Tang Dynasty: The pot is tied to the duck nest, the little rhinoceros is here!

Just as Li Shimin was about to reprimand him again, Jiang Fan stopped him and said softly:

"It seems we'll have to give you a special lesson on the dangers of electricity from now on."

This is no joke. While electricity brings many conveniences, it can also bring dangers. Uncle, what do you think?

In front of so many princes and princesses, Jiang Fan did not make fun of Li Shimin.

After hearing this, Li Shimin maintained a calm expression and nodded slightly.

Then Jiang Fan took the power strip in his hand and began to explain the working principle of electricity and the correct way to use it.

As he spoke, Li Shimin suddenly realized the truth. If only he had known this earlier…

How could I possibly touch electricity? This is truly... a complicated story.

At this moment, Li Tai realized how dangerous his actions had been.

If it weren't for Jiang Langjun's intervention, my brother and I would probably have been electrocuted into sticks.

After listening, Li Shimin felt that his horizons had been broadened once again and that he had gained more knowledge.

Then he asked Jiang Fan, "Jiang Fan, besides lighting, does electricity have any other uses?"

"Yes, electricity has a wide range of uses, such as... factory operations,"

Steelmaking is indispensable, electricity is indispensable, and even warfare relies on electricity!

"Huh? Steel smelting... how can it use electricity? Tell me more, my uncle wants to know..."

"This can't be explained in a sentence or two, Uncle. You just need to remember that steel mills that smelt steel cannot function without electricity and coal."

Of course, other raw materials are also essential, but without electricity,

The steel mill simply couldn't operate, so you should understand how important electricity is, Uncle, right?

"Understand... now? Or still not? Uncle's brain feels... this steel smelting..."

At this point, Li Shimin was completely captivated by steel.

Although their own Xuanjia Army was formidable, the Tang Dynasty's steel production was far too low.

It's simply not enough to support equipping more Xuanjia soldiers. If Jiang Fan could help me smelt steel with electricity...

To continue the discussion with Jiang Fan in more detail, Li Shimin asked Jiang Fan, "Jiang Fan, you... know how to smelt iron and steel?"

"No... I'm not a steelworker, smelting steel is beyond my capabilities, but... Uncle, why are you so obsessed with steel?"

"To be honest, my uncle is short of money. He's short of steel, and even pig iron is in short supply."

Jiang Fan thought for a moment and said, "How about I bring you some basic books on steelmaking, Uncle? But building a steel plant seems difficult... It's a pity, it's not easy to transport them."

Otherwise, I could buy you several hundred tons, Uncle!

"No... wait a minute, what did you just say? How many tons? How much is several hundred tons? Could you explain that to your uncle in more detail?"

"One ton is two thousand catties, so a few hundred thousand catties is only a few hundred thousand catties, which isn't much..."

"puff--"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin nearly coughed up blood on the spot.

Does this sound reasonable?

The entire annual steel production of our Great Tang Dynasty was less than 100,000 jin.

You're talking about hundreds of thousands of kilograms? You really don't value steel as steel.

"It's a pity, if... we really had a million catties of steel, then the Xuanjia Army of my Great Tang would be..."

Just then, Zhang Anan approached and whispered to Li Shimin, "Your Majesty, Minister Wei Zheng requests an audience!"

Upon hearing the name Wei Zheng, Li Shimin couldn't help but frown.

He wouldn't have done the same to anyone else, but Wei Zheng...

His arrival would definitely cause him trouble, but he just happens to need a staunch advisor like Wei Zheng to point out his shortcomings.

Although it was for the sake of face, it was more for the sake of the Tang Dynasty's rule.

So he said to Zhang Anan, "Let Wei Zheng come directly to the Lizheng Hall."

Zhang Anan accepted the order and withdrew. Then he saw Wei Zheng, dressed in a purple official robe, walking towards the Lizheng Hall.

After bowing to Li Shimin, Wei Zheng was about to speak when Li Shimin approached him with an old-fashioned popsicle: "Xuancheng, it's hot, have a popsicle to cool down!"

Wei Zheng: "..."

Li Shimin's actions completely baffled Wei Zheng.

What's going on?

Looking again at the small piece of ice in Li Shimin's hand, Wei Zheng finally confirmed it.

His Majesty is ignoring the severe drought that is plaguing the land, yet he is using ice to cool off here.

If this gets out to the common people, how will they view you, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty?

Stubborn by nature, Wei Zheng still spoke frankly: "Your Majesty, the land is currently suffering from a severe drought..."

The disaster is not yet resolved, yet His Majesty is using ice to cool off in the palace. Such extravagance is surely disheartening to the people of the land.

"What? Xuan Cheng, what did you say? I... used ice to cool off? Which eye did you see that with?"

Wei Zheng raised his middle and index fingers, pointing to his own eyes: "I can see with both my left and right eyes."

Right now, right here, the ice in His Majesty's hand is irrefutable evidence.

"You...I...you Wei Xuancheng! I saw you were suffering from the heat, so I specially brought you an old-fashioned popsicle to cool you down."

And yet you, without a second thought, begin to criticize me. Doesn't your conscience hurt?

"My heart is as firm as a rock, as hard as iron, and I feel no pain."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fan carefully examined the legendary iron-headed Wei Zheng and couldn't help but give him a thumbs up.

He thought to himself, "As expected of the most stubborn person in the Zhenguan era, those words are really hard to believe."

Li Shimin was furious when he saw Wei Zheng in this state.

You really took my kindness for granted! This popsicle... I'm not giving it to you anymore.

"Your Majesty, the drought across the land is urgent. We must make a decision as soon as possible to prevent a situation of displaced people."

Jiang Fan asked, "Lord Wei, is that right? Has it been a long time since it rained here?"

"And this young man is...?"

Wei Zheng looked at Jiang Fan, who was dressed in an unusual way, and asked with a hint of doubt.

"My name is Jiang Fan. It's normal that Lord Wei doesn't recognize me. Let's talk about the drought."

Aren't there canals in Guanzhong? Have the canals dried up?

Wei Zheng shook his head and said, "Although the river and canal have not dried up, they are about to run dry."

It's almost impossible to draw water from the canals to irrigate the farmland, and with the hot weather, the drought will only worsen... sigh—"

At this point, Wei Zheng sighed deeply, his heart filled with sorrow.

The Tang Dynasty had only just survived a few years of famine, and the people had just begun to see a glimmer of hope for life when the Yellow River flooded and now drought struck.