After walking out of Qingyun Temple, Wei Chigong quietly asked Zhao Yunze: "What are you doing with so many things for alchemy" Zhao Yunze replied: "I am going to use these things to make a new weapon, if it is successful, it will be beneficial for the raid." ”"What a new weapon", "black powder", "what is black powder?"
"I can't tell you yet, but when I make the real thing, you'll know when I see it." ”Zhao Yunze said mysteriously.Back in the barracks, Wei Chigong immediately issued one military order after another, and the craftsmen in the army were mobilized overnight, some sewed parachutes under the leadership of Yan Liben, some built equipment for attacking the city, and some were assigned to Zhao Yunze for arrangement.Zhao Yunze ordered people to drive the carriage, and after going to Qingyunguan to retrieve charcoal, saltpeter, and sulfur, he asked Wei Chigong to vacate a military tent for him, and asked Yan Liben for some materials, and he took a few craftsmen to rush into the camp and get busy.Black powder is the simplest and most primitive type of gunpowder, which was inadvertently invented by Taoist priests who made alchemy in ancient times.In Chinese history, the earliest appearance in historical records was in the late Tang Dynasty, before which black powder may have appeared, but since it is not recorded in historical sources, it is not widely known at that time.The formula for the optimal ratio of black powder is not a secret in later generations, and many ordinary people know it.Zhao Yunze, as an officer with a professional background, naturally knows how to make black powder.After a busy hour, Zhao Yunze reported to Wei Chi Gong that the new weapon had been made, and asked Yu Chi Gong to check it.With curiosity, Wei Chigong followed Zhao Yunze into the tent.Looking at a few small clay pots on the ground, Wei Chigong was surprised."
This is the new weapon you are talking about" Zhao Yunze nodded: "These small clay pots contain black powder, which I call a thunderbolt."
These are just samples, and the power has not been tested yet. ”Wei Chigong said disdainfully: "Just a few small cans, what power can they have" Zhao Yunze said: "Whether it has power or not, try it and you will know." ”"Then listen to you, try" Zhao Yunze asked Yu Chigong's personal soldiers to carry a few arrow targets, and went out of the barracks with Yu Chigong again.Finding an open place, Zhao Yunze arranged for his soldiers to arrange the arrow targets two or three meters apart.Then let Wei Chigong and his soldiers back back and make enough space.He himself withdrew twenty or thirty meters from the target.Asking for a torch from his own soldiers, Zhao Yunze lit the fuse left on the mouth of the clay pot, and immediately threw the clay pot at the location of the arrow target.A white fire flashed, and at the same time, there was a loud "boom", and the clay pot exploded.Wei Chigong and those pro-soldiers were taken aback."
Good boy, such a big movement, it's like thunder."
Wei Chigong sighed.Zhao Yunze ignored the shocked Wei Chigong, and immediately ran to the explosion to observe the effect.Wei Chigong also reacted, and hurriedly followed Zhao Yunze and ran over.Two of the four targets were hit directly by gunpowder and burst into flames.The two targets that did not burn were also filled with iron nails and fragments of clay pots.Those iron nails were deliberately added by Zhao Yunze in order to increase the lethality of the clay pot after it exploded.Wei Chigong carefully observed the arrow targets and said, "This thing is not small, but this power is not very big."
These arrows are all made of straw, and these iron nails and fragments cannot penetrate them, and if they are replaced by soldiers in armor, I am afraid that they will not hurt anyone in the slightest. ”Zhao Yunze was very disappointed that the samples he had worked so hard to make couldn't even blow up the target.It seems that those who have passed through to fool people, although this black powder is good, it is not just by mastering the formula ratio to show its might.After thinking about it, Zhao Yunze said: "There is no problem with the formula ratio of black powder, the reason why the power is so small should be due to the purity of saltpeter and sulfur, if it is purified, the power will definitely increase greatly." ”Wei Chigong waved his hand and said: "I'll talk about the matter of purification later, with this thing, it is enough to scare the horse, not only has the movement like thunder, but also can set fire with it, which is much stronger than a torch." ”Zhao Yunze couldn't cry or laugh, and he dared to make it himself, which was a stronger than a torch.Wei Chigong suddenly said with a serious face: "Although a certain family said that the power of this thing is too small, I can also see that if this thing is improved according to what you said, it will definitely be a big killing weapon, and if it is used well, maybe the way of fighting in the future will change."
The method of making this thing must not be revealed. ”is worthy of being a battle-hardened general, and he can see the epoch-making significance of black powder at a glance.Zhao Yunze said solemnly: "Don't worry, I understand the value of this thing."
When I made these samples, I knew the proportions of the recipe myself, and I only arranged for the craftsmen to do some chores. ”Wei Chigong nodded, and said: "Yan Liben's kid is good at the way of crafting, and he is a person from the Yuan Tiance General's Mansion, Your Majesty and our old brothers trust him enough, if you want to improve this thing, you can ask him for help." ”Zhao Yunze nodded in response.The so-called Tiance General's Mansion is the government office before Li Shimin became emperor.The people who came out there naturally won Li Shimin's trust.Wei Chigong said: "If you want to improve, it will be after the battle."
Tonight, you have to prepare more of this, I plan to attack Dazhai tomorrow night. ”Zhao Yunze was taken aback and said, "Chief, it's no problem to make this thing, but those soldiers who are used for parachute raids haven't been trained yet." ”Wei Chigong patted Zhao Yunze on the shoulder and said, "It's too late to train carefully, as soon as it dawns tomorrow, you will quickly select soldiers and train them in a day."
As for whether they can learn the parachuting technique you mentioned, it depends on their creation. ”Zhao Yunze nodded with a heavy heart.War never starts when you are fully prepared, and now, you can only catch ducks on the shelves.After returning to the barracks, Zhao Yunze led those craftsmen to make hundreds of "thunderbolts" in one go, until all the materials transported back from Qingyunguan were used up, and Zhao Yunze rested.At dawn the next day, Wei Chigong summoned the soldiers in each battalion who were short in stature and at the same time had extraordinary martial arts according to Zhao Yunze's request.The reason why short soldiers are used is also to reduce the weight of the parachute and increase the safety factor of parachuting as much as possible.Zhao Yunze picked out two hundred of these soldiers.These people are not the final number of people who participate in the raid, and after training, another half of them will be eliminated according to the training performance of each of them.Standing in front of the two hundred trainees, Zhao Yunze said: "Everyone, the reason why I singled you out is to ask you to perform an important task.This mission is extremely dangerous, and those who participate in the mission are likely to lose their lives.If there is anyone who is afraid of death, you can withdraw now, and the chief manager and I will not pursue it. ”Two hundred figures of not tall stature stood tall, and not one of them withdrew."
Very good, you are all heroes," Zhao Yunze nodded with satisfaction, "Now, listen to my orders."
Goal, Qingyun View, Out of the Camp":