Chapter 1368
Again, they're using His Majesty's name to do their bidding.
Chapter 1368 Again, they're using His Majesty's name to do their bidding.
"The total cotton reserves are..."
"The total amount of medicinal materials from the major pharmacies is..."
Lord Yan reviewed the accounts and announced the stock of various necessities in the capital city, which greatly reassured the public.
Upon hearing this, the Wei people raised their voices: "So our capital city has so many supplies! We have nothing to worry about. We'll eat our fill, and when the enemy comes, we'll just kill them!"
That's a one-sided view.
Having enough food is not enough to fight a war.
However, the Q&A session started off very well, which reassured and boosted morale.
Next, the King of Ye will have to answer a rather troublesome question.
For example, when will the enemy troops reach the capital city?
When will the imperial court's new reinforcements arrive?
How are sharp weapons manufactured? Which faction is primarily responsible for their production?
What is the situation regarding the epidemic prevention isolation zone in the western part of the city?
Is it safer to flee the city or to stay close to the city walls of the capital?
This?
Well, it's hard to say.
Therefore, when Madam Guan and Qin Xiaomi came out, they first answered the question about the production of weapons, because food and weapons are the two great treasures for boosting morale.
Show off the treasures first, then show the shortcomings, so that everyone won't be too discouraged.
Boom boom boom!
"Chief Shanshan, come on, let's set off some fireworks to liven things up!" Qin Xiaomi shouted.
The leader of the Shanshan clan, dressed in crimson armor, led a team of female guards up to the high platform. They took out small wooden tubes, each about two inches wide, arranged them, and then lit a fire.
With a hissing sound, the fuses of the three small tubes were lit. After the fuses burned out, a lot of smoke came out of the small tubes, and the tubes shook as if something was about to rush out.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh, bang bang bang!
A fireball shot into the sky and exploded with a bang, creating fireworks the size of tables.
"Look, it's ironwork fireworks! It's ironwork fireworks, it's so beautiful!"
"Forget about the iron sparks, these sparks are sharp weapons!"
"This is a powerful weapon? It's not very good. It's just sparks from firing iron. How can this kill the enemy?!"
Qin Xiaomi, who was being questioned: "..."
"Come on, let's go to the designated spot and unleash a powerful weapon to show them its might."
"Yes." Leader Shanshan and her group, carrying gunpowder bags, went to the place they had agreed upon with Wei Jun and lit one of the gunpowder bags.
It weighs one pound.
Boom—!
A flash of light and a deafening roar echoed through the air. The timid were so frightened that they quickly crouched down, leaving a large empty space in the crowd.
"Fellow villagers, do you see this? This is the Heavenly Thunder Weapon that can kill the enemy!" Qin Xiaomi said, "The government army has already set aside a place for the female soldiers to produce weapons. As long as we have enough weapons, and with the easy-to-defend and difficult-to-attack city walls of the capital as our support, we can wear down the enemy army in the Eastern Desert even if we have to wait it out!"
"An army of hundreds of thousands, along with their warhorses, needs food and water. Not only will their food supplies run out, but their water sources could be depleted. They can't fight a protracted war. But we have cities, abundant supplies, and the Central Plains, Lingnan, Jianghuai, and Jiangnan prefectures, the capital region, and His Majesty as our backers. So as long as we hold our ground, we can win this war!" Why aren't you mentioning our Northwest? Or do you think our situation in the Northwest is bad, and mentioning it would affect morale?
Regardless, the morale of the Wei people soared after the supplies and weapons were displayed, but the same problem remained...
"Is the production of sharp weapons managed by the Qin family? Are those sharp weapons considered the Qin family's private property?"
Boom boom boom!
"These weapons are not the private property of the Qin family. They will never belong to any one person or family. They are public assets, belonging to the nation, and are only used to resist foreign enemies. If any family or individual ever takes possession of these weapons or uses them to cause chaos on our homeland, their entire family will be torn apart and die, and their infamy will last for ten thousand years!" Qin Xiaomi uttered this vicious oath again.
"Since weapons are public assets, their production should be the responsibility of the government and military!" someone started to protest. "But what you're implying is that you, Qin Dongjia, are still in charge of producing weapons. That's not reasonable, is it?"
"Ha," Qin Xiaomi sneered, "I am now a registered female soldier in the camp, so I am representing the Wei army in the production of weapons."
Hey, I've joined the army, didn't expect that, did you?
"Furthermore, I will temporarily be in charge of managing the production of these weapons to ensure that the secret formula is not leaked. Otherwise, with so many people around, if the formula is leaked to the enemy, will you take responsibility with your heads? But I, Qin Su, and the entire Qin family, the Jiang family, and the Guan family, the grandmother of the King of Ye, will take responsibility with our heads!"
"If you don't have the ability to take responsibility, get out of here and shut up. I don't want to waste my breath!"
Qin Xiaomi was really annoyed and didn't want to keep repeating the same old things.
You, you, you... are you even a proper young lady? You're more like a female bandit!
The people making a scene were pointing at her, very dissatisfied, but they were afraid of dying and dared not risk their entire clan's lives to guarantee it... Moreover, they had a premonition that if they dared to make any promises, this Qin Dongjia would definitely send people to keep a close watch on their family, making it impossible for them to escape.
Madam Guan also spoke up, holding up her title of Princess and saying, "I am the grandmother of the Prince of Ye, the former Princess of Ye, and the Princess of Great Wei, bestowed by His Majesty Emperor Taizong. I will work with Master Qin to oversee the production of these weapons. If any mistakes are made, my entire family will be torn apart by the Wei people, and I will not utter a single complaint!"
Ah this?
"Grandmother, your grandson is unfilial!" King Ye cried out in grief.
Well, some people look down on his behavior, while others are moved by it.
After the Prince of Ye finished his performance, Qin Xiaomi called out, "Ye Xifen, bring up the female physician bestowed by His Majesty!"
"Yes!" Ye Xifen, dressed in crimson armor, led the female physicians bestowed upon Qin Xiaomi by Emperor Wuxing to the high platform, along with a group of female assassins and guards given by Madam Guan, numbering about two hundred.
Qin Xiaomi said, "These are female healers bestowed upon me by His Majesty because of my merits. They come from the palace and are His Majesty's people. They will be in charge of the core production of the weapons! No one is more trustworthy than them!"
Qi Tianshi glanced at her: You're using His Majesty's name to do things again?
Madam Guan and Aunt Alan also came out and talked about a series of matters concerning the supervision of these female workers and the prevention of leaks.
"In short, it's very safe now. Whoever can come up with a more rigorous production model, I'll entrust the production of this weapon to them!" Qin Xiaomi glanced around and asked, "Mr. Wen Tao, how about your company take charge of producing this weapon?"
"No, no, the production of such weapons should be the responsibility of the imperial court and His Majesty. The Wen family is merely a commoner of Wei, and we dare not touch such weapons of the nation." Wen Tao spoke very politely, but in his heart he was cursing Qin Xiaomi to the point of madness.
Daughter of the Qin family, I've always treated your family well, so why do you have to target me? Are you just targeting people you know?!
Qin Xiaomi smiled and let Wen Tao go, then asked the others, "Does anyone have any objections? State your family name, and I'll discuss it with you!"
What nonsense! You've already brought up Emperor Wuxing and the female physician from the palace. In the entire capital city, which other family has such power that can rival yours?
Yes, there are. The Wei army had the power and qualifications to seize control of the production of these weapons.
Unfortunately, General Chu was useless; he didn't utter a sound!
Many people were giving General Chu meaningful glances, signaling him to come out and speak.
General Chu: Stop winking, it's useless. We've already discussed it. Moreover, His Majesty will feel more at ease having the production of such a powerful weapon in the hands of a woman from the Qin family than in the hands of a Wei general like me.