Chapter 169: The Deity Wants a Gunpowder Maker
Chapter 165 of "The Great Ming in the Box" begins unfolding events: Xing Honglang woke early.Sleeping on the hard, cold plastic floor was anything but comfortableâit was... Continue reading!
Xing Honglang woke early.Sleeping on the hard, cold plastic floor was anything but comfortableâit was a wonder she didnât wake even earlier.
She sat up and found a quilt draped over her. It felt odd. Which subordinate had covered their mistress with a blanket but failed to move her back to bed? Did they have shit for brains? Utterly clueless about caring for others.
Knocking her head throbbing from a hangover, she scrambled to her feet and yelled casually, âOld Zhu, Old Zhang! Who the hellâs awake? Fetch your mistress some water!â
No one answered!
All the salt smugglers were sound asleep in their beds.
Xing Honglang circled the room. Seeing every subordinate sleeping like hogs, she resigned herself to getting water. Pouring a cup single-handedly, she drank it down before stumbling out of the plastic mansion.
Outside, daylight already flooded the area.
Just as usual, the villagers of Gaojia Village had begun their industrious labors: some engaged in road construction, others sawing wood. Meanwhile, the hundred or so militiamen drilled formations beside the main fortress.
Passing through clusters of plastic houses, she noticed âinns,â âtaverns,â âmarkets,â and âbrothelsâ all standing empty. Unable to hold back, she muttered aloud, âSuch a fine place with plenty of people, yet not a single merchant? Absolutely ridiculous.â
âDoes Miss Xing feel it too is amiss?â Thirty-Two emerged from a plastic structure resembling a âbookshopâ ahead and smiled at her. âMiss Xing has seen the worldâtraveling widely, trading everywhere. In matters of commerce, you must have extensive knowledge and experience.â
Xing Honglang replied, âMhm!â
Thirty-Two asked humbly, âIn Miss Xingâs opinion, does our Gaojia Village now meet the conditions to establish a market?â
Xing Honglang snapped, âIsnât that obvious? Gaojia Village must have surpassed a thousand residents! Look aroundâcolorful houses surround the main fortress everywhere. This is no longer a village; itâs a town! Have you ever seen a town without merchants?â
Thirty-Two tilted his head thoughtfully before smiling. âQuite right. A town devoid of merchants does seem bizarre. Hence, Iâm pondering how to stimulate Gaojia Villageâs commerce.â
Xing Honglang chuckled knowingly. âI know exactly why itâs lacking.â
Thirty-Two pressed, âI am all ears.â
Xing Honglang explained, âYour village provides wages too comprehensivelyâdistributing grain, salt, oil, sugar⌠practically everything. What need have people for commerce? They consume their rations and sell any surplus even to me!â
The logic was undeniable. Thirty-Two flushed awkwardly. âThat was during Gaojia Villageâs infancy, when the Deity distributed necessities due to the absence of commerce. I seeâtime to adjust: carpenters receive only grain, no salt; blacksmiths only salt, no grain⌠compensated with increased quantities.â
Xing Honglang snorted approvingly. âScholarsâ minds work swiftly.â
Thanking her, Thirty-Two returned to the main fortress to draft a detailed âwage adjustment plan.â Revitalizing commerce was imperative.
Stumbling onward, Xing Honglang exited the âcommercial streetâ and stopped at the hillsideâs edge just as Gao Yiye hurried up the path. Her dignified attire contrasted with her lively pace.
Reaching Xing Honglang, Gao Yiye looked up cheerfully. âSister Xing! The Deity seeks you. He has something to discuss.â
Xing Honglang raised her head, offering a respectful salute skyward. Yesterdayâs spectacle of cascading rolling logs and Cheng Xu soaring had opened her eyes, granting stark clarity about the Deityâs power. âWhat decree does the Deity bring?â
Gao Yiye whispered, âThe Deity desires a âgunpowder makerâ brought to Gaojia Village.â
âOh?â Xing Honglangâs brow furrowed slightly. âThat wonât be easy. The court watches gunpowder makers closely.â
Gao Yiye smiled. âThe Deity said if it were trivial, he wouldnât entrust it to you. He recognizes your exceptional talents, Miss Xingâspecializing precisely in the âdifficultâ business.â
Xing Honglang grinned, basking briefly in the praise from a celestial entity.
Gao Yiye continued, âThe Deity observed that with Heyang County now restless, returning to Shanxi for trade is impossible near-term. Your plan is surely Xiâan Prefecture next, correct?â
Xing Honglang nodded. âIndeed. Once my arm heals, Xiâan is my destination.â
Gao Yiye said, âWhile in Xiâan, consider visiting the Official Workshops. Test the waters with a gunpowder maker. IfâŚâ
Xing Honglang caught on instantly. âIf willing to flee, I escort him beyond imperial grasp to Gaojia Village?â
Gao Yiye cautioned, âIt carries great risk. The Deity insistsâattempt only if feasible without danger. Protect yourself above all. The slightest peril demands abandoning the mission.â
Xing Honglang laughed heartily. âRaised by my father smuggling salt since infancyâalways flirting with execution. Dodging authorities? My specialty! If I deem him unrecoverable, I wonât act. If I act? Heâll reach Gaojia Village, no government catching me!â
Gao Yiye beamed. âThe Deity is pleased! He vowed not to forget your service should you succeed.â
Xing Honglang waved it off. âUnnecessary! When the Deity manifested, annihilated Erchun avenging me, I incurred a celestial debt. Fetching a gunpowder maker repays that vow.â
Gao Yiye giggled. âEquating Erchun and a gunpowder maker? Improper! The Deity views Erchun as worthless filthâthe gunpowder maker, infinitely vital.â
Xing Honglang roared, âTrue! That Erchun was utterly worthless! Hahaha!â
As they laughed, distant cheers erupted.
Xing Honglang glanced curiously. âWhat commotion?â
Gao Yiye explained, âThe cement road to Wangjia Village opens today. They celebrate its completion.â
âOh?â Xing Honglang murmured. âThat peculiar grey hard road.â
Gao Yiye nodded. âYes. It lets the public sun chariots travel smoothly and faster. The Deity intends to pave it connecting all surrounding villages, but manpower is tight. This second stretch to Wangjia is just finished.â
Xing Honglang clicked her tongue admiringly. âCover the world in such roads? Trade would soar! Pityâonly a deity could bestow such treasures.â