"A fine blade!"
Fu Guo Da Jiangjun Wei Zi's face lit up with joy. "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you order the guards to fetch my personally forged wrought iron saber for a test."
The Empress nodded and ordered someone to retrieve it.
Wei Zi, as a first-rank military official, was permitted to carry weapons into the imperial palace, though not into the Hall of State Affairs.
Therefore, his weapon was always kept outside during court sessions, and retrieving it now would not take much time.
Taking his saber from the guard, Wei Zi repeated the previous process.
The two blades clashed violently, and the result was equally clear.
Although the wrought iron saber did not break, it was cut halfway through by the one forged from raw steel! Yet, the raw steel saber remained unharmed.
Wei Zi was overjoyed at this outcome, as were the observing civil and military officials.
If a blade could cut halfway into a wrought iron saber, wouldn't it easily cleave through armor?
Armor was not half as thick as the blade; most pieces were only about a finger's width, and that was for external armor.
If it were inner or middle layers of armor, it would likely pierce through more than two layers with a single strike.
Wei Zi forcefully separated the two blades and then discarded the damaged wrought iron saber.
With his free hand, he caressed the blade of the raw steel saber with a tenderness usually reserved for a beloved concubine.
"Your Majesty! I have rendered exceptional service and have never sought rewards! Today, my eyes fell upon this treasure blade, and I knew it was destined for me."
"I humbly request Your Majesty to bestow this treasure blade upon me!"
Wei Wu Hou Zhao Zhong, his eyes filled with longing for the raw steel saber, immediately stepped forward and shouted.
He feared that if he delayed, the blade would be gone.
"Wei Wu Hou! How can you be so treacherous?"
The Fu Guo Da Jiangjun roared in exasperation. "This blade is in my hands, and you want it? Not a chance!"
"Your Majesty, I command the nation's armies. Even if I have no great merits, I have toiled hard! I need such a treasure blade to deter the petty enemies of the realm for you and for Your Majesty!"
"Such a treasure blade can only reach its full potential in the hands of a doer like myself. If it were to become a ceremonial sword, used by someone who barely wields it, wouldn't that be a waste?"
"Nonsense! You... you are spouting utter rubbish! In terms of merit, in the entire Yun Yue Kingdom... which military officer can compare to me, Zhen Ning Hou Yin Cong?"
"My family has served Your Majesty and the Yun Yue Kingdom for generations, guarding the northwestern frontier, defending against Qin, combating bandits, and suppressing rebellions. My reputation is renowned, and my military service is long and distinguished."
"If it is to be given, it should be to me, so that this treasure blade is not wasted!"
"Zhen Ning Hou, your words are misplaced. You guarded the northwest with military achievements, but do we in the East not have ours? Though my military rank is not high, in terms of merit this year, I am certainly superior to you!"
"..."
The assembled civil officials were dumbfounded. Chu Chen and the Empress were also taken aback. However, the military officials were as if injected with chicken blood, excited beyond measure.
Wasn't this supposed to be a discussion about punishing Chu Chen? How did the topic suddenly shift to a争夺宝刀 (struggle for the treasure blade)?
Just as the military officials were about to come to blows over the saber in front of the Empress in the Hall of State Affairs.
The Empress, enraged, circulated her spiritual energy and reprimanded, "Silence! All of you, be silent!"
Wei Zi let out a cold snort, flung away Zhen Ning Hou's hand that was grabbing his wrist, and knelt on one knee. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
All the military officials involved in the commotion pleaded for forgiveness.
The Empress's expression was grim. Angrily, she said, "You, as military officials of the Yun Yue Kingdom, attempted to fight in the Great Hall! Where is your dignity and the nation's honor?"
"Your subjects know their guilt!"
"Hmph, a mere saber almost led you to a brawl. It seems this blade cannot remain in your hands. Otherwise, after the court session, without my restraint, who knows what you might do!"
"Mu Gonggong, quickly confiscate the treasure blade from Fu Guo Da Jiangjun!"
"Yes!"
The old eunuch beside the Empress scurried over to Wei Zi and said with a smile, "General Wei?"
"Hmph~"
Wei Zi was extremely reluctant but had no choice. He snorted and handed the treasure blade to the old eunuch.
The old eunuch took the hilt and tried to pull the saber free, but it wouldn't budge. He looked down.
Wei Zi was still gripping it tightly, unwilling to let go.
"Please, Lord Wei, release your grip," the old eunuch said with amusement.
Wei Zi's old face flushed red. He released his grip, flicked his sleeve, and turned his head away.
The old eunuch quickly handed the treasure blade to the Empress. She examined it closely, her delight growing with each glance.
Then, she ordered a guard to remove the scabbard and sheath the treasure blade, placing it beside the dragon throne, out of the ministers' sight.
This scene once again stunned the civil officials and the military officials as well.
Was Her Majesty not competing with her ministers for the treasure blade? How preposterous!
The military officials thought this, but dared not speak it aloud, their faces filled with indignation.
"Very well, I shall keep this blade for now. Do not all of you put on such long faces. This blade is not irreplaceable."
The Empress's words made the military officials react.
Indeed, it was not irreplaceable. If one could be made, so could another! Moreover, it was forged by the Ministry of Works' foundry, meaning it could almost be mass-produced!
Instantly, their eyes began to gleam as they fixed on Chu Chen, making him feel somewhat uncomfortable and speechless.
In a good mood after obtaining the treasure blade, the Empress asked with a smile, "Chu Chen, can this kind of treasure blade still be forged using your stir-frying steel method?"
"Uh~ Your Majesty, it can indeed be forged again, but..."
"But what?"
The single "but" made the Empress and the military officials' hearts clench, fearing they would hear that it was difficult to forge again.
"However, if there is a large demand, such high-quality treasure blades cannot be forged in a single day."
"The reason I was able to forge it in one day was dependent on the pre-forged pig iron. That is why the speed was so great."
"If the pig iron runs out and new pig iron needs to be smelted, then forged into wrought iron and then into raw steel, the time required will still be the same as before, taking half a month."
Having said this, Chu Chen quickly added, "Of course, if it is just a small batch for rewarding the ministers, the current reserves of pig iron blocks are sufficient."
"I can forge a hundred raw steel weapons within three days. For more, pig iron blocks would need to be procured from other foundries."
"I reserve one!" "Your Majesty!"
The Fu Guo Da Jiangjun immediately shouted upon hearing the limited quantity.
"I also wish for a blade, please grant my request, Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, I wish for one too!"
The military officials quickly shouted, fearing they would miss out if they were slow, and these hundred blades would be gone.
"Good, good, good. Everyone shall have one, everyone shall have one." The Empress appeased the military officials with a helpless smile. "Chu Chen, I command you to forge one hundred raw steel treasure blades within three days and present them to me for rewarding the military officials."
"Can you accomplish this?"
"Your subject will absolutely not fail Your Majesty's expectations!" Chu Chen cupped his hands and replied confidently.
"Very well. If that is the case, do any of my esteemed officials have any other matters?"
The Empress turned to look at the officials from the Ministry of Works who had been arguing fiercely earlier and were now speechless.
Those civil officials gave a sheepish smile, retreated to their ranks, and remained silent, heads bowed.
Their old faces, however, were flushed red with shame and indignation.
"Since there are no other matters, let the court be dismissed!"
"Yes!"
"By order of Her Majesty! Court dismissed!"