Chapter 356: The Nation-Destroying Bankruptcy

With Grandpa Deafy here, I was spared the trouble of drawing structural diagrams. The Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon has a complex structure, but if Grandpa Deafy drew this divine cannon and it appeared in the real world, measuring it would be much easier and simpler. Forging it would also be considerably easier.

Qin Mu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Grandpa Deafy hadn't sold a single painting in months, but Qin Mu helped him for a short while, and he earned more than he had in his entire life. This left the former Crown Prince of Tian Tu deeply emotional, sighing about the decline of moral values.

Now that he was free from financial worries, Qin Mu invited him back to the Imperial College to help, and he readily accepted.

Upon arriving at the Imperial College, Qin Mu wasted no time resting. He immediately gathered his team and assigned tasks.

Qingyou, Youhe, and Youyun from Little Jade Capital; Dao Master Lin Xuan and ten highly skilled Daoists in computation from the Dao Sect; along with experts in computation from the Imperial College, the court's Design Bureau, and the Heavenly Saint Cult; and the Village Chief – a total of twenty-six people, plus the Dragon Qilin – were all tasked with drawing the illustrations in the Golden Scroll and organizing the spatial computation models.

The Dragon Qilin's proficiency in computation was also considerable, not inferior to that of the elder Daoists.

The Dragon Qilin was incredibly grateful, finally finding a reason not to be put on the dinner table, and naturally worked even harder.

Qin Mu didn't need to personally oversee the Golden Scroll; all his energy was focused on manufacturing the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon.

Wang Muran, Mu Qingdai, and Long Yu were assigned by Qin Mu to work alongside the computational experts from the Dao Sect, Imperial College, Design Bureau, and Heavenly Saint Cult to organize the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon's spatial computation and formation models. Gu Lihuan was also among them.

Many Imperial Librarians from the Imperial College's Heavenly Records Pavilion were also masters of formations, skilled in various spells and divine arts, practically walking treasuries of cultivation techniques. Qin Mu also invited them over.

The Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon was originally an ocular technique called the Sun-Shooting Divine Eye, which the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace had acquired and stored in the Heavenly Records Pavilion. Therefore, the Imperial Librarians were needed for guidance.

Qin Mu communicated with the Imperial Librarians from the Heavenly Records Pavilion for several days, mastering the formation and structure of the Sun-Shooting Divine Eye. He then transformed the Sun-Shooting Divine Eye into the formation sequence for the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon, and then constructed the cannon body.

Grandpa Deafy observed from the side. Once Qin Mu finalized the structure of the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon, Grandpa Deafy immediately began to draw.

Even though he was revered as the Saint of Painting, it took him five days to complete the drawing of this divine cannon.

After Grandpa Deafy finished his drawing, he took the completed blueprints outside the city, chose an open area, and unfolded them. Instantly, a terrifying, hundred-zhang-tall cannon platform appeared, occupying a vast area of about a thousand mu.

Unlike other True Yuan Cannons, this Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon designed by Qin Mu surprisingly had no barrel; it looked like a massive platform.

On either side of the platform were two frames. These frames extended outwards from the sides of the platform, displaying arc-shaped patterns, and at the top was a thick axle.

The two axles were symmetrical but not connected. At their ends were semicircular prongs, with an eighty-zhang gap between them. Suspended in the middle of these prongs was a blazing divine eye, occasionally rolling with a gurgling sound.

When the eye opened, flames surged forth.

When the eye closed, it rotated in place on the platform.

This was the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon designed by Qin Mu, based on the Sun-Shooting Divine Eye!

Hundreds of computational experts immediately swarmed around, climbing all over the colossal cannon platform. They meticulously surveyed, calculated, and disassembled the massive divine cannon, breaking it down into individual components. They recorded the structure and dimensions of each part without allowing for the slightest error.

Furthermore, the formation patterns on each component needed to be measured, which involved an enormous amount of calculation.

Qin Mu's design for the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon did not include every single component; he only designed the main body of the divine cannon. However, no factory was large enough to forge such an enormous divine cannon in one piece.

Therefore, to forge it, it had to be broken down into individual parts and components, forged separately, and then assembled.

This was also why Qin Mu needed so many computational experts.

With so many people collaborating on measurements and calculations, their coordination was an art in itself, allowing no room for error.

Qin Mu simply invited Emperor Yanfeng from the capital to coordinate the computational experts. Emperor Yanfeng's injuries had healed, but they had been so severe that his divine treasures were still severely damaged and required recuperation, so his cultivation had not yet recovered.

Qin Mu and the Little Poison King, Fu Yuanqing, had treated him, but their medicine was too strong, leaving both him and the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace quite rattled. Emperor Yanfeng still harbored resentment about it.

“Your Majesty,” Qin Mu admonished, “these computational experts were invited by me, and they are not your subjects. If something displeases you, Your Majesty cannot speak of execution.”

Emperor Yanfeng chuckled, “I am not a tyrant who constantly speaks of execution, my dear minister. Rest assured.”

Officials from the Ministry of Works arrived. Shan Youxin, head of the Heavenly Crafts Hall, and others had come down from the front lines. The war on the grasslands no longer required their presence, so the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace sent them back to the capital.

“The Imperial Preceptor is currently attacking the Loulan Golden Palace,” the Minister of Works reported to Emperor Yanfeng. “When we returned, the battle had not yet begun.”

Qin Mu immediately gathered the officials from the Ministry of Works for a discussion. The Minister of Works then reported to Emperor Yanfeng: “Overseer Qin finds the five factories Your Majesty provided too small, and they are too far apart. He plans to dismantle them and build a new factory by the river.”

Emperor Yanfeng fumed, “Dismantle my five factories? These factories were built with real gold and silver! He's spending so lavishly as if it's not his money! I'll have his head!”

The Minister of Works chuckled, “Has Your Majesty forgotten? All of our factories in Eternal Peace were improved and designed by Overseer Qin.”

Emperor Yanfeng's expression softened. “He is indeed a capable man,” he said. “His head is noted for later.”

A moment later, Qin Mu arranged for flying ships to dismantle the five factories and transport them to the Tu River. Ling Yuxiu's leadership and organizational skills were strong, so Qin Mu invited her to help coordinate and supervise the construction of the new factory.

Qin Mu also ordered various divine metals, divine materials, and rare treasures to be transported from the national treasury to the new factory.

Emperor Yanfeng, meanwhile, was busy coordinating the numerous computational experts to prevent any errors, dedicating all his energy to this task.

More than ten days later, the computational measurements for the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon were complete. Numerous computational experts integrated their work, using vital qi to manifest each component, meticulously assembling tens of thousands of parts into a perfect Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon.

Meanwhile, Qin Mu had almost emptied the national treasury and had also arranged for shiploads of profound gold, profound iron, and profound copper to be brought from various mines. Outside the new factory, treasures were piled up like mountains.

The new factory buildings were already operational. Qin Mu had designed new alchemy furnaces with more intense heat. A hundred or so tall metallic mechanical giants hammered profound gold and profound iron, and the refined gold, silver, copper, and iron were neatly stacked.

Emperor Yanfeng collected himself and summoned the Minister of Works: “What else is left in my national treasury?”

The Minister of Works hesitated. “Reporting to Your Majesty, there is basically nothing left. Overseer Qin has emptied even the rat holes of materials!”

Emperor Yanfeng walked into the new factory, seeing the bustling activity within. Various new machines were operational, and alchemy furnaces blazed fiercely, powering the mechanical giants. Large and small boilers also emitted steaming heat, their light blinding.

“The new factory consumes an amount of medicinal stones each day equivalent to the daily consumption of medicinal stones in a medium-scale war,” the Minister of Works continued. “Overseer Qin also designed an energy source for the divine cannon: fifty-six of the most powerful alchemy furnaces. Activating it once consumes roughly the same amount of medicinal stones that the Imperial Preceptor took when he campaigned against the Barbarian Di Kingdom.”

Emperor Yanfeng was dumbfounded. After a long pause, he slowly said, “So, it's not his money being spent. Where is Overseer Qin? I want to ask him if spending money feels good.”

“Overseer Qin went drinking with the Princess.”

The Minister of Works cautiously explained, “He said he owed someone a drink, and that person had been waiting for many days. There's essentially no work for him here, so he decided to invite that person for a drink to avoid owing a favor. When the Princess heard, she went with him, and a little fox followed too. Overseer Qin said there was no good wine, so the Princess went to the palace to get some tribute wine.”

Emperor Yanfeng roared, “I was invited here by him, busy rushing about, and he, on the other hand, goes off drinking, drinking my wine, and even takes my daughter to carouse! I'll have his head!”

The Minister of Works hastily said, “Your Majesty, the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon hasn't been built yet…”

Emperor Yanfeng instantly brightened. “His head is noted for later.”

The Minister of Works said, “Overseer Qin stated that he cannot owe wages. He has already prepared the bill and requests Your Majesty's review.”

Emperor Yanfeng glanced at it and flew into a rage. “This much money? My national treasury has been emptied by him! Where am I supposed to get money for him? I'll have his head!”

The Minister of Works quickly replied, “Your Majesty, with the Barbarian Di Kingdom defeated and the Wolf-Dwelling Xu Kingdom conquered, we will have money.”

Emperor Yanfeng's anger turned to joy, and he chuckled, “Overseer Qin's head is noted for later. I certainly cannot mistreat these Heavenly Craftsmen; I will pay them when we have money. Has any news come from the Northern Frontier?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty,” the Minister of Works replied, “Generalissimo Tian Ce has sent a victory report. He has already breached the royal court of the Wolf-Dwelling Xu Kingdom, and its ruler has surrendered. Generalissimo Tian Ce is now garrisoning the Wolf-Dwelling Xu Kingdom, while the Crown Prince is escorting the Wolf King and is on his way, expected to arrive today or tomorrow.”

Emperor Yanfeng nodded and smiled, “Yushu causes far less worry than his brother.”

“Overseer Qin…”

Emperor Yanfeng raised a hand and said, “Don't mention him! Talk about someone else, something else.”

“Grand Sacrificial Wine Gu Lihuan asked the Ministry of Revenue if he could advance a month's salary…”

“No money!”

Emperor Yanfeng sneered, “Grand Sacrificial Wine Gu is always scheming. How could he be short of money?”

“Lord Gu truly has no money.” The Minister of Works chuckled, “He spent all his family's assets to redeem the Junior Guardian Sword. I heard that the Saintess of the Heavenly Saint Cult brought the Junior Guardian Sword and asked him if he wanted it back, so Lord Gu lost everything. Furthermore, Lord Gu contributed to surveying and mapping the divine cannon this time, so he wanted to advance his salary.”

Emperor Yanfeng asked in surprise, “Wasn't the Junior Guardian Sword with Overseer Qin? How did it end up in the hands of the Heavenly Saint Cult's Saintess… Bah, you're mentioning him again! I'll have your head! I'm not just bankrupting my family; I'm bankrupting the entire nation! Where would I get money? All of you keep asking me for money! Almost everything in my palace has been sold, except for my dragon robe and dragon chair! I truly have nothing left to sell!”

The Minister of Works chuckled apologetically, “Your Majesty, once we unify the grasslands and the snowy plains, money will naturally not be scarce. Also, Overseer Qin has improved the factories to produce various flying ships and machinery to sell to merchants, so money will flow into the national treasury like water…”

Emperor Yanfeng sighed, “His head and your head are both noted for later. Who did Overseer Qin go drinking with, taking my precious daughter with him?”