43: The Weird Cabinet (Please collect and read)

Chapter 43: The Eccentric Cabinet (Seeking Collections and Follow-ups)

"The martial imperial examination is an assessment to recruit Martial Artists from all under heaven, just like the civil imperial examination."

Zheng Yi said, "It values martial prowess first, military formations second, and military strategy thereafter."

"Now the north is in great chaos, and the borders are harassed by alien tribes. Only by recruiting ambitious people and Martial Artists from all under heaven can we resist the foreign tribes."

"As long as one passes the martial imperial examination, they can be assigned positions such as garrison generals, or even commanders and deputy generals, to command large armies!"

The few people looked at each other in dismay, not knowing how to reply.

Zheng Yi added, "I have discussed this move with General Xu, and he is also very much in favor of it."

Hearing this, the few people immediately said, "We obey your orders!"

"Heh..."

Now Xu Mujun's might suppressed the imperial court, and surprisingly not a single person in the entire court opposed it.

However, since Xu Mujun was loyal to the imperial court, he could rest assured in using him.

"The second matter is the reconstruction of Jiaotai Hall."

Zheng Yi said, "I want to rename Jiaotai Hall to 'White Jade Capital' for my cultivation!"

The six people were speechless.

Was this matter even worth discussing here?

As for cultivation?

The few looked at each other; the emperor was cultivating and ignoring state affairs.

For them, this was undoubtedly... good news!

Among the six, only Zheng Zongbing clearly expressed opposition.

If the emperor cultivated, who would manage state affairs?

Moreover, the late emperor once left a posthumous instruction that all descendants of Zheng shall not practice cultivation.

But his words carried little weight and had no effect at all.

"The third matter."

Zheng Yi continued, "You decide on the peace talks with Wu Country, the ceding of territory, and the compensation of wealth and property."

"I only want one thing!"

"Please make it clear, Your Majesty."

"The secret arts of cultivation!"

Zheng Yi said, "General Xu sent back a secret report stating that he was assassinated by a Cultivator from Wu Country and almost lost his life."

"Now that Wu Country has been defeated, it must present the secret arts of cultivation of Wu Country."

"Otherwise, this war will still have to go on!"

The six of them looked at each other again. Is this... is this a major national affair brought up to discuss with cabinet ministers?

It was simply... absurd!

After hesitating for a moment, under Zheng Yi's constant urging, they finally expressed their consent.

After the meeting, the news of Emperor Zhengyong single-mindedly seeking immortality spread without wings and soon swept across the entire capital.

"The emperor is going to open a special imperial examination? That's simply wonderful!"

"I was unable to participate in the imperial examination last time due to a serious illness. I didn't expect Your Majesty to show grace and open a special examination... This is simply wonderful!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"Emperor Zhengyong single-mindedly seeks immortality; this is an omen of the destruction of the country!"

"To actually link major national affairs with matters of cultivating immortality is simply... too absurd!"

"Dim-witted ruler! Dim-witted ruler! If this matter spreads out, what face will our Great Yu Dynasty have to face the late emperor!"

"I heard that among the three people whose names were posted on the roll that day, two were Jianghu swindlers, but another was actually rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and recruited as a Director of the Ministry of Works!"

"Spending a thousand taels of gold to buy a horse's bones, Your Majesty truly keeps his promises!"

"Seeking immortals and asking about the Dao... This time, who knows how many Jianghu swindlers and capable people of unusual talents will head to the imperial palace..."

The imperial court and the common folk were buzzing with discussion. Zheng Yi roughly guessed it, but he paid no attention to it.

At this moment, he was inspecting the palm-thunder presented together by Lei Shitou and Minister Zhan Liang.

Which was gunpowder.

"Your Majesty."

Minister Zhan Liang said, "According to the method presented by Lei Shitou, we have developed this new type of explosive. Although its power is great, it is very unstable."

"When using it, one must handle it with extreme care and avoid open flames, otherwise it is very prone to explosion."

"Is there a solution?"

"Yes, we just need to reduce the white phosphorus component in it."

"Can this be mass-produced?"

"Yes."

"Minister Zhan Liang, I have an idea. Can we stuff these flames into a sturdy sealed long tube, then place iron pellets or similar things inside, and after igniting the gunpowder, use the impact force generated by its explosion to shoot out the iron pellets and iron needles?"

Zheng Yi said, "This would be like bows, crossbows, or bed-crossbows. Can it be manufactured?"

Minister Zhan Liang widened his eyes and hesitated, saying, "Like fireworks? If this thing can be applied in the battlefield..."

"Not bad."

Zheng Yi said, "I also thought of this. If Minister Zhan Liang can develop this kind of weapon, I will credit you with the primary merit!"

"As you command! Your humble servant will go and develop it right now!"

"Wait a moment."

Zheng Yi looked at the smiling Lei Shitou beside him and said, "Starting today, you will hold a nominal post in the Ministry of Works. Follow Minister Zhan Liang, and I will not treat you unfairly."

Lei Shitou hurriedly knelt down, shouting long live: "Long live my Emperor! Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty~!"

"And..."

Zheng Yi said to Minister Zhan Liang again, "I once noticed that the gas after boiling water can make a goose feather rise. If there is a large amount of steam present, can it make heavier things rise into the air and fly?"

"This..."

Minister Zhan Liang asked doubtfully, "This subject has also noticed this point, but what use is this?"

"We can order people to sew large balloons with cowhide, and light a fire beneath them to make them rise into the air."

Minister Zhan Liang racked his brains and said, "Your Majesty, is it a large heavenly lantern?"

"Heavenly lantern?"

"You must mean Kongming lanterns."

"Not bad."

Zheng Yi nodded and said, "If successfully developed, once the large heavenly lanterns take to the sky, soldiers can be stationed on them to attack from the sky with thunder-fire."

"By then, even the largest formidable pass under heaven can be captured by the army of Great Yu!"

"Understood! Your humble servant will go back and develop it right now!"

"Go!"

The two retreated, and Zheng Yi let out a long sigh of relief.

What he wanted Minister Zhan Liang and Lei Shitou to develop were precisely hot-air balloons and firearms.

He knew very well that with the current level of craftsmanship, hot-air balloons had a very high probability of being successfully researched.

After all, there was no sophisticated technology or principle involved.

But as for firearms... given the current metal smelting technology of Great Yu, it would be very, very difficult.

Even the simplest flintlocks or matchlocks would be very difficult to develop successfully.

But what he gave was merely a research direction.

The rest would still depend on this group of professionals.

Furthermore.

He did not expect Minister Zhan Liang and Lei Shitou to truly develop firearms; being able to research thermal weapons like the Red Barbarian Cannon would already be considered good.

Researching artillery was ostensibly to deal with alien tribes like Wu Country.

But the real purpose was to counter Fire Spirit Master!

No one knew when he would come back for revenge, so they could only prepare in advance.

Just at this moment, a little palace maid hurriedly ran over.

"Your Majesty~ Your Majesty~"

"What is it?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty!"

After a few breaths, Liu Chengen hurriedly ran in.

"Your Majesty, news came from Kun Ning Palace. The Empress... is about to give birth!"

"Huh? Lin'er is about to give birth?"

Zheng Yi thought, the Empress's due date was within these few days, not far from Consort De.

Since she was the Empress, he immediately said, "Set off for Kun Ning Palace!"

"Understood!"

Outside Kun Ning Palace, at least a hundred eunuchs and palace maids were guarding outside, and seven or eight midwives were guarding inside the door, carrying hot water in and out from time to time.

At the entrance, several imperial physicians were kneeling, all waiting for the Empress to give birth.

After all, she was the Empress, and the grandeur of her childbirth was far greater than that of Consort Shu, Consort Bi, and others.

Even the Empress Dowager was waiting in the outer hall.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

"this servant greets Your Majesty!"

"We subjects greet Your Majesty."

"Rise and be excused!"

Zheng Yi bowed to the Empress Dowager and said, "Greetings, Mother."

"My imperial son, come quickly. Lin'er is about to give birth, and my heart is beating so fast."

Zheng Yi comforted, "Mother, rest assured. Lin'er is the mother of the world; nothing will go wrong."

Soon, under the joint efforts of the midwives, imperial physicians, and others, a loud crying sound finally rang out from inside the room.

"Bodhisattva bless, Bodhisattva bless, may Lin'er give birth safely."

The Empress Dowager said pleasantly, looking extremely joyful.

"Is it a prince or a princess?"

"Imperial son, later you must give a good name to Lin'er's child. This is your legitimate son!"

"Your subject-son knows."

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, a wet nurse walked out quickly holding a little baby, knelt respectfully on the ground, and said:

"Congratulations, Empress Dowager, congratulations, Your Majesty, the Empress has given birth!"

The Empress Dowager asked anxiously again, "Is it a prince or a princess?"

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, it is a little prince..."