Luo Xuan held the dagger and said, "Your subject believes iron weapons concern the state altars. The method of smelting iron should be strictly guarded to prevent it from spreading."
Zi Shou roared, "No!"
"Absolutely not!"
Luo Xuan froze. "Huh?"
Zi Shou coughed twice, gradually calmed down, and began spouting complete bullshit.
Luo Xuan considered iron weapons strategic resources that must not be shared. Otherwise, they would strengthen the enemy. They had to be kept under wraps.
But Zi Shou knew perfectly well that there was no hiding this stuff.
With Zhang Da's eye for people, who knew how many spies were among the new court officials? Keeping it under wraps was useless. It would be stolen before he had even warmed it in his hands.
He might as well be generous and aid the enemy directly, demonstrating his shortsightedness as an incompetent ruler.
As for keeping it entirely to himself and refusing to spread its use, that was even more pointless. The rebellious feudal lords would steal it and smelt iron on a massive scale, while he banned iron smelting on his own side?
Wouldn't that be asking for a beating?
True, he couldn't win the Investiture of the Gods, but he should drag it out as long as possible. If he banned iron smelting, the others would wield iron weapons while his own men wielded copper ones. The immortals wouldn't even need to lift a finger. He would be smashed to pieces in days-so much for waiting until the settlement period.
"Minister Luo, organize the methods for smelting iron and producing coked stone coal, and write them down."
"The feudal lords will soon come to pay their respects. As lord of all under heaven, I should naturally give them gifts in return."
"The iron-smelting method would be excellent,