After entering Beijing, Li Kui was very busy.

Going back and forth between the Ministry of Industry and the Taishi Bureau all day long, as well as the Ordnance Department of the Privy Council, the emperor has ordered Su Song, Han Gonglian and others to work together to cast cannons.

As for the weapon of cannon, the Ministry of Engineering and the Craftsman Supervision are at a loss. Li Kui had no choice but to make a request using the standard of casting a bell. Fortunately, although the yamen had not been exposed to the casting of cannons, they had a lot of experience in making large bells.

Temples need large bells.

Taoist temples also need large bells.

The Great Song Dynasty was a very religious dynasty, and there were many wills for the construction of royal bells.

Fortunately, Li Kui also brought the physical object from the northwest, but the physical object was placed in the ordnance workshop of the Ministry of Industry, but it was short and not very powerful.

On weekdays, it is no problem to use it on the battlefield, but the emperor clearly wants to use it for celebrations, so it will not be done.

Compared with the shoddy work of the craftsmen in the northwest, the craftsmen in the capital showed a more dedicated attitude. To supervise the construction of the bell, the material is the most important. The sound of the bronze bell is crisp and long, the key is to refine the copper to do enough, the best is the five refining copper, the best is the seven refining copper, with the style of supervision is also much simpler. The Taishi Bureau is relatively simple, and their main task is to supervise the construction of cannon mounts.

After receiving this job, the Taishi Bureau was very happy at first.

But after looking at the pattern, the excitement suddenly fell by more than half.

The main reason is that the structure is too simple, the water transport instrument elephant platform supervised by the Taishi Bureau before, and the clock tower that is still under construction now, is it not much more complicated than the gun rack?

Let the Taishi Bureau, who is almost obsessed with technology, cast the gun carriage, which originally made the technical powerhouse Han Gonglian very dissatisfied, it was too simple, and it did not show the wisdom of the Taishi Bureau. And Su Song, who almost lives in the Taishi Bureau, is very disdainful of this kind of carpenter work, and after finding Li Kui, he immediately said that he wanted to innovate: "Renjie, the old man came to you because he had a new idea, you came to the staff officer!" ”

He said that he was a staff officer, but even the drawings and even the models were made.

But looking at the model, Li Kui can't see why. The exterior looks like a wagon, tightly wrapped. But it's more like a van, a kind of car for shops in Tokyo that help move people, and it's very tall and long.

Seeing that Li Kui was confused, Su Song smiled proudly: "Renjie, this is the design of the old man and Han Gonglian, I don't know how many times stronger than your carpentry frame." ”

Han Gonglian nodded with a smile on the side, indicating that he also had a share of his credit.

Li Kui can accept other innovations, but the cannon rack is ...... How can this thing be innovated?

As he spoke, Su Song fiddled with the mechanism of the model, and the model, which was smaller than the chair, suddenly opened the baffle, and then the black holes in the muzzle made of wood were arranged neatly, as if they were ...... The Great Song version of the Demon Alteration rocket launcher, or the kind of rocket artillery rack with at least twenty rounds, appeared in front of Li Kui.

A drop of cold sweat seeped out of Li Kui's forehead, what the hell is this?

If the artillery is loaded like this, it seems to have an endless deterrent of firepower. But if you really want to use it, no matter how sturdy the shelf is, it has to fall apart. And after the cannon is fired, how to reload is a big problem.

"Boss, this is not going to work!" Li Kui swallowed his saliva, and only the civil officials of the Great Song Dynasty could come up with such wonderful ideas. In addition to being officials, although scientists are a niche hobby, there are really many civil officials who are deeply involved in it and cannot extricate themselves.

Su Song is obviously the highest-ranking of these ministers.

The method that he finally came up with was ruthlessly rejected by Li Kui, which made Su Song, who was confident in his design, very unhappy, and blew his beard and said, "Why can't it?" Renjie, if you don't say that you are ugly today, the old man will not agree. ”

Why can there only be one barrel in an artillery rack?

Li Kui couldn't say this question clearly. He has known for as long as he can remember the fact that only one barrel can be installed on the artillery rack, so is it okay to add one barrel? Li Kui will nod in agreement when he is mostly ignorant, maybe he can. But with twenty barrels, is this still artillery? What the hell is this thing made to work? In the dirt in the wilderness, what kind of animal can pull such a large object? To face the face of Master Su Song, Li Kui must also be thoughtful about his face when he says anything, and he must raise his thumb in his attitude, and shout in a subdued tone: "High, really high!" ”

But the problem is, it's easy to say otherwise, the artillery thing, such a whole thing will definitely kill people!

Su Song looked at his design in a tangled manner, and couldn't help but complain: "You can shoot thousands of troops and horses in one breath, isn't it?" ”

Of course, it is incense to be able to shoot thousands of troops and horses on the battlefield, but the question is, who dares to order this thing? Twenty artillery salvos in one breath, if there is such a cannon rack, it cannot be said to be a cannon rack, but a 'big killing weapon', not to mention that the Tanguts have to kneel. The people of Liao also have to kneel, and now the world will definitely not be able to stop the destruction of such artifacts, so the world will become the world of the Great Song Dynasty. Even if Li Kui went to Europa, it was not impossible to build a colony.

Even if the gun rack is as stable as Mount Tai and as solid as a rock, there is no danger of falling apart.

But the question is, what weight should twenty guns be stacked together?

What kind of animal can move?

Besides, field artillery needs to be moved and steered, how to fix it?

Facing the lost Su Song, Li Kui had no choice but to remind softly: "Boss, isn't this artillery piece transported from the northwest?" Didn't you think about drawing pictures according to objects? ”

"Oh, you said the cannon was sent? The people in the Ministry of Engineering thought that the material was not good, it was too small, and it had no momentum. Simply stay aside, ready to build a new one, and when the new artillery comes out, you see the physical custody like. Su Song said disapprerovingly. It is precisely because of the many things of the people in the Ministry of Industry that this aroused the design desire of Mr. Su Song. But how did he know that his words scared Li Kui half to death.

Li Kui was shocked: "What do they think? Ready to follow your old design? ”

"No, just zoom in. But the old man thinks that as long as he has a good idea, he might as well take it out and give it a try. Su Song was unconvinced and said: "If according to the samples you brought, how can such a rudimentary weapon be worthy of the prestige of my dignified Huaxia Zhenguo artifact?" ”

When Li Kui said this, he was speechless.

It's not his fault that the artillery looks ugly! He also knew that the uglier thing was that he didn't have time to take it out.

Su Song waved his hand, and the servants beside him hurriedly took his design away. Then Han Gonglian came up with a shy face and said: "Renjie, look at my design, it must be reliable." ”

"You're not going to build a carriage shed with cannon barrels, are you?"

"No, I've heard that the soldiers from the Beijing camp said that the artillery is very repulsive, and Anduo not only can't get twice the result with half the effort, but there will be hidden dangers." After Han Gonglian finished speaking, he said to his subordinates: "Bring my model." ”

There are no problems with the gun racks.

But what makes Li Kui speechless is, what do you mean by superimposing three cannon barrels on one gun rack?

"It's not going to work."

"Why can't it work, three horses can definitely pull it." Han Gonglian insisted on his own opinion, and had the slightest intention of putting Li Kui, an authoritative artillery expert, in his eyes.

Su Song, Li Kui has to let him, this is not only a problem for the elders, but also helped him a lot, plus his noble status, Li Kui can only persuade him.

But Han Gonglian, this product was originally his subordinate, Li Kui pulled his face and said: "If I say no, it won't work, there is no reason to talk about it, you just need to implement it." ”

"You!"

Han Gonglian used to cooperate well with Li Kui, but he didn't expect Li Kui to turn his face and not recognize anyone, pointed at Li Kui angrily, snorted coldly and turned around and ran away.

Su Song looked at Han Gonglian's back, a slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and said to Li Kui: "This kid will definitely go back and build an artillery rack of his own design, even with the artillery, so that you can see his talent in construction." ”

"But no, my lord, I'll tell you clearly, right?" Li Kui paused and said: "Artillery uses the explosion of gunpowder to promote the projectile to launch, and the repulsion force is very large. If three cannon barrels are erected on a gun rack, it is nothing if the entire rack is destroyed, but once the gun barrel pops out of the shelf, it is the power of hundreds of pounds of boulders, who can resist ordinary people? ”

"Is it really that powerful?"

Su Song was taken aback and stared at Li Kui for an answer.

Li Kui nodded vigorously and said, "It's really so powerful, even more powerful than this." The artillery is powerful, but at the same time it is also very dangerous, in the process of fighting, because the materials cast in the northwest are not good, there has been a cannon chamber explosion, and a large number of soldiers around have been killed and wounded, all of which are instantaneous, and they can't even react. ”

"Silk—"

Su Song gasped and pondered: "In this way, I have to give Han Gonglian a wake-up call." In case of a business trip, it's not a trivial matter. But the problem is that His Majesty intends to regard artillery as the strongest of my Great Song martial arts, and once the test results are satisfactory, it is likely to be named the artifact of Zhenguo. Renjie, don't say that the old man didn't remind you, although there are not many ministers in the court who like to build, there are still more than a dozen, but they are hidden and tucked on weekdays, and there is no intention to show it. This time, His Majesty intends to give the 'Zhenguo Artifact', which is like the water in the pond has dried up. ”

"What do you mean?"

"The eight kings have crawled out!" Su Song was ridiculed for liking to create, and seeing the embarrassed colleagues who laughed at him in the past, he had a taste of schadenfreude.

But Li Kui didn't listen to this at all, and the important ministers in the court probably didn't have the heart to think about designing the Zhenguo artifact, even if they liked it, they wouldn't engage in any artillery design competition. And once the emperor intends to make a big show and give the prestige of the Zhenguo artifact, there will inevitably be many people who will join in to give advice. If the idea is right, it is not a matter of how the idea can be realized. The key is that Li Kui is sure that these people are here to help.

But there are many old men who are stuck in the eye, taking a back seat, enjoying the honor, but thinking about the old man who will go down in history. For Li Kui, this is the most difficult group to deal with.

"Boss, you need to help me."

Su Song really went to the road and gave Li Kui a list and said: "The old man guesses that there are only so many people, and those with small official positions don't need to give face, and they directly return their patterns." There are a few people who are not easy to deal with, they are old, and their temper is not small, in case of quarrel and they are angry, you can't get out of it. But the old man can help you. ”

"Thank you, sir." Li Kui hurriedly thanked him.

Su Song stretched out his hand to stop Li Kui, and said leisurely: "But the old man's design ......"

"Still not working!" Li Kui gestured: "The repulsion is very large, such a high cannon rack will be overturned." And if there are too many barrels, it will cause concussions, and it will fall apart after one point. ”

"You kid, you don't know what's going on. Could it be that the cannon you made is bigger than the rebuke of the octagonal bed crossbow? Su Song was unconvinced.

Li Kui said: "Big, much bigger." ”

For veteran scientists, rigor is the best way to convince them. Su Song blinked his dry eyelids a few times and asked, "Don't lie to me!" ”

"Don't dare!"

"Forget it, it seems that the name will go down in history and the old man will be lost."

Li Kui was speechless for a moment, it seemed that people can't escape the words fame and fortune when they live, Su Song used to be a decent person. Back then, because Emperor Shenzong wanted to appoint Li Ding as the supervisor of the imperial history, Su Song, who was a scholar of Hanlin and knew the order, had the main responsibility of writing the holy decree, but after he received the emperor's order, he refused to agree in the face of Emperor Shenzong's anger, saying: "Li Ding is a villain and is not worthy of being a supervisor of the imperial history." ”

Li Ding is either someone else, or one of the imperial histories who framed Su Shi and dominated the Wutai poetry case.

It can be seen that Su Song's character is a very decent person. Moreover, he is also old. At the time of the Qingli New Deal, although he was a small official, he was also an official who strongly supported the New Deal. It was precisely because of the small official that Su Song was not affected. Xining's change, that is, when Wang Anshi changed the law, Su Song was already in the Hanlin Bachelor's Ranks, and he also supported the change at the beginning, but he was forced into the camp of conservatives. It can be seen how excessively the Fa-changers did back then.

For several days in a row, Li Kui walked among many mansions of old adults with strange tempers, stubborn personalities, and clear ideas.

Convince one, rise up one.

Annoys him.

But these old men are considered to be old ministers who have worked hard for the Great Song Dynasty all their lives, and they resigned when they had no energy to be officials. Because the emperor kept him, he stayed in the capital.

Those who can be retained by the emperor are not ordinary statuses.

Of course, these old men don't have no eyesight at all, and they just know how to rely on the old and sell the old. are all veterans of officialdom who have been tested for a long time, knowing that young people are angry, sugar-coated shells are fired at Li Kui one after another, some introduce famous and famous actors, some share their favorites with Li Kui, and there are countless dancing girl troupes, cultural toys and antiquities, and countless elegant things.

But Li Kui didn't dare to ask for it at all!

After returning home after a busy day's work, Li Kui's mood calmed down a little, and he lay in the yard panting half-dead.

I can't live this day, it's more tiring than fighting on the battlefield.

In a daze, he seemed to wake up from sleep under the corridor, and heard the sound of quarreling in his ears: "Little Er, my brother will help you explore the road today, don't be angry, when my brother gets rich another day, I will take you with me." ”

"Friends and relatives of heavy colors, I don't believe you anymore! Besides, it's useless to have money in that place. ”

Ruan Xiaoer's indignant complaint finally broke out. said loudly to Li Bangyan: "The master wants you, an untrustworthy guy, to cut off his robe and break his righteousness, and he will never get along with each other from now on." ”

"No, you leave my letter, but can you leave our family?"

Li Bangyan pointed out the loopholes in Nguyen Xiaoer's oath. At the same time, he begged for mercy: "Speaking of which, brother, I originally took you to play near Taixue, why did you go to that kind of place?" ”

Ruan Xiaoer said indignantly: "And you haven't spent money yet." ”

"yes, it didn't cost anything. The people of Tokyo are so welcoming. I decided that I must become a student. Li Bangyan didn't have any money in his pocket at all, he originally asked Ruan Xiaoer to go to Taixue to find a fellow villager, but in fact, he just went out with a wallet, he knew that Ruan Xiaoer didn't value money, especially his brain was not good, and he was very easy to deceive. As for saying that he has friends in Taixue, don't think that this is false, although Li Bangyan is the son of a craftsman, he is still a little famous in Hedong Road. It's not that he is the most talented in the state capital, but he won't let go of any opportunity to make friends.

I don't have any money in my pocket, so I'm busy helping out, even if it's to find out the news, I'm doing my best, just to be able to talk to the lifters and participate in the meeting. Over time, Li Bangyan has gained some reputation in the local area, and when he runs errands and the like, passers-by will ask him for help.

Li Bangyan said that he has friends who are studying in Taixue, but it is not necessarily nonsense.

Li Kui was woken up, and in the dark, he saw clearly that it was Li Bangyan and Ruan Xiaoer with the lantern hanging under the porch, so he asked, "What are you arguing about?" ”

"My lord, you know that a new hook has been opened near Taixue, and the girls in it are filled with water spirits one by one, as long as they make couplets, they can become guests of the curtain without spending money. Another day, the villain will lead the way for the adults. ”

Li Bangyan found out that it was Li Kui, and immediately flattered him and stepped forward to ask for credit.

Pairs?

Bordello?

Don't want money?

Li Kui tilted his head, why did it sound so familiar?

Seeing that Li Kui's face was uncertain, and he thought that Li Kui would not be able to get on the stage because he was an official, Li Bangyan flattered and said: "My lord, this kind of thing naturally can't go during the day, let's go at night!" Today, the villain went early, and he didn't have a chance to see the Oiran, and the villain will lead the way to the adults another day, and the talents of the adults will impress these vassal and elegant dust women, isn't it easy to capture? ”

Damn, Li Kui finally remembered that this matter had something to do with him.

Besides, Li Kui knows better who the owner of this hook fence is, and the girl in it must be amazing, and she was once a woman from a good family. But...... Li Kui said to Li Bangyan with a calm face: "You are not allowed to go, and you are not allowed to go in the future!" ”

"Why?"

Li Bangyan looked at Li Kui in surprise, as if he wanted to find an answer. This kind of good place is most suitable for a young man like him who has no money in his pocket, is handsome, and can't stand loneliness, and the master is too lenient, right?

"My lord, this is the joy of humanity, and the joy of reciting poetry as a pair, it is the elegance of a scholar, why don't you let me go?" Li Bangyan, who is usually kind to everyone, is angry, and he thinks that Li Kui is too lenient and must fight back.

Li Kui didn't want to tell Li Bangyan the truth, his mouth was still very tight, so he knocked on the side and said: "Do you know that Zhang Xiang was taken to the mansion by the beauty of the incense car?" ”

Li Bangyan likes to listen to these stories, and the past of Zhang Dian was blown up to the gods, and it was said by Zhang Dian himself at the banquet, which is very credible. Coupled with street hearsay, the story has long since turned sour.

Li Bangyan immediately nodded and said, "I heard that the beauty of the mansion is like a cloud, and the chapter is almost squeezed dry!" ”

"You're in the same situation." Li Kui sneered: "Do you think it's difficult to be right? ”

"Is the fence a street welcome?"

"Do the girls show up?"

"This is a rich and noble family pulling a scholar who doesn't know the truth to ask for a son, and if they don't toss you to the point that they don't look like a human, they won't let you out at all." Li Kui touched his chin and looked at Ruan Xiaoer, feeling that it was too easy to come back, and pointed at Ruan Xiaoer and said, "I guess Ruan Xiaoer is waiting for you on the street, so that you can avoid the pain of being imprisoned!" ”

Li Bangyan thought of the tragic situation of his exhaustion to death, and vaguely felt a pinprick in his waist, and covered his waist with a pale face, obviously consuming a lot of money, and there was a kind of rejoicing for the rest of his life after the catastrophe: "It's so dangerous!" ”