Yue Wenxin quietly watched Liang Xiao fiddling with a pile of parts on the table, listening to his explanation.
"This is flint, a primer, a spring... When combined, it's a weapon with extremely high rate of fire and devastating power, a flintlock. It can easily pierce the armor of ordinary soldiers. I've been researching it."
"Such a powerful weapon... to protect our children?" Yue Wenxin's delicate face flushed, then her expression became proud. "You are our Heavenly General, that's more than enough~"
Liang Xiao shook his head.
"This is a weapon that surpasses individual strength. The reason I must fight Achilles to the death is because I foresee the day when such a weapon becomes necessary. I must defeat him early, honorably, to uphold the divine might of our Qian Clan. Whether in the age of cold weapons or the future, our Qian Clan can be invincible!"
"Countless times I've wondered if the advent of firearms and gunpowder would bring endless calamities and ceaseless conflicts to future generations. However, the brutality of the Tianri Clan has exceeded my imagination. I've also learned they've occupied many regions, including overseas lands like 'Senluo Continent,' and perhaps even the Izumo Kingdom has been infiltrated... We must usher in the Industrial Revolution, but what if one day they unexpectedly surpass us? With our most reliable Shadow Guards still present, it's time to consider this matter."
"In the Divine Realm, I learned of that country's hundred-year history of humiliation, and I do not wish for our descendants to suffer the same fate. Perhaps here, if our gates are opened by enemy guns and cannons, the consequence would be national ruin and extinction, not merely colonization. I will not allow even a one-in-a-billion possibility! If we cannot even guarantee the absolute safety of the most recent generations, what will the world become after I'm gone... I cannot imagine!"
"Back then, the Tianri Clan suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Great Zhou Martial Saint, yet they could still make a comeback centuries later. If they are defeated by our generation, does that mean they absolutely cannot rise again? If there must be a country in this world that uses guns and cannons to force open other nations' doors, then it must be Great Gan."
Liang Xiao's voice became noticeably low at the end.
No matter how much the common people trusted him, ingrained thoughts of thousands of years were difficult to change overnight. Accepting modern science was too great a challenge.
While his influence was still strong, this matter must be handled properly!
Yue Wenxin seemed to understand and not understand, but she still hugged Liang Xiao tightly and said softly, "No matter what you choose, we will always support you, and the citizens of the Qian Clan will too!"
"The prices at Anguo Bookstore have dropped again, by at least twenty coins per book. My heavens!"
The next day, news from the bookstore spread throughout the city, causing another sensation.
The common people rushed to Anguo Bookstore to inquire about the situation.
"Shopkeeper, at this price, the books must be selling at a loss, right? What's going on?"
The common people hesitated at the end, wanting to say more.
They truly wanted to say that they were willing to pay the extra twenty coins, for Anguo Bookstore to continue operating smoothly, and that the books should still be sold at the original price. But they couldn't speak for other customers, so they could only ask for clarification first.
The shopkeeper replied, "The court provides subsidies, so please buy with confidence! Even if there are no more subsidies in the future, a single book will not lose more than three coins. His Majesty and the Emperor have said that to give back to the people, we start with knowledge. As long as our common people can afford books, that's enough!"
The common people finally felt relieved, overjoyed, and purchased books in large quantities.
As Great Gan increased the felling of mature trees and promoted the cultivation of papermaking materials, Anguo Bookstore, including labor costs, currently lost about three coins per book to the national treasury, but it had gained.
According to Liang Xiao's vision, once steam engines were widely promoted, internal combustion engines were developed, or electricity entered ordinary households, productivity would greatly increase, and costs could be continuously lowered.
But for now, it was imperative to let the common people have more access to knowledge, especially modern science. Only then would it cost more and require greater effort for officials and capitalists to oppress them.
Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing had already decided that their descendants must not oppress the common people. If they were overthrown for oppressing the people, it would be deserved, as the founding ancestor of Great Gan, Xiao Pingan, had also left the ancestral instruction of "the people are precious, the ruler is secondary."
The next evening, Liang Xiao was led by Zhuo Xun into Zhuo Yun's bridal chamber.
After closing the door, Liang Xiao looked at the trembling bride and went over to lift her veil.
Gazing at the blushing Zhuo Yun, Liang Xiao found her more endearing and heartbreaking the more he looked at her. He kissed her forehead and sat beside her.
"My wife, how did you and Mi'er calculate this?"
Zhuo Yun said with a hint of grievance, "Mi'er is truly unfathomable. I didn't expect to lose to her in chess..."
Liang Xiao chuckled, "In terms of chess, she started around the same time as you, but in reality, she plays with the little monsters in her spare time, and they are all quite skilled."
"You didn't tell me earlier..." Zhuo Yun playfully pinched Liang Xiao's wrist, her face flushed with annoyance.
Liang Xiao said softly, "It seems you've truly let go of your burdens. Your husband is truly happy. In the future, I hope you can continue to be happy and carefree, just as you are."
"Because I was actually able to marry you..." Zhuo Yun murmured, letting Liang Xiao hold her hand tightly as she nestled in his embrace.
Liang Xiao held Zhuo Yun, his heart aching more with each passing moment.
She had once suffered from severe depression. Few people could understand that kind of pain better than he. It was like losing his savior when his Go career was at its peak.
It could make one reclusive, eccentric, abnormal, even paranoid, and once sink into despair...
The organization was able to tolerate and understand him, and guide him. Here, the only ones who could truly tolerate and understand her were himself and Zhuo Zifang.
"After the wedding, can we go pay respects to my grandfather, okay?" Zhuo Yun pleaded.
Liang Xiao replied without hesitation, "If you can walk tomorrow, we can go tomorrow."
Zhuo Yun felt that Liang Xiao's words held hidden meaning, but she couldn't figure it out, so she asked, "What if I can't walk?"
"Silly girl, of course, we'll go when you can. If you want children, we'll bring our children to pay respects to Zhuo Lingjun in the future, visiting his grave every Qingming and Winter Solstice. After all, I am his most virtuous grandson-in-law." The man finally began to reveal his scoundrel side.
Zhuo Yun nodded obediently, her face flushing, "Then, then shall we... have a child..."
Her sudden courage made Liang Xiao blush, and he picked up Zhuo Yun.
"You were the one who brought it up first, don't regret it."
The next morning, Liang Xiao carried Zhuo Yun all the way into the carriage. Zhuo Xun was already waiting there.
"As expected, a scoundrel..." Zhuo Yun muttered with a flushed face the entire time.
"Your husband only carried you because you couldn't walk. If you want to visit your grandfather in a few days, I'll take you back now. Be careful of Shuang'er and the others interrogating you; they've all been through it."
Zhuo Yun quickly hugged Liang Xiao tightly and pleaded, "Husband, have mercy, don't send me back yet..."
Unfortunately, along the way, she still couldn't escape Zhuo Xun's "interrogation."