Yang Wenguang had just finished digesting Kou Ji's words when he heard that Kou Ji had made a very firm decision on the matter.
Yang Wenguang sighed and said sadly: "No one will die, right? Those people in the equipment workshop are all treasures no matter what."
Kou Ji said calmly: "Of course I know how valuable those people are, so I plan to explode at night. After they go back and sleep at night, I will transfer all the guards guarding the equipment workshop."
Yang Wenguang smiled bitterly and said: "That's very good. Now that you have made up your mind, what do you need us to do?"
Kou Ji said bluntly: "Restrain the imperial army, restrain the people of the Five Cities Military and Horse Division, and tell them not to panic."
Yang Wenguang and Di Qing nodded simultaneously.
"I understand..."
After Yang Wenguang and Di Qing accepted the matter, they left the Zhuyuan.
After Yang Wenguang and Di Qing left, Kou Ji sent for Liu Heng.
Kou Ji ordered Liu Heng to blow up the equipment workshop.
Liu Heng is very familiar with equipment workshops.
He knew where to blow up the equipment workshop so that it would make a big fuss but not hurt anyone.
After Kou Ji gave Liu Heng's orders, Liu Heng led his people and left the bamboo courtyard.
Kou Ji sent someone with a handwritten letter to dispatch the guards guarding the equipment workshop.
The guards around the equipment workshop only obeyed orders from Kou Ji and Zhao Zhen, and orders from the Privy Council did not matter.
Only the handwriting of Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji will work.
After Kou Ji sent the people out, he sat in the study.
I sat there from noon to evening.
I sat there from dusk until midnight.
When the watchman bangs the wooden clapper to announce that the third watch has arrived.
A deafening explosion sounded from outside the city.
The explosion was accompanied by violent earthquakes.
All the vases that Kou Ji placed in the study were knocked to the ground and shattered into pieces.
Even Kou Ji, who was sitting on the seat, was almost shocked and collapsed to the ground.
Kou Ji rushed out of the study and saw the sky full of fire lighting up the entire Bianjing city.
"call!"
A hurricane wave surged into the bamboo courtyard, and Kou Ji was almost blown to the ground.
Screams, shouts, roars, and cries instantly filled the entire Bianjing city.
Gunshots were also faintly heard.
The maids and servants in the bamboo courtyard screamed and fled to the front yard one by one. They were wearing obscene clothes, trembling all over, and their eyes were full of fear.
Xiang Yan put on a coat and stumbled to the yard where the study was located.
After seeing Kou Ji standing in the middle of the courtyard where the study was with his hands behind his back, he rushed over.
"Master, what happened?"
Xiang Yan's voice was trembling.
Kou Ji turned around and said calmly: "It's okay...I'll have people blow up the equipment workshop outside the city."
Xiang Yan's pupils shrank and she said in a deep voice: "Why?"
Kou Ji stared at Xiang Yan and said calmly: "Someone stole gunpowder, muskets, and artillery. I must force them out. Otherwise, they are likely to hold those things on our heads."
Xiang Yan took a deep breath, calmed down her mood, and said in a low voice: "If I are going to do such a big thing next time, it would be better to tell me..."
Kou Ji sighed, "I was the one who was abrupt..."
Xiang Yan nodded, said nothing more, got dressed, and went to appease the maids and servants in the house.
After Xiang Yan left, Kou Ji stood in the yard and listened to the shouts, roars and crying outside the house.
The city of Bianjing was in chaos.
The same is true in the palace.
The concubines were frightened and ran around in the palace wearing obscene clothes. The concubines and eunuchs were also running around in fright.
Empress Cao carried a big gun and hurried to Yanfu Palace with her people.
Concubine He De held a Qingfeng sword and carried her son on her back, and rushed to Yanfu Palace with her guards.
Concubine Zhang Gui, Concubine Zhang Xian, and Concubine Zhou Shu, although they also looked panicked, did not run around. Instead, they quickly approached Yanfu Palace with the prince and princess.
When they arrived at Yanfu Palace, they saw that the imperial guards had surrounded Yanfu Palace.
Zhao Zhen stood at the entrance of Yanfu Palace, looking calmly outside the city.
Zhao Run stood next to Zhao Zhen with a pale face, and there was a trace of blood on his forehead.
Just now, he had closed his eyes and was dozing off. There was a loud noise and violent shaking, causing him to plunge into the incense table in front of the mourning hall and hit his forehead.
Chen Lin was nervously re-defending the palace.
And they kept sending eunuchs out to find out the news.
After Empress Cao arrived at the gate of Yanfu Palace with a big gun, she was stopped outside by the imperial guards.
Seeing that Zhao Zhen and Zhao Run were fine, Queen Cao dropped the big gun.
"Concubine, please see me..."
Zhao Zhen saw the heroic appearance of Queen Cao, and couldn't help but recall the way Queen Cao killed the rebellious guards in the palace in the past when the Eight Kings were in rebellion.
Zhao Zhen felt a lot softer.
"The queen was frightened..."
"I'm fine with you, my concubine..."
Zhao Zhen waved his hand and asked someone to let Queen Cao into Yanfu Palace.
Then Concubine He De, Concubine Zhang Guifei, Concubine Zhang Xian, and Concubine Zhou Shu arrived one after another.
Empress Cao stood at the highest point of Yanfu Palace, looked carefully at the place outside the city that was still glowing with fire, and her pupils shrank slightly.
"Is it an equipment workshop?!"
Zhao Zhen nodded calmly.
Seeing this, Queen Cao hurriedly asked: "The officials seem to know who did it?"
Zhao Zhen glanced at Empress Cao and smiled lightly, "The person who treats me best. He spent more than ten years of his hard work for my comfort."
Queen Cao was stunned and said in a deep voice: "Kou Ji?"
Zhao Zhen smiled and nodded.
Queen Cao gritted her teeth and said nothing.
Concubine Zhou Shu was outspoken, "Aren't the officials afraid of getting into trouble if they are so arrogant and indulgent of Kou Ji?"
Zhao Zhen glanced at Concubine Zhou Shu and said quietly: "It's me who spoils him? It's him who spoils me! But it's not enough!"
Zhao Zhen's words left Queen Cao and others confused.
But Zhao Zhen didn't explain much.
Zhao Zhen just stared at the fire outside the city calmly.
Kou Ji was also staring at the fire outside the city in the courtyard, but not long after watching, Liu Heng climbed over the wall and entered the bamboo courtyard, carrying a huge package behind his back.
Then one figure after another jumped in from outside the wall, carrying large packages one after another on their backs.
Kou Ji smiled bitterly when he saw the big package carried by Liu Heng and others.
After Liu Heng dispersed those people, he walked to Kou Ji with the package and said with a low smile: "It's so exciting..."
Kou Ji glanced at the package in Liu Heng's hand, and said in confusion: "So you took advantage of the situation and took some more from the equipment workshop, ready to try again?"
Liu Heng shook his head and said with a smile: "I took these things to save our lives. If someone uses a musket or artillery to attack us, we can fight back."
Kou Jixiao asked: "How much did you take?"
Liu Heng laughed in a low voice and said: "Ten cannons, a thousand guns, hand-thrown bombs, cannonballs, iron bullets, gunpowder, and a hundred boxes. I only brought back some hand-thrown bombs."
The rest of the stuff was put in the bear garden.”
Kou Ji nodded slowly and asked, "How is the situation outside?"
Liu Heng put away the smile on his face and said seriously: "Ruian Town is in chaos. Everyone is fleeing in all directions. The great scholars in Tiansheng Hall are leading people to move books in a panic.
There was also chaos in Bianjing city.
But people from the Inspection Department and Kaifeng Prefecture have rushed to the streets and started to calm the people."
Speaking of this, Liu Heng praised: "The newly elected director of the inspection department is not bad. He knows what he should do without your intervention."
Kou Ji asked again, "Can it hurt people's lives?"
Liu Heng shook his head, "I'm sure there wasn't one there, but there must have been a lot of injuries. After the equipment workshop exploded, the huge earthquake caused me to fall to the ground.
As soon as I stood up, a burst of air knocked me to the ground and rolled me twice before I stopped.
A huge earthquake will definitely hurt people.
In a panic, bumps and bruises are inevitable."
Kou Ji nodded slowly and said: "After this incident is over, I will regard it as the court's mistake. At that time, let the people from the Kaifeng Mansion Yamen pay some compensation to the people."
Liu Heng laughed softly and said: "It's better to send more..."
Kou Ji looked at Liu Heng suspiciously.
Liu Heng said with a smile: "We are leaving anyway, so why not do it to others? I remember that you and I have not received our salary a few times since we became officials. We were either fined or confiscated.
Missed hair.
You are among those who have been fined.
I am one of those who was missed.
Let’s just think of it as giving our salary to the people at once.”
Kou Ji pointed at Liu Heng and said, "What you said makes some sense. The official family seems to be living on a mountain of money now, with so much money in their hands that they can't be counted.
The stage of saving money is over.
Officials should learn to spend money."
When Liu Heng heard this, he smiled.
Kou Ji asked Liu Heng to pack up the grenades and go down to rest.
Then he accompanied Xiang Yan, comforted the maids and servants, and took Xiang Yan down to sleep.
But before Kou Ji could reach the bedroom, Menzi appeared in front of Kou Ji.
"Sir, someone from the palace has been sent to deliver the message. The civil and military officials of the entire dynasty are now gathered in the palace, and the officials are keeping vigil again. The three ministers of the Grand Council of Political Affairs invite you to come into the palace to take charge of the overall situation."
When Kou Ji heard Menzi's words, he sighed inwardly. After comforting Xiang Yan again, he hurriedly left the house.
We rode a carriage all the way to Donghua Gate. Although there were many signs of panic wherever we passed, the order was still good.
It can be seen that the people from the Inspection Department and the Kaifeng Prefecture worked hard to appease the people.
After Kou Ji's carriage arrived at Donghua Gate, someone immediately opened the Donghua Gate.
Kou Ji drove to Chui Gong Hall and got off the carriage.
As soon as they entered the Chui Gong Hall, they saw the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty standing in the hall, discussing in a panic about the explosion outside the city.
After they saw Kou Ji appear, they all threw their hands at Kou Ji.
Kou Ji walked all the way to the middle of the Chui Gong Hall, waved his hands and said, "Comrades, please be patient."
All civil and military officials in the court immediately closed their mouths and waited quietly for Kou Ji's instructions.
Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "My colleagues, I must tell you that the explosion in the equipment workshop outside the city was definitely not an accident. It was someone with evil intentions who deliberately blew up the equipment workshop in order to cause panic."
As soon as these words came out, the faces of civil and military officials in the court changed, and there was a lot of discussion.
Only Yang Wenguang and Di Qing looked embarrassed.
Others don't know why the equipment workshop exploded, but they know it clearly.
Precisely because they knew the inside story, they now felt very embarrassed watching Kou Ji deceive others.
Kou Ji saw the embarrassed expressions of the two of them, but ignored them and said in a deep voice: "There is another thing that I didn't want to tell you, but now that it has happened, I have to tell the truth.
Before that, Chang Xinglong's artillery workshop exploded and a hundred kilograms of gunpowder was lost.
You may not know how powerful one hundred kilograms of gunpowder can be after it explodes.
Then let me describe it to you.
One hundred kilograms of gunpowder, if all exploded, could destroy half of the palace."
When the civil and military officials in the court heard this, their expressions changed completely.
Kou Ji continued: "The thieves not only stole the gunpowder, but also colluded with the soldiers in the army and stole the muskets and artillery issued by the army.
Four hundred guns, three cannons, and one hundred kilograms of artillery can defeat ten thousand infantry armed with swords.
The explosion of the equipment workshop outside the city today was exactly the same as the explosion of Chang Xinglong artillery workshop before.
The thief probably got a lot of firearms from it.
Now, you and I, as officials, sleep on these firearms and on these gunpowders."
The expressions of all the civil and military officials in the court completely changed.
Fan Zhongyan said with a gloomy face: "These thieves must be found as soon as possible, otherwise no one in Bianjing City will be able to live in peace."
Ouyang Xiuxiu said seductively: "Our lives are the second most important thing. We are afraid that thieves will threaten the official family."
Bao Zheng said loudly: "All personnel should be mobilized to investigate strictly."
Tang Jie added: "It would be best to offer a reward for the thief's head."
Zhang Fangping said coldly: "Post notices to intimidate thieves."
"..."
Kou Ji's disciples, each with one sentence, completed what Kou Ji wanted to say.
Kou Ji was very satisfied with this. If one person cannot find out something clearly, the masses should be mobilized to investigate together.
The crowd can always bring you unexpected surprises.
After Fan Zhongyan and others completed their supplements, Kou Ji decisively ordered, "Then we will do as you said. Use all available personnel to investigate this matter strictly.
Find the culprit and get a big reward.
Help the evil leader and you will be implicated."
After Kou Ji gave the order, the civil and military officials from all over the court rushed outside the palace. They wanted to investigate the matter overnight and did not want to waste a moment.
Only Kou Ji, Yang Wenguang, and Di Qing were still in Chui Gong Hall.
Yang Wenguang and Di Qing stared at Kou Ji.
Kou Ji smiled calmly and said, "Don't you go and investigate? If the thieves gang up to resist the law, do you need to deploy troops to suppress them?"
Yang Wenguang sighed, "What a pity..."
Di Qing said in a deep voice: "He's dead!"
Kou Ji and Yang Wenguang's expressions both changed.
Kou Ji asked: "How did you die? But it was due to an explosion?"
Di Qing nodded heavily, "The army horses were frightened and rushed out of the horse pen, trampling to death several stewards in the horse prison. They rushed to the village outside the city and injured many people."
Kou Ji slightly clenched his fists and sighed, "Let's give him a grand burial... Triple the pension... The injured will be handed over to people from Huimin Pharmacy for diagnosis and treatment, and all expenses will be borne by the court."
Yang Wenguang was not as sad as Di Qing and Kou Ji. He pondered for a moment and said bluntly: "I think this is a good thing."
Kou Ji and Di Qing looked at Yang Wenguang in shock.
Yang Wenguang said frankly: "Don't look at me like that. You will know if you think about it carefully. You are going to blow up the equipment workshop. In order to convince myself that I am not heartbroken, I thought about it for a long time and finally found a benefit.
That is, the equipment workshop is located on the edge of Bianjing City, which is a hidden danger after all.
Especially since the number of people in Ruian Town has exceeded 200,000, it is even more of a big hidden danger.
This time we blew up the equipment workshop ourselves, and we could barely control it to the point where it wouldn't hurt anyone.
If the equipment workshop accidentally produces an explosion.
That would be a big problem.
By then, most people in Ruian Town may suffer.
Not to mention Bianjing City."
When Di Qing heard this, a trace of sweat appeared on his forehead, and he said in a deep voice: "Previously, we equipped the new army in Qingtang with firearms and almost emptied the gunpowder and firearms from the equipment workshop.
Almost all the gunpowder and firearms that exploded in the equipment workshop were forged in the past month.
The explosion of gunpowder and firearms forged in the past month is so powerful.
If the gunpowder and firearms that have been stored for two years explode together.
hiss……"
Yang Wenguang said solemnly: "The consequences will be disastrous..."
Kou Ji sighed: "So whether it's people from Ruian Town or people from Bianjing City, they all sleep on a pile of gunpowder."
Yang Wenguang nodded solemnly, "So this explosion was good. The explosion woke us up and made us see this shortcoming. Then we should move the equipment workshop to the mountains or to an isolated island."
Kou Ji smiled bitterly and said: "I just knew that there were not many things in the equipment workshop, so I dared to blow it up. But I didn't consider that its existence is always a hidden danger."
Di Qing sighed and said: "The main reason is that my brother has been managing the equipment workshop for many years, and there has never been any trouble in the equipment workshop. So we all regard it as safe."
Kou Ji shook his head and said: "But I will be leaving soon. I didn't expect that I would leave such a big hidden danger. I was so confident that I turned a blind eye to the hidden dangers right under my nose.
In my hand it is a lamb.
That might not be the case in other people’s hands.”
Kou Ji looked at Di Qing and Yang Wenguang, "You two should discuss this matter and choose a suitable place to build a new equipment workshop in the future."
Yang Wenguang said bluntly: "I think Huashan is good."
The corner of Kou Ji's mouth twitched.
Di Qing said hurriedly: "If something goes wrong in Huashan, the people will fight you tooth and nail. The Taoist priests will fight you tooth and nail. The officials will also blame you."
Kou Ji nodded in agreement, "Huashan Mountain is, after all, the dojo promised to the Sleeping Immortal by Emperor Taizu, so it's best not to disturb it."
Yang Wenguang said dryly: "I just said it casually."
Kou Ji waved his hand and said: "We will discuss this matter later, and quickly send your men to find the person who stole the gunpowder and firearms.
Only by capturing them in one fell swoop can we consider other things.
In addition, the use of firearms in the military must also be strictly controlled.
From now on, firearms must be guarded by dedicated personnel.
I will write the specific provisions into a memorial later and bring them over for discussion with you."
Di Qing and Yang Wenguang looked at each other and nodded together.
After Kou Ji sent Yang Wenguang and Di Qing away, he originally wanted to leave the palace, but after thinking about it, he went to Yanfu Palace to see Zhao Zhen.
After Kou Ji arrived at Yanfu Palace, he found that there were many more guards in Yanfu Palace.
Zhao Zhen's concubines were leaving Yanfu Palace in twos and threes.
Walking at the back were Queen Cao, Concubine He De and others.
They looked at Kou Ji with very strange eyes.
It was so weird that Kou Ji couldn't see what their eyes meant.
Kou Ji showed unprecedented toughness in front of them.
"snort!"
Kou Ji snorted coldly in front of them and left.
Kou Ji's snort seemed to be warning them, but also seemed to be scolding them for not showing appreciation.
After Kou Ji disappeared in front of them, Concubine He De said quietly: "He really doesn't take our sisters seriously anymore."
Concubine Zhou Shu gritted her teeth and said sarcastically: "Who told you that no one is favoring you?"
Empress Cao snorted coldly: "Shut up! It's an iron-clad fact that the officials treat him like a brother. It's an iron-clad fact that he treats the officials like a brother."
The people of the Song Dynasty thought that the success of the Song Dynasty was the result of the hard work of the officials.
But in fact, you all know in your heart.
The Song Dynasty is what it is today, which is entirely due to his single-handed leadership.
As a minister, he was loyal and diligent, and as a brother, he shouldered all the burdens.
He doesn't let anyone down.
On the contrary, our royal family cannot give him the dignity he deserves.
He is the elder brother of the official family and also our elder brother.
We must respect him like an official, instead of secretly slandering him."
Hearing this, Concubine He De and Concubine Zhou Shu frowned.
Concubine Zhang said coldly: "Isn't it true that the Queen has gone back to the humiliation he did to you three days ago?"
Empress Cao said unhurriedly: "That's because after careful consideration, I found that we, the bedfellows of the official family, can do far less good things for the official family than his brother.
We can't compare to others, so we have no right to make irresponsible remarks."
Concubine Zhang gritted her teeth and did not speak again.
Queen Cao snorted coldly and left Yanfu Palace.
Concubine Zhang Xian and others thought about it for a while and then left Yanfu Palace.
Queen Cao's attitude changed so quickly, which was really unexpected.
The words of Queen Cao and others.
Kou Ji didn't know that after arriving at Yanfu Palace, Kou Ji felt that the atmosphere in Yanfu Palace was a bit tense.
Zhao Zhen's hair was messy and his long beard was also messy. He looked like a savage when he was kneeling there.
Zhao Run's condition is similar.
Kou Ji came close to their father and son and looked at them suspiciously.
"Official..."
Zhao Zhen seemed to be in a daze. After hearing Kou Ji's call, he slowly came back to his senses and glanced at Kou Ji blankly.
"Fourth brother...you are here..."
Kou Ji saw that Zhao Zhen looked wrong and frowned: "Guan family, you should find an imperial doctor for diagnosis and treatment."
Zhao Zhen shook his head slowly and said feebly: "I'm fine, I just had a dream. I dreamed about my father, the eldest empress, the little empress, my mother, the eldest uncle, and the eighth emperor.
Uncle, and my grandfather and uncle I have never met..."
Kou Ji felt confused.
Dreaming about someone is not good, dreaming about a group of dead people.
If Kou Ji hadn't known about Zhao Zhen's lifespan, he would have thought that Zhao Zhen had just returned to his former glory and was about to die.
After all, when the late emperor Zhao Heng passed away, he also saw many old people.
Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "The officials should be sick with worry and should rest for a few days."
Zhao Zhen smiled calmly, "I'm fine... There was an explosion in the equipment workshop outside the city. Fourth brother can find out."
Kou Jidao: "Under investigation, the culprit is hiding very deep."
Zhao Zhen nodded and said to himself: "The equipment workshop is so tightly guarded, and it's really unusual for thieves to sneak in."
The corner of Kou Ji's mouth twitched, and he dryly agreed: "That's that, that's..."
Zhao Zhen continued: "I can't have regular meetings with the government these days, so I leave everything to my fourth brother."
Kou Ji nodded and said, "I will handle everything properly."
Zhao Zhen waved his hand, "Then Fourth Brother, please go back quickly. The equipment workshop exploded, and Bianjing City will probably be in chaos. Fourth Brother still needs to keep an eye on it."
Kou Ji hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded, saluted, and left Yanfu Palace.
After leaving Yanfu Palace, Kou Ji felt something was wrong.