So Chen Fan's story made its way to Empress Zhangsun.
"That child really doesn't think things through. He's using incense offerings to command the Demon Race.
But he's never considered how much incense a village of a hundred or so households can provide.
If it can't satisfy the Demons' appetites, chaos may well break out!"
Empress Zhangsun was sharp-witted, and she immediately saw the flaw in Chen Fan's approach.
A healthy adult could produce a wisp of incense every two or three days without harming themselves.
Once they exceeded that amount, however, their vital energy and blood would be depleted.
If they did it regularly, the resulting deficiency would consume their lifespan.
Emperor Li Er took Empress Zhangsun's hand and reassured her.
"Don't worry, Guanyin Bi. Xuancheng noticed this long ago.
He observed Chen Fan's methods and has already taken appropriate measures.
However, Xuancheng mentioned in his letter that Chen Fan basically accepts any Demon who comes to him."
At Li Shimin's words, Empress Zhangsun immediately understood what he was worried about.
Once the Demons awakened their intelligence, their vital energy and blood would transform into demonic energy.
Their natural talents would then be unlocked.
With proper training, each one could take on ten men.
Shuoli Khan of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate had a corps of Wolf Demons under his command.
With that corps to intimidate his enemies, Shuoli had dominated the northern grasslands. How fearsome he was!
In Li Shimin's eyes, Chen Fan's methods were a source of chaos.
If Zhao Family Village couldn't support so many Demons,
and dozens of them rioted,
the resulting damage would be immense. It wouldn't be difficult for tens of thousands of people to be driven from their homes.
It was only because Wei Zheng had repeatedly assured him that Chen Fan had capable people helping him
that Chen Fan was now awaiting an envoy bearing rewards.
Otherwise, the Tiance Army would already be on its way to quell the unrest!
"With Wei Zheng there, I doubt he'll let that child do anything reckless.
Besides, didn't Wei Zheng say that the child lacks people who can read and write?
Your Majesty should grant his wish and send some scholars and soldiers to help him.
That child is clever. If he can invent another one or two tools like the Qu Yuan Plow,
it would benefit both Your Majesty and the Great Tang!"
Understanding Li Shimin's thoughts, Empress Zhangsun offered her suggestion.
Li Shimin admired Chen Fan's intelligence and ability, yet he was wary of his reckless character.
Someone who sought to make humans and Demons live together in peace
was either a great sage or an unparalleled schemer!
The two people at the very peak of the Great Tang's power had never considered
that Chen Fan might simply think Demons were cheap and convenient to use.
"Guanyin Bi, you really do have a keen mind!"
Li Shimin's eyes lit up. Though he was a broad-minded emperor,
he still grew suspicious of people he couldn't control.
If he could send his own people to serve under Chen Fan with a legitimate excuse,
then whatever Chen Fan chose to do in the future, he would still be in the palm of his hand.
"But if Your Majesty sends people to help that child, and he causes trouble later,
you may have to shoulder some of the blame. Be careful, or Wei Zheng might impeach you!"
Empress Zhangsun teased Li Shimin, making him burst into laughter.
"So that's what you were getting at. Very well, I did get the better of Chen Fan.
As long as he doesn't rebel, whatever happens, I'll take responsibility for him!"
Emperor Li Er said magnanimously, completely unaware of the enormous pit he had just dug for himself.
Then he immediately ordered someone to deliver an edict, granting Chen Fan additional rewards.
"But who should we send?"
At first, Li Shimin had thought that having Wei Zheng keep watch over things there would be enough.
But if he sent an army, Wei Zheng wouldn't be suitable for the task.
Wei Zheng was a loyal minister, and would never meddle with the military.
But if the commander ranked below Wei Zheng, that would create a great deal of inconvenience.
"Chengqian has made good progress in his studies recently, and he can handle both civil and military matters. Why not send him?"
Empress Zhangsun's eyes flickered as she sighed inwardly.
Li Shimin had only just taken the throne, yet the Crown Prince and Prince of Yue were already showing signs of rivalry.
Li Chengqian and Li Tai were both Empress Zhangsun's sons.
Naturally, she didn't want them to compete against each other.
In Li Shimin's eyes, it was just a minor disagreement between brothers.
But Empress Zhangsun could see further. She didn't want her sons to end up fighting one another.
The only way was to nip Li Tai's ambitions in the bud from the very beginning.
Otherwise, whatever happened in the future, she would lose one of her sons.
"Chengqian? That would work."
Li Shimin didn't give it much thought. As an emperor—and one renowned throughout history—
he wasn't concerned about Li Chengqian building up his own influence.
He was confident that no matter how much Li Chengqian grew, he would never surpass him.
"Someone, draft an edict appointing Crown Prince Li Chengqian..."
At Zhao Family Village, Wei Zheng came hurrying over, panting heavily.
"You're saying this thing can make steel?"
Wei Zheng stared in shock at the mound-like structure in front of Chen Fan.
He had thought Chen Fan's invention of the Qu Yuan Plow was just a stroke of inspiration.
So after observing him for a few days, he had returned to Qingshi Town to continue investigating the incense case.
He had left only two guards behind at Zhao Family Village, in case anything went wrong.
Who could have guessed that a guard would report that morning that Chen Fan was planning to smelt steel?
What kind of nonsense was that!
But Wei Zheng didn't dare ignore the news. He rushed over without even eating breakfast.
"Yeah. Cast-iron farm tools are too brittle, so I figured I'd make some steel."
Chen Fan replied calmly, and a vein twitched on Wei Zheng's forehead.
Listen to him! Was that any way for a person to talk?
What did he mean, "I figured I'd make some steel"? Did he think steel was cabbage?
Could he just bury something in dirt and grow it?
"You're sure you can really make it?"
Wei Zheng looked at the blast furnace in front of him, which resembled an earthen kiln and had two openings near the top.
He looked it over from every angle, still doubtful.
"Young Master Chen, can this really smelt steel?"
Steel wasn't the same as iron. Good-quality steel was no easy thing to make.
Cast iron, on the other hand, could be made by any blacksmith with a little know-how and some iron ore.
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