The Great Han Dynasty: From Feng Lang Juxu to the Eternal Emperor

Chapter 414 Chaos in the Southeast

This was the second day after Huo Qubing entered the southeast. He first went to see Gongsun Ao.

The two generals met again and seemed particularly close.

Gongsun Ao received Huo Qubing in the military camp. After drinking for three times, Gongsun Ao said to Huo Qubing, "What are Mr. Huo's plans for coming to the southeast this time?"

Huo Qubing asked Gongsun Ao: "What do you think of those pirates?"

Gongsun Ao thought for a long time and then said: "Don't be surprised when I say it!"

During Gongsun Ao's year in the southeast, his temperament also became calmer.

Wei Qing told him to learn more knowledge, and he really listened. He has been studying since he came to Southeast.

He also analyzed the pirate incident carefully this time. After five or six days of sleepless analysis, he finally came up with a terrible logic.

Gongsun Ao looked at Huo Qubing and said, "The logic I have researched may be a bit scary."

"Master Huo, don't rush to refute after listening. Let me explain in detail and then refute slowly."

Huo Qubing listened carefully and thought that Gongsun Ao had really changed a lot during his time in the southeast.

Gongsun Aoyu said in an unsurprising tone: "I believe that the pirates this time are merchants from the southeast who are acting out a show with them!"

When he finished speaking, he paused deliberately.

But Huo Qubing didn't seem as surprised as he imagined.

Gongsun Ao said doubtfully: "Master Huo, aren't you surprised?"

"Not a real pirate!"

"Someone is trying to get through to them!"

Do you hear what I'm saying? Why haven’t you been surprised by what I have studied in the Southeast for so long?

Huo Qubing said, "Is there any more?"

Gongsun Ao asked: "Isn't this theory enough?"

Huo Qubing thought for a while and said, "My cousin told me."

Let me go, did His Highness the Prince actually predict it?

Gongsun Ao said with an embarrassed look: "That's nothing."

Huo Qubing: "..."

"I thought you could say something, but I waited in vain."

Gongsun Ao: "..."

……

Leaving aside the events in the southeast for the time being, by the end of September, the weather was gradually getting colder.

Ministry of Industry.

Weining arrived at the Ministry of Industry today. Lu Chongguo told Weining that the first batch of warships had been manufactured and were now all on display on the Wei River, ready to set off to the southeast at any time.

Weining followed Lu Chongguo on a trip to the Wei River. For the construction of this batch of ships, the trees were all brought from South Vietnam to prevent corrosion by sea water.

The first batch of ships built by the Ministry of Works was only five, each of which could carry fifty soldiers.

This is not a big ship, and is much smaller than a large ship. Lu Chongguo doesn't know why Weining wants to build such a ship.

Although such ships are more maneuverable than tower ships, if they really want to fight on the sea, and more than fifty soldiers land on the opponent's ship, it seems that the scale is not too large.

What should we do if the other party's ship is slightly larger than this one and has more people?

But now that Weining has made a decision, he naturally won't question it.

Weining inspected this batch of ships and found that there were no problems, then he said to Lu Chongguodao: "Go and meet the Ministry of War and let the Ministry of War transport this batch of ships to the southeast."

After a pause, Weining asked Lu Chongguodao: "Can a shipyard be built in the southeast? In the future, ships will be launched directly from the southeast?"

Chang'an transports ships to the southeast, but it costs a lot.

Lu Chongguodao: "Of course it's possible, but the Ministry of Accounts doesn't seem to be able to allocate so much money."

Wei Ning said: "Then think of a compromise and let merchants participate." Lu Chongguo said in shock: "The manufacturing of warships is the foundation of the country. How can merchants know about it?"

Weining said helplessly: "I just asked them to participate in investment, but I didn't say that I wanted them to know how to build ships."

"Also, each of the workers in the factory is only responsible for one hull structure, and we cannot let them participate in the production of the entire structure."

Lu Chongguo was stunned. Yes, His Highness is right. Why didn't I think of it?
Wouldn't it be enough to let them make parts separately?

Wei Ning just stopped there and let Lu Chongguo worry about the rest. He couldn't worry about these things in detail, otherwise what would be the use of these officials.

……

The dead branches and trees in the Academy of Sciences are quite withered, and the entire Academy of Sciences looks very desolate.

The Academy of Sciences has not yet held an admissions exam, and more than ten PhDs from the academy are thinking hard about the content of the exam.

After Weining arrived here, Dade brought more than ten teaching doctors to visit Weining.

Wei Ning waved his hand and said, "Please excuse me."

He followed Dade and others to the middle hall, and only then did Wei Ning take out the slingshot and thunderbolt in his hand.

This actually scared a lot of people.

Dade looked at Wei Ning in confusion and said, "Your Highness, what is this?"

Wei Ning asked everyone: "Do you know what this is?"

They naturally knew that this was a military weapon of the Han Dynasty, used to launch sky-shaking thunder.

Weining nodded and said: "I would like to ask you, is there a possibility that does not require using a slingshot to launch thunder?"

"Do you guys know about the crossbows?"

"Why can a crossbow be fired just by pulling the trigger?"

"Then is it possible to create a weapon that can be fired by just pulling the trigger, with power similar to that of a thunderbolt?"

Even if everyone tried hard to think of Wei Ning's suggestion, they couldn't figure it out.

This is beyond their understanding.

They don't even know the concept of converting thermal energy into kinetic energy, so asking them to make guns is undoubtedly a fantasy.

But Weining is in urgent need now.

Why should the maneuverability of the ships he sent to the southeast be guaranteed?
Just to be equipped with muskets.

Fifty people on the ship are enough, and equipped with muskets and thunderbolts, it is enough to make the entire Han fleet extremely powerful.

Today, when he went to the Ministry of Industry, he just stopped by the Academy of Sciences to propose this concept to them. He did not expect that people from the Academy of Sciences could produce it now.

"You guys think about it first, and I will make two samples for you to see tomorrow."

Everyone nodded.

Weining did not continue to stay at the Academy of Sciences. After returning to the East Palace, he exchanged two fire guns from the system.

He did not exchange for a more advanced flintlock gun, mainly because the doctors of the Academy of Sciences were of limited skill, and this was not an easy-to-understand invention like Qu Yuuli.

That's why Weining planned to start with the most basic firecrackers, let them know the structure of the firecrackers, and then let them research more sophisticated flintlock guns when they could develop them on a large scale.

Wei Ning entered Weiyang Palace with two firecrackers.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty saw the two 'long sticks' in Weining's hands and asked in confusion: "What are these?"

Wei Ning said to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty: "Father, you are a weapon."

"Ok?"

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty looked at it for a moment and suddenly said: "Why do you keep falling behind the more you study it?"

"You expect this thing to go to the battlefield and kill people?"

Weining: "..."

(End of this chapter)