Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 856: Chapter 18: Making Firearms Must Be Kept Secret (Part 3)

"Do you think Dawan is a piece of tofu, that you can just attack and break it like that?" Zhao Yao looked at the four underlings with disdain, "Who gave you the confidence to think that the four of you attacking Dawan would succeed? You’re so impressive, does your father know?"

Chu Huan and the others blushed at Zhao Yao’s words. They had gotten a bit too excited earlier.

"Boss, we were just talking." They were just indulging in some lip service and didn’t actually intend to attack Dawan.

Zhao Yao unceremoniously mocked them, "Seeing how excited you all were just now, I almost thought you were going to attack Dawan tomorrow and parade around on sweat-blooded horses the day after."

Chu Huan and the others chuckled awkwardly, "Boss, we were just joking."

He Lianfang suddenly said, "Attacking Dawan isn’t out of the question, but now is not the time."

Song Jicai and the others hurriedly asked, "Second Uncle, when will it be time to attack Dawan?"

He Lianfang glanced at Zhao Yao, then curled up the corners of his mouth intriguingly and said, "When the time is right."

"When will that time be?"

He Lianfang did not answer the question.

Chu Huan and the others didn’t dare ask further.

"Alright, drop those unrealistic ideas from your heads." Attacking Dawan, it’s ridiculous to even conceive of it. That said, attacking Dawan isn’t impossible. The countries in the Western Regions are small; if we really wanted to attack, it’s not impossible. However, if we’re going to attack those small countries in the Western Regions, we have to be wary of the Xiongnu.

Over the years, although the Xiongnu haven’t come south to attack Great Zhou, they’ve been up to all kinds of shenanigans, which is rather annoying. If Great Zhou were to attack the countries in the Western Regions, the Xiongnu would surely ally themselves with other countries to attack Great Zhou together.

"I think you all have too much free time, that’s why you’re coming up with such brainless ideas." Zhao Yao suddenly put on a serious face and said, "Tomorrow, the four of you will take turns leading troops to fish out at sea."

"Fish?" Shen Sen asked in confusion, "Boss, what are we fishing for?"

"To eat, of course. New Year’s is coming soon, don’t you want to eat meat?" Swamp Prefecture is too poor, there aren’t many people raising pigs and sheep. There are quite a few families raising chickens, ducks, and geese, but not enough to eat. Although there are many wild animals in the mountains of Swamp Prefecture, hunting them is troublesome and dangerous. It’s easier to go out to sea to fish. "There are plenty of fish in the sea, and most of them are quite delicious. If you all go out to sea and catch some, everyone can have some meat then."

"Alright, then Lao Bai and I will go fishing first." Song Jicai was already raring to go at the prospect of going out to sea.

"Take along a few experienced fishermen. They know how to fish and know which fish are edible and which aren’t."

"Right away."

"New Year’s is almost here, so let’s give the soldiers a break from training. Let them do other things." Zhao Yao was calculating manpower in his mind, "In the coming three weeks before New Year’s, have them help expand the military camp, and then issue them more rewards when the time comes."

Shen Sen nodded and said, "Alright, I’ll go back and arrange it later."

"Use cement and red bricks. Later, go find Zheng Cheng to get cement and red bricks." Green bricks and red bricks had both been made, but green bricks were not easy to cool, so there weren’t many made. Red bricks were easy to cool, so many were made. "Oh, and remember to expand according to the design I drafted before."

"Understood."

Zhao Yao gave a few more instructions before letting Chu Huan and the others leave.

"Your Highness, I don’t have much to do usually, why don’t I also help expand the military camp?" Yan Huarong came to Swamp Prefecture to protect Zhao Yao, and he didn’t come alone, he brought two thousand elite soldiers.

Zhao Yao was also unceremonious, "Sure, then I’ll trouble General Yan."

"Your Highness, there’s no need for such courtesy with me." Yan Huarong stood up, bowed to Zhao Yao and He Lianfang, and then went out to find Shen Sen and the others.

After Yan Huarong left, He Lianfang finally spoke up to remind Zhao Yao, "What about those hot weapons you mentioned before, when do you plan to make them?" He had always been concerned about this matter.

"There’s no rush for the hot weapons. Once everything is built in Swamp Prefecture, I’ll focus on making hot weapons," Zhao Yao said with a serious expression. "The manufacturing of hot weapons must be kept secret, so before that, we need to build a secret base. Besides, the iron refining factory hasn’t been built yet. Once the iron refining factory is ready, we’ll be better equipped to make hot weapons."