Jiang Zuoye was a place Zhao Xie had always wanted to come to. Unfortunately, he was too young and couldn't leave the palace, but this time, two lifetimes merged into one.

  "Wujing Zongyao" was revised and compiled by Zeng Gongliang of the Jixian Hall a few years ago, and every time a new volume was added, Zhao Xie could see it in the books of Ciming Palace. Therefore, he had also seen the formula for gunpowder.

  This is not the later generations, in the later generations, chemical materials are everywhere, Zhao Xi can easily make explosives with considerable power, but at this time, the scarcity of materials limited many things he wanted to do. Of course, age is also a limitation.

  Now, it's time to take charge... Zhao Xi still has to hold back. Age is still a limitation.

  At this time, if he says that he wants to go to the gunpowder workshop of Jiangzuo, the whole ceremony will turn its head towards Neiyuan without hesitation, and even old Chen Lin, who has been accommodating him all along, will not agree.

  That thing is also a very dangerous job for craftsmen at this time.

  "Your Majesty, what is the purpose of summoning me?"

  He's here now, but Chen Lin still had to ask clearly.

  "Uh... where is the workshop that makes small iron tools?"

  "The old slave is gone."

  Chen Lin also breathed a sigh of relief, he was really afraid that Wang Ye had other troublesome requests.

  It was said to be over in an instant, but it dragged on for a very long time, and even felt no shorter than the time they took to return from outside the city.

  It was only then that Zhao Xi realized that this entire area was actually all going to be prisons.

  Divided into five workshops, twenty-seven departments, and ten warehouses, it's almost like a large state-run factory. It's just that it encompasses too much, specifically to each workshop, it's just two or three courtyards in size.

  Ironware refers to relatively large workshops that produce iron products, including knives, guns, swords, halberds, helmets and armor.

  Not yet entering the workshop, Zhao Xi could already feel the heat wave.

  Zhao Xi carried the scorching heat, dripping with sweat...... This was not a show, he had to draw the style of horseshoes well and make a sample, teaching the group herders how to use them......

  He happened to think it was something that should be done, which moved the master craftsmen in the workshop deeply.

  To be honest, the officials sometimes come to the workshop, mostly just walking around the workshop and the warehouse. But for someone as noble as the prince to be treated like them, staying in this hot and stifling workshop is really something.

  "Master, if possible, could you prepare some water for the workers..."

  Zhao Xi was already drenched from head to toe, and these people who had been working here for a long time... looked at each other, obviously showing some signs of electrolyte imbalance.

  "Reporting to Your Majesty, yes! We have always been prepared."

  Zhao Xi was unsure if he hadn't made himself clear or if this era really had the insight to supplement with sugar and salt water.

  It's indeed prepared, still warm water. Zhao Xi took a sip... This is just cooled-down boiled water.

  "Master, Xiaowang's intention is for you to add some sugar frost and green salt when boiling water, as for the proportion... it's best to taste good."

  Zhao Xi really wanted to say five percent... probably saying more would confuse people, the problem is that he couldn't figure out how to adjust this five percent, only remembering that it was also adjusted by taste at first.

  At this point, the horseshoe was done. It has to be said that at this time, the craftsmanship of these workers really had nothing to say.

  It's such a fine piece that I don't want to hang it on the horse's hoof, it's almost like a work of art... It's just for the king to see the sample, that's all.

  The groom is no fool either, all of them are experts in horse breeding, and as soon as they see the horseshoe, they already know its purpose.

  "Your Highness, we will now proceed to the government office to submit our report... Should we leave some war horses for your use?"

  This... is indeed the style of officialdom. Zhao Xi heard this and felt a bit of familiarity.

  It's also because of his enthusiasm for the war horse that he endured the heat just for this horseshoe. It seems that he is indeed a horse lover...

  "This king does not need it, how to distribute, still ask the gentlemen of the Politics Hall to discuss and decide."

  Zhao Xizhen was afraid of mentioning the matter of distributing war horses again, so he directly shut him up.

  He now wants the horse keeper to leave as soon as possible. His interest in being a jailer is much greater than that of a horse keeper.

  Unfortunately, this guy seems to be unafraid of the heat and is still waiting...

  "The king has already settled the matter of the horse's hoof with your herdsman, is there still something undecided?"

  Old Chen Lin is used to serving people and understands human nature. Unlike Wang Zhongzheng, who just stares foolishly.

  "Your Highness, please proceed to the main hall."

  The stable boy has left, and the servant also knows that this young master is probably going to play some tricks.

  This is normal. The officials in the imperial court often let the eunuchs do some strange and bizarre things, purely for the amusement of the children.

  Even workshop craftsmen have their own private hobbies.

  Zhao Xike wasn't going to play around. He remembered that when he was in command school taking firearms class, the teacher had casually mentioned flintlock guns...

  Because his hometown is a mountainous area, he paid special attention to the structure of flintlock guns.

  I just don't know if craftsmen can make it now...

  "Master builder, is there a copper craftsman within the walls?"

  Zhao Xi still knew that at this time, he definitely didn't have the ability to produce steel pipes. But bronze casting seemed to have existed since ancient times.

  "Yes, Old Han was originally also born into a family of coppersmiths."

  "Master, can you tell me how to treat trachoma?"

  Zhao Xi asked this question, and Da Jiang was stunned for a moment...

  "Your Majesty, trachoma... Forgive an old man for being powerless. I guarantee that in this world, there is no one who can treat trachoma."

  "Don't get me wrong, Master. Xiao Wang knows he can't avoid getting sand in his eyes... But, never mind. Xiao Wang has a spare map, Master can try to use it."

  Zhao Xi had long been prepared and took out a drawing of the shape of a flintlock pistol that he had drawn crookedly from his cloth bag.

  This master craftsman looked at it and understood it too, but... after all, the royal family is the royal family, and even the prince's toys are this precious.

  This is not a trivial matter, it's not just about materials, but also requires the dedication of master craftsmen.

  Although he doesn't know what this thing is called, he can understand its difficulty.

  Can't say anything, just staring at the painting with a twisted mouth.

  "Master craftsman, this matter must be kept confidential and cannot be paid with public funds. Little Wang will arrange for someone to deliver the expenses. I hope Master Craftsman will take care of it."

  Zhao Xizhen didn't have the air of a prince, and it was normal for officials' families to be like this, so it wasn't surprising. As for not letting outsiders speak, that's also understandable, after all, it's just a child's toy, and disturbing the imperial censor would only lead to more trouble from the Imperial Censorate.

  It's all settled, and it's already late in the day, Zhao Xi should also be heading back.

  Zhao Xi glanced at Old Chen Lin... This old fellow narrowed his eyes and smiled, seemingly knowing to hide it, also aware of looking at this master craftsman.

  The efficiency of horse shoeing is quite high. When Zhao Xi returned to the inner courtyard, even the empress had heard about the horseshoes... Xi'er is like this, the unsolved problem of cavalry for generations, Xi'er just goes out and makes a circle, and when she comes back, it's already the praise of the whole court.

  In fact, if it weren't for Dashan blocking the Western Regions trade route, news of this horseshoe would have reached the Central Plains long ago.

  Zhao Xi never understood why Daxia, which was mainly composed of war horses and located in the northwest, also did not know about horseshoes.