Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

Du He wanted to develop a steam engine so that he could eventually build steam trains and automobiles, saving the people of the Tang Dynasty travel time.

He had an idea: to travel around Eurasia by train with his wife, children, and elderly parents before he died.

Hopefully, after three or four decades of continuous accumulation, we can build a steam engine and lay railway tracks stretching tens of thousands of miles.

Pei Xingjian said with a solemn expression, "King Han, the steam engine involves too many things. We need to gather hundreds of craftsmen to study its principles and components."

"In addition, the imperial court also needs to set up large steel mills to forge high-quality steel in advance."

"The current imperial court is also short of ironware and coal, so we have to send people to mine them."

Although the craftsmen's skills were still relatively backward, fortunately, the Tang Dynasty did not lack labor slaves and could easily dispatch tens of thousands of people to mine iron and coal.

With the support of countless human, material, and financial resources, this wish will soon be realized.

"it is good."

Du He smiled and nodded, then stood up and said, "Shouyue, go to the Institute of Physics and immediately select craftsmen to establish a department dedicated to the research and development of steam engines."

"You need to subdivide this department and let different craftsmen be responsible for developing different things."

"For example, we need to send people to develop machine tools, various molds, the structure of steam engines, and even screws and rails."

Immediately afterwards, Du He gave Pei Xingjian some more instructions.

After listening.

Pei Xingjian cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will make the arrangements immediately!"

After performing the salutations, Pei Xingjian took several blueprints outlining the design of a steam engine and quickly left the Privy Council.

Half an hour later.

Privy Councilor Gao Jifu knocked on the door and entered. He reported in a low voice, "Your Highness, a letter has arrived from Wang Xuance, the Governor of Liangzhou, saying that the slaves of the Western Turks have been causing trouble recently."

"They want to eat meat three times a day and they also want the court to let them go back, otherwise they will fight to the death."

"Now there are more and more people causing trouble, and the local garrison along the Liangzhou line is barely able to suppress them. What do you think we should do?"

Hey!

These slaves of the Western Turks were actually quite restless?

Du He said softly, "Bring the memorial over so I can take a look."

Gao Jifu quickly handed over the memorial in his hand, and then stood respectfully to the side to wait.

After a cup of tea.

Du He said softly, "Now that the official road is almost finished, there's no need for 35 laborers to stay there."

"You now draft a memorial to the throne, dispatching 10 men to mine coal, nitrate, and salt, and 15 men to mine iron and copper."

“Distribute these people to various prefectures and counties, and the local garrison will increase to 5000.”

Currently, the coal mines, iron mines, and saltpeter mines of the Tang Dynasty are mainly concentrated in Hedong Circuit and Guannei Circuit, and the local militia are also most concentrated in these areas.

Only in places like Lingnan Road and Jiannan Road is there currently little development of mineral resources.

There was a pause.

Du He continued, "You draft the memorial, then take it to His Majesty for approval. Once His Majesty approves it, he will have the Secretariat review and promulgate it."

"As ordered!"

After receiving the order, Gao Jifu quickly left.

He himself was the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, and Shangguan Yi was the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. The two of them were able to complete the drafting and approval of imperial edicts.

Once His Majesty signs and stamps these memorials, they can be issued within half an hour.

Du He stayed at the Privy Council for a while, randomly reviewed thirty memorials, and left the palace after finding no problems.

Escorted by guards, Du He went to the manor.

In the lobby.

Du He smiled and asked, "Have you received your reward?"

Zhen Fengzi, Li Qingcheng, Wang Kang, and the others nodded excitedly and spoke up one after another.

"Thanks to Your Majesty, we all received huge rewards!"

“We’ve expanded our vault again and again just to barely keep the mountain of money safe, for fear that rats will get in and gnaw on it.”

“My sons have all taken two concubines, and in a few months they will have new additions to the family.”

"..."

When Du He heard that they had all received rewards and that their descendants were living a good life, a gratified smile appeared on his face.

Like the scholars of Chongwen Hall, they were rewarded for their great achievements, and their lives underwent a dramatic change.

After they have all finished sharing.

Du He smiled and said, "In the coming period, you need to continue to improve the cannons and reduce their weight so that they can be transported by horse-drawn carriages."

"When there is no war, you should cooperate with the Ministry of Works to continue making bombs for blasting rocks and clearing mountains."

Without hesitation, everyone shouted in unison.

"As ordered!"

They're all restless people; they've been so bored these past few days of not being able to make thunderbolts and cannons that they're practically going stir-crazy.

Moreover, only by continuously doing good deeds and making contributions can one receive rewards.

Du He chatted with them for a few more minutes, then said loudly, "Master Zhen and Master Lu, please stay. I have some things I need you to do."

"Wang Kang, arrange for the kitchen staff to slaughter more pigs and sheep to properly reward the Taoist priests and blacksmiths."

After bowing in greeting, everyone left the hall in an orderly fashion.

A moment of silence.

Du He waved to the two of them: "Master Zhen and Master Lu, what I asked you to make is called a flintlock gun. Its principle is somewhat similar to that of a cannon."

"However, I don't have many ideas, so you'll have to figure it out yourselves."

Du He then told them about the shape of the flintlock musket, and that it contained a spring and a firing pin, but he didn't know any more specific details.

This was the first time the two had received a task with such a vague outline, and they nodded solemnly.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, we will definitely work hard to develop it."

Du He nodded: "If you can develop the flintlock musket, I will not only reward you with a thousand pieces of gold, but I will also ask His Majesty to grant you titles."

"Your descendants will all inherit the title!"

Their eyes welled up with tears, and they bowed deeply in gratitude once again.

"Thank you for your assistance, King Han!"

They lived for sixty or seventy years, never expecting that they would achieve great things and become high-ranking nobles as they approached death.

Even their grandchildren, who were once disliked by others, have become objects of everyone's admiration.

Du He gave them a few more instructions, then left with his attendants.

He never expected that Zhen Fengzi and Lu Dashi could make a flintlock gun in such a short time. If they could make it within 10 years, that would be quite remarkable.

...

An hour later.

As soon as Du He returned to the Privy Council, Lai Ji came up to greet him and said...

"King Han, His Majesty requests your presence at the Ganlu Palace."

"I don't know who offended His Majesty. He's furious right now. Just now, a few ministers met with him and were scolded harshly."

What?

Has anyone else offended Li Chengqian?

Who's so bold? Don't they value their life?

"Let's go."

Du He waved his hand, then strode towards Ganlu Hall.

When he entered the main hall, he found Li Chengqian with a dark face, exuding a murderous aura.