After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1113 - 1095: The Great Bronze Sphere

Zhao Hanzhang checked the time and went straight back to the Zhao Mansion.

Fu Tinghan had indeed arrived first, and the family was waiting for her in the dining room.

Mrs. Wang was happily talking and upon seeing her, she teased, "You’re really something, always so busy that you don’t even have time to come home for a meal."

After chiding her, she asked with concern, "Did you have any snacks this morning?"

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang shake her head, she immediately turned to instruct Qing Gu to call the kitchen to serve the dishes.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang sit down beside Fu Tinghan and ask him, "How long have you been here?"

Fu Tinghan replied, "I just got here not too long ago."

"He’s been waiting for you for half an hour," Mrs. Wang inquired, "Can’t your government office allow any rest? You just got married, plus it’s the festive season, yet you’re this busy?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "After this New Year, I won’t be busy anymore."

"You always say that. Just count how many years it’s been since our whole family celebrated New Year together?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "We will definitely celebrate together this year."

Zhao Hanzhang invited her, "This year we will celebrate in the Imperial Palace with a big group. It will be lively. Doesn’t Mother like liveliness? Have fun when the time comes."

Mrs. Wang seemed a bit nervous, "Do I also have to enter the palace?"

"Yes, don’t worry. You can sit beside the Second Son, close to me. We will take care of you, and no one in the palace will dare to bully you."

Zhao Erlang pounded his chest confidently and promised, "I will definitely protect Mother."

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang remember to ask, "Erlang, have you ever seen something... like a hollow big copper sphere when you were searching the palace?"

Zhao Erlang shook his head directly, "My brother-in-law just asked me that, I haven’t seen a big copper sphere."

Zhao Hanzhang felt regretful and turned to Fu Tinghan saying, "Never mind, I’ll search around in the court later to see if anyone can make a Heavenly Sphere. I’ll get one made for you then."

"However, the Observatory is destroyed. I inspected today and still found the Observatory’s position optimal. I’ll have the Ministry of Industry quote a price for reconstruction. If the national treasury can spare the funds, we’ll build it next year."

Mrs. Wang was puzzled, "Why build an Observatory?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "To observe the stars."

Mrs. Wang hesitated, "Isn’t that inappropriate? They say the national treasury is strapped, and we’re building an Observatory just to observe stars?"

Zhao Hanzhang explained, "Observing the stars is to predict the weather. This year’s drought in Youzhou and Jizhou was actually predicted by the Astronomical Observatory, but the court’s control over the regions is weak, preventing timely disaster preparedness. Even though the court notified states for disaster preparation, the local governments acted independently, failing to curb the drought, which further led to a locust plague."

"After Yun City’s fall, about seventy to eighty percent of court officials left, and the Astronomical Observatory’s officials..." Zhao Hanzhang mourned, "None returned."

She was genuinely distressed, as these were all technical talents requiring years of training and resources.

"To prevent natural disasters, rebuilding the Astronomical Observatory is essential. Now I have a great talent, even if it’s just for weather, the Observatory must be built." And then there is the calendar.

To write a good calendar, the Observatory is also necessary.

Mrs. Wang finally understood, thought for a moment and said, "How about I give you some?"

Seeing them worry about money every day, Mrs. Wang might not have a sense of altruism for the country, but she couldn’t bear to see her children so struggling.

Zhao Hanzhang declined with a smile, "Mother, keep your money. If Erlang and I need money at home in the future, we’ll definitely come to ask for your help, but matters of the treasury should be left to the court officials."

Even if Mrs. Wang emptied her savings, it wouldn’t be enough to build half an Observatory.

After the meal, Mrs. Wang chatted with Zhao Hanzhang for a while, reminding them to return to the Fu Mansion to have dinner with Princess Hongnong and Fu Xuan in the evening before letting them leave.

Zhao Erlang had nothing much to do these days, as the majority of the county government officials took leave, leaving him idle. After eating, he felt drowsy and was dozing off on his bed when he suddenly leaped up, put on his clothes, and ran outside.

Lv Hu was taken aback and hurriedly chased after him, "Erlang, Erlang, what’s wrong?"

Zhao Erlang ran off, "I think I know where that big copper sphere is!"

Zhao Erlang hopped on his horse and galloped straight to Beigong Chun’s residence in the capital city.

Beigong Chun, although not in Luoyang, left some people at his house—about a dozen injured soldiers—who he had tending his fields and living on his estate.

These injured veterans not only farmed but also turned the flowerbeds into vegetable patches, planted wheat, and diverted water from a nearby lake to create several rice paddies.

The produce of this garden was tax-free, providing sufficient sustenance, and with the fields outside the city, they had some extra resources after two years.

This year, encouraged by Zhao Hanzhang towards marrying, they pooled money together to get wives for the two youngest, one missing a hand, the other a leg.

Finding spouses was initially quite difficult.

But as retired veterans, Zhao Hanzhang decreed they’d be exempted from labor services and taxes, benefiting even their families, which helped them, particularly popular with widows.

They also liked widows, particularly those who had children.

Zhao Erlang arrived at Beigong Chun’s house and started banging on the door. An old soldier, limping, came to open it, just a crack at first with a fierce scowl that softened into a difficult smile when he saw Zhao Erlang, scarred face notwithstanding.

Zhao Erlang was unfazed as he sensed the soldier’s goodwill and peered through the gap, "Bro, did General Huang bring a big copper thing home?"

The old soldier opened the door and asked, "What does the Little General need with the big copper thing?"

"It should have come from the palace; my sister needs it. I vaguely remember General Huang came to Luoyang and, with me, snuck into the palace to find things. He seemed to have found a big copper thing."

The old soldier thought for a moment and allowed Zhao Erlang inside, then led him, limping, to the courtyard, "There is one, but without the general’s order, I cannot easily give it to you."

He led Zhao Erlang to the back, opened a storage room door, revealing a pile of miscellaneous items, among which a corner held a nearly room-high, heavily dented copper structure, almost reduced to a lump.

It seemed to have been smashed by something with damage on all sides but still retained a vague round shape.

Zhao Erlang excitedly said, "Yes, yes, it’s this one, it’s this one. I remember. General Huang secretly transported it out of the palace, but I caught a glimpse. I thought he was moving sculptures."

The old soldier laughed, "It is copper, quite valuable."

Zhao Erlang earnestly said, "My sister wants to use it for something important. Inform General Huang, I will come to collect it tomorrow."

The old soldier immediately shook his hand in refusal, "That won’t do; it requires our general’s consent. If the Little General can wait, let me write a letter to the general."