Iron Dynasty

Bishui Pavilion is fresh and elegant, quiet and peaceful, just like Concubine Zhen's temperament.

I do not know since when, Xiao Wenxuan began to get tired of those vulgar fans, and craved this peaceful tranquility, where he seemed to be able to temporarily forget all his troubles.

Maybe he was old, maybe he was too tired, but he always remembered when he was a prince these days.

At that time, he had King Wei, King Ning, and many other princes by his side, but now, he only has a cold throne.

The throne he was crazy about all his life.

If the throne belongs to King Ning now, would the Great Yu Kingdom still suffer such humiliation? A terrifying voice came to his mind, and he was driven away in horror.

When he came back to his senses, there was a cold sweat on his back.

With a wry smile, he is now facing the credentials of the barbarians and the endless quarrels of the ministers.

Looking carefully at Concubine Zhen's drooping slender eyelashes, Xiao Wenxuan seemed to have made up his mind. He said, Now that King Qi is carrying a heavy burden, how can I ignore it? Now his affairs are state affairs.

Concubine Zhen sighed and said: There is nothing else, it seems that there is no saltpeter or the like on the fief. It is said that all the merchants are not selling this thing to Qingzhou now?

Saltpeter? Xiao Wenxuan frowned, Is King Qi making gunpowder? I didn't expect him to be this city now.

I'm also surprised, Ming'er seems to know a lot of things now, and I don't know where he learned it from. Concubine Zhen fed Xiao Wenxuan with lotus seed porridge.

Xiao Wenxuan shook his head, No matter where he learned it from, it is always better than being inexperienced before.

Then he said: The saltpeter in the Great Yu country is only in the saltpeter caves in Shu, and it must be the King of Shu who is in the way. The two were at odds when they were in Chang'an. At this time, the King of Shu knew that he needed saltpeter, and he must have it. made a fuss out of it.”

Knowing that his son is no better than his father, Xiao Wenxuan is very clear about the character of the King of Shu.

Hey, at this time, the princes are still so intrigued. Concubine Zhen frowned slightly, and couldn't help being a little angry.

Xiao Wenxuan rarely sees Concubine Zhen's angry look, so he can't help but feel a little strange, but he said: This is just my guess, even if it was the King of Shu's advice, I probably won't admit it if I ask him.

Then what should we do? This saltpeter seems to be very important to Ming'er. Concubine Zhen worried.

It doesn't matter, I will transfer all the gunpowder and saltpeter from the Department of Equipment to him, and then order the King of Shu to send the saltpeter to Chang'an to see if he dares.

After all, Xiao Wenxuan has also been an emperor for more than 30 years, and he is used to such small tricks in the court.

Concubine Zhen nodded. Like Xiao Wenxuan, she still didn't know the importance of this gunpowder to Xiao Ming, and only regarded it as the same as coal and iron.

With a sigh, Xiao Wenxuan got up from the bed and continued, There are 20 fire torches in this equipment department, and this time I will send them together.

Your Majesty, where are you going now? Concubine Zhen asked worriedly when Xiao Wenxuan got up.

The matter of King Qi cannot be delayed. Besides, these ministers have to be dealt with.

Xiao Wenxuan put on his clothes and walked out.

At this time, the minister who was kneeling outside the Chengqing Hall saw Xiao Wenxuan come out. At this time, the minister cried out: I hope the emperor thinks twice, this time the barbarian messenger comes here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I hope your majesty will think for the sake of the world.

Since this is the case, whoever of you has a daughter will be sent to the palace. I am willing to accept him as a righteous daughter, and the matter of marriage will depend on your loving ministers.

Xiao Wenxuan's complexion was calm. He was able to win the throne not only because of the support of King Zhao, but also because of his very smart mind.

If it was before, he might have agreed to the barbarian's request in exchange for more than ten years of stability, but since the last time in the court, he saw that these different surnamed vassal kings had ulterior motives, and he came back to it later.

Because of this, the land of the royal family became less and less, and the vassal kings with different surnames demanded money and food in the name of resisting the barbarians. In this way, the royal family became weaker and the vassal kings with different surnames became stronger.

Decades later, the Great Yu Kingdom will probably change its surname, so this time he simply pushed the matter out.

The ministers looked at each other in dismay after hearing the words, you see me, I see you, it has nothing to do with them when the emperor's daughter is sent out, but it is different when their own daughter is sent out.

Who doesn't know the brutality of this barbarian, can you survive if you send it?

No one answered for a while, and then Xiao Wenxuan said: As for the treasury, you must be very clear, the annual tribute has already made the treasury stretched, so why not think about which vassal king to borrow some money for this year's tribute? .

This remark once again caught the ministers by surprise.

Looking at these ministers who hesitated when it comes to their own interests, Xiao Wenxuan snorted coldly, flung his sleeves and left, leaving a sentence, This matter does not need to be discussed again, just follow what was said in the court last time. King Wei can't keep Cangzhou, and I also recognize it, this is the incompetence of the royal family, if it can be held, whoever talks about peace, I will cut off his head!

Xiao Wenxuan left, when the ministers stood up.

The crowd asked the leading minister: Master Cui, how can this be good?

What's the matter? Do you want to send your daughter out? This Master Cui was exactly Cui Hao.

Of course I don't want to. The minister shrank his neck.

If that's the case, let's wait for Cangzhou City to break down. Our emperor never sees the coffin without crying. Cui Hao sneered and left with a humming tune.

Seeing this, the other ministers dispersed, knowing that it would be useless to kneel.

Qingzhou.

Newspapers have published the news of the purchase of saltpeter for more than 20 days. The purchase of real gold and silver by the government has made the people no longer hesitate. .

Although the fleet from Chang'an also shipped a lot of saltpeter, Xiao Ming did not stop buying saltpeter.

Because of the information that came with the fleet, he had to prepare gunpowder with all his strength.

Three months! So now we only have more than two months left. Pang Yukun said in the Governor's Mansion.

Before the fleet arrived, Xiao Ming received a reply from Xiao Wenxuan. In the letter, Xiao Wenxuan stated the actions of the barbarian messenger in Chang'an. The angry words in the letter showed that Xiao Wenxuan was very angry this time.

However, the time for the barbarian attack has basically been determined, and it seems that it is only more than two months now.

Looking at the twenty torches that were sent to the ground at the same time, Xiao Ming said: Yes, so now you have to prepare, if I remember correctly, the wheat outside the city can be harvested in three days. Notify the prefectures to prepare to purchase and reserve grain, and organize the people to deliver supplies to Cangzhou City.

Pang Yukun nodded, Let's leave these matters to the next official, it will not delay the important affairs of His Highness.