"Why is he here at this time?"
After hearing the report from his subordinate, Zhang Xiaochun was taken aback.
The day was already dark. Why wasn't this fellow staying in his own Taoist temple? What was he doing here at this hour?
"Father, he has sent all the grain and silver stored in the Taoist temple to the yamen. You should grant him an audience!"
Upon hearing that Zhang Ruhui sought an audience, Zhang Ji added, "It's fine, let's meet him then! Just for saving my life outside the city last time, I should give him this much face!"
After a self-mocking laugh, Zhang Xiaochun waved his hand to his subordinate, signaling them to bring the person in.
"This humble Taoist greets your Excellency!"
"To be honest, we are old acquaintances. Let's dispense with these formalities. You've come so late, is there something you need?"
Regardless of anything else, this was his savior. Zhang Xiaochun spoke to him with relative politeness.
"I know your Excellency is currently troubled by the city's material reserves, so I've come specifically to find you!"
"You have a way?"
Hearing this, Zhang Xiaochun's spirits immediately lifted.
While the grain supply was currently just enough to barely last for a period, the daily consumption of arrows in the city was a significant figure.
Bows and arrows were important defensive weapons. Although Taiyuan City was not short of craftsmen, the consumption of raw iron was too immense. Even if they recovered and reused the arrows and weapons shot into the city by the enemy, and gathered all the iron products in Taiyuan City for use.
At the current rate of consumption, they would face a situation of having no arrows left in less than a month.
"If I didn't have genuine materials, how would I dare bother your Excellency at this time? Your Excellency, please look at this!"
As Zhang Ruhui spoke, he reached into his sleeve, pulled out a small booklet, and handed it to Zhang Xiaochun with both hands.
As Zhang Xiaochun unrolled the booklet, his eyes grew brighter and brighter, like an old glutton who had been starving for three years suddenly seeing a peerless delicacy. By the end, Zhang Xiaochun's breathing had become noticeably rapid as he spoke.
Although they didn't have much finished product reserves left, with the materials provided in this booklet, Zhang Xiaochun was confident he could defend Taiyuan City for over a year.
As the foremost strategic city in the northwest, Taiyuan City had a complete range of supporting facilities for various manufacturing processes.
As long as there were sufficient materials, they could produce anything they needed.
"Where are these things now?"
Zhang Xiaochun stood up directly as he spoke.
"Your Excellency, look there!"
Seeing Zhang Xiaochun's excited expression, Zhang Ruhui did not answer his question immediately. Instead, he walked to the window, pushed open the tightly shut casement, and pointed towards the very center of Taiyuan City.
"The Guardian Array?"
At the direction he pointed, Zhang Ji suddenly reacted.
"Impossible, impossible! That Guardian Array was built with stones and timber. Where would there be so much raw iron, grain, and medicinal pills?"
Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Xiaochun had already interrupted him.
The construction of that so-called Guardian Array had indeed consumed a large amount of manpower and resources, but to say that it contained a large quantity of grain and raw iron was unbelievable.
After all, other things could be discussed, but raw iron and grain were normally contraband. Every shipment entering or leaving the city gates required registration. If such a large amount of materials had entered and exited, how could he not know?
"Your Excellency, have you forgotten?"
Seeing Zhang Xiaochun shaking his head like a rattle drum, Zhang Ruhui suddenly smiled.
"You mean!"
Prompted by him, Zhang Xiaochun also realized. Ordinary people indeed could not conduct such business, but if it were the Divine Firmament Sect, it seemed quite possible.
If they truly mixed raw iron with stones and transported it successfully, the city's guards would indeed not dare to investigate them thoroughly...
"You fellow truly has a great method. Just to hoard so much material, how much did it cost you? This is too much of the people's blood and sweat..."
Before the last word could be uttered, Zhang Xiaochun himself felt a little embarrassed. This person was kindly hoarding supplies for them, and it seemed rather inappropriate for him to say such a thing now.
"Your Excellency, please rest assured. This money is not the people's blood and sweat. This is the foundation of our Divine Firmament Sect, and also a gift from an old acquaintance of General Wang to Taiyuan City!"
"General Wang's old acquaintance? Are you referring to the one in the southeast?"
Upon mentioning Wang Bing's old acquaintance, Zhang Xiaochun immediately thought of the legendary Han Mo.
"That's right! It is indeed that Lord Han. A large portion of this grain was transported from overseas by people he sent from afar!"
"You mean to say that he foresaw Taiyuan City's current predicament a long time ago?"
After hearing his words, Zhang Xiaochun almost bit off his own tongue.
Transporting grain from overseas from afar, and delivering it to Taiyuan City without anyone noticing, and it coincidentally arrived just as the underground palace of this so-called Guardian Array was sealed. If this was not a premeditated plan, Zhang Xiaochun would never believe it.
"This, you will probably have to ask him!"
Although Zhang Ruhui knew what was going on, it was not yet time to reveal the truth, so he could only smile and say nothing.
"How laughable, how laughable! In the past, I, Zhang Xiaochun, always thought that the so-called foremost talent of the empire was just a name without substance. Only now do I realize that I, Zhang Xiaochun, am but a frog in a well! If I, Zhang Xiaochun, can survive this great calamity, even if I resign from my official post, I must travel to Jiangnan to witness such a distinguished figure!"
With such a large reserve of supplies, Zhang Xiaochun's worried heart was finally put at ease.
A full one hundred and eighty thousand shi of grain, eight hundred and fifty thousand catties of raw iron, stones, timber, and countless other miscellaneous items. What pleased Zhang Xiaochun the most was that among the Divine Firmament Sect's material reserves, there was actually a large amount of sulfur and saltpeter!
Taiyuan City had a gunpowder workshop, but due to military expenditure issues, this workshop had been operating in a semi-dormant state. With these materials now, if they could truly produce a batch of gunpowder, it would be a great killer weapon for defending the city.
"He is indeed an exceptionally talented individual. I believe your Excellency will be very pleased to meet him!"