Chapter Two: When the Whistling Arrow Sounds

“These two troublemakers are no easy match!” Listening to the footsteps fading into the distance, Zhang Qian closed the window and shook his head gently.

Zhou Jianliang was determined to bring back more alcohol to the Shuofang Army, while Guo Nu, aware of the true production capacity of the Gunpowder Department, genuinely wanted to help him. However, as the newly appointed chief clerk of the Gunpowder Department, Guo Nu neither dared nor found it appropriate to suddenly double the gunpowder output at the very start of his tenure.

Especially since the previous chief clerk was his senior brother and direct superior, Guo Nu had to tread carefully. Thus, today, he and Zhou Jianliang tacitly agreed to clash, putting on a display for Zhang, the newly promoted deputy director.

This way, the loser could claim their skills were inferior and had no choice but to make their craftsmen work overtime to fulfill promises. The winner, meanwhile, could take away twice the amount of “gunpowder” initially approved and feel justified.

Once Zhou Jianliang left, the Gunpowder Department’s capacity would revert to about ten thousand catties per month. Should anyone else want to force the department into overtime like Zhou did, they would first have to knock down Chief Clerk Guo Nu with their fists.

Both men were clever and knew how to hold back to avoid putting the new deputy director in a difficult position. But none of them considered that Zhou Jianliang’s sudden withdrawal of twenty thousand catties of “gunpowder” would leave the Shenlong Emperor in the palace wide awake with worry.

Ten days ago, when the Shenlong Emperor overheard Zhang Qian mention that the Gunpowder Department was under the protection of the Daming Palace, he had immediately ordered the Armory Bureau to relocate entirely to the imperial garden of Weiyang Palace outside the city within a month, citing “military secrets requiring protection from outsiders.”

He even generously allocated a quarter of the imperial garden, including its palaces and pavilions, to the Armory Bureau. (In the Tang dynasty, Weiyang Palace was a vast royal garden stretching thirty li east to west and twenty li north to south, with the Imperial Forest Guards stationed there year-round.)

“Phew—” Thinking of Li Xian’s suspicious, capricious nature and deep insecurity, Zhang Qian set down the third newly assembled alcohol furnace and exhaled deeply.

That day, despite being refuted by Sha Chongyi, Lu Ting, and Jiang An one after another, their insinuations planted a thorn in Li Xian’s heart. Though Li Xian publicly promoted Zhang Qian several ranks, he discreetly barred him from entering the court in the near future.

The deputy director of the Armory Bureau was a fifth-rank official, and there was also a fourth-rank honorary doctor. The imperial favor bestowed upon Zhang Qian that day was unparalleled, enough to reward his gifts of windmills, wells, and his life-saving efforts.

However, unlike the former deputy director Zuo Cheng, who concurrently held a lower-ranking position in the Ministry of War, Zhang Qian was a genuine deputy director, solely managing the Departments of Armor, Crossbows, and Gunpowder, without the burden of other affairs.

In other words, although the Shenlong Emperor Li Xian deeply appreciated Zhang Qian’s bravery in diverting the rampaging giraffe and admired his formidable skills in producing alcohol, windmills, and wells, he did not consider Zhang qualified to enter the court and partake in national policy decisions. So, he handed the entire Armory Bureau over to him, letting the deputy director freely experiment.

If he messed up, the Tang dynasty would at most lose a few tens of thousands of strings of cash, hardly shaking its foundation. But if he succeeded in creating weapons more powerful than gunpowder, the entire court would surely acclaim: “The emperor knows how to recognize and employ talent!”

Moreover, Zhang Qian was unlikely to recklessly waste effort or abandon his post. Just six days prior, the chief director of the Armory Bureau retired citing old age, and the new director was customarily the deputy minister of war, Zhang Shuo, who had once recommended Zhang Qian.

“No need to hold a concurrent post as a doctor—I'm happy to have some leisure!” Zhang Qian arranged three newly assembled small copper hot pots in a row, shook his head, and began assembling a fourth.

Nine days ago, upon realizing that his predecessor Zuo Cheng had an additional concurrent fifth-rank medical officer position, Zhang Qian admired Li Xian’s imperial strategy but couldn’t help feeling a pang of bitterness.

However, after some reflection, having more money, fewer responsibilities, a high rank, and no worries about being caught slacking by superiors was exactly what he had dreamed of.

As for participating in national decision-making, even if he attended court as a medical officer in the Ministry of War, who would take his words seriously?

Without seniority, backing, or factional ties, his presence in court would amount to nothing more than sitting idly by the door.

Besides, with the current turmoil in the Tang dynasty unlikely to end before the death of Emperor Li Xian, frequent court appearances would only jeopardize his safety. Better to quietly stay in the Armory Bureau, leading a team of craftsmen considered “national treasures,” developing new products, and earning some side income.

Of course, while making money, it would be even better to find a way to annul the ruby maiden’s engagement.

This year, the Tubo king was only four years old, and marrying a bride thirteen years his senior was absurd. The vast age gap, differing beliefs, and dietary habits would surely lead to mutual disdain. It would be better to find him a bride from the Turkic or Uighur peoples, whose worldviews aligned more closely for meaningful companionship.

But to erase the ruby maiden’s engagement, Zhang Qian’s gifts of windmills, wells, and diverting the giraffe would not suffice.

Even Yang Lin, the imperial attendant, could not change this; certainly, the deputy director of the Armory Bureau could not.

Therefore, Zhang Qian had to quickly find external support. This support had to be someone who could instill confidence in the Shenlong Emperor and assure him the military veterans would not worry about Tubo invasions.

So far, Zhang Qian had no connections with any military veterans. Although his cologne business had rapidly expanded with the full backing of the Ren and Guo families, the influential shareholders of the Six Gods Trading Company were still limited to the three original noble houses that had collaborated on distributing “miraculous medicines.” The depth of their entanglement with him did not yet warrant risking everything to defend Zhang Qian.

From his private investigations, Zhang Qian learned that the Bao, Kui, and Qiao noble houses held no sway in the Tang military. The first-generation Bao Duke Duan Zhixuan died early, and his descendants withdrew from military affairs by his will. The other two houses had only recently regained honor under Li Xian’s guidance two years ago and had yet to establish significant influence.

Thus, after careful consideration, Zhang Qian realized his only option to expand his network was the Shuofang Army.

Currently, the Tang dynasty faced no conflicts in the east, south, or west. Only in the north did the Turks revive their ambitions, repeatedly attempting to cross the Yellow River to seize Yunzhong as a foothold for further southern invasions. The Shuofang Army, commanded by the resolute Captain Zhou Jianliang, stood as a barrier to their advance.

Following constant internal strife during Empress Wu’s reign, renowned generals like Xu Shiji and Cheng Mingzhen, along with their loyalists, were either annihilated or exiled to the pestilent Lingnan regions. The Tang army’s combat effectiveness had greatly diminished. Meanwhile, the Turkic tribes, led by Khagan Motuo and Ashina Huan, grew increasingly formidable with each battle.

Now, both sides repeatedly contested several natural fords at the Yellow River’s great bend. Although the Tang army still claimed the majority of victories, dreaming of replicating the legendary captures of enemy chiefs by generals like Li Jing and Xu Shiji was folly.

Especially in winter, when the Yellow River froze, the Turks could split their forces for surprise attacks anytime, while the Shuofang Army struggled with an overstretched defensive line, always on the back foot.

Zhang Renyuan, the grand commander of Shuofang, had petitioned the court multiple times to concentrate all northern forces for a decisive battle against the Turks, but Li Xian rejected these requests, citing the empty state treasury and inability to support excessive troops. Helpless, Zhang petitioned for funds to build forts along the Yellow River to guard key points, but the court delayed any response.

“Guarding a treasure trove yet unable to raise money even for fortifications—how unjust!” Zhang Qian smiled suddenly as he placed the fourth assembled small copper hot pot alongside the first three and turned to check on the iron stove simmering chicken soup near the window.

The stove, forged from wrought iron, was a crude, ugly contraption hastily made by craftsmen due to unresolved issues with thinning wrought iron and chimney rolling.

Yet its ungainly appearance did not diminish its function. Especially with fragrant wood charcoal supplied to officials burning inside, it not only heated the entire room but also satisfied the new deputy director’s appetite.

The copper hot pots were gifts intended for commanders like Zhang Renyuan, and served as a ruse to strengthen ties. Today, what Zhang truly wanted Zhou Jianliang to notice and covet was this ugly stove.

Its simple craftsmanship and low cost made it ideal for mass production. Once introduced into the Shuofang Army, it would immediately solve the soldiers’ long-standing winter cold problem.

If this device spread throughout northern Tang, the Shuofang garrison would instantly become a gold mine.

Asia’s largest open-pit coalfield, the Zhunge’er Coalfield, lay right beneath the Shuofang soldiers’ feet, shallow enough that floods could wash coal onto the surface.

As for labor, since the Turks had already crossed the Yellow River, they couldn’t be allowed to come and go as they pleased. Instead of killing every captured prisoner, it was better to put them to work mining coal.

Adjacent to the coalfield flowed the Yellow River. With the current abundant water level, except for the Hukou Waterfall, most sections were navigable by boat.

“When boats loaded with coal sail downstream, ha…” Imagining the once impoverished Shuofang Army transformed into the richest force in Tang, the gloom vanished from Zhang Qian’s face.

By then, even if Zhang Renyuan were unwilling to speak on his behalf, other officers in the Shuofang Army would not forget who had guided them. Moreover, after coal reached the confluence of the Wei and Yellow Rivers, monetizing it would certainly require a knowledgeable buyer!