Iron Dynasty

Over the palace, a huge hot air balloon is rising.

Standing on the hot air balloon, Xiao Wenxuan took a telescope and looked at Chang'an City easily, like a tiger also patrolling his fief.

Father, you will definitely not regret buying this hot air balloon. This hot air balloon can not only conduct surveillance and monitor the entire Chang'an city at a high altitude, but also take a hot air balloon to escape in case of danger. One hundred thousand taels is really cheap. Yes. Xiao Ming continued to bewitched.

Xiao Wenxuan was moved just now, but now being persuaded by Xiao Ming again, he suddenly firmed up his determination, he said: After the wedding, you will return to Chang'an, then I will send you the money, but this is the man who controls the hot air balloon. People, you have to train them for the emperor.

Father, don't worry about this. Xiao Ming whispered in his heart, Father, does the army still need hot air balloons?

Of course, at least one for my left and right armed guards. This is my personal guard. In addition, how much is your musket. Xiao Wenxuan simply discussed all the issues together.

This musket is cheap. Each musket is one hundred taels of silver. Xiao Ming didn't dare to ask for too high a price for a musket. After all, the demand for muskets was much greater than that of artillery.

After cost calculation, the price of producing a matchlock gun is only about six taels of silver. After all, matchlock guns do not have such a complicated movement structure as a flintlock gun. All they need is a barrel. One hundred taels is already a black heart. Merchant prices up.

So five thousand is five hundred thousand taels of silver.

Xiao Wenxuan frowned. He weighed the materials of artillery and muskets. In his opinion, one cannon can produce hundreds of muskets.

Based on this calculation, the price of the musket should be around thirty or forty taels, so Xiao Ming must be selling it at a higher price.

Although his heart is clear, Xiao Wenxuan is not going to bargain with Xiao Ming, but is ready to accept the price. He said, One hundred taels are one hundred and two, first buy 5,000, and if the effect is good, continue to add.

Xiao Ming was overjoyed when he heard the words, he explained: Father, this is only the price of the gun, not including the ammunition.

I understand, isn't it the same for your artillery? Xiao Wenxuan's eyes were bright, and he suddenly said: Although your price is high, but I am willing to accept it, do you know why?

Xiao Ming's heart froze. He was also surprised that Xiao Wenxuan did not bargain this time. The one hundred taels were his offer. He thought that Xiao Wenxuan would cut it to about forty taels.

My father is wise, I know everything well, my son is ashamed. Xiao Ming said honestly.

Looking at the prosperity of Chang'an, Xiao Wenxuan said: Because of your credit, from today onwards, I will no longer need to pay tribute to the barbarians. This annual offering of millions of taels of silver to the barbarians is not as good as it is for you.

Xiao Ming suddenly realized that he didn't expect Xiao Wenxuan to think like this. In this way, Xiao Wenxuan made a profit.

I would like to see you, the emperor. Xiao Ming smiled, As long as the emperor can support the son, the son promises not to let the barbarians cross the Shanhaiguan again, and if the barbarians dare to send troops to attack from Zhao again, the son will dare to lead the cavalry to cut them off. food.

Well, this is exactly what I thought. Now, you are the only one who can fight the barbarians in the Great Yu Kingdom. At this time, the heavy troops are placed in Shanhaiguan, and the barbarians naturally dare not move. Ming'er, the safety of the royal family depends on you alone. , I can give you whatever you want as long as it is not too much, I just hope you will not disappoint your father. Xiao Wenxuan said bitterly, this was his real thought at this time.

He is getting old, and he has been haggard over the years. He doesn't want to experience major changes again. Now he just wants a stable and stable second half of his life.

Please rest assured, the royal father, my son will surely protect the integrity of the Great Yu Kingdom.

Xiao Ming secretly rejoiced in his heart, Xiao Wenxuan's words are an acknowledgement of his current status. As long as it is not excessive, he can give it, which means that he is now a well-deserved celebrity in the front of the palace.

Xiao Wenxuan nodded with satisfaction and continued: Lijingmen has found out that the person who assassinated you this time has something to do with the Shanxi merchants of Liang State. There are only two answers now, one is what your second brother did, and the other is the collusion of the barbarians. What the Shanxi merchants did, the father and emperor are currently investigating, and it is estimated that it will not be long before the truth comes out.

Second brother. Xiao Ming pondered, and suddenly realized that everything now makes sense.

If the assassination is successful, it is true that the second prince will benefit the most. First, whether the assassination is successful or not, it will expose the absurd incompetence of the prince, and once the prince is deposed, he will be the rightful heir.

At the same time, if the assassination is successful, he will be able to get rid of his powerful enemy, which is simply killing two birds with one stone. This abacus is too shrewd.

It is a pity that no matter how careful the plan is, there are loopholes, otherwise Xiao Wenxuan would not have regarded the second prince as a suspect.

It's very likely to be him, but we can't make a conclusion yet. This is the crux of this assassination plan. Xiao Wenxuan also had a headache, he said: If this is really what the second prince did, you want the father and the emperor. How to deal with it.

Xiao Ming wanted to say that he should be executed according to the law, but he suddenly heard an example in the history books, swallowing back the words he was about to blurt out, he said respectfully: Only by the father and the emperor, after all, he is my second brother, he is not benevolent. , I cannot be unrighteous.

Xiao Wenxuan's pupils shrank for a while, and he stared at Xiao Ming for a long time. Then he suddenly smiled and said, Ming'er, you are fine, so I can feel at ease.

A layer of cold sweat broke out behind Xiao Ming, and Xiao Wenxuan was really testing him.

If his attitude is determined to kill the second prince, then Xiao Wenxuan must conclude that his heart is malicious and will not take into account the relationship between siblings. If he can kill the second prince now, he will certainly not show mercy to the prince in the future.

As such, he has to measure how to treat him.

Now that he is posing as a benevolent and righteous person, Xiao Wenxuan is naturally relieved. In this way, he will have a strong executor for the vote.

...

Skillfully avoiding Xiao Wenxuan's temptation, Xiao Ming felt bitter for a while and didn't know what to say.

Xiao Wenxuan didn't seem to want to explain, so he said: Let's go down, this time you have brought me a lot of surprises, and there are still ten days before your wedding day, you can push all other things away, concentrate on it. Preparing for the wedding, Fei Yue'er is a well-known beauty in Chang'an, and she is also proficient in chess, calligraphy and painting. In the future, she will surely be a virtuous inner helper. You should treat her well. Besides, the Fei family's disciples and old officials are all over the world, and the Fei family is even more There are many talents, your fief lacks talents, and now after marrying the Fei family, you can recruit some talents from the Fei family.

Xiao Ming heaved a sigh of relief, this matter was avoided, he said, I'll go back and prepare now, Erchen.