"This is really strange. The effect after granulation is so good. It's almost doubled, right?"
"This powdered gunpowder is already the best. It is the same as the temporary configuration when it is needed in the army. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be even more powerful after being granulated!"
"..."
Facing the test results, several ministers, whether they were civil servants or military generals, or whether they had experience in leading troops or not, were all surprised.
Faced with their surprises, although Emperor Chongzhen remained calm on the surface, he was very happy in his heart!
He was still a little worried at first, fearing that the power was almost the same. But he didn't expect that after the gunpowder was granulated, the power could be almost doubled.
The Ming Dynasty actually did a lot of research on gunpowder.
For example, the proportion of gunpowder used for explosion and the proportion of gunpowder used for launch already have different formulas.
However, these are mostly conclusions based on experimental results, but it is impossible to find out why this is the case?
In other words, due to the lack of physical and chemical knowledge, it is impossible to systematically study the essential reasons.
At this time, Emperor Chongzhen was already an expert in gunpowder explosions.
He saw several close ministers with surprised faces, and turned to look at him. Wanting to know the reason, he said lightly: "Actually, the reason is very simple. I can give you a few words, and you can
I understand!"
After finishing speaking, under the watchful eyes of Sun Chuanting, Zhou Yuji and others, Emperor Chongzhen explained in his own words the principles of gunpowder explosions that Liu Weichao had told him.
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Yuji suddenly realized: "So, the general has always been a little puzzled, why some gunpowder is more powerful and some gunpowder is not powerful enough? Before, the general always thought that some gunpowder was shoddy.
, or it may be because it will get damp after a long time. But I didn’t expect that it would be separated because it was carried for a long time!”
Most of the gunpowder for cannons used in the army is prepared only when it is needed temporarily. The reason for this was in the past to prevent moisture. This is also recorded in the saltpeter chapter of Song Yingxing's "Tiangong Kaiwu".
Sun Chuanting was not as exaggerated as Zhou Yuji, but his usually expressionless face could not help but say with joy: "With your Majesty's tricks, I will be more confident when I go to Kaifeng!"
This one is no different from others. It does not require him to spend a lot of manpower and material resources to carry it, but it can be dealt with after going there. The power of gunpowder can be almost doubled, which means that gunpowder can save a lot. The same amount can be used for a longer time.
time!
Not to mention, the increase in power is not just a simple calculation!
After hearing what he said, Emperor Chongzhen immediately smiled lightly and said: "It's a pity that the fire blunderbuss made of fine steel can't be made in time. Otherwise, the firearms have a longer range, which will be more beneficial to you in defending the city!"
Seeing the results of the test, the first assistant He Fengsheng, who was equally excited, always had something to say. When Emperor Chongzhen finished speaking, he immediately said: "With your majesty's methods, I think that in the future, the officials and soldiers of the imperial court can use them all."
This is an army of firearms. We can ask Sun Yingyuan and Huang Degong to recruit more people to the capital to enrich the capital camp!"
"Wei Chen seconded the suggestion!" Upon hearing this, Sun Chuanting immediately followed suit, "Soldiers with firearms are the easiest to form an army!"
Emperor Chongzhen nodded after hearing this, and with a bit of heroic Qian Yun's momentum, he immediately waved his hand and said: "Okay, then I will give them an order to call more!"
At this time, with money and more sophisticated ordnance, he had the confidence.
Sun Chuanting, who had become more confident in his heart, suddenly became serious, and then told Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, the battle of Kaifeng is imminent, and there are still many things to do. I will rush to Kaifeng today!"
He originally wanted to bring it up after the previous discussion.
Now that Emperor Chongzhen had improved gunpowder, he felt more confident and wanted to leave early.
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, his face immediately became serious. He strode towards Sun Chuanting and looked into Sun Chuanting's eyes at close range. He felt a little excited for a moment.
No matter what, the dangers of the Battle of Kaifeng are all there!
If anything goes by chance, it is very likely that the monarch and his ministers will never see each other again after this separation.
Sun Chuanting knew the danger and knew that the result of the deduction was that Kaifeng would fall, but he still chose to go to Kaifeng without hesitation!
This scene at this time really corresponds to the saying: the wind is rustling and the water is cold, and a strong man will never return once he is gone!
Thinking of this, Emperor Chongzhen immediately felt a little unlucky, so he spoke and said solemnly: "If nothing can be done, just break out and come back in time. I can't live without you, do you understand?"
When Sun Chuanting heard this, he did not expect that his weight in the emperor's heart would become so important. He was suddenly excited and felt that a scholar would die for his confidant. He immediately saluted Emperor Chongzhen solemnly and said: "I will never let you down, your majesty."
As entrusted to me, Kaifeng will definitely not fall with the help of our ministers!"
The others looked at this scene without speaking, and their expressions became solemn unconsciously.
"As long as I can sort things out and free up my troops, I will send reinforcements in time!" Emperor Chongzhen immediately made a promise after hearing this!
After finishing speaking, he said to Sun Chuanting: "By the way, Sun Shining, your youngest son, is six years old this year, right?"
Sun Chuanting was stunned for a moment after hearing this, wondering what the emperor meant by mentioning his son.
After coming back to his senses, he quickly replied: "Yes, Your Majesty!"
Emperor Chongzhen heard this and immediately said to him: "Let him go to the East Palace to study with the prince!"
When Sun Chuanting heard this, he couldn't help being very surprised. Then he was very excited and quickly paid homage to express his gratitude.
His younger son can go to study with the prince, that is, he belongs to the prince. After the prince ascends the throne, his son's future as the prince's confidant will be unlimited!
How could he not be excited about this arrangement made by Emperor Chongzhen!
Others were very envious when they heard it, and they all realized again that Sun Chuanting had such a high status in the emperor's heart. None of the emperor's favorites before had such treatment!
Among them, He Fengsheng even expressed emotion that the current emperor's abilities have become more and more powerful after being given the treasure by Emperor Taizu!
Just with this move in front of him, Sun Chuanting would definitely die serving the emperor!
………………
Subsequently, the imperial court issued a decree, and Sun Chuanting, the Minister of War, commanded the troops and horses of the world, controlled the imperial troops and horses of the Central Plains provinces to suppress thieves, and ranked above the governors and governors.
The results of the previous discussions at the imperial meeting were immediately taken into action. The troops of the brigade left the capital one after another and rushed to various places to cooperate with the battle of Kaifeng.
As for Sun Chuanting himself, he was also dressed in military uniform. Under the escort of a hundred elite Yongwei cavalry, he left the capital and rushed directly to Kaifeng.
"Drive, drive, drive..."
Accompanied by the knight's voice, the rumble of horse hooves disappeared in the distance of the official road.
Avoiding the passers-by on both sides, after the cavalry passed, they returned to the official road and continued to go south and north.
But one of them, with curiosity, kept watching the cavalry go away, and finally disappeared from sight.
One of his companions was a little impatient and immediately urged: "Yan Dianshi, we can't see you anymore, it's time to enter the city!"
But despite this, the tone was still respectful.
This Yan Dianshi is obviously Yan Yingyuan, the Dianshi of Jiangyin who was summoned from Jiangyin, a low-ranking official.
Even after arriving in the capital, Yan Yingyuan was still confused.
The emperor rushed eight hundred miles away and summoned him to Beijing for an audience.
Who is he? He is just a Jiangyin classic. How is that possible?
For the first time, he wondered if there was something wrong?
However, Jiangyin Dianshi is still called Yan Yingyuan, he is indeed the only one!
So, he bid farewell to his mother with a confused look on his face, and hurried to the capital with his servants delivering the order.
During this journey, Yan Yingyuan had actually been thinking about what was the reason that made the current emperor expedite eight hundred miles to summon him to see him?
However, he suffered from insomnia for several days and just couldn't figure out the reason.
I asked the waiter directly and couldn't get an answer.
Therefore, in the end, he gave up. Anyway, he felt that it was impossible to guess the reason why the current emperor summoned him in an urgent manner of 800 miles.
If that's the case, then let's make peace with it!
As he headed north, he was a little surprised by what he saw and heard.
First, the elite Yongwei battalion affiliated to the imperial court did not go to suppress the bandits. Instead, they provided disaster relief on both sides of the canal and aggressively recruited young men from good families in the canal work.
This kind of thing would have been unimaginable before!
Where did the court get its money?
Also, rumors are spreading north and south of the canal that smallpox can be cured and pimples can be prevented.
This news spread more and more the further north it went. Even when he landed in Tongzhou, Yan Yingyuan saw with his own eyes that sanitation was being carried out everywhere, rats were being exterminated, and cowpox vaccinations were being done.
After landing, there was more news.
There was a great upheaval in the DPRK. The former Chief Assistant, the Minister of War, and even those at the Duke level were all punished, and those who ransacked their homes were killed. For a time, all officials in the capital's yamen did not dare to serve as officials!
Yan Yingyuan was dumbfounded by all this. This was really different from the imperial court in his impression!
When did the current emperor become so powerful?
At the same time, he naturally heard it, saying that Emperor Taizu appeared and gave treasures to the current emperor, which is why the government changed so drastically!
Based on all kinds of news, he felt very urgent and wanted to visit the capital with his own eyes.
Unexpectedly, as soon as they arrived in the capital, they met a group of knights leaving the city before they even entered the city.
Judging from the banner, it seems that this is the new Minister of the Ministry of War, who controls the imperial envoys of the provinces in the Central Plains. Where is he going?
What was different from others was that what he focused on were the one hundred cavalry! Not only were they elite, but their armor was also excellent!
A servant of the Minister of War? It doesn’t look like that!
Yan Yingyuan was in a daze. He had a feeling that the changes he saw in front of him were really too big!