Craftsman Wang stopped in his tracks, turned back, and looked over with an impatient expression. “What is it?”
Gu Yun walked over and said, “A victory celebration banquet. Are you not coming?”
“What victory celebration banquet?” Craftsman Wang asked. “How come I was not informed?” His gaze swept inch by inch across the others. Gu Yun smiled and said, “A last-minute decision. Are you coming?”
Craftsman Craftsman Wang scoffed and said, “I am not coming.”
Gu Yun replied indifferently, “Very well.” With that, he signalled for the others to leave. Craftsman Wang, face dark, watched the retreating figures, his fingers cracking as he clenched his fists.
…
“Bring the wine!”
The wine shop.
Craftsman Wang plonked himself down on a wooden stool and called out to the proprietress. The proprietress paused her work, wiped her hands, and said, “What wine would you like? Would you like any dishes to go with it?”
Craftsman Wang said, “Bring the finest wine you have! What do grown men need dishes for!” and slammed a heavy money pouch onto the table.
The proprietress acknowledged him and quickly brought out the best wine. Craftsman Wang did not bother with a bowl; he tore off the red covering, lifted the wine jar, and drank straight from it. The mountain scenery outside had faded into a dark ink-like green-black. Lanterns outside the wine shop glowed a warm orange, swaying in the sudden wind and drizzle.
The proprietress was lightly dressed that day and struggled against the sudden drop in temperature. Rubbing her arms, she came out and said to Craftsman Wang, “Sir, please drink inside. It is cold out here.”
The wine shop was not large. In order to serve more customers, a covered shed had been built outside with tables and seating. Craftsman Wang was sitting in a corner of the shed. There were few people inside, so going in would not be crowded.
Hearing this, Craftsman Wang did not even lift his eyes, waving her away as though she were a fly.
The proprietress turned away and rolled her eyes. Craftsman Wang, taking advantage of the wind and rain, drank another jar, until the world before his eyes began to spin, yet he showed no intention of stopping.
At that moment, footsteps appeared at the front of the wine shop. Craftsman Wang ignored them. The steps grew closer and then stopped at his table.
“Clack—” the umbrella was closed.
The visitor sat down opposite him. Craftsman Wang narrowed his eyes. At first he could not see clearly, but after a few more glances, his expression changed entirely. As though struck by flint, he sobered instantly and stared coldly.
Gu Yun signalled for Li Lan, who stood behind him, to place the food box on the table.
He opened it. Inside were a plate of savoury snacks, a plate of crispy duck, a plate of roasted fish, and a plate of braised pork trotters.
Craftsman Wang glanced at it. “What is your meaning?”
Gu Yun smiled and said, “Everyone went, only you did not. Naturally I had to bring you a portion. We are all working for our master, are we not?”
Craftsman Wang gave a cold laugh and continued drinking.
Gu Yun said, “What, unable to swallow it because you are inferior in skill?”
Craftsman Wang had not yet swallowed his drink when he heard this and choked violently. He slammed his hand on the table, spilling some dishes, leaving a mess.
He roared, “What do you know! What do you know! Do you think I am that sort of person? If I were, I would make sure you accomplish nothing at all!”
He was practically shouting. People inside the wine shop turned to look.
Craftsman Wang noticed and glared at them fiercely. Gu Yun remained calm, picking up his chopsticks and pushing the fallen food aside.
Craftsman Wang suddenly widened his eyes. “Do not throw it away!” he shouted, even louder than before.
Gu Yun paused.
Craftsman Wang took out a handkerchief, picked up the chopsticks, and carefully gathered all the fallen food, wrapping it up.
Gu Yun sighed and said, “I did not intend to throw it away.”
He had intended to feed it to the dogs.
The Eastern Palace lived in luxury, but he still remembered his days of hardship and did not waste food. His first instinct was simply to find somewhere appropriate to deal with it.
Craftsman Wang fell silent for a moment, then muttered, “Oh.”
Gu Yun smiled. “Are you not going to apologise to me?”
Craftsman Wang stood up to leave, but Gu Yun blocked him. “Master Wang, can we not sit down and talk properly? I too cannot stand this world.”
Craftsman Wang stared straight at him. “Did Jia-xiong tell you about me?” The Jia-xiong he referred to was Yan Zhao.
Gu Yun had indeed learned about Craftsman Wang’s situation from Yan Zhao. His ancestors had made firearms, but after the court banned their production, the family turned to fireworks instead.
Later, his parents were injured in a gunpowder explosion due to poor workshop management. Unable to afford treatment, they died that winter.
Craftsman Wang improved the gunpowder, increasing its lethality, and took revenge on the gentry who ran the workshop. The gentry were injured, sued him, and had him imprisoned, intending to kill him.
At the time, Chao Yan was seeking people to develop firearms. Upon hearing of this, he rescued Craftsman Wang from prison, gave him a new identity, and had him work on firearms.
That life-saving grace bound him to obedience. More importantly, he was told that if sufficiently powerful firearms could be developed, the world could be changed.
According to Yan Zhao, Wang only asked for one-tenth of the usual pay, and even that was because he was preparing for marriage and his unborn child.
Gu Yun suppressed his dissatisfaction and kept him on, not only because he was capable and responsible, but also for this reason.
A man with a strong sense of justice would not easily withhold his skills for personal gain.
Gu Yun had considered all of this.
The fire lance had been successfully developed. Their current craftsmen and apprentices could meet Chao Yan’s immediate needs for thousands of units. However, if large-scale production was required in future, the manpower would not be sufficient.
Therefore, they needed to train more people. If they were to train others, the craftsmen must be willing to teach without reservation.
Gu Yun did not intend to teach personally. He was already exhausted from teaching the craftsmen and had no desire to take on more. He was only one person, and if he became tied down, he would be unable to handle other matters. Tasks had to be delegated.
However, these skills were core techniques, enough to secure livelihoods for generations. Unlike in modern times, knowledge did not circulate freely.
He could not guarantee that the craftsmen would fully pass on their skills.
If future workers learned only part of the craft and entered production, the weapons produced might even be inferior to cold arms, wasting both time and money.
Moreover, he worried that once they mastered the techniques, they might become unrestrained, disregard authority, or even seize control from above. More people had to be taught to prevent such risks at the root.
He needed someone selfless and trustworthy to learn the full method of producing fire lances and then pass it down to others.
This was the task assigned to Craftsman Wang.
After weighing everything, Gu Yun found Craftsman Wang the most reassuring choice.
As for the gunpowder formula, he had given it to Chao Yan. How it was distributed was up to him. As long as it was not entrusted to a single person, leakage could be avoided.
If the conflict between them could not be resolved, then so be it. Another candidate would simply be found.
One should not cling to a single tree.
Gu Yun replied to Craftsman Wang, “I did hear it from Jia-xiong.”
Craftsman Wang looked him up and down. “Someone of your privileged background has no idea what kind of world I want.”
Gu Yun said, “The world I want is one where the hungry have food, the sick have medicine, people have shelter from wind and rain, and the oppressed have justice.”
Craftsman Wang burst into laughter.
“We are kindred spirits!” he said.
Gu Yun said, “So can we sit down and talk properly now?”
Craftsman Wang said, “Fine. What do you want to discuss? You want me to work properly? Do not worry, I will do so without you saying it.”
Gu Yun said, “It is not that. I want…” He lowered his voice and explained everything he required of him in detail.
Craftsman Wang’s pupils contracted. His breathing grew rapid as he clenched his fists. “I… this… I…”
Gu Yun smiled. “You cannot do it?”
“Wait!” Craftsman Wang rushed into the rain, soaking himself completely, forcing himself to calm down. He returned quickly. “I can do it. I will not fail your expectations!” he said with force.
Gu Yun raised a finger. “Keep your voice down.”
Craftsman Wang nodded. He asked the proprietress for a porcelain bowl, poured tea, gritted his teeth, and knelt down.
Gu Yun startled. “What are you doing?”
“I was disrespectful before. Please forgive me. From now on, anyone who disrespects you disrespects me. I will kill them.”
Gu Yun thought: I thought it was something serious. “Get up. I do not hold grudges.” Only a little, but it was gone now.
He helped him up. The two then went to the workshop, where Gu Yun carefully explained the casting methods and precautions for each component. He had originally intended to explain it the next day, but the other man insisted on learning that night.
After he finished, Craftsman Wang took careful notes and asked about reducing misfires in damp conditions.
Gu Yun disassembled the fire lance and indicated the gunpowder chamber cover.
Craftsman Wang said, “Something has been added to the cover. What is it?”
Gu Yun nodded. “Asbestos and fish bladder. Used to prevent moisture entering the chamber. It cannot improve the gunpowder”s resistance directly, but it improves the weapon’s resistance, indirectly protecting the powder. In addition to the chamber cover, there is also this…”
After finishing his explanation, they continued talking until dawn.
He said farewell to Craftsman Wang and was about to rest when a guard under Chao Yan, who was off duty that day, hurried over.
Gu Yun had a bad feeling. “What is it?”
The guard lowered his voice. “Her Highness Princess Hanzhu has heard that you are not in the Eastern Palace and has brought people here to see you. Grand Eunuch Zhao has barely managed to stop her. He told me to ask you to return at once. His Highness is not in the Eastern Palace; His Majesty has summoned him.”
