Chapter 419: The King of Chu Conferred the title of Scholar
Zhang Yangquan inspected the camp along the camp trail.
Suddenly I caught a glimpse of Qin Lingsi's mouth pouting, and she even snorted from time to time.
Zhang Yangquan couldn't help laughing and said: "What's wrong with you?"
Qin Lingsi hummed: "You understand!"
Zhang Yangquan smiled and said: "Fighting in battle is a man's business. Our Jiangdu Army has no shortage of generals now. Why do you have to go together?"
Qin Lingsi curled her lips and said: "When we attacked Jiangdu City, my sister and I were both on the battlefield. I killed more people than you, but now you dislike me!"
Qin Lingjun scolded: "How can we compare now with the past? I have always known how to be petty and make things difficult for your brother-in-law!"
Qin Lingsi's eyes turned red and she choked with sobs: "It took me several months to find out this information, but you didn't even let me follow you. It's obvious that you are trying to burn bridges by crossing the river!"
Zhang Yangquan pondered for a moment, then said to Qin Lingjun: "Madam, why don't we let her go with us? Just let her be a guide and not let her charge into the battle!"
Qin Lingjun glanced at her sister and saw that she was secretly looking at him. She forgot to choke and said angrily: "You can also pretend to cry and lie to your brother-in-law!"
When Qin Lingsi heard what she said, she knew she had agreed. She burst into laughter and threw herself into her arms.
The sound of horse hoofbeats suddenly sounded from behind. When I looked back, I saw Qian Yongren and Zhao Desheng galloping over together.
"Your Majesty, something happened at the Ordnance Bureau. Jia Jiancheng and Hu Jiancheng would like to ask you to come over." Qian Yongren dismounted quickly, his face full of urgency.
Zhang Yangquan frowned: "What happened?"
Qian Yongren said: "Wang Meng and more than a dozen people are clamoring to see you. If you don't go, they will resign!"
There is a huge square outside the front hall of the Ordnance Bureau, which used to be a place for testing artillery.
Later, the new artillery was too powerful, so a new test firing point was built in the bureau, and the old test firing point was changed into a square.
On weekdays, when there are important matters that need to be announced, the two supervisors will summon all the craftsmen in the square and assign tasks.
There was no big event today, but the square was crowded with people watching the excitement. It turned out to be a group of senior officials who wanted to leave collectively.
The Ordnance Bureau is divided into the Gun Factory Department and the Artillery Factory Department. Those who want to leave are the generals of the Gun Factory Department.
These people, headed by Han Shan, were originally officials from the Ministry of Industry of the Yuan Dynasty. They were later used by the Yuan Dynasty as tools in exchange for Xuexue and came to Jiangdu Prefecture.
The first musket was successfully developed by them and Hu Guangcao.
After Han Shan and others successfully developed the blunderbuss, Zhang Yangquan appointed them as directors of the Ordnance Bureau. Their wives and children were also brought in, so they worked hard in the Ordnance Bureau.
Recently, they have been working with Hu Guangcao to develop breech-loading muskets.
However, no matter whether it is bolt action or mechanical means, it has been unable to break through the air tightness problem.
Just a few days ago, Hu Guangcao suddenly adjusted the way of ignition and changed a few small details, and actually solved the air tightness problem that had been bothering them for a long time!
Although several people were unconvinced, they still assisted Hu Guangcao to design several changes more reasonably, and prepared to submit them to the king in a few days.
Unexpectedly, two days later, two teenagers broke into the Ordnance Bureau and had a loud argument with Hu Guangcao.
Only then did Han Shan and others realize that it was Hu Guangcao’s grandson who solved the air tightness problem.
They were immediately furious and stepped forward to question Hu Guangcao.
Hu Guangcao then confessed that his grandson had stolen new gun parts from the Bureau of Ordnance back home and after some tinkering, he had solved the air tightness problem.
Several people accused Hu Guangcao, saying that he had leaked the secrets of the Ordnance Bureau, and threatened to complain to the king. If the king did not deal with him, he would resign.
Hu Guangcao's persuasion was in vain, and Jia Ban's previous persuasion also had no effect. The two had no choice but to send people to invite the king.
Jia Lu stood at the outermost edge of the crowd, squinting at the sky, with an expression like an old god.
Jia Ban came to his side and said with a wry smile: "Brother, what exactly do Han Shan and the others want to do, do they have to make the king know about it before they are willing to do it?"
Jia Lu glanced at him sideways: "You really don't understand?"
Jia Ban frowned and said: "Hu Guang and Cao promised them that when they submitted it to the king, they said that the new musket was developed by Han Shan and a few people. The Hu family didn't even ask for their names, so why are they making trouble?"
Jia Lu narrowed his eyes and smiled.
"Brother, do you think Lan Yu and Han Lin'er can really hide this from the king by making this matter so big?"
Jia Ban was stunned for a moment and said: "You mean..."
Jia Lu said coldly: "When the king knows the inside story, he will only think that the Hu family's grandfather and grandson know the general situation, and Han Shan and others are greedy for false fame!"
Jia Ban's face changed slightly: "Yes, this old boy Hu Guangcao is really shady!"
Jia Lu twisted his beard and said with a smile: "Hu Guangcao probably just wanted to protect his grandson, so he didn't think everything through, leading to the current dilemma!"
Jiaban snorted: "He takes credit for his grandson's changes and is it to protect him?"
Jia Lu said calmly: "You are really right!"
Jia Ban was stunned and said: "What kind of protection is this?"
Jia Lu narrowed his eyes and said: "If Hu Xiaobao, a boy under fifteen years old, really develops a new type of musket, do you think it will be a good thing?"
Jia Ban was slightly startled and suddenly understood.
"I understand, Hu Guangcao is worried that his grandson will show off his talents at a young age and attract jealousy, and he will be burdened by his reputation in the future!"
Jia Lu nodded and sighed: "It's a pity that Lan Yu, Han Lin'er didn't know Hu Guangcao's painstaking efforts, and made this matter a big deal, making it impossible for both parties to step down!"
"Well, in order to protect his grandson, Hu Guangcao put Han Shan and others on the fire. Han Shan and others thought that Hu Guangcao wanted to harm them, so they could only make a big fuss. I hope the king will deal with it!"
Jia Lu said calmly: "In addition to not trusting Hu Guangcao when Han Shan and others caused such a big deal, I'm afraid they are also filled with anger because they were overpowered by a child!"
Jia Ban quite agreed and said with a smile: "Brother, if it were you, how would you handle this matter?"
Jia Lu pondered for a moment and said: "If Han Shan wants to appease them, it's best to give them promotions. As for the Hu family's grandfather and grandson, they should follow Hu Guangcao and remove Hu Xiaobao from this matter without reward or punishment. Both sides should
All are acceptable."
Just when Jia Ban was about to speak again, he suddenly heard someone in the distance shouting: "The king is coming!"
The noise in the square immediately disappeared, and after a while, Zhang Yangquan was seen walking over surrounded by a group of people.
Hu Guangcao stepped forward quickly, briefly explained the situation, and said with a sad face: "Your Majesty, it's all my fault. I didn't keep the gun parts properly, so that kid Xiaobao got into trouble!"
Zhang Yangquan raised his hand and said: "Wait a minute, I just heard that Hu Xiaobao developed a breech-loading musket. Is it true or false?"
After hearing this, Han Shan and others turned pale and were about to have a seizure.
Hu Guangcao quickly waved his hand.
"No, no, the key part of the breech-loading musket was completed by a few people from Han Shandu Shi with great effort! Xiaobao just made a few changes to their results, and with some luck, it happened to be successful!"
Zhang Yangquan glanced at Han Shan and others, and then asked Hu Guangcao, "Where is your grandson?"
Hu Guangcao waved to a disciple, and the disciple quickly ran towards a room, and after a while, he led Hu Xiaobao over.
Zhang Yangquan looked at Hu Xiaobao, but saw that his eyes were red, his head was drooped, and he looked aggrieved.
"Xiaobao, what's wrong? Have you been scolded by your grandfather?" He touched Hu Xiaobao's head and smiled.
Hu Xiaobao's nose felt sour, and he nodded twitchingly.
"Your Majesty, I, I also want to help you, but grandpa scolded me for being ridiculous and said that I got into the big pot... wuwu..."
Hu Guangcao said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, this..."
Zhang Yangquan raised his hand to signal him to stop talking and squatted in front of Hu Xiaobao.
"Xiaobao, your grandfather actually loves you and is afraid that you will be too proud. You did a good job this time and did not get into trouble!"
Hu Xiaobao said in confusion: "Really?" He raised his head and looked at Hu Guangcao.
Hu Guangcao smiled bitterly and said nothing.
Zhang Yangquan stood up and turned to look at Hu Guangcao.
"Mr. Hu, I know what you are thinking. You are afraid that Xiaobao will be hated by others because of this incident, so you want to cover up his invention of the breech-loading musket!"
The conversation changed: "But your approach is too selfish. You only consider the safety of your child, but you don't take into account his feelings. You can only make yourself feel at ease by doing this. Have you ever considered how much harm your child will suffer?"
Hu Guangcao was stunned and speechless.
Zhang Yangquan turned his attention to Han Shan and others.
"Guys, Director Hu thinks you will feel dissatisfied and jealous because you were overrun by a child. But I don't think so. Do you know why?"
Han Shan was stunned for a moment and said: "Please show me, Your Majesty."
Zhang Yangquan's eyes moved slowly and he looked around among everyone in the square.
"Learning is divided into liberal arts and science, and you are all scholars of Neo-Confucianism! In my opinion, scholars of Neo-Confucianism are different from scholars of literature. They don't like to boast and are pragmatic about their jobs. You are all immersed in fortifications, so how can you be jealous of others?" When everyone heard that the king compared them to the scribes, they felt a sense of pride in their hearts.
When I mentioned scholars before, I was referring to the literati who studied the Four Books and Five Classics and the Classics and History. These craftsmen were not in the mainstream.
Now the king also calls them "scholars", how can it not make everyone's hearts beat!