After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

This is the most critical task for them at the moment.

As for electricity, for them, it’s just an accessory. Its greatest significance is to make the radio station operational, allowing information nationwide to reach Luoyang promptly, enabling Zhao Hanzhang to control regional dynamics.

Instead of thinking about deep development of electricity, why not think about how to make steam-powered machines? Lay a solid foundation first, and when technology progresses, electricity will naturally follow.

Guo Pu listened seriously and nodded, saying, "What you say makes a lot of sense, but I won’t listen."

He said, "If you’re not doing it, give me the blueprints and the recipe for tungsten filaments. I’ll go find Zhao Hu; he has money."

Fu Tinghan: ...

Fu Tinghan is a generous person. He immediately gave him the recipe for tungsten filaments. As for the generator blueprints, don’t even think about it, "That’s a national secret. However, if you can provide the funds, I can make it for you."

After pausing, he said, "I won’t overcharge you—just 5% labor fee on top of the cost price."

This price is indeed low, and Guo Pu agreed. The next day, he excitedly left the palace to find Zhao Hu.

Zhao Hu’s courtyard was filled with long tables and benches, each long table serving as an accounting office. They were rapidly tapping on abacuses, their fingers flying as if they were playing the piano.

Guo Pu took a glance and then looked away, asking Zhao Hu, "What are they calculating?"

Zhao Hu: "They’re doing the accounting. During this flood, I sold all the family grain stocks. Accounts from various places have been sent to the capital just now, and many grain shops, newly opened, are about to close as well, so we’re clearing the accounts."

Guo Pu: "Why close the shops, are you... out of money?"

"Me out of money?" Zhao Hu said, "Back in the day, I sent my steward with a lot of money and grain to follow Third Lady. Whenever she recaptured a city, I would use money and grain to buy stores from her. I bought too many stores, and now there’s not enough goods or manpower to sustain them, so I’m temporarily closing them."

Speaking of this, Zhao Hu complained, "During this flood, she opened grain shops, borrowing many of my businesses. Now that the disaster is over, her grain is sold, and when the people withdraw, my storefront must be closed."

Not just her, but he did the same; many shops were temporarily opened, conducting one-off business.

Zhao Hu furrowed his brows, saying, "Too many shops are a headache. After two years when things stabilize and people increase, I’ll sell some shops when they’re valuable. Or maybe I won’t sell and just collect rent?"

Guo Pu, who always resorted to fortune-telling when short of money, couldn’t understand this state.

Zhao Hu pulled his beard and made up his mind, "After two years, if Third Lady still hasn’t... I’ll sell a batch; if she has... I’ll keep them for rent."

He concealed the key words, maybe others wouldn’t understand, but how could Guo Pu not understand?

After finishing, Zhao Hu sneaked a glance at Guo Pu, hoping to discern something from his face.

Guo Pu directly revealed, "Stop looking at me, the heaven’s secrets aren’t for you to know."

Zhao Hu unwillingly asked, "When you first met my fifth brother, you immediately told him; why won’t you tell me?"

Guo Pu: "Because Grandmaster Zhao Wu won’t mess things up, but you will."

Zhao Hu: "...Nonsense, how could I mess up her affairs? I support her much more than my fifth brother does."

"There’s a saying—a good intention may cause bad results. This world has one wickedness worse than a malicious person intentionally doing evil: it’s when someone does something ’for your own good.’ Your life’s calamities all arise from this saying," Guo Pu said.

Zhao Hu opened his mouth wide, thinking of his son. He hesitated for a moment and moved closer to Guo Pu, asking, "Then can you calculate when the calamity between my son and me will pass?"

Guo Pu said, "When you let go, the calamity will pass."

He sized up Zhao Hu, scrutinizing his eyebrows and cheeks, shaking his head slightly, "Everyone in this world misunderstands Zhao Cheng; they shouldn’t persuade Zhao Cheng to let go, but should persuade you to let go."

These weren’t words he liked hearing, and Zhao Hu angrily plopped himself down in his rocking chair, murmuring, "You wouldn’t come to visit without reason; I don’t have any good wine today, nor did I invite you. What brings you here?"

Guo Pu immediately leaned in and said, "I have a good business proposition for you."

Zhao Hu: "Open a fortune-telling shop, and you sit in it?"

Guo Pu snorted, "If I opened a shop, who would dare come and have their fortunes told?"

It made Zhao Hu reconsider because nowadays Guo Pu stays in the palace; everyone knows he’s a Demi Immortal with one foot in the Immortal Gate, but no one dares to approach him casually.

Most times, Zhao Hu finds him just for some carefree play.

"What kind of business?"

Guo Pu produced two sheets of paper for him, "Tungsten filaments, as bright as daylight, much better than oil lamps."

Isn’t that still a lamp?

Zhao Hu casually accepted, glancing briefly at the contents, "What sort of nonsense is this?"