Chapter 497 Zhao Lingmeng sent Yang Chengchen and Fan Houyang to the military camp
So one day during lunch, Zhao Lingmeng asked Yang Chengchen and Fan Houyang directly, "What do you think after reading this?"
Yang Chengchen considered it for a moment, and then said truthfully: "The opinions raised by these people are all varied. Some are useful, but some I find useless."
"My cousin and I have similar opinions. I also think it's useless to say that weapons are bad in this way or that way. After all, weapons can't take everyone's feelings into consideration."
Fan Houyang also expressed his views.
When Zhao Lingmeng heard them say this, she understood their disdain for these things. After all, a child who had never been to the battlefield couldn't take the opinions of his subordinates seriously.
Now that Zhao Lingmeng understood the crux of the matter, she was determined to find a solution. So she turned to ask about their recent plans: "What have you two been up to lately?"
"No!" Yang Chengchen and Fan Houyang answered in unison.
"Okay, I'll send you two to the military camp to experience it. You're grown men now, you can't be unable to endure hardship, right?" Zhao Lingmeng said her plan half-softly and half-hardly, with only one purpose, which was to send them to the military camp to starve.
Yang Chengchen asked with great interest: "How long will you stay?"
As a young man, who doesn't have a dream of going to the battlefield and becoming a knight? Yang Chengchen is no exception. This is the time when he fantasizes the most.
Fan Houyang was a little hesitant. "Mom, I still want to take the imperial examination. How long will it take?"
"It won't affect your chances of taking the imperial examination. You can still read when you're in the barracks, as long as you're more diligent than others. Besides, at your age, you should be traveling and studying, and the same applies to going to the barracks."
You two should go for two and a half years!
During this period, you can come to me to get books on weapons manufacturing concepts during your days off. I will test you next time I have a day off.
After two and a half years, you can study with me for another six months, and you should be able to get the hang of it. By then, the national mourning period will be over, and you two will be ready to take the imperial examinations."
Zhao Lingmeng had already planned their next three years. The military camps they were assigned to weren't border crossings, but only occasional bandit suppression missions. They would definitely have someone to protect them, so their safety was guaranteed. However, the hardships they endured would be extraordinary.
"Auntie means that we have to make three advances in the next three years?" Yang Chengchen was not only in disbelief, but also shocked. He thought he would be free after entering the military camp, but this happened.
"Mom! I'm not the second brother! I'm not that smart, I can't do it." Fan Houyang didn't want to go to the military camp in the first place, but after he went there, he was even busier than he is now. He was really afraid that he couldn't take care of so many things.
"Young people, you should challenge yourself! That's it." Zhao Lingmeng made the final decision and started eating quickly.
After finishing her meal, she still had to write a memorial to the emperor!
So, a few days later, two new recruits, Zhao Er and Fan San, joined the Beijing suburban camp under Fan Yong's management. As for the name, it was chosen by Yang Chengchen and Fan Houyang themselves; they wanted a down-to-earth name. Yang Chengchen originally wanted to call him Yang Er, but the surname Yang was too catchy.
Since they had to start as ordinary soldiers, they certainly couldn't have such a conspicuous name. Yang Chengchen simply waved his hand and decided to just give them the surname Zhao.
Yang Chengchen and Fan Houyang look like they are only fifteen or sixteen years old because they have a good life.
So no one was surprised when two new recruits came to the camp, as their camp often recruited new people.
Yang Chengchen and Fan Houyang had served in the military equipment camp before, so even though they entered the camp as civilians, they were able to quickly integrate with everyone.
Zhao Lingmeng no longer had to train apprentices, so she handled these matters quickly. She dealt with all the suggestions from this year. She didn't rush to deny some of the ones she thought were unacceptable, but instead had people make a few feasible ones and send them to the front line.
Even though she hadn't seen combat, she still had to give it a chance to test it out! If they found it useful, they'd produce it in large quantities. After all, practice was the key.
Then, Zhao Lingmeng designed a trebuchet for sieges, which was several times more powerful than the previous ones and was also much easier to use. Zhao Lingmeng referenced the principle of the pulley in his previous life, which is why he was able to make such a significant improvement.
Zhao Lingmeng also redesigned a heavy crossbow with greater power and is waiting to test it after it is completed.
Zhao Lingmeng also asked those experts in weapon design in the past to draw their own drawings and submit them. If their designs were adopted, she would also commend them.
The masters also knew that Princess Funing was a brain with no shortage of credits, so they were not afraid that Princess Funing would take all the credit for them. Instead, they felt that if their things had the opportunity to be guided by Zhao Lingmeng, they would be closer to the credit.
Zhao Lingmeng also understood their thoughts and would write her opinions on their drawings before returning them. Therefore, most of the adults benefited greatly from it and became even more concerned about this matter.
After several years of collective effort, Zhao Lingmeng finally found two or three good ones. She instructed them to work on them, and of course, the memorial requesting their contributions also listed their individual contributions.
After the adults knew about this, they wished that inspiration would burst out immediately so that they could go back and draw ten or eight pictures so that they could also claim this achievement.
Of course, Zhao Lingmeng, who did this, was even better in everyone's eyes. Not only did she guide them for free, she also didn't take any credit for their work, and she didn't act like a princess. Everyone agreed that this was the ideal golden thigh!
By the time Zhao Lingmeng had sorted out these matters, summer was almost over. Fortunately, it was lotus seed season, so she didn't rush off to work on weapons. She stayed at the farm every day, directing the people to make all kinds of delicious food.
After Zhao Zhili was able to see his aunt often, he couldn't hold it in anymore. He hadn't seen Prince Ruihe and his third cousin for a long time, and he was very curious about what they had been doing.
So after Zhao Zhili finished his lunch that day, he lingered in Zhao Lingmeng's yard and was reluctant to leave.
Zhao Lingmeng knew what the little guy wanted to ask. She thought the child would hold it in for a few more days before asking! She was in a good mood and teased Zhao Zhili, "Li'er, is there anything else?"
Zhao Zhili didn't know his aunt was teasing him on purpose. He looked at her curiously and asked, "Aunt, why haven't I seen Prince Ruihe and my third cousin recently?"
Zhao Lingmeng replied nonchalantly, "Oh, they're both going on a study tour!"
This was a reason that she and the emperor had thought of long ago. After all, there was a precedent of children in her mansion going on study tours, so this could also give those who wanted to take action a direction. Anyway, those two were in the military camp and could not get out easily.
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