Chapter 801: Chapter 493: Homecoming, Firearms, Sovereign and Minister Admiring Paintings by Lamplight (6k)_3
"My lord, I am here to report this matter. Thanks to the design ideas you provided earlier, and with the assistance of the Gongshu Priest, the Firearms Bureau has overcome challenges over the past six months and successfully produced a large batch of new firearms."
"Now, with ample ammunition, we only lack one thing: the soldiers still need to adapt to real combat with the new firearms..."
Zhao Douan quietly listened to the report, feeling a bit surprised in his heart.
Previously, a group of ministers in the palace discussed how to quickly pacify the Qingzhou army and avoid them retreating to Qingzhou, causing trouble.
Although the Capital is not afraid of external enemies now, if the Qingzhou rebel army is not dealt with first, Prince Heng will cause problems from time to time, harassing and attacking the outskirts of the Capital... destroying farmland, cutting off trade routes...
A metropolis with a population of millions, if people’s livelihood issues arise, no matter how strong Zhenbao’s combat power is, it cannot feed a million mouths...
Therefore, how to quickly eliminate this relatively weak rebel army before Prince Heng can escape is a big issue.
"The Capital has been free of wars for years, so soldiers naturally lack opportunities for real combat exercises," Zhao Douan’s lips curved into a dangerous smile:
"However, isn’t there a perfect opportunity for real combat right now?"
"Are you referring to..." Chen Gui, who wasn’t foolish, pointed eastward.
Zhao Douan smiled and patted his shoulder:
"Go back and tell Shi Meng that the Divine Mechanism Camp is prepared to set off. But remember, the details of the firearms in the camp must not be disclosed, not even to the Privy Council. Anyone who inquires should be told that I forbid it."
Is it finally time to showcase their power?
Chen Gui’s eyes sparkled with excitement. As a firearms enthusiast, he’d been holding back for the past six months and could hardly wait to unveil the newly produced firearms and shock the entire world.
"Yes, I will handle it immediately!"
Chen Gui got up to bid farewell, not staying a moment longer.
After seeing off Chen Huoshen, Zhao Douan sat in the hall, silently contemplating his next plan:
"After entering the Worldly Realm, I should visit the Imperial Palace to visualize the third mural of the ’Martial God’. It seems that Zhenbao is quite secretive about the subsequent murals.
"In the Divine Dragon Temple, I severely injured the head of the Arhat Hall with a single strike, which seemed impressive, but in reality, it was a short-term burst.
"The cultivation gained through ’Dual Cultivation’ contains too much water; to advance further and reach the Heavenly Human realm to contend with Xuan Yin, I must settle down, consolidate my foundation, and eliminate the excess.
"As for the Li Party’s rebellion, I shouldn’t need to worry; the court will handle confiscations themselves..."
Zhao Douan pondered as the sound of a Pekingese barking and Zhao Pan’s call came from outside the door:
"Brother, it’s time to eat."
...
After several months, Zhao Douan had a long-awaited family reunion meal at home, giving him a brief respite.
The dinner was sumptuous. After learning of his return at noon, You Jinhua had already instructed the cook to prepare the dishes.
Zhao Douan ate heartily, his appetite increased after his advancement, and he devoured the spread on the table, leaving nothing behind.
You Jinhua and Zhao Pan, however, didn’t eat much. Mother and daughter each held a jade bowl, watching him eat with smiling eyes shaped like crescent moons.
"After being well-fed and satisfied, I need to make a trip to the palace, don’t wait up for me."
When Zhao Douan put down his bowl and chopsticks, it was already dusk. He left these words, changed into a robe, and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.
After the summer sun set, the sky remained "bright" for a while longer. The smoke from cooking gradually dissipated in the Capital, and the ancient architectural complex seemed to be covered by a massive green curtain.
"Clop clop clop..."
With the sound of hooves, Zhao Douan entered the palace again, facing no obstacles along the way. Upon entering, he found the South City Gate had new guards.
In Meridian Gate Square, the corpses had been cleared away, the ground was sprinkled with water, and some palace servants, holding mops, were repeatedly washing away the bloodstains in the glow of torches.
A faint scent of blood lingered in the air.
The entire Imperial Palace was filled with a killing aura.
"Junior Guardian Zhao."
"Greetings, Junior Guardian."
Along the way, female officials and eunuchs paused their work to salute him.
This kind of treatment was once reserved only for influential ministers like Li Yanfu.
Zhao Douan still remembered his first day after crossing over, when he entered the palace for the first time, he stood humbly at the side of the road, just like these palace maids, bowing his head as he witnessed Prime Minister Li Yanfu leaving the palace.
At the time, Li Yanfu’s eyes didn’t even glance his way.
Now, just over a year later, Li Yanfu was in prison, and the entire "Li Party" had vanished. He had come this far with his hands stained with blood.
Upon reaching the Imperial Study Room, the room was brightly lit.
After having someone announce him, Zhao Douan quickly stepped into the room.
He saw the Empress of Yu Country in the brightly-lit study, slowly massaging her wrist, in white regular attire, hair cascading like a waterfall, her fairy-like face radiant with a smile as she looked at him:
"You’ve come."
"Yes." Zhao Douan approached, moved behind the Empress, placed his hands on her shoulders, and gently kneaded.
Xu Zhenguan did not refuse, happily enjoying the massage from her future emperor’s consort, actively speaking:
"The chaos caused by the Li Party has mostly subsided. The Imperial Prison, Tai Prison, Ministry of Justice prison, and Ministry of Justice cells are full to capacity... Typically, such a major upheaval would cause turmoil throughout the court, yet surprisingly, when it truly came to action, it was much easier than expected."
Zhao Douan, with his hands roaming, smiled and said:
"The situation has changed; today is different from the past. Now, with external enemies on the doorstep, as the saying goes, use heavy hands in times of chaos. At this crucial moment, no one dares to stir up trouble."
Xu Zhenguan let out a comfortable hum, squinting her eyes like a cat: