The Great Ming Demon Pill: Your Majesty, please address me as the Crown Prince!

Ten days later.

Inside Nanjing, a wooden platform was erected early outside the "Qingluan Workshop," adorned with red decorations.

Zhu Zhanjun ordered his men to neatly arrange more than ten brand-new "Qingluan" bicycles on the platform, which gleamed in the morning light.

The news had already spread, and many wealthy young men, merchants, scholars, and even curious ordinary people crowded around the area.

A middle-aged man who looked like a shopkeeper jumped onto the stage, cleared his throat, and said loudly:

"Ladies and gentlemen! The 'Azure Phoenix' bicycle is officially on sale today!"

"This vehicle requires no animal power; it can travel dozens of miles a day simply by pedaling. It is lightweight and effortless, making it an excellent choice for travel, outings, and visiting friends!"

The audience immediately began to murmur amongst themselves, with many craning their necks to get a better look.

The shopkeeper then announced the price:

"Based on the materials and craftsmanship, the 'Azure Phoenix' is divided into three grades!"

"Superior carriage: The frame is forged from fine iron, the rims are wrapped in copper, the tires are made of double-layered thickened rubber, the seat cushions are made of soft leather, and it is decorated with copper bells and lacquer paintings. Price: Eighty strings of Yongle Tongbao coins!"

"Medium-sized carriage: frame made of wrought iron, tin-plated rims, standard rubber tires, seat made of linen lined with cotton. Price: fifty strings of Yongle Tongbao coins!"

"Lower-class carriage: The frame is made of hardwood covered with iron, the rims are not rimmed, the tires are made of thin rubber, and the seat is made of hardwood. Price: Twenty strings of Yongle Tongbao coins!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the audience erupted in uproar.

"Eighty taels?! That's enough to buy a good horse!"

"Fifty taels isn't cheap... but it certainly looks rare!"

"Twenty taels would be barely enough, but can this wooden frame be sturdy?"

The shopkeeper had anticipated this, and with a chuckle, he gestured for a young servant to bring out a medium-sized carriage for a demonstration.

A young servant nimbly boarded the carriage and circled it several times in the open space in front of the stage, sometimes taking one hand off the handlebars and sometimes accelerating and making sharp turns, eliciting gasps of surprise.

He then had two strong men each ride a lower-class vehicle, carrying half a bag of rice, back and forth. The vehicles were sturdy and not loose at all.

"Please take a look, everyone!" the shopkeeper exclaimed. "Although the initial investment for the 'Azure Phoenix' is slightly higher, it requires no fodder, no stable, takes up little space, and is easy to maintain. If a chariot can be used for five years, the annual cost will only amount to a few strings of Yongle Tongbao coins, which is much more economical than raising horses! Moreover, this is a rare item unique to the Ming Dynasty; what a sight it would be to ride it!"

These words immediately piqued the interest of many wealthy young men.

Eighty strings of cash may be expensive, but as a status symbol, it's worth it!

A middle-class carriage cost fifty strings of cash, which was not difficult for even well-off scholars and merchants to afford.

As for the lower-class carriage costing twenty strings of cash, some small and medium-sized merchants and government officials also considered that if it could really be used for transportation and sending messages, it would indeed be worthwhile in the long run.

Soon, several young men in fine clothes squeezed to the front of the stage, pointing to the first-class carriage: "Boss, I want this one! Cash!"

After saying this, he had his attendants carry a wooden box, which was filled with Yongle Tongbao coins.

The shopkeeper beamed and personally handed over the car keys tied with a red ribbon.

Immediately afterwards, orders poured in.

In less than an hour, more than ten exhibition vehicles were sold out, and the workshop received deposits that filled several large boxes.

The servants were busy registering and making records, their faces beaming with joy.

When the news spread, a "Blue Phoenix" craze swept through Nanjing.

Young people can often be seen riding bicycles around town, attracting onlookers and envy.

In teahouses and taverns, discussing bicycle prices, models, and riding skills has become a new trend.

Several silk shops and restaurant owners even commissioned "Qingluan" carriages bearing their own business names, using them as both transportation and mobile signs.

Taking advantage of the momentum, the shopkeeper opened a "cycling school" next to the workshop, offering free lessons in balance skills and promising a "three-year warranty and free replacement of rubber tires" to further dispel any concerns.

In less than half a month, the name "Qingluan" had spread throughout Jiangnan, and orders poured in from Suzhou, Hangzhou and other places.

..................

Bowen Pavilion.

Zhu Yi, Li Heng, and a group of other noble sons surrounded Zhu Zhanjun, all beaming with excitement.

Li Heng said, "Your Highness, you may not know, but these 'Azure Phoenixes' have become the most fashionable item in Nanjing these days!"

"These young masters on the street, if they don't own a 'Azure Phoenix' car, they'd be too embarrassed to even greet people!"

Zhu Yi immediately chimed in, nodding repeatedly, "Yes, Your Highness, we've all benefited from your kindness!"

"Now, when people mention that you invented the 'Azure Phoenix,' everyone gives you a thumbs up! Everyone says that although His Highness Prince Huai is young, he is a genius, capable of creating such an ingenious object!"

Zhang Mao chuckled and added, "It's more than just admiration! My father was just saying the other day that His Highness, at his age, can both quell the Japanese pirates and build new carriages, and he's even thinking about leading us brothers to get rich together. It's truly... truly..."

Liu Zhong replied憨憨地, "It's benevolence and righteousness! Your Highness is benevolent and righteous!"

The crowd burst into laughter and agreed.

Zheng Yu squeezed forward.

"Your Highness, we are now among the earliest and best riders of the 'Azure Phoenix' in Nanjing!"

"Just two days ago, we formed a 'Wind Chaser Riding Club,' which only accepts children with excellent riding skills and similar family backgrounds. Ordinary people can't even get in!"

Upon hearing this, Li Heng's face lit up even more, and he eagerly exclaimed, "Yes, yes, yes! This 'Wind Chaser Riding Club' is in high demand right now!"

"Our rules state that to join the society, one not only needs a noble family title or an official rank of at least the third grade, but also the ability to ride a 'Blue Phoenix' across a single-plank bridge and navigate around a figure-eight stake without falling over! Just this one requirement eliminates countless people!"

"These days, all the sons of noble families in Nanjing consider it an honor to be in our circle! Yesterday, the young man from the Rongguo Duke's family pestered me for ages, wanting me to introduce him!"

Zhu Yi also laughed and said, "In our circle, this is now one of a kind."

"They would usually meet up to race by the lake or go for a spring outing on the official road outside the city. The spectacle was quite impressive! Many people would gather around to watch."

"Your Highness, why don't you join us? We'll definitely follow your lead."

Everyone looked at each other.

Zhang Mao, Zheng Yu, Liu Zhong, and Li Heng all nodded, their eyes fixed intently on Zhu Zhanjun.

Zhu Zhanjun touched his chin.

Is your cycling community chaotic?

"If it's messy, I'll add it."

[Ding! You have obtained a silver treasure chest!]

Everyone: "?"