Together with Meng He and the others, they left Xianyang Palace and went straight to Rewu Square in Shanglin Garden. At the same time, Meng He sent someone to call Gong Shujin over.
Along the way, I saw many people who were surveying the new city. It was originally planned to draw up the new city's blueprint this spring, but it involved two palaces and two temples, and the Daqin trade I requested was too large, so the plan for the new city has been delayed. . Simply tell Baichong, don't be anxious, take your time, building a city is not something that can be done overnight, you should plan it carefully.
Arriving at Rewufang, the new Rewuling, Zhou Qi, was busy making saltpetre.
"How much saltpeter has been produced now?" I looked at the saltpeter field in front of me, with several large pots piled next to it and a drying area built.
Zhou Qi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, there is only one jar of saltpeter available, and the rest is still being brewed."
Several people went into the house and took a look at the saltpeter produced. The pottery jars were about half a person tall, all sealed with mud to prevent moisture.
"No need to open it, the purity has been tested, right?" I just saw that their crystallization method should be fine, but the efficiency is low. It takes several times of cooking to obtain crystals that reach the specified concentration of potassium nitrate.
Zhou Qi replied: "Your Majesty, there is no problem. It can fully meet the requirements for making gunpowder."
I nodded: "How much stone flow yellow and charcoal powder are there?"
"Shiliu Huang is not available yet. Enough charcoal powder has been produced. This is easier to obtain."
Just as he was saying this, Gongshujin came in from outside: "I've met His Majesty!"
I waved my hand and frowned slightly: "Zhang Han, do you know Shiliuhuang's progress? It's been half a year, and there's no progress at all?"
Zhang Han cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, Shiliuhuang can only be found in places with natural hot springs. Based on the location your Majesty told us and combined with the national annals, Prime Minister Right found that it is mainly concentrated in the Lingnan area. Now we have found many places where Shiliuhuang can be collected. In yellow areas, one is difficult to mine, and the other is difficult to transport from Lingnan, so it is a bit slow."
I sighed softly and looked at Gong Shujin: "How is the manufacturing of the flintlock gun going?"
"Back to Your Majesty, because the parts need a little polishing, the completed flintlock gun has not been made yet..." Seeing my frown getting tighter, Gongshu Jin quickly added: "But the lathe drawings Your Majesty gave me, I have organized people to study it carefully. Once the lathe is built, the process of grinding the parts will be much easier, and the progress will definitely be accelerated."
I glanced at the two of them and said displeasedly: "I know it's difficult to make these things, but it's been half a year since Shiliuhuang started, and I haven't collected any at all; let alone flintlock guns. I'm setting up a general." Zuofu gave you the drawings in the second year, and it’s been three years now, right? Not even a sample has been made. Is it because I’m not focused on it? Or is it really difficult?”
The two of them quickly bowed and said, "I am aware of my guilt!"
I glanced at Meng He and said, "Go and fetch Li Si."
Then he took the two of them to watch the process of making saltpeter.
Half an hour later, Li Si hurried over.
I looked at Li Si and went straight to the point: "Although I left the making of gunpowder to Zhang Han, I left Shiliu Huang to you to find it, right? Why is the progress so slow?"
Li Si said awkwardly: "Your Majesty, there have been a lot of things going on recently, such as the exchange of trade between Beihu and Hu, the envoys coming from the Western Regions, and the war at the border. I have been a little negligent. Please forgive me!"
"The reason why I established Hot Wukong is because I no longer want to rely on doing business, gathering allies, and piling up numbers to make those barbarians surrender. You still don't really realize the power of hot weapon bombs, firearms, cannons, and the power of bomb explosions. You all I have seen it, but let me tell you, compared to guns and cannons, bombs are just more powerful, and the bombs you made are unstable. You can't let the soldiers carry bombs that may explode at any time to fight the enemy, right?"
I continued: "But firearms and cannons are different. Da Qin has firearms. When you fight against the barbarians, it's like you are fighting against a man holding an iron sword with your bare hands. The gap is so big."
Just as I was about to continue telling them about the power of thermal weapons, a soldier suddenly came outside: "Your Majesty, three carts of goods have arrived from Shanglinyuan. They say they are goods sent by Ba Shi Taoyao, with a handwritten letter signed by His Majesty."
"Oh?" My eyes lit up: "Let the leader come in."
Not long after, a tall man walked in. It seemed that he was from Bashu, because he was wearing straw sandals and it was hot and humid there, so he was used to wearing straw sandals.
Speaking in Bashu dialect: "Your Excellency, the master asked us to find the Shiliuhuang and Saltpeter. He said that he would send them directly to a place called Shanglin Garden with a handwritten letter. May I ask, is this place?"
I beamed with joy: "Yes, this is it. Zhou Qi, send someone to bring the goods in quickly."
While asking: "How much stone flow yellow and saltpeter are there?"
The man said: "There is more saltpeter, and there are two carts of it. There is only one cart of Shiliuhuang. The boss only told me last winter that this thing is not easy to find. I don't know if it is enough for a distinguished driver."
"Hahaha, okay." I said excitedly: "It's enough, but not quite enough, but you have made great achievements! Tao Yao too! I will reward you well!"
The man said with a simple and honest smile: "Your Majesty, you are joking. The head of the house told me that when you serve the imperial court, you serve your own family. You should do your best!"
I nodded with satisfaction and told Li Si: "Xiang Li, pay Ba Shi double the market price!"
Li Si cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
The man was surprised and quickly raised his hands and said: "It turns out that he is the emperor of Great Qin. I am disrespectful. I am just a delivery boy. When I get back, I will give my orders to the master. I will go to the counting house to visit the prince!"
I said hello three times: "In that case, just go ahead and I will be rewarded for you!"
After the man resigned, I looked at the three carts of goods that had been brought in, and did not forget to lecture the three of them: "Look, as important officials of the imperial court, you are not as enlightened and agile as a businessman!"
The three of them were ashamed.
Judging from the expressions of the three people, I didn't care whether they heard it or not: "Zhou Qi, start making gunpowder immediately. Li Xiang, Zhang Han, I will give you two more months to find... a stone for such a big cart." No less than... four cartloads of liquid yellow and saltpeter!"
The bombs that five cartloads of stones can produce are estimated to be more than ten cartloads, which is definitely enough to blow up the Huns and Hujie!
With Tao Yao's Shiliu Huang here, the two of them were embarrassed to complain and immediately agreed.
"As for you..." I stared at Gongshu Jin. It is indeed not easy to make a flintlock gun. If it is not done well, it will easily explode. It is more likely to accidentally injure people than a bomb. After all, no one is stupid enough to go to training with a bomb every day. fight.
Gongshu Jin was self-conscious and immediately bowed and said: "Your Majesty, as long as the lathe can be made, we will be able to make a flintlock gun as soon as possible. I am already very familiar with the principle of the flintlock gun. I will definitely be able to do it in half a year, half a year!"
I nodded, within my acceptable range: "Do it as soon as possible!"
