The chemistry is bad, and when it came to the actual test of the explosive power of picric acid, Wu Chaoyue knew that picric acid not only had a much greater explosive power than black powder, but also had a pretty good combustion effect, and at the same time the explosion could ignite all the combustibles at the blast point, and at the same time, even water could not extinguish the flame emitted when the picric acid burned.

Of course, this discovery made Wu Chaoyue overjoyed, and also made Wu Chaoyue determined to fight with a picric acid weapon, but it was also at this time that Wu Chaoyue began to discover the lack of scientific and technological talents in China in this era, and also better understood how difficult it was for comprador traitors such as Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong and Yuan Shikai to engage in industry in China.

To what extent is the lack of scientific and technological talents in the late Qing Dynasty, hundreds of thousands of people in Shanghai, except for Wu Beyond this traverser, among the Chinese, only Wu Transcendence's uncle Wu Xiaohua knows a little about physical chemistry, and can barely help Wu Beyond to do some chemical experiments, let alone what sulfuric acid nitric acid is studied, and even the measuring cup can't be understood! Wu Chaoyue followed the example of Boss Cao and posted the recruitment list, and there were quite a few Confucian students who came to apply for the job, but one by one, in addition to writing some eight-strand articles and reciting some subsets of scriptures and histories, they didn't even know what Gongke was and what milliliters were -- counting on them to engage in industry, Wu Chaoyue might as well find a rope and hang him to death.

In order to protect the secret of picric acid and not be able to ask foreigners to be responsible for weapon development, Wu Chaoyue had no choice but to ask his clan uncle Wu Xiaohua to concurrently serve as the head of weapon development, but Wu Xiaohua shouted bitterly, "Transcendence, am I too busy?" The textile factory you have built is enough for me to be busy, and I still have time to help you with what picric acid test? What kind of research are grenadiers and mortars being carried out? ”

"Uncle Clan, I can't help it." Wu Chaoyue also complained bitterly and said: "Now that you and I know chemistry and physics, and I am in charge of the military, who else can I find besides asking you for help?" You put it in the textile factory first. It's okay to find a few reliable people to help you manage it, but my side is more important. ”

Wu Xiaohua was still a little reluctant, and said: "Transcendence, it's not that I, who is an uncle, who refuses to help you, but I am not proficient in this area, and what else do you have to engage in metal forging and mechanical manufacturing." I don't know anything about this, even if I help you, I can't help there, and if you can find someone else, it's better to ask someone else. ”

"Where can I go up there and look for it?" Wu Chaoyue said with a sad face: "Otherwise, you can recommend a few for me, as long as you understand mechanics and physics." ”

Wu Xiaohua also scratched his head, but after all, he had eaten more than ten years of salt than Wu Chaoyue, Wu Xiaohua had an idea, patted his thigh and said, "There is a way." Transcendence, you go to your grandfather, ask your grandfather to help you find someone in this area. ”

"My grandfather knew anyone about this?" Wu Chaoyue asked with some confusion.

"Don't you know your grandfather?" Wu Xiaohua asked rhetorically, "Have you forgotten?" When Daoguang was twenty-seven years old, your grandfather sponsored three students to study in the United States, one of whom was named Rong Hong, and he was admitted to Yale University, which is very famous in the United States. You're sure to find the tech talent you need. ”

"Yale University's Yung Hong? He was sponsored by my grandfather to go abroad? Wu Chaoyue's eyes widened wider than eggs.

"He's still your countryman." Wu Xiaohua replied angrily: "The three international students who went to the United States are all your fellow countrymen. Otherwise, what else would your grandfather do when they funded them? Your grandfather really has so much money that there is really no place to put it? ”

Wu Chaoyue was so excited that he couldn't even breathe, and with a roar, he ran out of several miles, rushed directly into the customs yamen and grabbed the comprador grandfather without saying a word, startling Wu Jianzhang, who was in the office, and hurriedly asked: "Chaoyue, what's wrong?" Is it the long hair that breaks Jiangyin. Coming to Shanghai? ”

Wu Chaoyue hurriedly shook his head, panting and just asking about Rong Hong, and Wu Jianzhang, who lacked virtue and did too much, took a lot of effort to think of this fellow villager, nodded and said, "Yes, there is such a thing." At that time, Father Brown, the principal of Morrison School in Macau, was sick and resigned to return to China to take a few students from Xiangshan to study in the United States. ”

After that, Wu Jianzhang remembered one more thing, and scolded Wu Chaoyue again: "You forgot, have you seen them again?" When they went abroad, I also took you to the dock to see them off, so that you could learn more from them, don't learn what to drink, eat, drink, prostitute and gamble at a young age! ”

"Grandpa, you are a living Lei Feng who really does good deeds without leaving a name!" Wu Chaoyue almost burst into tears, and then couldn't wait to ask, "Grandpa, do you have any contact with them?" Or is there any way I can get in touch with them? ”

Wu Jianzhang scratched his head, but fortunately, Wu Jianzhang quickly said: "There is a way, I remember that one of them is named Huang Sheng, a native of Dong'an Village in our hometown, after arriving in the United States, because of the unsuitability of the water and soil, he returned to China after only one year of study, and then worked in Hong Kong's "Dechen West News", and also wrote a letter to thank me, explaining the reason for his return to China. If he hadn't left Hong Kong now, the old man should be able to help you get in touch with him, and it would be much easier to find the other two. ”

Wu Chaoyue was overjoyed, and quickly forced his grandfather to write a letter to Huang Sheng, China's first sea turtle, inviting him to Shanghai to help him study Western studies on his behalf, and promised a good reward. And although Wu Jianzhang hated his grandson's unsuccessful behavior - he promised Huang Sheng five times his salary in Hong Kong when he opened his mouth, and he also sent Huang Sheng 300 silver dollars for his travel expenses with the letter, but he still put down his official duties and wrote a letter to his grandson, and then asked casually: "What are you doing in such a hurry to find Huang Sheng?" ”

"Study the artillery and muskets and see if you can make your own." Wu Chaoyue told the truth in front of the comprador grandfather, and said: "It's too expensive to buy from foreigners, and the supply can't be guaranteed, so I want to try to see if I can make it myself." ”

Wu Chaoyue was a little surprised, after hearing the words of the baby grandson, Wu Jianzhang not only did not laugh at the baby grandson's self-indulgence, but on the contrary, he showed a thoughtful expression, and said hesitantly: "If you want to make your own gun ......, have you heard of the name Gong Zhenlin?" ”

"Gong Zhenlin?"

The history is scarce, and although Wu Chaoyue vaguely felt that he had heard of this name there (high school textbook), he couldn't remember the details for a while. In the end, Wu Jianzhang scolded angrily: "Gong Zhenlin, who is engaged in iron mold casting cannons, you still want to make foreign guns and foreign cannons by yourself, but you don't even know about him?" ”

"Iron molded cannons? Come to think of it! Wu Chaoyue slapped his forehead. finally remembered this person, and then couldn't wait to ask, "Grandpa, do you know this Gong Zhenlin?" ”

"Do you know more than that?" Wu Jianzhang began to be triumphant, and said: "Your grandfather and I are still very good friends with him, during the Opium War, he engaged in iron mold casting cannons and wanted to imitate Western artillery. It was the old man who managed to buy off the French and helped him get the size of the foreigner's artillery. ”

"Grandpa, you are not only a living Lei Feng, but also a red scarf!"

The thin old hand holding the comprador grandfather said this, and Wu Chaoyue couldn't wait to beg the comprador grandfather to help him contact Gong Zhenlin, and strive to buy Gong Zhenlin as a lackey for him with a high salary. As a result, Wu Jianzhang heard it and scolded: "Don't dream! He is now the general office of the Zhejiang Artillery Bureau, from the fifth rank, can he come to Shanghai to do things for you, a junior? ”

When Wu Chaoyue was disappointed, Wu Jianzhang smiled again and said, "But that's it." With the old man's friendship with him, it would be no problem to ask him to get a few skilled craftsmen to help, and if he was lucky, he might be able to invite him and give you a little guidance. ”

"Good grandpa!" Wu Chaoyue's excitement opened his arms and hugged him, in exchange for Wu Jianzhang's reprimand and lesson, but while scolding his grandson, Wu Jianzhang still patted his grandson's head lovingly. I enjoy the love of my grandson very much.

On the same day, two more pieces of good news came. The first is that Liu Lichuan took Liu Jiajun to Jiangyin to reinforce smoothly, and killed and injured a large number of Taiping soldiers in the process of entering the city. And the second good news is that the reward of Emperor Xianfeng was finally sent to Shanghai, and Wu Chaoyue, who was eighteen years old, was sealed by Ning to guard the patrol road, wearing a single-eyed flower. And although this so-called real job even guarded Jiangning and Zhenjiang was in the hands of the Taiping Army, it still made Wu Jianzhang burst into tears, "The grandson of the old man has also become a Taoist, and at the age of eighteen, he is only half a grade lower than the old man." If it goes on like this, there is great hope for our Wu family to have a governor, a great hope. ”

Also happy is Hui Zheng, who lost the Daozhi Wuhu City not only was not punished, but also transferred to Shanghai to serve as a soldier, of course, Hui Zheng is very grateful to his good brother Wu Chaoyue, who is grateful and grateful. When thanking the ancestors and grandchildren of the Wu family in person, Hui Zheng also said so sincerely: "It's a pity that the imperial court has regulations, and the Manchu and Han are not allowed to intermarry, otherwise I really want to be your elder and give you Wanzhen." ”

Hearing Hui Zheng's words, Wu Chaoyue's face immediately changed, and Wu Jianzhang, who was still wiping his tears over there, really remembered a big event, grabbed Wu Chaoyue's ear, and roared: "It's not Lord Hui who reminded me, the old man almost forgot about it, saying, what's going on with that Feng Wanzhen in the capital?" Why was the person sent by the old man to propose marriage beaten out by her father? ”

When Wu Chaoyue pretended to be stupid and asked for details, he realized that during the period when he went to Jiangning to participate in the war, the comprador grandfather still did not forget his marriage, and specially sent someone to go to Xie Zhuang in the capital with a heavy dowry to find Feng Sanbao to propose his marriage - as a result, he was naturally kicked out by Feng Sanbao, and the matchmaker was also beaten. Wu Chaoyue was shocked when he heard this, and hurriedly asked, "Why?" Why did Uncle Feng do this? When I was in the capital, he was very polite to me, huh? ”

In front of Hui Zheng, Wu Jianzhang of course had no face to say that Feng Sanbao didn't look down on the comprador traitor background of the old Wu family, but just changed the topic with a hum, "Why didn't he agree, how did the old man know?" In short, don't expect that Feng girl, find another one, you can choose it yourself, the old man can pick it for you, in short, it must be fast, the old man wants to hold his great-grandson for a day or two. ”

After that, Wu Jianzhang hurriedly added: "But the little widow surnamed Fu can't do it, she is a widow and unlucky, no matter how much you like it, you can only accept the house as a concubine, dare to marry her as a wife, the old man will break your legs!" ”

Of course, Wu Chaoyue didn't dare to expect that the comprador grandfather, who was completely brainwashed by the decadent ideology of feudalism, would agree to let him officially marry Fu Shanxiang, and he didn't dare to say anything more about Wu Jianzhang's request, but just nodded honestly and agreed. But of course, Wu Chaoyue was even more reluctant to marry a woman he had never seen as a daughter-in-law, so Wu Chaoyue bit his mouth extremely hard, and said: "No need, I like Feng Wanzhen, I want to marry her!" ”

"Old man, I don't care if you want it or not!" Wu Jianzhang was not fooled this time, and snorted: "The old man will ask someone to ask carefully, see that there is a knowledgeable young lady there, and if she likes it, she will marry you and see what you do." ”

When Wu Chaoyue was complaining, Hui Zheng was helping by the side. Coaxed that he knew a lot of court officials and could help Wu Chaoyue find a good family, Wu Chaoyue's face turned pale when he heard it, but Wu Jianzhang listened to it with relish, and couldn't wait to discuss with Hui Zheng whether he should let his grandson marry a famous family, or should he let his baby grandson marry a new powerful person?

The discussion was hot. Hui Zheng didn't know that nerve was on the wrong string, and even suggested that Wu Jianzhang go to propose marriage to the daughter of the Mongolian prince monk Grinqin for his precious grandson, and Wu Jianzhang was also beyond his strength, and after hearing it, he was very moved, and repeatedly asked Hui Zheng if there was such a possibility? Next to him, Wu Chaoyue's already pale face was even more pale as paper, and he subconsciously wanted to cover his nose, but considering that the monk Lingqin, whose eyes were above the top, would not agree to this family business unless his head was in water, Wu Chaoyue didn't say much, and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Secretly said: "Whatever you want, the more you delay, the more I like it." ”

…………

Wu Chaoyue must not be so easy, because not only his personal problem is also a big problem, whether the Taiping army will go to Shanghai to find Wu Chaoyue to take revenge is also a fatal problem, and Wu Chaoyue does not know that at almost the same time, in Jiangyin City, the only military barrier in the upper reaches of Shanghai, there are also some things that are about to affect the safety and survival of Jiangyin City.

The culprit of these things is still the Liu family army formed by the old Wu family unintentionally. In the absence of Yang Xiuqing, Li Kaifang and Ji Wenyuan, who were determined to break the city to take revenge, had already moved to the east gate of Jiangyin, the only one without the protection of the water flow. Backed by Xiangshan (the name of Jiangyin Mountain) to set up camp and go down to the village, Liu Jiajun, who was leaned on as the Great Wall by the Qing army, naturally moved to the east gate of Jiangyin, and joined forces with the Qing army to defend the east gate.

Moving to the camp required the construction of camp fortifications, and the Taiping army naturally had no way to attack Jiangyin in a short period of time. Moleting people's women, harassing the people, extorting and extorting are all evil. And Yang Wending, Mo Zai, Li Tianchao and other civil and military officials were about to rely on Liu Jiajun to defend the city, of course, they turned a blind eye to these things, openly covered up and secretly tolerated them, pretending not to see and letting Liu Jiajun do anything wrong.

Bullying the common people is just a trivial matter, and Liu Jiajun still kicked his nose and face when he practiced bravery. The green battalion soldiers of the Qing army, who should be united the most, were also bullied -- when they gathered to gamble, Chen Alin, one of the two major sentries of the Liu Jiajun, changed his cards with a thousand cards, and after being discovered by a green battalion sentry officer, he not only did not admit his mistake and returned the money, but also relied on the large number of weapons to beat the green battalion sentry officer to the point that his head was bleeding and his body was bruised. As a result, it immediately aroused public indignation, and more than 100 green battalion soldiers, under the leadership of a green battalion commander named Chen Daoyuan, surrounded Chen Alin and others to seek justice, but Chen Alin, the No. 3 person in the Liu Jiajun, continued to refuse to apologize, and pulled out a revolver and killed a green battalion soldier, which immediately aroused even greater public indignation.

If it weren't for Yang Wending who rushed to the scene in person in time to mediate the conflict, Liu Jiajun Lian Yong would have to fight with the Green Battalion soldiers, but even if he drank everyone in time and carefully understood the situation, Yang Wending still vigorously favored the Green Battalion soldiers, not only did not punish Chen Alin who killed the friendly soldiers, but on the contrary, forced the Green Battalion to salute Chen Alin to Chen Alin to make amends, Chen Daoyuan was furious, and shouted with red eyes: "Lord Futai, are you unreasonable?" They were the ones who first wounded our brothers in the Green Battalion and then killed our people, so why do they want me to make amends? ”

"Bold!" Yang Wending glared at him and scolded: "If it weren't for you gathering people to gamble, what would have happened?" Willing to gamble and lose, lose the silver and frame others to change the cards, first provoke the incident, the official did not investigate deeply, as long as you apologize for the crime, it is already sympathetic to you, what else do you want? Immediately make amends to Officer Chen, otherwise, military law will be involved! ”

The thin arms couldn't twist the thick thighs, and in desperation, Chen Daoyuan could only kneel down on Chen Alin's knees, kowtow three times, and said loudly: "Officer Chen, it's me who is wrong, I deserve to die!" If you want to fight, you can fight! Kill if you want to! I don't frown! ”

Chen Daoyuan really didn't frown, but there was a raging anger burning in his eyes, which was enough to burn Chen Alin to ashes! But Chen Alin was still not satisfied, and said in a big way: "It's good to know, forget it this time, and next time, don't blame our subordinates for not showing mercy." ”

Chen Daoyuan almost fainted, but he could only swallow his anger and agree, and Yang Wending over there vigorously praised the magnanimous Chen Alin, and cordially comforted several Liu Jiajun who were slightly injured in the conflict, and asked someone to bring them wine and meat to reward them. Chen Daoyuan and his subordinates all had red eyes when they saw it, and Liu Jiajun Lian Yong was all triumphant, and his arrogance was even more incredible.

The matter is not over, after the green battalion soldiers were dispersed by Yang Wending, Chen Alin and the others, who reunited to drink and eat meat, still refused to give up, and they all felt that if they didn't teach Chen Daoyuan a lesson, it would be difficult to solve the hatred of being besieged today, and they couldn't afford to build up the majestic style of the Liu family's army to practice bravery! So Chen Alin sent someone to inquire when Chen Daoyuan was on duty at night, and it was a coincidence that the little brother who went to inquire about the news soon came back and reported: "Brother Lin, it's a coincidence, it's tonight, and the little deflated third named Chen Daoyuan happens to be on duty tonight." ”

"The city gate?" Chen Alin hurriedly asked again.

"South Gate." The younger brother replied.

"Good! There are just the least number of people there! Chen Alin slapped his thigh and ordered: "Tell the brothers to get ready, go to the south gate tonight, put that Chen Daoyuan into a sack, and throw it into the Henghe River to feed the fish!" ”

"Brother Lin, we are guarding the east gate, and we can't go up to the south gate without an order?" A little brother next to him hurriedly reminded.

"Idiot, let's just say that we have discovered the enemy's situation and suspect that Longhair is preparing to attack the south gate tonight?" Chen Alin replied in a big way. (To be continued.) )