On New Year's Eve, Zhao Kuo led all civil and military officials of the State of Zhao to worship the dead soldiers in the Hall of Heroes.
"I don't know why, but I feel really different after the sacrifice." Pang Nuan looked back at the huge stone tablet and whispered.
"It is useless to offer sacrifices by one person, but when a steady stream of people offer sacrifices and the incense continues, it will have some influence. Especially today is New Year's Eve, and all places in Zhao State will offer sacrifices to ancestors and relatives who died in the war." Le Yi looked at the sky in the distance and said slowly, "Maybe this is called faith, an ancestral faith tied to blood and culture."
Standing in the Hall of Valor, even he would be infected by the solemn atmosphere and the burning incense, not to mention the soldiers. Every soldier who came to offer incense would have a firm belief in protecting their home and country.
"Do you still understand this?" Lian Po stopped and looked at Le Yi in surprise.
"Learned a little bit from that old guy Zou Yan." Le Yi nodded.
"I heard that the king sent people to look for Zou Yan, but they couldn't find him?" Tian Dan asked curiously.
"The State of Yan said that he had returned to the State of Qi, and the State of Qi said that he had gone to sea. Before leaving, he said that there were three immortal mountains on the sea and that he was going to become an immortal. The King of Qi also gave him a big ship and some sailors." Wei Wuji also left. He came out, took a long breath, and let out the depression in his heart.
"The big ship and those sailors will probably never come back," Le Yi said.
"Why?" Lin Xiangru asked curiously.
"This is not the first time he has done this kind of thing. Every time he takes a group of people, and then encounters a storm, the boat capsizes, everyone is dead, and he is the only one who escapes back. King Yan and King Qi are not only not angry, but On the contrary, I feel that he is a man with destiny, and I will let him go next time..." Le Yi said speechlessly.
"Zou Yan is actually very capable. Our country of Yan is located in the northeast, and many places cannot be cultivated. Zou Yan developed a kind of millet that can withstand cold, which solved the food problem of the country of Yan. Later, King Yan Zhao died and King Yan Hui succeeded to the throne. , Wang Zhujun entered Zhao, Zou Yan argued for Wang Zhujun, cursed King Yan Hui, and was arrested and imprisoned by King Yan Hui. After the fall of Yan State in June, King Yan Hui released Zou Yan. "Li Fu. said.
"He also knows about farming?" Zhao Sheng said.
"He studies Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. According to him, everything is within the Yin-Yang and Five Elements, so... farming also counts," Li Fu said.
"It would be a pity to die outside." Zhao Sheng sighed.
"Don't worry, you won't die." Le Yi shook his head and said.
"I'm going to reward the army tomorrow. Which one of you will go with me?" Zhao Kuo walked out of the Hall of Heroes and asked when he saw everyone gathered around.
The army did not have a holiday during the New Year, and there were no chief officers in various places. Although it was unlikely that various countries would launch an attack, Zhao State had to guard against it.
When all officials from various places return to their posts and Zhao's reform is on track, the soldiers can go home to visit in batches, but before that, they still have to prepare for war at any time.
"I'll go." Lian Po said.
Everyone had no objection. Apart from Zhao Kuo, the most prestigious person in the Zhao army was Lian Po, even Le Yi and Tian Dan could not compare.
Lian Po has been fighting for Zhao for decades, and every soldier knows Lian Po.
Zhao Kuo looked at the civil officials. As usual, there was one civil official and one military general.
"I'll go." Zhao Sheng said.
"Okay, then my uncle and General Lian Po will accompany me to reward the army." Zhao Kuo nodded.
Back in the palace, Bin and the grandsons of Zhao Bao, Feng Ting and Wei Wuji were setting off firecrackers. Zhao Zheng and the younger ones were watching the fun. Po Nu stared at his mother's arms and looked around curiously. He seemed to be looking for where the sound came from.
Gunpowder has been made, sulfur, dinitrate and charcoal. Zhao Kuo has always remembered it deeply.
As for the materials, it is not a problem. Although there is very little natural sulfur in the Central Plains, those alchemy guys have already had the technology to purify sulfur.
The Hedong Salt Pond is an even better place. It produces salt in the summer and saltpeter in the winter. Just say hello to Wei and buy it cheaply. Not to mention charcoal.
However, the black powder produced is not very powerful and can only be used for firecrackers. If you want to use it in the military, it is better to
forget it.
Under the attack of the legion, the power of bows and arrows is eight blocks higher than that of gunpowder, and they can shoot farther. Unless Zhao can make cannons and tanks, otherwise the black powder...is really not as good as bows and arrows.
Moreover, the aura of heaven and earth has been rising recently. Maybe the attack power of the legion will be further improved, let alone what black gunpowder can match.
This is also the reason why Zhao Kuo did not take out this thing in the initial battle of Changping. If there is no spiritual energy, it can still scare people. Due to the existence of spiritual energy, even the effect of scaring people is gone...
Gunpowder is indeed very useful when developed to a certain extent, but the rudimentary products that have just been invented can only be used for entertainment.
Just like the steam engine, someone had developed a prototype in the 1st century AD, although it was just a toy...it would have to wait until more than 1,600 years before its actual application in machinery...
However, gunpowder does not need to wait that long. Although it cannot be used in military applications, it can also be made into firecrackers, matches and other things.
During the Warring States Period, it was very difficult for people to make fire. Those with better conditions could afford a fire sickle. Those with poor conditions can only use flint and steel to keep trying. The poorer ones don't even have flint and steel, so they can only rub other people's food, or eat cold food or raw food.
Maybe this is one of the reasons why civilians are prone to diseases and have a short life span.
It is much more convenient to have matches. You can buy a pack for three yuan, which can be used for a long time. The price is the same in the world. The price is much lower than that of a fire sickle. Anyone who is not an extremely poor household can afford it.
This price is the same even when sold to other countries. Of course, if the governments and businessmen of various countries secretly increase the price, Zhao Kuo will not be able to control it.
Anyway, Zhao Guo Chamber of Commerce has this price, and their secret price increase will only indirectly help Zhao Guo win the hearts of the people.
Excluding shipping costs from this price, in fact, the Zhao State has not earned much. After all, the entire Zhao State has less than one million households, and one package per household is only three million. Moreover, it has not spread yet, only in Handan and Ye. Popularized near the city.
But Zhao Kuo didn't expect to make a lot of money with this thing. He couldn't lose money anyway, and the advantage was stability.
In comparison, the price of firecrackers is much higher. Those who can afford firecrackers are rich people.
In order to kill a few more big dogs, Zhao Kuo also sent several boxes of firecrackers to countries such as Qi and Wei for free, and then asked the Zhao Guo Chamber of Commerce to deliver large quantities of firecrackers to the capitals and important cities of these countries.
In this era when entertainment activities are scarce, Zhao Kuo believes that firecrackers will be loved by the kings of various countries. With the implementation of the policy, it will not be a problem to motivate the entire country to set off cannons.
"We have to find a way to create more festivals so that everyone has an excuse to set off fireworks." Zhao Kuo thought about how some unscrupulous businesses in later generations would create all kinds of Valentine's Days, white or black, in order to stimulate consumption. Except for Tomb Sweeping Day, any festival would be Valentine's Day.
He felt compelled to follow suit.
It's the monarch's birthday, so there's nothing wrong with celebrating it.
It’s the queen’s or queen mother’s birthday, it’s appropriate to celebrate it.
It is reasonable to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
There are also monarchs who give birth to children, the monarch's children are one month old, the monarch's children are full of age, and the prince is established...
