“…… Gunpowder is just a small way, and the refining of sulfur essence is the study of the world, when will the lead room you promised me be created? Chen Jun ignored Li Wenge, who was staring eagerly at the black gunpowder with a fierce face, and asked aggressively.

"How many times have I said that red lead cannot be used without reduction and purification, and it will react with pure sulfur essence!" Li Wenge smiled helplessly.

Red lead is a large number of lead oxide for alchemy that Chen Kuan they collected everywhere, since he learned that the lead chamber must be used as a reaction vessel for refining sulfur essence, Chen Kuan has been unrelenting to force Li Wenge to build a lead room, he came from Huashan, brought some red lead with him, and after coming to Yanzhou, he kept searching everywhere and stored a large amount of red lead, but so far, the casting of the lead chamber has not started.

It takes a very high temperature to reduce and refine red lead into lead, Li Wenge's chemistry is basically only at the high school level, and over the years, he has forgotten a lot, and he can't remember exactly how much temperature is needed, only about how much temperature is needed, only about to know that it must be above 1,000 degrees, and there is no blast furnace in Yanzhou that can reach such a temperature at present. In this era, there were many glass containers, but they were all colored glass mixed with metal, and the truly pure colorless glass could not be smelted because of the problem of temperature, so the experiment of refining sulfuric acid with glass containers could not be carried out.

"Mrs. Ye built a hydro-powered fan a few days ago, have you been to see it?" Chen Shu frowned and asked Li Wenge.

"Ah——?h Li Wenge was stunned. Since returning to Yanzhou, he has been arranging preparations for the Northern Expedition while deploying the plan to annex Gyeongju, and interspersed with the reorganization and training of the troops. As for the simple machinery that Zu Lin took the craftsmen of the carpentry camp and the ironworking camp to do, Zhou Zhengyu has not seen any obvious effect yet, so naturally he will not report to him. If it weren't for Chen Tuan mentioning it today, Li Wenge would have been afraid that he would not know how far these seeds of scientific and technological civilization he had planted would have grown when the Dingyan Army was completely pacified.

The manufacture of the lead chamber is good, and the glass floor is purified. All of them are the foundation laid for the production of high-temperature reaction vessels, which is the necessary material basis for modern experimental science.

The high-power fan is an indispensable external condition for increasing the smelting temperature. Until now, the ironwork battalion on Fenglin Mountain has been using manpower bellows as a basic tool to raise temperatures, which has led to the failure of Li Wenge's grand plan to make steel. The basic conditions for blast furnace ironmaking are refractory bricks and high-power fans, without which there are none. Mass-producing molten iron is a fool's dream.

Li Wenge did not have the ambition to make steel, and neither the Great Leap Forward in technology nor the Great Leap Forward in production could afford to endure his current family background. But the creation of some new production tools led to a revolutionary breakthrough in production efficiency, and this goal was extremely tempting to him. At present, although there are a lot of iron tools, but most of them are military, very few civilian, this time in order to equip the Yanchuan Independent Regiment with a standard sapper shovel, almost all the reserves in the next few months have been exhausted, after all, the amount of iron used to build a sapper shovel is enough to make two wooden gun blades. This was made by more than 300 blacksmiths working overtime.

In the future, farmers in Yanzhou will be able to use iron farming tools, and if the stone used in road construction in the future can be crushed by hydraulic pressing machinery. No more hand-smashing ......

If the gun edge of the future can be machined and sharpened......

It will be a new era.

Looking at Li Wenge, who was stunned, Chen Tuan sighed and reproached: "You are not a vulgar thing, but you are busy with those mundane affairs of fighting and killing, and you don't care about these important things that are beneficial to the future!" When you first came to Yanzhou, the Ye family and his wife praised you as if they had never been seen before, and now it seems that it is nothing more than that! Gunpowder is such a sharp weapon, but you only think of it when you go to war. It's a fool to ignore it on weekdays......"

"Tu Nangong blames it, the Cultural Revolution has taught ......"

Li Wenge's words were quite sincere, although in fact Chen Shu's reproach was very unreasonable. The dignified commander of the Eighth Route Army, if he hides in the mountains all day long, plays with explosives and sulfuric acid, and does not ask about military and political affairs, I am afraid that it will not take many days for this festival marshal to come to an end!

However, Li Wenge still thinks that Chen is reasonable.

Compared with these things done by themselves, although the work of Ye Qiyu, Zu Lin and Chen Tuan and others is biased, it is beneficial to the development and progress of the entire human civilization. While they were studying how to promote production so that the limited land could feed more and more people, he spent his days studying how to kill people faster, better and more efficiently. Compared with the two, Li Wenge naturally thinks. Chen Jun is indeed qualified to criticize himself......

At this moment, the soldiers came in to report that Han Wei had returned from Jingzhou.

When he traveled, he brought more than 20 people, but when he came back, there were only three people left, one to serve the little servant, and two to protect the pro-soldiers.

At a glance, Li Wenge knew that Han Wei's diplomatic visit was not bad.

"Wonju, Gyeongju, Zhouzhou, Ningzhou, the pedestrian pavilions in these four prefectures and counties should be able to start playing a role in two months, and Longzhou, Huizhou, and Qizhou will be later. Huizhou is only afraid that there will be some trouble, close to Lingzhou. A Yellow River runs through each other, and it belongs to the deterrence of the Shuofang army! Han Wei explained the matter in a few words, and then picked up the teacup and said, "Are you ready to do something against the Dingyan Army?" ”

Li Wenge was taken aback: "How do you know?" This matter is still a secret in the army! ”

Han Wei waved his hand: "It's not a secret, I came back from Ningzhou three days ago." Zhang Jianwu, the assassin of Ningzhou, personally pulled me aside and bit my ear. The Gyeongju affair was smoothed out with one hand. He seemed to be very dissatisfied, this time it was going to be difficult for the army. Plug in anyway! Li Wenge's expression only moved slightly, and he smiled in an instant: "What did Shi Shizhong say?" ”

Han Wei smiled: "You transferred Shaoyuan to Gyeongju, this move is the right move." Although the Gao family is not good to you, the reputation in the town of Guanzhong is not bad, Gao Shaoyuan is the eldest grandson of the king of Beiping County after all, Shi Shizhong is very satisfied with your willingness to bring him, the old man left me to live in the house for three days, and when he left, he also reminded you to beware of Feng Jiye in the north, which is a bloodthirsty wolf. Feed the undercooked. ”

Li Wenge smiled: "Where can Shi Shi look up to the Gao family, he can clearly look up to the Feng family." Now that the imperial court has made clear my gift, the trend of the times, how can the old man not see it? It's just that you were left to eat white rice for three days, and you married me again, and you showed your loyalty to the court. The next few days. It was my turn to shelter him from the wind and rain in Gyeongju, and the wolf lamb in the north was naturally handed over to me to deal with...... The old servant is not very satisfied with Gao Shaoyuan, but he is really very satisfied with me Li Wenge......"

Han smiled: "You can understand this layer, but you are not stupid." This trip to the south can also be regarded as a view of the wind, and the historian is old, so there is no need to be afraid. It was the mind of a farmer who lived on a few acres of his own land, and there was no other hope. But Zhang Jianwu of Ningzhou is different, this person is in his prime. Fame is eager, and seeing you leap from a white comet, there is envy and jealousy. His sergeants are powerful, although I don't know how to watch the soldiers, but I can also see that these soldiers are eating well, Huairen, if you want to go on a northern expedition. I'm afraid this person is a big threat to you! ”

Li Wenge's gaze returned to the map of mountains and rivers, Yanqing and Lingzhou's Feng family are separated by lofty mountains and mountains, and there are almost no roads for the army to walk, and the distance between Qingzhou and Ningzhou is only 100 miles, and the south of Lepan enters the boundary of Ningzhou, a north-south official road is connected to each other, and the cavalry can return within three days. With such a close distance, it's no wonder that Han Wei is worried.

And Zhang Jianwu's martial arts and ability to fight are not false. In real history, Ye Jichuan should have been defeated at his hands.

After thinking for a while, Li Wenge shook his head: "Zhang Jianwu is not a local feudal town, my title at the moment is overwhelming him after all, if he takes advantage of my Northern Expedition to attack Gyeongju, it is equivalent to openly pulling the flag and rebelling, not to mention whether he has the courage to do so, even if he really captures Gyeongju, without the support of the imperial court, he will not be able to gain a foothold!" ”

Han Wei shook his head slightly: "Although you are right. But that was without surprise! In case there is a change in Feng Jiye in the north, he can openly send troops in the name of supporting Gyeongju, and even if you return to the army, I am afraid that the war will be fought for a while. It's an inexplicable thing! It's better to beware early......"

Li Wenge paused for a moment: "As long as the Northern Expedition can be won, I will return to the south." Could it be that the little force in Ningzhou. Can you compete with me? ”

Han Wei stared at Li Wenge's eyes and asked lightly, "Huairen thinks that once you occupy the land of the four states of Yinxia. Can the court still support you as always? "Xiaguan Suizhou Assassin Shi Li Guang, meet the king!" Tuoba Guang knelt down meticulously and kowtowed to Chai Rong.

Chai Rong sat on the top, stretched out his right hand and supported it weakly: "Please get up, don't be polite!" ”

Tuoba Guang stood up with difficulty, and Chai Rong glanced at him in surprise: "Li Yuanjun is sick?" ”

Tuoba Guang smiled bitterly: "I have been plagued by chronic diseases for many years, and I have never been cured!" ”

Chai Rong instructed the left and right to set up seats for Tuoba Guang and said: "Although my palace is simple, there are two imperial doctors rewarded by His Majesty to check the pulse at any time, and I will ask them to diagnose the pulse for the envoy later!" ”

Tuoba Guang sighed softly: "Thank you, King!" ”

Chai Rong smiled: "King Xiping's own health is fine, but he sent a patient to Jingshi, and he was ruthless in employing people!" ”

Tuoba Guang smiled bitterly and said truthfully: "Turning into a foreign barbarian, I don't know the etiquette of the Heavenly Empire, and my uncle is also helpless, so I sent Guang here to be able to gain the understanding of the court and eliminate the military disaster......"

Chai Rong nodded and said: "I have read the seal of King Xiping, but King Gu has a question, and I want to ask Li Yuanjun to solve my doubts!" ”

Tuoba Guang nodded: "King, but please ask!" ”

Chai Rong asked: "The king of Xiping handed over the table to the Jingshi, why didn't he go through the Li Taibao of Yanzhou, but instead sought the near and far and asked for help from Feng Liuhou in Lingzhou?" ”

Tuoba Guang sighed softly: "If you take Yanzhou, I am afraid that I will still be under house arrest and will not be allowed to enter Beijing to meet the king Chai Rong smiled quietly: "Li Yuanjun is not worried about Li Taibao?" ”

Tuoba Guang raised his eyes and glanced at Chai Rong, and said unceremoniously: "Didn't the king find out?" The situation in Guanzhong has always been balanced, and the vassals are not subordinate to each other, but they are jointly respected by the king, but since the sudden rise of Li Wenge in Yanzhou, this balance no longer exists, and today's Guanzhong has gradually regained signs of unification......"

Chai Rong smiled: "Isn't it good? Since the Don. The world has been falling apart for a long time, and the people are suffering from war, whether it is His Majesty or the lonely king, they all hope that the world can return to unification as soon as possible, and the people will have a time to live and work in peace and contentment......"

Tuoba Guang sneered: "That depends." Is Guanzhong mixed with the imperial court or mixed with Li Wenge......"

Chai Rong's face turned cold: "Make Jun cautious, Li Wenge is the right general of the imperial court, not a vassal king who divides the court and fights against the imperial court. This kind of divisive trick, don't use it in Bianjing to make people laugh, right? ”

Tuoba Guang was not discouraged, and said sincerely: "Your Majesty, please think deeply, whether Li Wenge has any personal dissent, and the lower officials dare not say anything. However, the world's major events have always been the times that create heroes, and once Li Wenge became the climate in Guanzhong, his people were after the former Tang Dynasty. The identity is prominent, and he responds to every call in Guanzhong. At that time, even if his own family is unwilling to divide the territory, will those soldiers and ministers who follow him on his expedition still be able to endure it? Although the people in Guanzhong are withered, the eight hundred miles of Qinchuan are the anointed land of the year, and the capital of the emperor's industry is like a subordination in Guanzhong. The right land of Longyou, Hexi, will return to the surname Li sooner or later, and then the king will still be able to sit firmly in Bianjing and be the prince of this half of the country? ”

Chai Rong's eyelids drooped: "Make you eloquent, no wonder King Xiping sent you an envoy even if he knew that you were sick." With this rhetoric, even if you can't say that you can't move your father and the Chinese book, as long as it spreads, it will be difficult for General Li to use troops at the front with peace of mind, so that he can calculate......"

In the past few days, Tuoba Guang has been walking around the capital repeatedly, and has visited the three prime ministers of Zhongshu, Fan Zhen, Li Gu, and Wang Pu, as well as the prefects of the Privy Council. Even the boss of the forbidden army used silver money to get through a few houses. The big people in the court who can speak, except for Chai Rong, he has walked all over the place. Of course, these people are all people who have become elite in the officialdom, and naturally they will not agree to his request to frame Li Wenge, who is favored by Guo Wei, but for the sake of heavy courtesy, they also politely met with this envoy from the northwest.

There was only one exception, Tuoba Guang ate in front of the door of the famous peacemaker Zhongshu Ling Feng Dao, and he couldn't even send the gift list.

Only then did Tuoba Guang know that the incorruptible reputation of this old man with a mixed reputation was not a lie......

Now it has been debunked by Chai Rong. Tuoba Guang was not embarrassed, he arched his hand: "The king's words are serious, what he said is true." What General Li personally plans is not known, only known. If the imperial court allowed General Li to annex the four states of Yinxia. Looking at Guanzhong, there is no one who is the opponent of General Li. Although the eight departments of Pingxia are different from the imperial court, they have no ambition to annex the Central Plains and compete with the imperial court, and the Han people regard us as beasts, so they will not surrender to us, so even if the Pingxia Department is rebellious, it is only a border trouble of the imperial court after all, if Li Wenge is based in Guanzhong, he is a descendant of the Han royal family, and he cultivates in Guanzhong, and has an excellent reputation, once he stands on his own, it is the trouble of the court's henchmen......"

Chai Rong smiled: "I don't understand, I don't understand these words, I didn't say it sooner or later, and it was not until today that King Xiping remembered that he wanted to make the king come to the capital to say it to the court and His Majesty." But I don't know if King Xiping didn't understand this truth, or did King Xiping understand it before, but he refused to say it to the court? ”

Tuoba Guang frowned, how could he not understand the meaning of Chai Rongdi's words, after thinking for a while, he said: "Originally, my uncle and Da Zhou were enemies, so naturally there was nothing to say, but now that I am obedient, I am a courtier of the court, so I naturally have to say everything......"

Chai Rong's tone cooled down again: "If there is no General Li's troops to press the border, can the King of Xiping and the imperial court turn enemies into friends so easily?" ”

Tuoba Guang raised his head and said very earnestly: "I have no intention of going into details, just came to see the king, I just hope that the king and the emperor can understand." The eight tribes of Pingxia were left in the northwest, which was beneficial to the imperial court, and what the imperial court hoped for was actually just a tribe willing to submit. Now that we have surrendered, the purpose of the imperial court has been achieved, at this moment Li Wenge's army is no longer beneficial to the imperial court, even if our clan is destroyed, the four states of Yinxia will not only not be able to return to the king in the short term, but will become Li Wenge's private force, this is a reality. There are no eternal enemies or eternal friends, only eternal gains. ”

Chai Rong stood up lightly, looked at Tuoba Guang lightly and said: "Thank you for being honest, please tell the king of Xiping, if you really want to get the court's forgiveness, you will ask General Li to surrender, after the eight departments are submitted, the court will naturally open up to Pingxia, whether it is to enter the court guards, or to guard the west, you can discuss, understand?" ”

Tuoba Guang was shocked, he stood up suddenly, his mouth open but he couldn't speak!

Chai Rong sneered: "The envoy is a rare smart person, you must know, whether it is balance or intimacy, the court looks at people and matters, and has its own laws and regulations of the court." Even if the imperial court really had concerns about General Li and really wanted to cut General Li's military power, it would never be because of a few words from the Pingxia envoy...... Please remember that before you surrender to the court, King Xiping and you are still enemies of the court, and your majesty and the court will never hinder the general of the imperial court because of the enemy's words--you must make a counter-plan, so that you should go to Jinling, and Bianliang - not the place where you should come! ”