The prince is more stable

Chapter 63 Self-Defense Weapon
Zhao Xu admired Zhao Xiaoqian very much. This admiration had nothing to do with family affection, but was purely the emperor's admiration for his subject.

At first, Zhao Xiaoqian forced Zhao Hao to submit a memorial, which changed Zhao Hao's position and transformed him from the old party to the new party. Zhao Xu was surprised by Zhao Xiaoqian's decision at the time.

Later, when Liu Zhi's head was blown off and the two sides confronted each other in front of the emperor, Zhao Xiaoqian calmly transformed the dispute between the new and old parties into a dispute between loyalty and filial piety. He instantly stood on the moral high ground and reversed the unfavorable situation. Zhao Xu looked at Zhao Xiaoqian with a different eye.

Until today's dialogue between the emperor and his ministers, Zhao Xiaoqian directly pointed out the shortcomings of the Song Dynasty army and tactfully advised Zhao Xu to change the situation where civil officials were valued and military officials were despised. Zhao Xu once again refreshed his understanding of Zhao Xiaoqian.

Putting aside the relationship between clan members and brothers, which emperor would not like such an intelligent and decisive minister?

At this moment, Zhao Xu couldn't help but have a thought in his mind: if this person was not a relative, he must have the talent to be a prime minister.

The day before yesterday, Zhao Xu broke the ancestral law and appointed him to an official position with real power. He felt more and more that his approach was correct.

Such great talent deserves an exception.

Zhao Xu remembered every word of Zhao Xiaoqian's advice today.

Just as Zhao Xiaoqian expected, he planted a seed in Zhao Xu's heart.

In history, Emperor Zhezong Zhao Xu was not a foolish ruler, and later generations praised him highly. If Zhao Xu had not died too young, he would have been the ruler who revived the Song Dynasty.

It can be seen that Zhao Xu himself was not stupid, he just didn't live long enough...

Zhao Xu could certainly accept the correct remarks of his subjects, just as Zhao Xiaoqian said today.

"Zi'an is eighteen years old this year. I remember... he is not married yet, right?" Zhao Xu suddenly smiled.

Zhao Xiaoqian was startled and looked at him warily.

What do you want to do?

"I am young and ignorant, and have no intention of getting married." Zhao Xiaoqian replied hurriedly.

Zhao Xu frowned unhappily. "You're eighteen, how can you not get married? Is being young and ignorant an excuse?"

"Okay, I'll tell you the truth... I haven't had enough fun." Zhao Xiaoqian felt aggrieved.

This is actually not true, I have never played it!

Zhao Xu was stunned: "You... are so sincere."

"This is my true character. Your Majesty, thank you for your praise." Zhao Xiaoqian said embarrassedly.

"I'm not praising you." Zhao Xu said unhappily, "Isn't your father worried that you're still unmarried at eighteen?"

"My father has more than a dozen concubines, so he has no time to worry..."

Zhao Xu was dumbfounded. This father and son were really...

The atmosphere of the conversation was not right. Zhao Xiaoqian realized that if he continued chatting, Zhao Xu might arrange a marriage for him.

I can dictate national affairs, but you'd better not dictate my lifelong happiness.

So Zhao Xiaoqian quickly said goodbye.

Zhao Xu smacked his lips with a feeling of unsatisfied expression, feeling very unhappy because he had so much to say but it was stuck in his chest.

Before leaving Funing Palace, Zhao Xu stopped him.

"Zi'an, what you said today makes a lot of sense. I will seriously consider it."

Zhao Xiaoqian paused for a moment, turned around and bowed deeply: "It is a blessing for the Song Dynasty, and it is a great blessing for the country."

…………

It was already dawn when he returned to the palace. Zhao Xiaoqian had not rested at all since the assassination last night.

In short, I met all kinds of people, answered all kinds of questions, and by the way, I made a muddled conversation between the emperor and his ministers.

After returning to the palace, Zhao Xiaoqian ignored everyone and went straight back to the yard and fell asleep.

I slept for a long time and woke up at dusk.

The maid helped him wash and brought him food. After Zhao Xiaoqian had his meal, he sat alone in the yard, watching the sunset gradually sinking to the west.

Perhaps it was because he was too thick-skinned, or perhaps it was because he realized it too late, but until he had some free time, the scene of the assassination last night flashed through his mind, and then Zhao Xiaoqian felt a mixture of relief and fear.

Having lived two lifetimes, last night was the first time I faced the brink of life and death.

I didn’t feel scared at the time, and later when I was summoned to the palace to make a report, I didn’t have time to be afraid. Now Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly realized... I almost got killed!

No one told me that life in ancient times was so dangerous!

"Someone, bring me a pot of wine. This prince needs to calm down!" Zhao Xiaoqian wiped his forehead and said.

Zhao Xiaoqian started drinking as soon as he woke up, guzzling pot after pot.

More than an hour later, Zhao Xiaoqian fell asleep again. When he woke up, it was already the next day, and his biological clock had returned to normal. Miraculously, wasn't it?

After getting drunk, Zhao Xiaoqian's life realm was elevated and he made a decision.

In this dangerous ancient time, the first thing to do is not to make bold statements and give orders, but to prepare to save your life.

Otherwise, will I still be so lucky the next time I am assassinated?
So Zhao Xiaoqian immediately ordered someone to find two blacksmiths with the best skills.

They found a vacant space in the backyard of the palace and started a furnace there.

Industry is basically equivalent to primitive society in ancient times, and many modern weapons can only be made by hand.

Fortunately, Zhao Xiaoqian was the prince, so he didn't have to rub it himself and could find someone to help him.

The two blacksmiths were already in position, waiting for the prince's instructions with confused looks on their faces.

The furnace was burning very brightly. Two blacksmiths stood by it hammering and banging. Zhao Xiaoqian ordered someone to set up a small coffee table next to it, which was filled with fruits and snacks. He ate and talked leisurely.

First, you need a large piece of refined iron, which has been refined hundreds of times. Then, the most important thing is to make a straight iron pipe. Welding is not an option, so you can only use a mold.

The process of making the iron pipe was very difficult. The two blacksmiths tried to make it several times, but failed every time when fitting the mold.

It doesn’t matter. Zhao Xiaoqian is still young, he is only eighteen years old. He has the patience to wait until the end of time. In short, Zhao Xiaoqian has no intention of leaving the palace until this thing is made.

It's too dangerous outside, boys must learn to protect themselves.

The iron pipes were made many times, but the yield rate was zero. The two skilled blacksmiths began to doubt their lives.

It was not until the afternoon that the sweaty blacksmith handed over an iron pipe with an uneasy look on his face.

Zhao Xiaoqian took the iron pipe, gestured with it, and tested its straightness.

Not excellent, but... passable and barely usable.

Next, polish the inner wall of the iron pipe and rub it with sandpaper until the inner wall is as smooth as a mirror.

Once the most important step is completed, the rest will be easy. Zhao Xiaoqian handed over a few more drawings, which detailed the size of the machine parts.

Looking at the strange-looking parts on the drawing, the two blacksmiths looked at each other, but did not dare to ask, and just obediently made them according to the instructions.

Compared to the straight iron pipe, the other parts, although strange, were relatively easy to make.

Not long after, all the parts were completed. The two blacksmiths breathed a sigh of relief and thought they could go home after finishing the work, but Zhao Xiaoqian still did not let them go.

So they continued to forge the iron pipe. According to Zhao Xiaoqian's instructions, the blacksmith manually rolled out dozens of small iron balls based on the diameter of the inner wall of the iron pipe.

The blacksmith wanted to cry and go home...

What kind of weird thing did this prince create?

As Zhao Xiaoqian watched the things on his drawings gradually become concrete, he became more and more pleased.

Everything that needed to be built had been built, and the next step was assembly, a job Zhao Xiaoqian could do himself.

The two blacksmiths cautiously said goodbye, and Zhao Xiaoqian was a little hesitant.

"I heard that whenever a divine artifact is forged, the blacksmith will sacrifice his life in the furnace, alarming the gods of heaven and earth. Would you two like to sacrifice yourself? It's all for the sake of work..."

"I will take care of your wife and children, so don't worry..."

The two blacksmiths were horrified and fell to their knees: "Prince, spare our lives!"

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed. This was indeed a bit embarrassing. How about trying a different approach and throwing a chicken into the oven? Once it was cooked, he could take it out and eat it.

After finishing the work, the blacksmith said goodbye tremblingly, and the two of them supported each other and walked towards the gate of the palace tremblingly.

It was getting late, and Zhao Xiaoqian had wasted his youth today on this thing.

Zhao Hao walked over leisurely with his hands behind his back. Seeing Zhao Xiaoqian playing with some strangely shaped things in his hands, Zhao Hao praised him without saying a word.

"My son is so handsome and unruly even when he is obsessed with playing with things!"

Zhao Xiaoqian rolled his eyes. He had long been numb to this kind of unprincipled and random flattery.

Zhao Hao came over and examined the thing in his hand. After a long while, he couldn't figure out what it was. Curiously, he asked, "I heard that my son asked the blacksmith to make something early in the morning. What is this forging?"

Zhao Xiaoqian stared at the parts in his hand, trying to assemble them one by one, and said lightly: "This is a new gadget that I came up with on a whim. It's a sharp weapon for self-defense and attacking the enemy."

Zhao Hao was stunned: "Self-defense...fight back?"

He looked at the machine in Zhao Xiaoqian's hand in a daze, then looked in the direction where the two blacksmiths had just left.

Then Zhao Hao suddenly shuddered and shouted, "Come here, chase those two blacksmiths back and don't let them talk to anyone. Quick!"

(End of this chapter)