Regent (12): 

This past month, Gu Juntian had been extremely busy.

Every day he would rise before dawn to work, writing various things, and after breakfast, he would go with Zhou Qinghao to Wangzhuang, where he guided craftsmen to make the items he wanted and taught soldiers to read and practice martial arts.

The tables and chairs he had wanted were finished long ago; in addition, the craftsmen, following his instructions, had also produced paper and firecrackers.

They had used good materials, but the paper they made was of mediocre quality, uneven in thickness.

But that didn’t matter; it could be improved gradually in the future.

Besides paper and firecrackers, Gu Juntian had also worked with the craftsmen to make a hot air balloon.

He planned to use the hot air balloon when taking action against the royal clan.

Several ropes were tied to the balloon’s bottom; when the time came, he would stand in the balloon’s basket, let himself be seen from above, and then toss down a few firecrackers.

This should be enough to intimidate the common people of this era and reduce casualties.

In this era, nobles did not value the lives of commoners at all; a commoner could be whipped to death simply for looking at a noble the wrong way.

Nobles could do such things without paying much of a price, at most giving some money or grain in compensation.

Killing slaves in their own households was also common among nobles for various reasons.

Although King Wu of Jin had once decreed a ban on burial sacrifices, after the death of Jin nobles, there were still always slaves who “voluntarily” followed their masters in death.

As for land annexation and similar matters, such cases were everywhere.

Commoners without land could only starve to death.

The Jin royal clan and nobles clustered together, forming a huge interest group, scheming to make profit in every possible way.

Gu Juntian planned to take down the leader of this group, then break up the others and send them off to work in different places.

The men could go to dig mines; women and children could work in places like paper-making workshops.

He would have them guarded so they could not escape.

If they behaved and reformed, then once he fully controlled Jin, he could release them, especially the women and children.

But if they caused trouble, he would not be polite.

Today, Gu Juntian intended to test the hot air balloon he had made himself.

He didn’t know if this balloon, carefully sewn from sheepskin, would work well.

“Your Majesty, can this thing really make someone fly into the sky?” Zhou Qinghao asked.

Half a month ago, when Gu Juntian had first started making the balloon, Zhou Qinghao had already asked him what it was for.

Gu Juntian had said it could make someone fly into the sky.

Could something so miraculous really exist?

Gu Juntian was certain. “Yes!”

He had confidence in himself, but the craftsmen who had helped make the balloon had none at all.

At the king’s request, they no longer knelt at every turn, but they still didn’t believe that crude folk like them could make something that could send a person into the air.

They were still muddle-headed, not really understanding what it was they had made.

Since a first flight might be risky, Gu Juntian fetched a sheep from the manor, placed it in the basket under the balloon, and then lit the flame beneath it.

Beside him, Zhou Qinghao and his trusted generals were puzzled.

Then, as the flame burned, they saw the bamboo basket slowly float upward, leaving the ground.

Zhou Qinghao remained composed, but the generals beside him stared in shock, then all fell to their knees, bowing to the rising balloon.

The craftsmen also knelt and kowtowed repeatedly.

It had actually flown!

Their king must be an immortal!

And this was a divine miracle!

Their king had sent a sheep into the sky using something sewn from sheepskin!

Zhou Qinghao almost knelt as well, but Gu Juntian stopped him.

“Qinghao, this isn’t a miracle, just a little trick,” Gu Juntian explained the principle of the hot air balloon to him.

Zhou Qinghao, having seen the balloon’s construction himself, hadn’t thought it was supernatural; now, hearing the explanation, he didn’t fully understand the principle, but he knew it had nothing to do with gods or spirits.

His ruler knew so many things.

He ought to thank the one behind the ruler for such teachings.

After speaking, Gu Juntian added, “On the day we act, I’ll stand in this balloon to intimidate the royal clan nobles. That way, killing them will be much easier.”

At this time, the royal clan nobles all kept retainers and private troops. People like Lord Pinghai and Lord Moshang could easily raise armies of several thousand men.

Though Zhou Qinghao had twenty thousand soldiers, if these people fought desperately, his losses would be severe.

Gu Juntian didn’t want his men to die.

“Your Majesty, you mustn’t!” Zhou Qinghao immediately objected. “Doing this is too dangerous!”

The balloon, with a flame underneath, would be highly visible at night.

If someone shot arrows at the king and he was hit, what then?

Gu Juntian’s face cooled. “My mind is made up.”

Zhou Qinghao refused to back down; he knelt and pleaded, “Please reconsider, Your Majesty.”

Since arriving in this world, Gu Juntian had grown accustomed to people kneeling to him.

But he still wasn’t comfortable with Zhou Qinghao kneeling. “Uncle, please get up.”

“Please reconsider, Your Majesty,” Zhou Qinghao repeated.

“I’ll wear armor and launch it from a safe place. Uncle, my decision is final,” Gu Juntian said.

He had thought about taking Zhou Qinghao along, which might ease Zhou’s worries.

But the balloon’s load capacity was limited, and he didn’t want Zhou Qinghao in danger.

Given that, it was better for him to go alone.

As for danger… he would be careful.

He didn’t think anyone would dare shoot at him—after all, he was the King of Jin.

Seeing Gu Juntian’s expression, Zhou Qinghao knew he wouldn’t change his mind.

“Uncle, get up. Do you want to try it yourself?” Gu Juntian offered a hand to help him up.

Zhou Qinghao stared at him for a moment, then said, “Your Majesty, let me go up first.”

Only after ensuring absolute safety would he allow Gu Juntian to ride it.

Gu Juntian didn’t object; he wouldn’t let the balloon go too high, so Zhou Qinghao wouldn’t be in danger.

Thus Zhou Qinghao became the first to go up.

He was a little nervous, gripping the basket tightly, though his face showed nothing.

Below, Gu Juntian stood surrounded by kneeling soldiers.

Watching Zhou Qinghao rise into the air in the balloon, Gu Juntian couldn’t help smiling.

Over the past month, Zhou Qinghao had grown paler, looking truly handsome, like a god.

Zhou Qinghao should be like this—someone to be worshiped.

That day, the two of them tested the balloon several times to ensure its safety.

During the trials, Zhou Qinghao’s soldiers gathered around, kneeling, muttering prayers, and kowtowing without stop.

Seeing this, Gu Juntian felt helpless.

People in this era were truly superstitious.

In some places, they even performed human sacrifices.

In the future, he would find time to break such feudal superstitions.

But sometimes, he had to admit, such superstition was useful to him.

For example, now—he could clearly feel that after seeing the balloon, Zhou Qinghao’s men looked at him with even greater fervor.

That day, besides testing the balloon, Gu Juntian also tested firecrackers.

He couldn’t yet make cannons; the only thing he could produce was firecrackers, but they would suffice.

The sound alone was enough to scare people.

After a busy day, Gu Juntian took a carriage back to the palace with Zhou Qinghao.

On the way, Zhou Qinghao didn’t say a word.

Since Gu Juntian had ignored his advice and insisted on riding the balloon, he had been silent.

Gu Juntian knew Zhou Qinghao’s opposition came from concern for him.

It was natural for Zhou Qinghao to be upset at his disobedience.

Thinking this, Gu Juntian moved closer and began massaging Zhou Qinghao’s back. “Uncle, don’t be angry…”

Zhou Qinghao paused, looking at Gu Juntian bowing his head like that.

He wasn’t actually very angry.

It was normal for Gu Juntian not to listen to him.

Standing in the balloon, high in the air for all to see, could indeed increase Gu Juntian’s prestige.

Realizing this, Zhou Qinghao began to think he might have been wrong to forbid it earlier.

His silence now came from regretting that earlier thought, and from pondering his own future.

He had always assumed Gu Juntian would wait until the reforms were complete before removing him.

But now, with Gu Juntian so capable and guided by someone even more talented… perhaps it wouldn’t be long before he was eliminated.

Gu Juntian, as King of Jin, surely wouldn’t want to keep placating an old man forever.

Who knew how many days he had left with Gu Juntian?

Zhou Qinghao’s gaze softened. “I’m not angry. Your Majesty, rest assured—when the time comes, I’ll protect you and keep people away.”

As long as the enemy was held at a distance, even if they shot arrows, by the time they reached Gu Juntian they would have lost their force.

That way, Gu Juntian wouldn’t be hurt.

“Good—when the time comes, I’ll be counting on you, Uncle,” Gu Juntian smiled.

The young king was strikingly handsome.

Zhou Qinghao felt his heart sway; he leaned closer and kissed him.

Gu Juntian often kissed him, but he had never kissed Gu Juntian before.

He had always thought such an act would be a grave offense.

But now, not knowing how much longer he had to live…

Gu Juntian didn’t know Zhou Qinghao’s thoughts; seeing him initiate a kiss, he was in a great mood.

Zhou Qinghao was becoming more casual with him—surely their relationship would become more equal in the future.

The two kissed for a long time in the carriage before returning to the palace. By the time they had eaten, it was already dark.

With action imminent, Gu Juntian planned to rest early and store up his energy.

But shortly after lying down, Zhou Qinghao embraced him and began kissing him.

Before, Zhou Qinghao’s advances had gone no further than undressing, but now he was kissing and touching…

Gu Juntian couldn’t resist.

Fine, he thought—if they slept later, then so be it. Tomorrow he could simply rise late.

That night, Gu Juntian didn’t drink extra water as he usually did.

He slept soundly in Zhou Qinghao’s arms until dawn.

Zhou Qinghao had woken early but didn’t move until Gu Juntian stirred.

“You’re awake?” he asked.

Gu Juntian kissed him. “Awake. I slept very well last night.”

He had been short on sleep lately, so last night’s rest had been much needed.

“Do you want to go to the study?” Zhou Qinghao asked.

“Not today. After breakfast, we’ll go straight to Wangzhuang,” Gu Juntian replied.

The things he wrote each morning were taken to Wangzhuang that same day, and the study was now empty.

With no time to write, there was no need to go there.

Zhou Qinghao was pleased.

Their antics last night had interrupted Gu Juntian’s meeting with that mysterious person, which was a good thing.

That person was clearly very capable; Zhou Qinghao wanted to meet him, though he didn’t know if he would get the chance before he died.

Unaware of Zhou Qinghao’s thoughts, Gu Juntian brought him to Wangzhuang. After inspecting various things, he immediately decided they would take action that night.

He was always decisive—if ready, there was no need to delay.

It was time for Jin to change.

A month wasn’t long, but it wasn’t short either.

Gu Juntian had squeezed every drop from his time, accomplishing much in that month, but to the royal clan nobles in the capital, it had simply been an extra month of eating well.

It felt as though Zhou Qinghao had only returned yesterday.

Before his return, they had been discussing ways to deal with him; even now, they had yet to agree on any viable plan.

Everything seemed as it had been before his campaign.

In fact, life was slightly better than before—over the past month, the administrative matters they gave him were perfunctory, but he neither criticized nor punished them.

The most excessive things Zhou Qinghao had done were to occupy Wangzhuang and treat the palace as his own home, staying there every night.

Life unchanged, most of them had no desire to stir up trouble.

Of course, not all were content—some still wanted Zhou Qinghao dead, but the assassins they sent never returned.

And a rare few with foresight had a sense of an approaching storm.

Zhou Qinghao had been far too quiet lately—completely unlike himself.