He was born as a blacksmith, but he dominated the world

Chapter 385 Who said there is no reward

Jiang Lin's thoughts were interrupted. After Tian Daheng ran over to bow, he realized that he didn't look very good, so he asked, "What's wrong with you, sir? You seem to be in a bad mood?"

Jiang Lin did not explain to him the matter of entering the palace to see the emperor. He looked at the carriages that were constantly being loaded in front of the Zuowang Tower and asked, "What are they doing?"

"I am about to send the martial arts secrets, weapon fragments, and monster remains that I have recently collected to the blacksmith camp for you," said Tian Daheng.

Jiang Lin was afraid that if he returned to the Blacksmith Camp, people would easily notice his current mood, so he simply said, "Don't pretend to read the secret book. I'll just read it here."

"Okay, then please come in and sit down, I'll make you some tea!"

Tian Daheng was filled with joy. With the help of medicinal pills, his cultivation level had already reached the third level of Yuanwu Realm, and he was almost reaching the sky fast.

Although fairness is emphasized in Zuowang Tower, there is no absolute fairness in this world.

As the deputy building owner and the one who has known Jiang Lin the longest, it is normal for Tian Daheng to take more pills.

When many people in Jianghu saw Jiang Lin, they all bowed with respect on their faces: "Your Highness!"

"No need to be so polite." Jiang Lin waved his hand casually, and he and Tian Daheng entered the store one after another.

While tea was being brewed here, the secret book was being delivered over there.

Tian Daheng offered the teacup with both hands. After Jiang Lin took it, he introduced: "There are a total of 87 top-grade martial arts secret manuals this time, including 10 boxing manuals, 13 palm manuals, and sword manuals..."

"One hundred and ninety-three intermediate-grade martial arts secret manuals..."

"Five hundred and forty-two low-grade martial arts secret manuals..."

After a detailed introduction, Tian Daheng talked about other things.

For example, how many weapon fragments have been collected, what types and grades are they?

Or how many people Zuowanglou has recruited recently, how much territory it has expanded, etc.

The most noteworthy thing is that due to the greatly increased number of Yuanwu realm masters, the monsters hunted by Zuowang Tower are now mainly third-grade monsters, and fourth-grade monsters can also be killed if the opportunity is right.

As for those above the fifth rank, they would need at least the third rank of Yuanwu Realm as the main force to carry out the siege, but they are currently not strong enough to do so.

Jiang Lin's current demand for monster remains is the same as his demand for blacksmithing materials, both of which are used to upgrade the level of weapons.

Therefore, Zuowanglou also hunted different monsters as much as possible, recruited people along the way, and expanded its territory.

In this way, the speed is quite fast.

Jiang Lin had previously told them to expand to a level at least comparable to that of Leiying Fort and Wushuang Fort within a year, and now this has been completed ahead of schedule.

Today, Zuowang Tower has been ranked as a first-rate force in the martial arts world, second only to Chaotian Palace, Xingxiu Gate and Youhai Gate.

The main reason is that these three families have people in the Shenwu realm in charge. In comparison, the highest cultivation level in Zuowang Tower is only the third level of Yuanwu realm, which is far inferior.

Jiang Lin didn't care if he was disturbed while flipping through the secret book, as long as he read it, it would work.

While turning the pages of the book, he said, "You've done a great job. If you need any elixirs or weapons, just let me know. In addition, we need to reopen the trade route in Sangzhou. Currently, no powerful clans are participating. You need to occupy the area as soon as possible. With one state, you have a real foundation."

Currently, no matter where Zuowanglou is located, it mainly focuses on purchasing shops and does not have a base in the true sense.

And Sangzhou is undoubtedly the most suitable one.

Although it is desolate and sparsely populated, it is most suitable as no one is fighting over it.

Tian Daheng didn't know about Sangzhou yet. After Jiang Lin gave him a brief account of what happened, he was immediately astonished and his face was filled with excitement.

Who in the world would not be afraid of Sangzhou’s hard practice?
The lord went there and actually destroyed all the bitter practices. He is truly a god!
Jiang Lin took no notice of the compliments and just quietly flipped through the secret book in his hand.

After a while, a bunch of secret books were finished, and Jiang Lin glanced at the information about martial arts skills.

Currently, the original sword techniques have made the highest progress, reaching 76%, followed by palm techniques and leg techniques, which have reached 73%, and the others are all below 70%.

Although no progress has been perfected, we are not far away.

"Continue to collect secret books and have someone send them to the blacksmith camp with me. I'll bring you some pills and silver later." Jiang Lin said.

"Thank you for the reward, sir."

In fact, the strength of Zuowang Tower has increased, and a large number of monsters are hunted every day, so there is no shortage of money.

But Tian Daheng would not refuse Jiang Lin's reward, as it was his duty as a subordinate.

Adults may not give it, but you cannot refuse to accept it.

Afterwards, Tian Daheng respectfully sent Jiang Lin out, watched him leave with the carriage full of weapon fragments and monster wreckage, and then returned to the store with a smile.

When he returned to the blacksmith camp, Qi the Blacksmith and others who had been waiting for a long time came around and asked happily, "Sir, will you be promoted again when you come to the palace to see the emperor this time?"

"If he keeps rising, he'll probably become a minister in no time!"

"What does your majesty look like?"

"Is the palace beautiful? Is it carved with gold everywhere?"

Jiang Lin patiently explained to them, and learned that the emperor just called him over for questioning and there was no reward. Qi the blacksmith and others were a little disappointed.

I finally get to see the emperor, but he gives me nothing?

The old emperor is too stingy!

"If you don't want to give it, then don't give it. It's no big deal. Besides, who in our blacksmith camp has seen His Majesty over the years? Only Lord Jiang!" said Qi the Blacksmith.

Everyone laughed out loud when they heard this. Yes, for someone who was born as a blacksmith, it was such an honor to be summoned by the emperor himself. Although Emperor Shun only met Jiang Lin, the masters in the blacksmith camp all felt that they had a share of the honor.

As he was speaking, the sound of gongs and drums suddenly came from outside.

Everyone turned around in surprise and saw that the Minister of Works Si Hongwen and the Minister of State Affairs Sun Zhongyun had arrived amid the music.

Behind him were several carriages loaded with gold, silver, iron materials and other items.

Sun Zhongyun personally held a set of official uniforms, while Si Hongwen held the letter of authorization, a jade belt and other items.

He walked forward cheerfully and began to shout from a distance: "Congratulations, Master Jiang, congratulations, Master Jiang."

No one understood what was going on. Even Jiang Lin was puzzled. What was this going to do?
But these two were his immediate superiors, and he had never had any grudges against them. Instead, he had received many benefits from them.

Jiang Lin had no choice but to step forward and said, "Why didn't you tell me in advance that you two adults were coming? I'm really sorry for not welcoming you from afar."

"We can't tell you this in advance. We just found out we were coming." Si Hongwen said with a smile.

"You just found out?" Jiang Lin vaguely guessed something.

As expected, the Minister of Works, Sun Zhongyun, took out the golden imperial edict from his bosom and said with a smile, "Lord Jiang, listen to the edict."

Jiang Lin had no choice but to kneel down. He only listened to Sun Zhongyun unfolding the imperial edict and reading it out: "By the grace of Heaven, the imperial edict of the Emperor. Jiang Lin, the Left Envoy of the Ministry of Works, has made outstanding contributions in destroying Sangzhou and cultivating diligently. He is granted the title of Third Rank Si Zong Zheng, and is awarded 500,000 taels of gold and 3 million taels of silver..."

After the imperial edict was read, Sun Zhongyun handed it over with a smile and said, "Master Jiang, do you accept the edict?"

Jiang Lin took the imperial edict with both hands, feeling surprised.

It would have been fine if the emperor didn't just have him beheaded, but he was actually promoted and made rich.

It is true that serving the king is like serving a tiger, and the king's intentions are unpredictable.

"Congratulations, Lord Jiang. If this goes one step further, I'm afraid I'll have to give up my position as the Minister." Si Hongwen said.

There was indeed some envy in his eyes. Since the founding of Daqian, there have been many people with higher positions than Jiang Lin.

The ancestor of blacksmiths was a first-rank duke in the founding dynasty. In comparison, the third-rank Si Zongzheng seemed just so-so.

But don't forget that Jiang Lin started out as an apprentice in the blacksmith camp and worked his way up.

It has only been three years, and a blacksmith apprentice has become a third-rank official. How incredible is that?

What's more, this was an award personally bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor, which had a much different meaning.

Of course, both Shangshu Sun Zhongyun and Shilang Si Hongwen knew why Jiang Lin was rewarded and what the Majesty's favor meant.

So although I am envious, I am not jealous at all.

If such divine favor requires their life, they would rather not have it.

However, Qi the blacksmith and others nearby were happy but also a little resentful.

Is Lord Jiang deliberately playing a trick on them? He just said that the Emperor did not give any rewards, but in the blink of an eye, Lord Shangshu came in person to deliver the third-rank official uniform.

There was also a car full of real gold and silver, and the lids of the boxes were all open, as if they were deliberately intended for people to see.

Blacksmith Qi and the others exchanged glances in private, meaning that they were wondering when Lord Jiang had learned to play this trick.

Little did they know that Jiang Lin himself was completely confused and had no idea what the Emperor was going to do.

After receiving the imperial edict, Jiang Lin hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help asking, "Does His Majesty have any other wishes?"

"No more." Sun Zhongyun asked with a smile: "Why, Lord Jiang, do you think these rewards are not enough? The Ministry of Works has already been emptied of the iron materials by you and the generals. Your Majesty specially ordered people to find them from the royal private treasury. Although the quantity is not large, they are all top-notch stuff."

Jiang Lin had an extraordinary eye, so he could naturally tell that the hundreds of blacksmithing materials delivered this time were indeed of very high quality.

Even without using the Hengyu furnace to improve the quality, you can easily create precious weapons and spiritual weapons.

Jiang Lin was silent for a few seconds, and then said: "Since you gentlemen are here, why don't you stay for a meal?"

"Of course I'll bother you for a bit." Sun Zhongyun agreed happily.

Although Jiang Lin's official position was several levels lower than his, his status was special, so he had to be given some face at times like this.

So Jiang Lin asked someone to buy the best wine and food, and accompanied Sun Zhongyun and Si Hongwen for a social event in the blacksmith camp.

This was the second time, besides the commander-in-chief of the frontier army, that a high-ranking official came to the blacksmith camp for a meal. The blacksmith masters and apprentices looked at Jiang Lin as if he were a god.

I wonder who else in the world can invite the Shangshu to the Blacksmith Camp for dinner?

Even the military officers of the border troops and garrison camps were surprised to see this scene.

What surprised them even more was that halfway through their meal, Yu Shuai dropped from the sky and slapped Jiang Lin on the shoulder.

"You little brat, why don't you call me Marshal when you're drinking?"

Jiang Lin didn't expect that Yu Shuai would come, and he quickly apologized.

Yu Shuai chuckled and said, "Forget it. Since your Chaos Arrow has done a lot of good things in the northwest, I won't bother with you. Come on, drink a few bowls with me first!"

Jiang Lin knew clearly that Yu Shuai had come here in person, definitely not just to drink, there must be other things.

It’s just that there are too many people here right now, so it’s not convenient to say it.

He didn't say much, but filled a bowl with wine: "Your humble servant respects Marshal Yu."

(End of this chapter)