As we all know, the recipe for gunpowder includes: sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter! When these three are mixed together in a certain proportion, gunpowder is made.
The optimal ratio of black powder, if Jiajing remembered correctly, should be 10% sulfur, 15% charcoal, and 75% saltpeter.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing this, Yi Bin quickly summoned the craftsmen responsible for improving the gunpowder formula, and everyone immediately came to the room dedicated to experimenting with gunpowder.
When these craftsmen learned that their immediate superiors had asked them to conduct experiments according to the emperor's proportions, their faces were full of panic, and the hands preparing the materials began to tremble slightly.
Soon, the three materials of sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter were placed in front of them, and the craftsmen looked solemn.
After a while, Jiajing's voice came: "10% sulfur, 15% charcoal, 75% saltpeter! Let's experiment according to this ratio."
After hearing the emperor's instructions, these craftsmen did not dare to neglect at all, and soon began the matching.
These craftsmen have been responsible for blending and improving gunpowder formulas for a long time, so they have a very precise grasp of the amount!
They quickly produced gunpowder according to the ratio proposed by the emperor.
Looking at the dark gunpowder in front of them, everyone present could not help but feel anxious. What if the ratio proposed by the emperor was wrong?
Jiajing looked at the black gunpowder in front of him, looking confident, and then ordered.
"Let the experiment begin!"
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
After everyone retreated to a safe distance, a craftsman took out a fire stick from his body and lit the fuse.
When the fuse burned out, the pile of black gunpowder was quickly ignited, emitting a burst of intense light, followed by a burst of choking white smoke!
Jiajing took the handkerchief from Lu Fang's hand, covered his mouth and nose, looked at the white smoke, couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief, and said silently to himself.
"It seems I remembered it correctly!"
After a brief silence, the craftsmen at the scene burst into loud cheers.
Judging from the light and heat produced when the pile of black gunpowder burned just now, your Majesty's ratio is completely correct!
This black gunpowder is dozens of times more powerful than the gunpowder they originally experimented with!
The problem they had been racking their brains to solve was easily solved by His Majesty.
"Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty is wise!"
The faces of the craftsmen who were responsible for the experiment were full of enthusiasm, and they knelt on the ground and kept mumbling.
"Your Majesty, since we now have more powerful gunpowder, the development of new cannons will go more smoothly!"
Yi Bin was seen kneeling on the ground, his face full of joy.
"Since you want to increase the range of the cannon, you might as well try to lengthen the barrel and use the latest black powder. The range and power of the cannon will be greatly improved!"
Jiajing then added another sentence.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey!"
Yi Bin kept Jiajing's words in mind and secretly determined to conduct the experiment as soon as His Majesty left.
"In addition, the ratio of gunpowder must not be leaked. Anyone who violates this rule will be killed without mercy!"
Immediately, Jiajing looked at Yi Bin who was kneeling on the ground with a very cold look, and warned in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, you can rest assured. If the ratio of gunpowder is leaked, the ministers will come to see you!"
Due to the need for confidentiality, Jiajing did not let everyone present talk too much about the specific ratio of gunpowder. Instead, he chose to ask Yi Bin to record it and keep it strictly. No one was allowed to read it without permission.
Later, after Jiajing handed over some of his thoughts to Yi Bin, the official in charge of the weapons department, he and Lu Fang set out on their way home.
"I would like to send you your Majesty's greetings. Long live my emperor!"
At this moment, Yi Bin was kneeling on the ground with utmost respect. Looking at Jiajing's leaving figure, he couldn't help but think of this.
"Your Majesty is really extremely smart and insightful! Not only did he come up with the correct ratio of gunpowder, but he also made many valuable suggestions for the next work of the Arms Department."
"But what is the name of the bomb that your Majesty just said can be held in your hand and thrown at the enemy?"
"By the way, I remembered, His Majesty named it grenade!"
…
Jiajing was sitting on the dragon chariot at the moment, looking at Lu Fang who was hesitant to speak, he chuckled.
"Lu Fang, do you have any questions for me?"
Lu Fang saw that the emperor had seen through her thoughts. After hesitating for a moment, Lu Fang finally chose to tell the truth to the emperor.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I feel that when you made those suggestions earlier, it was as if you had seen the things you envisioned with your own eyes."
"Also, when Your Majesty proposed the ratio of gunpowder, my slave also felt that..."
After hearing what Lu Fang said, Jiajing explained with a smile on his face.
"Of course I have read these things. Do you still remember the book in my hand earlier?"
"Your Majesty, could it be..."
After Lu Fang heard what Jiajing said and recalled it for a long time, she suddenly reacted with an incredible look on her face.
"It turns out it's the book full of tadpole writing in His Majesty's hands!"
Lu Fang thought so in her heart.
"Well, that's right, the things I brought up today are all recorded in that book!"
"As for the ratio of gunpowder, it was also recorded in that book."
Jiajing glanced at Lu Fang casually and said slowly.
After hearing the emperor's reminder, Lu Fang gradually reacted and felt ashamed of her previous behavior.
"It turns out that His Majesty has been studying the knowledge in that book!"
"But I thought that His Majesty was losing his ambition by playing with things. Lu Fang, Lu Fang, you really deserve to die!"
Gradually, the shame on Lu Fang's face disappeared, and then she mustered up the courage to ask Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, I am very curious, what is the name of that book? There is so much weird and practical knowledge in it!"
Jiajing took in the expression on Lu Fang's face and joked with a smile: "The name of that book is Science."
"Scientific?"
Lu Fang chewed the word repeatedly and then fell into deep thought.
After a long time, Lu Fang's eyes gradually became brighter and she asked Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, I just thought of it, if this book called Science could be translated!"
"Then it will be handed over to thousands of students from my Ming Dynasty to study. Maybe many problems will be solved."
After hearing what Lu Fang said, Jiajing was in a good mood and said loudly.
"Your idea is very good! However, this is a long-term matter and cannot be accomplished overnight."
"Therefore, something like today's event can be used to promote it! Let everyone be interested in science."
"However, you must not reveal the important secrets, do you understand?"
After Lu Fang heard this, she quickly responded respectfully.
"This slave knows!"
…
When Jiajing returned to Yangxin Hall, everything that happened today quickly spread like wildfire, causing many officials to start discussing it.
"Have you heard? Your Majesty went to the Arms Department today. Not only did they solve a big problem, they also put forward many useful suggestions!"
"Oh, what's the big trouble?"
"I don't know, it seems to be about gunpowder!"
"It is said that His Majesty learned this knowledge from a book called Science!"
"Science, do we have this book here?"
"I don't know, that's the book His Majesty is reading! How can it be the same as us?"
"I guess this book called Science must be very obscure and difficult to understand! Only an extremely intelligent person like Your Majesty can understand the contents."
"It would be great if Your Majesty could find a time to tell us the above content, so that everyone would be disciples of the Emperor!"
"What you think is beautiful!"
Not only officials in the DPRK and China are talking about this, but even the cabinet is not immune.
"By the way, Mr. Yan Ge, you have a lot of books at home. Is there a book called Science?"
Xu Jie put aside the writing brush he used to review the memorials, and then asked Yan Song.
"science?"
After Yan Song listened to Xu Jie's words, he immediately fell into deep thought.
Immediately, Yan Song began to recall in his mind whether among the books he had read, there was a book called Science.
After a long while, Yan Song shook his head and responded: "It seems not."
After Xu Jie got the exact answer from Yan Song, he did not hide the disappointment on his face and said slowly: "Oh, this is such a pity!"
In fact, even if there was this book, Yan Song would not tell it!
He has secretly made up his mind to go home and look carefully to see if he has this book at home after today's duty is over.
After all, this is also to have more common topics with His Majesty. What an honor it is to read a book with His Majesty!
Others also had the same idea as Yan Song, and they all decided that after going back today, they would dig out all the books at home to see if there was a book named Science in it.
(End of chapter)
