Yan Liqiang's time in the Imperial Hospital passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, August 15th was over.
If everything remained unchanged, August 15th would be the day when Yan Liqiang and Shi Minzhang would hold a blind archery competition, which would be a hurdle and test for Yan Liqiang. However, because Yan Liqiang's self-torture was so brilliant, on that day, Yan Liqiang not only did not go to the military camp to have any dangerous blind competition, but instead received the meticulous care of several imperial doctors in the Imperial Hospital.
These few days can be said to be the most relaxing time for Yan Liqiang since he came to the Imperial Capital. He does not have to do anything every day. He just stretches out his hand for clothes and opens his mouth for food. There is someone to serve him everything, and everything is the best. Every day, apart from eating, sleeping, boxing, and reading, his freedom is slightly restricted. This kind of life is exactly what Yan Liqiang had been pursuing in his previous life.
On the second day after visiting Yan Liqiang, Lingshan School's master of mechanisms Zhang Yourong had someone send a letter to Yan Liqiang, telling him that he had left the capital and was returning to Lingshan School to turn the inspiration he got from Yan Liqiang into tangible objects. He also invited Yan Liqiang to visit Lingshan School when he had time. In the letter, Zhang Yourong also drew a sketch, and on that sketch was a conceptual plan for the cylinder and piston of a steam engine. That conceptual plan was already close to the basic structure of the steam engine in Yan Liqiang's mind.
As expected, he is worthy of being the world's number one master of mechanisms. If it were in Yan Liqiang's previous life, a few hundred years later, if this picture was put up for auction, its value would probably be comparable to that of a world-famous painting.
Just by looking at the picture, Yan Liqiang knew that it would not be long before the first steam engine of the Han Empire would be born in the Qianji Hall of Lingshan Sect. He had no idea what kind of changes this newly born machine would bring to the Han Empire, which was about to reach an important historical juncture. Everything depended on God's will.
In the past few days, the wounds on Yan Liqiang's body have all healed, and not even a scar is left. However, the problem of Yan Liqiang's Dantian left by his "obsession" has made the imperial doctors rack their brains, but there is no solution. Every time they check, Yan Liqiang's Dantian is empty, and not even a trace of true energy can be condensed.
The imperial doctors reported Yan Liqiang's condition to the emperor, who was always concerned about Yan Liqiang's health. On August 15, Yan Liqiang, who was "disheartened", formally asked eunuch Liu to leave the imperial capital and return to Ganzhou for recuperation. This was what the emperor had promised him before, and Yan Liqiang felt that it was almost time for him to leave the imperial capital.
On the evening of the second day after Yan Liqiang made this request, Eunuch Liu came to the Imperial Hospital. Without saying anything, he just asked Yan Liqiang to change into a brand new military officer's uniform of a fifth-rank sword-bearing guard in front of the emperor. Then he took Yan Liqiang into the carriage and left the Imperial Hospital.
"Father-in-law, where are we going?" Sitting in the swaying carriage, Yan Liqiang finally found the opportunity to speak.
"Of course, we should go to the palace to see His Majesty!" Eunuch Liu glanced at Yan Liqiang and said slowly.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty agrees?" Yan Liqiang was shocked.
"Your Majesty is the supreme ruler, and your words are golden. How can you break your promise? Your Majesty promised you that day that you would be allowed to return to Ganzhou after the blind competition. You were assassinated this time, and the blind competition was cancelled, but your Majesty's words still count!" At this point, Eunuch Liu looked at Yan Liqiang meaningfully, "I also know that you, Liqiang, are not living well in the Imperial Capital. You are surrounded by dangers and you almost lost your life several times. Maybe changing the environment will be better! His Majesty also wants to train you outside the Imperial Capital. Maybe you can stand on your own for His Majesty in the future. His Majesty has high hopes for you, Liqiang. I hope you don't let His Majesty down!"
Hearing this, Yan Liqiang looked generous, "Please rest assured, eunuch. Even if I am not in the Imperial Capital, I am still a soldier by your majesty and eunuch's side. Wherever your majesty and eunuch tell me to go, I will go there!"
"What little soldier? You are already a fifth-rank sword-bearing guard in front of the emperor. I can't give you orders. Even I have to listen to His Majesty..." Eunuch Liu laughed, feeling very satisfied with Yan Liqiang's words of loyalty.
"What you said is right, father-in-law!" Yan Liqiang responded modestly.
"By the way, if you see His Majesty later, don't refuse any reward His Majesty wants to give you. If His Majesty asks you to choose an official position, just choose a big and good one. Don't be shy. His Majesty sometimes likes his subordinates to be open and speak up and take on responsibilities!"
Yan Liqiang took a deep breath and nodded, "Okay, thank you for the reminder, I'll remember it!"
Then, Eunuch Liu reminded Yan Liqiang in the carriage about some etiquette and titles that he should pay attention to when he formally meets the Emperor in the palace. Of course, Yan Liqiang humbly accepted the advice!
The Imperial Hospital was less than two miles away from the palace. After only a short while on the carriage, the carriage had already arrived at the palace. Yan Liqiang followed Eunuch Liu out of the carriage. The two men showed their identity badges and went through several checks. Then a young eunuch from the palace personally led them into the heavily guarded palace city. After many twists and turns, just when Yan Liqiang felt he was about to get lost, the young eunuch finally brought the two men to a garden. After being interrogated by the guards outside the garden, they were finally allowed to enter the garden and finally to the imperial study in the garden.
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Liu and Yan Liqiang request to see you!" An old eunuch whom Yan Liqiang had never seen before was outside the imperial study. After seeing Yan Liqiang and Eunuch Liu arrive, he nodded at the two of them with a gentle expression, and then reported to the inside from outside the imperial study.
"Let Yan Liqiang in!" A familiar voice came from the study. At the signal from Eunuch Liu and the old eunuch, Yan Liqiang relaxed and walked in calmly.
As soon as Yan Liqiang entered, he saw the emperor in a huge study room. He was wearing a golden dragon robe and standing in front of a screen with his hands behind his back, looking at the pictures on the screen.
"Deputy General Manager of Luyuan, Yan Liqiang, the fifth-rank sword-bearing guard in front of the emperor, greets His Majesty!" Yan Liqiang saluted the man and spoke loudly. The man who had been standing in front of the screen turned around and stared at Yan Liqiang's face with a burning gaze.
"How has your body recovered in the past few days? I heard from the imperial physician at the Imperial Hospital that your Dantian is still unable to gather Qi?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am fine now, but I am suffering from a demonic illness. I am afraid it will take time to recover, so I want to go back to my hometown in Ganzhou to recuperate slowly..."
"That's good. The Ministry of Justice has issued an order to arrest Lin Zhe these past two days. However, Lin Zhe has escaped temporarily, so a warrant has been issued. This is to give you an explanation!"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty!"
"Well, can you still shoot a strong bow now?"
"Yes!" Yan Liqiang answered firmly.
"Good!" His Majesty the Emperor nodded approvingly and pointed to the screen beside him. "Do you recognize what's on this screen?"
Yan Liqiang had already noticed the screen when he entered the room. The things on the screen were not unfamiliar to him. "On the screen is a map of the northwest of the Han Empire and the countries in the Western Regions!"
"Yes, this screen is indeed a map of the northwest territory of the Han Empire. This is Yinzhou, this is Lanzhou, this is Ganzhou, and this is your hometown Pingxi County..." His Majesty's voice was filled with some indescribable emotions, and his Majesty's fingers slid across the screen, "This is the Seven Shatu Tribes, this is the Black Jie Tribe, and across the Gogol Desert is the Eighteen Kingdoms of the Western Regions. This area has been in constant war for a thousand years. It is a real place of a hundred battles. Speaking of the Seven Shatu Tribes, do you still remember what you said to Sun Qing that day?"
"Well... Lord Sun and I have said too much, please explain it clearly, Your Majesty!" Yan Liqiang said a little embarrassedly.
His Majesty the Emperor smiled slightly. "When Sun Qing was here, he once mentioned to me your judgment on the seven tribes of Shatu. You told Sun Qing that the seven tribes of Shatu are now a major threat to the northwest of the Han Empire. If the Han Empire wants to regain control of the Gulang Grassland and Qiyun Mountain, we must unite with the Black Jie people and drive away the seven tribes of Shatu. Then we can take back the Gulang Grassland from the Black Jie people who are not yet firmly established!"
After hearing what the Emperor said, Yan Liqiang suddenly remembered that he had really said something like this to Sun Bingchen, "This... I did say something like this, but it was just my immature opinion, but I am sorry to make you laugh, Your Majesty!"
His Majesty the Emperor smiled noncommittally, "You want to go back to Ganzhou this time, I agree. Not only will I allow you to go back, I will also give you two positions, you can choose!"
Yan Liqiang perked up, "This, Your Majesty, please tell me!"
"I know you have a talent for studying mechanisms and are good at making tools, so I'm giving you a job as the supervisor of the Ganzhou Artisan Machinery Camp. The former supervisor of the Ganzhou Artisan Machinery Camp has been imprisoned because of his involvement in the Ye family case, so this position is now vacant. What do you think of this position?"
Yan Liqiang suddenly felt a little dry in the mouth. The supervisor of the Ganzhou Artisan Machinery Camp was not a small official, but an important position with lucrative benefits. Under this position, all the artisan machinery camps in Ganzhou were under his jurisdiction. In his previous life, this position was the head of the Ganzhou Military Region's Logistics and Equipment Department. This position was definitely a lucrative job given to him by the Emperor...
At this moment, Yan Liqiang even thought of Wei Xiaobao. His heart was beating fast, but he did not rush to make a choice. After pondering for a moment, he continued to ask, "I wonder what the second position Your Majesty has chosen for me?"
The Emperor smiled. "This second position is a little bit special. It can be said to be the best, but also the worst!"
"Oh, I wonder what it is?" Yan Liqiang's curiosity was immediately aroused.
"Protector Qi Yun!" His Majesty the Emperor uttered these four words softly.
Yan Liqiang, who knew the meaning and history of these four words, was stunned...
(End of this chapter)