In April, in the evening, Shaoxing Mansion, under Huiji Mountain.

On a meadow in the "Zheng's Iron Workshop", next to the stream, the flowing water is murmuring, the green trees are shady, and the mountains are shaded, which makes people feel that "after a long time in the cage, they can return to nature".

There is a table on the side of the stream, on which there are several side dishes, chicken, duck and fish, a few jars of rice wine, and complete dishes. Zhao Hong, Tian Yi, and Xu Liang sat around the table, laughing and scolding, talking about the past and the present.

The iron smelting has been completed, and the gunpowder has been almost developed, and now it is only time for the final sprint and the granulation of gunpowder. When everyone met together, it was also a small celebration.

Li Tang, Xu Sheng, Hu Datou and a few other guards were at another table outside the house, just eating food, but not drinking. Everyone acted as a vigilance to ensure Zhao Hong's personal safety, of course, he couldn't drink and make mistakes.

Although they can't drink alcohol, it can't stop their curiosity and the fire of gossip in their hearts.

"Have you noticed that His Highness doesn't seem to be the same as before?"

Hu Datou whispered while eating the dishes, and his eyes did not forget to glance in the direction of Zhao Hong and the others.

"Different? It's not just different, it's a different person! It wasn't bad before, but it's still good. Treat people closely, and feel comfortable in your heart! ”

Zhang Hong, another guard, nodded again and again.

Although he was high up in the past, he didn't bully his subordinates.

"I haven't seen His Highness ride a horse before, why is he riding a horse the same as playing, not much worse than us?"

The guard Wang Ying looked at Zhao Hong and the others in the distance, frowned and shook his head.

How did he know that Zhao Hong's riding skills were practiced when he was teaching in the northwest, and although he still can't ride and shoot, he obviously has good riding skills, and he is not a scholar who has no power to tie his hands.

"Maybe His Highness used to, but we didn't know, just like His Highness could make poetry, and no one knew about it. Don't you forget, His Royal Highness used to be the heir of King Yi, and it was not easy to ride a horse? ”

Xu Sheng's words made all the guards nod.

Most of the children of the powerful in Lin'an City have horses, and it is not new to know how to ride horses. Not to mention, Zhao Hong's status is noble, which is not comparable to ordinary Lin'an.

"To be honest, I was going to quit and go on a boat with my cousin. But His Highness suddenly changed his sex, and his salary doubled, not to mention, he also trusted me. I don't even have the face to leave Your Highness! ”

Hu Datou's words, everyone echoed one after another.

Now Zhao Hong is approachable and takes care of them, and he is tall and tall, and he can't drive them away.

"I heard that His Royal Highness is going to publish a collection of poems, but I don't know if it's true or not?"

"Who are you listening to?"

Hu Datou's words surprised Li Tang.

Zhao Hong published a collection of poems, which is a great thing.

It seems that His Highness is going to build momentum for himself.

"It was published in the tabloids, saying that Your Highness, everyone at home and abroad wants to publish an anthology of poetry, and it will be within a few days."

Sure enough, Hu Datou took out a tabloid and handed it to Li Tang.

Li Tang looked at it and nodded slightly.

Sure enough, the tabloids are ambiguous, but this matter is probably not groundless.

"That Xu Ji, His Royal Highness doesn't seem to care much anymore. Is there someone out there? ”

Zhang Hong asked curiously. The gaze of gossip men is always inseparable from the erotic love between men and women.

"That little lady Yan who sells food is not bad, and she is a good match for His Highness. She also gave Her Highness a few good horses. It seems that Her Highness likes her a lot! ”

Hu Datou nodded and appreciated Zhang Hong's words.

"What is it like? That Yan Chun was vulgar, he didn't know a few words, he was arrogant, and he relied on a good skin. His Highness and her are not suitable. Don't guess! ”

Li Tang retorted angrily to Hu Datou.

Last time, Yan Chun wanted to break into the iron workshop, but he didn't let him go, and Zhao Hong praised him afterwards. It seems that Zhao Hong is not very relieved about Yang Yi.

He didn't mean to make things difficult for Yan Chun. Iron smelting is confidential, and no idle people can enter, which is his code of conduct.

"How about that Yang Yi? I heard that she was the niece of Empress Yang, and her husband died. People are beautiful and have good temperament. ”

The guard Wang Ying asked curiously.

Yang Yi has been to the house several times, and Yang Yi's identity has already been known to the guards. Such a seductive lady naturally can't escape the eyes of the guards.

"Yang Yi is several years older than His Royal Highness, and he is a widow, pampered, looking for pleasure all day long, drunk, and not suitable for His Highness!"

Hu Datou shook his head and vetoed Wang Ying's proposal.

It doesn't matter if the man is a woman, the woman is a man, and she is still a widow, so it doesn't matter how you look at it.

"Big head, you're not right. If His Royal Highness marries Yang Yi, the relationship with Empress Yang will improve. Think about it, if His Royal Highness wants to be the crown prince, does it require the nod of Empress Yang? ”

Zhang Hong thought for a moment, but he had a different view.

"It's useless to say that! Have you forgotten that Madame is still there, but she hasn't returned home? ”

Xu Sheng's words made all the guards stunned, and then shook their heads one after another.

Madame is the nephew of Empress Yang, Madame is still there, no matter who His Royal Highness marries, I'm afraid it will not be so easy.

"Second brother, His Royal Highness treats you and Xu Sheng well, and asks you to teach him how to punch and kick. You're going to get ahead! ”

Zhang Hong said enviously.

Li Tang and Xu Sheng are good, cautious and thoughtful, and are very popular with Zhao Hong.

"You kid is also a strong man, and he has good knife skills. But you often go to Vasher to mess around, who do you say you blame? Hu Datou is smaller than you, but he is down-to-earth, isn't His Highness still important? ”

Li Tang's black face was black, and Zhang Honglai was counted.

"Zhang Hong, and Wang Ying, you all take care of it. His Royal Highness is the prince, and he is destined to do great things in the future, so let's follow and do a good job, His Highness can't treat us badly! ”

Xu Sheng also reminded seriously.

"Okay, okay, remember. General Xu! ”

Zhang Hong, Wang Ying and others all laughed awkwardly, and Zhang Hong shook his head again, worried.

"I'm afraid, I'm afraid, that old guy from Shi Miyuan made a stumbling block for His Highness."

"You don't have to worry about that. No matter how horizontal he is, he is just a courtier of the Great Song Dynasty. In the future, His Highness will definitely become the emperor! ”

Li Tang was serious and reassured everyone.

"Of course!"

"That's the best!"

The guards were all smiling.

Hu Datou glanced at Zhao Hong and the others who were eating and drinking, retracted his gaze, and asked Li Tang in a low voice.

"Second brother, have you seen that gunpowder made by Tian Dalang? I've heard that even walls can be blown down, is it true? ”

Several other guards looked at Li Tang together.

"Whatever an earthen wall is, iron can blast it open!"

Li Tang put down his chopsticks, took out a few pieces of broken iron that seemed to be jagged on the edge from under the table, and a round bullet casing, and put them on the table together.

Everyone was surprised and inexplicable, Li Tang pointed to the iron pieces and bullet shells, and said triumphantly:

"See, this is called Earthquake Thunder. Gunpowder was put in and ignited, and the shells exploded into several pieces. His Royal Highness said that the gunpowder will continue to be tried, and the iron sheet is still a little thick, until the iron sheet is blown into more than a dozen pieces, which is about the same! ”

"Li Tang is right! The gunpowder ignited and blew the iron shell open, but it was terrifying. If a piece of iron pierces a person, the flesh and blood are blurred, how miserable it will be! ”

Xu Sheng then said to Li Tang.

"Tian Dalang is really powerful, such a scary thing can be made! No wonder His Highness uses him so much! ”

Hu Datou shook his head and said with emotion.

"That's amazing!"

"Unexpectedly, in addition to a six-hand gun, Tian Dalang can also make gunpowder. It's not easy! ”

Zhang Hong and several other guards were impressed.

"What a fart! The formula for the gunpowder was made by His Royal Highness, and Tian Dalang only made some changes. No matter how powerful iron smelting is, it's not a fart without gunpowder! When those earth-shattering thunderbolts are created, we all have to practice hard, have we all memorized them? ”

Xu Sheng reminded everyone in a serious way.

"In addition to the earth-shattering thunder, there is also an artillery to be built in the back, which was also made by His Highness, and that is the big killer! Brothers, you must practice hard, don't embarrass Your Highness! ”

Li Tang followed and said, his black face was always solemn.

"Firearms are the magic weapon of His Highness's life, and no one can leak it, not a word. If the drill is good, His Highness will be seriously injured, and he will also reuse his brothers. But if anyone breaks the rules, don't blame me for being rude! ”

"Second brother, don't worry. Brothers, listen to you! ”

"Second brother, Your Highness treats your brothers well, and your brothers will never betray Your Highness!"

Several guards scrambled and swore to Li Tang.

"The second brother is right. I'll add one more sentence. ”

Xu Sheng looked at the red-faced guards with cold eyes.

"Brothers all know that His Highness and Shi Mi are far from dealing with each other. If any of you want to leave, we won't stop you, we're still brothers. But if any of you dare to betray His Highness and take refuge in Shi Miyuan, I will take his life together with my second brother! ”

Xu Sheng's face was serious, and all the guards nodded heavily.

Those who eat Zhao Hong and drink Zhao Hong, if they sell for glory, they will be punished.

How powerful Shi Miyuan is, when Zhao Hong ascends the throne, he is not obediently his courtier.

"Second brother, brothers, Your Highness treats our brothers well, and treats us as human beings. If anyone dares to betray His Highness, I Hu Datou will not be the first to spare him! ”

Hu Datou blushed and looked at everyone coldly.

"The conscience of heaven and earth, brothers can rest assured!"

"Whoever dares to betray His Highness will be destroyed by heaven and earth!"

The guards were impassioned and swore an oath.

"Brothers, we live and die together, share blessings and hardships! Today, I replaced wine with tea, and I dried! ”

After Li Tang finished speaking, he raised his teacup.

"Share the blessings and share the difficulties! Done! ”

Several of the guards raised their teacups together and bumped into each other.

"Big head, go to Your Highness, bring a watermelon!"

Xu Sheng urged Hu Datou.

"Why don't you go?"

Hu Datou said dissatisfiedly.

"You are honest, Your Highness likes you. I'm flamboyant, Your Highness looks annoying! ”

Xu Sheng said with a dark face.

"Okay, I'll get it!"

Hu Datou stood up, stuffed his head, walked to the table where Zhao Hong and the others were all there, picked up a watermelon from the bucket, smiled, and left directly.

Sure enough, as Xu Sheng said, Zhao Hong didn't even raise his head, and continued to drink and chat with Tian Yi and the others.

Hu Datou regretted a little, and he would have hugged an extra watermelon if he knew it.