Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Wang Ya left the Luo Mansion disappointed.

His original intention in seeking out Chen Mo was to have Chen Mo revoke the arrangements for the lower-level officials in Celestial River City, but Chen Mo refused, leaving Wang Ya unhappy as he departed.

After Wang Ya left, Luo Zhen also approached Chen Mo, and with a gentle pull from Chen Mo, she fell into his arms.

”Doesn’t he know what he’s made of? And yet he wants to negotiate with me.”

Gently lifting Luo Zhen’s chin, Chen Mo began to savor her fragrant lips.

A moment later, Luo Zhen was limp in Chen Mo’s arms, her clothes half-undone, and the perfect-sized courage fell into Chen Mo’s hand to be played with as he said:

”My lord, he is, after all, an official sent by the Imperial Court. If you don’t give him face, what if he reports you to the Imperial Court?”

”That still depends on whether his report can make it out of Celestial River City.”

Not only in Celestial River City, but even in the neighboring prefectures and counties, the lower-level officials were all Chen Mo’s people. If Chen Mo did not agree, the County Magistrate’s decrees could not be implemented.

Moreover, although things appear stable at the moment, greater chaos is yet to come, as the Desolate Kingdom has not yet acted.

With the impending chaos, Chen Mo had no choice but to cultivate his own trusted aides.

”And Wang Ya is not even in the same faction as me, so what if I disappoint him?” Chen Mo teased Luo Zhen’s nose, then asked, ”How is the Gunpowder Workshop coming along?”

”The craftsmen have all been found. According to the ideas and drawings you provided, they have created a model.” Luo Zhen slowly said.

”This fast?” Chen Mo was surprised; this speed was a bit beyond his expectations. In his imagination, setting up the Gunpowder Workshop would already be commendable by now.

”These craftsmen are veteran craftsmen with ten to twenty years of experience, and as you instructed earlier, we also found several apprentices who used to be around the alchemy masters in the Taoist temple...” Luo Zhen slowly said.

In summary, Chen Mo now had professional people and professional tools, and following his instructions, they had almost completed the flame ratio adjustments.

”Take me to see it quickly.” This gunpowder was Chen Mo’s big weapon; since the model was already made, practical application should not be far off.

...

The Gunpowder Workshop was in the southern part of Celestial River City.

According to Chen Mo’s requirements, the nearby residences were all demolished, and the residents were relocated to other places for fear of a big explosion during the gunpowder research and development.

There were more than thirty craftsmen in the Gunpowder Workshop, and their treatment was very high.

Not only could they eat their fill every day, but they could also have a meat meal every week and receive silver taels.

For Nanyang, which had experienced disasters and rebellion, this treatment was very high.

Therefore, when these craftsmen were found, they agreed without hesitation.

More than a dozen soldiers were stationed outside the Gunpowder Workshop to guard it. When they saw Chen Mo coming, they bowed and greeted him: ”My lord.”

Then two soldiers followed alongside Chen Mo as they entered the Gunpowder Workshop together.

The chief craftsman, Tie Li, upon learning of Chen Mo’s arrival, hurried out with his men to welcome him.

”This is the lord,” Luo Zhen specially pointed out, fearing that Tie Li might not recognize Chen Mo.

”This humble servant greets the lord and the lady,” Tie Li bowed to Chen Mo.

”No need, show me the Fire Bottle Bombs you have made.”

Indeed, what the Gunpowder Workshop had developed was called the Fire Bottle Bomb.

”This way, my lord.”

Tie Li led Chen Mo to an open area inside the Gunpowder Workshop and then had a Fire Bottle Bomb brought over.

The so-called Fire Bottle Bomb is a powder filled in a jug with a wide bottom and narrow top, with a fuse installed at the narrow mouth on top.

”My lord and lady, cover your ears.”

Tie Li lit the fuse of the Fire Bottle Bomb with a fire ruler and then threw it towards the open area.

After about ten seconds, the Fire Bottle Bomb remained inert.

”What’s going on?” Chen Mo frowned.

Tie Li wiped the sweat from his forehead repeatedly and said, ”My lord, sometimes the Fire Bottle Bomb explodes, sometimes it doesn’t.”

Chen Mo’s face darkened as he realized that among the currently manufactured Fire Bottle Bombs, Tie Li was still unable to determine which were defective and which were optimal, uncertain which would actually explode.

Seeing Chen Mo’s darkened expression, Tie Li, fearing blame, quickly ordered more bombs to be brought for another test attempt.

As they were directly being thrown, one suddenly exploded.

The sudden explosion startled Luo Zhen who had not covered her ears.

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow: ”Is that it?”

This was because the Fire Bottle Bomb had no destructive power, merely creating a booming sound.

It was akin to the firecrackers Chen Mo used to play with in his past life.

Except the Fire Bottle Bomb’s explosion was merely louder than a firecracker.

Tie Li constantly observed Chen Mo’s expression, and seeing this, assumed Chen Mo was dissatisfied, becoming very apprehensive, saying, ”M...my lord, if you could...give this humble one more time, I...”

Before Tie Li could finish, Chen Mo suddenly placed a hand on his shoulder.

Tie Li’s legs went soft instantly, feeling as though he had been dealt a heavy blow.

But Chen Mo merely patted his shoulder to show encouragement, saying, ”Not bad, continue your research, increase the lethality a bit for me, and don’t worry about funding.”

Realizing he wasn’t blamed, Tie Li let out a long breath, feeling as though he had walked through the valley of death, nearly collapsing from relief.

After all, he realized a bit who Chen Mo was.

This man had once slaughtered thousands.

Tie Li feared these Fire Bottle Bombs might dissatisfy Chen Mo, leading to his own execution.

Upon leaving the Gunpowder Workshop, Chen Mo gave Tie Li some suggestions.

For instance, switching the clay pot to an iron tank.

It’s important to know, the iron-smelting technology in this world was much better than in Chen Mo’s previous ancient times.

Even treasures could be manufactured; making an iron can was truly not difficult.

Additionally, Chen Mo provided some suggestions on appearance, such as jar-style, gourd-style, rounded-form, and bonded-bowl-style.

...

A day later, the decree came down.

However, it was not to have Huangfu Hao transfer to the Western Shu but to have him immediately return to court.

As for the matters of the Rebel Army in Western Shu, they would be handled by the garrison in Western Shu.

When Huangfu Hao informed Chen Mo, it was already the next day.

”Are you leaving?” Luo Zhen held onto Chen Mo’s arm, leaning against him, her face showing sorrow.

Because of the need to deal with matters of the Mo Luo Commerce Association and Chen Mo’s concern that this return to the Capital might be ominous, he did not plan to take Luo Zhen and Xu Miaozhen back with him.

He intended to send someone to bring the two girls over once he had stabilized things in the Capital.

As for the safety of the two girls, Chen Mo would leave some people behind to ensure it.

And based on the simulation, there would not be any incidents in Nanyang for the foreseeable future, so their safety was assured.

Regarding the several large chests of treasure, Chen Mo only took some to use during the return to the Capital for the simulation, leaving the rest to Luo Zhen.