June 18th, morning.
Su Liang had more free time, so he and Cao Hu rushed to the firearms workshop in the north of Bianjing City.
The firearms workshop is affiliated to Baijia Academy, but to keep it confidential, it is located in a Forbidden Army barracks.
Su Liang has not been there since November last year, when he made a request to "invent a firearm that can defeat the Liao and Xia cavalry."
General Cao Hu communicated with the Sansi Jiazhou Case (the yamen in charge of the development of weapons) many times, and after asking for some firearms and prescriptions, he handed everything over to Uncle Cao Yi and Cao Guo.
The two of them rushed directly to the firearms workshop without notifying Cao Yi.
…
About an hour later.
Su Liang and Cao Hu entered the military camp and came to a courtyard built with tall stone bricks.
There were two guards standing in front of the door.
After they saw Su Liang and Cao Hu, they immediately opened the courtyard door.
The courtyard door is not big, but it is very deep inside.
In addition to the houses for daily living and for craftsmen to develop firearms, there are also cellars, battlefields, warehouses, and a firearms and armor display room.
If this matter were not approved by the officials,
Su Liang, Cao Yi and Cao Hu wouldn't dare to create such a place even if they had a hundred courages.
Immediately, the two of them strode in.
The various furnishings in the workshop have not changed much from what Su Liang saw last year.
Su Liang knew that Cao Yi's failure to report to him meant that he had not yet developed a new firearm.
He was not in a hurry. This kind of invention was not achieved overnight. It required a long time of polishing and a little bit of luck.
Su Liang and Cao Hu wandered around the workshop, greeting the craftsmen they knew well from time to time.
After a while.
The two came to the living area of the workshop.
Su Liang suddenly saw two Taoist boys standing in front of a door not far away, and there was a plaque hanging in front of the door with three characters on it: Yuyang Pavilion.
According to the regulations of Baijia College, no one is allowed in the residential area at this time.
Su Liang and Cao Hu couldn't help but stride over.
Before the two of them reached the door, a little Taoist boy scolded: "My Taoist master is practicing, and there are many people waiting. You are not allowed to come near this place. Please leave quickly!"
Su Liang frowned slightly, but before he could speak, he saw a boy running over.
The boy handed a list to a Taoist boy and said: "Little Taoist, two tanks of mountain spring water, a hundred kilograms of fine soil in the rock cave, as well as tripods and wax balls have been prepared and placed in the backyard."
After the little Taoist boy nodded, the boy quickly left.
At this moment, Su Liang understood that a Taoist master who refined pills lived in this place.
Su Liang moved forward again, but was stopped by the little Taoist boy again.
"Except for Uncle Guo, no one can enter, and don't disturb the peace of my Taoist priest!"
"Hey, you little bastard! Do you know this is..."
Just when Cao Hu was about to drive the two Taoist boys aside and go directly in, he was stopped by Su Liang.
"It's useless to argue with them. This is all Cao Jingxiu's doing."
Su Liang turned around and left, saying as he walked: "This Cao Jingxiu, I asked him to supervise the firearms workshop, but he secretly raised a Taoist priest to refine elixirs here. He really wants to become an immortal! He refines it in private, I don't care, but If he is refining it in a firearms workshop, he must be scolded!"
Cao Hu rarely saw Su Liang so angry, so he immediately said: "I... I will call Uncle Guo here right now."
Immediately, Cao Hu walked outside.
He knew that Cao Yi was at Baijia College, and Baijia College was not far from here.
…
Half an hour later.
Cao Yi appeared in front of Su Liang, panting and smiling.
Su Liang ignored the other party's status as "uncle of state" and started to curse.
"Cao Jingxiu, building a firearms workshop is an important part of the imperial court's strengthening of the army, and it is also the most important part of showing the strength of Baijia College. Last time, due to the anti-Song Tu prophecy incident, Baijia College almost closed down, we all rely on this The firearms workshop is trying to save face!”
"What did you do? You actually raised a Taoist priest inside to make alchemy. If you raised a woman, that would be fine. You would have a few more meals at most. But if you raise a Taoist priest, you also provide him with mountain spring water, fine soil, and cauldrons. , are you taking me, Su Liang, as a scapegoat? Come on, let’s talk to your cousin to reason with you!"
After Cao Yi was scolded by Su Liang, not only did he not feel angry or guilty at all, but he still smiled.
"Cao Jingxiu, you...why are you so shameless? Do you believe it or not? I went to the official to file a complaint against you!"
Su Liang suddenly became angry, picked up the tea cup and was about to throw it at Cao Yan.
Cao Yan quickly stopped him and said, "Brother Jingming, you... listen to my explanation, I did it exactly according to your instructions."
"Fart! I...I asked you to cultivate immortality? If you cultivate, go home and cultivate. Don't you know that most pills are poisonous? You are not cultivating immortality, you are looking for death!"
…
Cao Yi was scolded by Su Liang so much that he couldn't even speak.
Finally, when Su Liang sighed angrily, he said a word.
"You two, come with me to see something. After you see it, you will understand."
Immediately.
Su Liang and Cao Hu followed Cao Yi towards the outside with hesitation, and then walked to a house.
Cao Ji opened the door of the warehouse with the key on his waist.
Inside the house, there are many iron shelves, and there are many firearms on the shelves. These firearms were all made by soldiers of the Forbidden Army of the Song Dynasty.
They are noisy but weak in lethality, and most of them are combustion-supporting firearms.
The shelf at the front was covered with a huge black velvet cloth.
Uh-huh!
Cao Yan lifted up the flannel cloth.
Su Liang's eyes suddenly lit up and he murmured: "This...is this a tubular firearm?"
Once upon a time, Su Liang and Cao Yan discussed the idea of tubular firearms.
Similar to a crossbow, it can be fired by a single person, but it is more lethal and faster. Not only can it kill people a hundred steps away, but the sound it makes can also scare horses into running away.
Just when Su Liang was about to step forward and touch it, Cao Yi quickly said: "Don't move, there is gunpowder inside and it will explode easily!"
Immediately, Su Liang stopped quickly.
Cao Yan looked at Su Liang and said, "The alchemist's name is Yu Yangzi, and he developed this kind of firearm. At the end of last year, you told me that anyone who can create a new type of firearm can be worshiped like a Bodhisattva." . This Yuyangzi is ninety-five years old this year, and his biggest hobby is alchemy. If I don’t satisfy him, he will go on strike. Did I do something wrong? "
"That's right, I was wrong. Brother Jingxiu, please forgive me. I know that brother is very capable!" Su Liang held his hands heavily towards Cao Yi, his face changing faster than flipping through a book.
This Yuyangzi is so capable, Su Liang is naturally willing to meet all his needs.
Cao Yan raised his chin and said with a hint of pride: "Let's go to the battlefield. I'll show you the power of this new type of firearm!"
…
Note: In ancient times, when alchemists used nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal to refine elixirs, they accidentally exploded and caused a fire, and then gunpowder was invented. In addition, according to some historical records, the inventor of the earliest tubular firearm was Chen Gui, a civil servant of the Southern Song Dynasty, which is hereby explained.
(End of chapter)
