novelraw Chapter 263
Chapter 263
Chapter 263: What is Gunpowder
Regarding the affairs in Donghai Commandery, Wei Yu hadn’t really paid much attention since he returned to the capital. Although he had left Yi Shisan in Donghai Commandery to secretly watch over Cheng Yuan and the others, Wei Yu was not responsible for these matters after all. Instead of spending a great deal of manpower and resources just to get some news, it was better to just do whatever needed to be done.
As long as it wasn’t something major, Wei Yu tended to be pretty easygoing.
After getting some understanding of the situation in Huzhou, the Eighth Prince breathed a sigh of relief.
“All’s well then.”
The Eighth Prince sized up Wei Yu and couldn’t help but laugh: “Over the past few months here in the capital, I’ve heard about what you’ve been doing in Huzhou from time to time. Disaster relief is one thing, but to actually dig up something about Cao Ji—that was unexpected. Honestly, I was worried you’d been secretly assassinated behind your back during those days.”
Wei Yu: “Eighth Brother, you really underestimate me. Am I the kind of person who isn’t careful?”
The Eighth Prince nodded seriously, “You are.”
Wei Yu was momentarily speechless.
The Eighth Prince leaned against the edge of the bed. “Luckily, I didn’t go with you this time, otherwise I don’t know how many sleepless nights I’d have had with all that worrying.” Upon hearing this, Wei Yu glanced sideways at him, wanting to remind him that when they departed earlier, Eighth Prince did not have this attitude at all. In fact, he even scolded Wei Yu for not bringing him along…
“Ah, putting that aside for now. I came to ask you something—do you know what kind of gunpowder Eldest Brother used when he captured Cao Ji’s military camp?”
Wei Yu was just about to lie down but stopped when he heard this.
He turned around in surprise: “You don’t know?”
He was surprised, and the Eighth Prince was even more surprised. “How would I know? If it weren’t for Eldest Brother sending word back to the capital, none of the courtiers would have any clue!”
Wei Yu sat up. “When Eldest Brother went on his campaign earlier, did Father Emperor say nothing about it in court?”
Wei Yu’s reaction seemed odd, and the Eighth Prince looked at him with suspicion for a few moments before slowly shaking his head. “No, Father Emperor said nothing. If it weren’t for our great victory in Donghai Commandery, no one would even be aware of that gunpowder… Tell me honestly—is this gunpowder somehow related to you?”
Back when the news returned to the capital, Eldest Prince had captured Cao Ji’s camp of ten thousand soldiers in a single day, without using a single soldier—which had stunned the court for a long time.
They had expected a fierce battle but were surprised by how easily the victory was won. Even a god of war wouldn’t have had such a record, right?
The court was unaware why the Donghai Commandery campaign was so successful, but Emperor Wei surely knew, didn’t he?
Of course Emperor Wei knew!
Knowing the power of gunpowder on the battlefield was tremendous, he was almost overwhelmed with excitement, as if he were seeing the future of unifying the world.
After the officials were invigorated and the generals all praised Eldest Prince as a rare military star, the Emperor finally informed everyone about the important role of gunpowder in the battle.
No one really knew what this gunpowder was—at that time, the Emperor only mentioned its existence, but what it looked like or how powerful it truly was remained a mystery to anyone who hadn’t witnessed it firsthand.
Because Emperor Wei hadn’t elaborated, the courtiers had to hold their curiosity until Eldest Prince returned to the capital with his victory.
There were many curious people in the capital, and the Eighth Prince was one of them. But he was more familiar with Wei Yu’s nature than others, so when he saw Wei Yu’s reaction, he dared to ask the question.
Wei Yu was somewhat dumbfounded by his Eighth Brother’s question.
He really hadn’t expected the old man to be so tight-lipped!
Gunpowder had already been used on the battlefield, yet the Emperor hadn’t told even his closest aides?!
Not informing him was one thing, but not even telling the ministers—that old man was really something…
Not knowing the reason behind the old man’s silence, Wei Yu scratched his nose and replied to his Eighth Brother, “As for the gunpowder, yes, I did send people to get it previously, but I honestly don’t know when it was finished or when Father Emperor gave it to Eldest Brother! You can’t blame me. I haven’t been in the capital for the past six months; it was all Father Emperor’s decision!”
Eighth Prince: …
Looking at his younger brother who was eager to explain, the Eighth Prince somehow felt mentally exhausted.
Though he was not so old himself, why did he feel like he had been through endless hardships and had become world-weary?!
It was really strange.
The Eighth Prince silently waved his hand. “Forget it, you don’t have to say any more. I already understand.”
Wei Yu opened his mouth, “No, Eighth Brother, I…”
“No need to explain.”
The Eighth Prince interrupted him, speaking with an old-fashioned seriousness: “You’re older now, getting Father Emperor’s trust is a good thing, and it’s normal not to share every little secret between you and Father Emperor with me. I understand that. I’m just feeling a little sentimental—didn’t expect our Little Ninth has grown up so much, sigh!”
Wei Yu: …
Not knowing what to say, he fell silent.
The Eighth Prince sat on the edge of the bed, shaking his head, sighing, nodding in thought—no one knew what he was thinking, which made Wei Yu quite puzzled.
Fortunately, this man had a strong ability to self-regulate and didn’t even need Wei Yu’s comfort; he comforted himself.
“Enough of this!”
The Eighth Prince suddenly brightened, turning to look at Wei Yu and said seriously, “Ninth Brother, you just returned, you must be tired from traveling. You should rest first; I won’t bother you now. We’ll talk again in a few days!”
“Ah? Oh, okay, thank you, Eighth Brother.”
The Eighth Prince got up, “No need to thank me. After you report to Father Emperor, I’ll invite you to attend court with me another day!”
Wei Yu: …
He really didn’t have to be so enthusiastic.
—
The next day, Wei Yu entered the palace.
He first reported to his dad about the disaster relief efforts in Huzhou, then talked about the matters in Donghai Commandery—the whole process took about an hour.
Still at that familiar small table, Wei Yu lay on it, propping his head up with his hand, looking bored as he watched his dad reviewing memorials.
“Dad, I saved the National Treasury a lot of money during this relief effort. Are you really not showing any appreciation at all?”
Emperor Wei was annoyed at the moment but looked at him immediately upon hearing this.
“Wanting me to show appreciation, huh? Li Cheng, give these to him.”
The desk was piled high with many memorials. Emperor Wei pointed at the pile of unreviewed memorials, wanting Li Cheng, who was waiting aside, to bring them over to Wei Yu.
Wei Yu immediately made a face, “No, no! These are your own responsibilities, how can you pass them off to others? Eunuch Li, take them away, don’t listen to my dad; he’s shirking his duties!”
No official would speak to the Emperor like that, not even a son, but Wei Yu was an exception.
Emperor Wei sneered, “Isn’t that shirking responsibilities on your part? I didn’t say you could go back to the capital yet!”
Wei Yu lay over his small table, arms and body taking up the whole surface, leaving no space, afraid Li Cheng would just throw the memorials at him.
“The relief work is almost done anyway, Third Brother is enough. Besides, haven’t you missed your son all this time? You’re too heartless. I was always thinking of you in Huzhou, eating and sleeping poorly every day…”
Inside the palace, a young man’s complaining voice was clearly audible.
The Ninth Highness, no longer a child, lay on the table, completely disregarding his image, acting spoiled; while as a father, Emperor Wei sat on the dragon throne with a stern face looking at him, seeming annoyed but actually indulgent.
Li Cheng, waiting nearby, smiled as he watched the two, hands folded, showing no intention to move the memorials.
Having served His Majesty all his life, the old servant clearly understood that while His Majesty talked big, he actually felt sorry for Ninth Highness’s hard work in Huzhou. There was no way he would make Ninth Highness work immediately upon returning.
Ninth Highness was playful and lazy after all, still just a boy at heart.