Although the Ministry of Military Industry was newly established, it had always been heavily guarded because of the attention of Li Shimin and Gao Ming, and Wang Ze had just approached the main gate when he was stopped by two guards.

"Stop coming, this is a military place, and idlers can't approach!"

The two guards who stopped Wang Ze at this time were wearing black iron armor, carrying a three-foot Tang knife at their waists, and holding a divine arm crossbow in their hands, which could be called armed to the teeth, looking murderous.

Looking at the two people who stopped him, Wang Ze suddenly couldn't help but take a step back, and then frowned.

"I'm Shangshu Youcheng Wang Ze, on the orders of His Royal Highness the Prince, I came to check the bellows of the Ministry of Military Industry, let me in quickly!"

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked you to come?" Hearing Wang Ze's words, the guards standing in front of him suddenly looked stunned, and then arched their hands towards him, "My lord, since I am on the orders of the crown prince, can I have a decree from His Royal Highness?" ”

"No, only verbal information!" Wang Ze replied.

Seeing that Wang Ze did not have a hand, the two guards suddenly became a little embarrassed, and the two discussed for a while, and one of them arched his hand towards Wang Ze again.

"My lord, if you don't have a handwritten order, we can't let you in, please go back!"

"This ......"

Just when Wang Ze was a little embarrassed, a loud voice sounded in the door.

"Lord Wang?"

Hearing this voice, the guards and Wang Ze looked in the direction from which the voice came at the same time, and when they saw the people who came out clearly, Wang Ze's eyes suddenly widened.

"Lady Cui?"

At this time, it was none other than Cui Zhang, who walked out of it and arched his hand towards Wang Ze with a smile.

"Haha, it's really Lord Wang, it's a coincidence that Lord Wang came, if you come one step later, I'm afraid you really won't be able to enter, hahahaha!"

"Uh......"

Hearing Cui Zhang's words, Wang Ze's face suddenly showed a little embarrassment, but he didn't know how to answer for a while.

Seeing that he stopped talking to Wang Ze, Cui Zhang smiled slightly, and then arched his hand towards the person standing beside him.

"Lord Liu, Lord Wang was recruited into the East Palace by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince just now, and now that he is here, he should also be ordered by His Royal Highness the Prince, so let him in!"

At this time, it was none other than Liu Tao, the major superintendent of the Ministry of Military Industry, who was personally appointed by Gao Ming.

When he listened to Cui Zhang's explanation, he immediately smiled and nodded.

"I see, then this official will accompany Lord Wang to go in, Master Cui go slowly!"

"Farewell!"

Cui Zhang smiled and arched his hand towards Liu Tao and Wang Ze before leaving, and after he left, Liu Tao arched his hand towards Wang Ze.

"Lord Wang, please!"

Hearing Liu Tao's words, the two guards who stopped in front of Wang Ze consciously retreated, and seeing this scene, Wang Ze also bowed his hand to Liu Tao.

"Lord Liu, please!"

The two looked at each other and smiled, and then they entered the Ministry of Military Industry together, and after entering the door, Liu Tao smiled at Wang Ze again.

"Lord Wang is the first time to come to the Ministry of Military Industry, right?"

"Hmm!" Hearing Liu Tao's words, Wang Ze nodded immediately and said, "Xiaguan is indeed the first time to come, I don't know what Lord Liu has to say?" ”

"Haha, I don't dare to be taught!" Liu Tao waved his hand, and then said with a smile: "Actually, it is a rule set by His Royal Highness the Prince, that is, for the sake of secrecy, Lord Wang can't tell others what he sees here!" ”

"The rules set by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

Hearing Liu Tao's words, Wang Ze immediately understood why Lu Zhi didn't tell him anything before, and what kind of confidentiality agreement did it turn out to be the rule here.

Thinking of this, he immediately nodded towards Liu Tao, and his expression became serious.

"I see, I'm not going to tell anyone what I see here!"

"It's good that Lord Wang understands!" Looking at Wang Ze's serious appearance, Liu Tao suddenly nodded with satisfaction, "I heard Lord Wang say just now that he came to see the bellows, please come with me!" ”

After speaking, Liu Tao turned around and walked to the left, and his pace became faster, seeing this scene, Wang Ze also quickened his pace and followed.

Wang Ze followed Liu Tao all the way, looking while walking, everywhere he saw were craftsmen carrying hammers and striking iron, and the sound of "clanging" ironing was endless.

From time to time, you can hear a "stinging and la-la" sound, which is obviously the sound made by the hot iron when it enters the water.

And the things made by the blacksmiths were also varied, including swords and spears, armor and shields, and all cylinders that Wang Ze didn't know what to do.

Seeing everything in front of him, Wang Ze couldn't help but be a little stunned.

"There are hundreds of skilled craftsmen gathered, and this Ministry of Military Industry really deserves its reputation!"

Liu Tao stood next to Wang Ze, and after hearing his muttering, he immediately burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha, Lord Wang, you are wrong, these hundreds of people are only subordinate to the Bingjia Bureau, the number is not large, the largest number of people have to count the Gunpowder Bureau and the Steam Engine Research and Development Bureau, there are more than 2,000 skilled craftsmen there!"

"More than two thousand?" At this time, Wang Ze was really shocked, and his expression was full of disbelief, "What kind of place is the Gunpowder Bureau and the Steam Engine R&D Bureau, which actually needs more than 2,000 skilled craftsmen?" ”

"Haha, I can't say this!" Liu Tao shrugged his shoulders and gave Wang Ze a helpless expression, "Although I am the young superintendent of the Ministry of Military Industry, I must also abide by the confidentiality agreement, otherwise there will be big trouble!" ”

Although Liu Tao's tone was very relaxed, Wang Ze didn't dare to take this as a joke, and he immediately bowed to Liu Tao.

"It's the lower official who lost his words, and please don't be surprised by Lord Liu!"

"Haha, Lord Wang is polite!" Liu Tao smiled and waved his hand at Wang Ze, "It's just a little curiosity, it's not a big mistake, Lord Wang doesn't need to be like this, hey, the blast furnace has arrived!" ”

Speaking of this, Liu Tao stopped, and then stretched out his hand and pointed forward.

"Lord Wang, look, that is the blast furnace for ironmaking, and the one under the blast furnace is the bellows you want to see!"

Hearing Liu Tao's words, Wang Ze raised his head and looked in the direction of his finger.

What appeared in front of Wang Ze's eyes at this time was a huge cylindrical building standing in the middle of the square, the diameter of this building was about six meters, the height was about one meter, and black smoke was spewing out from its roof, just like a giant chimney.

On the edge of this cylinder, a huge blower was "whirring" into it, and from a distance, Wang Ze felt a burst of hot air rushing to his face.

Looking at the scene in front of him, Wang Ze was stunned.

"This ...... Is this really a furnace for making iron? How high a furnace is really unheard of? How is it made of iron? And why does that bellows drive such a violent wind? Is...... What an eye-opener! ”

Thinking of this, Wang Ze suddenly turned around and asked Liu Tao with an anxious face.

"Lord Liu, how is this iron-making furnace ......?"

As soon as he was halfway through his words, Wang Ze reacted that because of the confidentiality agreement, Liu Tao would definitely not tell him anything, so he immediately stopped his words, and then arched his hand towards Liu Tao.

"This time, there is Lord Lao Liu, and the lower officials have to go back to report to His Royal Highness the Prince, and say goodbye!"

Looking at Wang Ze's anxious appearance, Liu Tao also showed a smile.

"Then I'll send Lord Wang out, please!"