The sun's rays are blinding.
Gu Zhengchen stood with his arms stretched out, frowning slightly as he looked at the bright light lying on the windowsill.
Zhang Xiwan measured it with a ruler and said softly: "It's April, it's summer, and it's time to buy two summer clothes for my husband."
Gu Zhengchen forced a smile and said, "It's a good thing to add more clothes, but today, it's getting more and more disturbing."
Zhang Xiwan wrote down the dimensions, took the ruler, and put her hand around Gu Zhengchen's waist: "I heard from Yao Zhen that 60% of the fields in Jurong have been planted with rice. The people who haven't finished planting are just because of lack of water. My husband didn't send craftsmen." After the aqueduct is connected, I believe that within a few days, the fields will be filled with green rice."
Gu Zhengchen frowned: "Gu Cheng and Hu Hengcai brought news that this drought is not just in Jurong. Shangyuan County, Jiangning County, and Lishui County all have varying degrees of drought. There is also news that Danyang County in Zhenjiang Prefecture has also experienced drought. The drought is over, but this shouldn’t be the case.”
"Shouldn't it?"
Zhang Xiwan took off Gu Zhengchen's dishonest hand and pinched the ruler: "This is God's business. I guess there is no rain, so there is a reason for it."
Gu Zhengchen felt bitter.
According to later records, in the seventh year of Hongwu, there was no large-scale drought around Jinling.
What went wrong?
Could it be that because of his appearance, he disrupted God's arrangements and was preparing to cause some accidents to repair the original orbit and time and space?
This shouldn't be the case.
At best, I am just a little butterfly flapping its wings. No matter how I flutter in Jurong, my impact on the overall situation at this moment is extremely limited.
"Sir, Tao Chengdao sent someone to send a document saying that there has been progress in making pills and gunpowder."
Zhang Pei stood outside the door and announced.
Gu Zhengchen drove Zhang Pei away, and he still had to measure his wife's measurements, so he didn't have any eyesight.
Zhang Xiwan's face was filled with confusion. How could there be such a measurement? You were asked to measure the sleeve length, waist length, and leg length. You were not asked to measure randomly. Why did you put this ruler on your chest?
Oops, got attacked.
hateful!
What a shame in broad daylight.
Gu Zhengchen laughed and left. When he took the document from Zhang Pei, Zhang Pei saw that Gu Zhengchen's hand was red and asked with concern: "Master, your hands..."
"Oh, I was bitten by a mosquito."
Gu Zhengchen said calmly, without blushing at all.
Zhang Pei was puzzled. It had just entered April, where were the mosquitoes coming from?
"Go to Jurongwei."
Gu Zhengchen put away the documents and ordered Zhang Pei to bring the horses.
Ever since he went to Jiangyin Guards and started riding horses, Gu Zhengchen rarely rode in carriages. It would be good to practice riding horses. After all, this was the fastest means of transportation in the Ming Dynasty...
In addition to the horse that pulls the carriage, the county government has three horses, all of which belong to Jurong Guards.
Gu Zhengchen specially transferred them here for the convenience of travel. Anyway, the sergeants of Jurong Guard usually don't need war horses.
Zhang Pei was riding a horse to guard Gu Zhengchen. He had to admit that Gu Zhengchen's ability to learn swordsmanship was very poor. Apart from throwing swords, he was almost all showy and vulnerable. However, Gu Zhengchen learned to ride a horse very quickly. He has begun to learn to adapt to the bumps of the war horse and reduce the discomfort of the bumps through strength and posture control.
Gu Zhengchen likes to ride horses. The feeling of the wind blowing through his ears is very comforting. However, riding a horse has the side effects of bow legs, which makes Gu Zhengchen very depressed. He was laughed at by Zhang Xiwan for several days before he could adjust.
Far fire bureau, bottom fire department.
Tao Chengdao, Chen Youcai, Cui Yu and others all saluted Gu Zhengchen.
Gu Zhengchen raised his hand and said eagerly: "There's no need for a formal ceremony. Where are the gunpowder?"
Chen Youcai came over carrying a wooden box, opened the wooden box, and said to Gu Zhengchen, "Gu is here to direct the affairs."
Gu Zhengchen looked around and saw that the wooden box contained gunpowder pellets. No, calling it pellets was a bit flattering. Damn, this thing should be called gunpowder balls!
"Is this granular gunpowder?"
Gu Zhengchen picked up a piece of gunpowder. This thing is comparable to soybeans. You call it a particle?
Chen Youcai nodded repeatedly, but no, the soybeans were just one piece at a time.
Tao Chengdao heard Gu Zhengchen's dissatisfaction and helped to speak: "The problem is not the size, but the method. As long as the method is right and can be made into granules, the follow-up process will be easier."
Gu Zhengchen thought about it, picked up the gunpowder balls, put it to his nose and asked, "How did you make the particles?"
Chen Youcai quickly said: "At first we used water and found many problems, but later we changed it to urine."
"What?"
Gu Zhengchen quickly removed the gunpowder balls, threw them into the wooden box and looked at Chen Youcai.
Seeing Gu Zhengchen's angry face, Chen Youcai explained: "What, the urine is not suitable. After discussing it, we tried soybean oil, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, egg white, low-alcohol wine, and spirits, and found that egg white It’s appropriate, it’s made from egg white mixed with three herbs..."
"Egg white?"
Gu Zhengchen wanted to beat up Chen Youcai: "You are not beating eggs, you are talking nonsense! Do you know that ordinary people are reluctant to eat eggs? Do you know that there are not many eggs in Jurong? Do you know that eggs How expensive is it?”
If this game continues, even if Jurong runs a breeding farm, it will not be able to supply gunpowder, and Gu Zhengchen will probably be defeated...
"I just said egg whites wouldn't work."
Tao Chengdao said with a smile, and then looked at Gu Zhengchen: "There are only two methods now, either using a small amount of water or using spirits. If water is used, there are some problems with the granular gunpowder prepared. Not only is drying in the shade slow, but the manufacturing process is also complicated. It’s a bit troublesome. If you use strong alcohol, it’s easier to dry the gunpowder in the shade, but I still feel that there are still some problems, and further attempts are needed.”
Gu Zhengchen thought for a while and said: "Then let's test it. If the strong liquor is not enough, try it with alcohol. Zhao Hailou, bring two jars of alcohol."
Zhao Hailou was very reluctant to give up. This was a precious lump gifted by the imperial court, which could heal the sergeant's injuries.
But for the sake of this gunpowder, I had to give it up.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Tao Chengdao, Chen Youcai and others: "In fact, you have found the right direction. The most urgent task now is to find a way to determine the research route and standards. In addition, granular gunpowder requires small particles. Don’t make it the size of a soybean.”
"clear."
Chen Youcai, Cui Yu and other craftsmen from the bottom fire department agreed.
Tao Chengdao encouraged everyone: "Since the direction is right, all that is left is to test again and again. During this period, everyone has become accustomed to testing, and it doesn't hurt to test for a while longer."
Gu Zhengchen was even more generous: "Once the granular gunpowder is made, all the craftsmen in the Primer Fire Department will receive the money!"
The craftsmen were so excited and motivated that they bowed and left one after another, turning to new tests.
Tao Chengdao followed Gu Zhengchen and reported, "You are right. Not only is granular gunpowder feasible, it will even replace powdered gunpowder in the future."
“Technological iteration requires advanced technology to replace backwardness.”
Gu Zhengchen looked at Tao Chengdao who didn't understand, and said calmly: "When granular gunpowder is successful, you will find that firearms have great potential. Wanhu, you will be the pioneers of firearms and will be left in the annals of history."
Tao Chengdao felt hot in his heart.
Stay in history?
Everyone knows how much this is something that is desirable but unattainable. It will be left in the annals of history and will last forever.
Gu Zhengchen didn't stay at the Yuanhuo Bureau for long. Since they had found the door, let them kick open the door themselves.
The Jurong Guard's sergeants are training crazily, and everyone hopes to get a reward.
Besides, who among the soldiers is afraid of whom, and who is willing to lose to whom?
Dry!
Train, train harder, don’t believe you can’t win!
What Gu Zhengchen wants is this kind of training, this kind of improvement.
The Jurong Guard sergeants came from Jinling. Their mission was to protect Minghe Mountain and the Far Fire Bureau. After the successful development of future firearms, Gu Zhengchen would inevitably need to hand over the Far Fire Bureau to Zhu Yuanzhang.
This also means that the Yuanhuo Bureau will return to Jinling in the future and will be under the direct control of the imperial court rather than local control. Correspondingly, Jurong Guard has lost the meaning of its existence and will be transferred back to Jinling.
As the first to come into contact with advanced firearms and participate in the testing and improvement of advanced firearms, the Jurong Guard sergeants are likely to follow the army in the northern expedition.
Gu Zhengchen did not want these people to die on the battlefield due to lack of training, so he set up rewards to guide the sergeants to strengthen their training.
So far, this goal has been achieved.
The sergeants worked together and devoted themselves to training.
Wang Liang was somewhat depressed. He looked at Gu Zhengchen eagerly and almost asked, "When will you take me out to fight?"
Gu Zhengchen patted Wang Liang on the shoulder: "There are many big battles to be fought in the future, so don't rush."
Wang Liangneng is not in a hurry. He was originally on the same level as Zhao Hailou, but now he is a superior. He has not moved yet, just because he followed you to Nansha and killed a group of pirates...
"Let's do this. If you can lead your team to defeat Zhao Hailou's team six times, I will write a document to recommend you to the court."
Gu Zhengchen took a strong dose of medicine.
Wang Liang's eyes lit up and he looked at Zhao Hailou with evil intentions.
Zhao Hailou took a deep breath and said to Gu Zhengchen quickly: "Isn't this appropriate? I have to deal with all the matters in the guard camp on weekdays, and I don't have time to train..."
"That's your business."
Gu Zhengchen irresponsibly dropped a word, got on his horse, and shouted to the generals and sergeants around him: "You are the guards of the Ming Dynasty. You must always remember these twelve words: Come when you are called, and you will be able to come." Fight, and if you fight, you will win!”
Crack the whip and urge the horse.
The sergeant looked at Gu Zhengchen's retreating back, his eyes full of respect.
Wang Liang withdrew his gaze, punched his chest with his fist, and looked at Zhao Hailou with a grin: "Zhao Zhenfu, it seems I am going to admit it!"
Zhao Hailou was not afraid: "Wang Liang, you have lost to me more than once. Don't lose face again if you lose again."
Zhang Pei felt that Gu Zhengchen was in a good mood and even rode the horse faster than when he came.
Before returning to the county seat, the government official Han Qiang met Gu Zhengchen at the city gate and shouted quickly: "Your Majesty, please return to the county government office quickly. Marquis Jinghai is here."
"Wu Zhen?"
Gu Zhengchen was a little shocked.
Wu Zhen, the Marquis of Jinghai, had completed the military operation to exterminate the pirates. He should have gone directly back to Jinling to report the details to Lao Zhu. Why did he take a detour and come to the Jurong County Yamen?
