Gongsun Lu and other officials of the secret service walked in front on horseback or chariot, Zhao Yunze and Su Dingfang walked in the middle, and Li Shimin, Empress Changsun, and Princess Jiujiang walked at the end surrounded by guards.The group went around from the south gate of Taiji Palace to the northwest.Out of Chang'an City, a city gate next to the Taiji Palace, Anding Gate, a group of people went north for only a while, crossed the Wei River, and went west along the north bank of the Wei River.Princess Jiujiang stared at Zhao Yunze's back, her eyes were extremely complicated.She was a little excited, and a little melancholy, and no one knew what she was thinking at the moment.They traveled about thirty miles west and came to a deserted beach by the river.The barren beach was huge, the size of a football field.The barren beach is all sandy, but the surface is also covered with a small amount of vegetation.The carriage carrying the hot air balloon came to a halt in the middle of the deserted beach.And they all stopped."
Your Majesty, this is the testing ground for the hot air balloon release at the Research Facility."
Gongsun Lu dismounted and reported to Li Shimin.Li Shimin, Zhao Yunze, Su Dingfang, Empress Changsun, and Princess Jiujiang immediately dismounted.Those guards consciously rode their horses and scattered around to be on guard.At this time, it was more than five o'clock in the later life.In summer, the daylight hours are long, and it is still early before dark.The heat has dissipated somewhat, and there is a cool breeze blowing by the river, which makes people feel more comfortable."
Then let's start flying."
Li Shimin said to Gongsun Lu."
Obey the order" Gongsun Lu ordered people to unload the things on the carriage.The man at the Grinder unfurls the balloon and spreads it on the ground.Li Shimin and the others looked at the hot air balloon curiously.Once deployed, the balloon occupies an area larger than a basketball court."
It's so big," Li Shimin said in surprise.Zhao Yunze said: "Your Majesty, this hot air balloon made by the Research Department is used to carry people, and it is not good if it is small. ”"Is it safe?"
asked Li Shimin again.Gongsun Lu said: "We have released this finished product five times, and it is very safe." ”"Let's get started."
Li Shimin said.The four officials of the Instrument Research Division put up the hanging basket, and the stove in the hanging basket was lit.Four passengers tugged at the bottom of the hot air balloon and covered it over the stove.As the fire became more and more vigorous, the silk cloth that was originally spread on the ground slowly swelled.It's like it's slowly inflating."
It's big, it's big," Princess Jiujiang shouted excitedly.Zhao Yunze was amused in his heart, this little princess usually looks elegant and elegant, but at this moment, she looks like a little girl.Anyway, I haven't seen her for more than half a year, and it seems to be a little older.Look at the chest, it's all bulging, even if you are wearing wide men's clothes, you can't hide your cough, and you don't look at it.Li Shimin, Empress Changsun, and Su Dingfang also widened their eyes and looked surprised."
What is the principle?"
asked Zhao Yunze.Zhao Yunze thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty can know Kong Ming Lantern" "Oh, I see.The so-called hot air balloon is an enlarged Kong Ming lantern," Li Shimin suddenly realized.After speaking, he looked at Zhao Yunze with a whimsical expression, and said: "Kong Ming Lantern has appeared in the late Han Dynasty, but no one has ever thought of making it bigger and taking people to the sky.Peng Yu dared to think and do. ”Zhao Yunze said: "Actually, this is not the minister's idea.Rather, "Your Master's idea." ”Li Shimin answered."
Well, that's exactly what Master Zun came up with."
Zhao Yunze said embarrassedly, "Shizun once said to his ministers before that if the Kong Ming Lantern is made bigger, it should be able to bring people to the sky."
Curious, he came up with this hot air balloon. ”Li Shimin nodded and said, "Although the principle of the hot air balloon is the same as that of the Kong Ming lantern, the shape is very different from the Kong Ming lantern.When I saw the real thing, I thought it was very simple.It is conceivable that Peng Yu would have spent a lot of thought when designing this thing and making it in the research department. ”Zhao Yunze said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding."
It is also true that scientific inventions and creations rarely succeed at one time.Even if it seems like a new thing, the process of designing and making the finished product is extremely complicated.It took four months for the hot air balloon project research team of the R&D Department to be successfully produced. ”At this moment, the hot air balloon had fully inflated, and the gondola slowly left the ground."
Flying" This time, it was the eldest grandson Empress who shouted excitedly.After shouting, she immediately smiled sheepishly.She realized she had lost her temper.Knowing the principle, Li Shimin was not much surprised at this time."
I really should bring the historians here and let them remember this moment" Li Shimin's eyes stared at the hot air balloon that slowly rose into the air, and said with emotion, "From ancient times to the present, people have fantasized about flying into the sky, and now, this dream has come true in Datang" Li Shimin shouted out the last sentence."
Long live my emperor, long live the Tang Dynasty" Zhao Yunze suddenly knelt on the ground and shouted at Li Shimin.Including Empress Changsun, everyone immediately knelt on the ground and repeated Zhao Yunze's words."
Long live my emperor, long live the Tang Dynasty" "Hahahaha, all the secretaries quickly calm down" Li Shimin laughed comfortably.The crowd stood up.They looked at the hot air balloon that had risen into the air.At this time, the hot air balloon has risen to a height of three or four hundred meters.The hot air balloon no longer continues to rise, but drifts north with the direction of the wind."
With the hot air balloon, Peng Yu's paratroopers can play a role on the battlefield without being restricted by the terrain."
Li Shimin looked at the hot air balloon in the air and said."
Yes, with a hot air balloon, it is possible to carry out vertical strikes, not only to parachute, but also to carry out air-dropped thunderbolt attacks on ground targets."
Zhao Yunze said."
In this way, my Datang army will have another sharp weapon."
Li Shimin said excitedly.Zhao Yunze poured cold water and said: "This hot air balloon is not omnipotent, it is affected by the wind and wind direction, and sometimes it is difficult to come in handy." ”Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "How can there be anything perfect in the world, Peng Yu should not be nitpicky." ”Why did you comfort me, "Don't fly too far, let them land." ”Li Shimin saw that the hot air balloon had floated across the Wei River, and hurriedly said."
By the way, how did they land" Zhao Yunze said: "There are sandbags tied with ropes in that hanging basket.Put the sandbag down and the hot air balloon will be able to land slowly. ”Li Shimin thought for a while and said, "This principle should be similar to that of a scale," "Your Majesty Shengming, this is exactly the principle." ”Zhao Yunze nodded and said, "The longer the rope tied to the sandbag, the greater the falling force generated, and the hot air balloon can land." ”After speaking, Zhao Yunze nodded at Gongsun Lu.Gongsun Lu took out a relatively thin bamboo rocket and said to Empress Changsun and Princess Jiujiang: "Queen Mother, Your Royal Highness Princess, this thing is very loud, please pay attention." ”Zhao Yunze glanced at Gongsun Lu appreciatively, this person is worthy of being good at making weapons, and he is very careful.Gongsun Lu ignited the bamboo rocket.The rocket made a "bang" sound, and a red ball of paper exploded in the air.Then, everyone saw four sandbags thrown out of the hanging basket under the hot air balloon in the distance.The rope tied to the sandbag became longer and longer, and the hot air balloon began to descend slowly
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