The Great Seminary

Chapter 297 Big Baby

Although the Zhang family of Pingyang has experienced ups and downs, they have always maintained the air of a prominent family.

The head of the family was not someone anyone could easily strike up a conversation with or ask questions of.

In fact, unless it's a major festival or year-end celebration, ordinary merchants would never be able to meet him, no matter how hard they tried.

Therefore, someone immediately retorted sharply, "Who are you? How rude of you..."

at this time.

The men who were asking the questions each pulled out a four-tiered, black and white, pointed, soft felt hat from their pockets and put it on their heads.

The fat man at the head of the group even pulled off his belt from his waist, shook it, and straightened it.

He slapped the person who asked the question twice hard across the face.

The six long, red characters embroidered inside the belt, resembling a person hanging themselves, were revealed.
'By imperial decree. Question, investigate, arrest'.

She said with a smile, "When the Eastern Depot is handling matters, it's best for idle people to refrain from asking questions."

As soon as he finished speaking, the guards behind him roared in unison:

"By imperial decree, anyone who disobeys will be imprisoned, beheaded, have their entire family wiped out, and behead their nine generations!"

Immediately, a look of horror appeared in front of the Zhang Family Ancestral Hall in Pingyang.

Taking advantage of everyone's panic, Zhang Gui slipped out of everyone's sight.

Activating the divine power "Zongheng Ruyi", it soared across the land and landed on a small passenger ship near the sea after a few leaps.

A gentle breeze is blowing; it's a perfect winter day.

Waiting at the cabin door was Chu Tuantuan, the chief eunuch of the "Longmen Tongbu Bureau" and concurrently the head of the Eastern Depot of the Inner Court in Yang County, who had the power to secretly arrest, urgently interrogate, imprison, and manage imperial prisons in Yang County.

Seeing Zhang Gui land silently in front of him, he grinned and teased:
"How's it going, Brother Gui? Have you vented your anger?"

You can be too stingy sometimes.

It's just that old scoundrel from the Zhang family in Pingyang, trying to run away. He made you take the blame, and then shamelessly tried to extort some money from you on the side.

In terms of seniority, he is, after all, a 'patriarch,' so giving it to him is sufficient."

"It's fine for him to ask for money, but he can't do the opposite, making it seem like I owe him a favor."

This is called, "It's good to be angry when you're a fool!"

Zhang Gui raised an eyebrow and said:

"Back then, he gave me the complete set of blueprints for building the 'Ironwood Turtle Mechanical Ship' without asking for a single penny."

Regardless of the reason, I now owe a huge favor.

Therefore, it's not impossible for me to take the blame for him.

Moreover, Pingyang Town has its own industries, big and small. To take his position would only bring harm, not benefit, and would be unethical.

The difference is that the risk is equal to the return, resulting in a break-even situation.

It would be best if everyone laughed it off and parted ways amicably.

But his first move was to sell all the properties and land that the Zhang family of Pingyang couldn't take with them to me, the new head of the family, at a loss.

They even teased me for rushing around with my own fleet during the Lunar New Year to help that 'Crypt Realm' Six-Dragon Grandmother find her grandson.

He's using my help to get me to do something, and he'll gain favor in return.

They are pushing their luck.

If I didn't get you to put him in his place, who knows what other trouble he might cause later.

Chu Tuantuan, who was unaware of the many details involved, nodded upon hearing this.
“So that’s it.

No wonder you secretly went to 'Longmenbo' to find me on the night of the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, and had to do this on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Since Zhang Liuduo is so clueless about what's good for him, I might as well make this a real show and "capture" him.

Anyway, he had genuinely made preparations for migrating to the 'underground realm,' and by making an example of him, I could explain it to the inner court.

“That would be going too far. Zhang Liuduo is, after all, my patriarch.”

Zhang Gui waved his hand and said, "This kind of thing is known to Heaven, Earth, you, me, and even ghosts and gods. It's not a good look."

"What do you still care about 'being known by both ghosts and gods'?" Chu Tuantuan laughed heartily, then suddenly her eyes darted around.
"No, you're not usually this stingy."

The reason for making things difficult for Zhang Liuduo this time is somewhat inappropriate.

Ah, your grandson, that Six-Long Aunt from the 'Crypt Realm' who returned home, could it be that you...

That's not right either. Two thousand people just disappeared without a trace, neither alive nor dead.

Even if you, Zhang Gui, were capable of such a thing, you wouldn't do it without a reason, even if you were killed and then brought back to life.

Zhang Gui felt a jolt in his heart, but outwardly remained calm and said:
"What are you talking about?"

Let's go inside the cabin and have some drinks and food.

After this grand ceremony, I don't know how many times I bowed and kowtowed; I'm starving.

Moreover.

After eating and drinking my fill, I still had to go back to town in the evening to scare the old clan head.

"Since he's planning to leave, he should get lost."

"Alright then." Chu Tuantuan smiled and went into the cabin with Zhang Gui. She took out several thin gold-plated books, similar to the "Northern Dipper Military Manual," from a cabinet against the cabin wall.

"Including today, I've heard you mutter about the manufacturing blueprints for the 'Ironwood Turtle Mechanical Ship,' which is only third-rate stuff in the 'Mechanical Creatures,' three times in total. How rare is that?"

It just so happens that the inner court assigned us, the "bureau chiefs" dispatched to the coastal areas, to test the construction of mechanical warships.

I've copied a few for you, so you can see the quality of these 'good stuff'.

So that the ruler of a nation wouldn't have such a short-sighted view.

"Oh my, this is a real treasure!" Zhang Gui's eyes lit up, and he grabbed the golden book on the table, eagerly taking a look.

But after a moment, a bitter expression appeared on his face.

"The stuff is really good, but it's 'you can see it but you can't eat it'."

Although the Ironwood Turtle mechanical ship was a third-rate thing, it was something that any craftsman in a regular shipyard could build, someone who had built three or four seagoing ships.

The materials used for the mechanism are nothing more than glue made from turtle shells, turtle skin, and turtle heart... Although collecting them is trivial, it is easy as long as you are willing to spend money.

But these "little treasures" in the "registration" you gave me, well, well, oh, you really did dig up some big treasures!

This 'Cloud Whale Kunpeng Ship' is just what I need!

"Which one?" Seeing Zhang Gui's surprise, Chu Tuantuan asked playfully.

“It’s this ‘Cloud Whale Kunpeng Ship’,” Zhang Gui said, pointing to the golden book he was flipping through.

"On my territory, True Dragon Island, there is a mysterious and profound place, the so-called 'Promised Land' given by the ancient Western gods."

Giant whales crash ashore every day, and roc birds fall to their deaths on the beach.

The remains I left behind were used to eat meat and render oil, but I might as well use some of them to build this 'Cloud Whale Kunpeng Ship'.

Haha, it just so happens that the "Creative Craftsmanship, Heavenly Gang, Peerless" technique on True Dragon Island recently helped me research a method for "perpetual" development.

No matter how difficult the shipbuilding process is, it can be easily achieved.

By the way, Brother Tuan Tuan, didn't the inner court order you to test-build warships?

If you allow 'outsourcing,' I'll build you ten or eight ships for free.

Let me show you my face.

Then, all the 'Cloud Whale Kunpeng Ships' manufactured by the True Dragon Kingdom in the future, whether for sale, armed transport, or war plunder, will be subject to these restrictions.

You will receive one percent of all profits.

The management will be incorporated into the 'National Merit Fund' that I am about to establish.

"Perpetual hereditary succession, sharing the fate of the nation."

(End of this chapter)