Chapter 514: Tiangong Bureau

  Chapter 514 Tiangong Bureau

  On the third day after the wedding, Chu Xianping came back.

  He also “invited” the governor and the general of Yangzhou back.

  The former was Pei Maowen and the latter was Feng Bei.

  Since they had surrendered, it was normal for them to meet the “new king”.

  Although the two had been very nervous before coming, fearing that Wei Changtian would betray their faith and take their lives.

  But the facts proved that the latter was still very moral.

  Not only did he retain their official positions as promised, but he also asked Ning Yuke to give them each a useless but very impressive title of marquis.

  After all, they are “typical of abandoning darkness and joining light”, and they must serve as a “model”.

  In addition, after intensive preparations, the “Tiangong Bureau” affiliated to the Ministry of Works was officially established today.

  There are a total of about a hundred people, and except for a few civil servants, the rest are all various craftsmen.

  These people are treated very well, even equivalent to the salary of a fifth-rank official.

  But as a price, they and their families must be monitored by the Ministry of Justice at all times.

  Even the location of the Tiangong Bureau is extremely secretive, and it was chosen in a deep mountain not far from Datong City.

  This is naturally done to keep it secret.

  You know, this is the “core scientific research institution” related to the future of Shu. Wei Changtian doesn’t want the “high-tech invention” that he has worked so hard to research to be stolen by Ning Yongnian.

  Of course, if something like a steam engine is put into use, it will definitely be impossible to hide it. Sooner or later, it will “benefit” all mankind.

  After all, there is no such thing as a “patent” these days.

  But if the confidentiality work is done well, this “technological leadership” can at least be maintained for one or two years.

  By then, when Ning Yongnian has studied the steam engine, he may have made a more advanced thing

  . At noon.

  Accompanied by the Minister of Industry, Wei Changtian personally met with several core craftsmen of the Tiangong Bureau and had a long afternoon of communication with the latter.

  At present, the Tiangong Bureau has two main research contents.

  In addition to the steam engine, there is also “improved gunpowder” with greater explosive power.

  As mentioned before, gunpowder has been invented in this world. In the Battle of Niutou Mountain, the Shu army even used a huge amount of gunpowder to create a massive “underground fire”.

  However, it was during that ambush that Wei Changtian discovered that today’s gunpowder technology is actually quite poor.

  It is even worse than the black gunpowder of one saltpeter, two sulfurs and three charcoals in the previous life.

  It is okay to set off fireworks, but it is difficult to use it for other purposes.

  More importantly, due to the existence of the cultivation system, the rulers of the past dynasties, including Ning Yongnian, did not seem to be very enthusiastic about improving gunpowder.

  But Wei Changtian did not think so.

  Mountain construction, road construction, mining and blasting fish, which one does not use gunpowder?

  Now these “jobs” are all done by people who practice cultivation, and these people not only charge high prices, but often they cannot be hired even if they have money.
After all, most practitioners have a problem of being pretentious. It may be okay to let them go to the battlefield to kill the enemy, but it

  is indeed a bit of a waste of talent

  to let them go to the mountains to blast rocks .

  Therefore, Wei Changtian was preparing to increase the power of gunpowder to lay a good foundation for the future vigorous “great construction” of Shu.

  Besides, high-powered gunpowder is also helpful for war.

  You know, although Wei Changtian has no airplanes and probably won’t be able to build one in his lifetime,

  he has a lot of flying monsters.
  

  Next time we fight, let these flying beasts bring powerful explosive packs to “carpet bomb” before the battle, and then fire a few rounds of artillery.

  Humph! What about the world of cultivation?

  I will let you understand what “the power of knowledge” is in the future!

  At the beginning of the evening.

  Outside Shuzhou City, Wei Changtian personally sent off the mighty group of people from the Tiangong Bureau, and ordered that their safety and life in the deep mountains and old forests be guaranteed at all costs.

  In addition to the “security work” jointly undertaken by the Freemasons and the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Industry has also reached a cooperation with the largest restaurant and brothel in the city, and they will provide people to ensure that the craftsmen can eat, drink and have fun after work.

  These craftsmen who forge iron and saw wood every day have never enjoyed such treatment, so they are all grateful to Wei Changtian and vowed to make that steam engine and more powerful gunpowder as soon as possible.

  Wei Changtian knew that “invention and creation” requires opportunities and inspiration, but he did not ask the Tiangong Bureau to issue any “military orders”.

  However, before everyone left, he gave an impromptu speech that was full of passion.

  ”You are the real pillars of Shu,” “The future of Shu, please.”

  Wei Changtian became more and more excited as he spoke, and in the end, he still felt unsatisfied, so he asked Ning Yuke to come from Weiyang Palace to show up again.

  The pillars of the country, the queen herself.

  The excitement of the group of craftsmen finally reached its peak when Ning Yuke stepped down from the imperial carriage. It looked like she wanted to sacrifice her life for the steam engine.

  In the afterglow of the setting sun, this seemingly inconspicuous convoy that would actually greatly change the future of Shu left Shuzhou City and headed straight for an unknown mountain.

  Wei Changtian watched them disappear completely, and then turned his head to look at Ning Yuke.

  ”Don’t you understand why I value them so much?”

  ”Yes.”

  Ning Yuke nodded honestly: “Please enlighten me, Master.”

  ”Because what they are going to do is truly a great thing that will benefit future generations.”

  Wei Changtian looked at Ning Yuke’s still puzzled eyes, and did not explain more, but sighed softly:

  ”Predecessors plant trees, and future generations enjoy the shade.”

  ”After several years, your name and my name may not be remembered by future generations, but they will definitely be.”

  ”You will understand later.”

  When returning to the mansion from outside the city, the last ray of sunset also fell into the sky.

  Wei Changtian seldom went out these days. It was only today that he was busy outside for a day. Before that, he had been at home to accompany Liang Qin to spend the wedding joy.

  Eating and drinking, meeting visiting guests, playing mahjong with the girls, and occasionally “visiting” Agou and Achun’s practice.

  During the three days, Wei Changtian did not mention the three words “Li Wutong” to anyone, nor did he ask Zhang San about the latter’s situation even once.

  It was as if this woman who had developed a love affair with him, suddenly came back and left in a hurry, did not exist.

  Including Zhang San and Chu Xianping, all those who knew the situation believed that Wei Changtian had given up on the latter.

  This was not a random guess.

  Because Wei Changtian’s words and deeds did show such an attitude.

  In fact, it was right.

  No matter what, what Li Wutong did was too stupid.

  Such a woman not only did not help Wei Changtian, but she could not even be a “vase” like Lu Jingyao who was safe and sound and never caused trouble.

  To put it bluntly.

  In the eyes of Zhang San and Chu Xianping, Li Wutong was actually a burden to Wei Changtian.

  A burden that was both heavy and humble.

  (End of this chapter)