Chapter Thirteen: Father, Aren't You the Least Bit Shocked?

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Qin Shi Huang imagined a Daoist alchemist refining pills amid an enemy army of thousands, only for the furnace to explode without warning.

The enemy forces would suffer catastrophic losses in an instant.

And if they were cavalry...

A dazzling light burst from Qin Shi Huang's eyes. Cavalry would be even more vulnerable—especially since horses were far more sensitive than humans to shock and terror!

At that moment, Qin Shi Huang suddenly realized that this might be a discovery capable of changing the course of history. Perhaps, from then on, cavalry would be completely stripped of its dominance on the battlefield.

The very nature of warfare would be transformed!

Qin Shi Huang seemed to think of something else and immediately turned his gaze toward the furnace, which had been blown to pieces.

It was not even that large!

If such a small furnace could unleash such tremendous power, then what if there were hundreds or thousands of them?

Qin Shi Huang's breathing quickened.

Then he suddenly remembered that this thing had been created by Fusu and the others.

Especially now, as he watched Fusu—his face blackened like a lump of coal, yet utterly unconcerned as he rushed back and forth rescuing people—the smile on Qin Shi Huang's face grew broader and broader.

“Hahahaha!”

At last, Qin Shi Huang burst into laughter.

“A tiger father does not sire a dog!”

At that moment, in Qin Shi Huang's eyes, Fusu was more precious than any priceless treasure.

What more could a father ask for from a son like this?

Qin Shi Huang was overjoyed!

Meanwhile, Fusu had been busy for quite some time.

Only after Fusu pinched Han Zhong's philtrum did the man finally regain consciousness.

Shi Sheng looked at him with exasperation. “You ran the farthest of all. How did you still end up unconscious?”

Han Zhong glanced fearfully at the enormous crater and stammered, “I... I faint at thunder!”

“I've been afraid of thunder since I was little. There were several times when it scared me unconscious.”

Fusu examined Han Zhong once more. Only after confirming that he was truly unharmed did he stand and let out a long breath.

“You nearly scared me to death.”

“I thought someone had been killed by the explosion!”

“Huh?”

“Father!”

“When did you get here?”

Only then did Fusu notice that Qin Shi Huang had somehow come to stand beside him, staring at him with an unusual glint in his eyes.

Fusu instinctively took a step back.

Then, shamelessly putting on a smile, he bowed and admitted, “Father, your son knows he was wrong!”

“Sixth Brother, look at this! This is what you managed to refine!” Shi Sheng seemed not to have noticed Qin Shi Huang at all. He grabbed Fusu and tried to show him the result of his work.

Then, all at once, he seemed to realize something.

He hurriedly dropped to his knees.

“Your Majesty!”

After that, all the alchemists fell to their knees in succession, bowing in greeting and not daring to breathe too loudly.

Qin Shi Huang looked at the alchemists, and his anger immediately flared.

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Yet when he turned his gaze toward Fusu, his eyes shone as he asked, “Did you lead them in blowing this up?”

Ah...

Fusu hurriedly fell to his knees as well, lowering his head.

“Father, your son has failed to live up to your expectations and has made mistake after mistake.”

“Your son was wrong!”

Qin Shi Huang snorted coldly and shouted, “So you do know that you were wrong!”

Fusu froze.

What had he done wrong?

No—Father, don't mistake my modesty for an actual admission of guilt!

Fusu felt terribly wronged.

Father!

Can't you see the crater?

Don't you know what it represents?

Fusu had admitted his fault in order to retreat before advancing, deliberately putting on an act.

But Qin Shi Huang's single remark—“So you do know that you were wrong!”—had directly established Fusu's guilt as a fact.

Fusu was completely thrown off balance.

“Father, this heavenly thunder is an excellent thing!” Fusu stopped pretending and laid his cards on the table.

Qin Shi Huang gave a cold laugh inwardly, but kept a solemn expression on his face. Pretending to be puzzled, he asked, “An excellent thing?”

“What makes it so good?”

Fusu found it somewhat strange, but in order to win his father's favor and preserve his life, he answered honestly.

“Father, if this heavenly thunder were made into weapons, then a few strikes against the enemy on the battlefield would leave them utterly routed!”

Qin Shi Huang was secretly delighted upon hearing this, but outwardly he merely frowned.

“You call this exploded furnace heavenly thunder?”

Fusu immediately nodded.

Qin Shi Huang furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment.

“Is this heavenly thunder stable?”

“Can it be mass-produced?”

“Is it easy to store?”

Qin Shi Huang fired off three questions in succession. Then he suddenly realized that he had appeared too eager.

He quickly put on an indifferent expression and said, “I am asking on behalf of Senior Minister Meng.”

“He seemed rather interested in this thing just now.”

Meng Yi, standing nearby, was bewildered. He raised his head and glanced at Qin Shi Huang in confusion.

When had I ever asked?

Qin Shi Huang happened to meet his gaze and asked with a smile, “Isn't that right, Senior Minister Meng?”

Meng Yi hurriedly nodded and agreed. “Indeed. I am very interested in His Highness's heavenly thunder.”

“Oh.”

Seeing that his father truly seemed uninterested, Fusu was somewhat disappointed.

Nevertheless, he answered seriously, “As long as the heavenly thunder is kept dry, protected from moisture and open flame, it can be stored almost indefinitely.”

“And it is not difficult to manufacture. It can be mass-produced.”

Qin Shi Huang was ecstatic inwardly, but outwardly he acted as though he could not care less.

“That will do.”

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“Since Senior Minister Meng likes it so much, you may hand the method over to him.”

“While you're at it, have Senior Minister Meng refine a batch of heavenly thunder as well.”

Fusu's eyes widened at once.

Something was wrong!

This was such an incredible invention. How could his father show not the slightest interest?

After repeatedly confirming that Qin Shi Huang's expression remained utterly calm, Fusu was completely at a loss.

What had he spent these past few days doing, researching day and night and even learning the alchemists' pill-refining techniques?

Was it not all so that, once he produced gunpowder, he could astonish the entire Xianyang Palace?

And above all, so that Qin Shi Huang would understand the might of gunpowder, change his opinion of him, and realize that he had not been talking nonsense?

How had everything gone so smoothly? He had even successfully developed gunpowder.

Yet after Qin Shi Huang saw it, he had shown not the slightest interest!

Did the man even know how to recognize a treasure?

This was gunpowder—gunpowder!

It was something capable of transforming the future of warfare, even changing an entire era!

Qin Shi Huang clapped his hands and turned to leave, his interest apparently exhausted.

“Senior Minister Meng, since you like heavenly thunder so much, study it carefully with Su'er and make sure you master it completely today.”

“I am tired.”

“Return to the palace!”

Zhao Gao and the others hurriedly followed him.

Only then did Li Si recover from his shock. Realizing that he was still sitting on the ground, he immediately rose and straightened his clothes.

That was close!

His Majesty had actually failed to notice how extraordinary this thing was.

Thank heavens!

Li Si had deliberately arranged for Fusu to spend time with these alchemists so that Fusu would stand up for them and anger His Majesty.

Who could have expected it?

Fusu always managed to do things that defied common sense.

He had directly led the alchemists in refining pills and somehow produced something as miraculous as heavenly thunder.

Judging by Li Si's experience and knowledge, this was unquestionably an extraordinary treasure.

The moment he had seen the commotion, he had thought all was lost.

Fusu was going to rise again!

His scheme had backfired, handing Fusu yet another chance to distinguish himself.

That was why Li Si had remained seated on the ground.

But after seeing that Qin Shi Huang seemed utterly uninterested, Li Si once again felt that victory was within his grasp and stood up.

And so, Li Si conceived the idea of speaking favorably about the heavenly thunder.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this heavenly thunder is quite a fine thing!” Li Si immediately caught up with Qin Shi Huang and praised it enthusiastically.