Great Tang princess

Chapter 363 The First Artillery Experiment
Li Yuechen was still very fast, and the next day he took the blueprints he had drawn to the engineering institute and asked them to try to make cannons.

In the laboratory, Li Yuechen spread out the drawing, pressed it on the table in the middle with a ruler, and began to explain: "The structure of this object is relatively simple, but it must be strong enough to withstand the explosion of gunpowder..."

It wasn't a complicated thing in the first place. The craftsmen basically understood the drawing after looking at the drawing, and after she explained it, they immediately nodded in agreement and started discussing it.

Although it is a simple thing, it is not realistic to say that it will be produced immediately, and various parameters need to be discussed.

By the time the production officially started, it was already June.

During this period of time, the newly built dormitory building in the camp area has almost been completed and is ready for people to live in.

As a result, the training intensity of the recruits has increased a lot at once, and all the officers have been in place, and the personnel transfer has also been completed with the army's extremely high efficiency.

Geng Yunqiang's staff group originally consisted of six people, but now one is assigned to each brigade below, and let them form their own staff group.

And the three people including Zhong Qin were left by his side, and they also had to recruit newcomers to form a division-level staff group.

When the report came to Li Yuechen, she asked them to watch for themselves. Some older students in the military academy can practice with them first.

……

At the end of June, the weather is still unbearably hot.

Taking advantage of nothing to do today, Li Yuechen took a few older sisters and Shangguan Wan'er to play in the swimming pool of the princess mansion.

Fulai directed the maids to place various fresh fruits and canned goods on wooden trays and let them float on the water.

Li Yuechen was lying on the bamboo chair under the parasol, looking pitiful.

It would be great if there were explosive DJ music and colorful lights in this era, so that you can have fun even at night.

Next to him, Wang Wuqiong, who was the bodyguard, tugged at his swimsuit uncomfortably, secretly speechless.

I have long heard that this princess can play, but I didn't expect to be able to play to this extent.

Originally, she thought that the pool in the Princess Mansion was used for experiments, but she didn't expect it to be used for swimming and playing in the water.

She only knows that the health balls popular in the upper class, the roller skates that the dandies like, and the four-wheeled carriages that run almost all over the street are all made by this princess.

Originally thought that she was a person who likes to study strange skills and tricks besides fighting, but she didn't expect to play so differently.

Looking at Princess Xuancheng and the others who were holding an inflated ball in the pool and patted each other back and forth, Wang Wuqiong looked expectant.

"If you want to play, let's go down and play together." Li Yuechen said with a smile, "This place is the princess mansion, it's very safe."

Wang Wuqiong shook his head: "How can Anu play with the two Highnesses..."

"Wan'er is not a member of the royal family, why don't we play together?" Li Yuechen smiled, "It's okay, let's try it."

Hearing what she said, Wang Wuqiong thought about it, nodded and said: "Then..."

"Go!" Li Yuechen waved his hand, "While learning water skills, otherwise, if I go to the beach after a while, I won't be able to take you with me."

Hearing that he couldn't continue to take it because he didn't know how to swim, Wang Wuqiong didn't refuse anymore, and immediately nodded in agreement, and ran over to learn swimming.

……

At the beginning of July, Li Yuechen received the news that the engineering institute had finally built the first cannon, and asked her to go over and have a look, and prepare for the experiment if there was no problem.

Li Yuechen rushed straight to the barracks, and rode the horse directly to the training ground.

A one-meter-long, black-painted cannon has been placed on the shelf, waiting to be fired.

After looking at the cannon, Li Yuechen patted it lightly twice, asking them to take the cannonballs and start testing.

When I saw the shells brought by the soldiers next to me, I couldn't believe it.

Although Li Yuechen didn't expect them to make the cannonball the size of a human head at first, but when he saw the cannonball that was bigger than a billiard ball, he still felt a little unbelievable, isn't it too small?
I took it over and weighed it in my hand, and it felt like it weighed less than six or seven catties.

Seeing her look of disgust, the craftsman opposite immediately explained: "Your Highness, if you want to mass-produce, this size is the most suitable."

Li Yuechen nodded helplessly, then lightly waved his hand and threw the cannonball to the soldiers beside him: "Well, let's try it first!"

The craftsmen promised to start the experiment immediately.

Three hundred meters away, a temporary wall has been built with blue bricks and cement. As long as a hole can be opened in the wall at this distance, the cannon experiment can basically be regarded as a success.

Under the command of the craftsmen, the division commander Geng Yunqiang personally led several soldiers to operate.

Originally, he didn't need to do this, but when he heard that His Highness had invented a new weapon, he couldn't help but start to itch.

The gun barrel is cast in one piece without any gaps, so first put some gunpowder in from the muzzle together with a fire twister, then use a wooden pestle to tamp it, and then put the spherical shells in.

This fire twister is very long, extending from the back of the shell, and it is still a foot long from the muzzle.

Geng Yunqiang was about to ignite it, but the craftsman next to him stopped him, turned his head and said, "Your Highness, we'd better stay away, after all, gunpowder is powerful, in case..."

"Well, it makes sense!" Li Yuechen nodded, and walked back with the craftsmen, "Hongfeng, run back immediately after lighting it!"

"Yes!" Geng Yunqiang also knew that this matter should not be sloppy, so he agreed with a serious face.

Several people ran into the trench dug in advance, and a craftsman waved Geng Yunqiang to indicate that it was time to start.

Geng Yunqiang took out the torch with excitement on his face, lit the fuse and ran back immediately.

As soon as I jumped into the trench, I heard a loud explosion of "Boom--".

Even if they were far enough away, everyone felt as if the ground under their feet shook.

Everyone only felt a "buzz" in their ears, which even caused temporary tinnitus symptoms.

Li Yuechen, who was squatting on the ground, shook his head vigorously, then supported himself with one hand, and jumped up from below.

Picking up the binoculars and looking forward, I saw that a hole big enough for one person had appeared in the wall a hundred feet away, and a few bricks were still falling scattered down beside it.

Several other craftsmen also climbed up from the trench, picked up the binoculars and looked at it, all of them looked surprised.

Geng Yunqiang chuckled: "Congratulations, Your Highness, you have developed another artifact!"

"Go, go and have a look!" Li Yuechen waved his hand.

When everyone came to the temporarily built brick wall, they could see fragments of blue bricks scattered around, and some were directly beaten into powder.

A large hole nearly two meters high was presented in front of everyone, telling the power of the shell just now.

Geng Yunqiang and the craftsmen watched this scene with wide eyes. This kind of weapon can almost be called a divine weapon!
Li Yuechen also nodded slightly. From this point of view, if the enemy army charged a few shots first, it should be able to completely tear the enemy's formation!

In this era, there is no doubt that this is an extremely terrifying weapon!
Seeing that they were a little excited, Li Yuechen smiled and waved his hands: "Let's go, go and see how the gun barrel is doing."

When everyone came to the barrel, they couldn't help sniffling.

Smelling the smell of gunpowder still lingering around, Li Yuechen felt a little complicated.

This kind of thing will take a lot of lives in the future, but now, it was born in her hands.

Thousands of years later, everyone will know that she, Li Yuechen, invented this weapon.

Maybe when the time comes, some people will call her a hero, while others will call her a murderer. Like many historical figures, she will have completely different evaluations in the eyes of future generations.

Faint blue smoke was still coming out of the gun barrel, Li Yuechen squatted down, blown the smoke away and looked inside.

Because when Li Yuechen first made gunpowder, he used granular gunpowder, so the combustion was relatively clean, and there were hardly any residues in the gun barrel.

She waved her hand lightly: "Come again, continue!"

"Your Highness, wait a moment!" Wang Gangdan stopped him.

He took out a small iron rod and tapped the gun barrel twice, then turned his head sideways and leaned his ears to listen to the echo produced by the metal beating.

Then he raised his head and said, "Your Highness, the inside of it is already cracked, at most one more shot will explode..."

Hearing his words, Li Yuechen frowned.

Although she didn't know how he could tell just by hearing the voice, but after so many years, she trusted the craftsmanship and experience of this craftsman very much.

"It's okay, let's experiment." Li Yuechen nodded, "If it explodes after another shot, it means that the experiment failed, and we must continue to improve!"

Under Li Yuechen's order, Geng Yunqiang stuffed the second shell into the barrel.

Everyone hurried to hide under the trench.

When Geng Yunqiang jumped down, the second explosion sounded.

But this time the explosion was obviously different, and it was accompanied by some other sounds.

After the earthquake trembled, everyone climbed up from the trench to take a look. Sure enough, the gun barrel was almost completely cracked, and a huge crack almost split it in two.

Li Yuechen walked over and took a closer look. From the crack, it can be seen that there is a problem with the casting of the gun barrel, and there are many air bubbles in it.

No wonder the second shot broke, there was a problem with the production process!
The craftsmen also discovered this problem, and apologized to Li Yuechen with guilt.

"Okay, I said it, this is an experiment, if it doesn't work, continue to find ways to improve it!" Li Yuechen waved his hand, "At the same time... find a way to reduce the cost of this shell..."

"Your Highness, in fact, the shells are made of pig iron, which should reduce the cost a lot, and it will also help to reuse them after recycling..."

Li Yuechen nodded: "Go back and discuss it carefully, and find someone who can read and write a copy of the regulations for me."

"Here!" The artisans agreed one after another.

……

The first development plan of the cannon ended in failure. However, under the encouragement of Li Yuechen, no one was discouraged. Immediately after going back, they began to adjust their strategies and prepare for the second experiment.

After returning to the camp and having a meal, the palace sent someone over, saying that the Queen of Heaven asked the princess to come to the palace.

Li Yuechen had already guessed the reason, and immediately got up and went back to the palace.

Sure enough, just after entering the Hall of Renshou, Wu Zetian put down the memorial in his hand: "This morning, there was a loud noise at the foot of Mang Mountain. What is the reason?"

"My boy has developed a new type of weapon and is just experimenting." Li Yuechen sat down and replied, "It's just not successful yet..."

"Judging from the momentum, it seems to be more powerful than a hand grenade?" Wu Zetian asked.

Li Yuechen shook his head lightly: "It's not just big? It can almost completely change the pattern of war! In future wars, personal force will gradually become useless... Even if you are like a child, in front of such weapons, you will still be defeated." Beat it into meat sauce..."

"Don't talk nonsense!" Wu Zetian frowned, "Tell me in detail!"

"This thing is called a cannon, and its function..."

Li Yuechen explained in detail, and Wu Zetian who was sitting opposite became more and more frightened, even if she herself didn't understand military affairs, she could tell what a terrifying weapon this was.

After listening to her daughter's explanation, she nodded slightly: "Such a sharp weapon that hurts Tianhe, if it weren't for the God of War coming down to earth, I'm afraid there would be no other explanation..."

"Whether it is God of War or not is hard to say, but with this thing, it can keep Datang stable for hundreds of years." Li Yuechen replied, "If it can continue to develop in the future, it should make Datang the most powerful country on earth forever. "

Regarding the concept of the earth, Wu Zetian heard her talk about it once before, but she didn't think about it that much, for her, that was too far away.

But after listening to the report of the artillery, Wu Zetian nodded: "With this sharp weapon, even if the whole country is revolted, there is no fear!"

Li Yuechen nodded in agreement, this is the truth.

There are cannons and grenades. In this era, even if there are rebellions all over the country, they can still be suppressed.

But the problem is that the reform should not be carried out through this method, because even if it is agreed in the end, what is faced is the land that has been bombed into coke and the population is sparse, and everything will have to start all over again.

If possible, try to keep blood and violence within a controllable range.

Emperor Taizong did a good job at this point. The Xuanwumen Incident was indeed bloody, but first, it did not affect the common people; second, it did not confuse the political situation; A successful move.

While the mother and daughter were chatting, Wu Zetian suddenly discovered that if the artillery research was successful, then he should be able to speed up his pace.

After all, if you have a weapon, you will have confidence. As my daughter said, all the truth is within the range of the bow and crossbow. As long as you don't force them too hard, there is no problem in speeding up the progress a little bit.

"Speaking of which, how do you plan to choose your female bodyguard?" Wu Zetian asked suddenly.

Li Yuechen thought for a while: "Essentially, this is to provide bodyguards for the royal family, so loyalty is the first priority... The boy's current thinking is that the patriarchal thinking among the people is serious, and the phenomenon of selling daughters happens from time to time. Buy a batch and come back..."

To be honest, Li Yuechen hated human trafficking very much, but there was no other way. In this era, this was the best and relatively safe way.

　Brothers, I'm sorry, I've been busy these days, so I have to ask for leave.

　　There is only one update today, if you can reply to two updates tomorrow if you are not busy, sorry everyone!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)