The man was clearly not looking at him, but his every move was hard to ignore, especially those deep eyes, which were like the invading night, completely surrounding him, and he even forgot to struggle for a moment.
This person was wearing a dark blue military officer's uniform from the fifth rank. In Zhang Yucong's eyes, the fifth rank was a minor official who should not be ignored, but this person was different. It seemed that no matter what he wore, he could not be underestimated.
Who is this person? Normally, Zhang Yucong would have called someone over to ask, but his current situation no longer allows him to think about this.
Song Chengxuan climbed up the stairs. He followed his father to the palace several times when he was a child more than ten years ago. Now the hall has not changed, but things have changed. He watched his family members fall one by one, and blood was flowing on the ground.
, the steward of the family was stabbed in the abdomen, but still wanted to protect him and crawled towards him with all his strength, his eyes full of concern and expectation for him.
They hoped that he would survive. He then went to the southeast to deal with pirates and Japanese. Every time he was injured or faced danger, he would think of those eyes.
They seemed to have been following him and never left, making him stronger and more rational.
Except last night...
When the firearm exploded, he pulled Miss Xu to escape. At that moment, he did not think of those eyes. For some reason, his heart seemed to become very peaceful all of a sudden, and he forgot the heavy responsibility on his shoulders for a moment.
Song Chengxuan raised his head, and the magnificent hall was right in front of him. Although the green tiles and red roofs looked extremely luxurious, it was silent and lifeless. It was not as solemn and neat as the simple military tents, which made people awe-inspiring.
.
"Master Song, this is your first time being summoned to the court. There are probably many etiquettes that you don't understand," a chamberlain whispered, "I will tell you here."
When this gentleman was summoned into the palace for the first time, he didn't even have the slightest fear on his face. The chamberlain couldn't help but marvel in his heart.
The door of the main hall was opened again, and the eunuch passed the order: "Order Song Chengxuan, the envoy from Quanzhou, to appear in court."
Song Chengxuan strode into the palace, and the officials in the hall looked at him one after another.
The emperor on the throne also raised his eyes. Hong Chuanting had just praised the Quanzhou envoy, saying that he knew about the Japanese and pirates. He seemed to have said a few words about the official's background, but he didn't care about it, so he didn't
To my ears, now I see that Song Chengxuan is very young, which is a bit surprising.
The emperor said with calm eyes: "I have ordered the Divine Machine to create many firearms and send them to the frontiers. They are allocated to the Navy every year. Last year, the Ministry of Industry also built several large ships equipped with artillery. A small Franco machine cannon can be used by enemies."
Have you passed our Da Zhou’s firearms?”
Hong Chuanting did not expect that the emperor would immediately ask this question as soon as Song Chengxuan entered the court, and his tone was clearly full of doubts.
Song Chengxuan was neither humble nor arrogant, and his voice was steady: "Since the Shenji Camp was established during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Industry have made new firearms every year. There are more than 30 types of artillery commonly used in Zhou Dynasty alone. Last year, the Ministry of Industry even made
There are more than ten kinds of artillery pieces, and the names of the artillery pieces are more powerful than the last ones. Last year alone, there were two general cannons, one was the Fire General, and the other was the Mighty Victory General."
Song Chengxuan paused deliberately when he said this.
The Minister of Industry quickly raised his head and looked around, but he did not find that familiar figure in the crowd. He immediately shouted that Mr. Zhang Yucong had been imprisoned. He wanted to ask Mr. Zhang Yuci for help, but Mr. Zhang Yuci kept his head down.
He turned his head and didn't look over.
"I have seen these two artillery pieces with my own eyes," the emperor said. "They are very powerful. What's wrong with them?"
"The Folang cannon is not scary at first," Song Chengxuan said, "but the Folang cannon is well-made and uses good materials both inside and outside."
The emperor frowned: "You mean, our Zhou Dynasty's firearms are just superficial."
Song Chengxuan raised his head slightly: "The navy sometimes even abandons the large ships newly built by the imperial court. The assembly and artillery of the large ships are already heavy. The heavy ships must not move fast. Firearms are the only ones that can bring benefits.
It's a pity that these firearms, although they look powerful on the surface, are actually seriously ill. The lead bullets and barrels are not of the same size, and the lead bullet fuses do not burn. Such situations abound. If we relied on these artillery pieces, I am afraid that our army would have been defeated without a fight.
Already."
When Song Chengxuan said this, there was a burst of noise in the court, but it soon fell silent under the emperor's gloomy gaze.
The emperor said coldly: "Where is the Firearms Department of the Ministry of Industry?"
The Minister of Industry stepped forward cautiously.
The emperor lowered his eyes, his face as cold as frost: "Is what he said true?"
Cold sweat dripped from the forehead of the Minister of Industry, and his lips trembled as he stammered: "Your Majesty Mingjian, this... is not true. Our Firearms Department has always performed its duties faithfully."
"I heard that the Firearms Department built several large ships carrying artillery in Ningbo," Song Chengxuan said, looking at the Minister of Industry. "If you feel that the firearms you have built are useful, you will have a chance to compete with the Folangji cannon."
Fight for victory."
The minister of the Ministry of Industry couldn't help but said: "You are here to deceive the monarch with your lies. You... this is the crime of deceiving the emperor..."
Before the Minister of Industry finished speaking, he heard the Emperor's majestic voice coming from above his head: "What opportunity are you talking about?"
Song Chengxuan said: "The pirate who calls himself the 'White Dragon King' has prepared a large ship and a cannon. He is very familiar with the waters near Changzhou. In his opinion, now is the best opportunity to strike.
There is going to be a war in Changzhou."
There is going to be a war in Changzhou.
Saying these few words immediately caused an uproar.
Song Chengxuan seemed unusually calm: "Changzhou is not far from the capital. The adults from the Firearms Department can go to Changzhou to watch the war."
"Bold, you are deliberately causing a disturbance."
"How dare you say such words casually? No one dares to offend me at will."
Song Chengxuan's eyes were as dark as ink: "Before today, would you believe that there would be firearms exploding on the streets of the capital?"
There was silence in the court hall.
The officials looked at the important ministers in the court one after another. At this moment, they all looked grave and did not say a word.
"That's right," the emperor said suddenly, "I also want to see if the large ships and artillery built by the Firearms Department can defeat the enemy."
The Minister of Industry's feet softened and he almost fell down.
The emperor stood up and glanced at Zhang Yuci: "I hope you can defeat the enemy." After saying this, the emperor turned around and walked out of the court.
Zhang Yuci's eyes fell on Song Chengxuan. When did such a person appear in the southeast? Every word he said after he came to the court was heart-breaking.
The emperor had already planned to punish his third brother, but now that Song Chengxuan said this, he may have made up his mind even more.
The third brother has too close contact with the Fourth Division. If something happens this time, he is afraid that he will be knocked down and pushed away by everyone.
The only thing he hopes now is that the emperor can give the Queen Mother some face.
…
The emperor sat on the carriage, holding the handle tightly with both hands, his eyes indescribably gloomy.
Feng Shun didn't dare to speak, he just lowered his head and followed.
The emperor suddenly asked: "Is there any movement from the Queen Mother's side?"
Feng Shundao: "Zhang Yucong's daughter has entered the palace and is now in Cining Palace. She must be trying to plead with the Queen Mother and the Emperor."
The graceful figure appeared in the emperor's mind. She came just in time. Thinking of this, the emperor raised his lips slightly: "Show me in Cining Palace."