan County, everyone, from the elderly to the little ones, knows the name Rong Xi.
In the imperial edict, the emperor highly praised Rong's son and rewarded him with some gold and cloth. Regardless of the amount of money, just being praised by the emperor is a great honor.
Linxi gave birth to a Minister Rong, and now Minister Rong’s legitimate son is also so outstanding!
How about white body? What about craftsmen? Rong's son and Hu and Jiang were all commended by the emperor. What an honor!
Hu Yun knelt in the crowd, his eyes filled with tears of excitement. Although his son failed to pass the imperial examination and become an official, he had a bright future ahead of him and could receive rewards from the emperor even if he became a businessman.
To achieve this is already the ultimate. All this is thanks to Rong Dalang!
Rong Xi took the imperial edict very calmly. Although the proposal was not accepted, if this matter were to spread throughout the world, there would surely be talented people who would devote themselves to creation in order to gain glory.
Moreover, Qin Ke helped him get the emperor's approval, and the Qingzhou Camp Iron Bureau could grant him more authority to expand the amount of iron ore he could purchase.
It's a privilege given to him alone.
If there is enough iron ore, he can make more tools and materials.
After receiving the imperial edict, Chen Yi held a banquet and invited the imperial servant who announced the edict to dine together, accompanied by Rong Xi, Hu and Jiang.
The Mengshan craftsmen were praised and rewarded by the emperor. As the magistrate of Mengshan County, Shen Yi was honored by this, as it could also be considered his contribution to education.
Now he was very kind and caring to Rong Xi and the other two.
Madam Jiang was in charge of the meal. The royal attendant was extremely satisfied with the meal and praised it repeatedly. Chen Yi smiled very kindly.
After the banquet, Rong Xi returned home and displayed all the gold and cloth in the yard, which dazzled the eyes of the master and servants of the Rong family.
"My dear, where should we put the things bestowed by the emperor?" Liu He asked tremblingly.
He was excited. Even the Lord has never had such an honor!
Things bestowed by the emperor are generally regarded as honors and are not used easily.
Rong Xi waved his sleeves and said, "Lock it in the warehouse."
He is not afraid of thieves stealing. Stealing the imperial gift is like gambling with your life, no one is so stupid.
"Brother, do you want to inform your family about this?"
Rong Lian now admires Rong Xi very much, and knowing that Rong Xi has become estranged from his family, he dare not make any decision on his own.
"No need. Shengjing has already known about the emperor's reward." Rong Xi and Liu Zishi carried the box into the warehouse.
Rong Lian and his servants also helped with the moving.
The storehouse had fallen into disrepair after years of neglect, with moths infesting the doors and windows, and some of them were rotten. It was not a good place to store money.
Rong Xi thought to himself that the wooden house was fragile and if there was a water leak, the chance of it burning was very high and it was not very safe. Compared with the houses of later generations, its stability and safety were inferior.
It would be nice if cement could be made.
After locking the warehouse, Rong Xi suddenly asked Liu He: "Mr. Liu, is there anyone who wants to sell land?"
A few days ago, he asked Mr. Liu to pay attention to the sale of land, but as he was busy with other things, he had no time to ask. Now he happened to remember it, so he asked this question.
"My dear, I haven't seen any good farmland yet." Liu He replied.
Rong Lian was confused, "Brother, you want to buy land?"
The Wei Dynasty was based on agriculture, and powerful landlords all owned fertile land. It is normal for brother to want to be a landlord.
In those days, the Rong family also had land. After Rong Weijing entered the officialdom, the whole family moved away and the land was sold to others. Only the old house was left, which was destroyed by wind and rain.
Both Rong Xi's biological mother and the current Rong Zhou were daughters of wealthy families. Their dowries included countless fields and shops, so a few acres of land in the ancestral home were nothing at all.
This is also the reason why Rong Xi has never had enough food to fill his stomach since then.
"Land is the foundation. I want to buy more land and grow some crops." Rong Xi nodded and replied.
Of course, he grew crops not to fill his stomach, but to conduct experiments.
The experiment will take quite a long time, so it is not convenient to explain it to others now.
It was getting late, and everyone went back to their rooms.
Rong Lian wrote the letter under the lamp, only talking about his own academic progress, without mentioning Rong Xi at all. The next day, it was sent to Rong Mansion in Shengjing.
A few days later, Minister Rong received the letter. After reading it, he sighed.
Since the court meeting that day, his colleagues seemed to be laughing at him behind his back. Although scholars look down on merchants and craftsmen, they despise people who neglect their own children even more.
Rong Xi was highly praised by the emperor, and no one dared to say anything rash. Moreover, if their own sons received this honor, no matter whether they were merchants or craftsmen, they would definitely be proud of it.
Who would have thought that Minister Rong not only did not know the talent of his legitimate son, but also despised and spit on him!
Everyone was in mixed feelings and didn't know how to face Rong Weijing.
"Sanlang, is this a letter from Lian'er?" Rong Zhou came over with a tray and asked with a gentle smile.
In the lacquer plate was pea pudding with some additional ingredients, which was extremely salty and fragrant. It was Rong Weijing's favorite recently.
He scooped a spoonful, swallowed it, and replied: "Not bad, Erlang's academic progress is good, and he may pass the provincial examination next year."
Rong Zhou smiled and said, "Erlang is a man of talent and loves to study. He will definitely pass the exam. It's a pity that Dalang is also smart and quick-witted, so he can't share the glory of the family with Erlang."
"What a pity?" Rong Weijing glared, and the spoon collided with the bowl wall, making a crisp sound. "Why don't you learn something else? You are learning the skills of a craftsman! It's a disgrace to the family!"
So what if the emperor rewards me? After all, a craftsman is a member of the lowest class. Don’t you see that his colleagues are all laughing at him?
In his heart, Rong Xi's abilities were still not worthy of being considered a noble talent.
Rong Zhou's smile deepened, "Too much anger is harmful to your health. The tofu pudding is almost cold, eat it while it's hot."
Rong Weijing was so angry that his beard was shaking. He lowered his head to look at the things in the bowl. Thinking that the tofu was also made by Rong Xi, his emotions were really complicated!
"Forget it! I won't eat anymore!" He put the bowl on the table, angrily stopped looking at it, his chest heaving.
Rong Xiyuan was in Linxi, unaware that he had made his adoptive father angry again. He was negotiating with the head of the Yingtie Division.
Rong Xi's name had spread throughout Qingzhou. The Qingzhou Camp Iron and Steel Division received orders from its superiors to grant Rong Xi special privileges, so when Rong Xi revealed his identity, the clerk immediately smiled and responded.
"I wonder how much iron you need, Rong Langjun?"
Rong Xi reported a number, but saw that the clerk looked embarrassed.
"Is it not possible?" he asked curiously.
"That's not the case," the clerk sighed, "Iron ore is not easy to mine and the quantity is limited. Can Rong Langjun reduce the number?"
Rong Xi frowned, he was confused. Given the productivity of the Wei Dynasty, mining is indeed difficult, as human and animal power are not as powerful as mechanical power.
"I wonder where the mine is. Can I go and see it?" Rong Xi asked politely.
The intensity of iron ore mining directly affects the amount of pig iron. He wanted to go to the mine to see if the mining method could be improved.
The mine is controlled by the government and no outsiders are allowed to enter. However, Rong Xi held special privileges, so the clerk immediately agreed and personally took him to the mine.
Qingzhou has many mineral deposits, so the imperial court set up quarries here.
When he arrived at the mine, Rong Xi looked up and saw many miners holding stone pickaxes, digging ore in the shallow layer of the ground.
Most of the ore mined in Dawei is weathered residual or deposited ore on the surface, iron ore on the banks of rivers, and even shallow iron ore exposed on the surface.
Iron ore is mostly hidden in rocks. Miners often use fire to crack the rocks and get the ore.
As a result, the quarrying efficiency is quite low.
"What do you think, sir?" The clerk asked carefully when he saw him frowning in thought.
Who doesn't know that Rong Xi is the son of Shangshu Rong, and that he is highly praised by the emperor? He was just a small official and didn't dare to offend him at all.
Steel is widely used in later generations and is a necessity. However, the Wei Dynasty rarely used iron tools. Except for military equipment and farm tools, the people had no iron to use.
If more iron ore is to be mined, more efficient methods must be used.
He needs to think carefully.
"No." Rong Xi smiled politely, "Go back."
Because the iron ore reserves at Qingzhouying Iron and Steel Company were relatively small, Rong Xi did not get much. After transporting it to the Jiang family, he handed it over to Jiang Weiping and then returned home.
As soon as he entered the house, Liu He came to greet him and said, "Sir, there is good land to buy."
Rong Xi was delighted, "Really?"
Liu He laughed and said, "Can I still deceive you?"
"Mr. Liu, the matter of buying the land is up to you. Just withdraw the money from the account."
After Rong Xi gave him instructions, he went to the study, spread paper on the desk, picked up the pen and dipped it in ink, but hesitated for a while before putting pen to paper.
He originally wanted to send a letter to the Prince's Mansion, but thinking about Qin Ke's high position and power, he must be very busy with affairs, so how could he have the leisure to come to Mengshan again?
But if he does not see it with his own eyes, the description in the letter alone will not be convincing.
After thinking for a long time, he slowly started writing.
The next day, he asked Liu Zishi to take the letter to Feng's house and hand it to Feng Shan, asking him to send it to Shengjing County Prince's Mansion.
Liu He successfully bought the land, which was not far from Rong's house.
The fields of the Zhang family were previously fermenting into fertilizer, but Rong Xi did not want to use it, so he bought new land to plant potatoes.
The potatoes in the cellar have already sprouted green shoots. Qingzhou's climate conditions are suitable for planting potatoes in autumn and winter, and they can be harvested in early spring of the following year.
Potatoes can satisfy hunger and serve as delicacies on the table, so Rong Xi has always liked them.
He called Zhang Zhi and taught him how to cut the potatoes into pieces with sprouts and then plant them in the ground.
The furniture was completed in just a few days because the worker was skilled at it.
They didn't know what potatoes were, nor did they know why Rong Xi did this, but as tenants, they naturally followed the orders of their master.
Previously, when Hu Yulin helped Rong Xi purchase potatoes and corn, some wealthy businessmen also followed suit, but they didn't know what they were for.
Now that we have learned that Rong Xi used this method to bury potatoes in the ground, we have asked people to learn how to plant them. However, we dare not plant too many, for fear that they will occupy too much land and reduce the harvest next autumn.
Rong Xi taught all the methods to Zhang Zhi, and let Zhang Zhi take care of the farm affairs, while Rong Xi just sat back and did nothing.
On that day, the north wind blew across the earth and the sky was bright and dark.
Rong Xi was invited to Jinshixuan to meet with his three good friends Hu, Jiang and Duan.
"Da Lang, nowadays kiln workers are becoming more skilled, and glass production is increasing. Many wealthy families in Qingzhou use it, and glass mirrors are also sought after. Who wouldn't praise Da Lang's talent?"
Hu Yulin raised his glass in a toast, expressing his deep admiration, and then drank it all in one gulp.
Jiang and Duan also followed suit and showed respect to Rong Xi.
Rong Xi drank three cups in a row. He was only sixteen and could not drink much. He was not good at drinking, so he apologized, "Xi is not as good as you. Three cups is the limit."
He is the youngest and is now much thinner, with his cheek flesh receding and hidden in his fur collar, making him look more tender and green, with red lips and white teeth.
Like the boy sitting under Guanyin's seat, he is handsome and extraordinary.
The three of them naturally took good care of him and drank two more cups of wine each to show their hospitality.
"Da Lang, you don't have to drink anymore. This banquet was prepared by the three of us just for you." Hu Yulin drank three cups of wine, his eyes were red and his eyes were slightly hazy. "I am grateful to you."
All the praise he received was due to Dalang.
"Brother Xuanshi, your words are too serious," Rong Xi shook his head helplessly, "You and I are brothers, so don't say these things again in the future."
Hu Yulin grinned, a stark contrast to his usual shrewdness. He staggered over to Rong Xi, knelt down, held his wrist, and looked at him sincerely.
"This is what I really think, Dalang, please don't despise it." He smiled softly and, under the influence of alcohol, poured the wine on Rong Xi's shoulder.
Rong Xi smiled, "It turns out that Brother Xuanshi is not a big shot either."
When he smiled, the corners of his lips moved, revealing his white teeth.
Seeing this, Hu Yulin unconsciously increased the strength in his hands. Rong Xi felt a slight pain in his wrist and said helplessly, "Brother Xuanshi is drunk."
He broke free without leaving a trace and was about to help Hu Yulin back to his original seat when he heard Zi Shi's voice outside the door.
"My dear, there are guests at home."
His voice trembled slightly. Rong Xi, who had been with him for several months, knew that it was due to excitement. And who else could make him excited except the God of War, Prince Qin?
Before this, when the young boy Liu learned that "Chen Dalang" was the God of War of the Wei Dynasty, he was so excited that he couldn't sleep for several days and nights.
Rong Xi came back to his senses, stood up and said apologetically: "Brother Shouyuan, Brother Wenxiu, Brother Xuanshi, we are the guests in the Xi family, please take your leave first."
Jiang and Duan helped Hu Yulin back to his seat and said, "Da Lang, please go home and entertain the guests. Be careful on the road."
After leaving Jinshixuan, a cool breeze blew away some of the drunkenness.
Rong Xi shook his head, trying to clear his mind, but found that his mind became more confused.
The shop servant led Xue Ni out and said respectfully, "Mr. Rong, your horse."
Liu Zishi took the reins and was about to ask him whether he wanted to ride a horse or a carriage when he heard the sound of horse hooves stopping in front of him.
He looked up and his mouth opened wide.
Isn’t Prince Qin waiting at Rong’s house? Why are you in the city again?
Although Rong Xi's mind was confused, he still recognized people. He raised his head and met Qin Ke's eyes, then suddenly grinned, "You're here."
On horseback, the man had a gentle expression as he looked down at the young man in front of him.
The boy was very fair with smooth skin. When he was slightly tipsy, his cheeks turned red and his eyes were blurry. Although his smile was silly, it made him look even more adorable.
"Come up." He stretched out his hand and whispered.
The man's hands were long and strong. Rong Xi was extremely obedient and handed over his hand.
Qin Ke clasped his hands together and used his strength to pull Rong Xi behind him, "Hold tight."
Rong Xi put his arms around him, and with his face hot from the alcohol, he leaned against the man's back without any burden.
This wasn't the first time, he was already very familiar with it.
The red flame disappeared in a cloud of dust, leaving Liu Zishi standing there in a daze.
Rong Xi was already drunk and didn't care about anything else. Although he held Qin Ke's strong waist, he was drowsy and his arms were powerless. If Qin Ke had not been alert, he would have fallen off the horse.
"Rong Dalang, hold on tight." The man's voice seemed to be tinged with cold wind, inexplicably chilly.
The young man behind him seemed not to hear anything, and his breathing gradually became steady.
Qin Ke was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled helplessly. He stretched out his hands, held Rong Xi in front of him, let him lean against his arms, wrapped his arms tightly around him, and rushed back to Rong's house.
What the boy had written in his previous letter shocked him greatly. If that thing can really be made, it will make the enemy more terrified than any magic weapon.
He couldn't let Rong Dalang make any mistakes.
After a while, the red flame stopped in front of the house.
Rong Lian had been waiting outside the door for a long time. When he saw the two men coming, he hurried forward to catch the sleeping Rong Xi.
A faint smell of alcohol hit his nose, and Rong Lian frowned slightly. Brother, have you been drinking?
Qin Keli dismounted from his horse and wanted to help Rong Xi into the house. However, Rong Xi's legs and feet were so weak that he couldn't walk at all.
He had no choice but to hold Rong Xi around his waist and run straight to Rong Xi's bedroom.
Xi Yan watched his tall figure and exclaimed, "The prince has great arm strength!"
Rong Lian followed Qin Ke to the bedroom. Seeing Rong Xi sleeping soundly, he could not bear to wake him up, so he said, "Prince, my brother has been busy with many things recently and has been very busy."
He only hoped that Qin Ke could be understanding and not wake his brother up.
Qin Ke covered the young man with a quilt and whispered, "Wait until he wakes up tomorrow."
Rong Lianfang breathed a sigh of relief.
The next morning, the rain fell like a curtain, dripping, disturbing people's sweet dreams.
The young man on the couch suddenly opened his eyes, and after a moment of confusion, he remembered what happened yesterday. He sat up from the bed and banged his head hard.
"My dear, are you awake?" Liu Zishi asked outside the house.
Rong Xi called him into the house and asked in a low voice: "How did I get home yesterday?"
"It was the prince who brought you back." Liu Zishi told the truth.
Rong Xi had a vague impression of this incident, but he didn't remember anything after that.
"And how did I get to the bedroom?"
It couldn't be that he was carried in by my second brother and the others, right? That's too embarrassing.
Liu Zishi shook his head and said, "The prince took you home first, and I don't know how you got into the bedroom."
"Go and wash the inkstone later, do you understand?" Rong Xi whispered.
Liu Zishi nodded vigorously, "I know."
His head ached a little, and thinking of Qin Ke's house, Rong Xi struggled to get off the bed. After washing up, he went to the main hall.
Unexpectedly, there were already two people in the hall. One is Rong Lian, who looks reserved; the other is Qin Ke, who has a stern face.
Seeing him coming, they both looked up.
"Brother, you're awake." Rong Lian asked with concern, "Does your head hurt?"
Rong Xi shook his head and smiled faintly: "No problem."
Then he bowed and said, "Brother Sizhi."
Qin Ke glanced at him calmly, nodded slightly and said: "It's raining today, you can take a day off."
"Thank you, Brother Sizhi, for your concern." After Rong Xi finished speaking, he told Liu He to set the table and prepare the meal.
In fact, it was raining today, so he couldn't do the experiment even if he wanted to.
After breakfast, Rong Xi took Qin Ke to the study, and Rong Lian went to study.
"Thank you, Brother Sizhi, for bringing me back yesterday," Rong Xi said with a blushing look on his face. "I was drunk and behaved badly, I hope Brother Sizhi will forgive me."
Qin Ke stared at him for a long while with deep eyes, then said: "Si Wen is the same age as you, and I never let him drink."
Rong Xi: “…”So what?
Does that mean he shouldn't drink alcohol, either?
"I couldn't refuse the kindness of my brothers yesterday." The young man smiled brightly, "I will never get drunk and mess up things in the future."
"Um."
After the topic was over, the two didn't know what to talk about. The room was dull and the only sound was the sound of rain hitting the window frames.
"Are you good at chess?" Qin Ke suddenly asked.
He thought that Rong Dalang was not as unlearned as rumored, and that his handwriting was quite good, and he should also have some knowledge of chess.
Unexpectedly, the boy shook his head in shame, "No."
Qin Ke's expression was slightly surprised, but it disappeared immediately, and he said, "I'll teach you."
Since there is nothing to do, Rong Xi will just respond. There are chess sets in Rong's house, which are old but still usable. He asked Liu Zishi to bring it, and the two sat opposite each other.
"When I entered your room last night, I saw something I had never seen before. It was tall and looked like a desk, but the desk was narrow and had a high wall on the side. Can you help me understand this?"
Rong Xi was shocked. Did Qin Ke enter his bedroom last night?
He remained expressionless, "Brother Sizhi, please forgive me for making fun of you. Xi indulged in pleasure and felt tired from kneeling, so he placed a chair in the bedroom and did not dare to let outsiders see him."
"It's human nature." Qin Ke said, and then taught Rong Xi the rules of Go.
The Prince of Qin is really not a good teacher. If Rong Xi had not had good understanding, he would have been confused by him long ago.
"Did you understand?"
Rong Xi nodded and smiled, "Well, I understand the theory, but I'm afraid I'm poor at practical application."
"No problem." Qin Ke let him make the first move.
There is a lingering sound of rain outside the window, and the only sound inside the house is the sound of chess pieces falling.
The two fought for a while, and Rong Xi was finally defeated. He smiled carefreely: "Brother Sizhi is a master of chess. I admire him."
"You are a beginner, but you are already quite good." Qin Ke praised him with words that were precious to him.
This is my sincere opinion, not encouragement. If Rong Dalang really had never learned chess, just listening to what he just said, he could persist in playing chess for so long, which shows that he is very talented.
However, Rong Xi thought that he was concerned about his own face, so he just smiled and said nothing.
The two continued to fight on the chessboard. Qin Ke was a god of war after all. He kept changing his moves and killed Rong Xi without leaving a single piece of armor.
Although the wall was constantly breached, Rong Xi's expression remained calm, without any sign of anxiety. When Qin Ke saw this, his eyes darkened, but his attack became even more fierce.
After repeating this many times, Rong Xi finally felt exhausted. He rested his hand on his chin and said jokingly, "Our army is already in a state of disarray and short of food and grass. If Brother Sizhi continues to attack, the city will be destroyed and people will die. Why don't you let me go?"
"What's in it for me?" Qin Ke held the chess piece in his hand but did not put it down yet.
Rong Xi pretended to be in deep thought, then said, "If our army survives, we can help you contain the rest of the enemy."
He just said it unintentionally, but it made Qin Ke slightly stunned.
The Wei Dynasty was surrounded by powerful enemies, and the barbarians in the west and north were ambitious and coveted the rich resources of the Central Plains.
It would be extremely difficult to defeat them one by one. But if they were allowed to fight each other and waste their energy, the Wei Dynasty would be able to recuperate longer.
It's not that he hadn't thought about it before, but after hearing Rong Xi's unintentional words, he became more certain.
Qin Ke played with the chess pieces and said nonchalantly, "If you and the other party want to conspire together, wouldn't I be attacked from both sides? This is inappropriate, and I can't forgive you."
Pretend to make a move.
Rong Xi quickly stretched out his hand, and the chess piece fell into his palm. He smiled slyly, held the chess piece, and said, "Collusion or internal consumption, only interests can be controlled. If there is profit to be gained, why should I waste troops and horses?"
"Although the benefits are tempting, the wolf's heart is not satisfied. Not only does he take the benefits, but he also betrays me. What do you think?"
"Come and coax them with candy, beat them with a stick." Rong Xi returned the chess pieces to his chess box and said with a smile, "Brother Sizhi is a master at using troops, and you have a complete army and horses. Why should you fear our barbaric enemies?"
Qin Ke stared at him for a long time, then raised the corners of his lips, a smile filled his eyes, and said: "Well, I'll forgive you this time."
"Brother Sizhi is so generous. How about I repay him with pork ribs for dinner? What do you think?" After he finished speaking, he saw Qin Ke's eyes light up slightly, and he knew he had hit the spot.
It was almost the afternoon when Rong Xi came out of the study and went to the kitchen.
Liu Zishi came back from learning martial arts from Feng, and went straight to the kitchen. When he saw Rong Xi, he said, "My dear, I asked the inkstone cleaner, and he said that the prince brought you into the room last night."
"Pinch?" Rong Xi almost cut his finger and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
That scene must have been extremely funny. I will never drink again in the future to avoid causing trouble.
By dinner time, the winter rain had stopped and the cold had become even worse.
Rong Xi pulled the collar of his fur coat tightly together, half of his jade-colored face was hidden inside, looking quite childish and immature.
It seems different from the usual tranquility and elegance.
Qin Ke's eyes wandered over his face. Rong Xi suddenly sensed something and looked up. When he met his amber eyes, he smiled slightly to hide his inner embarrassment.
Knowing what happened last night, I felt ashamed when I saw Qin Ke again.
He quickly looked away and buried his head in his food without saying a word.
After eating, he quickly returned to his room to avoid communicating with Qin Ke.
The next day, the sky cleared up and the sun was high in the sky.
Rong Xi prepared the raw materials, placed them in the yard, and invited Qin Ke, Rong Lian and others to watch.
"My dear, what are you going to do?" Liu Zishi asked excitedly when he saw there was something new.
Every time the young master comes up with a new instrument, it can cause a sensation in the city.
Rong Xi smiled and replied, "You won't know until you see it with your own eyes."
He is not trying to keep people in suspense, but gunpowder is a substance that cannot be described in words. One has to see its power to understand its effectiveness.
He has asked Hu Yulin to purchase saltpeter, sulfur, charcoal and other items, and is now allocating them according to the proportions.
Seeing that he was fiddling with things, a few people did not disturb him. Rong Lian was even studying in the yard with a book in his hand, and they would occasionally glance at him.
Qin Ke carefully wrote down Rong Xi's steps.
Gunpowder was piled in the yard, and the iron shell had already been prepared. However, due to time constraints and limited conditions, he only asked Jiang Weiping to make ten iron shells to hold gunpowder.
As for the lead, wrap the medicine powder with tung oil paper and rub it into a thin thread.
"You can try it now."
Rong Xi stood up and asked, "Would you like to go and see it with me, my second brother?"
Rong Lian couldn't ask for more, "Of course." He was already extremely curious.
Liu He was left alone to look after the house, while the others rode in carriages and on horses to the wilderness.
This is a wasteland, with no one within miles. Rong Xi dismounted, and everyone stopped.
"Brother Sizhi has extraordinary arm strength. Please help me for a moment." Rong Xi narrowed his eyes, took out a piece of ammunition from the car and handed it to Qin Ke.
Qin Ke took it, his eyes filled with confusion.
"Second brother, please stay away from here." Rong Xi advised.
Rong Lian and the other two retreated dozens of meters away. Seeing Rong Xi approaching Qin Ke and teaching him methods, they couldn't help feeling anxious.
What exactly does that thing do?
After a while, Rong Xi also retreated a little.
Qin Ke stood tall and slender, holding the bullet in his right hand and using a fire stick in his left hand to light the fuse.
When the flames began to crackle, he followed Rong Xi's instructions and threw the object in his hand far away.
Rong Xi watched and secretly praised his great arm strength.
After throwing the fire bomb, Qin Ke turned and walked towards Rong Xi. Before he took a few steps, he heard a loud "boom" behind him, which seemed to explode the sky.
A heat wave suddenly swept over, and he quickly picked up Rong Xi, held him in his arms, and flew dozens of meters away.
Rong Lian and the other two were all frightened and speechless.
When the heat wave dissipated, Qin Ke's expression became extremely solemn. He put Rong Xi down and stood there in a daze.
Being carried by him again, Rong Xi felt a little uncomfortable. Seeing that they were silent, he coughed lightly and said, "This power is not that great."
Compared with the precision explosives of later generations, this is child's play.
Rong Lian came back to his senses and saw Rong Xi, with a fanatical look in his eyes, "Brother, if we have this magic weapon, our Great Wei will definitely destroy the Northern Barbarians!"
As he was young and full of vigor, it was inevitable that he was immersed in the enthusiasm of defending his country.
Liu Zishi and Xi Yanfang lowered their chins and looked at Rong
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