Xiao Zijie was overjoyed when he heard Zhao Yan allow him to recite poems in front of his father.

He thrust his chest, facing Xiao Jingye, and then chanted loudly: "I am a son and you are a father. The father and son are both in the court. Twenty years later, I will be the prime minister and will shine on my ancestors' reputation!"

After chanting, Xiao Zijie asked Zhao Yan confidently: "Your Majesty, what do you think of this poem?"

Zhao Yan coughed dryly, looked into the distance and said, "It's getting late, let's go!"

Xiao Jingye, who was standing beside him, looked as if Zhao Yan had not allowed him to take action, he would have beaten Xiao Zijie up.

Xiao Zijie scratched his head and walked forward with a happy look on his face.

He was already poetic and had not been beaten, so he was very satisfied!

When Xiao Zijie left, Xiao Jingye recited the poem several times silently and couldn't help but laugh and scold: This bastard! I missed him a little as soon as I left.

...

The Shuzhou reform was not enough to achieve results without a year or two, and Zhao Yan only needed macro-control.

Zhao Yan was very relieved to have Pan Wenyue sit in Shuzhou.

Next, Zhao Yan's life became easier.

He couldn't help but think of the beacon hall established in early September.

That was the secret weapon that the Great Zhou could completely defeat Bei Meng, and he had never been there once as the honorary master.

Zhao Yan took advantage of the good weather on that day and asked Shen Tuyi and Heiwa to take him to Fenghuotang.

The address of Fenghuotang was chosen by twelve-year-old Qiu Mu.

Located at the foot of a mountain in the south suburbs of Changdan City, it is located at the end of a village called Liuzi Village, and behind the village is a barren mountain.

Fenghuotang is nominally a workshop for producing firecrackers.

There were more than a hundred people in it. In addition to the imperial guards who were responsible for physical labor, there were more than twenty veterans and blacksmiths who developed fireworks.

These people were carefully selected by Yang Hong and Shen Tuyi, and they knew their families well. It was impossible for spies to exist.

As for money, the money you earn in a year is enough to live a comfortable life.

After leaving the city, Heiwa and Shen Tuyi drove around in carriages, and finally arrived at Liuzi Village one hour later.

As soon as the carriage reached the entrance of the village, someone came to greet him.

Yang Hong and Shen Tuyi attached great importance to Fenghuotang and sent several soldiers to patrol the village. Once any strangers enter, they will be discovered immediately.

A quarter of an hour later, Zhao Yan came to a firecracker workshop, which was the Fenghuo Hall.

Qiu Mu ran over quickly from inside and was about to salute Zhao Yan.

Zhao Yan smiled at him and shook his head.

Qiu Mu immediately understood and immediately smiled and said, "Hello, Lord, God, God of God!"

"Qiu Mu, I haven't seen you for two months, I see you have lost a lot of weight!" Zhao Yan asked with a smile as he walked towards the hall in front.

Qiu Mu smiled and showed two big white teeth.

He didn't know why he ate so much every day, but he didn't get fat but lost weight.

After a while, everyone sat down in the hall.

In addition to Zhao Yan, Shen Tu Yi, Heiwa and Qiu Mu, there was also a middle-aged man with a thin face and a long robe.

By looking at his temperament, you can tell that he is a scholar.

"Master, this person is Zhang Zhong, the steward of the Qiu family, who is responsible for all the miscellaneous tasks in Fenghuo Hall." Shen Tuyi said that he came at least five times a month, so he is very familiar with the situation here.

Zhang Zhong quickly knelt down and saluted Zhao Yan.

When he heard Qiu Mu call the Lord, he knew who the person in front of him was, so he acted very respectfully.

"Get up, there is no need to be polite outside, just call me the master of the hall."

Zhao Yan turned to Qiu Mu and asked, "Xiao Qiu Mu, how has Chongtian Lei been researched? Is the diagram of the firearms and gunpowder crossbow that I have drawn for you? Is it useful to you?"

Qiu Mu said excitedly: "Master, you came just in time. The sky-surge thunder is only the size of a duck pear. I have already developed the kind of firearms and gunpowder crossbow you mentioned!"

"Have you studied it?" Zhao Yan couldn't help but be overjoyed, "Take me there and have a look."

Before Zhao Yan could warm the stool, he quickly stood up.

Once firearms and fire crossbows can be put into use on a large scale, the military power of the Great Zhou will instantly become the best in the world. Even if they start war with the surrounding countries, they will definitely be invincible.

Immediately, Zhao Yan, Shen Tuyi and Heiwa walked towards the hall under the leadership of Qiu Mu and Zhang Zhong.

Behind the hall is a real fireworks workshop.

Now that the end of the year is approaching, the demand for firecrackers has suddenly increased.

In less than three months, this place has become a well-known firecracker workshop.

This result was also something Zhao Yan was happy to see. The more people knew that this place was a firecracker workshop, the safer it would be.

Soon, the five people walked to a room where firecrackers were placed.

The firecrackers around were sealed with large boxes to avoid accidents.

Zhang Zhong skillfully opened the door and walked into a secret door.

The five people walked nearly a hundred steps along the secret door and finally arrived at the place where they really developed the sky thunder.

Zhao Yan smelled the pungent smell of gunpowder from all the way.

However, not only did he not cover his mouth and nose, he was extremely excited.

Only he knows what gunpowder means to this world.

Zhang Zhong, who was standing beside him, said: "The master, there is a secret courtyard here. It is not connected to the outside. Five rooms are placed with gunpowder, and the other three rooms are used to develop gunpowder."

"Let's go and see the finished products you have developed first!" Zhao Yan said excitedly.

Immediately, Zhang Zhong led Zhao Yan and the other two toward the place where gunpowder was placed in front.

"The size of the sky-summit thunder we developed has been reduced by nearly half, but its destructive power has doubled."

"In addition, like firearms and gunpowder crossbows, we have developed several samples based on the drawings of the hall master that day, but the lethality is not very high." Zhang Zhong said to Zhao Yan while holding the key to open the door.

And at this moment, a room where gunpowder was placed was finally opened.

There were more than a dozen large boxes inside, and each box had a large lock on it.

This is an item that can overturn the house with a little spark, so I am very careful when placing it.

Immediately, Zhang Zhong and Qiu Mu began to open the boxes one by one.

First of all, what caught Zhao Yan's eyes were three sky thunders, which were half smaller than before. After having multiple blacksmiths, the sky thunders became much better.

At this moment, Qiu Mu took out a long piece of item from the box and asked Zhao Yan: "Master, is this the firearm you imagined?"

Zhao Yan looked up and couldn't help but feel excited.

This... this... is almost exactly the same as the muskets in later generations.

Although the sky-summit can kill a large area at one time, the speed is too slow and the installation needs to be carried out in advance.

But if there are firearms, you will definitely be able to walk sideways on the battlefield.
Chapter completed!