Chapter 806

Ge Yiren looked at the still-being-repaired Confucian academy, feeling satisfied.

Now, as a Grand Academician of the Hongwen Hall, and potentially entering the Grand Secretariat in the future, this was a sign of achieving a very high position.

It could be said that his purpose for coming to Qingzhou Province had been achieved.

However, he also knew very well that all this was given by Xiao Ming, and Xiao Ming could also take it away. To preserve all this, he had to fulfill his promise to the Emperor.

Yu Zhiyong and Ni Kuang scrutinized the hung plaque. The four gilded characters “Confucian Academy” were particularly striking.

Beside the two, Yan Zhengyi and Huang Yanqing frowned, wondering what these three intended.

Today, they were proclaiming the “Treatise on Celestial Bodies” in the East Market. The three, under the title of Grand Academicians of the Hongwen Hall, invited them to this Confucian academy.

“Grand Academician Ge, this is a Confucian academy. I wonder what your intention is in inviting us here a second time? We speak of celestial science, not Confucian classics,” Huang Yanqing was the first to speak.

Ge Yiren’s face was beaming. He said, “You two need not be anxious. Who says a Confucian academy cannot teach celestial science? My purpose in reopening the academy this time is to adapt to the times and harmonize with them.”

Yan Zhengyi and Huang Yanqing exchanged glances, becoming even more bewildered.

Yu Zhiyong was impatient. He directly said, “You two need not worry. We three are acting under orders and will not harm you. You just need to explain the ‘Treatise on Celestial Bodies’ to us, then we can also let the Confucian scholars in the academy shed the old and embrace the new.”

Huang Yanqing’s expression softened upon hearing this. He gradually understood. So he said, “That is possible. However, the Confucian scholars and merchants in the city are in chaos. Do the three Grand Confucian scholars not intend to manage them?”

Ge Yiren appeared confident. He said, “No need to manage, and cannot manage. I know these people very well. The more you pay attention to them, the more arrogant they become. Let them suffer a bit this time, and then they will reform and study New Confucianism with the three of us.”

“So that’s it.” Huang Yanqing looked at Ge Yiren. ‘This one is indeed as thick-skinned and cunning as the legends say,’ he thought. “If that’s the case, then we will not bother with this matter. Now, we will explain the ‘Treatise on Celestial Bodies’ in detail to the three Grand Academicians.”

Ge Yiren and the other two, being great Confucian scholars, were exceptionally intelligent. Once they accepted the “Treatise on Celestial Bodies,” they grasped it very quickly. After Yan Zhengyi and Huang Yanqing finished explaining, they basically understood.

The three then looked at the sun above their heads and sighed with emotion, “Truly, listening to your words for a while is better than reading books for ten years. So, what’s above our heads is just a big fireball, and the ‘heavenly dog eating the moon’ is actually just the moon being blocked.”

After a pause, he asked, “To enlighten the Confucian scholars, we need your two telescopes. We hope you two will cooperate, and also hope you can provide more examples to prove this.”

“Grand Academician Ge, rest assured. As long as you two can spread this among the Confucian scholars, we two will certainly speak freely,” Huang Yanqing said with some excitement.

In fact, common people and merchants were more likely to believe them, while Confucian scholars were reluctant to believe. Now that Ge Yiren had stepped forward, they were naturally happy to save themselves trouble.

Ge Yiren nodded. Although he had agreed to Xiao Ming this time, in his opinion, the promotion of New Confucianism was still arduous. This New Confucianism basically destroyed the foundation of old Confucianism.

So, in addition to having Yan Zhengyi and Huang Yanqing assist, he also planned to personally go to Qufu. As long as the Kong family agreed, the matter of New Confucianism would basically be settled.

Because the ultimate questions of Confucianism were answered by the Kong family. If the Kong family did not deny it, then whatever he said would be correct.

Thinking of this, he decided to make a trip to Qufu. However, he was not in a hurry to go. He was waiting for the day Jinzhou City would fall. This way, he believed his trip would be easier, and delaying for a while would be worth it.

At the same time.

The military machinery department dispatched a group of artisans to Pingzhou City. These artisans would be responsible for teaching about the new type of shells. After seven days of traveling, they arrived in Pingzhou City, bringing the first batch of shells and landmines to the army.

“New type of explosive shells!” Luo Xin’s eyes almost popped out when he heard the news.

He was from the artillery and cared deeply about artillery shells. The moment the people from the military machinery department arrived, he was the first to rush over, walking arm-in-arm with the artisans from the military machinery department, not at all like an army commander.

The artisan in charge of teaching said, “These explosive shells are different from the ones fired by mortars. They can be used directly with field cannons.”

Luo Xin, hearing this, was as anxious as if he were holding his urine, his heart pounding. He immediately pulled the artisan to the outskirts of the city for a demonstration.

At this point, Lu Fei and Lei Ming also arrived, gathering around to watch the spectacle.

Although the artisans from the military machinery department held no official rank or position, they were always highly respected in the military. Even the generals were polite, fearing to offend the people from the military machinery department and cause problems with their weapons.

Facing a group of famous Great Yu Empire generals, the artisan remained calm and composed. He had the artillery demonstrate the power of the new explosive shells.

When the explosive shells detonated in the distance, Luo Xin and the others immediately gasped in surprise. And when they witnessed the power of the landmines, they were so delighted they couldn’t stop smiling.

“Forget Jinzhou, I can take Shengdu as well!” Lu Fei laughed heartily.

Luo Xin sighed, “This military machinery department is truly impressive! They can even produce such cannonballs. But these cannonballs must be expensive, right?”

“That’s natural. The price of one fuse alone is equivalent to a previous cannonball. And because of the complex structure, the production speed isn’t fast. You should use them sparingly.”

Lei Ming said happily, “No fear! Once Jinzhou City falls, we’ll have as many slaves as we want. We won’t worry about manpower.”

“We don’t trust barbarian slaves. If they learn this, you’ll be in trouble,” the artisan shook his head.

The three exchanged glances upon hearing this.

Having verified the new ammunition, the three, on the next day, brought out the artillery and began training them to use explosive shells. At the same time, a reinforced company of over three hundred men was selected.

These soldiers were trained in laying landmines. They were responsible for secretly laying landmines at night to surprise and strike the barbarian cavalry.

A month later, the first batch of ammunition from the military machinery department arrived. After over a month of production, the military machinery department had manufactured 4,000 explosive shells and 3,500 landmines.

In this Battle of Jinzhou, they would unleash a barrage of solid shot and grapeshot.

On May 18th, the Battle of Jinzhou, delayed by a month, officially began.

That night, Lu Fei ordered his soldiers to lay landmine fields near Jinzhou City and also allocated explosive shells to the artillery specifically for dealing with cavalry.

After the three armies were integrated, the main army advanced towards Jinzhou. The region outside the pass, which had been peaceful for two months, was once again covered by the clouds of war.

Upon learning that the Great Yu Empire army had marched to Jinzhou, Wuzhugu and Beishan within Jinzhou both felt a pang in their hearts. The failure at Pingzhou City had made them no longer dare to underestimate this once weak enemy.

The novel has already been fully translated up to the final chapter. You can access it on my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/caleredhair