In August, the imperial court sent officials from the Genealogy Department of the Ancestral Temple Department to Xiangyang to announce that the Hongnong Yang family had been promoted to a top rank.
For Yang Anxuan, being promoted to a high-ranking family was just fulfilling the wishes of his grandfather and fathers, but it was a real benefit to the Yang family.
First of all, when the grades of the Yang family are evaluated, they will not be lower than the sixth grade, and the grade corresponding to the official award will also be improved; secondly, as the grade increases, it is important to be of the same family when getting married. For people like Yang Yu who have not yet gotten married, it will soon be possible. The high-ranking nobles came to visit; as for occupying land and being a guest, it was a trivial matter to the Yang family.
A family promotion is a great joy and must be celebrated in a big way. Only Yang Cai of the older generation is left. Because he is too old and cannot move around in Runan, he asked his second son Yang Qian and grandson Yang Peng to come. Yang Liang and Yang Ming have passed away. Yang Liang has a branch in Baling, and Yang Ming has a branch in Baling. This branch was in Tangyi, and they all sent their descendants to come; Yang Siping, Yang Zijing and others were stationed on one side and could not leave without permission. Yang Anshen and Yang Anyuan, as the main branches, returned to Xiangyang with their families.
Many more families came to congratulate than when Yang Anxuan got married. King Langya and King Wuling both sent envoys to congratulate, and all the powerful families in the capital sent people to send gifts and congratulates. Liu Yu, Liu Yi, He Wuji and others also They all sent people here.
Yang Shangbao said with satisfaction: "The Hongnong Yang family has returned to the top family, and An Xuan's contribution is indispensable."
Yang An said deeply: "If wealth does not return to its hometown, it is like walking in brocade at night. People should be sent back to their hometown to worship their ancestors."
The ancestral land of the Hong family and the Yang family was in Huayin, which was to the west of Tongguan. When the Later Qin Dynasty returned Tongguan to Hongnong County, it did not return Tongguan. At this time, Huayin was still under the jurisdiction of the Later Qin Dynasty.
However, Qin and Jin were at peace with each other and exchanged business travel. It would not be a big deal to send people to Hongnong to worship their ancestors. Of course, if Yang Anxuan went there, he would definitely be like a meat bun and beat a dog and never come back.
Yang Anxuan didn't care about his elder brother's discussion with the tribesmen about who to send to Huayin to worship their ancestors. He was planning to leave for Xinye to see the production of gunpowder.
Gunpowder was secretly produced in Xinye for a year. During this period, two explosions occurred and seven people were injured or killed. Yin Huaqing wrote to inform him that now a set of rules has been formed for the production and storage of gunpowder, and there are also studies on rockets and fire bombs proposed by Yang Anxuan. He achieved certain results and asked Yang Anxuan to go and have a look when he had time.
Yin Huizhen's letter made Yang Anxuan feel guilty and silent. Yi'er often asked her mother where her father was. Why haven't you come to see him yet? This made Yang Anxuan consider whether he should bring Yin Huizhen to Xiangyang. The ten years he promised were too long.
Once thoughts arise, they grow wildly like weeds, and Yang Anxuan has been restless for the past two days and nights. Kong Miao noticed something strange about him and asked about the reason. Yang Anxuan revealed his plan to bring Yin Huizhen, mother and son to Xiangyang.
Kong Miao was silent for a moment and said: "It should be so." After that, he turned around and faced inward without saying a word. Yang Anxuan knew that this matter could not be perfect, and only after a period of time did Kong Miao accept the facts, the relationship between the two would ease.
It was difficult for Yin Huizhen to move into the back house, so Yang Anxuan asked Zhang Feng to buy a manor at the foot of Baizhang Mountain in the west of Xiangyang City and place Yin Huizhen there. The manor is only more than twenty miles away from Xiangyang City and can be reached by horseback in more than a quarter of an hour.
At the end of August, Yang Anxuan came to Yinjiazhuang, Xinye to inspect the black powder base. You can see Taoist temples in the mountains from a distance. When you walk to the foot of the mountain, you can see bamboo fences surrounding the mountain. There are people on guard at several watchtowers.
There is a row of warehouses storing black powder at the foot of the mountain. Yang Anxuan entered the warehouse and saw neatly stacked bamboo tubes. Yin Huaqing said: "Black gunpowder is flammable, explosive and moisture-proof. After it is produced, it is wrapped in oil paper and stuffed into a bamboo tube to prevent moisture."
Yang Anxuan asked someone to split a bamboo tube and check it. The gunpowder in the bamboo tube was well preserved. Yang Anxuan nodded with satisfaction and asked: "How much gunpowder has been produced?"
"There are six hundred stones." Yin Huaqing replied: "It can produce about one hundred stones per month. If it hadn't been exploded twice, it would have exceeded one thousand stones."
Yang Anxuan walked up the mountain and said, "Next month I will have people transport these stocks away, and from now on they will be transported every three months."
Steps are carved out of rocks, leading all the way to Sanqingguan Square. The mountain road goes around and leads to the back mountain. The left side is where gunpowder is produced, and the right side is where rockets and fire bombs are researched.
Since the production of gunpowder is extremely dangerous and open flames are most taboo, even a spark may cause an explosion. Two accidents have occurred since the production of black powder. Yang Anxuan repeatedly told Yin Huaqing that the tools for gunpowder production should be made of wood, stone or copper so as not to produce sparks.
After careful consideration, Yang Anxuan did not choose a more secluded cave as his production base. Instead, he built six bamboo sheds in the back mountain, where craftsmen were busy working in saltpeter ponds and stoves.
It is strictly forbidden to use fire indoors. The three raw materials are mixed in pairs, crushed and sieved together. Although the operation is more complicated, the stability of the gunpowder is improved.
Yin Huaqing told Yang Anxuan in a low voice that the craftsmen only knew how to operate and did not know the ratio of raw materials, so that the secret of gunpowder could be kept.
After looking at the production base, Yang Anxuan came to the research office on the right, a row of ten stone houses, spacious and bright, with an open area of more than a hundred feet behind, which was used to test the power of gunpowder.
The craftsmen who worked on the research and development included several Taoist priests who burned elixirs. I don’t know where the Yin family found them. Several Taoists worked part-time, practicing in the temple and studying gunpowder here. There were also several older craftsmen who listened to Yinhua. Qing introduced the carpenters, blacksmiths, etc. selected by the three families. In addition, Yang Anxuan also sent more than ten elderly craftsmen.
Yang Anxuan looked at the improved rockets, fireballs, fire explosions and other objects. They were not very powerful, but they were loud and some could emit thick smoke. They could be used to scare horses.
Based on experience, Yang Anxuan mentioned adding copper powder and iron powder to black gunpowder; or adding toxic drugs to emit poisonous smoke; adding broken iron pieces, iron caltrops and other materials to the fried ball package to increase the power; making a rocket cabinet and lighting the fuse. The last dozen rockets are more powerful when fired in volley; they can also be made into balls or put into cans and thrown at the enemy through trebuchets, etc.
The craftsmen were so inspired that they could not wait to experiment immediately. Yang Anxuan smiled and said: "Where is the fuse that ignites the gunpowder and how fast it ignites? This is the key."
A craftsman named Lu responded: "The servants used hemp thread as a twist, dipped it in gunpowder and kneaded it repeatedly, smeared it with rice paste on the outside, and dried it in the shade to make a lead."
Someone handed over a fuse about a foot long, and after lighting it in the open field, a line of fire quickly flashed backwards, and the fuse, which was about a foot long, burned out after several breaths.
Yang Anxuan nodded and said: "We need to test repeatedly and strive for accuracy. In the future, when gunpowder is used to resist the enemy, the speed at which the fuse is ignited must be precise. It cannot be unresponsive for a long time after landing, nor can it explode in mid-air, let alone hurt your own people. .”
In previous lives, the fuses of firecrackers were mostly made of paper, which seemed to be mulberry paper. Yang Anxuan was not very sure, so he mentioned in passing that these craftsmen were asked to test the results.
The results of this inspection satisfied Yang Anxuan, and he was rewarded with 500,000 yuan brought with him, and there was a burst of joy. These craftsmen cannot leave the scope of Sanqing Temple, but Yang Anxuan allows their families to come to visit, and their families can bring money, food and materials back.
These craftsmen are all older and can only move within the scope of Sanqing Temple without freedom. However, the salary given by Yang Anxuan is not small. Even the craftsmen who produce gunpowder have an annual salary of 300 dan, and the craftsmen who develop research and development have an annual salary of 500 dan. A hundred stones, and if there are any results, there will be a reward.
Back at Meizhuang, Yang Yi immediately rushed over. Yang Anxuan picked him up. Yang Yi hugged his neck tightly and asked, "Where is daddy? When Yi'er woke up, he thought daddy was gone again. .”
Yang Anxuan smiled and said: "Dad is out for something. Didn't dad tell you that he will take you back to Xiangyang this time?"
Yin Huizhen looked at the two men with a smile and said: "Xuanlang, I have prepared a few dishes in the kitchen to see if they suit your taste."
Yang Anxuan hugged his son Yang Yi and put some food into his mouth from time to time. Yin Huizhen poured wine and dishes for the two men, and the family was enjoying themselves.
When talking about going to Xiangyang, Yin Huizhen said hesitantly: "Would it be controversial if I go to Xiangyang? Xuanlang's frequent visits to Baizhang Mountain would easily arouse suspicion."
Yang Anxuan thought for a while and said: "Today, I inspected the gunpowder base and planned to move the gunpowder research and development to Baizhang Mountain. Together with other ordnance research and development, a special Ordnance Department will be established. The family members of those craftsmen can move in with them and send county troops. Guard, this way we can keep it more secret, and you won’t attract attention when you go forward.”
Seeing Yang Anxuan's thoughtfulness, Yin Huizhen felt relieved and said with a smile, "Thank you, Mr. Xuan."
Yang Anxuan kissed his son on the face and said, "I should be thanking you for your understanding."
Looking at his beloved wife and young son, Yang Anxuan said: "We need someone to take charge of the Ordnance Department. I want Uncle Yin to take up the post of Langguan. How about temporarily living in the sixth rank?"
Yin Huizhen knew that her fifth uncle was an official fan, and she would definitely be willing to go after learning about it. When heading to Xiangyang, the family will definitely send some servants to accompany him. It would be great if Uncle Wu could have someone around to discuss things.
…………
Half a month later, Yang Anxuan returned to Xiangyang with Yin Huizhen, mother and son. Xin He received Yang Anxuan's letter in advance to vacate all the villages at the foot of Baizhang Mountain and transform them on the original basis, preparing to build the Yongzhou Ordnance Department. Zhao Tian moved two thousand county troops to the outskirts of the Ordnance Department, protected the Ordnance Department within it, and prohibited ordinary people from going here.
After settling Yin Huizhen's mother and son, Yang Anxuan returned to the government office. After Wang Zhen'e saw Yang Anxuan, he first exclaimed: "My lord knows things like a god, and the country of Hou Yan has perished."
After Yan Zhongwei General Feng Ba and Zuowei General Zhang Xing were convicted and fled, they formed an alliance with Feng Wanni and others. They elected Murong Bao's adopted son Murong Yun as their leader, and led 5,000 prisoners to capture Longcheng. Murong Xi had committed many crimes and was killed together with his son. Feng Ba and others supported Murong Yun as the King of Heaven. Murong Yun restored his original surname of Gao, changed his name to Zhengshi of the Yuan Dynasty, and was known as Beiyan in history.
Xin He said from the side: "My lord came at the right time. Nan Yan sent envoys here two days ago, hoping to use the road to welcome Emperor Yan's mother and wife back from Qin Chang'an."
Yang Anxuan asked: "Did Emperor Qin agree?"
"Emperor Qin asked Emperor Yan to become a minister and use Taile's skills in exchange. Emperor Yan has agreed." Xin He responded.
This group of Taiyue singers were left behind by the former Qin Dynasty. After the collapse of the Western Yan Dynasty, the singers and singers left. The Western Yan Dynasty was destroyed at the hands of Later Yan. Later Yan's Zhongshan City was captured by Tuoba Gui. Murongde took the singers and singers all the way south. Until Guanggu City.
Yang Anxuan said: "Emperor Yan wants to use Taile's tricks to get his mother and wife back. We can't stop this. But if he wants to pass, let Emperor Yan send thousands of Jin people as a means of passage."
Some people died, but not completely...
