Wu Chengsi's face suddenly darkened. If this were really the case, it would be considered unconscionable and inhumane.
"Lang Jun, is it because of the incident at Shenhuofang that you didn't agree to that woman's trip to Taizhou?" Li Zhiying asked.
Wu Chengsi said: "No, the affairs of Shenhuofang can actually be left to others. I don't need to do it myself."
During the Tang Dynasty, the smelting technology was limited and the industrial level was insufficient. Even if gunpowder was invented, it would not be possible to enter the firearms age immediately.
Even if muskets and artillery are developed, they will not be able to replace cold weapons immediately.
This is a slow process that requires the country's industrial strength to continuously improve and its production capacity to increase, so that thermal weapons can gradually increase their position in the war.
Li Zhiying said: "Then why didn't you agree to her going to Taizhou?"
"Do you want me to go?" Wu Chengsi blinked.
Li Zhiying smiled and said: "Don't change the subject. I know you must have some other purpose why you didn't agree to her immediately. What was it?"
As he spoke, his face came closer, his big clear eyes full of curiosity.
"I really can't hide it from you." Wu Chengsi smiled and said seriously:
"Du Shenyan once told me that he suspected that the main altar of Huofeng Society is in three places, and Taizhou is one of those three places."
Li Zhiying thought quickly and said, "Do you suspect that this woman is from the Huofeng Society and deliberately made up lies to trick you into going to Taizhou?"
Wu Chengsi said slowly: "It is possible to deal with me, but it is more likely that someone wants me to leave Chang'an so as not to hinder their hands and feet."
Li Zhiying felt that Zhou Shang was not from the Huofeng Society, but she did not want Wu Chengsi to take risks, so she said: "It is very possible that King Pei is eager for you to leave Chang'an City."
Wu Chengsi smiled and said:
"But after thinking about it carefully, I think this possibility is almost impossible. First of all, let's not talk about my feelings for Miss Zhou Shang. If she was really from the Fire Phoenix Club and wanted to lure me to Taizhou, she would never tell such a bizarre story.
.”
"You mean the hut where the body was hidden?"
"Yes, judging from her discussion, it seems like she is talking nonsense. I wonder how the people in the Fire Phoenix Club are so smart, how can they make up such a story?"
Li Zhiying lowered her eyes. She was not good at lying, so she could only nod and said: "Yes."
Wu Chengsi said again:
"Furthermore, the Fire Phoenix Society may be located in Taizhou. This organization has a complicated background. It is impossible to rely on the Ministry of Punishment to deal with them. Even if I leave Beijing this time, my main purpose is to deal with them."
Li Zhiying raised her head and said seriously: "You don't need to explain more. No matter what you want to do, I will support you."
Wu Chengsi was startled for a moment, remembering that he had said the same thing to her before, his heart warmed, and he held her delicate hand firmly.
"Lang Jun, the news of the Tubo retreat has not come back yet. If there is a war in the four towns of Anxi, Her Royal Highness the Queen will definitely send you to the northwest battlefield. So if you go to Her Highness the Queen now to talk about this, she may not agree." Li Zhiying
remind.
Wu Chengsi nodded and said:
"I understand that the Tubo people's matter cannot be resolved. In fact, I don't feel comfortable leaving the capital. Don't worry, I will wait until the Tubo people retreat before mentioning this matter to my aunt."
…
In the next few days, while waiting for news, Wu Chengsi made arrangements for Shenhuofang. The yamen of Shenhuofang was set up next to the weapons inspection.
Wu Chengsi transferred Meng Huailiang and Lu Zhaolin from the Hanlin Academy and asked them to come to Shenhuofang to help him.
He only gave them one task, asking them to help search for craftsmen, give those craftsmen high salaries, and give them the status of officials.
In fact, the Tang Dynasty already had a general as a supervisor, and they were all excellent craftsmen.
There were also many blacksmiths in the Ordnance Supervision. During this period, craftsmen still had a certain status.
But this was not enough. Wu Chengsi wanted to once again improve the status of craftsmen in the world through the establishment of Shenhuofang.
Compared with studying gunpowder guns, this purpose is more important.
After receiving orders from Wu Chengsi, Meng Huailiang and Lu Zhaolin each mobilized their family's strength.
In less than three days, he helped Wu Chengsi recruit fifty craftsmen, and they were all famous craftsmen.
Wu Chengsi went to the general supervisor and asked for thirty skilled craftsmen.
Although Yang Wulian, the general's great craftsman, was a third-rank official, he could only be obedient to Wu Chengsi, the powerful prince.
Later, Wu Chengsi transferred Xue Ji from the Hanlin Academy. This famous painter in history was used by him as a drawing software.
Under his guidance, Xue Ji drew a model of a spindle-shaped artillery structure.
This model had lugs, a front sight, and a rear sight. However, considering the level of smelting at this time, Wu Chengsi reduced the caliber and length of the gun body. In order to ensure air tightness, it was designed as a front-loading gun.
Now that the model is available, all that remains is for the craftsmen to study in this direction.
Wu Chengsi was not very clear about the smelting level of this era, nor did he know how long it would take craftsmen to develop a gun barrel.
However, as long as he continues to invest, he believes that it will be a matter of time before he can develop the gun barrel.
That night, Wu Chengsi returned to the mansion from Shenhuofang. As soon as he sat down to drink tea in the lobby, Li Zhiying suddenly walked out of the corner door and said anxiously: "Lang Jun, it's not good, something happened to Miss Zhou Shang!"
"What's wrong with her?" Wu Chengsi asked hurriedly.
Li Zhiying took a few steps forward, took his hand and walked towards the backyard. As she walked, she said, "She almost committed suicide!"
Wu Chengsi was shocked and angry, and said:
"Didn't I tell her to wait two days before going to Taizhou? How come she couldn't even wait for such a while! How is she doing now?"
"Fortunately, I was discovered by Qing He in time and informed me. My life was finally saved, but I'm afraid I won't be able to go to the ground for a month."
Wu Chengsi frowned.
When they arrived at the pharmacy, they saw Zhou Shang lying on the bed with some bandages on his chest and no blood on his face.
Qing He stood aside holding Mao Gu. Wu Chengsi asked her for details, and she replied:
"The slave originally wanted to talk to Miss Zhou, but as soon as she entered the room, she found her lying on the ground with a dagger stuck in her chest. In addition, she was pressing a piece of paper with her hand."
As he spoke, he handed a piece of paper to Wu Chengsi.
Wu Chengsi took it and took a look and found three crooked characters written on it, written in blood.
Go to Taizhou!
Wu Chengsi's heart was extremely heavy and he didn't understand why this woman was so extreme. The people he knew in the world seemed to be more extreme.
Gao Jun would do this, and Zhou Shang would do the same.
Suddenly, he noticed that there were some faint differences on the paper. When he touched it with his hand, it felt a little soft.
It's water. The paper is stained with water, so it becomes soft, and it's like this in more than one place.
How come there is so much water on the paper?
Ah, yes, they are tears. Zhou Sang must have been crying when he wrote these words? Such a picture appeared in Wu Chengsi's mind.
"Did Miss Zhou see anyone today? Or did she say anything strange?" Wu Chengsi suddenly asked.
Yumian said hurriedly: "Yes, yes, someone sent her a letter today. It was the person I took her to meet at the side door."
Wu Chengsi's eyes lit up and asked: "What did that man say to her?"
Yumian ran to Wu Chengsi, stretched out a hand, imitated the movements of a messenger, and said in a rough voice: "Your letter."
Then she imitated Zhou Shang's expression and said lightly: "Thank you." She made a gesture of accepting the letter.
After completing a set of movements, Yumian opened her eyes wide and said, "That's what the scene was like at that time." She looked like she was seeking praise.
Wu Chengsi had no intention of praising her and asked: "What was her expression when she read the letter? Did she say anything?"
"No, she just stood there and stared for a long time, motionless. I called her several times but she ignored me, so I just walked away." Yumian tilted her head and said.
Wu Chengsi grabbed her shoulders and said with a smile: "You must have taken a peek before you left."
Yumian felt that His Highness's expression was a bit scary. He nodded repeatedly like a chicken pecking at rice, and said hurriedly: "Look, look, there are only four words written on the letter."
"Which four words?"
"The end of kindness and righteousness."
Wu Chengsi let go of his hand, clasped one hand on his chest and the other on his chin, lost in thought.
Li Zhiying stared at Zhou Shang and said softly: "She must have been heartbroken by these four words, so she doesn't want to live anymore."
Wu Chengsi sighed: "This woman is strong on the outside, but she didn't expect to be so fragile on the inside."
Li Zhiying sighed quietly and said softly:
"Many times, being strong is just because there is a pillar supporting you in your heart. When that pillar breaks, your heart will collapse."
Wu Chengsi nodded and said: "Zhiying, always send someone to guard her to prevent her from doing stupid things again after she wakes up."
"Your Highness, let your servant guard her." Qing He then recommended himself.
Wu Chengsi nodded and said: "Okay, then you will have to work harder during this period and never look away from her."
As he spoke, his eyes turned to Yumian: "You and Qinghe will change shifts and take turns taking care of Miss Zhou."
Yumian said quickly: "My little maid will definitely keep an eye on her!"