Chapter 514: Tiangong Bureau
On the third day after the wedding, Chu Xianping returned.
He also "invited" back the governor and general of Yangzhou.
The former is called Pei Maowen and the latter is called Feng Bei.
Since you have already surrendered, it is normal for you to come and meet the "new king".
Although the two had been very nervous before coming, fearing that Wei Changtian would betray them and take their lives.
But it turns out that the latter is still very moral.
Not only did he retain their official positions as promised, but he also let Ning Yuke confer each of them a useless but intimidating-sounding title of marquis.
After all, he is a "model of abandoning darkness and turning to light" and he must serve as a "role model".
In addition, after intensive preparations, the "Tiangong Bureau" under the Ministry of Industry was officially established today.
There were about a hundred people in total, and except for a few civil servants, the rest were all craftsmen.
These people are treated very generously, even equivalent to the salary of a fifth-rank official.
But as a price, they and their families must be under constant surveillance by the Ministry of Justice.
Even the location of the Tiangong Bureau was extremely secretive, and it was located in a deep mountain not far from Datong City.
This is of course done to maintain confidentiality.
You have to know that this is the "core scientific research institution" that is related to the future of Shu Kingdom. Wei Changtian doesn't want the "high-tech invention" he has researched with great difficulty to be stolen by Ning Yongnian.
Of course, once something like a steam engine is put into use, it cannot be concealed, and sooner or later it will "benefit" all mankind.
After all, there is no such thing as "patent" these days.
But if the confidentiality work is done well, this "technological leadership" can at least be maintained for one or two years.
By the time Ning Yongnian has figured out the steam engine, I might be able to come up with something even more advanced . At noon.
Accompanied by the Minister of Works, Wei Changtian personally met with several core craftsmen of the Tiangong Bureau and had a conversation with them for an entire afternoon.
At present, Tiangong Bureau has two main research topics.
In addition to the steam engine, there is also "improved gunpowder" with greater explosive power.
As mentioned before, this world has already invented gunpowder. During the Battle of Niutou Mountain, the Shu army even used a huge amount of gunpowder to create a massive "underground fire".
However, it was during that ambush that Wei Changtian discovered that today's gunpowder technology was actually quite poor.
It is even worse than the black gunpowder of the previous life which consisted of one saltpeter, two sulfur and three charcoal.
It's fine for setting off fireworks or something, but it's hard to use it for anything else.
More importantly, due to the existence of the cultivation system, the rulers of successive dynasties, including Ning Yongnian, did not seem to be very keen on improving gunpowder.
But Wei Changtian doesn't think so.
Which of the following requires the use of gunpowder: building roads through mountains or mining and fishing?
Nowadays, all of these "jobs" are done by people who practice spiritual cultivation, and not only do these people charge high prices, but in many cases, you can't even hire them even if you have money.
After all, most practitioners have a bit of a self-important problem. It might be okay to let them go to the battlefield to kill enemies, but if you ask them to open mountains and blast rocks, it is indeed a bit of a waste of their talents.
Therefore, Wei Changtian planned to increase the power of gunpowder in order to lay a solid foundation for the Shu Kingdom's future vigorous "great construction".
Besides, high-powered gunpowder also helps in war.
You have to know that although Wei Changtian doesn't have an airplane, he probably won't be able to build one in his lifetime.
But he has quite a few monsters that can fly.
Next time we go to war, let these flying beasts carry out a "carpet bombing" with high-powered explosive packs before the battle, and then launch a few rounds of simultaneous artillery fire.
Humph! So what about the world of cultivation? I will let you understand what the "power of knowledge" is in the future! The beginning of the You hour.
Outside Shuzhou City, Wei Changtian personally sent away the huge group of people from the Tiangong Bureau, and ordered that their safety and life in the deep mountains and forests must be guaranteed at all costs.
In addition to the "security work" jointly undertaken by the Freemasons and the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Works also reached a cooperation with the largest restaurants and brothels in the city, so that they could provide people to ensure that the craftsmen could eat, drink and have fun after work.
These craftsmen who forged iron and sawed wood every day had never enjoyed such treatment before, so they were all grateful to Wei Changtian and vowed to develop the steam engine and more powerful gunpowder as soon as possible.
Wei Changtian knew that "invention and creation" required opportunities and inspiration, but he did not ask the Tiangong Bureau to issue any "military order".
However, before everyone left, he gave an impromptu and passionate speech.
Things like "You all are the real pillars of Shu" and "The future of Shu, please". Wei Changtian became more and more excited as he spoke, and in the end he still felt unsatisfied, so he actually asked Ning Yuke to come out of Weiyang Palace and show up again.
The pillar of the country, the Queen is here in person.
The excitement of the group of craftsmen finally reached its peak the moment Ning Yuke stepped down from the imperial carriage. It looked like they were willing to sacrifice their lives for the steam engine.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, this seemingly inconspicuous convoy, which would actually greatly change the future of Shu State, left Shuzhou City and headed straight for an unknown mountain.
Wei Changtian just watched them until they disappeared completely, then he turned to look at Ning Yuke.
"Don't you understand why I value them so much?"
"Um."
Ning Yuke nodded honestly: "Please enlighten me, Master."
"Because what they are going to do is truly a great thing that will benefit future generations."
Wei Changtian looked at Ning Yuke's still puzzled eyes and did not explain more. He just sighed softly: "Predecessors plant trees, and future generations enjoy the shade."
"After several years, your name and mine may not be remembered by future generations, but they certainly will be."
"You'll understand later."
When I returned to the mansion from outside the city, the last rays of sunset had fallen into the sky.
Wei Changtian actually seldom went out these days. He was only busy outside today. Before that, he had been at home accompanying Liang Qin to celebrate her wedding.
Eating and drinking, meeting the visiting guests, playing mahjong with the girls, and occasionally "visiting" Ah Gou and Ah Chun's practice. During the three days, Wei Changtian did not mention the three words "Li Wutong" to anyone, nor did he ask Zhang San about the latter's situation even once.
It was as if the woman with whom he had developed a romantic relationship and who suddenly came back and left in a hurry did not exist.
Including Zhang San and Chu Xianping, everyone who knew the situation believed that Wei Changtian had given up on the latter.
This is not just wild guesswork.
Because Wei Changtian's words and actions indeed reflected such an attitude.
Actually, it makes sense when I think about it.
No matter how you look at it, what Li Wutong did was too stupid.
Such a woman not only did not help Wei Changtian in any way, she could not even be a "vase" like Lu Jingyao, who lived a stable and trouble-free life.
That’s a bit blunt.
In the eyes of Zhang San and Chu Xianping, Li Wutong is actually a burden to Wei Changtian.
A burden that is both heavy and humble.
(End of this chapter)
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