sbdcsierra Chapter 360 A Sincere Thank You
Chapter 360 A Sincere Thank You
Ultimately, the Ministry of Works selected two simple crossbow designs from among numerous blueprints for priority production, while the more complex crossbows were set aside for the time being.
However, the preliminary preparations were not delayed. More people were added to carry out the gluing process of the crossbows, and materials such as wood, horn, and sinew needed for the crossbow body were prepared.
More than a month has passed since I received the blueprints.
After the new batch of weapons passed inspection, the Ministry of Works dispatched a large number of additional personnel to forge them, and production did not stop even during the Spring Festival.
The border situation is tense right now, and war could break out at any time, so we need to produce as many weapons and armor as possible.
In this way, we will have more confidence to defend against external enemies when needed.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of War was also busy. Starting from the third day of the lunar new year, they resumed their work, sending orders to various prefectures and cities to begin large-scale conscription in preparation for any potential future wars.
The Ministry of Revenue was also busy. The entire department resumed work on the third day of the Lunar New Year. Logistics reserves were indispensable, including rice, flour, and other grains. Now that it was the middle of winter, cold-weather supplies were also essential.
Just then, the second batch of weapons, along with the first batch of bows and crossbows, was successfully completed. Upon learning this news, Xiao Han immediately rushed back to the capital.
The year-end is not yet over, and officials from the three provinces and six ministries have not yet officially resumed work.
Xiao Han entrusted the matter of Magistrate Hu to Prince Qi and Prince Xuan to report to Emperor Sukang and the Censorate, as such a corrupt official needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.
After returning to the capital, Xiao Han went to the Ministry of Works first.
Afterwards, together with the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, the Imperial Household Department, and various local garrisons, they inspected the newly forged weapons and crossbows.
A good weapon not only needs to be forged to be sharp and durable, but also needs to have both high hardness and high toughness, achieving a balance of strength and flexibility, which can enhance strength while reducing weight, making it suitable for long-term carrying and combat.
It is a cause for celebration that the weapons forged by the Ministry of Works can now meet these requirements.
Crossbows, on the other hand, need to be tested for their range, lethality, penetration, accuracy, and hit rate, etc.
During the testing process, the crossbows need to be repeatedly adjusted and various data recorded, including movement tests, maximum range, and whether the arrows can penetrate armor, etc.
Xiao Han left on the afternoon of the fourth day of the lunar new year and did not return to the palace until the evening of the seventh day.
On the afternoon of the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, snowflakes began to fall again.
Ignoring the biting cold, the snow-covered landscape, covering trees, buildings, and the earth, resembles a pure ink painting, a vast expanse of white, presenting a soft, tranquil, magnificent, and unified visual effect.
On the eighth day of the lunar new year, the imperial court officially resumed work, and various departments began to get busy.
After court today, Xiao Han went straight back to the Prince's Mansion.
Inside Qinli Courtyard, Long Chuqing performed a final examination on Xiao Han, including pulse diagnosis and blood tests.
After the results came out, Long Chuqing looked at Xiao Han with a big smile: "Congratulations, the Gu poison in your body has been completely cleared. You will no longer need to get acupuncture or take medicine. Are you happy?"
More than three months have passed since she started helping Xiao Han detoxify. Calculating the time, it is basically the same as the treatment time she initially determined, and the process has gone very smoothly.
Xiao Han nodded: "Yes, I'm happy that I won't have to drink those bitter medicines anymore."
Although the complete removal of the Gu poison was something to be happy about, a strange sense of loss flashed through his mind.
However, the sense of loss disappeared after seeing her bright smile when she was happy to be cured.
If he hadn't met her, the Gu poison in his body would probably still be uncured, and he would have to suffer from its constant erosion, losing his mind, going crazy, hurting people, etc. He might have even become a complete madman because he couldn't suppress the spread of the Gu poison, until he was completely poisoned and died in an extremely undignified way.
Thankfully, she showed up.
Xiao Han stared intently at the woman before him: Chu Qing must have been sent by heaven to save him!
"Chu Qing, thank you."
Xiao Han solemnly thanked Long Chuqing.
Long Chuqing patted his shoulder: "You're welcome."
When I came out of the room, it was still snowing outside. Everywhere I looked was white. Many birds had also reduced their foraging activities due to the cold. At this time, the yard was unusually empty and quiet.
Long Chuqing stood in the courtyard, looked up at the sky, and reached out to catch a snowflake.
She stood in the snow wearing a white cloak, looking extremely beautiful. Xiao Han slowly walked towards her.
Hearing the sound, Long Chuqing turned around, handed the snowflakes in her palm to Xiao Han, and smiled, "Look, aren't the snowflakes beautiful?"
Xiao Han looked at her tenderly, the corners of his lips curving upwards: "Yes, very beautiful."
The snow is beautiful, but the people are even more beautiful.
The snowflakes slowly melted in Long Chuqing's warm hands.
"Let's go and take a look at the garden in front."
Long Chuqing patted the melting snow off her hands, grabbed Xiao Han's sleeve, and walked through the snow toward the garden.
Xiao Han followed beside her, leaving two clear rows of footprints in the snow behind them.
At this time, the garden was desolate, with only bare tree trunks and snow covering the ground. The water in the small lotus pond was also frozen, and there was basically nothing to see.
Long Chuqing arrived at a magnolia tree. "Look, there are quite a few flower buds on this magnolia tree!"
Xiao Han walked closer and took a look as well: "Hmm, there are indeed quite a few flower buds this year."
He then pointed to the cherry blossoms and crabapple trees by the wall: "And the cherry blossoms and crabapple trees over there, these all bloom in about the same season."
"It will be so beautiful when the garden is full of spring colors and all the flowers are in bloom!" Long Chuqing looked at him with a smile in her eyes.
"Yes, from March to May, magnolias, cherry blossoms, and crabapple trees will bloom in succession, which is really beautiful. After that, there will be peonies. If this grove of peonies grows, it will be spectacular when it is in full bloom."
After listening for a while, Long Chu pondered and said, "Then tell me, what colors are these flowers?"
Xiao Han looked at her with a puzzled expression: "Won't you be able to see it when the flowers bloom then?"
"I want to know now, so please tell me."
It was rare for Long Chuqing to show such a well-behaved side in front of him, and Xiao Han was momentarily stunned, without suspecting anything.
He smiled and said gently, "Alright, if you want to know, I'll tell you."
Xiao Han pointed to the magnolia trees in front of him and introduced them: "These are white magnolias, and over there are purple magnolias, pink and white magnolias, and magnolias 'Two Qiaos', etc."
Long Chuqing looked at Xiao Han in surprise: "Hmm...you seem to know quite a bit about the varieties of magnolias!"
Xiao Han smiled and said, "Because magnolias are very beautiful when they bloom, my mother loved them. When I was young, whenever the magnolias in the palace bloomed, she would take me to admire them. My mother would explain them to me in detail, and over time I came to understand them."
"Really! Your mother must have been a very gentle and outstanding woman! Look how well she raised you."