novelraw Chapter 162
Chapter 162
What exactly Wei Yu did in Ji Prefecture, he basically detailed everything in his previous letter; except for some parts that were not very detailed and the dragging on for a month afterward, there was nothing wrong.
Emperor Wei was not particularly angry.
The reporting was completely handled by the Eighth Prince, and Wei Yu was basically just counting sheep on the side.
However, regarding the business alliance, the negotiations with the aristocratic families of Yizhou, and exactly how much money was made in Ji Prefecture, that was something Wei Yu had to come in person for.
The business alliance was mentioned in the letter before, but nothing was as detailed as face-to-face communication.
Emperor Wei didn’t waste time quibbling with Wei Yu. Since the matter had already started in Ji Prefecture, he told Wei Yu to write down all the big and small details of the business alliance and present it to him after half a month.
Wei Yu:!
Damn, this is like a burden falling from the sky, hitting him so hard he could cough up three feet of old blood!
Just returned from a business trip, with a bunch of matters at home still not handled, and now he has to write so much stuff — such a pain!
Wei Yu didn’t want to write; he thought he could try to struggle out of it. “Father Emperor, writing this down takes too much time. How about I just tell you now?”
Emperor Wei politely declined.
He smiled warmly and kindly, “No need. I don’t understand much about commerce. Write it down, and I will have the Ministry of Revenue people look it over.”
Wei Yu sincerely said, “Then I can go to the Ministry of Revenue now to find Lord Qi and explain all the original details to him.”
Emperor Wei was full of sigh, “My son, you’ve worked hard. After this trip, it’s better to rest at the residence while writing. I am not in a hurry.”
Damn, he’s definitely not in a hurry!
The one suffering is him!
Wei Yu’s smile was about to twist.
The Eighth Prince quietly stood beside, watching closely, seemingly unaware of the undercurrent between his father and Ninth Brother.
Emperor Wei was satisfied to have cut off the unfilial son’s lazy mind, and asked about the aristocratic families of Yizhou.
“I heard from your second brother that the families who came that day were the Sun and Xie families of Yizhou. Yu’er, what do you think of them?”
“This son humble opinion is that the aristocratic families of Yizhou are usable.”
Since the lengthy report was decided, and to prevent the old man from causing more trouble, Wei Yu became serious, “The Yizhou aristocrats have occupied the place for many years without falling. Instead of fighting them and becoming enemies, it’s better to cooperate and divide to weaken them… I have talked with the heads of the Sun and Xie families, using the business alliance as the cooperation point, so both sides can go make money together in Great Liang. Great Liang is so wealthy and vast; it’s unreasonable not to go, right?”
Emperor Wei pondered for a moment, then looked up at Wei Yu, “What do you want to sell?”
It couldn’t still be glass. Glass is already worthless in the capital.
Even if Great Liang doesn’t have it now, bringing it over could earn a profit, but glass is fragile, and the long journey would break a lot before arrival.
Mentioning this, Wei Yu had to say his plan.
He looked at his father with bright eyes and a well-behaved expression, “Dad, do you still remember the gunpowder I mentioned before?”
Hearing him call “dad,” the Eighth Prince couldn’t help but glance sideways.
He was shocked.
[The Ninth Brother actually called the Father Emperor “dad”?!]
Emperor Wei was used to hearing Wei Yu say “dad” and didn’t think much of it, but hearing the Eighth Prince’s shocked inner voice, he paused and glanced at the Eighth Prince.
His good Eighth Prince hadn’t noticed his father’s glance yet, still looking at Ninth Brother in disbelief.
That look—shocked and envious—made Emperor Wei feel quite guilty.
It’s true, imperial father and son relationships are rarely close. Sons don’t call “dad” like commoners; they call “Father Emperor”… Little Eight probably envies him.
Paternal love was overflowing.
Emperor Wei was just thinking about whether to privately tell Little Eight that he could also call him dad, when the Eighth Prince spoke up.
[Ninth Brother is really bold, daring to poke the tiger’s backside. I envy his thick skin… Just don’t drag me into trouble, or I’ll break all ties with him.]
Emperor Wei’s overflowing paternal love immediately retracted.
Good, this kind of envy is different; Old Eight is quite something.
Emperor Wei put on a stern face and replied to Wei Yu.
“I remember. I remember you said to make gunpowder, you must find someone to learn the related knowledge. What, have you found the right person?”
Getting down to business, thinking about the chance to unify the world, Emperor Wei looked at Wei Yu with burning eyes.
Wei Yu gave a mysterious smile, “Of course!”
To surprise his father, Wei Yu had not mentioned the alchemists before.
Now back, Wei Yu told about Lu Fushan’s group of alchemists and the fact that Fusheng was making soap.
“Father, I told you before that to make gunpowder we must learn the related knowledge, which has two main parts: chemistry and physics. Fusheng and the others are currently studying chemistry. As long as they can learn chemistry well, making gunpowder will be no problem!”
“Good, truly the heavens bless our Great Wei!”
Emperor Wei excitedly slapped the table and stood up, “Little Nine, where are they now? Are they at your residence? I want to meet them properly!”
Regarding this, Wei Yu could only smile dryly, “Well, father, they are not at my residence.”
They are at my manor.
The Wise King’s residence isn’t convenient; it’s inside the capital city. If Fusheng and the others did experiments there and made noises every now and then, the common people in the capital who don’t understand would be terrified.
They might think it’s some thunder from the sky or an earth dragon turning over.
For safety reasons, on the way back, Wei Yu sent people to take them to the manor.
The manor is spacious. Earlier he also instructed He Yong to build various facilities, so freeing up some space for Fusheng and the others to stay temporarily was perfect.
Hearing they were not in the capital, Emperor Wei was very disappointed.
“Why didn’t you bring them before entering the palace today?”
Wei Yu rubbed his nose and muttered quietly, “They are all academic talents. Why waste time coming to the palace to see you? The coming and going wastes time. Isn’t it better to save time for research? Don’t you want good things?”
Emperor Wei: …
Eighth Prince: 6
Emperor Wei calmly sat back down.
No wonder of his unfilial son, not considerate at all!
Wei Yu didn’t care how his father grumbled. After finishing his complaints, he started talking again.
“Father Emperor, actually, I arranged them at the manor because I have something I want to do.”
Emperor Wei looked at him, “What?”
“I want to establish a research institute!”
Wei Yu chuckled, “A research institute is a place where alchemists, craftsmen, and scholars who focus on one thing work, providing them with a suitable and quiet environment to research and experiment peacefully.”
“The research institute will be under the court but not part of the Six Ministries; it will be an independent organization. The people inside will be like court officials. Entry requires assessment, levels are divided based on ability, they receive salary and food and lodging. If they can produce things beneficial to the people like Fusheng, they can even apply for bonuses…”
As Wei Yu described this, the eyes of Emperor Wei and the Eighth Prince both lit up.
Great!
This research institute is a good thing.
It must be built!