In addition to maroon gunpowder, "Wang Mang" also provided an idea to reduce the ignition rate of gunpowder, that is, gunpowder granulation. According to Wang Mang's opinion relayed by Huang Tian, the density of the three basic components of powdered gunpowder is inconsistent, and it is easy to be bumped in the process of transportation, and it is easy for the heavy components to sink to the bottom and the light components to float to the top, which will reduce the effectiveness of the gunpowder. If the gunpowder is soaked in water, then dried, let it form a lump, and then the block is smashed, and the appropriate size is selected with a sieve, it is granular gunpowder. According to different needs, the size of gunpowder particles can be artificially controlled, the larger the particles, the slower the combustion rate.

However, it is not easy to find out how large the particles are most suitable, but it is not easy to repeat the experiments, but this is not too urgent, after all, before occupying Jiangyou according to the plan, the rebels cannot have enough gunpowder, so the gunpowder weapons will not be the mainstream weapons of the rebels, and the current tests are just to make some preparations for the future.

During this time, in addition to training and studying, there is another very important thing for Huang Zide Group, that is, the connection with Zhang Bingzhong and Luo Mengde. These two people were also famous anti-kings, especially Zhang Bingzhong, who had the experience of burning the imperial tomb. Later, when the rebel army was at a low ebb, it surrendered to the imperial court. But although they surrendered to the imperial court, the army in their hands was still their own, and the imperial court could not command it at all. At the beginning, the imperial court also ordered Zhang Huanghu to lead troops to cooperate with the imperial court officials and troops to encircle and suppress Huang Zide, but Zhang Bingzhong immediately opened his mouth and put forward a lot of requirements to the imperial court, what to ask for food, armor and weapons, military salaries, and the asking price is higher than the famous Guan Ning army, which is known for asking for money and shamelessness. Considering it again, if you really want to give him these money and food, I am afraid that the loss of these money and food when going through the bureaucratic procedures of plucking goose feathers will be several times the figure that Zhang Bingzhong wanted. Speaking of which, the reason why the imperial court was willing to surrender Zhang Bingzhong was to save money. If there is really so much money, where is the need to recruit a thief who burned down the imperial tomb? To be honest, if it weren't for Huang Zide still at that time, the imperial court would have been ready to dismiss Zhang Bingzhong's army step by step, and finally find a reason to burn Zhang Bingzhong to the ancestors of the Jokhang Dynasty. It's just that now, the imperial court has just experienced the fiasco of the Jin army's entry into the Kou, and there is no strength to rectify Zhang Bingzhong and them for a while, and Zhang Bingzhong and they don't know how much strength the imperial court still has now, and they don't dare to raise the flag to rebel immediately for a while. For Huang Zide, the most critical part of breaking the situation is when Zhang Bingzhong will raise the banner of rebellion again.

At first, Xuan Yi proposed that he could go to Zhang Bingzhong as Huang Zide's envoy. But Huang Zide didn't think about it, so he vetoed Xuanyi's proposal.

"I know that the Taoist chief remembered the incident when Prime Minister Zhuge sent Dongwu to Dongwu, but Zhang Bingzhong's guy is the most unkind thing, and he is the most fucking thing that turns his face and doesn't recognize people. Of course that guy wants to pit the court, but as long as he has the opportunity, he wants to pit me! If it weren't for the letter he wrote to me, I wouldn't have crashed headlong into the encirclement in Tongguan. This guy's rebellion must be made, otherwise, based on the fact that he burned the imperial tomb, the court would not really let him go. It's just that I guess this guy will raise the flag to rebel, and I'm afraid it will have to wait until after next year's autumn harvest. At that time, he rebelled, so it was easy to grab things! It's okay to send someone to contact him, but you can't send someone as important as the Taoist chief. Otherwise, he would definitely kill the Dao Leader first. Besides, his rebellion is certain, whether he sends someone or not, he wants to rebel, just send someone casually, how can he let the Taoist take this risk. This matter, the letter is written by the Taoist, and the person will be sent by me. Moreover, if you want Zhang Bingzhong to rebel, you don't have to send the letter to him, right? Well, I think Hu Yidao is good, needless to say martial arts, people are also clever, so I sent him to take a few people, and when the New Year is over, we will let them go on a run......"

……

Just when Huang Zide was hiding in Shenglongzhai for the New Year, the Jokhang court was also worried about political affairs.

A few days ago, the imperial court had just suffered a series of defeats, first Lu Tianxiong led the most elite and obedient army of the imperial court to fall into the encirclement of the Jin army, and within one day, the whole army was exhausted. After destroying the most combat-ready and combat-ready army in the Gyeonggi area, the Jin army divided its forces again, and a part of the Jin army plundered from Beizhili to the Huai River. At this time, the officers and soldiers everywhere had completely lost the courage to fight with the Jin army, and either hid behind the city wall and watched with trepidation as the Jin army, which was far less numerous than them, swaggered past the city they were stationed with a large number of captured civilians, or simply abandoned the city and fled. On the other hand, the Jin army went straight along the canal into Shandong to reinforce the Jin army besieging Jinan.

There is the residence of King De, the prince of the Jokhang Dynasty, in the city of Jinan, and it is also the residence of the political envoy of Shandong, and its status is very important. After the Jin army entered the Kou, when the troops were divided for the first time, they sent a partial division to Shandong to plunder. At that time, the official army in Shandong could not defeat them, and they were defeated and retreated, and the Jin army surrounded Jinan. It's just that the city of Jinan is high and deep, and the number of Jin troops surrounding Jinan is also limited, and it can't be defeated in a short time. Now, after the besieging Jin army received reinforcements, Jinan was immediately in danger.

The loss of the relatives was a very serious problem politically, and the imperial court could not afford to ignore it. It's just that although the armies of King Qin from all over the country have arrived near the Jingshi one after another, in the face of the victorious Jin army, no one really dares to relieve the south. Everyone used the lack of supplies as an excuse to stop the patrol. I just hope that the Jin army will rob and rob enough by himself, and then retreat on his own.

Although the city of Jinan is high and the pool is deep, the number of defenders is quite small. On the one hand, this is because the phenomenon of empty salaries in our Jokhang army is quite common, and when you look at the roster, there are quite a few troops, but if you have to carefully verify that you can have one-third of the number of people on the roster, it already shows that the generals leading the troops are incorruptible. If it weren't for the governor himself risking the arrow to go to the city to supervise the battle, and the people of Jinan have organized volunteers to go to the city to help the war, Jinan City is afraid that it would have been lost. Another reason is that the imperial court has always hoped to paralyze the Jin State by making peace with the Jin State, and at the same time transfer the main forces to suppress the Liukou. Therefore, the whole of Shandong is extremely empty, and there is no army that can fight at all. Previously, against the Jin army, which was undernumbered, it was still able to rely on the strong city defense and barely support, but now that the Jin army has been reinforced, Jinan City can no longer be supported.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, it stands to reason that it is still in the New Year's Festival, but because of the current situation, there is no trace of joy in the Forbidden City. Before dawn, the young Emperor Chongde got up early as before. Empress Zhou served him and washed his face, put on his court clothes again, and saw that the emperor's face was full of sadness, so she said: "Your Majesty, don't worry too much, maybe there will be news of the withdrawal of the Tartars today." ”

Emperor Chongde shook his head, he knew that his empress was an honest person, but he was not very good at comforting people. Talking to myself like this at this time, I think I'm really worried about myself. He smiled bitterly: "Why don't I want to be happy, it's just ...... Alas, forget it, I hope it is like what you say. ”

After saying this, Emperor Chongde went out, and several eunuchs were already waiting there with lanterns. At the front was a tall eunuch, and when he saw Emperor Chongde coming out, he hurriedly took the other eunuchs to kneel down and kowtow.

"Okay, no need to be polite." Emperor Chongde waved his hand. He paused for a moment, and then asked again: "Cao Banban, is there any news from Jinan?" ”

Known as "Cao Banban" is now the eunuch Cao Huachun, who followed the current Chongde Emperor when he was a child and was very trusted. At this time, when he heard Emperor Chongde's question, he actually lowered his head and did not dare to answer.

Emperor Chongde saw Cao Huachun's reaction and knew that nothing good would probably happen. It's just that the queen is still beside her, and Emperor Chongde doesn't want the queen to worry too much, so he said: "Okay, let's go to the Qianqing Palace first." ”

"Yes." Cao Huachun answered, then got up, took the lantern, took a few eunuchs, surrounded the emperor, and went to the Qianqing Palace.

After entering the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Chongde sat down in the study, turned his head and asked Cao Huachun again: "Cao Banban, is there any news from Jinan?" ”

Hearing only a plop, Cao Huachun knelt down and said, "Long live, Jinyiwei has news in the early hours of this morning, saying that it is ......"

Speaking of this, he secretly raised his eyes and observed Emperor Chongde's face, and saw that Emperor Chongde had no expression on his face, and he couldn't see joy or anger, so he continued, "It is said that Jinan City has been broken, and the governor Song Xuezhu, the political envoy Zhang Bingwen, the prefect Gou Haoshan, and the county magistrate Han Chengxuan were martyred, and His Royal Highness King De ...... His Royal Highness King Tak was captured...... The Tartars slaughtered the city in Jinan, and countless people died......"

"Show me the news." Emperor Chongde's voice was calm.

"Your Majesty......" Cao Huachun raised his head and looked at Emperor Chongde.

"I'm fine. Bring. Emperor Chongde said.

Cao Huachun took a post from his sleeve and handed it over.

Emperor Chongde took the post, read it once, and then silently put it on the table, sighed, and said after a long time: "It's not easy for Song to governor them. ”

If such a thing happened when he first ascended the throne, then Emperor Chongde was afraid that he would be furious. However, after so many years, there have been many unsatisfactory things, and he only feels that his body has been hollowed out, and he has no strength to be angry.

"Your Majesty......" Cao Huachun said with his head bowed.

After a long while, Emperor Chongde said: "It's just that the loss of the relatives is a big deal after all, and it can't just be left alone." Alas! …… Does Yang Gebu know about this? ”

"Your Majesty, the Yang Pavilion already knows, and now he is waiting outside the palace." Cao Huachun hurriedly replied.

"Well," Emperor Chongde said, nodding, "then let him in here." There are some things, and only Yang Gebu can still share a little for me. ”