March 12.

Pray for rain on a rainy day.

The emperor took the monarchs and ministers out of the city, and Zhang Zhou also went out of the city, but he was not the same as the monarchs and ministers who went to the Temple of Heaven and Earth and other places to pray for rain, because he wanted to go out of the city to test the cannon.

With him, in addition to the eunuch Yang Peng sent by Dongchang, there were also the commander of Jinyiwei, Guo Ang, the envoy of Beizhen Fusi, and several people from Jinyiwei's hundred households, Sun Shangqi and the Ministry of Industry.

"Mr. Zhang."

Before the group could reach the city gate, Xiao Jing's carriage also arrived.

Xiao Jing got out of the carriage and looked at Zhang Zhou with a smile.

"Didn't Gonggong Xiao follow His Majesty to pray for rain? How did it end up here? Zhang Zhou looked at Xiao Jing curiously.

Although there is one word missing in your name, is it appropriate for you Xiao Jing to go to this kind of thing as praying for rain?

"Huh." Xiao Jing smiled, "Our family specially accompanied Mr. Zhang out of the city today, and it was also ordered by His Majesty. By the way, our family also found someone to greet Tang Yin and told him that in fact, he had nobles behind him to help, and he also said that he would come to thank you and admit defeat to you. ”

"Really?"

Zhang Zhou didn't think it was important to talk to Tang Yin about winning or losing at this time.

There have been too many things about him recently, so Tang Yin is going to stay where it is cool.

Xiao Jing walked with Zhang Zhou for a while, and said with a smile: "He knows that it is a great thing to be able to worship your master, can he not be enlightened?" ”

"Hehe, now I have to think about whether to accept this junior brother or not."

Zhang Zhou said, looking at the bustling crowd: "There are a lot of people today. ”

Xiao Jing smiled and narrowed his eyes and said, "Sir, didn't you say it?" Today, I want to make some more noises in the crowd, and now not only the people of the capital, but also the people of the entire Shuntianfu know that His Majesty wants to pray for rain. ”

Zhang Zhou turned around and glanced at Xiao Jing.

The heart said that no wonder the old boy didn't go to the scene of praying for rain, and you were ordered to observe public opinion?

What else do you want to go out of the city with me to test the gun? By the way, right?

"Grandpa Xiao, do you have any plans to change your name recently?" Zhang Zhou asked.

Xiao Jing was surprised: "What does Mr. Zhang mean?" ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "I think that the Tengsheng character is more suitable for you, and it may also be helpful for today's prayer for rain." ”

"Really?" Xiao Jing smiled bitterly.

Where is this?

Yan smiled. Okay, go back to the carriage and talk about it when you get to the place? ”

"You ......"

Xiao Jing wanted to say, let's ride together, on the way, I happened to tell our family what is special about this new cannon, why don't you give a chance to meet alone?

……

……

Zhang Zhou was about to enter the court as a civil official, and he began to gradually avoid contact with internal officials.

Especially what kind of private talks, peers, etc......

Not for anything else, for the sake of his reputation, he also avoided it as much as possible, although he knew that many times it may be unavoidable, who let the emperor have nothing to do and let this group of internal officials come to greet him and communicate?

The group marched out of the city.

This time, I didn't go to the south of the city, but to the north of the city.

Zhang Zhou wants to test the cannon, if he is on the side of the emperor, others will think that he has some bad intentions.

Finally got out of the carriage, and the Governor's Mansion also sent someone to pull the cannon, and the British Duke Zhang Mao appeared next to the cannon with his grandson Zhang Lun.

"British duke? You...... How is it there? Aren't you supposed to be in the south of the city? ”

Zhang Zhou frowned and looked at Zhang Mao.

What's the matter with you, old man Zhang? This will be the monarch and the ministers are praying for rain, your British duke, as the head of the Ming Dynasty, actually ran north of the city?

Zhang Mao said with a smile: "The old man is going to let his grandson Zhang Lun see more, I heard that Bingkuan tested the cannon today, and he was specially brought here." This is the will of the request. By the way, Bingkuan, I heard that these cannons were transported? ”

"You all stand down first." Xiao Jing waved his hand, meaning that no one else should listen here.

The details of the war in Liaodong are the top secret of the Ming Dynasty.

Guo Ang and the others went to the side first, but Zhang Mao didn't mean to retire his grandson, probably saying, my grandson will also be a pillar of the Ming Dynasty in the future, what can't he listen to?

Zhang Zhoudao: "That's right, this kind of cannon was cast at the beginning of the year, and it was cast by Wang Gongchang with the research and casting, and it was originally intended to be cast before February, so as to pass the first battle, but because of the complex casting process, only a dozen doors were cast at the beginning of March. ”

"Bingkuan, you are really ...... Versatile. ”

Zhang Mao didn't know how to describe Zhang Zhou's ability.

said that he was a monk, but he was actually a person who was about to become a jinshi, and even more so he engaged in these strange things.

Xiao Jing was puzzled: "Mr. Zhang, why is this cannon ...... And such a big hole? ”

The Ming Dynasty cast artillery.

However, because the iron smelting technology of the Ming Dynasty was backward, the artillery made was heavy and ineffective, the quality of the iron was not good, the density distribution was uneven, and it was easy to explode.

The one made by Zhang Zhou was imported from Europe after the middle of the Ming Dynasty, or the "Franc cannon" was obtained from the Franc pirates.

"It's a child cannon." Zhang Zhou explained, "This is the mother cannon, the mother cannon does not add ammunition, the other side is the sub-cannon, after a fire, the sub-cannon can be disassembled and replaced immediately, so that four or five cannons can be issued in an instant, plus the weight of this sub-cannon is not large, even four or five people can move, it is more convenient to adjust the direction, and it is a sharp weapon for war raids." ”

Zhang Mao asked: "Bingkuan, as far as the old man knows, this artillery is the most airtight, you have such a big gap, can the sub-cannon and the mother cannon match?" That...... Isn't it too far? ”

"Try it." Zhang Zhou smiled.

Are you kidding?

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, this is not an ordinary Franc cannon, it is an improved version, and the material is no longer the copper and iron used in this era, but steel.

Full "steel cannon".

And even the Franc cannon with poor material in history has a firing range of 500 meters, and even the Hongyi cannon, which was popular in the war in the late Ming Dynasty, has a range of about 1,000 meters.

The range of my improved version of the Franc cannon is close to 800 meters.

As for the Hongyi cannon...... I'm sorry, but there isn't so much steel, and I haven't produced the first shovel of coal in my mine.

And that kind of cannon is of little significance to the Ming border army for the time being, just use a light child and mother cannon.

What kind of bike do you want?

……

……

South of the city, Temple of Heaven and Earth.

After the monarch arrived, Zhu Houzhao followed behind his father, grabbing his head from time to time, as if the prince's clothes made him very uncomfortable.

"What's that?"

Zhu Hou looked at the things flying over his head and pointed.

Liu Jin hurriedly came over and reminded: "Your Royal Highness the Prince, that's a bee, it will sting, you be careful." ”

Zhu Houzhao said: "That's a bee?" Hongu wears such a flowery outfit, it treats Hongu's clothes as flowers, right? Hehe. ”

was smiling, and when he noticed that his father was looking at him, he quickly put away the smile on his face.

Keep pretending to be serious.

The other side.

Wu Hao, the supervisor of Qintian, had already come to Zhu Youzhu to ask: "Your Majesty, you can start." ”

"Wait."

Zhu Youzhu looked at the sky anxiously.

Wu Hao said: "The auspicious time is about to pass. ”

Zhu Youzhu frowned and said, "Wu Qing's family, is it up to you to decide this auspicious time, or is God having the final say?" Look at the sky now, it looks like it's going to rain? ”

"Yes, yes."

While Wu Hao responded, he was pondering in his heart.

Is it going to rain?

On this day, although it is not said that the sky is clear, there are also some clouds, and it seems that the clouds have not increased, could it be that Your Majesty's prayer for rain today is to see the "immediate" effect?

This one is praying, and the other is going to rain?

Your Majesty, you're blinded by lard, and you're thinking too much, aren't you?

……

……

Wu Hao came down from the altar and informed the ministers that they had to wait.

Liu Jian walked over and said, "Wu Jianzheng, why hasn't Your Majesty started praying for rain until now?" ”

"This ......," Wu Hao replied very badly, "Your Majesty said, we have to wait a little longer." There are some things that the lower officials are not very clear, Your Majesty or...... Other arrangements are made. Divine will is unpredictable. ”

Xie Qian walked over and said with a smile: "Your Majesty won't be waiting for the signs of rain, right?" ”

"Huh?"

Wu Hao wanted to say, how did you know Xie Ge Lao?

Xie Qian said: "Today's weather is good, the wind is very light, suitable for traveling, but it is not suitable for praying for rain." ”

"Heh......"

Wu Hao smiled bitterly.

Li Dongyang stopped Xie Qian from continuing to tease, and said with a serious face: "Yu Qiao, there are some things that are not easy to say casually, since Your Majesty chose to pray for rain today, it has its intentions." Or maybe you're waiting for something. ”

Xie Qian still couldn't help it, and said with a smile: "Could it be that someone has already started behind it?" ”

This time, it was not only Li Dongyang, but even Liu Jian glared at him.

Your Xie Yu Qiao's mouth is really broken.

When Wu Hao can't hear it, are you hinting that there is a Zhang Bingkuan praying for rain behind him, Your Majesty wants to wait for the other side to pray almost the same, and then start here?

Otherwise, why didn't Zhang Bingkuan come?

……

……

Cheng.

At the site of the test gun, it was in an open place.

Xiao Jing urged: "Mr. Zhang, let's hurry up, otherwise it will rain or affect the test gun." ”

Zhang Zhou smiled and pointed to the sky: "On this day, if you want to say that it is raining, it is still early." It's sunny and cloudy, and the clouds haven't gone up yet. ”

"yes."

Xiao Jing also looked up at the sky.

Zhang Mao and others are also watching.

Today I said that I was here to test the cannon together, but in fact, it seems that everyone's mind is on the south of the city.

Xiao Jing leaned over and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Zhang, can this rain come down today?" ”

Zhang Zhou shrugged: "I didn't say it was certain." ”

"Alas! It's good to be able to come down, Your Majesty is today, but I haven't slept well for a few days. Our family feels distressed when they look at it. Xiao Jing had a bitter face, both expectant and nervous.

If it had been cloudy early this morning, Xiao Jing wouldn't have to worry so much.

Zhang Zhou smiled and didn't explain anything.

It seems that this emperor knows that he is going to go into battle in person and pretend to be forced, and he is still excited for several days?

I'm afraid you'll be excited in vain.

His arrival brought a butterfly effect to history, and the butterfly effect was not originally about "climate"? A butterfly flapped its wings, and a hurricane blew thousands of miles away?

It is difficult to say that the butterfly effect affects earthquakes, but it should not be difficult to affect the weather or something, right?

As for you, Xiao Jing......

Are you in a hurry to see the test gun, or are you in a hurry to go back and wait to observe the public opinion after the rain?

"Then let's shoot the cannon, finish the cannon, and go home and sleep." Zhang Zhou's face was relieved, and he didn't go to light the fire himself, but let Jia Laoshui, who was driving the car, go into battle.

This job, Lao Jia is the most suitable.

Of course, it is not enough to shoot a cannon, if the clouds condense for a while, he is also ready to carry the cannon and shoot a few more times along the perimeter of the capital.

(End of chapter)