Castle of Black Iron

From the sky, the entire Jinwu City was covered with silvery white in the heavy snow. Due to the bad weather, few people were on the streets. However, there were more airships setting off and landing at the airport outside Jinwu City just like that a few months ago.

The sudden catastrophe of bloody figures across Taixia Country caused a surging increase of demand for the all-purpose medicament. The value of all-purpose medicament could only be manifested in real wars and turmoils. Even if it was raining sabers, nobody would like to give up the huge profit under the great demand, not to mention that it was just snowing.

The bloody figures across Taixia Country had already cut off the ground traffic in some regions. Bloody figures were all intelligent and smart. They always destroyed the railway system in their regions first. The moment the railway system was destroyed, Taixia Country would have a problem in dispatching corps to encircle and annihilate bloody figures. It would be more difficult for local people to escape outside. After the local regions became more chaotic, the commercial and logistics hubs of Taixia Country being connected through railways would be influenced greatly. At this moment, airships would be used as the top means of conveyance.

However, as air-sac airships and vacuum airships were driven by steam power. Facing the wuthering wind and snow, these airships would become tottering. Compared to those airships flying southward from Jinwu City, those flying from south to Jinwu City would be more struggling.

The moment Zhang Tie’s group arrived at Jinwu City, they had seen a large airship having a fault in its steam equipment. The engine room of the airship was emitting black smoke. After losing its driving force, the airship was blown far away in the north wind like a kite. The crew of the airship was exclaiming about adopting emergency measures. Some crew members were climbing onto the dozens of meters high air sacs by a rope while swaying in the wind and snow. They would empty some air sacs on their initiatives so that the airship could decline after losing its buoyancy in case of losing its control completely.

When the airship declined, its huge body even scraped over some houses on the border of the town, causing some damages. Finally, the airship landed on the farmland near the town. Most parts of its airsac had been emptied. Besides, the huge body of the airship even left a 200 m longer swarthy muddy, snowy ditch.

From the sky, the moment the airship landed, it had left an eye-catching trace on the snow-white land; meanwhile, some black points ran out of those damaged houses as if they were going to negotiate with the owner of the airship. Additionally, a team of cavalries was rushing out of the town by rhino-dragon horses towards the landing spot of the airship on the thick snowy land.

When they arrived at Jinwu City, Zhang Tie, Bai Suxian, Zhang Yang and Zhang Gui stood on the deck of the airship and watched the scene of bustle below.

Although this airship had a problem, thanks to the timely response of the crew of the airship, nobody died except for some damages on the airship and some houses.

“They should be the last batch of airships that come from south to north. These days, it’s becoming increasingly windy and snowy. It’s always the north wind. Therefore, most of the airships coming from the south would have an increasingly bigger trouble. Now, another batch of airships is waiting to load outside Jinwu City. After they leave, the Iron-Dragon Airboat outside Jinwu City would be blocked by the heavy snow too. Jinwu City would be in tranquility for 1 month. It would not recover its boisterous scene until next February.” Zhang Yang introduced the situation facing Jinwu City.

Zhang Tie was thinking about something else although he was gazing at the airship on the farmland.

“Is Huaiyuan Palace still producing airships?”

“Yes. Airship manufacturing is also an important industry of Huaiyuan Palace. Although we have many competitors in Youzhou Province and Huaiyuan Palace of Taixia Country and we’re marketing 70% of our own products; many people of Huaiyuan Palace are surviving themselves in this industry. As the holy war already broke out, this industry is very important. It’s not a problem of making money or not; even though we survive those engineers and workers while suffering a loss, Huaiyuan Palace have to preserve this industry and the ability to produce airships!”

After hearing Zhang Yang’s words, Zhang Tie nodded. The accident of the airship reminded him that he could design high-power alcohol driven airships first to expand the market before slowly developing high-power alcohol driven large and medium-sized transport airplanes.

‘After applying the new type internal-combustion engine and high-power alcohol to the airship, the airship could have a stronger driving force; adapt to worse weather and fly farther. This would be a revolutionary reform for traditional steam airships.’

‘If I want to produce large and medium-sized transport airplanes, I have to train pilots step by step; additionally, I could not reach a large scale at once. It might take us a few years to produce large- and medium-sized transport airplanes. Additionally, we need longer time and more cooperation from all parties to spread this pie. The situation facing Taixia Country might not spare me such a long time.’

‘By contrast, airships exist everywhere in Taixia Country. I could have ready professionals and manufacturing capability wherever I want. As long as the new type engine was in place, it would be relatively simpler to produce high-power alcohol driven airships with the internal-combustion engine.’

‘We should produce airplanes sooner or later; however, we need to first produce battleplanes that could deal with wing demons in the sky. Airships have advantages in huge clients base and talents storage than airplanes. Before the Catastrophe, even though human sciences and technologies were so advanced and airplanes could be seen everywhere, airships were still not be completely eliminated as they were still playing their roles in military and civilian regions. It’s unnecessary for me to open a new path while abandoning airships.’

‘Step by step!’ Zhang Tie thought.

…

The airboat slowed down at once as it declined and slowly entered the air territory of Jinwu City and finally landed on a square in the internal city of Zhang family.

The square had been crowded with people. Everybody was raising their head and watching the airboat to slowly decline.

Over 200 people were looking up and waiting for Zhang Tie to come back, including Zhang Tie’s parents, elder sisters-in-law, wives, youngsters of Zhang family, Zhang Tie’s grandparents, uncle, aunt, Zhang Tie’s cousins, male or female, old or young.

Zhang Tie’s return was a major event for the entire Zhang family. The moment Zhang Yang received the message, he had summoned all the people of Zhang family to Jinwu City. In the beginning, Zhang Yang just told them to unite in Jinwu City to celebrate the new year’s festival.

Of course, it was a normal reason. In Zhang family, Zhang Yang’s words indeed carried the weight. After hearing that Zhang Yang invited all the members of the Zhang family to attend a family party, how could they not agree with it? Especially Zhang Tie’s uncle and cousins, who couldn’t wait to draw a relationship with Jinwu City.

Even Zhang Haitian and his eldest wife were invited over there by airboat by Zhang Yang as they had the highest seniorities.

Not until they arrived at Jinwu City did they know that Zhang Tie was coming back today. After hearing this news, all the people were shocked so much that they almost jumped up.

If it were 2 years ago when Zhang Tie was wanted across the country, some relatives might hesitate whether they should meet Zhang Tie or not; however, as the Supreme Court of Taixia Country had long canceled off Zhang Tie’s order for arrest. Additionally, it was said that the Supreme Court had confirmed that Han Zhengfang was the culprit of the tragedy in Fuhai City and that the entire tragedy in Fuhai City was designed by the remnants of Heavens Reaching Church to revenge Zhang Tie as Zhang Tie had inflicted a heavy loss to Heavens Reaching Church.

The chief justice of the Northeast Military Region had apologized to Zhang Tie’s family in Jinwu City by airboat a few days ago.

After the truth of the tragedy of Fuhai City was exposed, Zhang Tie’s case was redressed. Besides, Zhang Tie’s reputation was known across the country as he enjoyed a greater honor in Huaiyuan Palace.

After hearing that Zhang Tie was coming back after his case was redressed, of course, all the family members of Zhang Tie jumped up due to the excitement.

What shocked them more was another news that Zhang Yang told them——Cui Li and Zhang Tie are the same; Zhang Tie had long promoted to an earth knight in Earth-elements Realm due to a coincidence.

The latter news scared Zhang Tie’s relatives, even his uncle and cousins.

‘Who’s Cui Li, the heroic earth knight who had made meritorious services and even killed demon earth knights in the Earth-elements Realm; the owner of Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory; the master of Iron-Dragon Sect in Northeast Military Region? Even the clan of the provincial governor in Northeast Military Region would draw a relationship with him. It’s said that he’s even the would-be son-in-law of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion in Taixia Country. The princess of Lord Guangnan even came to Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory for him from thousands of miles away!’

‘Cui Li is Zhang Tie!’

After hearing this news, all the relatives of Zhang Tie became flurried. Even Zhang Tie’s uncles didn’t know how to face him.

At this moment, watching the airboat slowly declining, all the family members were expecting to see Zhang Tie so much. Zhang Tie’s parents and wives’ eyes had already turned red. Although Zhang Tie’s uncles looked relaxed, their eyes indicated that they were a bit intense. Even Zhang Haitian tried to straighten up his body while moving his juniors’ hands from his arms and watching the airboat with a strange look.

…

After the airboat landed, the hatch door was opened. Zhang Tie was already standing at the hatch door. Watching so many familiar faces, Zhang Tie directly walked towards his parents and kowtowed 3 times before looking up, “Dad, mom, Zhang Tie is back!”

Zhang Tie’s parents dropped their tears at once. Wiping his tears, Zhang Tie’s dad revealed a tearful smile as he pulled Zhang Tie up, “Hurry, stand up, stand up. It’s fine as long as you’re back; it’s fine as long as you’re back…”

Zhang Tie stood up as he pulled closer Bai Suxian who was standing behind him with an intense look before saying, “Call dad and mom!”

After hearing Zhang Tie’s words, Bai Suxian’s eyes turned red too. Although being a princess, Bai Suxian was neither hesitant nor bashful; instead, she immediately knelt down and kowtowed towards Zhang Tie’s parents lightly before saying, “Daughter-in-law Bai Suxian has come, dad and mom!”

Bai Suxian’s movement scared Zhang Tie’s dad and mom and the surrounding people too much. Zhang Tie’s dad and mom had already known Bai Suxian’s identity from Zhang Yang. How could they imagine that the princess of Lord Guangnan could make such a solemn etiquette towards them the moment she saw them?

“Ayo, hurry up, get up…” Zhang Tie’s mom hurriedly pulled Bai Suxian’s up without even wiping her tears.

Only by saying one sentence could Zhang Tie turn a princess of Lord Guangnan into a tame kittie. It was said that this princess was also a knight who dared fight in the Earth-elements Realm alone, Zhang relatives; especially Zhang Tie’s cousins watched Zhang Tie like watching their idol…

The man was a good example for his wife!