"That's ridiculous. The soldiers of the Tang Dynasty are warriors who defend the country and defend the borders. How can they be farmers who pick up hammers and shovels to build roads, let alone use such a peerless weapon like gunpowder to build roads? It's a waste of talent." Zhangsun Chong, the general of the Firearm Army, firmly objected.
The reason why Zhangsun Chong objected was not only because of his personal grudge with Mo Jiazi, but also because he wanted to monopolize the firearm army. Once Mo Jiazi formed an engineering battalion, they would be proficient in using gunpowder. With a little modification, it would be a great threat to the Firearm Army.
"I object to Mo Jiu's proposal of building roads by blasting mountains. Whether it's building bridges, blasting mountains to build roads, or digging tunnels, all of them will cost a lot of money. Although the taxes of the Tang Dynasty have been increasing year after year, there are more places that need money. There's really no need to empty the treasury again." Tang Jian, the minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, shook his head. Although there were many benefits to building a brick road from Chang 'an to Chengdu, the treasury of the Tang Dynasty could not afford it.
Zhang Liang, the minister of the Ministry of Works, also added, "I think the Tang Dynasty still has a lot of unbuilt brick roads. At present, we should focus on building brick roads. Although Mo Jiu's plan is good, it's better to postpone it."
For a moment, all the officials objected to Mo Jiazi using gunpowder to blast mountains to open roads. For the first time, Mo Jiazi felt the predicament of being besieged on all sides.
Meton still wanted to argue, but Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "Since there's a lot of controversy, let's put this matter aside for the time being."
Although he had the ambition to surpass the Qin Emperor and Emperor Yang of Sui, now that all the officials objected, he naturally would not take the risk to carry it out.
"As you wish, Minister!"
Although Meton was unwilling, he naturally cupped his hands and obeyed.
Yu Zhining and the others could not help but look proud. Mo Jiazi, who had always been miraculous, finally met his Waterloo. Mo Jiazi's legend of invincibility was finally broken.
Looking at the mocking eyes of the officials, how could Meton not know what they were thinking? He could not help but snort in his heart.
"This matter is not over yet!"
If Mo Jiazi was told to back off just because of this little bit of difficulty, then they were underestimating him.
…
The imperial court meeting at the end of the year ended, and the officials dispersed. The 14th year of Zhenguan had finally come to an end.
Today was New Year's Eve. Everyone from the royal family to the common people put down their work and prepared to welcome the arrival of the new year. At the end of the 14th year of Zhenguan, there was an unexpected snowstorm, which added a lot of New Year's flavor to this year.
"It's snowing!"
Mo Sha said excitedly in the Mo clan.
Every year, Mo Sha would be the most excited during Chinese New Year. The elders of the Mo Family Village would use the latest ink technology to make many fun toys for her. This year, her favorite gift was the snowboard.
Ever since Meton used the snowboard to travel, it immediately became popular in the north. Many people imitated Mo Jiazi and learned to ski. This winter, skiing had become a trend in Chang 'an. Every time there was a heavy snowfall, many people would ski for fun.
"Be careful, you haven't learned it yet. Be careful not to fall!" Princess Changle quickly reminded. Mo Sha was only five years old this year and was not suitable for skiing yet.
"Let me teach her!" Meton stood up and said.
"Like father, like daughter." Princess Changle said angrily. If it were not for Modun's invention of skiing, how could a young girl like Mo Sha be so infatuated with it? This caused Princess Changle's goal of nurturing Mo Sha into a noble young lady to be even further away.
"How can a girl of the Mo Family stay at home and be a lady of the boudoir!" Meton said proudly. He bent down to help Mo Sha zip up her clothes and put on her hat. Then, he carried two snowboards, one big and one small, and stepped into the snow.
"Hahaha!" Hearing the happy laughter of the father and daughter, Princess Changle shook her head helplessly.
"Ah! Ah! "
When Mo Tan heard his father and sister's voices, he immediately called out.
Princess Changle comforted him softly and said hatefully, "You like to play at such a young age. You will definitely be restless when you grow up."
The father and daughter played to their heart's content in the snow until the sky gradually darkened. Only then did they return to the three-story villa, still longing for more.
There was already a fire burning in the hall. In the Tang dynasty, this was called the Fire of the Year. Even though the entire Mo clan was heated, the tradition of lighting the Fire of the Year on New Year's Eve was still persisted.
The family of four sat around the fire and enjoyed the New Year's Eve dinner.
According to tradition, after the New Year's Eve dinner, every family would stay up late. The Mo clan was no exception.
"Father, I want to listen to your story!" Mo Sha said coquettishly in her father's arms. Everyone in the Tang dynasty knew that Mo Jiazi was not only an expert in the art of ink, but also a writer. Every story he wrote was wonderful.
Meton naturally would not reject his daughter's request. He said loudly, "Then father will tell you the story of Frozen!"
To the side, Princess Changle could not help but smile. Back then, it was precisely because of Frozen that she and Modun had formed a relationship step by step, finally falling in love with each other.
However, Mo Sha pursed her lips and said, "I've heard this story many times. Besides, it was you who wrote it for mother. I want to hear a new story, a story for girls."
"A story for girls?" Meton raised his eyebrows. He did not expect Mo Sha to make such a suggestion.
Seeing Mo Dun's expression, Princess Changle could not help but provoke, "What? Is there anything in this world that can stump the grand son of the Mo family?"
Mo Dun looked at Mo Sha's expectant eyes and puffed up his chest. He said proudly, "What's so difficult about that?"
Mo Sha cheered, "Father, you're the best!"
Meton thought for a while. He did have many stories in mind, but most of them were about princesses. They did not meet Mo Sha's requirements. Suddenly, he saw a match beside the table that lit the fire. He immediately thought of a story about a little girl, and it was very similar to today's scene.
"Then I'll tell you the story of a little girl who sells matches." Morton held Mo Sha in his arms and placed a handful of matches in her hand.
"A little girl who sells matches?" Mo Sha looked at the match in her hand and could not help but look forward to it.
"The weather is extremely cold. It's snowing, and the sky is getting dark. It's the last day of the year — New Year's Eve. On this dark and cold night, a well-behaved little girl walked barefoot on the streets …"
"Ah!"
Mo Sha could not help but exclaim. It was also a cold snowy day, but she was wearing a warm coat and playing skiing. On the other hand, the little girl had to sell matches on the streets. On the same New Year's Eve, she was sitting in her father's arms in a warm room, but the little girl was running around for a living.
"The little girl walked barefoot. Her feet were green and red from the cold. She had many matches in her apron pocket and a bag in her hand. However, for the whole day, no one bought a match …"
"She was cold and hungry, and her little hand was almost frozen. At this time, even a small match would be good. So the little girl lit the first match and covered her little hand with the flame. She felt like she was sitting next to a big stove.
"The match went out, and the stove disappeared. The little girl quickly lit another match. There was a huge flame in her hand, and a hot meal appeared in front of her eyes …"
"The next morning, the little girl who sold matches was found in the corner with a smile on her face. She was holding a bunch of matches in her hand."
Meton continued to tell the story. Before the story ended, Mo Sha, who could not hold it in, had fallen asleep.
Princess Changle waved her hand and asked Liu E to send Mo Sha and Mo Tan back to their room. She snuggled her body in Meton's arms and said, "Today is New Year's Eve. You shouldn't tell such a heavy story."
Meton shook his head and said, "Although this is just a story, such tragic experiences are everywhere in the Tang dynasty."
Princess Changle could not help but sigh. The status of women in the Tang dynasty was very low. Although her and Meton's efforts had improved it, it was still a drop in the bucket.
"Your husband has decided that the matches produced by the Mo family will no longer be sold by businessmen. Instead, all the matches will be sold by little girls. It can be considered as a livelihood for all the girls in the world," Meton suddenly said.
"That's great!" Princess Changle's eyes lit up. Women in the world did not have many means to make a living, especially little girls. Selling matches was indeed a good way to make a living.
"I hope that the tragedy of the little girl who sold matches will not happen again in the Tang dynasty," Meton took a deep breath and said.
At this time, a rooster crowed outside the window. New Year's Eve had passed, and the New Year had come.
The fifteenth year of Zhenguan was finally here.
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