The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 273 - 239, Seeking help from Gongshu Tianyuan

"Barely acceptable… essentially it means somewhat satisfactory. If this comment were made to an ordinary person by a superior in the camp, it would already be considered not bad.

But if the recipient of this evaluation prided himself as Great Yu’s number one gunsmith, known for the ’Fire Gun,’

then it became a disparagement.

An overt disparagement.

At this moment, the smug smile that flitted across Chen Gui’s lips instantly stiffened.

He turned his head to look at the tall and handsome Zhao Douan standing beside him, his complexion visibly darkening, even his goatee starting to tremble.

"Mr… you think it’s only barely acceptable?"

Chen Huoshen stared at Zhao Douan, his fleeting respect for his new superior vaporized in an instant.

He had ample pride, at least in the realm of firearms where he considered himself ahead of the entire world.

And now, his most proud creation was being so dismissively evaluated by a young man several decades his junior.

How could Chen Huoshen not be furious?

Even more so, he naturally assumed it was intentional suppression… Was it as the minor official said, that for not having gone to meet him, he came to ’knock’ on him?

But then he remembered his opponent’s authority…

Chen Huoshen forcefully suppressed his anger, speaking with some dissatisfaction,

"Mr. has martial arts cultivation and is peerless among ordinary men; naturally, you may find this firearm unsatisfactory. But the majority of those in the world aren’t skilled in martial arts. In large-scale battles, it’s mostly common soldiers…"

Zhao Douan stood with his hands behind his back, glanced at the angry old craftsman with a smile, and said,

"My point is, even for the army, this thing is merely barely acceptable."

Then, without waiting for Chen Gui to become enraged, his next words fell like a bucket of cold water:

"In a clash between armies, what matters is the effectiveness in killing the enemy. Just as an iron bow compared to a wooden one has many times greater power, and the army does have soldiers with amazing strength to use them.

But when it comes to the actual battle, even the Duke’s son wouldn’t use a powerful iron bow but rather an inferior Huanghuali wooden bow.

Because the former takes too much effort to draw, is heavy and hard to carry, and while one can shoot one arrow with it, a common lightweight wooden bow can fire two…"

With a pensive gesture, he patted the nearby ’barrel’ shrouded in smoke and still warm, making a thudding sound:

"This thing, from what I’ve observed, takes much more time to load with gunpowder than a common bow and arrow. This alone determines that it is glamor without substance."

These lightly spoken words were like a hard punch ruthlessly striking at the heart of Chen Huoshen.

Leaving the head of the Firearms Bureau momentarily at a loss for words.

Yes!

This was indeed the greatest drawback of the Fire Gun; loading it was too troublesome!

"…What Master Zhao said is indeed a flaw. However, the evolution of any weapon is not achieved in one step but through gradual improvement…

The Fire Gun has just been invented, so it’s indeed a bit cumbersome. Give me some more time, and surely…"

Chen Gui said stiffly.

Zhao Douan interrupted him: "Six hundred years."

Chen Gui was taken aback.

He saw Zhao Douan caressing the muzzle, turning his head to look at him with a complex gaze:

"When I came here, I went through the records. The first military use of firearms was six hundred years ago during the Grand Ancestor Emperor’s time. However, their application was very crude and not viable for serious use.

Back then, I suppose many people thought that with time, they would become highly effective… But six hundred years have passed, and the mainstay of the battlefield is still the infantry’s spear and shield, the cavalry’s blade and horse…

Mr. Chen, how many more centuries do you think it will take for your Fire Gun to be useful?"

Chen Huoshen was at a loss for words.

Zhao Douan had no intention of ridiculing him. He held the warm copper pipe, caressed it, and suddenly asked,

"Fire guns… Calling this thick barrel a cannon wouldn’t be too much. Mr. Chen, you must have further ideas about it, right? Can you share them?"

Chen Huoshen fell silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and decided to lay his cards on the table:

"Indeed, I have some ideas. In my view, the Fire Gun is just the beginning. In the future, firearms should evolve in two directions.

One is much larger, many times the size of this, that can shoot iron balls or long spears farther and break through city gates.

The other is extremely small, small enough to be like a scholar’s gentleman sword hanging at the waist, one for each soldier, shooting smaller iron balls. From a hundred meters away, one could kill an enemy…"

As he spoke of his ideas, the old craftsman’s eyes were shining.

It was as if he had forgotten who was listening beside him.

Hou Renmeng and Qian Kerou were also involuntarily drawn in.

Thinking if it could be achieved, then the battlefield might truly be rewritten.

Zhao Douan was slightly surprised.

The direction the opponent judged was indeed correct.

Sure enough, the real industry leaders have accurate visions of the future.

"Then why only create this prototype? What obstacles are hindering your vision?" Zhao Douan asked casually.

Chen Huoshen suddenly fell from his aspirations back to reality.

The over-fifty-year-old master craftsman shook his head, a look of dejection on his face:

"There are many. Not to mention, there are still some problems with the smelting process. Just on these two ideas alone, although I am certain of the direction, many details are unclear…"

As he said these, he suddenly spoke self-deprecatingly:

"Perhaps what you said is more accurate, Mr. When it will improve enough to be stronger on the battlefield than bows and arrows, I cannot say. Maybe one day I will have an epiphany, and in a few years, it could be achieved, or maybe… I won’t see that day until I am dead."

Zhao Douan pondered for a moment, then asked,

"Then, with your insight, what do you think could accelerate its development?"

Unknowingly, the atmosphere had turned strange.

It felt less like a demonstration and more like a discussion.

Chen Huoshen was swept into the rhythm and after some thought, said,

"The quickest and most likely method I can think of is to seek the help of a Magician."

"Magician?"

"Yes, I’ve heard that among the various heavenly deities, there’s one known as ’Artisan God.’ A Magician who cultivates the Artisan God’s power can master various creative abilities, penetrate the ultimate truths of the universe, and craft miraculous objects that far exceed common understanding."

Chen Huoshen was somewhat longing:

"Unfortunately, I know little about those exalted figures of the Xuan Sect, and despite several attempts to inquire, I’ve learned the most formidable Artisan God Magician in the capital seems to be Gongshu Tianyuan, a disciple of Heavenly Master Zhang…"

Zhao Douan’s expression became strange:

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"You think that Gongshu Tianyuan can help you? If so, why not request the court to facilitate a connection?"

Chen Huoshen exhaled bitterly,

"Tried, how could I not have tried? But once the message reached the Heavenly Master Mansion, there were no echoes, and later it was the higher-ranking officers who brought back a reply, claiming the Heavenly Master’s disciple was studying a Magic Artifact, something unlike the vulgar gunpowder; they were powerless to help…"

I was pondering, it might not be that they are powerless, but rather they are unwilling to waste their energy on this matter...

After all, that is Heavenly Master Zhang’s disciple—how not of this world! Not to mention myself, even if Minister Xue were to ask, they would just the same not give face."

The status of the Heavenly Master Mansion was unparalleled.

So-called grand officials of the court, truly of no use at all.

If they chose not to give face, they wouldn’t, and you could do nothing about it.

No... perhaps that little chubby Gongshu Tianyuan really is "powerless," because the things he creates are too idiosyncratically brilliant...

Entirely ignorant of design... the guns and cannons he makes would likely also be some "esoteric side" odd contraptions...

Unless... someone gave him blueprints, explained the general idea so that this heir of the Artisan God could realize it with his extraordinary talent.

Thinking of this, Zhao Douan had an idea.

"Bang."

He carelessly threw the heavy bronze tube onto the ground, making Chen Gui wince—

Although just a chunk of iron, he didn’t know why he winced.

"Not bad, I’ve seen enough. Mr. Chen, how about a trip outside with me?"

Zhao Douan dusted off his hands and said.

Chen Huoshen snapped back to his senses, his eyes filled with caution, "Lord, what do you mean?"

Zhao Douan smiled and patted his lean shoulder, saying,

"You’ll know when we get there."

...

...

As a Sixth-rank official, Chen Gui ultimately couldn’t resist the orders of a Commander.

With trepidation in his heart, he rode alongside Zhao Douan and three others, departing from the Firearms Bureau and directly entering through the South City gate.

Following the city streets, twisting and turning, they finally stopped outside the towering Heavenly Master Mansion.

"Lord, you are…"

Chen Huoshen, mounted on his horse, was filled with shock.

Zhao Douan said with a beaming smile,

"Didn’t you say that Gongshu Tianyuan might be able to help? Since I’ve joined the Divine Mechanism Camp, naturally I want to seek benefits for the camp—consider this as me pulling some strings for you."

Chen Huoshen was startled, but instead of joy, he waved his hands and said,

"Lord, I appreciate your kindness. But Heavenly Master’s disciples are not easy to meet... even Secretariat Envoy Minister Xue didn’t succeed before…"

He naturally thought that Zhao Douan was being too presumptuous.

Thinking he had power and position, yet the Heavenly Master Mansion does not acknowledge any "high officials" from the court.

"Mr. Chen, since you’re here, relax. My lord said he’d help you, and he will,"

Behind him, Qian Kerou dismounted and said with a smile.

Hou Renmeng too dismounted and coolly said,

"My lord is acquainted with Priest Jin Jian, who is also a disciple of the Heavenly Master."

The two of them thought that Zhao Douan was borrowing Jin Jian’s connections.

Chen Huoshen was still not convinced.

He dismounted hesitantly, only sighing, thinking of how to save face for Zhao Douan later.

Meanwhile, Zhao Douan had already stepped forward.

He spoke a few words in a low voice to the gatekeeping priest, who hurriedly ran inside.

Before long, from within the Heavenly Master Mansion, a short and chubby figure came scurrying out.

The person was dressed in a dirty but gold-threaded priest robe, carrying a bamboo tube on his back.

With his round, plump face and small eyes wide like soybeans, he ran out laughing, saying,

"Lord! Why didn’t you send someone ahead to let me know, so I could tidy up and welcome you! Sorry for the wait, sorry for the wait…"

Speaking thus, the oily fat hand predictably reached out for a "handshake."

Zhao Douan smiled reservedly.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he called over the three people waiting behind and explained,

"Gongshu god…"

"Eh, Lord, just call me Tian Yuan, or address me as brother. Let’s not be strangers," Gongshu Tianyuan said displeased.

"...Ah, well. Brother Gongshu, this is Chen Gui from the Divine Mechanism Camp’s Firearms Bureau. I brought him over because there is a matter for which we seek assistance."

"All good, all good!"

Gongshu Tianyuan patted his chest, creating a loud smack,

"I was just worrying on how to repay the lord. Come in and talk, let’s sit down at my place and talk."

On the side.

Chen Huoshen was completely stunned.

He slowly swallowed and asked the two beside him for confirmation in a low voice,

"Is this really..."

Although the two guards from Lihua Hall were also surprised, they had become accustomed to it and nodded promptly,

"Of course, that is Gongshu Tianyuan."

Chen Huoshen felt dizzy and pinched his thigh hard.

Pain!

It wasn’t a dream!

But... why would this be?

The Heavenly Master’s disciple, who wouldn’t give even Minister Xue the slightest face, why would he be so brotherly with Master Zhao?

Forget the aloofness; there was even a hint of discreet... sycophancy?

In a daze, Chen Huoshen felt that perhaps everyone in the Divine Mechanism Camp had misunderstood some things.