Lord of the Desert

Chapter 576 Fortunately
“Captain Hong, this stone plaque weighs nearly a thousand pounds. It took me a lot of effort to deliver it all the way from Whiterun. If you want to refuse to accept it, you should give me an explanation.”

Kou Yong wasn't angry.

"I am not refusing the General's kindness, but this plaque is a few days late and is not worthy of the occasion."

Hong Fan sighed deeply.

"I have advanced to the Yuan Magnet level."

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent.

Even Kou Yong, who was usually calm and collected, was stunned.

He had been honing his skills at the peak of the Innate Realm for seven years and felt that good things were about to happen. Unexpectedly, Hong Fan had quietly surpassed him.
"When did this happen? Why didn't you say so sooner, Captain?"

Hong Bo was so happy that he jumped up.

"Three days ago, I was still getting used to it."

Hong Fan replied.

"The main problem is that there have been just too many things to do these past few days, and if I were to speak out in a hurry, it would affect my official duties."

This is true.

"Captain Hong."

Kou Yong called out softly and extended his hand in invitation.

Words alone are not enough; we need him to prove it.

Hong Fan nodded slightly, his toes dangling as he floated up.

This is one piece of evidence.

There was no wind below, but all martial artists above the level of Heaven-Human Interaction could sense the strange calmness of the innate spiritual energy, as if it were waiting for a command.

"Hun Tian".

Hong Fan gave a soft command to land back on the ground. At the same time, the innate spiritual energy within a radius of several hundred meters flowed wildly and turbulently, without any pattern and uncontrollable.

These are the two pieces of evidence.

The Hun Tian Technique dissipated.

"I have heard that the sage entered the Yuan Ci at the age of twenty-four, and I longed for it. It is a pity that we were born at different times."

Kou Yong felt a mix of emotions, let out a sigh, and then calmed down.

My wish has been fulfilled today.

"I will bring the plaque back; please have the General revise the inscription."

He gazed intently at Hong Fan's face, then carried the monument on his shoulder and left the courtroom.

Everyone was immersed in the joyful atmosphere, except for one person who was completely oblivious to the situation.

"Young Master Hou, I haven't yet asked you what brings you here today."

Hong Fan noticed Jin Shuang's stunned expression.

The latter was startled by what he heard.

Admiration, embarrassment, shyness, discouragement, fear...

A mixture of emotions exploded in Jin Shuang's mind like bombs, all her previous thoughts were thrown to the winds, leaving only one thought.

Three months, three more months.

He'll be off the list in September, thankfully...

······
July 20th, the 34th year of Zhenghe, night.

The Three Rarities Hall in the Imperial City of Shenjing.

The characters on the plaque, "[Linlang Shengda]", shone brightly under the lights, their gold gleaming.

"Your Majesty, this is the first time I've seen a gas lamp. It is indeed convenient and bright."

Yu Wanzhou tried turning the gas valve and was surprised to find that the light changed accordingly.

"This is a new gadget made by the Liangzhou Imperial Workshop based on Hong Fan's idea. It is said that it has been widely installed in Xijing City."

Crown Prince Xiao Yan laughed.

"After seeing it, Xiande insisted on tinkering with it in the imperial city. Now that I see it, it is indeed much more convenient and brighter than candles and oil lamps."

"Humph."

The Emperor of Great Hua, seated at the head of the table, lightly tapped the armrest and let out a cold snort.

He felt annoyed whenever he heard his beloved daughter mentioned in connection with a certain name, and instinctively wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but when he thought about Hong Fan's performance over the past year, he couldn't find anything to criticize.

"A mere lamplight is nothing more than a trivial matter."

Xiao Ce forced a smile.

"Your Majesty, it's not that simple."

Guan Qianjian, who was sitting opposite him, shook his head.

"I have seen the complete set of blueprints archived in the Equipment Manufacturing Bureau. To light this lamp, we need to mine and build roads, dry distill coal, condense and wash the crude gas, pump it into wet gas holders for storage, and pressurize it into the pipeline network... It is no simpler than creating a martial arts manual."

"Since he has received praise from the abbot, he must be extraordinary."

If an ordinary person had contradicted Xiao Ce like this, he would have certainly not let it go, but since it was Guan Qianjian in front of him, he could only go along with it.

"Inspector Yu, it's getting late, let's get down to business."

Xiao Yan changed the subject.

"Your subject has reconstructed the course of the Battle of Xuandanbao by combining various accounts, and then personally tested the 33-shot cannon. I must say that the power of this new type of firearm is truly extraordinary."

Yu Wanzhou stood up and replied.

"Be more specific." Xiao Ce sat up straight.

"The shell weighs ten pounds and contains one pound of black powder. It can travel up to six miles in distance. A direct hit is close to the power of a low-level Yuan Magnetic strike, which is enough to kill a Xiantian martial artist. In the Battle of Xuandan Fortress, the two artillery battalions of the Chisha Army, with the cooperation of low-level martial artists, fired more than a thousand exploding shells with twelve heavy cannons in half an hour, completely destroying the exposed defensive positions of the Giant Spirit."

Yu Wanzhou reported.

“Your Majesty, the tail velocity of the 33-shot cannon is not fast, and the trajectory is easy to predict, so it does not pose much of a threat to innate martial artists; however, it is enough to completely control the situation in low-intensity wars without the participation of high-level martial artists.”

Having never witnessed the power of artillery fire, the Xiao father and son could not imagine the scene Yu Wanzhou described, but they were familiar with the abilities of Yuan Magnetic Warriors and knew very well how much damage a low-level Yuan Magnetic Warrior could cause by unilaterally unleashing a thousand punches.

"No wonder, no wonder they're making a fuss about the Enlightened Movement."

Xiao Ce remained silent for a long time before nodding.

In the past two years, Kaimingxing has gained a reputation, and its background has been thoroughly investigated—50% of the shares are held by Hong Fan, 50% by Liangzhou Qizuojian, and daily operations are handled by Qian Hong.

"Who?"

Xiao Yan asked.

“Lord Anping, and the third son.”

Xiao Ce answered casually.

Duke Anping, Zhou Yutang, was one of the three dukes of Shenjing and had great influence in the army; as for "the third," it naturally refers to the third prince, Xiao Ji.

"Are they trying to seize Hong Fan Kai Ming Hang's shares?"

Xiao Yan frowned.

The Imperial Household Department was the emperor's purse strings, so naturally no one dared to embezzle their 50%.

While Xiao Yan could not accept Xingjun becoming his brother-in-law and causing a tragedy of family turning against each other, he had no prejudice against Hong Fan himself, especially since this guy had saved Xiao Chu.

"I'm not that bold."

Xiao Ce replied.

"A twenty-four-year-old Yuan Ci Grandmaster, recognized by 'Tian Zhao Hai' as the supreme master of the same realm, whose combat strength is slightly superior to Shi Haoran of the same age according to the calculation of Jie Tian Ji; how can Zhou Yutang, an old man, suppress such blazing fire?"

He laughed dismissively.

"As for the third brother, he couldn't even handle Hong Fan when he was only at the Innate Realm, let alone now? According to the Martial Arts Academy's deduction, Hong Fan should now have the combat power of an ordinary Yuan Magnetic Realm third or fourth level martial artist. In addition, with the Blazing Star Speed, no one but a Celestial Realm expert can defeat him."

"The Third Prince and the others don't want to offend Hong Fan; they just want a share of the pie."

As the head of the Overwatch Council, Guan Qianjian obviously knows more.

"Duke Anping wanted the Ministry of War to obtain the cannon manufacturing technology from the Imperial Workshop in the name of the court, and then set up a new factory; the Third Prince and the Pan family hitched a ride on this opportunity."

There was a moment of silence in the Sanxi Hall.

"Father, regarding the Kaiming Act..."

Xiao Yan probed.

"In February of this year, Mo Gong was in his fifth period of decline. Now the Mo family has been forced into a corner by the headmaster and I'm afraid they will lose their 'peerless' status."

Xiao Ce suddenly changed the subject.

The Mo family has lived in Qingheng City for generations and is the most powerful clan in Zhongzhou besides the Xiao family. The "Peerless" scepter, a divine weapon, is held by the Mo family and is said to be able to amplify a martial artist's innate spiritual energy perception a hundredfold.

"The cycle of suffering is ever-present, Elder Shan, oh Elder Shan..."

Xiao Ce softly recited the inscription on the Peerless Scepter.

"The two factions of the Central Plains, East and West, have been forced to leave; now even the aristocratic families are filled with apprehension, but the Duke of Anping's mansion is quite audacious."

"The first Anping Duke was a celestial being and had forty years left to live."

Xiao Yan replied.

"Forty years is nothing; could Old Zhou Gong possibly outlive Guan Qimai? Besides..."

Xiao Ce was about to speak.

"Your Majesty, Guan Qimai's temperament is such that he won't act unless provoked."

Guan Qianjian interrupted.

"The abbot is right."

Xiao Ce forced a smile, but it quickly vanished.

"The consumption at the foot of Mount Yuzuo is increasing, and the imperial treasury is empty. It is indeed necessary for the mountain chief to squeeze these fat insects. Let Yao Yiyuan thwart the ideas of the third brother and the others. Right now, the barrier needs to replenish its vitality, and a major battle is bound to break out in the north. Don't cause trouble at this time."

He pressed his temples and spoke quickly, his exhaustion evident.

"In addition, have the Ministry of Revenue send people to Fengsui City to count the population and household registration, and then have Hong Fan collect the taxes directly; um, also promote him to beacon tower garrison commander."

"Understood, Your Majesty will have the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel send it to the Three Guards General's residence..."

Xiao Yan planned to proceed according to the usual procedures.

"No, just send the imperial decree to Hong Fan directly regarding these two matters, and inform the Zhenbei Guard."

Xiao Ce said in a deep voice.

Xiao Yan and Yu Wanzhou were taken aback.

Compared to Kuaiye Shanbei's tax and personnel powers, the "enlightened" policies were nothing more than minor matters.

"Father, isn't the progress too fast? What about the Zhenbei Guard...?"

Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment.

"For the past six months or so, the Martial Arts Academy has been adding more people to the north, and a squad of Red Ribbon Cavalry is even permanently stationed in Fengsui City. Hong Fan's breakthrough to Yuan Magnetic is such a big deal, the imperial court will have to use it too."

Xiao Ce raised his head, his gaze fixed on the vast, boundless sky and clouds beyond the window.

"We'll put the burden on him, but we'll also give him benefits. Hong Fan has been working on the Juehou Mountain trade route all along, hasn't he? Let's allow him to keep his own commercial taxes..."

(End of this chapter)