Chapter 35: Surprise (II)

Yang Wu said with a smile, "Brother Ning is polite, it's just a trivial matter, what is there to thank for." Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info"

He saw that the other party's previous clothes were just ordinary cloth clothes, and he didn't expect that he was from a rich family, so he could give him any good things. So I didn't pay attention to his words, just smiled and waved my hand.

Ning Zhong took out the gourd that he had still held in his hand when he drowned before, handed it to Yang Wu and said, "It's a trivial matter for the son, but it's a life-saving favor for the little one, and I can't help but repay it." The little one that I want to give to Childe is the thing in this gourd. ”

Yang Wu saw that he was sincere, so he didn't think much about it and took it. "What could it be?" He thought to himself, "Could it be that a gourd of good wine can't be made?" ”

In ancient times, people often used to put gourds in wine, and if they were filled with good wine, it was normal. However, after he got his hands on it, he shook it slightly, and knew that it was not wine.

"It seems to be something grainy." He couldn't help but think.

Yang Wu was a little curious, and asked with a smile, "I don't know what Brother Ning gave me?" ”

Ning Zhong didn't answer, just said, "Childe will know when he opens it and pours it out." ”

Yang Wu took off the stopper, found a piece of paper and spread it on the table, and then carefully poured out the contents of the gourd, only to see that the thing in the eye was very fine black particles, like finely ground charcoal, but it was not like it.

"This is..."

Diao Yanneng, Fan Yu and the others next to them were all a little puzzled at this time, they originally saw that Ning Zhong said so solemnly, and only said that what kind of treasure was the thing he took out to thank Yang Wu, but how did they know that it was such a black and inconspicuous thing when they saw it now, and they couldn't help but be disappointed in their hearts.

However, unlike their disappointment, Yang Wu was excited at the moment.

He leaned over and leaned his head closer to take a closer look, "This, this, is this black powder?" ”

Ning Zhong was stunned by what he said, "What black powder?" It's something that my ancestors have handed down, and I don't have a name. But when you say that, Childe, the little one thinks the name "black powder" is really appropriate, and my ancestors used this as medicine. ”

Yang Wu was stunned for a moment, then remembered that there might not be the name black powder at this time, and hurriedly asked, "Is it something that can make a loud noise when ignited with fire?" ”

"Yes, how did Childe know? Have you seen it before? Ning Zhong asked in surprise.

Black powder has existed a long time ago, ancient Chinese alchemists in the long-term refining of pills, found that the mixture of nitrate, sulfur and charcoal can burn and explode, the Tang Dynasty alchemist Qing Xuzi wrote the "Taishang Holy Ancestor Jindan Secret" in the "Fu Huo Alum Method" record, which is the world's earliest written record of gunpowder.

However, black powder at that time was usually used to set fire because the ratio of the three components was unreasonable, so it was easier to burn than to explode after ignition.

In fact, in Yang Xingmi's army, black powder was already used in the military at this time. Two years later, in a war against Yuzhang, Yang Xingmi's army successfully burned down the city gate of Yuzhang with a weapon called "Divine Fire Flying Crow". This is the first time in history that black powder has been used in military affairs.

After coming to this era, Yang Wu also saw the weapon called "Divine Fire Flying Crow" in the barracks. However, that weapon was actually a cloth of gunpowder, a fuse, and a bolt to the arrow; When fighting, light the fuse and then fire it with a crossbow to ignite the target.

The whole process of using this weapon is very complicated, and Yang Wu even heard from the craftsmen who made the gunpowder that they added more than a dozen flammable things such as clear oil and hemp to the gunpowder to support combustion.

In short, the weapon "Divine Fire Flying Crow" is not bad to scare people, but the actual power is not very good.

Regarding the problem of the lack of power of black powder in this era, Yang Wu once wanted to improve it, but although he knew the correct ratio of the three components of black powder, that was the proportion of the three ingredients when the purity of the three ingredients was very high. In this day and age, the purity of the three ingredients was obviously far from high enough, and it was clear that constant experimentation was needed to make black powder that was sufficiently powerful.

However, Yang Wu has been very busy for a while, so he can only put down this idea for the time being, thinking that he will find time to experiment slowly in the future.

However, the thing in front of him is obviously different, as Ning Zhongke said just now, his black powder is capable of explosion, and more importantly, the black powder in front of him is granular, not powdery.

Granular black powder is a big improvement over powdered black powder, because the early powdered powder powder is in barrels, after long-distance transportation, because of the bumps up and down, the large particles will rise, the small particles will sink, and the result is that sulfur will often be deposited at the bottom of the barrel, so that the power of black powder will be greatly reduced. This is not the case with granular ones.

Yang Wu was overjoyed in his heart, and immediately prepared to do the experiment, but Ning Zhong hurriedly stopped him on the side.

You know, this is a ship, and there are planks all around it, and if you accidentally start a fire, it will be over.

Yang Wu had no choice but to give up, and asked Ning Zhong about his specific situation.

After some question-and-answer, he understood. It turned out that Ningzhong's ancestor used to be an alchemist, and he discovered black powder in the process of long-term alchemy. Later, when it was passed on to Ningzhong's generation, the young man was not interested in alchemy since he was a child, but was interested in studying black powder.

After continuous experiments and improvements, he found that when the proportions of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur were 60%, 20%, and 20% respectively, gunpowder could explode when it was ignited and placed in a closed box; In addition, if gunpowder is made into granules, it can be stored for a long time without worrying about the loss of power.

After these discoveries, Ning Zhong quickly realized the great military value of this object, so this time he went to Guangling with his black powder to present to Yang Xingmi, the king of Wu, but unexpectedly fell into the water on the way.

After listening to Ning Zhong's experience, Yang Wu secretly called "lucky" on the one hand, and was so surprised that he couldn't close his mouth.

In Chinese history, black powder has been gradually developing, and it was not until the later Ming Dynasty that the ratio of the three components gradually became reasonable; Although this ratio in Ningzhong is not as good as that of the Ming Dynasty, it is actually equivalent to the Yuan Dynasty. It can be said that he alone advanced the development of black powder by four hundred years. What's more, granular black powder has not been developed in ancient China, and it is a technology that was later introduced from foreign countries, and this person actually invented it in this era.

"It's really a fluke, if I hadn't happened to rescue this person, wouldn't this cross-era technology have disappeared before it spread?"

The role of black powder is undoubtedly huge, and in this era when cold weapons are still commonly used, even if he does not invent any muskets and artillery, he only uses black powder for blasting, which will be of great help to siege cities in the future.

After a long time, Yang Wu gradually calmed down, "Brother Ning dedicated this thing to my father, this is a great merit, I don't know what reward Brother Ning wants?" I will report to my father and try to grant your wishes. ”

"Childe, the little one who went to Guangling this time originally planned to dedicate this thing to King Wu, and now that he knows that Childe is the eldest son of King Wu today, the little one is willing to dedicate this thing to Childe, in order to thank Childe for saving his life, and he dare not ask Childe for any reward."

"No, how can this be done? How can such an important credit not be rewarded? Yang Wu shook his head again and again, and said solemnly.

"This..."Ning Zhong hesitated for a moment, "If Childe has to reward the little one, then ask Childe to provide a venue for the little one so that the little one can study the black powder there." ”

Yang Wu was overjoyed, even if Ning Zhong didn't say it, he would have to find a way to keep this person to continue his research, and now he listened to his request, he was even more happy, and immediately said, "Your wish, I have fulfilled it, I will provide you with a venue in Guangling, and I will also provide you with the cost of your research." However, this alone is not enough, I will reward you with 10,000 guan, and I will give it to you when I return to Guangling. In addition, if you have any other family members, you can all receive them from Guangling and live directly in the Jiedu Envoy's Mansion. ”

"In that case, thank you Childe." Ning Zhong seemed to be only interested in research, but didn't care much about money, and when he heard that he was rewarded with 10,000 yuan, he just nodded, but he envied Fan Yu and the others around him.