……

After Zhao Zhe encouraged them again, he asked them all to retreat. But Zhao Zhe knew that even Wei Meng could implement his ideas perfectly. The strength of the army of the Great Zhao Empire may not be completely satisfactory to him. After all, he knows very well what those countries in Europe are doing now. If you can't increase the comprehensive national strength of the Great Zhao Empire, let alone your own children and grandchildren, I'm afraid that you, the emperor, will suffer the humiliation of foreign oppression.

didn't make any noise, Zhao Zhe changed into his son's civilian clothes again. Lightly armed, he took a carriage out of the north gate of the capital, and went straight to the department of the organ under the command of the Ministry of Industry. This is exactly the place that bears his certain ideals, hopes. Months had passed, although he knew that there would not be many achievements in years, if not decades, of these things. But he still wanted to see how Xu Linglong handled things.

In a carriage, accompanied by Xu Linglong's father, Xu Hong, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry. According to Xu Hong, after Linglong went to the mountains in the north, he hadn't gone home once in the past few months, but he sent someone to visit a few times. However, according to the report of the official sent by the Ministry of Industry to manage various chores for Linglong, Xu Linglong spent money to prepare all kinds of strange materials in addition to letting him build the construction site. Of course, recruiting people is indispensable. In a royal annex that served as a temporary research place for the Department of Organs, nearly a thousand people had already lived in it. What blacksmiths, carpenters, alchemists, farmers, herdsmen, hunters, etc. Of course, Linglong is not a personal want, she wants to be very strict, and she needs to be the person who has the title she can accept.

Zhao Zhe was in the luxury carriage, served by two maids, Bauhinia and Peony. While chatting with Xu Hong, he was pondering something in his head. It took an hour and a half, and it was already dark, to get to the royal palace that served as the headquarters of the Agency.

Even if Zhao Zhe had never been to this courtyard, he knew that this courtyard had been tossed beyond recognition at this time. Some walls have collapsed, while others have lost a corner. The various rare trees and plants in the courtyard do not know how they have been destroyed and staggered, and they are not in shape. It made Zhao Zhe cry and laugh a little, and Xu Hong was embarrassed.

However, Zhao Zhe had already heard that the courtyard of Xu Hong's house was not much better than this. And Xu Hong didn't dare to keep any precious flowers and plants in his home.

"Boom!" Zhao Zhe, who had just stepped into the courtyard not long ago, heard a thunderous roar in the backyard, which made the imperial guards nervously protect Zhao Zhe in front of him. It was Zhao Zhe, but he heard it clearly, this should be the sound of the so-called red-clothed cannon. Come to think of it, Xu Linglong still likes to play with cannons.

A cadre of officials stationed here by the Ministry of Industry heard that Shangshu Xu Hong had arrived, and hurriedly ran out. One by one, they were described as haggard and disheveled, as if they had not eaten well and rested for many days. When he saw Xu Hong, he began to cry and beg to leave this ghost place. At the beginning, I heard that this was a new division, and after joining, it was basically promoted to a higher level, and everyone was very happy, even if they had to go through some doors. Now that he really came in, he was tortured inhumanly by Xu Linglong. All kinds of strange orders, even if it is three watches in the middle of the night, they have to do it immediately. If anyone dares to be sloppy, Xu Linglong will never let them have a good time. First, Linglong's official position is higher than theirs, and secondly, she is not only the daughter of Shangshu, but also the person handpicked by the emperor. Three, they can't fight her, if she provokes her, she doesn't care about thirty-seven twenty-one, whatever is dangerous and everything will greet them. Until a lazy official was almost blown down by her with a red-clothed cannon, no one dared to disobey her.

Xu Hong was so embarrassed by them that he suddenly became angry and said, "What kind of system have you all become? The emperor is here. ”

Emperor? They were all dumbfounded and looked at Zhao Zhe. Although according to their positions, if they are not called, they are not qualified to meet the emperor. But seeing that Zhao Zhe had an extraordinary bearing and stood half a step in front of Xu Hong, he didn't expect him to be the emperor. Hurriedly knelt down one by one: "Weichen knocked on the emperor, long live my emperor, long live long live." ”

"This wilderness is not in the Forbidden City, there are not so many rules. Rise up, all Aiqing. I have heard all your grievances just now. Zhao Zhe smiled and said: "I also know that you have all worked hard, so let's do it, Xu Hong, give them a credit when you go back, and reward them with more silver first." In the future, if there is any beauty difference, give them more priority. ”

"Obey." Xu Hong bowed in response, turned to look at them and said, "What are you still doing in a daze?" Don't thank you yet. ”

"Thank you, Lord Longen, long live my emperor, long live, long live." Yiganzi's originally depressed and sluggish officials all seemed to have taken aphrodisiacs, and the dragon spirit and tiger became fierce. Originally, coming to this ghost place was already an official promotion, but now that the emperor has spoken, he can be promoted to another level in the near future. Where can I find this kind of good thing? Even if this place is hard and tiring, you have to stay. What's more, being able to meet the emperor and be personally rewarded by the emperor Longkou is also a proud bargain and promotion after going back.

Not to mention what the officials were thinking. Zhao Zhe, accompanied by them, went straight to the backyard where Xu Linglong was doing experiments. The originally beautiful backyard of the mountain, not to mention the wall or something, even the back mountain, was bombed into a cliff full of holes from the root. In the wide backyard, there are more than a dozen strange cannons, and even Zhao Zhe is a little puzzled by strange-shaped cannons lined up. Under more than 100 torches and lanterns, the whole venue is brightly lit.

And hundreds of people in ragged clothes and stains on their faces are excitedly surrounding one person, squeaking and chattering non-stop. Zhao Zhe stopped the officials from singing. Carrying his hands on his back, he walked over without stopping their discussion. Just listen with your ears and look with your eyes. There was one thing that surprised Zhao Zhe a little, among the hundreds of people, there were more than a dozen people who were blonde and blue-eyed Caucasians. One by one, they were half-baked Chinese, mixed with various English words, and communicated with Xu Linglong. I don't know where Xu Linglong got it from.

Zhao Zhe frowned slightly, and invited the officials to come over and ask in a low voice, only to learn from them that some of these foreigners were Xu Linglong's former friends, and some were attracted by the high talent reward.

Zhao Zhe knows very well that Europe is now in the first period of scientific and technological explosion, and there are still many talents. At least, Xu Linglong can absorb a lot of things from them. But foreigners are good when they are used well. But if it is not of my race, its heart will be different. What if someone steals the technology back to China when Linglong makes something new?

Knowing all about the request, Zhao Zhe kept whispering something to several officials. It's kind encouragement again. made those officials excited one by one. Straight down the voice means that the task will be completed. Research is not what they are good at. But intrigue and playing with some hearts and minds are not comparable to these scientific researchers.

Zhao Zhe's requirements are very simple, for the talents among foreigners, they can enter but not leave. Even if it's a scrap material coming in, then be ready to die here. Zhao Zhe turned around and prepared to station an army of tens of thousands of people here, and no one was allowed to enter or leave at will. Science and technology have always been the lifeblood of a country, and if they are not properly protected, they will only make themselves suffer.

Not to mention the foreigners, Zhao Zhe stared at the cannon that Xu Linglong was fiddling with. Compared to a normal redcoat cannon, its barrel is much slimmer and smaller. On the gun mount, two wheels were added. However, judging from the three brackets extending from the gun mount and the slightly suspended wheels, the wheels are only used for walking, not for firing guns. What made Zhao Zhe's eyes shine the most was that the wheels were wrapped with a layer of black rubber. Rubber is a good thing, and modern industry is indispensable for this kind of thing.

In addition, when I saw Xu Linglong fiddling. There is also a gearing system on the gun mount. With the joystick, you can adjust the up and down angles of the barrel.

Obviously, this is a newly designed cannon, and Xu Linglong and the others are testing the surname of this cannon. I saw that she went into battle in person, carried a "cannonball" with a fuse, opened the rifle door, and stuffed it in. When Zhao Zhe saw the so-called "cannonball", he also smiled dumbly. This Linglong was indeed a genius, but after a little inspiration from him, he came up with the idea of a cannonball that combined gunpowder and warhead. In this way, as long as the "shells" are prefabricated at the beginning, they will be convenient and quick to use on the battlefield, and a lot of effort and danger will be saved.

Someone else began to wait on the cliff wall, and hung a wooden target with a rope. Xu Linglong, on the other hand, began to adjust the angle of the artillery slightly. Not long after, she used a torch to light the fuse that the shell was exposed.

The sound kept ringing, and everyone fled for a few feet. The expression was both excited and nervous, staring at the cannon and the target.

In that atmosphere, even Zhao Zhe felt that his breathing was a little short. Staring at it deadly. Originally, those officials wanted to cover their ears and run away, but seeing that Zhao Zhe was not moving, how could they dare to move, so they had to grit their teeth, and their faces were a little pale and ugly.

Boom~

The cannon made a thunderous noise, and the huge recoil force caused the muzzle to rise and fall suddenly, and the tongue of fire at the muzzle of the cannon was secretly spitting.

Almost at the same time, there was a bang, and the wooden target was shattered by the shell. The cliff wall was also hit hard by the cannonballs and the rubble flew away, smashing out a small pothole.

……

(To be continued)