The First Lackey Under The Empress

That day, Zhao Douan had been gone from the Celestial Master's Mansion for a long time when the old craftsmen of the Ordnance Bureau rushed back to the yamen.

In the following days, they began the production of the new-style firearms within the Ordnance Bureau.

Considering the principle of confidentiality, the news was limited to only a few people.

The military officers of the Divine Machine Camp knew that Zhao Douan had done some things in the Ordnance Bureau.

However, to "avoid suspicion" and avoid being involved in the previous case, they suppressed their desire to investigate, not even daring to make inquiries.

They were afraid of being targeted by "King Yama Zhao" and being labeled with the serious charge of "colluding with the Jing Prince's Mansion" – the Little Duke's fate was a warning.

Therefore, a strange scene occurred:

Firearm research and development was in full swing.

But the Jing Camp, which should have been fully aware of this, and even the樞密院 (Shūmì Yuàn, the highest military council), tacitly acted blind.

Anyway, they stubbornly refused to look, letting Zhao Douan do whatever he wanted.

No one would have thought that new-style firearms were constantly brewing.

As for the "Little Grand Secretary" and other civil officials, they only knew roughly, thinking that Zhao Douan was investigating a case.

Even if they learned that the Celestial Master's Mansion was suspected of being involved, they only thought that Zhao was using his connections to assist in the investigation – similar things had happened more than once.

As the focus of countless eyes, Zhao Douan's next actions were truly perplexing.

He initially pretended to work diligently for a few days, then completely slacked off.

He spent his days drinking and making merry with a group of military officers, often not going to the military camp and resting at home.

Later, it was said that King Yama Zhao was bored one day and took more than twenty people from the camp to play Cuju (蹴鞠, an ancient Chinese football game).

Well, Zhao Douan also ingeniously changed the rules of Cuju.

He ordered the people from the Ordnance Bureau to make strange "goals" and redefined the rules.

Thus, what the superiors do, the subordinates follow, and within a few days, the new Cuju game spread throughout the Jing Camp and then into the entire Imperial Guards.

Zhao Douan, a dignified fourth-rank military officer, was indulging in pleasure all day long, and Commander Shi Meng was not in a position to stop him.

He could only helplessly allow this unhealthy trend to spread.

This caused countless officials observing in secret to look at each other in dismay.

They couldn't help but begin to doubt themselves.

They wondered if they had overthought things.

Did Zhao Douan have no other purpose in entering the Divine Machine Camp other than simply gaining experience to get promoted?

For more low- and mid-level military officers, the criticism of this "superior" who only knew how to play all day long grew louder and louder.

The resentment caused by the Little Duke's dismissal continued to ferment.

……

Inside the 樞密院 (Shūmì Yuàn, the highest military council).

The complaints that Xue Shensce received from the lower-level military officers were also increasing.

"Hehe, Lord Xue, I heard that the Little Duke came to see you again today?"

At noon, a thin, fifty-year-old second-rank Privy Councilor walked into the hall with a smile, his face full of amusement.

Xue Shence was resting, glanced at his "colleague":

"Lord Wang, why do you have to make fun of me?"

As he spoke, he invited him to sit down and have tea.

The middle-aged Privy Councilor, who was more like a civil official than a military officer, sighed:

"These days, the Little Duke has been coming to the door once a day, almost becoming a spectacle.

Every time he comes, there are only two things, one is to ask for an explanation, asking which rules they violated, demanding to be reinstated; the other is to accuse Zhao Douan."

This senior official of the 樞密院 (Shūmì Yuàn, the highest military council) shook his head:

"Tang Ping is as clear as a mirror in his heart, but he insists on asking what he already knows.

Every visit is a slap in the face to us… this is putting pressure and demonstrating strength, those criticisms circulating in the Jing Camp recently, I'm afraid they also have a hand in it…

His Majesty doesn't speak, but you and I have to suffer this pressure."

Xue Shence sighed softly upon hearing this, feeling quite a headache.

If it were someone else, he could just dismiss them casually.

But when Tang Ping came to make trouble, he could only endure it.

Although the Duke of Zhenguo was not in the capital, there was still a group of military nobles in the capital to support the "Little Duke".

Although Xue Shence was the number one military officer, he also had to take care of the emotions of these military nobles.

"Let's hold on a little longer, when that Zhao's term ends, it will be quieter."

Xue Shence shook his head, paused, and then said:

"Besides, His Majesty should not allow this person to mess around all the time."

Lord Wang glanced at him and said:

"Do you think we are mistaken? This Zhao Douan, after entering the Divine Machine Camp, has not shown any intention of investigating the case, except for initially making a show at the Ordnance Bureau, all that's left is playing."

Xue Shence hesitated for a moment and said:

"Don't underestimate this person, with his past methods, his current performance may not be real."

Lord Wang raised an eyebrow: "Oh? You think…"

Xue Shence shook his head:

"I can't guess, but… do you think this person is deliberately trying to anger us?

Kicking out Tang Ping and others is the first step, now eating, drinking, and having fun, ruining military discipline, is the second… waiting for someone to be unable to bear it and take action against him, then His Majesty can use this as an excuse to take action? To rectify the Dayu military officers?"

Lord Wang also frowned tightly, feeling it was troublesome:

"If that's the case, it's really difficult to handle."

Two big figures who could make the court tremble with a stomp of their feet were now helpless against a mere Commander.

In the midst of frustration.

Suddenly, a messenger soldier ran in from outside the courtyard, stepping on the autumn wind, stopped and cupped his fist:

"Reporting to the two lords, Divine Machine Camp Commander Zhao Douan has sent an official letter!"

What?

The two were stunned, their eyes revealing doubt:

What could this freeloading loafer have to do?

And he even sent it to the 樞密院 (Shūmì Yuàn, the highest military council)?

Xue Shence waved his hand, the soldier sent the official letter up, he quickly scanned it, his expression changed subtly:

"Take a look."

Lord Wang took it and also had a strange expression.

The official letter stated that tomorrow in the Divine Machine Camp, Commander Zhao will preside over a military drill to demonstrate new military formation tactics.

He specially invited senior military officers from the 樞密院 (Shūmì Yuàn, the highest military council) to observe.

"What new tactics? Has Shi Meng reported it?" Lord Wang couldn't remember.

Xue Shence hesitated and said:

"He did send a letter before, saying that Zhao Douan did take some soldiers out.

However… it was all under the name of training, going out to play Cuju (蹴鞠, an ancient Chinese football game).

In addition, he was close to the Ordnance Bureau, but because it involved the previous case, Shi Meng deliberately did not investigate to avoid trouble, so he didn't know the details."

Lord Wang啧啧 (zézé, sound of clicking the tongue) in wonder:

"If that's the case, it's interesting, I'm curious, what kind of medicine is this Zhao Douan selling in his gourd."

Xue Shence snorted coldly:

"Showboating."

He suspected that Zhao Douan learned that the public opinion in the military was not good, so he was preparing to use the identity of the 樞密院 (Shūmì Yuàn, the highest military council) generals to suppress public opinion.

He sighed in his heart, but still ordered the soldier to send back the message:

Tomorrow morning, he will lead the generals of the 樞密院 (Shūmì Yuàn, the highest military council) to go together.

His Majesty's face must be given after all.

"By the way, if we go tomorrow morning, won't our Little Duke be coming to the 樞密院 (Shūmì Yuàn, the highest military council) in vain?" Lord Wang teased.

Xue Shence picked up the teacup and said lightly:

"Then let's go together, so what?"

Lord Wang was stunned for a moment, looked at him, and was thoughtful.

……

……

That day, the news that Commander Zhao was going to preside over a drill and invite many big figures to observe spread on a small scale.

It once again caused criticism. It was a traditional skill in the military for newly appointed military officers to use the name of training to gain prestige and experience.

People did not hesitate to speculate with the greatest malice that this was another act of Zhao Douan's show.

Only Chen Huoshen in the Ordnance Bureau, who had worked hard for most of the month, was so excited that he couldn't sleep all night, stroking the finished new-style firearm in his hand, excitedly looking forward to tomorrow's arrival.

Nothing was said all night.

The next morning.

The autumn wind was rustling.

When Zhao Douan got up, he felt that the autumn was even stronger in the air, and the green flowers and trees in his home also looked desolate and late.

"What a cool autumn day…"

Muttering, Zhao Douan narrowed his eyes, looking at the floating clouds in the sky, and the rustling autumn wind.

He thought: It's a good weather to practice guns.

A few days ago, he got the finished firearms, and what surprised him was.

Gongshu Tianyuan was indeed a genius, and on the basis of the matchlock gun, he innovatively improved it again.

Using the thinking of a magician, he created a batch of "semi-automatic" firearms.

Greatly improving the loading efficiency, which greatly enhanced his original dissatisfied performance effect.

It also prompted him to make the decision to practice today.

Zhao Douan dressed neatly.

As usual, he had eaten at home before leaving the house and riding alone towards the outside of the city.

Hou Renmeng and Qian Kerou stayed in the Divine Machine Camp last night, preparing for today's exercise with Chen Huoshen.

When Zhao Douan arrived at the Divine Machine Camp garrison unhurriedly.

He could already hear the sound of drums on the drill ground from afar, and the flags violently shaking in the autumn wind on the wall.

"Sir, you're finally here."

Qian Kerou was waiting at the gate of the military camp, and hurried forward to lead the horse.

Zhao Douan smiled:

"What, have the people from the 樞密院 (Shūmì Yuàn, the highest military council) arrived?"

"Not yet, but the generals of the Jing Camp have already arrived," the little secretary explained.

Since the big figures from the 樞密院 (Shūmì Yuàn, the highest military council) were coming to today's exercise.

The generals of the "Three Thousand Camp" and the "Five Armies Camp" naturally did not neglect to arrive.

When Zhao Douan walked into the drill ground, he saw that a large shed had been set up on the side of the drill ground.

Similar to a pergola, with tables and chairs underneath.

At this time, the three commanders of the Jing Camp, as well as dozens of senior military officers, gathered here, talking to each other.

"Commander Zhao, you're finally here!"

Shi Meng's eyes lit up, he quickly stood up, greeted him to come over, and introduced him to the generals next to him one by one.

Zhao Douan ignored the others, only looked at the other two third-rank commanders.

The commander of the Five Armies Camp was a middle-aged man with a somewhat scholarly temperament.

He was wearing armor, with a sword at his waist, which was a more formal dress.

The commander of the Three Thousand Camp was a tall, thin man with a straight face, looking at him with curiosity:

"Commander Zhao, I've long admired your name."

Zhao Douan smiled, nodded, and exchanged greetings with several people for a moment.

In his words, he had a somewhat humorous and witty taste.

Not only did he not have the slightest humility as a subordinate official, but he also had the demeanor of the master of this place.

"I heard that even the Xue Privy Councilor will be coming today, Commander Zhao, you have a lot of face," the commander of the Five Armies, dressed as a Confucian general, said with emotion, and curiously said:

"But I don't know what Commander Zhao has prepared for today's exercise, making such a big battle, most of the military officials in the entire capital have come?"

Zhao Douan smiled slightly, did not take his probing, but just said:

"Later, everyone will know when they see it."

At this time, at the gate of the barracks, someone reported loudly:

"Privy Councilor Xue has arrived!"

In an instant, on the huge drill ground, everyone stood up solemnly.

Respectfully looked towards the gate of the barracks, welcoming the arrival of the Dayu military god.

Only Zhao Douan still sat in his original position, squinted his eyes slightly, and muttered softly: "What a big show."

……

Misspelled words will be corrected later

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