Half a Spoiler Chapter 145

Wen Yanran was actually deliberately overlooking things. The reason she had never paid much attention to the Office of Metallurgy was entirely due to her sense of responsibility. Otherwise, she suspected that the moment she saw the equipment inside the Office, she would have immediately rolled up her sleeves and thrown herself into the work of alloy smelting, postponing the tyrannical ruler’s gameplay objectives to the next playthrough.

As a result of the Emperor’s deliberate neglect, even when the foundry supervisors brought in other outside help, it never caught the attention of their top superior.

Ren Feihong was well-versed in various miscellaneous fields of knowledge, but her understanding of smelting techniques was still far too limited. Fortunately, she had just supplemented her knowledge with some insights from the alchemy practices at the Elixir and Nie Palaces, which sparked a few inspirations.

She now had a vague concept that adding other elements could lower the melting point of materials. Most of the iron products smelted nowadays were pig iron containing impurities. Pig iron was strong, but its drawback was that it was too brittle. To increase its flexibility, it was necessary to reduce the carbon content through annealing techniques, followed by repeated forging to remove impurities, ultimately obtaining steel.

At present, some craftsmen had also begun experimenting. Leveraging the low melting point of pig iron, they placed it in a pot, heated it until it melted, and continuously stirred it to produce wrought iron, which was then forged.

If Wen Yanran were here, she would immediately recognize that the iron-smelting technology of the Great Zhou Dynasty was at a transitional stage, shifting from the bloomery process to the puddling process.

Ren Feihong had no knowledge of modern science and technology, so she could only draw on the fragmentary experiences gained from the Elixir Palace to help brainstorm new ideas.

Whether it was the bloomery process or the puddling process for iron, both had drawbacks – they were time-consuming and demanded high levels of craftsmanship. Ren Feihong knew that coke was available in the Nie Palace. Since coke could be used to fire glass, it should also be usable for iron ore. She thus suggested to the foundry supervisors at the Office of Metallurgy that they try boiling iron directly in a pot.

The foundry supervisor, aware of Ren Feihong’s easygoing nature and feeling no restraint in conversation, joked in response, “It seems you truly don’t understand iron-smelting techniques.”

Ren Feihong smiled. “Indeed, I don’t. I may have a fondness for miscellaneous knowledge, but how many all-around geniuses like Her Majesty are there in this world?”

The supervisor nodded. “While simply boiling iron in a pot isn’t feasible, what you mentioned does contain points worthy of deeper consideration.”

Ren Feihong shook her head and humbly deflected. “This has nothing to do with me; it’s merely that I happened to come across some closely guarded alchemical methods preserved in the palace while at Jingyuan.”

The supervisor paused for a moment, then a look of realization dawned on his face. Although the Office of Metallurgy had never heard of such closely guarded methods existing in the palace, since even a minister as trusted by the Emperor as Ren Feihong claimed so, it must indeed be true.

At this critical moment, the Emperor herself had yet to return to Jingyuan. Since the onset of winter, the court’s workload had grown heavier by the day – disaster prevention efforts for snowstorms across various regions, along with preparations for the New Year celebrations, were enough to keep Wen Yanran firmly anchored in the capital.

Inside Western Yong Palace.

[System:

Due to [content currently unavailable for display], the [Data Deployment] module has been activated.]

Wen Yanran studied it for a while but still couldn’t grasp the meaning of this module. She attributed this to her insufficient preparation of strategies before her transmigration.

However, if Wen Yanran had a pair of eyes capable of seeing through game design, she would realize that no amount of preparation would have helped – this was a completely unprecedented emergency response mechanism, activated for the first time, specifically designed for hands-on players like her.

The initial design purpose of the [Data Deployment] module was to provide external support to players whose abilities fell short and who had failed to embark on the path of a tyrannical ruler.

Monarch’s Conquest records all the gameplay histories achieved by other players and can use this data to influence the current playthrough Wen Yanran is in – that is the meaning of [Data Deployment].

Ancient emperors were subject to the Mandate of Heaven. While personal capability was one aspect, if natural disasters occurred frequently during their reign, the world would also interpret it as a sign of the monarch’s insufficient virtue.

Not long after the [Data Deployment] module was activated, in November the second year of the Zhaoming era, an earthquake struck the Great Zhou Dynasty. City walls in many cities were damaged, and this even included the capital, Jianping.

Other players, after the stability values in the northern territories decreased, had previously experienced the tragic plot of the Wuliu tribe’s cavalry advancing all the way to Jianping. In Wen Yanran’s case, with the declining influence of figures like Wen Hong, the situation in the north was actually more chaotic than in the past. The Wuliu tribe, further plagued by internal trifle due to Wu Geqi’s sudden death, had some of its able-bodied men contemplating a southward advance. Guide to Becoming a Tyrant hoped to use [Data Deployment] to increase the possibility of these cavalrymen avoiding detection and interception. If they could penetrate deep into the heart of the Great Zhou and cause disturbances, the emperor’s prestige would inevitably suffer as a result.

Inside the palace grounds, Wen Yanran calmly closed a memorial.

The City Bureau had already reported the situation within the city. Following the earthquake, multiple sections of the Great Zhou’s city walls had collapsed or been damaged, with the north gate completely buried. As the capital, each entrance and exit of Jianping had been deliberately constructed with a barbican structure to facilitate defense. However, when repairs became necessary, the trouble was also doubled.

Besides the gates and walls, some civilian dwellings within the city, as well as certain buildings within the imperial city precincts, had also sustained damage.

This was undoubtedly a major problem.

Repairing the city walls and moats would require substantial funds. Moreover, before long, it would be time for officials from various regions and leaders of border tribes to send envoys to the capital for the New Year’s audience. Jianping could hardly present them with a dilapidated capital city.

The Ministry of Works had initially proposed a plan. The repair time for a large city was calculated in years. Jianping itself, for instance, had been meticulously constructed over four years by conscripting 100,000 laborers. Now that the city was inhabited, construction would be inconvenient. Although dispatching people to repair the walls wouldn’t require as much work as the initial construction, the amount of work would still be substantial.

On the other hand, the Gui and Yao Palaces outside the city, being newly built, had not suffered damage from the earthquake, thus preserving for Wen Yanran some potential sources for plants and minerals to explore.

After understanding the situation regarding the earthquake, Wen Yanran quickly made arrangements. “This year’s Grand Court Assembly will be moved to the Gui Palace. Since many of the halls in the front court are damaged, clear a portion of the palace grounds behind Western Yong Palace and convert it into office space.”

A minister cautiously remonstrated, “The area behind Western Yong Palace is where the inner court resides…”

Wen Yanran smiled. “It’s merely a temporary measure. Even if it is the inner court, what harm is there?”

Hearing this, the minister bowed slightly and said, “Thank you for your gracious understanding, Your Majesty.”

The damage to Jianping’s city structures was severe and required urgent attention from the court. As for where the court conducted its business, it was merely a minor matter. Even if the Emperor’s prestige were not as high as it currently was, ministers would not quibble with the sovereign over such issues.

Wen Yanran continued, “As for the repair of the city walls and the reconstruction of dwellings within the city, let the Ministry of Works deal with it.”

The tone set by the Emperor was unproblematic. After all, both the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Works had artisans skilled in construction, but the former’s services were limited to matters concerning the palace, while affairs outside the court – such as repairing city walls – fell under the purview of the Ministry of Works.

Having decided to delegate all the work to the Ministry of Works, the next issue was determining which official should take the lead.

A minister had a candidate in mind and thus spoke up, “Besides Minister Huang of the Ministry of Works…”

Wen Yanran smiled and said leisurely, “No need to look beyond Minister Huang. Jianping is the capital of the Great Zhou, and this matter is of great importance. Let Minister Huang take personal charge of it.”

“… ”

The ministers fell silent – years of working alongside him had given them a fairly comprehensive understanding of Huang Xu’s abilities and moral character.

Although Huang Xu did not dare to take the Emperor’s instructions lightly, he was, after all, not a particularly capable individual. Moreover, the matter of repairing the city walls was exceptionally critical, and it was feared he might truly be unable to handle it properly. The ministers were now eager to recommend a suitable candidate from among Huang Xu’s subordinates to take charge, but they were unsure how to dissuade the Emperor.

Wang Qishi made an attempt. “Minister Huang is rather fond of governing by non-action; I fear he might be burdened by such mundane affairs.”

Wen Yanran had long seen through Huang Xu’s true nature. However, as she gradually consolidated power, she decided to selectively embrace a laissez-faire attitude and replied with a smile, “Minister Huang has presided over the Ministry of Works for many years with meticulous care. Only if he personally takes charge of this matter can I rest assured.”

The capital city was the very face of the court. The slower and worse Huang Xu’s repairs were, the more they would align with Wen Yanran’s game objectives.

Another minister tried to persuade her. “But the weather has been poor lately, and Minister Huang has reported himself ill at home. This might delay the city gate repairs.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Yanran did not first inquire about Huang Xu. Instead, she showed concern for the common people within the city. “Left Vice Commissioner Chi, the winter is cold. Has the Imperial Medical Bureau been paying attention to matters of seasonal epidemics within the city?”

Chi Yi, serving as an Attendants-in-Ordinary, was entitled to stand in the hall. She immediately replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the Imperial Medical Bureau has dispatched personnel to distribute medicine in various wards. In October of last year, 1,300 people within Jianping died from cold-related illnesses. This year, the number is 460.”

The population within the Jianping metropolitan area exceeded 400,000. Considering the average life expectancy of this era, it was entirely normal for over a thousand people to succumb to the winter cold each year. Despite the temperatures being even lower this year, the death toll had dropped to less than 40% of the previous year’s figure, demonstrating the effectiveness of the herbal remedies – such as banlangen and honeysuckle – that the Emperor had previously provided to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Medicines refined at Jingyuan were not suitable for long-term storage, so the Imperial Medical Bureau distributed some of these drugs – which, in the Emperor’s words, were “about to expire” – to ailing commoners. In this era, even crude salicylic acid, an effective fever reducer, could be regarded as a miraculous substance. Unfortunately, the supply of willow bark was limited at the time; otherwise, the death toll could have been reduced even further.

Wen Yanran gave a slight nod, then turned her attention back to Huang Xu.

Witnessing this, the ministers in the hall were filled with admiration.

There were still some who wished the emperor would not be so engrossed in alchemy and medicine, but under her arrangements, the medical and public health efforts of the Imperial Medical Bureau staff were undeniably effective. Even if others wanted to find fault, it was difficult to come up with a justifiable reason.

“Since Minister Huang is unwell, send the Chief Imperial Physician to examine him. Repairing the city walls is a time-consuming endeavor; there’s no urgency in a day or two. Let him first recuperate properly, and once he has recovered, he can return and handle affairs for me.”

The Emperor’s words were, of course, final and not open to debate. With Wen Yanran having made her decision unequivocally, the ministers who had previously attempted to dissuade her could hardly voice direct objections and thus murmured their assent in unison.

After the court discussion concluded, the emperor did not summon any ministers for a smaller private session but instead proceeded directly to the Zhier Pavilion. Western Yong Palace had also sustained damage in the earthquake. Although the situation was not severe, the roof tiles inevitably needed replacement, and the fire walls used for insulation required repair as well. With the constant flow of people daily, the noise was unavoidable, so she had temporarily moved to another palace complex that remained in better condition.

As Cai Qu saw the Emperor return, she stepped forward to report, “Your Majesty, someone has just arrived from the Tianfu Palace and is currently waiting in the side hall.”

Wen Yanran raised an eyebrow slightly, then nodded. “Summon them.”

An attendant ushered in a young Daoist official. After the latter paid his respects, Wen Yanran asked directly, “Is the situation at Tianfu Palace unfavorable?”

After the earthquake, she had sent people to inquire about conditions everywhere, naturally not omitting Wen Jingmei, who was nearby. The fact that he had not simply sent a message back through an attendant, nor come in person, most likely indicated he had matters to discuss but was unable to leave himself.

The young Daoist official replied respectfully, “The State Preceptor dispatched me to convey his respects to Your Majesty. The earthquake damaged several buildings at the Tianfu Palace, and unfortunately, a few junior Daoist officials had their legs crushed by falling debris.” He added, “Thanks to Your Majesty’s divine protection, their lives are not in danger. The State Preceptor will surely handle this matter properly and live up to Your Majesty’s gracious trust.”

Wen Yanran nodded. “These days, the State Preceptor will naturally have to bear an extra burden.” Noticing that Chi Yi was also in the Zhier Pavilion, she addressed her directly, “If there are no other matters, Attendants-in-Ordinary Chi, please escort this official back.”

A simple task like escorting someone was hardly worthy of the attention of a trusted Attendants-in-Ordinary like Chi Yi. After leading the official out of the hall, she promptly arranged for several imperial physicians to reside directly at the Tianfu Palace to treat the injured. She also went personally to inspect the situation, urged the Imperial Household to deliver more stone materials needed for the repairs, and dispatched a contingent of imperial guards for round-the-clock protection. Although the Tianfu Palace already had its own security personnel, having the elite inner-court imperial guards ensure their safety would better demonstrate the Emperor’s grace and favor.

That day, while Chi Yi attended the Emperor within the inner palace, Zhang Luo was active in the outer court.

After the regular court session had ended, a group of officials gathered in their ministries discussing the purpose behind the Emperor’s decision to assign Huang Xu responsibility for overseeing the city wall repairs.

On the surface, the arrangement seemed perfectly reasonable. After all, the condition of Jianping was closely tied to the prestige of the Great Zhou court. Given the importance of the matter, it was only natural for the Minister of Works to take personal charge. As for Huang Xu’s lack of competence, that could hardly be blamed on the current emperor.

Someone asked, “What if Minister Huang is unable to handle the matter properly?”

Another replied, “Then it would damage the court’s prestige…”

Before finishing the sentence, the speaker chuckled and stopped himself – of course, Her Majesty would never intentionally do anything to harm the court’s prestige. There must be some other purpose behind this.

As the group was discussing, they suddenly spotted Zhang Luo walking cheerfully along the palace path, heading in the direction of the Central Secretariat.

A brief silence fell over the ministry offices. Then, someone suddenly realized, “If Minister Huang proves incompetent, naturally someone else will have to step in.”

Those present had a certain degree of political acumen and didn’t bother asking why the Emperor hadn’t simply named someone else from the start if she intended someone else to take over. It was obvious – if the Emperor directly appointed her preferred candidate to handle the matter, she would undoubtedly face opposition from the court ministers.

In their view, the emperor intended to let the Imperial Household take charge of the city repairs, thereby allowing the City Bureau to gradually consolidate power.

Given Huang Xu’s lack of real ability and his insufficiently firm character, the inner-court officials wouldn’t need to frame loyal ministers; simply performing normally would allow them to slowly usurp authority.

After a brief silence, the officials changed the subject. However, the young official who had first proposed the speculation felt somewhat pleased with himself – after being trained under the Emperor for so long, they were finally beginning to grasp the sovereign’s way of thinking…