Chapter Fifty-One: Secret Talks

  "This, I don't know." Of course Xu Guangqi knew that Zhang Juzheng's reform had failed because of the old Zhu family emperor, but he didn't say it out loud.

  "Old sly head." The Tianqi Emperor laughed and scolded, continuing: "From Shang Yang's reform in the Qin dynasty to Wang Anshi's reform in the Song dynasty, and finally to Zhang Juzheng's reform in our own dynasty, which one of them was not ambitious and full of good strategies? But what about the outcome? The best result would be that the person dies but the policy remains, but most of them ended up with both the person and the policy dying. In these reforms, their failures all had a very important reason: they did not get the support of those in power. In the end, these people with grand visions mostly died with regret."

  Xu Guangqi agreed with and admired the words of Emperor Tianqi, but he could only think about it in his heart and couldn't say it out loud no matter what.

  "I am determined to reform and innovate, to change the laws and save this country from collapse. I will personally oversee this reform and not let others take the blame for me. I have prepared myself for the possibility of even if millions of people oppose me, I would rather die than yield. At this moment, the Tianqi Emperor is no longer the listless university student he once was, but a true descendant of the Huaxia nation, an emperor of the Great Ming, and an emperor who wants to become an unparalleled hero."

  "Although I am old, I still think I can do something for Your Majesty. I am willing to be a horseman in front of Your Majesty." Looking at Xu Guangqi kneeling on the ground, thinking of Zhou Jiamou yesterday, Emperor Tianqi knew that he was not alone in the fight, behind him were hundreds of millions of Chinese descendants, the backbone of China.

  "I have brought you here, naturally I won't let you come in vain. There are things I need to instruct you on. An old horse at the stable door still has a thousand miles to go, and besides, you're not that old yet. I naturally won't let you idle around." The Tianqi Emperor smiled as he pulled Xu Guangqi up from his knees. This old man was someone he valued most, without exception. Many things couldn't be done without him.

  "Although I have great ambitions and aspirations, to achieve them, some preparations are still needed. First of all, I need an army in my hands, a victorious army that can be commanded at will. This not only can intimidate the villains but also respond to various situations in time." The Tianqi Emperor revealed his inner thoughts to others for the first time, and personally, I can give him enough trust.

  Xu Guangqi finally understood the emperor's determination, and the previous sentence "it is better to perish as a nation" was not just talk. Preparing the army was for suppressing the rebellion. Since he had already made up his mind to judge, he naturally had prepared for the worst. If Xu Guangqi still had a hint of doubt in his heart earlier, now he completely trusted Emperor Tianqi and was ready to die for the country.

  "I don't know what arrangements Your Majesty has for me?" Xu Guangqi was almost unable to sit still, as he had too many ideas.

  "Before doing something, one must first sharpen his tools. I want to train a good army, and I must have good equipment. I know you are very familiar with Western things, and for this reason, you even converted to Christianity. I am delighted." I had always been suspicious of Xu Guangqi's original intention in converting to Christianity. Now it seems that this old man went there to learn from others.

  Seeing the Tianqi Emperor understand himself so well and being able to comprehend his own difficulties, Xu Guangqi had the feeling of meeting a kindred spirit for the first time. Although he was still willing to die for his country just a moment ago, now he has risen to the level of "a gentleman would die for one who understands him".

  "I am preparing to establish a department, specializing in the research and development of firearms and various inventions. Firstly, to provide support for my new army with firearms, and secondly, to hope that some beneficial things can be researched. However, this department is temporarily not open to the public, so you may not have any official title for now, but rest assured, once the day comes when we succeed, I will certainly make your name known and let you go down in history." At this time, Emperor Tianqi naturally understood that the development of firearms was the trend, and the long guns and big knives would eventually lose their effectiveness. Many European countries had already begun to form all-firearm troops. He not only wanted to catch up with them but also surpass them.

  "I naturally wouldn't care about some empty titles, I just don't know what this department of yours is called?" Xu Guangqi smiled slightly and said nonchalantly.

  After a moment's hesitation, I thought of the name and said to Xu Guangqi: "This department will be called the Firearms Factory for the time being. You can go and be the factory director first."

  Two flowers bloomed, each representing a branch. It was during the time when Emperor Tianqi succeeded Xu Guangqi that an ordinary-looking event occurred within the imperial palace. Nobody noticed it, and not many people understood its significance. The entire imperial palace seemed to be unaffected by this incident.

  This is a small courtyard, compared to other palaces in the imperial palace, it is much inferior, but it has a unique charm. This courtyard was originally a place where Emperor Wanli liked to stay, and now it is inhabited by a woman, a woman in her thirties. She is not an empress of Emperor Taichang, nor a palace maid, her identity is very special, she is the wet nurse of Emperor Tianqi, she is the famous Ke Shi.

  Because Tianqi Emperor was still the crown prince last time, he fainted from being scared. Guest lady has been in seclusion to atone for her sins ever since. In name, it is to atone for her sins, but whether or not it's just a show for outsiders is unknown.

  In the bedroom of Guest, Guest was dating a man, or rather, a eunuch, who was Wei Chao, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Censorate and the supervisor of the Eastern Depot. The two seemed to have just done some intense exercise and were both panting slightly. Their relationship was not a secret in the imperial palace, even Emperor Tianqi knew about it. Moreover, at that time, this kind of phenomenon was very common in the Ming dynasty's imperial palace, and no one would dare to offend these two people for no reason. After all, Guest was like a mother to Emperor Tianqi, and Wei Chao was a highly trusted eunuch by the emperor; offending them would only lead to trouble.

  After everything was settled, Wei Chao gently wrapped the woman in his arms. This seemed to satisfy a man's desire. He had obtained power for himself, and this woman slightly made up for some of his own regrets. In this life, there should be no more regrets.

  "These days the emperor hasn't come to see me, it seems he has forgotten about me." With a soft sigh, Ke's voice was somewhat desolate, as if full of grievances.

  "Your Majesty asked about you a few days ago, and knowing that you were in seclusion, he didn't come to disturb you. Don't think too much, His Majesty has just ascended the throne, there are many things to attend to." Wei Zhao comforted with a slight frown. These words had already overstepped the bounds of propriety, but since they were in a place where no one could overhear them, the two naturally didn't have any reservations.

  Today's first chapter seeks recommendations and various requests