The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 157 Questions That Should Not Be Asked
"There is one, but it's a bit cruel." Li Heng sighed and said, "Follow me."

"Yes." The four of them answered in unison and went out with Li Heng.

Li Ying brought four people to the secret base where explosives were made.

As soon as the five people entered the base, they heard a loud bang. They were all startled. While they were wondering, they saw Cen Shen running out with a black face.

Li Ying hurriedly asked, "Is Army Cen okay?"

"It's okay." Cen Shen grinned and said, "I wanted to make a small improvement, but failed."

"What improvements?" Li Ying asked.

Cen Shen said: "I thought that this gunpowder is so powerful that if it can be used as a propulsion force, the things fired out will definitely have extraordinary lethality, so I tried it a little bit."

Li Heng understood what Cen Shen meant.

Cen Shen had the idea of ​​making muskets and even cannons, which is enough to show that Cen Shen was indeed a talent.

However, technological development cannot be achieved overnight. The industry that Tang Dynasty needs for muskets and artillery is still lacking, and there is still a long way to go to make up for it.

Li Heng was stunned for a moment and asked, "How did you do it specifically?"

"I put a small amount of gunpowder in a bamboo tube to see how far it can be sprayed." Cen Shen answered truthfully.

"I see." Li Heng couldn't help but smile and said, "It's a good idea, but safety is still the most important thing. I'll discuss it with you when I have time. The most urgent task now is to produce a large number of usable thunderbolts."

Tianlei is the name given to the new explosive by Li Heng and Cen Shen.

"I understand." Cen Shen wiped his face and took Li Heng and others to the warehouse.

Gao Xianzhi and the others looked at the pottery jars in the warehouse, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Li Heng said, "General Cen, show your results to General Gao and the others."

"Yes." Cen Shen took the order and carefully carried a jar out.

Several people came to an open space, Cen Shen lit the fuse and quickly ran behind the shelter.

After a while, there was a loud bang and the pottery jar exploded. A huge fireball ignited instantly and fragments flew everywhere.

Gao Xianzhi and the others were surprised.

But Li Heng shook his head and murmured, "The power is still too small. If it was yellow gunpowder, the effect would be much better."

Li Heng sighed to himself and asked Cen Shen, "Where is the stone fat I asked you to prepare?"

Cen Shen said: "It's ready."

"Okay, keep it carefully." Li Ying reminded.

Cen Shen said: "Yes."

Li Heng said: "These ashes and thunder should be able to capture Shibao City, but by then, Shibao City will be a ruin and a sea of ​​fire."

Gao Xianzhi could imagine that scene, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Your Highness, there are no civilians in Shibao City, only soldiers."

"Yes." Li Heng nodded, "The key now is how to get our army to the foot of Shibao City."

Gao Xianzhi suggested: "After using the thunder and stone fat, Shibao City cannot be used as a stronghold in the short term. I think it is better to surround the city and attack the reinforcements."

Li Heng asked: "How do we surround a point and attack its reinforcements?"

Gao Xianzhi said: "First, we will feint to attack Shibao City to attract the enemy troops. After sniping the enemy reinforcements, we will turn back to attack Shibao City. However, Tubo will definitely send a large number of troops to fight on a large scale. If our army fails to coordinate well, the slightest mistake will lead to a complete defeat."

Gao Xianzhi also expressed his concerns.

"That's right." Li Heng agreed, "So I want to take you to Hexi immediately, let you get acquainted with the soldiers in Hexi, and train them as soon as possible." Li Heng first brought Gao Xianzhi and others to see the explosives in order to give them confidence, so that they would prepare for this war with all their strength and actively unite around him.

Gao Xianzhi also understood Li Heng's meaning. On the surface, Li Heng said that he wanted them to get acquainted with the soldiers in Hexi first, but in fact he wanted them to firmly grasp the military power in Hexi and avoid chaos during the war.

Li Heng wanted to centralize power, and centralizing power inevitably involved killing people.

But at the same time, this also shows Li Heng's great trust in them.

Gao Xianzhi was stunned for a moment, then said, "Your Highness is so kind to me, I will never be able to repay you even if I die. Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will do my best to train the Hexi soldiers."

"That's great." Li Heng nodded, "Everyone go back and prepare. Three days later, you will follow me to Hexi."

Gao Xianzhi and his men said in unison: "We obey your orders!"

……

……

……

Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing walked back together.

On the way, Feng Changqing suddenly said, "Brother, I want to ask a question that I shouldn't ask."

Gao Xianzhi smiled and said, "Since you shouldn't ask, then don't ask."

"This matter has been lingering in my mind for a long time, and I must talk about it today." Feng Changqing said seriously.

Gao Xianzhi said: "If that's the case, why are you still taking that lead? Just speak frankly."

Feng Changqing laughed and said, "We and His Royal Highness Prince Shou are now in a relationship of shared success and shared failure, right?"

"Yes." Gao Xianzhi nodded, "It has been like this since we received the order to drive the troops away from the Arabs."

Feng Changqing whispered, "Then do you think that if Prince Zhong becomes the crown prince and later the emperor, will he be lenient towards us?"

"Your words are really treasonous!" Gao Xianzhi scolded Feng Changqing in a low voice, looked around to see if there was anyone around, sighed, and then said: "If His Royal Highness Prince Shou dies before Prince Zhong ascends the throne, we will have a chance to die peacefully. If not, then we will be the ones to be eliminated."

Feng Changqing said: "I think His Royal Highness Shou is fine, and I don't know if his illness will get better."

"I understand what you mean." Gao Xianzhi narrowed his eyes. "There are many loyal princes in Hexi. When we enter Hexi this time, we will inevitably have conflicts with the loyal princes. So you want to ask me whether we should act more gently?"

Feng Changqing said: "That's right."

Gao Xianzhi said: "Four years ago when I went to the Arabs to withdraw the troops, I said that my wish in this life was to be on the stage and give orders with dignity, to ride a horse and be the bravest among the three armies, to report the kindness of the wise master, and to honor my wife and children. Your Highness Prince Shou is my wise master, and he has treated me with great kindness. No matter what the outcome is, I will never change my allegiance, so I will not be afraid to act rashly!"

"That's what I mean." Feng Changqing nodded heavily. "Your Highness Prince Shou is a rare wise ruler, only slightly less wise than Emperor Taizong."

"Which point?" Gao Xianzhi wondered.

Feng Changqing whispered: "Xuanwu..."

"You're crazy!" Gao Xianzhi interrupted Feng Changqing hastily, "Feng Er, do you want your entire clan to be exterminated?"

Feng Changqing said: "The right-hand man in the court is in power now. He does evil to the emperor and eliminates dissidents. The saint was angry and killed three commoners. There were few people in the court to advise him! This situation is really disappointing. Moreover, if His Royal Highness Prince Shou ascended to the throne, our ending would not end in tragedy."

Gao Xianzhi fell silent after hearing this. After a long while, he said, "You must not mention this to anyone else."

"Of course." Feng Changqing smiled, "Although I am stupid, I am not that stupid."

"Yes." Gao Xianzhi nodded and said, "It's too early to say what you said. His Royal Highness Prince Shou is a man of high character, and the choice he makes will certainly not be wrong. If it really comes to a last resort, I will do whatever His Royal Highness Prince Shou tells me to do. The most urgent task is to prepare for the war against Tubo."

"Yes." Feng Changqing replied.

(End of this chapter)