Fenghou

Chapter 954 Resolved
Firearms Administration Department Commander Yang Bo sighed: "The main reason is that we have not found any new mines of Huo Nitrate. We are still mining the old mines. The mines in Laojun Mountain in Sichuan are almost exhausted, and the mines in Qinzhou are becoming more and more difficult to mine. The output is low, and tens of thousands of catties of gunpowder are consumed just to study the iron fire mine, and the consumption is so astonishing that even if the iron fire mine is successfully developed, our mineral resources will be exhausted."

"I remember that you started looking for new mines in Hedong last year. Has there been any progress?"

"There are three mining areas in Hedong. Both the Luzhou mine and the Jinzhou mine have been mined by Jin soldiers. The only hope is the Daizhou mine. There are still a large amount of reserves in the mine there. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of catties of ore can be mined, and then purified, probably There will be [-] to [-] catties of pure fire nitrate, and we are already recruiting manpower, making utensils, striving to mine in May, and produce the first batch of gunpowder in July."

Chen Qing shook his head, "Water far away can't quench your thirst. I need to use it for training now, and I can't wait until July."

At this time, Zhao Xiuwen, who had been silent all this time, said, "Maybe there is a way for the humble job!"

Several pairs of eyes looked at him, and said in unison: "What way?"

Zhao Xiuwen smiled and said, "We don't have enough gunpowder, but the court has enough gunpowder."

Chen Qing was stunned, "I don't remember you saying that the government and the opposition are not enough firearms."

"Your Highness, just because the imperial court is short of firearms, it doesn't mean that there is insufficient gunpowder. I have a humble job as the head of the Military Arms Supervision, and I know that the imperial court has more than [-] catties of gunpowder in stock."

"Why don't you make firearms? Didn't I give you the soft match blueprint and exchanged the thousand-step gun blueprint with you? Isn't it okay to have soft match?"

Zhao Xiuwen shook his head, "We only made a few thousand gunpowder barrels, and then stopped making them, because a very strange thing happened, and the imperial court ordered the production of gunpowder barrels to stop."

"What weird thing?"

"We made matchlocks and gunpowder barrels according to the drawings and handed them over to the army, but the feedback was bad. They said that when the matchlocks were ignited, the powder barrels exploded in an instant, and the armies were afraid to use them again. Then the military inspectors looked for the reason, and found that the drawings were destroyed. The person has changed the package, and even if we ask His Highness to give us the original blueprint, we will not be able to find it."

Guan Shigu immediately realized, "Is there a ghost inside?"

"Yes! Someone must have stolen the original blueprints to Jin Guo, and then swapped our existing blueprints. If there is something wrong with the blueprints, the matchlock will be wrong."

Chen Qing said with a smile: "The drawing of the matchlock is not important! As long as you know the principle, the craftsman can make it after a few experiments."

"But the civil servants of the imperial court didn't think so. Zhizhengtang stopped the production of gunpowder barrels and wanted to track down the ghost. After a year of investigation, nothing was found. The matter was left alone, and two military supervisors were replaced. Ling Du was afraid of taking responsibility and refused to approve the resumption of the development of gunpowder barrels. The craftsmen were transferred to make other firearms. Now that the armistice agreement has been signed, no one cares about this matter."

"and then?"

Chen Qing asked again with a smile: "You mean, we buy gunpowder from the imperial court? I feel that the imperial court will not sell it to us."

Guan Shigu shook his head and said: "It is not realistic to buy from the imperial court. It will take two or three months to come and go, and negotiations are required. Even if the imperial court agrees to sell it, it will be half a year later, and it may not necessarily agree."

Zhao Xiuwen said helplessly: "The humble job only thought of this way!"

At this time, Chen Qing rolled his eyes and said with a smile: "You reminded me, I can exchange gunpowder indirectly from the imperial court. Does Zhang Jun have a firearm in his hand?"

Zhao Xiuwen quickly said: "He has it! His army is the largest consumer of gunpowder, and his warehouse has at least a hundred thousand pieces of various firearms, and tens of thousands of barrels of gunpowder."

Chen Qing smiled slightly and said, "Then we will exchange it with fire oil. He will naturally find an excuse for training and then ask the court for gunpowder. Anyway, he has always been very generous with things from the court."

Guan Shigu frowned, "I'm afraid that time is too late, Zhang Jun is in Luzhou, and it will take two months to come and go."

Chen Qing waved his hand, "It doesn't matter, the key is how much gunpowder do we still have in stock?"

Zhao Xiuwen hesitated and said, "There are still eight hundred barrels in the warehouse, four thousand catties!"

"More than four thousand catties!"

Firearms Administration Commander Yang Carrier hastily added: "There is still [-] catties of gunpowder in stock in the warehouse of the Firearms Workshop, ready to be used to make iron fire mines!"

"That's easy to do!"

Chen Qing immediately said: "All the gunpowder in stock now is used to restore powder kegs and give them to me for training, and then I will ask Zhou Kuan to send someone to negotiate with Zhang Jun, bring all his gunpowder back, and continue to make Iron Fire Thunder, the Iron Fire Thunder in stock should last for a while."

Lu Wei hurriedly said: "Now there are more than [-] iron fire mines in the warehouse, which should be enough."

Unexpectedly, the most difficult problem of gunpowder shortage could be solved in one negotiation, which really made Chen Qing feel relieved. He smiled at Zhao Xiuwen: "It is better to make Zhao Shuling's suggestion, and I will credit you this time."

Zhao Xiuwen said worriedly: "The humble job is worried that Zhang Jun will not agree to the exchange. If there is no gunpowder in the future, it will be a big trouble."

Chen Qing said lightly: "That's because you don't know Zhang Jun too well!"

Back in the mansion, it was already dark, and Chen Qing was really exhausted, not because of physical fatigue, but because he had exhausted his mental and brain power. When he came to his study, he lay down on the soft chair and didn't want to move.

He suddenly felt a pair of small hands standing behind him lightly beating his shoulders. He slowly opened his eyes and looked back, but it was his precious daughter Chen Xue who was beating his shoulders earnestly!

Chen Qing's heart softened, he patted her little hand and asked with a smile, "Why is baby here?"

"Mother said that Daddy is very tired, and told everyone not to disturb you. I just want to give Daddy a pat on the shoulder. Is Daddy comfortable?"

"Good boy, Daddy is very comfortable, who taught you?"

"I saw Si Niang often beat daddy's shoulders and pinched his head, but I couldn't do it."

Chen Qing stretched out his hands to pinch the baby girl's face, and said with a smile, "Why did you grow up all of a sudden and stop being naughty?"

"Xue'er is very obedient!"

Chen Qing said with a happy smile: "Xue'er squeezed Daddy's shoulders, and Daddy suddenly regained his energy. Go and tell Mom, and tell Mom that Daddy is hungry and thirsty, and wants to drink tea and eat!"

"I'm going to tell my mother!"

Seeing his daughter's lovely figure running out like a gust of wind, Chen Qing couldn't express his love and affection in his heart, it was his daughter who was his father's little padded jacket, he finally realized it.

Not long after, Lu Xiu brought A-Lian in with hot tea and food.

"I still wanted to let my husband sleep for a while, but I didn't expect the little guy to come and say that Daddy wants to drink tea and eat. Did she come secretly to pester you again?"

"Xue'er is so good today!"

While eating, Chen Qing asked with a smile, "She sneaked up to beat daddy on the shoulders, and I regained my vitality all at once."

"Hey! The sun came out in the west today."

Lu Xiu was also surprised and said: "She behaved very well today, she didn't cause any trouble!"

In Lu Xiu's understanding, the daughter only came to her father for help when she got into trouble, which is strange today.

Chen Qing was really hungry, he finished his meal like a storm, and took a sip of hot tea, feeling comfortable all over.

"I was exhausted today. I ran to Bashang, demonstrated to a group of generals, trained soldiers for more than an hour, and then ran back non-stop to discuss major issues. I haven't been so tired like today for a long time."

"Officer, let me pinch your shoulders and head for you!" A-Lian volunteered.

Lu Xiu glanced at her and said, "My husband is very tired today, so I pinch my shoulders and head to let my husband rest early."

Lu Xiu was warning A-Lian to be sympathetic to her husband's body and not to do what she shouldn't do, A-Lian obediently agreed.

Lu Xiu packed up the food box and left. A-Lian stood behind her husband, gently pinching his shoulders.

A refreshing fragrance came to the nostrils, and a small flame ignited in Chen Qing's heart, so he held her hand and smiled, "You haven't served me like you used to for a long time."

"Of course A-Lian is willing to serve the officials, but the princess has already said so." A-Lian was a little embarrassed.

Chen Qing smiled slightly: "She was just talking, if she really wanted to, she wouldn't let you stay here alone, A-Lian, sleep with me in the study tonight."

"A-Lian obeys, I'll go and explain to the wet nurse, I'll be here right away."

Yu Lian left in a hurry, and Chen Qing found that since Yu Lian had a son, she has not catered to her as wildly as before, but has become a little reserved. Doesn't she know that she likes the wildness she used to have?I have to teach her well tonight.

(End of this chapter)