Chapter 58: Negotiating with the Princess

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“I don’t come to the capital often anyway,” Zhou Shu said. “Big Brother, is the cultivation of the person who got away very high?”

Mi Ziwen’s expression was serious as he said in a deep voice, “I exchanged moves with him just now. His cultivation level should be similar to mine, probably around the fourth rank.”

The fourth rank? Zhou Shu smacked his lips. The fourth rank seems quite powerful. I might not be able to defeat him.

If he could master both the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique and the Golden Bell Shield Technique, he wouldn’t have to be afraid.

“I understand,” Zhou Shu said. “Don’t worry, Big Brother. Our workshop is usually very busy, and we don’t have time to come to the capital to have fun.”

Mi Ziwen nodded and suddenly said, “Second Brother, have you ever thought about changing environments?”

“What do you mean?” Zhou Shu asked curiously.

“If you’re willing, I can transfer you to the military, and you can accompany me on this expedition. At that time, if you can gain some military merits, it won’t be a problem to get a position.”

With him around, it would be easy to become a fifth or sixth-rank deputy general.

Since ancient times, the easiest place to get promoted was on the battlefield.

In the Forging Division, if Zhou Shu wanted to get promoted to the fifth or sixth rank, it would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

Xiao Zongshui and Li Hongyuan had been superintendents for decades, and in the foreseeable future, their chances of promotion were extremely low.

Unless Zhou Shu became a Forging Master, the present of Xiao Zongshui and the others was his future.

“No need.” Zhou Shu shook his head repeatedly. Go to the battlefield?

No way!

I’m living well in the Forging Division. Why would I want to seek death on the battlefield?

“I’m doing pretty well in the Forging Division. Besides, I really like forging.”

“Alright. Then, I won’t say anything more. If you ever change your mind, come find me,” Mi Ziwen said.

After speaking with Zhou Shu for a while, he left to deal with the aftermath.

“Haitang, you have accomplished your mission. Will you retire now?” When Zhou Shu turned around and saw that Haitang was still here, he was a little surprised.

“Her Highness wants to see you!” Haitang didn’t answer but said something else.

She looked angry. Zhou Shu was puzzled. How did I offend her?

“The grand minister wants to see me?” Zhou Shu said. “Great, I have something to discuss with her too. Where is she?”

“Follow me!” Haitang turned to leave.

…

Zhou Shu didn’t expect Yin Wuyou to be so near the execution ground.

On the top floor of a tall building, she was sitting by the window. Outside the window, the execution ground was within sight.

Zhou Shu’s heart tightened. Luckily, he hadn’t recklessly revealed his strength earlier. Even though he had killed the assassin, it was still within an acceptable range.

Otherwise, perhaps no one on the stage would have noticed it, but Yin Wuyou definitely would have!

“Grand Minister, how may I help you?” Zhou Shu arrived in front of Yin Wuyou and cupped his hands.

Yin Wuyou turned her head, and a contemplative look flashed across her devastatingly beautiful face. “You started cultivating the Martial Dao?”

“About that, Great General Meng got someone to give me a few martial arts secret manuals. I casually flipped through them when I had nothing to do, but I still haven’t made any progress.” Zhou Shu said. This was the answer he had long prepared.

“You didn’t make any progress, yet you managed to kill someone with a single blow. It seems that you are quite talented in the Martial Dao,” Yin Wuyou said lightly.

“I don’t know about that, but I’m a little surprised that I was able to knock that person to death just now. Maybe it’s because I’ve been forging all year, and my strength is greater than most people.” Zhou Shu shrugged.

“Grand Minister, are you looking for me because of this?” Zhou Shu asked.

“No.” Yin Wuyou shook her head and reached out to tuck her hair behind her ears. It was a simple action, but her action was extremely charming.

“Let me ask you something. How is the progress of the forging mission Great General Meng gave the 0th Workshop?”

“It’s almost done. We will definitely deliver the weapons in time,” Zhou Shu said.

“That’s good.” Yin Wuyou nodded. “I heard you invented a new weapon forging technique—”

“It’s not a new weapon forging technique. It’s a new management method.” Zhou Shu explained, “If all the Forging Apprentices have mastered the corresponding forging techniques, there’s actually no need to use this method. I’m just using it as a temporary measure.”

“It’s a temporary measure, but it’s extremely beneficial to the Forging Division,” Yin Wuyou said. “I plan to promote this method in the Forging Division. What do you think?”

“Sure,” Zhou Shu said. “Although I don’t think it’s very meaningful for forging other weapons, you can give it a try.”

“I will remember your contributions. Alright, you can leave now.” Yin Wuyou waved her hand.

“Oh right, I still have use for Haitang. Let her return to my side first.”

Zhou Shu was speechless.

This is it?

You called me over for such a trivial matter?

Am I a man that you can summon as you please?

I won’t leave just because you ask me to leave!

“Grand Minister, I have something to report,” Zhou Shu said.

“What is it?” Yin Wuyou turned to look at the busy soldiers on the execution ground outside the window.

“Grand Minister, what is your motive for setting up the 0th Workshop? What are your plans for the 0th Workshop?” Zhou Shu asked.

Yin Wuyou looked back at Zhou Shu strangely. This wasn’t a question a mere Forging Apprentice would ask.

No, he was no longer a Forging Apprentice but a workshop superintendent.

But to Yin Wuyou, they were both the same.

“What do you think my purpose is?”

“I don’t know what your purpose is, Grand Minister.” Zhou Shu said confidently, “But I don’t think you set up another workshop outside of the one hundred and eight workshops just to add another sweatshop, right?”

“A sweatshop?” Yin Wuyou didn’t understand him, and she raised her brows in confusion.

Zhou Shu knew he had misspoken, so he didn’t say more. Instead, he gave a perfunctory reply. “I mean a workshop similar to the other workshops. Every month, you work as hard as you can and then hand over a batch of weapons…

“I feel that if that’s all, Grand Minister, there’s no need for you to set up the 0th Workshop. The existing workshops are more than enough to supply the standard weapons of Great Xia’s armies.”

Yin Wuyou didn’t comment but instead signaled Zhou Shu to continue.

Zhou Shu continued, “Grand Minister, that’s why I believe that you established the 0th Workshop not just to increase the production of some standard weapons.

“I don’t know what you think, Grand Minister, but as the superintendent of the 0th Workshop, I have an immature suggestion. I hope you can consider it.

“I personally feel that the Forging Division is lacking a specialized workshop to study standard weapons.”

Zhou Shu calmly said, “Now that the 0th Workshop has just been built, everything will start from scratch. I thought that it would be better to turn it into a research facility for weapons.”

“Research facility? How do you explain the word research?” Yin Wuyou said. She tried her best to look shrewd, but the curiosity in her eyes betrayed her.

“Research is about studying the forging process and finding ways to increase the efficiency of the forging process, then develop new standard weapons or even ranked weapons, including analyzing and disassembling the enemy’s weapons,” Zhou Shu explained.

Yin Wuyou nodded. In the past, the Forging Division had also done these things. But Forging Masters did them based on their own interest.

The concept of this research facility Zhou Shu proposed intrigued Yin Wuyou.

“Are you saying that the 0th Workshop will focus on developing weapons in the future and will no longer take on daily forging tasks?” Yin Wuyou asked.

“Yes.” Zhou Shu nodded. “If we take on daily forging tasks, it will consume a lot of our energy. How will we have the time and energy to develop new weapons?”

“But Great Xia doesn’t need so many new weapons.”

Yin Wuyou’s words almost caused Zhou Shu’s plan to fail before he could carry it out.

Doesn’t need so many new weapons?

In other words, developing standard weapons is meaningless to Great Xia?

Alright, I have to admit that Yin Wuyou’s words make sense.

After all, this wasn’t the Earth of his previous life. Although standard weapons were important, ranked weapons were much more important.

What determined the true strength of a country was still the ranked weapons. Standard weapons were just the foundation.

Right now, the standard weapons of Great Xia were already the most powerful in the entire continent. What was the use of them being stronger?

“You can’t say that,” Zhou Shu said. “Grand Minister, Great Xia’s standard weapons may be ahead of other countries now, but being ahead now doesn’t mean that we will always be ahead. If we stagnate and the other countries continue to advance, they will surpass us sooner or later.

“With the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers and the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber, we won’t have to worry about Great Xia for at least a few decades,” Yin Wuyou said confidently. “These two standard weapons are already the pinnacle of standard weapons!”

Zhou Shu felt extremely helpless. Even I’m not that confident.

“Grand Minister, researching standard weapons is only temporary. The ultimate goal of the 0th Workshop is to develop ranked weapons!” Zhou Shu clenched his teeth. I can’t reason with her.

Could the princess really want my body?

Pfft! Yin Wuyou couldn’t help laughing. Her smile seemed to brighten the surroundings.

But she immediately realized that she had lost her composure and stopped smiling. “The 0th Workshop doesn’t even have a Forging Master, yet you dare to talk about researching ranked weapons?”

“Grand Minister, life is full of ups and downs!” Zhou Shu said in a low voice. “Don’t discriminate against a poor young man. Right now, the 0th Workshop doesn’t have a Forging Master, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be one in the future!”

Yin Wuyou smirked. “We’ll talk about the future later. At least for now, you still haven’t convinced me.”

“What if I say that every once in a while, the 0th Workshop will be able to develop a new weapon?” Zhou Shu frowned.

“In addition, these new weapons will definitely not be inferior to the previous standard weapons. Can this prove the use of the 0th Workshop?”

“Can you guarantee it?” Yin Wuyou said, “Even a Forging Master wouldn’t dare to speak so confidently. How about this? If you can develop a new standard weapon that is stronger than the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber and the Horse Slaying Saber, I’ll agree to it.”

“Are you serious?”

“I never lie!”

“Alright, let’s sign a contract first!”

Yin Wuyou: “…”

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