On the road from Gaojia Village to the firearms bureau, numerous workers were already applying cement. The last time, Li Daoxuan had casually scraped a flat dirt path with a metal scraper. Immediately after, Thirty-Two organized a large number of day laborers to start transforming this road into a cement road.

Currently, half of the road was being paved with cement, while the other half remained in its original state.

Gao Yiye and the blacksmiths passed through on the half not yet paved.

The road construction workers waved at them, “Master blacksmiths! Where are you off to?”

Gao Yiyi smiled back, “Heading to the firearms bureau. Got some work ordered by the Deity.”

The road workers’ eyes filled with envy, “I really wish I could apprentice in the artisans’ well! Once I finish this job and save up some money to buy a few pieces of furniture for the house, I’ll go be an apprentice in the artisans’ well! After learning a skill, I can upgrade from apprentice to artisan.”

Someone newly arrived from Qingjian County didn’t understand, “Aren’t artisans part of the lower class? You have good commoner status; why wouldn’t you want that? What’s the point of wanting artisan registration?”

“Hey! You’re new here, you don’t get it. Artisans get the best treatment in our Gaojia Village.”

“Yeah, the Deity likes artisans the most. Artisans get the highest wages. And as soon as someone comes up with an important technological invention, they immediately become rich… rich what-now? What was that phrase Steward Thirty-Two used last time?”

“‘Become as wealthy as Dao Bai!’”

“Ah, yes yes yes! What does that even mean?”

“No idea. Anyway, it means becoming rich.”

Only then did the Qingjian County native understand the situation with artisans. Secretly, they thought: I’m new here and penniless right now. After I work some day labor, earn a bit of money, and life stabilizes, I’m going to learn a trade too. Since there’s no farmland anymore anyway, having a skill could come in handy someday.

The blacksmiths continued forward. The two-li distance was covered in a blink. Ahead lay the small mountain valley where the firearms bureau was located. A massive, smooth stone vat was upturned in the valley, resembling a gigantic military fortress from some future era.

Above the main gate hung a plaque that read: “Gaojia Village Firearms Bureau.”

This was the hottest new department in Gaojia Village, offering the highest wages. Many aspired to become apprentices there. However, the chief, Xu Dafu, was notoriously strict in his selection. Anyone showing even a hint of mischievousness was dismissed outright. He only accepted trainees who were cautious and thoughtful, the type who carefully considered things before acting.

Therefore, only Xu Dafu and a dozen or so apprentices occupied that enormous building at the moment.

Every prospective apprentice had to hear Xu Dafu tell the “Great Explosion of Beijing” story—ten times. Only those who could recite it from memory were permitted to join the firearms bureau.

Xu Dafu had specially built separate rooms using stones. One room stored the materials provided by the Deity; the other stored the manufactured gunpowder.

He forbade any apprentice from entering those two rooms. He managed them personally, retrieving materials or gunpowder only by his own hand.

Chosen for their cautious nature and further intimidated by the “Great Explosion of Beijing” story they’d heard before joining, the apprentices were all extremely careful. None dared to mess with the gunpowder.

Upon reaching the firearms bureau entrance, Gao Yiyi called out loudly, “Xu Dafu! Chief Xu! I’m here to collect some gunpowder!”

Xu Dafu poked his head out the door, waving at the group, “Step back, step back. Retreat farther!”

Gao Yiyi was puzzled, “What for?”

Xu Dafu explained, “This place is full of highly explosive stuff! The slightest spark could set it off. With such a large group showing up, have all your belongings been inspected? Does anyone have ignition strips or anything? I can’t be sure! I can’t let you get close.”

Gao Yiyi found this simultaneously irritating and funny, but decided, Fine, we’ll retreat.

The group retreated quite a distance.

Only when they were at a safe distance did Xu Dafu ask, “Is this gunpowder collection approved by the Deity? Gunpowder isn’t a toy for just anyone! Without the Deity’s word, not one single ounce can be taken from here!”

“Of course it’s approved by the Deity,” Gao Yiyi replied. “Look, the Saint Lady has come with us.”

Xu Dafu turned his gaze to Gao Yiye.

Gao Yiye smiled, “It has been approved by the Deity. See that low cloud up there? The Deity is riding the cloud, following us to watch. You have nothing to worry about.”

Xu Dafu looked up at the sky, spotted the low cloud, and finally relaxed. He gave a deep bow towards it, “Since the Deity is here too… that means you do have permission. I suppose I can give you some gunpowder.”

He glanced at the three-eye firearm in Gao Yiyi’s hands, “Three portions should be enough, right?”

Gao Yiyi reacted with a mix of frustration and amusement, “Hey! You’re only giving us enough for one test volley? Give us more! We need to test it thoroughly to see if this firearm is sturdy or if it’ll blow up.”

Xu Dafu conceded, “A few more portions might be possible. But I have to supervise its use. If I give you ten portions, I must hear that firearm fire ten times. Not one shot less! I won’t have you intentionally skip two shots to hoard extra gunpowder. One mishap, and the whole Gaojia Village could get blown sky-high!”

Watching him take such extreme caution seriously, Li Daoxuan found it amusing. My firearms bureau chief is indeed ludicrously cautious.

Gao Yiyi was also exasperated by Xu Dafu, finding the situation both maddening and ridiculous, “Alright, alright! You watch the whole thing. We’ll fire exactly as many times as we have portions. We’ll return any unused portion, okay?”

“That’s more reasonable,” Xu Dafu retreated inside. A moment later, he reappeared holding a small earthen jar filled with a fine, sand-like black powder.

This was the “Ming Dynasty black powder” he had produced by re-processing the “firecracker gunpowder” provided by Li Daoxuan.

The composition of the “firecracker gunpowder” given by Li Daoxuan differed somewhat from true combat black powder, but Li Daoxuan had enlarged it by placing it in a box.

Xu Dafu had easily been able to separate the saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal, grind them into fine powder again, then readjust the proportions according to the modern formula Li Daoxuan provided. This created true black powder.

This stuff exploded with far more force than firecrackers and was extremely dangerous.

He carefully handed the jar to Gao Yiyi, “Here are ten portions. I expect to hear ten shots.” He then opened a small pouch, pulled out a pack of ignition fuses, counted out exactly ten, and handed them to Gao Yiyi.

Gao Yiyi couldn’t help but complain, “Not even one extra fuse?”

Xu Dafu shook his head with utmost seriousness, “Absolutely not! No more, no less! Gunpowder must be used this way. Any discrepancy can lead to disaster.”

“Alright, alright, you’re the boss.”

Gao Yiyi carried the jar and led the blacksmiths to an open area beside the valley. Xu Dafu also scurried after them, positioning himself to one side as a spectator.