Without much trouble, the decision to go to Lanzhou was settled. Qin Mubai thought for a while and immediately began to make intensive preparations.
He goes into battle without leaving his father's army, and goes to Lanzhou to assist his father in guarding the frontier. This should be more meaningful than staying in Xiangzhou. And in the current situation, the emperor has to tighten control over the princes. It is not a good thing to be too close to Li Ke after all. Maybe it won't be long before the important matter of abolishing the crown prince will be officially put on the agenda. Staying in the imperial court at this time is also eventful.
Leaving Chang'an for Lanzhou is indeed a good choice.
Qin Mubai was somewhat grateful to Li Shimin. In such troubled times, he selected Qin Mubai and sent him to the border to further study gilding. Firstly, he deliberately cultivated him, and secondly, he also wanted to protect him.
"What a wonderful future father-in-law! When we get to the border, we have to make some achievements. The Tubo barbarians actually dare to take advantage of my dear Gaoyang, let's see how I deal with them then!" Qin Mubai thought in his heart , but that’s all.
In the past two days, Qin Mubai has been shuttling between the imperial palace and his home. It looks busy, but it is actually very leisurely. He had just returned to the imperial capital. His official position in Xiangzhou was still pending, and the new letter of appointment had not yet been issued. Now he was almost a loose official.
With this much free time, he can comfortably do many things he wants to do. When he returned to Beijing, he handed over Qin Shi, the book boy who played with gunpowder, to Tu Youhai from the Zuo Campus. The two returned to the general prison and worked day and night to make the Five-Son Divine Thunder and the Red Cannon according to Qin Mubai's instructions.
The craftsmen and equipment that will be the supervisor are much more professional and complete than the temporary small workshop in Xiangzhou. Within a few days, several tubes of the Five-Son Divine Thunder were successfully completed, and a small red cannon was also completed.
Tu Youhai and Qin Shi came to Qin Mubai together to report the matter. Qin Mubai was so happy that he immediately went to the palace to see the emperor.
With this secret weapon, is it not difficult to establish a successful career in Lanzhou? But for such important matters, it is better to inform the emperor. Such was Li Shimin's personality that he could easily negotiate all matters, big or small, but he just didn't like his officials messing around without telling him.
Naturally, Li Shimin only saw the drawings of the five-fingered divine thunder and the red cannon. He looked at it in confusion for a long time, and then asked in confusion: "Mu Bai, what is this?"
Qin Mubai briefly introduced the use and origin of these two things, and said: "Your Majesty, looking at the world, this thing is unique, and it is unique to us in the Tang Dynasty. The reason why Tubo is arrogant and rude mostly depends on their cavalry. Although we, the Tang Dynasty, are not afraid of cavalry and battle, they will inevitably suffer heavy losses. If we have some help to defend the city, we will be able to defeat thousands of enemies first. How much manpower and material resources will be saved! , If we talk about destroying the city and taking out the stronghold, it is far better than the ladder; setting up an ambush is better than riding with fire and arrows. "
Li Shimin was surprised and shocked after hearing this: "So, this is a very dangerous thing!"
"Indeed." Qin Mubai nodded, "A sword has two edges, and a soldier has a deadly weapon. This has always been the case."
"It makes sense." Li Shimin was an emperor on horseback, experienced battles, was diligent in using troops, and was a generous man. If he were a cowardly, suspicious and seriously ill emperor, the first thing he would think of was, 'Will they use this thing to bomb the imperial city?'
Fortunately, Li Shimin doesn't. Only then did Qin Mubai dare to offer this thing.
"So, I really want to see it!" Li Shimin said, "Is there anything ready-made?"
"Yes!" Qin Mubai was overjoyed, "Your Majesty, if you want to watch, choose a remote, quiet and sparsely populated place to avoid accidentally hurting people and animals."
Li Shimin thought about it for a while and nodded: "Tomorrow, we will go to Xiao'an Forest, thirty miles north of Xuanwu Gate of Daming Palace. It used to be the royal garden at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain. It is now deserted and sparsely populated. You can give it a try."
"Yes, Weichen obeys the order!"
The next day, Li Shimin led a team of guards to Xiao'anlin. Qin Mubai, Tu Youhai, Qin Shi and others have already made preparations and are waiting here.
Li Shimin first took a look at the red cannon and was amazed when he saw it. Hearing Qin Mubai explain the origin, production, power, etc. of the cannon, he, a military commander who had been in the military for half his life, couldn't help but be quite surprised. He said: "If this thing is really as powerful as you said, from today on, the military power of the Tang Dynasty will definitely increase several levels. As a result, the war with swords, guns, swords and halberds will also change."
"Your Majesty is wise." Qin Mubai clasped his hands and said, "But this thing also has a lot of disadvantages. It is very complicated and expensive to make. Although it can be dragged by a carriage and horse, it will not be able to be dragged in rain, snow or muddy roads. If it is difficult to move, it will be difficult to transport it. Therefore, for the time being, it can only be used to defend cities, set up ambushes, or attack cities. Moreover, it is not possible to produce them in large quantities, and it is not easy to train soldiers who are skilled in using them. "
Li Shimin smiled slightly: "That's all for later - let me try it first!"
"Yes! Your Majesty, please retreat!"
After being prepared, Tu Youhai and Qin Shi were responsible for firing the cannons, targeting a pile of rocks 200 steps in front. The reason for choosing this distance is because the maximum range of the Tang Dynasty crossbow is one hundred and fifty steps.
A loud "Boom -" sound shocked Li Shimin, an emperor who had remained unchanged despite the collapse of Mount Tai, and raised his hands to cover his face.
"So exciting!" He took a breath and exclaimed in shock.
Ahead, a large hole was blasted out of the pile of rubble. Stone debris was flying all over the sky, and the surrounding area was already scorched earth.
Li Shimin stepped forward to check it in person, and then looked back at the dark barrel, feeling a little shuddering in his heart.
"If these men and horses receive such a blow, they will be instantly defeated!" He said, "Mubai, it is indeed suitable to use it to deal with the Tubo cavalry. But if foreigners get this thing, it will be a big blow to us, the Tang Dynasty." A major threat.”
"Your Majesty has a clear lesson." Qin Mubai clasped his fists and said, "In my humble opinion, if you are worried that others will learn this thing and pose a threat to the Tang Dynasty, it is the same as giving up food because of choking. However, the Tang Dynasty treats the world with openness and tolerance. When have we cherished our broomsticks? Haven't our excellent technologies such as armor, papermaking, calendars, and medicine been imparted to foreign barbarians without reservation? Gunpowder and cannons originated in the Tang Dynasty, but they can be imitated. We will never allow them to surpass us. How we do it is up to us.”
"It makes sense!" Li Shimin laughed heartily, "This theory coincides with what I think in my heart! Well said! It can be imitated, but not surpassed. The way to do this is not to cherish and respect myself. Sitting in a well and looking at the sky, we should constantly improve and strengthen ourselves, so as to stay ahead and outstanding! This is the essence of my Datang's power to conquer all nations. Mubai, I am very pleased that you have such foresight. !”
Qin Mubai smiled slightly, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I am proud to be a Tang man!"
"Oh, what should I say?" Li Shimin asked with a smile.
"Because we are open, tolerant, confident, and strong!" Qin Mubai said word by word, "We will be even stronger in the future!"
"Haha!" Li Shimin laughed loudly, "If all the people in the world are like you Qin Mubai, why worry about the Tang Dynasty not being prosperous? - I will allow you to build the five-finger divine thunder and the red cannon, and I will also give secret orders to everyone The Ministry of Finance and the General Supervisor of the Ordnance Department will assist you! However, this thing is very dangerous, so you must be careful and try it out in Lanzhou first to see how it works."
"Yes! Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty!" Qin Mubai cupped his fists and bowed gratefully.
At this moment, Qin Mubai was really happy. Fortunately, I traveled to the open and tolerant Tang Dynasty and met an enlightened, confident and far-sighted king. In other words, during the arrogant and arrogant Manchu era of the Qing Dynasty, which was closed to the country, he and these so-called inventions might have been the epitome of tragedy.
"If we talk about trust..." Li Shimin smiled slightly and patted Qin Mubai on the shoulder, "I have always trusted others and never trusted others. Not to mention that you are Shubao's son and my son-in-law. If it were anyone else, I treat an officer and a general equally. In fact, I should probably be worried that one day someone will use this thing to bombard the imperial city. But then I think about it, if such a thing happens, With or without the Five Finger Divine Thunder and the Red Cannon, the outcome is the same, so I am relieved.”
Qin Mubai couldn't help but smile: "Your Majesty, you are wise. These explosives and cannons are actually the same as the sword hanging on the waist of the minister. If the sword can kill people, should the sword be banned in the world? In this case, it will really stop eating because of choking. . However, at least Wei Chen will not do such a treacherous thing, because there are relatives of Wei Chen in the imperial city, so how can he destroy his own family?"
"Haha!" Li Shimin laughed heartily, put his arm on Qin Mubai's shoulder and walked back together, saying in a good mood, "Among all my sons-in-law, you are the most capable. Mubai, went to Lanzhou I would like to help your father. A courageous hero like him, who has taken the rank of general among millions of soldiers, is somewhat aloof and outstanding. I have never worried about him losing his loyalty for a while. I sent a capable person to assist him, but I haven't found one yet. After thinking about it, I think you, the Sanlang of the Qin family, are the most suitable person."
Qin Mubai nodded: "Your Majesty, don't worry. If I go to Lanzhou, I must try my best to assist my father and make him impregnable."
"Well, this alone is not enough." Li Shimin said as if he was gossiping, "Yesterday you also heard the conversation between me and Duke Wei. Lanzhou is an important military and strategic location that I have chosen. I not only want it to be impregnable Stable as a rock, we must retreat, defend or attack, whether it is to suppress Tuyuhun or to conquer the Western Regions in the future, we can all count on Lanzhou!"
"Yes! Weichen understands!" Qin Mubai said, holding his fists.
Li Shimin nodded and smiled happily, and patted Qin Mubai on the shoulder: "I have confidence in you! Don't let me down!"
The emperor has passed this test!
As soon as the imperial edict was received, Qin Mubai immediately invited the minister in charge of the finances of the Ministry of Revenue and some officials serving as supervisors to secretly discuss the matter of Fan Zhu cannon.
The imperial court has ordered Hou Junji, the Minister of Civil Affairs, to lead the army south to Xishu and go to Songzhou to meet the invading Tibetans. I believe it won’t be long before the army to reinforce Lanzhou will set off. Due to limited time, Qin Mubai decided not to cast the cannon in Chang'an. Then there would be too many people to keep it secret, and transportation over thousands of miles would be a big trouble. So, he only asked the Ministry of Household Affairs for money and the general supervisor for people.
Within a few days, tens of thousands of money and hundreds of skilled craftsmen were all ready, just waiting for instructions. Qin Mubai always kept the secret strictly and did not tell these people what he was going to do. He only asked them to get ready and be ready to go to Lanzhou at any time.
Next, just waiting for the imperial court's order, he would take the money, food and craftsmen and head to Lanzhou.
A few days later, the sacrifices at the Ancestral Temple finally came to an end. Li You's golden body was also chrome-plated and moved to Famen Temple and placed in the newly built pagoda. The eminent monk set up an altar to give lectures and practices, and worked day and night in water and land monasteries for another ten days and a half.
Concubine Yinde, who had not been seen in public for a long time, appeared at Famen Temple accompanied by her daughter Princess Gaoyang. Dressed in plain gauze clothes, with frost-white hair, and wearing a palace gauze brimmed hat, she flashed away outside the pagoda without stopping for long.
Gao Yang told Qin Mubai that Concubine Yin De was still a little unable to face the fact that her son could not be laid to rest, but was cast into a golden body and placed in the pagoda.
In Concubine Yin De's words - "How is this different from hanging your head in public?!"
For this reason, Qin Mubai can only... sigh!