Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 413: The Officials Are Like Dogs and Sheep (2)

After drinking for three rounds, Zhao Xingde murmured and said: "Brother Xie is good at refining saltpeter and gunpowder, did you ever know that there is a kind of 'powder' powder that will catch fire or even explode when hit?" The bullets and shells are all ready to go, but I don't know what is used to make the primer.I hope that Gao Changhang has been in the saltpeter gunpowder business for several generations, maybe he has a unique secret recipe for this.

Xie Ximin thought for a moment, then shook his head: "I've never seen this kind of 'drug' powder." Seeing that Zhao Xingde's eyes dimmed, he asked, "What's the use of this thing? It's so easy to explode, I'm afraid it's inconvenient to carry." Zhao Xingde sighed, and Chunyu Yue explained on his behalf: "If there is such a 'drug' powder as Mr. Zhao mentioned, it can be used to ignite a fire. You only need to hit it with a handle, so that the firearm can be fired instantly. Don't be afraid that the cavalry will induce the firearms to fire."

"So that's how it is." Xie Ximin sighed, "Brother Xingzhi has a clever mind. If you really come up with this kind of 'drug' powder, I'm afraid the usefulness of the firecracker will be increased by more than ten times." What a fat piece of saltpeter will be bought and sold.He smacked his lips, cut off a large piece of roast meat with a knife and threw it into his mouth.

The three present here are all experts in firearms, and they are well aware of the shortcomings of the firearms used today.The firecracker cannot reach very far, and there is always some time for the lead wire to burn.As long as the cavalry lures the gunners to ignite the fuse in advance, and then gallops away, and then makes a comeback after the gunfire rings, it can indeed be very effective in avoiding casualties.But the speed of the cavalry was extremely fast. For the officer in charge of the gunners, if they opened fire within thirty to fifty paces, they would be caught in a trap.In contrast, although crossbowmen may not be quick to open their bows, they release arrows instantaneously. It is impossible for cavalry to use their lives to induce crossbowmen to release arrows.This is the Achilles' heel of the firecracker to the cavalry.Because of this, neither the Grand General's Mansion nor the Huguo Mansion agreed to replace bows and crossbows with firecrackers in the infantry, but only agreed to promote firecrackers in regimental training.

Hearing Xie Ximin's admiration, Chun Yuyue nodded in sympathy, but Zhao Xingde shook his head indifferently. He took out an old book with a yellowed cover from his arms, handed it to Xie Ximin, and asked suspiciously: "Brother Xie, have you read this book?" Xie Ximin took it, only looked at the three words "Element Theory" on the cover, and said with a smile: "This is a wonderful book that has been circulated hundreds of years ago, but it is too difficult. There are very few of them, but there are quite a few delusional people who tried to refine gold by referring to this theory of elements, but it was ineffective, and then gradually disappeared." Chun Yuyue also leaned over to take a look, and sighed: "When a certain family was young, I have also read these few strange books, this illusory theory of elements, I forgot after reading it. The "Laws of Mechanics" is the real strange book, after reading it, it will be of great benefit to craftsmen in building mechanisms." He took the old book from Xie Ximin, and without turning it over, he handed it to Zhao Xingde, and kindly reminded him, "I heard that many people lost their fortunes in order to refine gold and silver. If it weren't for it and several other truly rare books Books seem to be a set, "

Zhao Xingde said in a deep voice: "If what this book says is true, it will be very useful for us to improve gunpowder." Without proper raw materials and experimental means to verify, there is no proof for what is said in the theory of elements, so Zhao Xingde said first "If" is true.People in the Xia Kingdom place great emphasis on practicality, and often sneer at useless things.The law of mechanics has already mentioned the theory of gravity, except for a few weirdos in the scholar's house, others are not interested at all, but it does not prevent those craftsmen from making various mechanisms with reference to the laws of mechanics.Thinking about this, Zhao Xingde said in a deep voice: "If you can't make gold with this book, you may not be able to make other useful things, such as more powerful gunpowder? Even explosives that are ten times or a hundred times more powerful than now ?”

Seeing Chunyuyue and Xie Ximin's suspicious faces, Zhao Xingde shook his head in his heart, and continued to persuade: "The other strange books are very useful, how could it be that this "On the Elements" is the only one that is illusory? There must be articles inside. In my opinion, this is a nine-story tower, which rises from the base of the earth. The taller the pagoda, the bigger the foundation must be. Gunpowder has been around for hundreds of years, and the ordinary method of refining it with saltpeter, It can’t be called a secret. If you want to make better gunpowder, first follow the theory of elements, identify the various raw materials involved in the gunpowder recipe, and study their properties. On top of this, explore the secrets of the separation and combination of various elements, and improve the recipes and refining methods. Just like building a pagoda, you only need to distinguish the "nature" of the object, and the two-layer base of the secret of element separation and combination Build it wide and solid, and then try to manufacture a new type of gunpowder. I think there is at least six to seven percent certainty." He hesitated for a while, then lowered his voice, "Brother Xie, although the risk of developing a new type of gunpowder is high, The profit will be even greater after the event is completed. The 'medicine' prescription and manufacturing method are so difficult to obtain, and they are not as clear as machine tools. Not to mention other companies, the Ordnance Division cannot imitate them. At that time, there is no need to charge apprentice money. Once successful, We can easily control the market, and there are rare goods to live in, which is no different from refining gold and silver."

Chunyu Yue sighed beside him: "Yes, the pagoda needs to be built high, and the foundation must be wide. When the iron factory tried to use coal to make iron, it was a lot of mistakes, but after the foundation was laid, finally Finally, it has far surpassed other iron factories."

The more Xie Ximin listened, the brighter his eyes became. He nodded and said, "Mr. Zhao taught you well. If this new type of gunpowder is manufactured and we can control the firearms market, what is the point of Chang'an's Eight Great Expeditions!" He paused for a moment. After a pause, he raised his glass and smiled again: "Brother Chunyu, I'm not talking about you." Chunyu Iron Works was originally a time-honored brand in Chang'an, but in recent years it has become larger and larger. Hearing Xie Ximin's words, he shook his head and smiled, "Don't talk nonsense, there are so many senior master craftsmen in Chang'an, how can I get Chunyu Yue?" Even though he said this, there was a faint sense of pride.He is a prudent person, if he hadn't already gained great confidence in ascending to the top position, he wouldn't have revealed it in his words.

The three of them were having a good time drinking and chatting, Li Ruoxue brought Zhao Zhuo and Zhao Yong's two children up to meet them.The two children were both five years old, and their little cheeks were flushed red from the cold, and they paid New Year's greetings to the two uncles in advance.Xie Ximin and Chun Yuyue both prepared gifts.Xie Ximin gave Zhao Zhuo a pair of golden locks, Zhao Yong's delicate bow and arrow, and a rhinoceros horn.Zhao Yongdi put the tautue on his thumb, which was still a little loose.Zhao Zhuo watched curiously from the side.However, when Chunyu Yue took out the gift, he immediately caught the eyes of the two children.

This is a clever plaything of two.One plaything is a monkey climbing a tree.There appears to be a monkey hugging the trunk of the tree.In fact, the monkey is connected to the smooth tree trunk with a thin string, which is the so-called spring in later generations.Push the wooden monkey lightly, and he climbed up to the top of the tree in a naive manner one by one, push him again, and he climbed down by himself.The other plaything is a fairy stick, but this thin stick is even more miraculous. As long as it is swayed in the air, the monkey will climb up the tree, and when it is swayed down, the monkey will climb again. down.The mechanism is simple to say, a piece of iron is hidden in the monkey's brain, and a magnet is used at the end of the stick.

The two children were so amazed that they even forgot to say thank you, and immediately had a great time playing, making the little monkey busy climbing up and down.

Xie Ximin nodded and said: "This child's thing is really extraordinary. No one would have thought that it was actually made by Chunyu Iron Works, the cannon maker." There are many such toys. When Chunyu Iron Works let him Xie Ximin was a little surprised when Gaochanghang sold the toys, but later these toys sold very well in Guanzhong, Shuzhong and Hezhong, and the scholar's residence also bought a batch.

Hearing this, Zhao Zhuo jumped up, held up the fairy stick and asked softly, "Father, which one is better than the iron barrel cannon?"

Zhao Xingde 'touched' her little head, and said with a smile: "Of course it's the magic of immortality." Then Zhao Zhuo cheered happily, jumping up and down and shouting: "Then I want to learn magic of magic! I know magic of magic! " Li Ruoxue gave Zhao Xingde an angry and amusing look, these unimaginable playthings were created by Zhao Xingde and Chun Yuyue.

Just in the midst of the joy, the sound of horseshoes came from outside the courtyard, Zhao Xingde's expression was slightly chilled, and he and Xie Ximin, as captains, exchanged glances at the same time.

Sure enough, as soon as the two stood up, there was a call from the soldiers of the Huguo Mansion outside the door.It turned out that the Hebei army of the Song Dynasty was ambushed by the Liao army on the way back to Bianliang.As the news spread, the troops in Henan and Hebei were discouraged. In order to prevent the Liao army from rushing across, Zhang Shuye destroyed the Liyangjin pontoon bridge overnight.However, there are still many ships on the shore of Hebei. After the Liao army defeated the main force of the Hebei camp, they no longer have to worry about it. They are trying their best to collect ships. .Bianliang is already in jeopardy.

In the Huguo Mansion, the school captains who came earlier were whispering.

Someone whispered: "I heard that it was Wu Baiyu who led the army." Another person laughed and said: "Isn't Qu Andong going to be very angry?" It refers to Wu Jie, the commander of the White Feather Army.Qu Duan is both civil and military, and Wu Jie is brave and resourceful. The two can be called Guan Zhongyu Liang.It's just that one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, and the discord between these two people is well known in the Huguo Mansion.Someone hesitated and said: "It seems that we are still preparing to send troops out of Hangu, instead of going to Mobei and attacking Xijing Road to attack Shangjing?"

The ten school lieutenants around all looked over, Yu Zangyun sneered and said: "Attack the Xijing Road, the Liao army will return to fight with us, and Song will be able to breathe. What's the point for us? Is it the matter of the sleeves persuading the fight? Only after leaving Hangu Pass, the battle between the Liao and Song Dynasties will become more and more serious. Although the Song Dynasty is weak, it can always be dragged on for three years Five years..." His voice became lower and lower, and the rest of the words gradually became inaudible, and the faces of the dozen or so lieutenants around him showed suddenly enlightened expressions.