Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Zhao Mingcheng did not leave Gaoyang immediately. He asked to see with his own eyes the Gaoyang Tower, which was rumored to be the best in Yunzhou and was converted for his own use by Zhang Jingwei.

The group arrived in front of the towering Gaoyang Tower. Unlike the luxurious and noisy Zuixian Tower, this place seemed solemn and busy. They could vaguely hear the sounds of metal colliding and some kind of regular roar coming from inside.

Zhao Mingcheng looked up at the huge building and asked, "This Gaoyang Tower...what is it used for now? I heard that you originally wanted to use it as a school."

Zhang Jingwei quickly stepped forward and replied respectfully, "Teacher, I originally had this intention. However, after the Five Stone Powder case, I felt deeply that the Shi harm (referring to the remaining influence of the Shi family and the Five Stone Powder) had not been eradicated, and the consequences were endless. Therefore, I temporarily changed my mind and renovated this building to become a 'Stone Discipline Center', where those who have been deeply harmed by the Five Stone Powder and have lost their minds will be treated and educated, helping them return to the right path."

He paused, then continued his report with a subtle hint of confidence. "At the same time, taking this opportunity, students have consolidated the county's resources to establish a 'Stone Anti-Stone Squadron', dedicated to cracking down on the trafficking of the five kinds of stone; a 'Special Patrol Squadron', responsible for responding to sudden incidents and suppressing local forces; and an 'Armed Quick Hands Squadron', which strengthens its daily patrols and the arrest of bandits. This will not only better safeguard Gaoyang's public security, but will also allow us to stand our ground even against ferocious stone trafficking gangs or small groups of rebellious mobs!"

Zhao Mingcheng listened and nodded slightly. "Well, the idea is good, and the structure is clear. But... the expenditure of manpower and financial resources is probably not a small amount, right? How can a small county support it?"

Zhang Jingwei explained: "Fortunately, Gaoyang is a lower county, and the original tax items are simple and the amount is low. After the students rectified the administration and cleared up old accounts, the county treasury (county government treasury) was able to squeeze out some surplus, which can barely maintain the daily operation of these newly established institutions." This was half true and half false. The money in the county treasury was just enough to fill the gaps, and the bulk of it naturally came from his "military funds".

Zhao Mingcheng looked at him sharply: "For you, Zhang Xiannan, money may be a small matter. What I want to know more is how you recruited so many reliable people in such a short period of time?" This is indeed a key issue. The cost of raising troops is much higher than maintaining an organization.

Zhang Jingwei was well prepared and replied calmly, "I dare not take credit for this. This is all thanks to my father-in-law's generous assistance. After the war in the northern border ended last year, the Gaoyang military garrison was reorganized. Many old military households were without land or descendants and were difficult to resettle. According to the old system, they should have returned to the camp, but my father-in-law, out of sympathy, allowed the able-bodied among them to serve as clerks or local militia in the county inspection office (the agency responsible for catching bandits and maintaining public security). This way, we can both resettle the retired soldiers and strengthen local security forces, killing two birds with one stone."

Liu Yanzhi, who was standing beside him, also added at the right time, as a promise to Zhang Jingwei: "Teacher, don't worry. After Gaoyang's upgrade is finalized, according to the regulations, Jingwei will also be equipped with official patrol officers. At that time, the staffing will be more legitimate."

Zhang Jingwei quickly thanked Liu Yanzhi: "Thank you, teacher, for planning for me!"

At this moment, a clearer and rhythmic "clang... whoosh..." sound came from inside the building, a mixture of metal collision and steam gushing.

Zhao Mingcheng listened attentively and said in surprise, "Huh? I seem to hear the heavy sound of iron working inside? Is there such a movement in the center of this stone?"

Zhang Jingwei smiled proudly. "Teacher, you're very perceptive. Gaoyang Tower is spacious. Besides housing the security teams, the students have also allocated a portion for the county's craftsmen. This area is now Gaoyang's 'R&D center.'"

"R&D center?" Zhao Mingcheng was curious about this new word.

"Exactly. This building can accommodate a thousand people. The students also plan to expand an 'industrial park' to the rear in the future. A living quarter will be built in the park to gather craftsmen and their families, specializing in the research and development and manufacturing of various equipment and objects, in order to greatly improve Gaoyang's 'productivity'." Zhang Jingwei outlined his blueprint.

Zhao Mingcheng seemed to be lost in thought. "Productivity... I also heard that you have your own 'Arms Factory'?"

Zhang Jingwei admitted frankly: "Yes. The students' arsenal, relying on these craftsmen and some new ideas, can now produce hundreds of pieces of armor, dozens of assault weapons (such as improved crossbows, ladders, etc.), and countless swords, spears, and halberds in a day." His words were a bit exaggerated, but the production capacity was indeed far beyond that of ordinary county workshops.

Zuo Shiyi, standing nearby, couldn't help but sneer upon hearing this, his tone tinged with sarcasm, "Haha, County Magistrate Zhang is boasting like a madman! Even if the Imperial Court's Gongjian Division (the agency responsible for the manufacture of imperial supplies and military equipment) were fully staffed, they wouldn't necessarily be able to achieve such efficiency! If you truly possess such extraordinary abilities, why would your father-in-law, the Marquis of Bei, still only a county marquis? He should have been granted a dukedom or a higher rank for his military achievements long ago!"

Zhang Jingwei wasn't annoyed. Instead, he smiled slightly and gestured to invite him in. "If you, Master Zuo Shiyi, don't believe me, why not come with me and see for yourself? You'll know for sure once you see whether it's true or not."

Zhao Mingcheng was also very interested and nodded, "It's okay to take a look."

The group entered Gaoyang Tower. The scene inside astonished Zhao Mingcheng and Zuo Shiyi! The original luxurious private partitions had long since been demolished, replaced by a vast factory space. Massive wooden or metal frames supported a myriad of indescribable machinery. Most striking were several massive metal machines, emitting white steam. Unmanned, these machines, relying on complex linkages and gears, hummed and whirred as they moved, raising and lowering heavy hammers or pulling chains to lift materials.

The air was filled with the distinct smell of burning coal, rubbing metal, and steam.

Zhao Mingcheng pointed at a machine tool that was automatically forging and asked in disbelief, "What...what kind of magical objects are these? I don't see any human or animal power pulling them, so how can they move on their own?"

Zhang Jingwei explained, "Teacher, this is called a 'steam turbine.' It uses boiling water to generate a large amount of steam, which drives the piston in the cylinder to reciprocate. These connecting rods and crankshafts then convert this reciprocating motion into rotation, thus driving the machine. Theoretically, if it could be built large enough, it could easily lift even a thousand-pound weight. Currently, these are just experimental models and are not yet complete."

As soon as he finished speaking——

"Bang Dang——!!!"

A deafening roar suddenly erupted from a nearby machine, accompanied by a sharp sound of metal tearing and a large amount of white high-pressure steam violently erupting!

Liang Dahai, wearing a strange hat (safety helmet) made of woven rattan, jumped out from behind a pile of tools and yelled at the panicked craftsmen: "The pressure relief valve is blocked again?! What's going on?! I've told you so many times! As soon as the pressure reaches the red line, manually release the pressure! What if this hits you? How many heads do you have to pay for it?!"

Zhang Jingwei was also terrified by this sudden accident. Rubbing his throbbing temple, he awkwardly explained to Zhao Mingcheng, "Teacher, I'm frightened! It's really... well, a few days ago, there was a boiler explosion due to pressure buildup, and today there's another unstable pressure... It's true that the students rushed things too hastily. Many technical aspects haven't been fully grasped, and safety regulations haven't been strictly enforced..."

Liang Dahai hurried over and saluted with a look of fear on his face. "Master, gentlemen, the workshop is too noisy, and these machines under test are really unsafe! How about... could you all please move to the inner courtyard to rest? It's quieter and safer there."

Zhao Mingcheng followed Liang Dahai inside, sizing him up and down. Suddenly, he asked, "Are you the Liang Dahai who invented the pulley bow?"

Liang Dahai was stunned. He had never expected the Prime Minister to know his name. He bowed flattered and said, "Your Excellency, I am Liang Dahai, the head craftsman of the Zhang residence."

Zhao Mingcheng nodded approvingly. "He's truly a man of talent. That pulley bow is powerful yet energy-saving, and its design is ingenious. The officials of the Ministry of Works and the Chief Craftsman have been mulling over it for six months, but still haven't been able to perfectly replicate it. Truly... a hero emerges from youth!"

Liang Dahai felt a little embarrassed by the praise and scratched his head in a simple manner (almost scratching his helmet off): "Your Excellency is too kind! My humble skills were all taught and guided by my young master! All these wonderful ideas are actually the work of my young master!"

Hearing this, Zhao Mingcheng turned to look at Zhang Jingwei in surprise: "Jingwei, where do all these clever ideas of yours come from?" He found it hard to believe that a scholar could have such superb craftsmanship.

Zhang Jingwei had already prepared his remarks, and replied with sincerity, "Teacher, books contain a house of gold, and books contain a thousand bushels of grain. Under your guidance, I have been particularly fond of reading since childhood, especially the notes and discussions of predecessors and the methods of Lumen (Mohist or artisan school). I have discovered many ingenious ideas in them, which, with slight adaptations and improvements, can benefit the people and strengthen military preparations. The key is to apply what you learn to suit local conditions."

Zhao Mingcheng sighed, "There are also descendants of Lu Ban in the Ministry of Works, but none of them are as adept at adapting and applying what they have learned."

Zhang Jingwei said modestly, "Teacher, you are too kind. I was just lucky to receive this award."