Chapter 34 Playing Too Big (Part Two)

In the presence of so many civil and military officials, Li Xian could not afford to leave things half-done. Therefore, after watching Guo Nu depart, he secretly regulated his breath a dozen times before biting the bullet and resuming the next round of receptions.

This time, the pace was much faster than before. He simply asked each recipient for their name, place of origin, and official title, followed by a few brief words of collective encouragement, and that concluded the interaction.

Even so, the Armor-Inspection Office officials who successively took the stage were moved to tears of gratitude. When retiring and stepping down from the viewing platform, if not for the attentive support of the imperial guards nearby, more than one official would have surely missed a step and suffered a bloody head.

After a short while, it was finally Zhang Qian's turn to take the stage. As the designer of the fire-dragon cart and the actual director of the Armor-Inspection Office, Li Xian certainly could not dismiss him with just a few casual remarks. Hence, he first showered him with extravagant praise, then inquired about the overall cost of the fire-dragon cart along with the "gunpowder" inside, as well as a few miscellaneous details. Finally, changing his tone very naturally, he asked, "The gunpowder used by Lord Zhang today seems slightly different from the gunpowder We have seen in the past! Could it be that some other combustion-assisting substance was added to it? Otherwise, how could its destructive power be so immense?"

*This is a public occasion, Your Majesty! No matter how much you trust the civil and military ministers by your side, there are still so many guards under the platform. Who can guarantee that every single one of them will keep a secret?* Infuriated by Li Xian's lack of awareness regarding confidentiality, Zhang Qian muttered inwardly, yet on the surface, he could only smile and cup his hands in salute: "Reporting to Your Sacred Majesty, this subject did indeed add certain substances to the gunpowder. The specific ingredients and quantities are rather complex, and this subject, being dull-witted, did not commit them to memory. However, this subject has already written them down as a secret formula and recorded them in the official files. If Your Majesty wishes to inspect it, this subject can go and retrieve it for you right now!"

"There is no rush. Lord Zhang has a good heart. When We return to the Daming Palace, you can simply help Us transcribe a copy and bring it along!" Hearing the words "secret formula," Li Xian frowned slightly, but decisively waved his hand with a smile.

"Your Majesty, this subject believes that after Your Majesty previews the secret formula, it should be immediately handed over to the Hundred Riders Corps to be sealed and archived. Anyone should be strictly prohibited from consulting it. Within the Armor-Inspection Office, everyone must also be forbidden from passing on this formula. Violators shall have their entire clan executed!" As if afraid that Li Xian failed to realize the importance of the gunpowder recipe, Minister of War Zong Chuke suddenly stood up and solemnly "helped" Zhang Qian.

"Hmm, Minister Zong's words are reasonable!" Li Xian frowned once again, casting a thoughtful gaze toward the crowd of "green-feathered parrots" from the Armor-Inspection Office who had already stepped down from the high platform.

He had seen with his own eyes from the high platform just moments ago how the "gunpowder" had burned and collapsed the brick and stone watchtower in the span of just over a dozen breaths. Yet tribes like the Tujue, Tujishi, and Tuyuhun usually lived by the water and pastures; how could they possibly build watchtowers out of brick and stone?

Looking across the world, apart from the Great Tang, the only ones who constructed buildings with bricks and stones were probably Wa and Tibet. Should the secret formula be stolen by tribes like the Tujue, Tujishi, and Tuyuhun, the Great Tang would truly be lifting a rock only to drop it on its own feet!

At this thought, Li Xian shivered inwardly. Immediately, his gaze toward Zhang Qian and the Armor-Inspection Office officials below the platform became increasingly benevolent. "The Armor-Inspection Office has presented Us with such divine weapons like the fire-dragon cart, rendering great service to the country, and they richly deserve to be rewarded. Lord Zhang, submit a list to the Ministry of Personnel later, reporting the names of all the lords and skilled artisans who participated in the manufacture of the fire-dragon cart, along with their specific meritorious deeds!"

"This subject obeys!" Vaguely sensing that something felt slightly amiss, Zhang Qian, due to a lack of coping experience, could only cup his hands and accept the decree.

Nodding slightly toward Zhang Qian, Li Xian smiled and turned his gaze to the backbone ministers behind him. "Vice Director Xiao, Vice-Director Yang, Minister Zong! The three of you shall discuss the rewards for the upper and lower ranks of the Armor-Inspection Office together, with the scale modeled after defeating an enemy and capturing a city. Among those who have shown exceptional performance, bestow upon them a residential courtyard within Chang'an City to serve as an example for those who come after!"

"We obey your command!" Xiao Zhizhong, Yang Lin, and Zong Chuke all stood up and bowed to accept the decree.

The officials of the Armor-Inspection Office had long anticipated that they would certainly receive heavy rewards today, but they never expected the rewards to be so lavish. The remaining civil and military dignitaries watched with eyes glowing with envy.

***

Real estate in Chang'an was exorbitantly expensive and exceedingly difficult to acquire. Many officials of the fifth and fourth ranks, working diligently for half a lifetime, might not even be able to afford a decent courtyard in Chang'an City. Yet the "green-feathered parrots" of the Armor-Inspection Office who meritoriously developed the fire-dragon cart might be granted a courtyard by the imperial court without having to spend a single copper coin of their own, and the location certainly would not be bad either. Such imperial favor naturally aroused intense envy! (Note: Historically, Bai Juyi rented a home in Chang'an all his life, finally buying a dilapidated old place only in his old age. :))

Only two or three particularly seasoned and prudent individuals vaguely guessed the hidden meaning behind the words "bestow upon them a residential courtyard," casting secret glances at the still-clueless Zhang Qian and hiding sighs within their bellies.

Did you really think a courtyard bestowed by the imperial family was so easy to accept? Not to mention that the closer the ward was to the Daming Palace, the stricter the curfew, making coming and going extremely inconvenient morning and night. The mere fact that the Hundred Riders Corps was within arm's reach was enough to make many people tremble with fear.

Today's favor was intricately linked to that fire-dragon cart and gunpowder. Clearly, those granted residences would be the primary targets of surveillance by the Hundred Riders Corps for a long time to come. If the slightest suspicion of leaking secrets was caught by the Hundred Riders Corps, or if they committed any other outrageous acts, not only would the residence be transferred to someone else overnight, but their entire extended family would probably follow them to eat prison food!

"Seeing today that the imperial guards are strong and formidable, and that the Armor-Inspection Office carries out its duties with utmost diligence, We are deeply gratified!" Having discreetly laid down preventive measures against potential dangers in advance, Li Xian's heart finally returned to peace. Looking up at the sky, he smiled and instructed, "You lords have been running around with Us since morning, so you must all be tired. Returning to the palace, We have ordered a banquet specially prepared. Today, We shall drink heartily with you lords to celebrate our Great Tang adding yet another divine weapon for defeating enemies!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Overjoyed, the civil and military ministers forgot all about envying or sympathizing with others as they stood up in unison and bowed to Li Xian.

Eunuchs and imperial guards immediately stepped forward to escort Li Xian down the high platform. Then, the civil and military dignitaries were slowly led down in order of official rank.

The carriages of the Imperial Carriage Bureau had already been prepared in advance. Official Li and his brothers soon escorted Li Xian and the high-ranking ministers into their respective carriages. The previously crowded Armor-Inspection Office instantly became empty and desolate, with only a few wisps of residual embers still slowly venting white mist, as if recalling the hustle and bustle from just moments before.

"Junior Director, this old servant congratulates you in advance!" Gao Yanfu, who had been ordered to stay behind to take the secret recipe for the gunpowder additives, grasped Zhang Qian's arm and said with a warm smile, "Our Great Tang has always valued military achievements. Such extraordinary exploits as 'defeating enemies and capturing cities' are not easily obtained. Perhaps the next time this old servant sees the Junior Director, I will have to address you as Director, or even call you a Commandery Marquis!"

"With your auspicious blessings, if that day truly comes, this junior will certainly load a cart of fine wine and deliver it directly to your residence!" Knowing that this commander of the gate guards was one of Li Xian's most trusted confidants, Zhang Qian dared not be negligent. He smiled, bowed to the other party, and then retrieved a piece of silk from his bosom, solemnly handing it over. "The additives and the required proportions per catty of gunpowder are all written here. Previously, there were too many eyes and ears, and it was inconvenient for this junior to present it directly to Your Majesty in public. Later on, I must ask you to help explain a few words to Your Majesty on my behalf, and beg Your Majesty not to misunderstand this junior as intentionally deceiving him!"

"You deserve a beating! How wise is His Majesty? How could he not know that you are wholeheartedly devoted to the country?!" Gao Yanfu scolded playfully with a smile, accepting the silk filled with handwriting with both hands. Without even glancing at it, he stuffed it into a locked leather box, firmly locked the box, and pocketed the key.

"This junior used the heart of a petty person to measure the belly of a gentleman; I truly deserve a beating!" Knowing the old eunuch's words carried no malicious intent, Zhang Qian quickly smiled and admitted his fault. Immediately, he called out to Ren Cong, accepted an exquisite wooden box from the latter's hands, and presented it with both hands before the old eunuch. "This item is just a token of this junior's sincerity; I beg the senior to kindly accept it!"

"What is this?" Gao Yanfu was momentarily stunned, deliberately putting on an expression of astonishment and asking with a frown.

"A hotpot!" Without a second thought, Zhang Qian quickly provided the answer. "This junior noticed that you are running around outside every day, and it is cold outside. Therefore, I specially ordered a complete set to be crafted for you. This way, whenever you wish to eat, you can always have a hot meal!"

"Hmm, not bad, not bad. This thing is clean, simple, and truly convenient!" Gao Yanfu accepted the wooden box with satisfaction and handed it over to his young attendant. "Since Junior Director Zhang has such a kind heart, this old servant will accept it without declining!"

***

"I should have had a complete set made and sent to you long ago; it was just that this junior was dizzy with work recently and forgot! Please do not hold it against me, senior!" The other party was not much younger than Yang Lin, so Zhang Qian did not feel that presenting a hotpot set as a gift was abrupt at all. He smiled and added casually.

However, the old eunuch Gao Yanfu suddenly tasted a trace of warmth in Zhang Qian's demeanor and form of address toward him. He smiled and nodded softly, "The Junior Director is indeed a thoughtful person, no wonder His Majesty has always looked upon you with favor! Let's go, let's enter the palace for the banquet. There are many rules in the palace; if there is anything you don't understand, feel free to ask this old servant along the way. Being feasted by the Emperor for the first time, if you make a fool of yourself, you will become a laughingstock among your colleagues, talked about for three or four years."

"A banquet, including me?" This time, it was Zhang Qian's turn to be stunned. He widened his eyes and asked blankly.

He remembered Li Xian's words were, "You lords have been running around with Us since morning..." and he certainly did not belong to the group that had been running from morning till night. Furthermore, those who accompanied Li Xian at the time were at least of the lower third rank. Even Zhang Shuo, the Director of the Armor-Inspection Office, was not qualified; how could his turn come as a mere Junior Director?

"Of course. You were standing right opposite His Majesty at the time, surely you didn't think you'd be kicked out specifically?" Gao Yanfu also widened his eyes, looking back at him with a puzzled expression. Then, he shook his head with a smile. "Thank goodness this old servant added that extra sentence, otherwise you would have completely misinterpreted His Majesty's intention today. My boy, you can skip a meal, but you are probably the first person in the history of the Great Tang not to attend an imperial banquet when summoned!"

"This junior knows his mistake, thank you senior for the guidance!" Zhang Qian finally confirmed that he was also among the invitees, and sheepishly cupped his hands in salute. "Please wait a moment in the room, senior; this junior will go change clothes and be right back."

"Change into what? Just like this, this is quite fine! This outfit looks much nimbler than an official robe!" Gao Yanfu decisively reached out and grabbed his wrist. "You think an imperial banquet is a place where you can stuff your cheeks and eat freely? What you mainly consume is a share of imperial favor, and it won't take long. You are young and full of vigor; wearing this armor won't tire you out to the point of being unable to walk."

"Yes, this junior will listen to you, senior!" Deep down, Zhang Qian actually preferred wearing armor. Not for anything else, but at least it spared him from having to bow so low when paying respects.

"Mm, mm!" Gao Yanfu nodded with satisfaction, then looked Zhang Qian up and down, hesitating as if he wanted to say something.

Zhang Qian felt his hair stand on end under that gaze, and hurriedly cupped his hands in salute. "If senior has any instruction, please speak freely, this junior guarantees to listen attentively!"

"Instruction? Certainly not. It's just that His Majesty wants this old servant to ask you a question. This matter is extremely important, so you had better think it over before answering!" Gao Yanfu withdrew his gaze, added with a smile, and his expression suddenly turned unfathomable.

A chill ran through Zhang Qian's heart. He quickly收起 smiles, cupped his hands, and stood at attention. "Please speak, Great General Gao; this subordinate will tell you everything he knows without reservation."

"No need to be so formal, His Majesty is asking a private matter! It is also a favor bestowed upon a minister!" Gao Yanfu instructed with a smile, then gently stepped back two steps, put away his smile, and solemnly relayed: "His Majesty asks, how old is Lord Zhang? Have you ever married or been betrothed? What other elders remain in your family?"