The emperor is biased and wants to kill me, but you chickened out when the army is at the city gates

Two wooden planks with handles were used to gently dig out a portion of the cement. Then, the cement was spread onto the bricks using one plank, and the excess was scraped off with the other plank.

A brick was stuck to the wall so easily.

Throughout the entire process, Gourner silently calculated that it didn't take more than twenty breaths.

With such speed, it's no wonder that so-called apartments in the Northern Wilderness have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

Given that cement is such a powerful substance, and is related to people's livelihoods, and can even be used for military defense, why was Zhuge Xuan not wary of him at all?

No, it should be the King of Chu.

Without his authorization, Zhuge Xuan would never have dared to bring himself here.

"Mr. Zhuge, aren't you afraid of this leaking secrets?"

Gurna asked intentionally.

"Grand Preceptor, there's no need to be so formal. His Highness has instructed that, apart from the military workshop, I can take you anywhere in Beining City that you wish to learn about."

Zhuge Xuan smiled with extreme confidence, speaking frankly and openly.

Gulna was completely dumbfounded. He thought for a long time but couldn't figure out the reason. He asked in a daze, "Why is that?"

"The prince plans to sell cement soon. If the Jurchen state needs it, we can discuss it in detail."

Zhuge Xuan looked at Gulna with a smile, which made Gulna feel as if he were being watched by a venomous snake.

"You're actually willing to sell such a divine object?"

Gulna was so excited that his face turned red, and he almost hugged Zhuge Xuan tightly.

"Of course, otherwise I wouldn't need to say so much to you, Grand Preceptor!"

Zhuge Xuan had already anticipated Gulna's reaction; hadn't he been just as excited back then?

"Alright, alright, please thank your prince for me."

Gurna's eyes were filled with fervor; he seemed to already see the Jurchen Kingdom building skyscrapers with the help of cement.

Before establishing their own state, the Jurchen people were a nomadic people and were not skilled at building houses.

Even after the establishment of the state, many of the artisans were actually captured from the Great Qi.

However, the Jurchen people lacked a large number of trees, so they had to purchase them from Daqi or other countries. This made houses in the Jurchen country extremely expensive, and many people still had to live in tents.

But if we have cement, all of this will be solved.

"No, this matter is of great importance. I must return to the Jurchen Kingdom."

Gurna was already somewhat restless. After hastily bidding farewell to Zhuge Xuan, he immediately led his men back to the Jurchen Kingdom.

Zhuge Xuan did not try to stop him, but instead reported the matter directly to Qin Xuan.

Upon hearing this, Qin Xuan simply smiled faintly: "It seems we have already secured our first customer."

"Your Highness, I still don't quite understand why we sold refined salt and cement to the Jurchen Kingdom?"

Zhuge Xuan asked, puzzled.

In his view, the Jurchen Kingdom urgently needed 200,000 tons of refined salt, so it should not be sold.

As for cement, it is now unique in the world, and it would be best if it were used only in Bac Ninh City forever.

Qin Xuan knew what Zhuge Xuan was thinking, but this idea was too conservative, so he explained, "Whether it's refined salt or cement, as long as the secret formula is in our hands, it doesn't really matter how much we sell."

"But if those foreign countries use this to strengthen themselves, it will also be detrimental to my Beining City."

Zhuge Xuan retorted.

“Strategist, you’ve overlooked one problem—Beining City is also short of supplies.”

Qin Xuan sighed and continued, "The Shence Army lacks warhorses, and we don't have time to breed new ones. The best solution is naturally to barter."

"Secondly, Beining City is just a city after all. It is too small, so there are no silver mines, no sufficient iron mines, and no grasslands or pastures, so naturally there is no way to eat beef and mutton."

"But foreign countries have all these things, so why should they sell them to us?"

A rhetorical question left Zhuge Xuan speechless.

Qin Xuan continued, "People can live without refined salt because there is coarse salt to replace it. Foreign countries can also live without cement because they have their own traditional building techniques."

“We’re just exchanging non-essential goods for necessities, and we’re doing it for ten or even a hundred of them. So tell me, who’s really getting the better deal?”

Upon hearing these words, Zhuge Xuan finally had a sudden realization.

For a long time, not only him, but also other civil and military officials in Beining City have been amazed by Qin Xuan's novel and practical inventions.

But they forgot that from the very beginning, Qin Xuan only wanted to amass wealth.

Even if we take a step back and assume the worst, as long as we control the export volume of anything, why should we fear others retaliating?

"Technology is constantly advancing and improving. By the time everyone starts using cement, we will probably already have another weapon that can destroy cement."

Qin Xuan's gaze was deep, and he spoke with certainty.

Zhuge Xuan trembled instantly, his eyes wide with horror: "A weapon that can destroy cement? Your Highness, does such a divine weapon truly exist in this world?"

"Not yet, but that doesn't mean it won't happen in the future."

These words sent a shiver down Zhuge Xuan's spine once again. Knowing Qin Xuan as he did, he knew that these words were no exaggeration.

"Alright, from now on, I'll leave this matter to you to liaise with Gulna."

Qin Xuan smiled and brought up the matter of the Confucian sage: "Mr. Qiu has replied, but the result is not ideal."

"Even with the Dean of Qingshan Academy's intervention, Lord Kong Ru couldn't gain any special favor for Beining City?"

Zhuge Xuan was somewhat dissatisfied. In his eyes, Qin Xuan was definitely the most talented person in the world.

"It's not Lord Kong Ru's fault. I originally wanted to use Mr. Qiu's master's relationship to get acquainted with him first, but people misunderstood that we wanted to take a shortcut, which instead tarnished Mr. Qiu's master's reputation."

Qin Xuan smiled wryly.

He had previously entrusted Qiu Xingzhi to earnestly request his master to recommend Beining City.

But calling it a recommendation is really just a way to get acquainted with the person beforehand.

However, the Confucian scholar could not tolerate any dissent and wrote back to Qingshan Academy, angrily denouncing the academy as a lackey of Beining City.

"It seems that Lord Kong Ru is unaware of the internal strife in the capital last year. If he knew the reason, he would never have treated Qingshan Academy in this way."

Zhuge Xuan guessed.

Qin Xuan shared the same view.

When the coup was forced, aside from the group of people won over by the Third Prince, Qin Xuan had already won the hearts of the people.

If it weren't for the intervention of the retired emperor, the Great Qi Dynasty would have already been overthrown.

However, the Confucian sage had been living in seclusion in the mountains for many years, and even if he had heard something, he might not know the truth.

"It is highly likely that our Beining City has been portrayed as a traitor to the Great Qi by some people with ulterior motives, which is why Lord Kong Ru is so angry."

Qin Xuan shook his head with a self-deprecating smile: "So in order to clear up the misunderstanding, it's time for us to use some methods."

"Your Highness, do you already have a plan?"

Zhuge Xuan was surprised.

Qin Xuan nodded slightly and said calmly and confidently, "Next, let all the scholars in the world come to my Beining City for some excitement!"