When Han Xiao and Han Xiao were distressed about not being able to get what they wanted, a violent explosion suddenly came from outside. The sound was like thunder, shaking the earth and the earth, one after another. Even the tables and chairs in the room seemed to shake a little.
Both of them were shocked, Xiao Talin said: "What's going on? Could it be an earthquake?"
"It doesn't look like it!" Han Derang glanced around and pointed his finger: "Go out and have a look!"
After saying that, the two of them quickly walked out to make observations. They were not the only ones to be alarmed. The whole hotel was filled with people. People were peeping around, looking around, and looking at each other, obviously not knowing what was going on.
Han Derang and Xiao Talin hurriedly climbed up to a viewing pavilion in the museum and looked up. The sound came from the northeast, about two miles away. The explosions continued, one after another, each explosion was like
It was like a thunderbolt falling from heaven.
The fire was soaring into the sky, almost reflecting the entire night sky red, thick smoke was billowing, and the fire was spreading. Although it was difficult to see clearly, the chaos inside was visible to the naked eye, and the faint wailing in the distance was also frightening.
"This, the big man has committed some kind of divine punishment, and God has sent this disaster." Looking at the movement and momentum in the distance, Xiao Taolin couldn't help but sigh.
Handerang was also in a trance, his eyes reflected the shadow of flying tongues of fire, and said: "It must be their gunpowder magazine that exploded!"
In the years of fighting against the Han army, the Khitans were somewhat familiar with the various sharp weapons of the Han army, such as those gunpowder weapons. Xiao Taolin also had some contact with this. The reason why he said that was somewhat gloating.
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Although the Concierge Hotel was far away, with the force of the explosion and the spread of the fire, it might not be safe. After reacting, the envoys and guests in the hotel could not help but become restless.
Several officials from the Concierge Hotel also hurriedly appeared at this time, leading their servants to maintain order, appease the envoys, and at the same time sent people to understand the situation. In the panic and busyness, Han Derang shook his head and said softly: "Let's go, let's go first.
Go back to your room and don't cause trouble for them!"
When going downstairs, Han Derang paused and smiled bitterly again: "Look at the explosion and fire, I don't know how many houses were burned down, and I don't know how many people died. It will be a sleepless night tonight. How can the Han court take care of this urgent matter?"
us."
"Prime Minister Han, in my opinion, it's better to go back to China!" Hearing this, Xiao Taolin was a little angry: "The Han court has no intention of accepting sincerity, so what's the point of us waiting here? What's more, you
If you stay away from Mobei for a long time, there is no guarantee that something unexpected will happen!"
Handerang frowned, and thought of the opposition in the upper echelons of the Khitan in Mobei, the nobles who were always trying to pull him down, and a faint worry was evoked.
Shaking his head slightly, Handerang said soberly: "This trip to the south to make peace is actually about surrendering and asking for peace. It is my proposal. Even most of the nobles in Mobei agree, but if we return without success, we will inevitably give others excuses.
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In Mobei, with Privy Envoy Yelu in charge of the overall situation, there should be no major problems, so you and I can rest assured. On the contrary, at this moment, we must not leave Kaifeng!"
"Why?" Xiao Talin asked.
Handerang pointed in the direction of the explosion and said seriously: "We still don't know the cause of this incident. Whether it was an accident or someone deliberately caused the disaster, we still need to investigate. If we leave in a hurry, won't we attract suspicion?"
Xiao Talin was slightly startled, then quickly became serious, and responded: "What Prime Minister Han said is true. If he is involved, even if it is justified, it will be difficult to explain clearly, and his life may even be at risk!"
Handerang nodded and ordered: "Let the entourage stay in the hotel safely and not go out!"
"yes!"
As Han Derang guessed, the accident occurred in the gunpowder depot in the city. It was located in Yanqingfang in the southeast of Luocheng. It was originally a gunpowder factory of the Ordnance Supervision and was also the largest gunpowder factory in the city.
In recent years, with the large-scale use of gunpowder in military, engineering and other aspects, the imperial court also invested heavily in expanding production. As the scale increased, problems such as its management and storage also followed, especially safety issues.
The gunpowder workshop is a highly confidential military unit. It was built in the imperial city just to keep it secret. But later, this matter aroused the worries and concerns of many courtiers in the court. It was a dangerous thing. Living in Luo City
Most of them are powerful people, so how can we let the powerful people associate with them, especially the people in Yanqingfang?
Last year, someone suggested that the gunpowder workshop should be moved out of Luocheng, to an outer city, or even outside of Tokyo. After some detailed discussions, the report was submitted. At the suggestion of Prince Liu Yang, Emperor Liu also agreed. After all, the workshop
It's really unreasonable to open in the city center.
The matter of the relocation of the gunpowder factories has been decided. Not only that, some various workshops originally built in the inner city have also been relocated one after another. Before the explosion, basically all the gunpowder factories in Yanqingfang had been moved out, leaving only
The next few gunpowder magazines have not been cleaned yet.
However, it was at this final moment that something went wrong. The cause of the explosion still needs to be investigated, but the top priority is to rescue the disaster as soon as possible, put out the fire, and restore order.
Yanqingfang has become a sea of fire. The disaster came so suddenly that no one was prepared. Even though isolation protection was set up outside the gunpowder magazine, it could not stop the exploding fire dragons.
The officials and people who lived in the area all fled in a hurry. Those who reacted slowly were basically harmed by the flames and smoke. Those who successfully escaped were shocked and rejoiced, but they couldn't help but watch their houses and property being devoured.
In Yanqingfang, the fire almost became a purgatory, and even had a tendency to spread towards Yankangfang in the north. Fortunately, it was stopped by the patrolmen who rushed to the rescue and some soldiers and civilians who spontaneously put out the fire. Tokyo government officers and soldiers were in many places.
His response to things was a little slow, but in the face of such a big change, he was extremely efficient.
There is no other way. When such a big thing happens, it is the most cost-effective and necessary thing to ignore the accountability afterwards and actively perform meritorious service. A large number of patrol soldiers are putting out the fire. Under such a fire, the fire-fighting water is always available in the workshop.
The cylinder doesn't work at all.
Soon, military-specific water bladders were transferred, and buckets of river water were moved to the front line, which was not far from Bianshui River. They could be transferred nearby, which saved some time.
Inspection envoy Zhang Yongde personally went to the fire-fighting front line to focus on fire fighting and disaster relief. With the quick and powerful response of the inspection troops, the spreading fire in Yanqingfang was finally controlled.
In fact, the houses along the street have been pushed inward, and the fire is constantly suppressed. Zhang Yongde walked along and saw that the houses were burned more or less, but it was obvious that if they were not extinguished in time, the entire Yanqing city would be destroyed.
It is inevitable that the village will be destroyed.
Inside the workshop, fireworks lit up the sky, and a large number of patrol soldiers set up ladders and used water bags to douse the burning houses. Seeing such a scene, Zhang Yongde looked particularly serious and did not talk much, but he opened his mouth to mobilize for disaster relief.
Liu Jichang, the prefect of Kaifeng, took action as soon as he received the news and sent out officers to help put out the fire. He also ordered people to prepare water, sand and tools for fighting the fire.
When Liu Jichang arrived at Yanqingfang, he was too late. He glanced around and noticed Zhang Yongde standing on the "front line" and hurriedly ran up: "Inspector Zhang, how is the situation?"
After looking at him, Zhang Yongde pointed his hand and replied: "The fire on the outside has basically been controlled, and it is gradually being cleared inward!"
Hearing this, Liu Jichang couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief and asked: "Do you know what caused it? How many soldiers and civilians were injured or killed?"
Zhang Yongde spread his hands and said with a wry smile: "I don't know yet. However, it should be related to the gunpowder depot!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Jichang's expression immediately turned bitter. The poison in the air made him sweat profusely. Liu Jichang was wailing in his heart, feeling that he was having bad luck.
The food price crisis in Tokyo had just passed, and public sentiment had calmed down a bit. The former prince went on a tour and found the market was in chaos. He also worked hard to rectify the situation and even cut a part of the small business tax to the Financial Secretary, and he barely managed to pass.
The matter has not completely subsided, and such a big explosion and fire occurred again. If it were the civilians in the outer city, it would be fine. Although the residents in Yanqingfang are not high-ranking households, they are also among the powerful, and they have some influence.
If the losses were large and there were many casualties, how could he, the governor of Kaifeng, get a better deal? Even without assuming, the scene of the fire could be seen intuitively. Liu Jichang could almost be sure that this level
Not having a good time.
"I have brought some manpower and tools, all of which are at the disposal of Inspector Zhang. Please put out the fire quickly and save lives!" Liu Jichang calmed down and said to Zhang Yongde.
Zhang Yongde was not polite, nodded, and made arrangements immediately. The crying and howling continued, and Liu Jichang glanced at some of the Yanqing residents who had escaped. They were all crying and struggling, and they were in a state of embarrassment.
Liu Jichang couldn't help but lament again: How can I explain this to His Majesty?