Han Shizu

When Han Xiao and the two were distressed because they could not get what they wanted, suddenly there was a violent explosion sound from outside.

Both of them were startled, Xiao Talin said: "What's going on? Could it be an earthquake?"

"It's not like it!" Han De asked to sweep around and pointed, "Go out and have a look!"

After speaking, the two walked out quickly, wanting to observe.They were not the only ones who were alarmed, the whole hotel was full of voices, looking around, looking around, and looking at each other, obviously they didn't know what happened.

Han Derang and Xiao Talin hurriedly boarded a viewing pavilion in the pavilion, looking at it from a high position, the movement came from the northeast direction, and the location was separated by about two lifangs. The sound of explosions continued, one after another, and each explosion was like It's like a thunderbolt from the sky.

The flames soared into the sky, almost reddening the entire night sky, thick smoke billowed up, and the fire was spreading. Although it was difficult to see clearly, the chaos was visible to the naked eye, and the faint wailing sound from a distance also made one's heart skip a beat.

"Here, what kind of scourge did the big man commit? God sent this disaster." Looking at the movement and momentum in the distance, Xiao Talin couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Han Derang was also in a daze, with the shadow of flames dancing in his eyes, he said: "It must be that their gunpowder magazine exploded!"

During the years of confrontation with the big Han, the Khitans also had some understanding of various sharp weapons of the Han army, such as those gunpowder weapons.Xiao Talin has also been in touch with this, the reason why he said that is somewhat gloating.

Although the hotel was far away, with the force of the explosion and the spreading fire, it might not be safe. After realizing it, the envoys and guests in the hotel were unavoidably agitated.

Several officials from the Li Hotel also hurriedly showed up at this time, leading the servants to maintain order, appease the envoys, and at the same time send people to understand the situation.In the panic and bustle, Han Derang shook his head and said softly: "Let's go, let's go back to the room first, and don't make trouble for them!"

When going downstairs, Han Derang paused and smiled wryly again: "Looking at the explosion, I don't know how many houses have been burned, and how many people have died. Tonight will be a sleepless night. How can the Han court take care of the situation? us."

"Han Xiang, in my opinion, it is better to go back to the country!" Hearing this, Xiao Talin was a little annoyed: "The Han court has no intention of accepting sincerity, so what is the point of us waiting here? What's more, you If you stay away from Mobei for a long time, there is no guarantee that something will happen!"

Han Derang frowned, and the opposition of the upper echelons of Mobei Khitan, those nobles who were always trying to pull him down from their horses, appeared in his mind again, and a faint hidden worry was drawn out.

Shaking his head slightly, Han Derang said soberly: "This trip to the south to make friends is actually to be subdued and seek peace. This is my proposal. Even most of the nobles in Mobei agree, but if we return without success, we will inevitably give people something to say. .

In Mobei, with Yelu Privy Envoy in charge of the overall situation, there should be no major problems, you and I can rest assured.On the contrary, at this moment, we must never leave Kaifeng! "

"Why?" Xiao Talin asked.

Han Derang pointed in the direction of the explosion, and said seriously: "I don't know what caused the incident. Whether it was an accident or someone deliberately caused it, we need to investigate. If we leave in a hurry, wouldn't it be suspicious?"

Xiao Talin was slightly startled, and quickly became serious, and replied: "What Prime Minister Han said is very true, if it is involved, even if it is justified, it will be hard to tell, and it may even be life-threatening!"

Han Derang nodded, and ordered: "Let the followers stay in the hotel and not go out!"

"Yes!"

As Han Derang guessed, the accident occurred in the gunpowder depot in the city. It was located in Yanqingfang, southeast of Luocheng. It was originally a gunpowder factory of the Weapons Supervisor, and it was also the largest gunpowder factory in the city.

In recent years, with the large-scale use of gunpowder in military and engineering, the imperial court has also invested heavily in expanding production.As the scale increases, problems such as its management and storage also come one after another, especially safety issues.

The Gunpowder Workshop is a highly classified military unit, and it was built in the imperial city just to keep it secret.But later on, this matter aroused the worries and worries of many courtiers in the court. It was a dangerous thing. Most of the people living in Luocheng were dignitaries.

Someone suggested last year that the gunpowder workshop should be moved out of Luocheng, to an outer city, or even outside of Tokyo.After some detailed discussions, the report was reported. At the suggestion of Prince Liu Yang, Emperor Liu also agreed. After all, it is really unreasonable to open the workshop in the city center.

The relocation of the gunpowder factory was also decided, not only that, but also some of the various workshops that were originally built in the inner city were also relocated one after another.Before the explosion, almost all the gunpowder workshops in Yanqingfang had been moved out, leaving only a few gunpowder depots that have not been cleared for the time being.

Yet it was in this finishing moment that something went wrong.The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but the top priority is to rescue the disaster as soon as possible, put out the fire, and restore order.

Yanqingfang has become a sea of ​​flames. The disaster came so suddenly that people were caught off guard. Even though isolation protection was set up outside the gunpowder depot, it failed to stop the bursting fire dragons after all.

The officials and civilians who lived in it all fled in a hurry, and those who reacted slowly were basically killed by the thick flames and smoke. Those who escaped successfully, when they were shocked and rejoiced, could not help but watch their houses and property being swallowed up.

Inside Yanqing Square, almost became a fiery purgatory, and even spread towards Yankang Square in the north. Fortunately, it was stopped by the patrolmen who rushed to rescue the disaster and some civilians who spontaneously put out the fire.The officers and soldiers of the Tokyo government are a little slow to respond to many things, but they are exceptionally efficient in the face of such drastic changes.

There is no way, when such a big thing happens, don't worry about pursuing responsibility after the incident, and actively perform meritorious service is the most cost-effective and most necessary thing.A large number of patrolling soldiers are fighting the fire. Under such a fire, the standing fire water tanks in the workshop are not effective at all.

Soon, military special water bladders were transferred, and buckets of river water were also moved to the front line, that is, not far from Bianshui, so they could be transferred nearby, which saved some time.

The patrol envoy Zhang Yongde personally went to the front line of fire fighting to watch over the fire fighting and disaster relief matters. With the quick and powerful response of the patrol inspectors, the fire spreading outward from Yanqingfang was finally brought under control.

Even, already along the streets and mansions, advancing inwards, constantly compressing the fire, Zhang Yongde walked in, and mansions and mansions were burned, but it was obvious that if they were not extinguished in time, the entire Yanqing city would be destroyed. It is inevitable that the workshop will be destroyed.

Inside the workshop, fireworks were lit up in the sky, and a large number of inspectors, with ladders, poured out the burning houses with water bladders.Seeing such a scene, Zhang Yongde's expression was very serious, and he didn't talk much, but he opened his mouth to call for disaster relief.

Liu Jichang, governor of Kaifeng, got into action as soon as he received the news, dispatched officers to help put out the fire, and at the same time ordered people to prepare water, sand and tools for fighting the fire.

When Liu Jichang arrived at Yanqingfang, it was too late.With a glance, he noticed Zhang Yongde standing on the "front line", and hurried up: "Inspector Zhang, how is the situation?"

Glancing at him, Zhang Yongde pointed his finger and replied: "The outer fire has basically been brought under control, and it is being cleaned up gradually!"

Hearing this, Liu Jichang couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief, and asked, "Do you know how it happened? How many soldiers and civilians were injured?"

Zhang Yongde spread his hands and said with a wry smile: "I don't know yet. However, it should be related to the gunpowder depot!"

Hearing this, Liu Jichang's expression immediately turned bitter. The fire poison in the air made him sweat profusely. Liu Jichang was crying in his heart, feeling that he was in bad luck.

The food price turmoil in Tokyo has just passed, and people's hearts are slightly calmed down.The former prince went on a tour and found the market was chaotic. He also worked hard to rectify it, and even cut a part of the small business tax to the financial secretary, so he barely passed the customs.

Things have not completely subsided, and such a big explosion and fire happened again, it would be fine if it was a commoner in the outer city. Although the residents in Yanqing Fang are not high-ranking, they are also among the powerful and have some influence.

If the loss is huge and there are many casualties, how can he, the prefect of Kaifeng, please him.Even, there is no need to assume, the situation of the fire scene can be seen intuitively, Liu Jichang can almost be sure that this level will not be easy.

"I brought some manpower and tools, and all of them are assigned by inspector Zhang. Please put out the fire as soon as possible to save lives!" Liu Jichang calmed down and said to Zhang Yongde.

Zhang Yongde was also polite, nodded, and immediately arranged to go.Crying and howling continued, Liu Jichang glanced at some Yanqing residents who had escaped, crying one by one, in a panic.

In Liu Jichang's heart, he couldn't help lamenting again: How can I explain this to His Majesty?