The Young Man from the Great Qin

Chapter 21: The Production Line is Complete

Before dawn, the bellows of the West Warehouse Workshop roared like thunder. Xiao Ren stood before the furnace, pinching a freshly forged iron billet.

The billet glowed red-hot, yet a layer of bluish-gray ash coated its surface. He plunged it into the chromium salt pool beside him.

Hiss! White vapor exploded outward. Twenty days and nights, and Mo Yuan, leading thirty craftsmen, had hard-fought this process to completion.

"My lord, the first batch of three hundred sword blades has finished cooling." Mo Yuan’s voice was hoarse, his eyes crisscrossed with bloodshot veins, yet his gaze shone with an alarming intensity.

Xiao Ren nodded, taking up a polished Qin sword. The spine was straight as an arrow, the edge gleaming with cold light. He grabbed a coarse hemp cloth soaked in water and wiped the blade fiercely, then tossed it into the muddy pit.

Roll it, lift it, rinse it. The blade gleamed like a mirror, not a speck of rust in sight. The old craftsmen watching stood frozen in place.

In such humid weather, ironware would normally show yellow spots after half an hour. Yet this sword had soaked in the muddy water for fifteen minutes and remained unscathed.

"The inspectors have arrived," a voice announced from outside.

Xiao Ren set down the sword and adjusted his robes. Meng Tian strode in, flanked by two personal guards and a military quartermaster. His gaze swept over the neatly arranged sword racks before settling on Xiao Ren.

"Wang Wu, you have only half an hour. If this batch of swords does not match the performance demonstrated the other day, I will not only revoke your military registration but also charge you with deceiving the sovereign."

Xiao Ren handed him a sword directly. "Please test the edge, General."

Meng Tian took the sword, flicked his wrist, and slashed the tip across a nearby wooden post. With a soft *thunk*, the post split cleanly in two, the cut surface smooth as paper. He picked up another ordinary Qin sword for comparison; the new blade was clearly superior in toughness.

Meng Tian laughed heartily, the sound shaking dust from the roof beams. He sheathed the sword. "Excellent! The summer heat brings humidity. If the Qin swords rust when the Xiongnu cavalry attacks, our combat effectiveness will drop by thirty percent. Ten thousand rust-proof swords would allow the Meng family army to maintain offensive operations for an extra month during the rainy season."

He stared at Xiao Ren. "Ten thousand swords. How long for completion?"

"Three months."

"Two months," Meng Tian interrupted. "I am heading north with the army; I cannot wait that long."

"Two months require double the workforce and charcoal," Xiao Ren said, his face expressionless. "And absolute authority. No one may enter or leave the workshop at will, including your personal guards."

Meng Tian was taken aback; he hadn't expected Xiao Ren to make demands of him. Xiao Ren held his gaze. "General, Zhao Gao's men have been investigating my background. If the workshop leaks secrets, if the technology is stolen, or if we are accused of privately forging weapons, every craftsman here will die."

Meng Tian stared at him for a long time, then suddenly turned to the quartermaster. "Put it on the books. Advance payment of five hundred gold pieces. Additionally, allocate two hundred auxiliary soldiers to assist with transporting the ore."

The quartermaster stepped forward hesitantly. "General, this violates the regulations..."

"The regulations are what I say they are." Meng Tian’s gaze returned to Xiao Ren. "Wang Wu, you have courage. But I warn you, Zhao Gao will not let this drop. His roots in the court are deep; your clever tricks will not withstand his crushing power."

Xiao Ren clasped his hands in a salute. "Thank you for the warning, General. That is precisely why I need time."

"You have your time." Meng Tian walked to the doorway, paused, and looked back. "In two months, I want to see ten thousand swords stacked at my camp gate. If even one is missing, I will deal with you according to military law."

With that, he lifted the curtain and stepped out.

The cold wind swept in, dispersing the heat within the workshop. Mo Yuan slumped to the ground, gasping for breath. "My lord, two months... can we really do it? General Meng intends to enforce military law!"

Xiao Ren looked at the rows of blades gleaming with a bluish light. Although Meng Tian had assigned soldiers for protection, Meng Tian’s endorsement was a double-edged sword; it blocked Zhao Gao’s overt suppression but also tied him completely to Fusu’s war chariot.

"Don't celebrate too early. Since Zhao Gao couldn't find dirt on my background, he will attack from another angle. For instance, our source of raw materials."

Mo Yuan paused. "Master Zhou's side..."

"Master Zhou is a merchant, driven solely by profit. If Zhao Gao applies even slight pressure, he will cut off our supply," Xiao Ren said, standing up and brushing the dust from his hands. "Prepare yourself. Tonight, we go to see someone."

"Who?"

"Zhang Han," Xiao Ren’s eyes flashed with coldness. "He is the Minister of the Royal Treasury, in charge of imperial finances and weapon manufacturing. If Zhao Gao wants to move against me, he must first ask if Zhang Han agrees."

Night fell over Xianyang, the city lights dimming.

Xiao Ren had changed into an inconspicuous gray robe and, with Mo Yuan, wound through several alleys to arrive at a secluded tavern. In the back courtyard, a young man in black robes sat drinking alone. Hearing footsteps, he did not turn around but spoke indifferently. "Wang Wu, you have guts. Daring to meet me at this hour."

Xiao Ren sat opposite him and poured himself a cup of wine without waiting for an invitation. "Minister Zhang, drinking alone late at night, you must also be burdened with heavy thoughts."

Zhang Han turned, his gaze sharp as an eagle's. "Zhao Gao has been investigating you recently. He claims you are colluding with remnants of the Six States, plotting treason."

"Where is the evidence?"

"There is no evidence, which is why he came to me." Zhang Han sneered. "He wants me to seal your workshop, on the grounds of 'operating an unauthorized iron smelting workshop without approval from the Royal Treasury.'"

Xiao Ren raised his cup and drained it in one gulp. "What does Minister Zhang intend to do?"

Zhang Han stared at him for a long time, then suddenly produced a bamboo slip scroll from his sleeve and threw it onto the table. "This is the Royal Treasury’s latest iron smelting quota list. Your workshop is not on it."

Xiao Ren’s heart sank. Zhao Gao’s move was ruthless and precise.

"However," Zhang Han continued, changing tone, "General Meng Tian has just petitioned the Emperor to establish a new weapon supply line in the northern frontier. The Emperor has approved it. And the technical advisor responsible for this supply line is you."

Xiao Ren’s brows furrowed, suddenly feeling that many dangers lay ahead.

"Zhao Gao wants to suppress you with the law, so I will suppress him with military merit," Zhang Han leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Wang Wu, I do not care who you are, nor who stands behind you. I only care whether the weapons of Great Qin are sharp. If you can forge rust-proof swords, you can help me secure my position in the Royal Treasury. In exchange, I will shield you from Zhao Gao’s open attacks and hidden arrows."

"What is the price?" Xiao Ren asked.

"You must accompany General Meng north," Zhang Han said, enunciating each word clearly. "Leave Xianyang, stay away from the political vortex. Here, you will eventually be destroyed by Zhao Gao. But in the northern frontier, you are a quartermaster, a meritorious official; Zhao Gao’s reach will not extend that far."

Xiao Ren fell silent. It was, admittedly, a tempting proposal. Leaving Xianyang would indeed temporarily avoid Zhao Gao’s**.

But he knew that once he left, he would lose control over the situation in Xianyang. Fusu was still in the palace, Shen Qingshang was still in the city, and Mo Yuan’s family was also in the city.

"I cannot go," Xiao Ren shook his head. "Not yet, at least."

Zhang Han frowned. "You are looking for death."

Xiao Ren stood up and adjusted his sleeves. "The Emperor’s health has been poor lately, and Zhao Gao is eager to offer medicine to consolidate his favor. Those pills may contain something we need."

Surprise flashed in Zhang Han’s eyes. "You want to tamper with the Emperor’s elixirs?"

"I want to make the Emperor see who is truly extending his life," Xiao Ren smiled faintly. "Minister Zhang, will you accept this deal or not?"

Zhang Han paused for a moment, then raised his cup. "Agreed. But until you produce evidence, I will not openly defend you. Take care of yourself."

Xiao Ren returned the salute and walked out of the tavern.

The night wind was cold, yet he felt a burning heat within. When he returned to the workshop, Mo Yuan was counting inventory.

Seeing Xiao Ren return, he hurried over. "My lord, how did it go?"

"Zhang Han agreed to provide covert support, but on the condition that we produce results quickly. Zhao Gao has backed me into a corner, unaware that this is exactly what I wanted."

"What do you mean?"

Xiao Ren took out the list of mystics from his chest, his fingertips lightly tapping one name. "This man is named Xu Fu. Zhao Gao has been frequently contacting him recently. I need to know exactly what Xu Fu is feeding the Emperor."

Mo Yuan leaned in to look and his face changed color. "Xu Fu? That mystic who claims to seek the elixir of immortality?"

"Exactly." Xiao Ren’s eyes flashed with cold light. "The elixir of immortality does not exist, but there are many poisons that cause mental** and devour life. Zhao Gao wants to control the Emperor with this; I will make him swallow that poisonous pill with his own hands."

Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside. A personal guard burst in, looking panicked. "My lord, bad news! Chancellor Liu has brought men to surround the workshop, claiming to search for contraband!"

Xiao Ren sneered. "Just in time. Let them search. And put that 'special' ledger in the most conspicuous place."

Mo Yuan paused, then understood, a grin of excitement spreading across his face.