The prince is more stable

Chapter 129: Rewarding the Heroes
According to the current primitive industrial level, Zhao Xiaoqian could only make flintlock rifles, and the process was very complicated and difficult.

If he had a machine tool, Zhao Xiaoqian could conquer the entire earth.

Unfortunately, Zhao Xiaoqian in his previous life was not a genius in science and engineering, and had no idea how machine tools were manufactured. The final result of the nine-year compulsory education was that he learned almost everything except the multiplication table.

Fortunately, flintlock rifles are sufficient for this era.

In the future, when there is time, we can upgrade the barrel, upgrade the bullets, increase the range and lethality. Such weapons will be enough for a country to use for dozens or hundreds of years, and will completely crush the current era of cold weapons.

Today's autumn hunting achieved its purpose. Zhao Xiaoqian could see that the appearance of the flintlock rifle had deeply shocked the Liao delegation.

At this moment, they all hung their heads and kept silent, their expressions full of worry about the future of the Liao Kingdom.

Having achieved his goal, Zhao Xiaoqian naturally did not want to continue the autumn hunt. Who likes to live in a tent in the wild and feed mosquitoes? But the Prince of Chu could not bear any hardship.

So Zhao Xiaoqian asked Xiao Guangjing with a smile whether they should continue the autumn hunt and have fun together.

Xiao Guangjing shook his head like a rattle and flatly refused.

At this time, who would still be in the mood for autumn hunting? They all wished they could grow wings and fly back to Bian Jing, sending an 800-mile-long horse to report to the Liao Emperor what they had seen and heard today.

Zhao Xiaoqian was delighted and immediately ordered the camp to be moved back to the city.

A grand autumn hunting event ended hastily in less than a day.

But no one who participated in the autumn hunt minded, as everyone's minds were no longer on the autumn hunt.

The members of the Liao delegation were pale, with their proud heads drooping, and they looked listless and weak, as if they had been squeezed for juice by a widow who had been faithful for many years all night.

However, the officials and playboys of the Song Dynasty were all in high spirits, chatting and laughing loudly while riding on their horses, looking proud and energetic, like widows who had just been squeezed for juice all night.

On the way back to the city, Xiao Guangjing approached Zhao Xiaoqian several times to chat. His attitude became much more intimate, and he was trying to find out information about the flintlock rifle in his words.

What is the principle, how to fire, how to mix gunpowder, etc.

Zhao Xiaoqian explained it to him seriously, and even used the power of religious faith, for example, there were Taoist runes engraved on each gun.

Every time the gun is fired, a mysterious force from nature appears in the barrel, shooting the iron ball five hundred steps away.

In the Yuqing Palace, there's an old man named Qingyang. He's spent half a century just to create a few hundred spears. Currently, he's frantically munching on ginseng, ganoderma, and epimedium to nourish his body...

In short, the new weapons of the Song Dynasty are too mysterious and advanced, and you Liao people cannot use them.

In those days, the belief in ghosts and gods was still very popular. Decades later, Zhao Xu's successor, the famous tyrant Huizong, believed in it very much.

When the Jin army besieged the city of Bianjing, Huizong ordered the imperial guards not to resist and entrusted the task of defending the city to a charlatan named "Guo Jing", because this charlatan claimed that he could cast beans to create soldiers.

The amazing thing is that Huizong and Qinzong actually believed it!
The final outcome is naturally well known to everyone. The two incompetent emperors of the Song Dynasty were both captured.

It was because of the easy abandonment of resistance that the Jingkang Shame occurred in history.

Zhao Xiaoqian's explanations of ghosts and gods were so mysterious and sounded so grand and noble that Xiao Guangjing was stunned and almost believed it.

If Zhao Xiaoqian's expression of almost unable to hold back his laughter had not betrayed him deeply, Xiao Guangjing would have planned to return to Liao and advise the Liao ruler to introduce a large number of Taoist priests from the Central Plains Song Kingdom.

Xiao Guangjing was furious when he found out that he had been cheated, but he still had plans for Zhao Xiaoqian and did not dare to turn against him. So he suppressed his anger and asked if the Song Dynasty's flintlock rifles were for sale, and how much each one cost. He asked Zhao Xiaoqian to name his price.

Zhao Xiaoqian was amused. He had never seen anyone treat himself like a ball and be kicked around by others.

So Zhao Xiaoqian did not refuse outright. He told Xiao Guangjing that if the Liao Kingdom wanted to buy the flintlock rifles from the Song Dynasty, it should first go to the Ministry of War of the Song Dynasty and then to the Firearms Inspectorate.

This matter was related to diplomacy, so he had to contact the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple, then the Prime Minister of the Privy Council, and finally the Shangshu Pushe of the Political Affairs Hall. After obtaining the approval, he asked to see the Emperor of the Song Dynasty. The Emperor nodded, and the arms deal was done.

Xiao Guangjing listened with his eyes wide open while riding on his horse. He couldn't help but count on his fingers how many government offices he had to visit before he could get things done. His silly and cute look was so adorable.

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled secretly, thinking that it was time to let the Liao people have a taste of the bureaucratic style of our great China.

If Xiao Guangjing really followed these procedures, he would not be able to leave Bianjing City for about ten years.

Not only will he be kicked around like a ball, but he will also be dragged from a young man full of vigor and vitality to a half-bald and greasy middle-aged man.

The Liao envoy's deputy envoy stared at the sky in dismay. "Silly boy, haven't you realized we're teasing you?" The Song people were willing to sell such an advanced weapon.
…………

After returning to the city of Bianjing, the officials and playboys of the Song Dynasty voluntarily said goodbye and returned home.

Xiao Guangjing and the Liao envoy's entourage returned to the post station in a dejected and dejected manner.

Zhao Xiaoqian returned to the palace yawning.

Everyone should look for their own mother.

After returning to the palace, the first thing he did was to ask the chef to cook quickly and bring out all the chicken, duck, fish and meat. The prince was hungry and wanted to have a big meal. If anyone dared to put coriander in it, he would break his legs.

The second thing was to ask the maid serving in the yard to act as a temporary technician and do a back massage with essential oils. The prince was too tired after a whole day of autumn hunting. Although he just rode on a horse and did nothing else, he was still tired.

The prince is as fragile as a delicate flower and cannot bear any hardship or fatigue.

If nothing unexpected happens, he is still the hope of the entire clan and the pillar of the country. Such a treasure must be doubly protected, like a widow's horn, held in the hand for fear of breaking, held in the mouth for fear of...

The maid was plain-looking, but her hands were extremely strong. She pressed Zhao Xiaoqian so hard that it seemed as if all the bones in his body were broken apart, and then were roughly put back together.

Perhaps the maid accepted the reality. Since the prince was the man she would never get in her life, she didn't need to be too gentle, because he was not her man anyway.

Zhao Xiaoqian almost fainted from the pain. He looked up and was about to ask someone to replace the technician, but a servant came hurriedly to report.

The emperor summoned you, please come to the palace immediately.

Zhao Xiaoqian had no choice but to put on his official uniform, get up, and go out to the palace.

Inside the Funing Palace.

Zhao Xu was in a good mood today, with a bright smile on his face and a rosier complexion. It was obvious that he didn't stay up late last night and had a good sleep.

When Zhao Xiaoqian entered the hall, before he had time to salute, Zhao Xu waved to him and told him not to salute.

"I have heard about today's autumn hunting. The expressions of the Liao envoy and his entourage are said to be very interesting, haha!" Zhao Xu smiled brightly.

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Everything is due to the majesty of the emperor. The villains in the world are intimidated by the emperor's majesty and have no choice but to bow down and submit. The emperor is truly the eternal guardian of the Great Song Dynasty..."

The flattery today was a bit too much, and Zhao Xu, who liked to listen to flattery, couldn't stand it anymore. He quickly waved his hand to stop Zhao Xiaoqian's shameless flattery.

"Alright, alright. Too much is as bad as too little. We'll just make a fool of ourselves!" Zhao Xu was in high spirits, then asked, "Has the Liao envoy lost much of his spirit after witnessing the might of our Song Dynasty's muskets today?"

Zhao Xiaoqian thought for a moment and said, "Xiao Guangjing was a little unconvinced, but he also revealed that the Liao Kingdom wanted to buy flintlock rifles. He said that the Song Dynasty could name any price..."

Zhao Xu laughed heartily: "He's dreaming!"

"How could I give such a sharp weapon to someone else? Isn't that like handing a knife to someone else, inviting them to kill me? I won't talk about this matter anymore, let's just talk about the annual gift."

"After today's autumn hunt, I'd like to see if the Liao delegation is still willing to increase the annual gift by 100,000 strings of cash."

Zhao Xu paused, then stared at Zhao Xiaoqian and said, "Today marks the official debut of the flintlock rifle before our subjects and foreign envoys. Zi'an's invention has made an unparalleled contribution to the foundation of the Song Dynasty, a feat comparable to expanding our territory."

"Before, the flintlock rifle was a secret, so I was not in a position to publicize it. But today, the flintlock rifle is no longer a secret, so the reward that Zi'an deserves must be given."

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes lit up. He had a strong premonition that he might make a fortune today.

"Your Majesty's grace is great. I feel embarrassed to say this... How much reward will your Majesty give me?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked without any pretense.

He is short of money, very short of it.

In addition to Zui Huayin, there is also a courtesan who was taken advantage of by him and needs to be redeemed. His daily food, drink and entertainment also cost a lot of money.

To this day, the ambition of “Mr. Zhao paying for everything” has not been realized.

Zhao Xu was stunned and was at a loss for words.

"How much? I... don't plan on giving you any money."

(End of this chapter)