Yu Wenhao went to Emperor Ming Yuan and asked about gunpowder weapons. Emperor Ming Yuan didn't know about it, and even the Supreme Emperor never told him.
Taifu Wei came and asked if there had been any records, but Taifu Wei said that he had never recorded the use of gunpowder weapons in any war. Taifu Wei was hesitant when he spoke, and he obviously knew some inside information.
"However, the Supreme Emperor said that it was only used once and was banned by Master Hui Zong. Father, although these weapons cannot be compared with the chariots developed by Dazhou, they are also very useful. My son suggested that the Ministry of War can
Continue research and development.”
Yu Wenhao said.
Emperor Ming Yuan hesitated, "Since Mr. Hui Zong has issued a strict edict to ban these weapons, I don't feel comfortable disobeying his last decree."
Yu Wenhao was anxious, "Father, now we buy Da Zhou's chariots, which are also very lethal. We will also use them on the battlefield. Why can we buy other people's chariots but can't develop them ourselves?
At this time and that time, during Hui Zongye's time, Prince Anfeng was guarding the border, and barbarians from all directions did not dare to invade, but now the Northern Desert is watching with eager eyes and wolves are ambitious, so we must be on guard."
Emperor Ming Yuan thought for a while, "What did your grandfather say about this?"
"The old man said he didn't object, but he didn't approve either."
Emperor Ming Yuan was silent for a moment, "He didn't make this decree, so I can't make the decision."
In other words, he was not willing to be someone who disobeyed Mr. Hui Zong's will.
Yu Wenhao sighed, "Father, please think about it. There is no need to tell the world about this matter. The Ministry of War can just develop it privately. When it is developed, whether it will be used or not is a matter for later."
Emperor Ming Yuan said: "Master Hui Zong banned it because he probably didn't want the Northern Tang Dynasty to fall into a militaristic situation, and his worries were justified. Too much killing would always bring disaster to the country. Now there are already rumors among the people. If
The news of the development of weapons spread out, fearing that there will be another chaos. Of course, Beimo and Hong Lie teamed up to deal with Dazhou because Dazhou was developing chariots. They were afraid that Dazhou would grow stronger and threaten them. If Dazhou did not have Chen Jingting,
Even if I’m afraid, I can’t hold on.”
Yu Wenhao said: "Father, that's what I said, but who dares to insult Zhou Dazhou today?
There are crises, but there are opportunities only when there is danger. If we in the Northern Tang Dynasty want to become a powerful country, we must develop weapons and equipment. The Great Zhou Dynasty will not always be on good terms with the Northern Tang Dynasty. We must think about the future of the Northern Tang Dynasty. We will not invade.
But we must have strong defenses."
Emperor Ming Yuan said: "If you want to defend yourself, then build a city wall. Wouldn't it be more effective?"
Yu Wenhao was full of enthusiasm and was defeated by Emperor Ming Yuan's words. He knew that his father was afraid that Bei Mo would invade if he learned about the weapons developed, but now war may actually be triggered. If this war is really going to be fought, then let's fight it.
He knew that it would be difficult to persuade his father at the moment, so he had to find another way.
After leaving the palace and returning home, with a melancholy look on his face, Yuan Qingling knew that he had hit a wall and asked, "How is it?"
"These weapons were indeed used on the battlefield, but Hui Zong later issued an order to ban them, and they were not allowed to be recorded by historians. I don't know why. The imperial grandfather only said that the killing was excessive and he was banned by Hui Zong. But I think it should be
There is another reason, otherwise, why is it not recorded in the annals of history?"
"The elderly generals in the court should know, right?"
Yuan Qing Lingdao.
Yu Wenhao's heart moved, and he immediately ordered to go to Yuan Mansion to ask Mrs. Dingguo to come over.
Mrs. Dingguo knew that there must be something important when the prince summoned her, so she didn't waste any time and came right away.
When she heard Yu Wenhao talking about gunpowder weapons, she was startled, "There are any more in the Ministry of War?"
"Yes, does Mrs. Dingguo know how to use those weapons?"
Yu Wenhao asked.
Mrs. Dingguo's eyes slowly filled with life, and she was excited, "There are still more?"
Aren’t they all destroyed?”
"There are some in the cellar, but not many anymore."
Yu Wenhao said.
Mrs. Dingguo slowly put down her crutches, her eyes were distant, and her excitement became more and more obvious, "Back then, these weapons were indeed used on the battlefield. Our army of 10,000 people defeated the enemy's army of 100,000 people. I was lucky enough to participate.
This battle is like a thunderous battle. You can never imagine how our ten thousand sergeants fought against a million-strong army!"
"Then why was it banned again later?"
Yuan Qingling asked.
Mrs. Dingguo said: "In that battle, 50,000 enemies were killed and 10,000 were captured. On the battlefield, rivers of blood flowed and corpses were piled up like mountains. After returning from the victory, we were accused by the literati of the Northern Tang Dynasty of being bloodthirsty and poisonous.
, even the women, children and old people of the enemy were not spared. It happened that that year, there was a serious flood in the Northern Tang Dynasty, which submerged several towns and displaced the people. The literati said that it was the cruel fault of the military generals that caused the natural disaster."
Yuan Qingling's heart skipped a beat, "Wouldn't it happen that several members of the royal family were pregnant that year?"
Mrs. Dingguo was surprised, "How does the Crown Princess know?"
Yu Wenhao and his wife looked at each other and understood immediately that the so-called spring bloomed in the royal family, floods in the Huaijiang River were about to break out, and the people were displaced. In fact, it implied that the disaster back then was due to the immorality of the royal family and it is the same as it is now.
Someone is deliberately trying to create the same rumor trend as before.
Yu Wenhao thought to himself that his father probably knew these things, but because of Hui Zongye's decree, he could not mention them as a future emperor. Because of this, he opposed the manufacture of weapons, fearing that this flood would point to the royal family's recklessness.
road.
No wonder I feel that when Taifu Wei made a statement without recording it, he was a little hesitant and hesitated to speak.
"Then how did Mr. Hui Zong calm down the matter back then?"
Yu Wenhao asked.
Mrs. Dingguo said: "Back then, Emperor Huizong had not yet ascended the throne, but Emperor Xian was on the throne. Many people in the court criticized the generals and even forced Emperor Huizong to kill Prince Anfeng and his wife to appease the anger of heaven."
Yu Wenhao said angrily: "You have made great achievements in war, but you are in danger of being beheaded?
Isn’t it ridiculous?”
"Yes, but fortunately, Emperor Xian did not do as he was told. He even generously rewarded the generals and soldiers who had made meritorious service in the battle, calmed public opinion, and controlled floods. Prince Anfeng became the most popular grandson in the court."
Yu Wenhao breathed a sigh of relief, but then he was puzzled, "Since Emperor Xian did not deal with Prince Anfeng and did not ban gunpowder weapons, why did Emperor Hui prohibit it after he ascended the throne?"
Mrs. Dingguo lowered her voice, "There is a saying that is really disrespectful to me, but it is the truth. After Mr. Hui Zong came to the throne, the Huaijiang River was seriously flooded. Someone in the court used this war to say, Mr. Hui Zong
Unable to withstand the pressure, he still ordered the weapons to be burned. Master Hui Zong is never as tough as Master Xian."
Although Mrs. Dingguo's words were somewhat disrespectful, Yu Wenhao believed that they were true.
Mrs. Dingguo said: "When the prince took over the Ministry of War, there were rumors about those flying rocks. It seems that someone knew that the prince would discover the weapons in these warehouses, so they spread the rumors in advance because they were afraid that the prince would continue to develop these weapons."
"Madam, who do you think is deliberately obstructing it?"
Yu Wenhao asked.
Mrs. Dingguo thought for a while, "Back then, Chu Huan, the father of Chu Shoufu, was a minister, and he colluded with the Qin family in the Northern Desert together with Prince Yu. Prince Yu was killed by the Manchus, but he also leaked a lot of information to the Northern Desert.
The Mo Qin family knows that the Qin family will always keep an eye on these weapons, so it is very likely that the people from the Northern Desert are causing trouble."