Puyang River in Shaoxing Prefecture is one of the three major rivers in the southeast. It was the river where fish sank in Xishi, Yue in ancient times. The water surface is more than 100 meters wide all year round and the water flow is turbulent.
In Kuaiji, Shanxi, next to a ferry on the Puyang River, there used to be an abandoned shipbuilding workshop. I don't know when a new workshop was built. The fence runs from the riverside to the workshop, and there are signs on it that read "Strong military area, keep out of sight" and "Fireworks strictly prohibited." Coupled with the fact that the government officials armed with guns and knives were looking at him eagerly, people from far and near subconsciously avoided it.
Yamen servants are all transferred from the Kuaiji County Yamen, and the Kuaiji Magistrate and County Board of Directors select them personally. On this point, the board of directors has a lot of support.
Several huge waterwheels stood wading in the water, driven by the rolling river water. The crankshaft drove the rollers on the shore, and the black gunpowder was crushed back and forth. Tian Yi stood aside, spraying rice soup from time to time, and constantly squeezing it with his hands to test the hardness.
After a while, the crushed gunpowder was poured into a bamboo sieve, squeezed manually into small pieces, and then rolled and rounded to become granulated gunpowder.
75% fire saltpeter, 10% sulfur powder, 15% charcoal powder.
This is what Zhao Hong told him about the formula of explosive gunpowder.
A little more fire salt, a little less sulfur powder and charcoal powder.
This is what Zhao Hong told him about the formula for artillery propellant.
Zhao Hong opened his mouth, but he ran away and broke his leg. He had to do all the fire, saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal himself. In the past two months, he tried it over and over again, and he felt bored to death, but suddenly he found that he enjoyed it.
Fundamentally, he is a bold and careful person and a person who wants to do things.
This is much more fun than selling meat!
"Dad, bring the box over here!"
Tian Yi said to his father.
The development of gunpowder is more confidential than iron smelting. If one person is too busy, he can only use his blessings to make up for it.
When his father Tian Shouxin brought over the foot-long iron box and laid the fuse in the rectangular iron box, Tian Yi carefully installed the gunpowder, stretched the fuse out of the box, and then closed the iron lid.
"Let's go! Go try it!"
Tian Yi picked up the iron box and left the workshop.
"Is this okay? You are a pig butcher!"
Father Tian looked in disbelief.
"What's wrong with the pig-killer? Weren't you the one who forced him to do it?"
Tian Yi said dissatisfiedly, his eyes shining.
"This time, I, the pig butcher, will make a name for myself in Lin'an City!"
Speaking of which, the gunpowder was not Zhao Hong's idea, he just followed it.
"Blow me!"
Tian Shouxin shook his head and followed closely.
However, if I hadn't been straight-tempered and didn't want my son to serve in the military, my son wouldn't have become a butcher.
"They all covered their ears!"
Tian Yi shouted to the guards.
"Peng!"
The explosion was earth-shattering, earth and rocks flew, and the earthen wall collapsed. The guards of the iron workshop lowered their hands, their ears were ringing, and everyone was stunned.
This is the first time I have seen gunpowder that can explode and be so ferocious.
Tian Yi stood up from the stone where he was hiding and walked over to look at the gravel and iron fragments on the ground.
"Oh my God! This is really a weapon for killing people! If this is made into a thunderbolt, the city can be defended without worries!"
Tian Shouxin picked up a piece of broken iron, his face turned pale and his heart was beating with fear.
The power of this gunpowder is much stronger than that in the army!
"good!"
Tian Yi was wondering if the gunpowder could be improved. Zhao Hong clapped his hands and walked over with Xu Sheng and several guards with a smile on his face.
"Your Highness!"
Tian's father and son came forward to greet him.
"Tian Yi, listening to the sound, I think it's almost done!"
Zhao Hong looked at the iron and stone fragments on the ground and nodded slightly.
It may not be as good as the explosives of later generations, but it should be ahead of this era.
"Your Highness, whether it is the formula of gunpowder or granulation, I think we can try it again and improve it."
Tian Yi told the truth. Listening to the sound, he felt that the explosion was not so transparent.
"Okay, try it slowly, don't worry."
Zhao Hong nodded.
Science and technology, the foundation of industry, cannot be easily achieved.
"How's the artillery casting going?"
Zhao Hong asked subconsciously.
"Your Highness, it may take some time. Ironmaking has just stabilized. I'm working with the craftsmen on how to cast the cannon. Let's make the mold first."
Tian Yi said after thinking.
The muskets made in the past were all small tubes, which were easy to use. Today's artillery weighs 700 to 800 pounds, and it is not easy to make the barrel straight and smooth.
"Don't be anxious, take your time. The Sky-shaking Thunder is simpler, take the time to look at it and make it first."
"Your Highness, the Sky Thunder is simpler and should be made first. Before Qingming Festival, I will test the gunpowder first. By April or May, I should be able to make the Sky Thunder."
Tian Yi estimated and said.
Zhao Hong nodded. When the time comes, Shi Miyuan will see clearly that if hundreds of sky-shaking thunders hit him, thousands of troops will not take him seriously.
"Qingming Festival? Then you should go back and come back after the festival."
Zhao Hong was stunned and shook his head repeatedly.
The Qingming Festival in the Song Dynasty was a major festival. Like the Yuanxi Festival, the officials had a seven-day holiday. It was very lively with willow planting, sacrifices, outings, dragon boat races, etc.
How can you bear to tie others up here during a big holiday and not get three times the salary?
"We'll see when the time comes. Your Highness, you should go back to Lin'an City to do your own business! Li Tang and I are here. Don't worry."
Tian Yi instead urged Zhao Hong.
"Okay, okay, you are busy first. I will go to the iron workshop to take a look, and then return to Lin'an City."
With Tian Yi watching, Zhao Hong really had nothing to worry about.
"This Zhao Hong seems to be a different person!"
Tian Shouxin looked at Zhao Hong and others riding away, shaking his head with a look of disbelief on his face.
"Awesome! Did the light blind you...?"
Tian Yi said confidently, the word "dog" almost blurted out.
"If he is really capable, he will become the prince as soon as possible. If he becomes an official of the Song Dynasty, I will go to the palace to serve him!"
Tian Shouxin didn't know whether it was true or not, so he sighed leisurely.
"I will definitely do it! Dad, you are the leader of the Forbidden Army!"
Tian Yi chuckled, his eyes indescribably calm.
At the foot of the mountain, on the official road, Li Tang came on horseback. The carriages behind him were loaded with dozens of bags of fluorite powder, which he had just received from the Ministry of Industry.
The people from the Ministry of Industry did not cause trouble for him, but were polite and responsive, which surprised him.
I don’t know what kind of medicine these Shi Miyuan’s yes-men are selling in their gourds.
When he arrived in front of the iron workshop, Li Tang tied up his horse and was startled when he looked at the tall, sleek horses tied up at the gate.
"Butou, who is that person? Why did he enter the yard?"
Iron smelting is an important weapon of the country, and Zhao Hong promised to keep it secret. Are these uninvited guests officials from the imperial court?
"Second brother, this is shopkeeper Yan's master and servant. He has been here for a while."
Hu Datou said with a smile, secretly envious in his heart.
His Highness is still so powerful that he lets beauties rush to deliver things to his door.
"How dare you! Why did you let her in? Don't you know this is a military... important place?"
Hu Datou was furious and glared at Hu Datou.
If this iron smelting technology is leaked, Zhao Hong will definitely be the target of thousands of people. He, the leader of the bodyguards, will not be able to take advantage of it.
"Second brother, Shopkeeper Yan and His Highness are very close to each other. They are a good couple. I will..."
Hu Datou was obedient and felt a little rash himself.
"Nonsense! How can she be worthy of His Highness! Get away!"
Li Tang brushed Hu Datou away with a dark face, walked a few steps and then stopped.
"Go quickly and go to Tian Dalang! Tell him that if Yan Chun comes, tell him not to show Yan Chun anything! What are you looking at? Go quickly!"
Li Tang warned sternly, Hu Datou woke up from a dream, quickly led the horse out of the iron gate, and left the city.
"This is stupid..."
Li Tang quickly entered the ironworks and strode forward, just in time to see Yan Chun and his servants looking around the iron furnace, looking like they were about to enter the ironworks.
Zhang Hong, who was guarding the iron gate, looked at Yan Chun and Yan Chun with a smile, nodded and bowed, and seemed to have no intention of stopping them.
Li Tang took a few steps forward and stood in front of Yan Chun and the others. He glared hard at Zhang Hong, who was confused, and turned around with a stern look on his face.
"Shopkeeper Yan, what are you going to do?"
From the beginning to the end, he felt that this Yan Chun was eccentric, arrogant and rude, and was not a good match for Zhao Hong.
Yan Chun was about to enter the iron workshop when he was stopped by Li Tang. He couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
"Get out of the way! Where is Zhao Hong? My master is here to find him!"
Opening his eyes to observe his words, he immediately stepped forward and scolded Li Tang.
A little guard who dares to be rude to his master is simply looking for death.
The craftsmen in the ironworks, including Zheng Hao, looked at all this in surprise.
"I'm sorry, this is a place where weapons are important. No one is allowed to enter! Your Highness went to other places, not here!"
Li Tang replied with a dark face, saying there was no room for bargaining.
"Bold! You little slave, I'm here to find Zhao Hong. Get out of here!"
Idle people waiting?
Yan Chun's anger suddenly emerged.
When did cats and dogs dare to look at her with their beards?
"Shopkeeper Yan, please keep your mouth clean! There is no need for others to look down upon you!"
Li Tang said with a dark face, and Zhang Hong stood up straight beside him unconsciously.
Judging from Li Tang's posture, he seemed to be at odds with Yan Chun.
Why is this?
The horse I ride on was given as a gift by Yan Chun!
"You're a piece of shit like a dog! You're looking for death!"
He stretched out his hand and pulled out the knife from his waist.
"Want to risk your life? Try it!"
Zhang Hong screamed, immediately pulled out his knife and stood in front of Li Tang.
He knows his own identity. When it comes to risking his life, he won't back down.
"Okay! Put away the knives!"
Yan Chun shouted back, opened his mouth, and stepped forward.
"Li Tang, get out of your way! I'll go in and find Zhao Hong myself!"
"I'm sorry, Shopkeeper Yan, His Highness is not here. I'll say it again, this is the Arms Department, no one can enter. Otherwise, don't blame me for falling out!"
Li Tang remained unmoved and stretched out his arm to block Yan Chun's way.
Zhang Hong looked at Kai Zhang coldly, as if he was prepared to challenge him at any time.
"Shopkeeper, let me kill him!"
Zhang Kai was furious and wanted to draw his sword again, but was stopped by Yan Chun.
"Forget it! Go back!"
Yan Chun's face was as dark as water, she turned around and walked away.
"Shopkeeper Yan, I'm sorry. Leave slowly and don't see me off!"
Li Tang bowed his hands behind him.
"Second brother, what are you doing? Shopkeeper Yan is a good person, and you also want to consider His Highness's face."
"You big idiot!"
Li Tang kicked Zhang Hong angrily.
"Remember, no one can enter the iron workshop without my permission, let alone look around! This is what His Highness told you, do you remember it?"
Not to mention Yan Chun, even if it was Shi Miyuan and Hu Ju who came, they would not be able to enter without Zhao Hong's permission.
"Commissioner Zheng, please remember! The iron workshop is now a forbidden area, not everyone can come in!"
Li Tang solemnly warned him, and Zheng Hao quickly nodded in agreement.
The iron workshop has become a forbidden area, and I am afraid that it will no longer be his own soon.
"Dad, come here. I think it's better to use a sand mold to make the cannon!"
Zheng Hao's son Zheng Tu, who was as tall and fat as a mountain, pulled Zheng Hao in.
The Zheng family and his son are both experts in iron smelting.
Li Tang nodded secretly and glanced at the official road. Zhao Hong, Xu Sheng and others came over, and Hu Datou was also there.
"Li Tang, well done!"
Zhao Hong said warmly, obviously already knowing about Yan Chun's visit.
"Everyone has worked hard. During the Tomb-Sweeping Day, you will take turns to be on duty to avoid prying eyes. Each person will be given 20 coins for the festival, which is a token of my appreciation."
Yan Chun came here to see him. He probably didn't come here specifically to see him.
He is self-aware and admits that he is not that charming.
Why does a pretty girl have to go into a messy and extremely hot ironworks? Why are you so interested in iron smelting?
Zhao Hong shook his head, feeling full of confusion and confusion.
