Chapter 65: Dai Zi

  Before noon, the sound of horseshoes like thunder had already spread over, and Yinzhen's group of more than 600 riders rushed to the Reception Pavilion in an instant. The officials who came to welcome them all knelt down to ask for imperial peace. Yinzhen had already noticed Zhang Mengjiao from a distance, and seeing that she actually ran to welcome him, he was both amused and affectionate in his heart. This wife is indeed different from others. After the ceremony was over, he beckoned to Zhang Mengjiao to come over. Since she had come, there was no need to hide, so he let her meet the officials of Shanghai in a grand and open manner.

  Many officials and dignitaries saw this situation and were shocked, thinking that the 14th prince, Beile Yinzhen, was even more outrageous than his wife. You two can be affectionate, but there's no need to be so reckless in front of us; after we leave, you two can do whatever you want, why show off like this in front of us?

  Depressed and returned depressed, after Zhang Mengjiao gave a courtesy to Yin Zhen and stood up, the officials had no choice but to ask for peace and courtesy from Zhang Mengjiao. Before they could stand up, they heard a neat and uniform sound, which was more than 400 riders behind Yin Zhen dismounting to ask for peace from Zhang Mengjiao. The action was so neat that it seemed like one person, making everyone secretly amazed, and at this moment, everyone's attention was focused on these guards.

  These attendants were dressed in bright and elegant attire, with tall and majestic horses. Zhu Yan Zhi, as the governor of Liangjiang, had a broader perspective than these officials, and he immediately noticed that more than half of them wore either yellow or red sashes around their waists. He was shocked in his heart. These were all imperial clansmen, over 200 people, who seemed to show utmost respect towards Yin Zhen. Were they from the Naval Academy? What kind of naval academy was this - a noble naval academy? A royal naval academy?

  Bai Lihua, as the deputy head of the Shanghai Missionary Society, was also among those welcoming them. Seeing this scene, he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. No wonder the Mongolian cavalry was able to sweep across Europe back then; the eastern cavalry's military discipline is indeed impressive and lives up to its reputation.

  Knowing that Yongzheng dislikes official socializing, Zhu Yanqi didn't bother with the usual welcoming and farewell formalities. After a brief exchange of pleasantries with the officials, Yongzheng returned to Liuchun Garden, washed up, and Hai Feng came over to pay his respects.

  Yin Zhen smiled and said: "So urgent, is it a tricky matter?"

  "Thanks for the blessing, everything is in order now." Hai Feng smiled and replied, "Dai Zi has already arrived in Shanghai. When he heard that you were back, he insisted on coming to pay his respects and has been waiting for half a day."

  "Oh, he's finally here." Yongzheng smiled and said, "Let him in."

  Dai Yi came with his four sons. For several months, he had been pondering, and when Hai Feng brought him a letter for the first time, he attached the original words that Yin Zhen had prepared to secretly take his family back to Shanghai. Moreover, Yin Zhen not only sent silver but also arranged for people to persuade him from top to bottom, exempting his family from labor pains. At that time, he was extremely moved and saw the hope of returning to his hometown. Indeed, within less than half a year, he received an edict ordering him to go to Shanghai to serve under the 14th prince, Yin Zhen.

  He had a bumpy life, rising and falling because of firearms. He knew that this time returning to Shanghai was also due to firearms. Upon arriving in Shanghai, he found it to be true. Recalling the tactics of Kangxi's "killing the donkey after crossing the river", he felt a chill run down his spine. Secretly, he made up his mind to cling tightly to Yin Zhen's thigh. At his age, he couldn't withstand any more turmoil.

  Yi Zhongmen didn't say a word as soon as he entered, and brought his four sons to kneel down and kowtow several times. Yongzheng hurriedly got up to support him, "It's good that you've come, quickly get up, all of you are excused."

  Dai Zi struggled to get up, then bowed deeply and said, "Fourteenth Master, your great kindness and virtue, my Dai family of over a hundred people will never forget for generations to come. This life is enough for me to return to my hometown, I am willing to dedicate the rest of my life to you, Dai Zi is willing to lead his whole family to surrender to you and be slaves for generations."

  Generations as slaves, that's just being a slave, Yin Zhen thought for a moment and understood Dai Zi's mind. His family was originally exiled to Liaodong, serving as slaves for the soldiers with armor, Kangxi's imperial edict was to transfer his family to serve under him, still as slaves, he was willing to be a slave, first out of gratitude, second also fearing being exiled again to Liaodong.

  Thinking that such a talented person as him had fallen to this point, Yin Zhen also sighed endlessly. He was about to comfort him with some kind words, but then he thought that such a talented person in firearms could only have the opportunity to display his talents under his own command, so he didn't pretend and nodded his head, saying: "Move your Longsun family back to Hangzhou to multiply and thrive, and the others will follow me. I won't humiliate the young masters of the Dai family again."

  Dai Zijun had experienced many ups and downs, and after hearing this, he knew that Yin Zheng was doing it to relieve the worries of his family's prosperity. He was extremely grateful and immediately brought his four sons to pay their respects and acknowledge their master.

  Dai Zhi got up, and then asked: "Was everything smooth on your way south?"

  "I have returned to serve you, Master." Di Zong bowed his head and saluted, "When I received the imperial edict, it was already snowing heavily in Guandong, so we couldn't set out. We had to wait until spring arrived before my family and I could take a boat south. The journey was very smooth, and the people who came to greet us took good care of us. I thank you, Master, for your great kindness."

  Yin Zhen slightly furrowed his brow, knowing that he had been greatly traumatized and had developed a cautious personality. He didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Your strengths lie in mechanics and firearms. From now on, you will be in charge of technical guidance at my foundry and firearms factory. Also, I have some ideas about firearms and cannons. This fire lance gun barrel can be engraved with rifling, I wonder if cannons can also be engraved with rifling? Try it out when you get back."

  As soon as he heard the sound of gunfire, Dai Zi's eyes lit up immediately. "This should be feasible, how come I didn't think of this problem before? I'll go back and try it out, where is the artillery?"

  When mentioning firearms, Dai Mu forgot even the etiquette of superior and inferior officials, and couldn't help but secretly laugh. This was also a research madman. He smiled and said, "You go back and try it out, if there's any progress, notify me immediately. I don't have gunpowder now, but you have iron and craftsmen, you can cast it yourself, just be careful."

  After Dai Di walked away, he said to Hai Feng: "You go and get a good understanding of the young people in the Dai family, cultivate them according to their interests and hobbies, and those who don't have any special talents can be assigned to my personal guard."

  "I'll repay Master Dai's great kindness on behalf of the slave." Hai Feng's face turned red with excitement as he listened, and the Dai family was about to turn their fortunes around.

  As soon as Hai Feng went out the door, Zhang Mengjiao walked in with a bit of embarrassment.

  Yu Zhen smiled and said: "What? Missing me? It's not the right time now. Tonight, I'll pamper you well."

  "Die for you." Zhang Mengjiao's face suddenly flushed with two red clouds, and she lightly spat out: "You men are never serious."

  "Can't even be serious with his own wife, is he still a man?" Yunzhen chuckled and leaned in.

  Zhang Mengjiao hastily waved her hands in surrender, "Master, tonight, okay? I'm here to discuss serious business."