Pleased to Start Over

Crossing Over Against a Transmigrator 4.10

Pleasing Start-Over Chapter 48: Arc 4 Part 10

Author: 橘子

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Qiao Chen stood before the table and painted. From time to time, he would look up at Xiao Qinan as he studied the gun in his hand. It seemed like it was a soldier's nature to study weapons no matter the time and place they were in.

Qiao Chen's gun, in fact, was based on the modern fireworks' design. There was a flint stone within the barrel. You had to rotate the end of the barrel to strike the flint and ignite a small fire. This fire, in turn, ignited the gunpowder. Once the gunpowder exploded, the powder bombs would be shot out and explode shortly. However, this type of barrel gun wasn't as accurate nor as long ranged as a hand gun. Furthermore, it could only be fired twice before it had to be reloaded with gunpowder and ammunition. In the ancient times, however, this was already an extremely powerful device.

Qiao Chen was originally reluctant to make this kind of object in such an ancient setting. He was afraid that someone would use it to hurt people on a massive scale. However, when he thought about it, he figured that as time went on and technologies developed, these things would appear in this universe sooner or later. Moreover, it was people who killed people, not the weapons who killed people.* Furthermore, even if he didn't make such a gun, swords, spears, and the like were all things that could still hurt people. Lastly, this wasn't a wuxia (martial arts) world. Killing wasn't really against the law. Whoever held the most power meant that they could kill as they pleased.

(T/N: Please don't start a gun rights/morality discussion anywhere near here. Remember that this is a fictional story and these aren't necessarily the views of the author or translator nor does this warning mean that these are either.)

Qiao Chen was thinking about how to fully take advantage of the gun's use. Then, he thought about how Cheng Jingrui arranged people to monitor and investigate his men and had an idea. Qiao Chen smiled.

"What are you smiling at?" Xiao Qinan hugged Qiao Chen from behind.

Qiao Chen put down his brush. Then he turned around, hugged Xiao Qinan back, and asked, "You've looked at the gun for the whole day now. Have you come up with anything yet?"

"I can't see what's inside." Xiao Qinan really wanted to take apart the gun, but he was afraid of damaging it. He was also reluctant to break such a thing.

"I'll draw up the design plan for you. You can commission someone to make it for you. Produce as much as you want. Furthermore, you should publicize that fact that you have it too. Spread the word far and wide. I've already told you how to manufacture this barrel gun, so this shouldn't be too difficult for you."

"Why do you want to spread the word? Won't it make your situation at the Cheng family home more difficult?"

"I have my own reasons. You'll find out later."

After Xiao Qinan returned home, he immediately had people begin manufacturing the guns based on Qiao Chen's designs in large quantities. Then, he had his soldiers demonstrate the strength of their newly created guns in front of a crowd. Everyone in the crowd was in awe.

The fact that Qiao Chen shared the manufacturing method and designs to the Xiao family had also been spread. After Prince Yong An heard of this, he was extremely anxious and angry. He summoned Cheng Su to admonish him. He yelled at Cheng Su until he vented some of his anger out. Then, Prince Yong An gave Cheng Su an ultimatum: bring me the weapon's blueprints or else. Cheng Su was anxious and worried. He couldn't see Qiao Chen and he didn't have the strength or backing to force his way into the Hanwu temple. He was at hit wit's end.