Republic of China: Guandong Ginseng King

Chapter 409 The test was successful
“Sir, the imperial court’s order cannot be disobeyed, so if that’s the case, then close it.

Otherwise, if the higher-ups find out and question you, you will inevitably be implicated, which is really not worth it."

Of course, Qu Shaoyang would not be so foolish as to speak out his true feelings directly. This kind of thing can only be understood, not expressed in words.

Although County Magistrate Chen has experienced ups and downs in officialdom for many years, he still has some cunning ideas.

After hearing Qu Shaoyang's words, he immediately understood, "Yes, yes, my nephew reminded me.

Since the superiors have given the order, how can we not obey?
That's it, I'll have to trouble you, nephew, to go to the gold mine and inform them that the Damiaogou Gold Mine will be closed from today."

"I will go right away. Your Excellency, please rest assured that from now on, the Damiaogou gold mine will no longer be mined.

If anyone is found mining illegally, they will be severely punished.”

Qu Shaoyang and County Magistrate Chen looked at each other and smiled in tacit understanding. Everything was said without words.

"Oh, by the way, I called you here because I have something to remind you.

Last month, on the other side of Jilin City, a fire broke out in the screening room of the Jiangnan Gunpowder Bureau, causing a gunpowder explosion that destroyed machinery and factory buildings and injured more than a dozen workers.

I remember that you have an explosives test site in Maoer Mountain, right? When you get back, you must investigate it thoroughly and make sure nothing happens."

After discussing the business, County Magistrate Chen suddenly remembered this and hurriedly reminded Qu Shaoyang.

Qu Shaoyang had reported his plan to research explosives to Taotai Yuliang in advance, and the East Circuit Office had approved it.

In Tonghua City, Qu Shaoyang also made a call, and County Magistrate Chen and others were aware of it.

Last year, after continuous research and experiments by Anders and others, high-purity nitroglycerin was successfully developed.

There is a very good diatomaceous earth mine in Badaogou. After mixing liquid nitroglycerin with diatomaceous earth, the nitroglycerin can be passivated, which is conducive to storage and transportation.

Afterwards, under the guidance of Qu Shaoyang, Anders and his team used nitroglycerin, saltpeter, sulfur powder, rice bran powder, dinitronaphthalene and other raw materials to prepare explosives with better stability.

The explosive power of this type of explosive is certainly not as strong as TNT or picric acid, but relatively speaking, the technical requirements are not as high and it is safer.

The explosives developed in the laboratory were used to blow up the outpost in the upper reaches of the Songhua River last winter and to mine the coal this spring.

County Magistrate Chen had a good relationship with Qu Shaoyang, so when he learned about the explosion at the Jiangnan Gunpowder Bureau, the first person he thought of was Qu Shaoyang, fearing that something might go wrong with Qu Shaoyang.

It just so happened that Qu Shaoyang came over today, so he took the opportunity to remind him.

"Thank you for your reminder, sir. I will remember this when I go back. I will tell the workers to be careful about fire prevention."

Qu Shaoyang had actually heard about this, but he would definitely appreciate County Magistrate Chen's kindness.

The matter of the Damiaogou gold mine was quite urgent, so Qu Shaoyang did not stay in the county government office for too long.

After chatting with County Magistrate Chen for a while, he left the county government office and went to Damiaogou Gold Mine to meet Lao Han and others.

Qu Shaoyang discussed with Lao Han and other foreman and shopkeeper and decided to temporarily suspend the gold mine for a few days and seal it off outside.

Then move most of the equipment to a hidden place, wait for some time, and then start working secretly.

Lao Han and his team are very familiar with this kind of operation.

When the ban on gold in Northeast China was not lifted, the imperial court prohibited Han people from crossing the border to mine gold.

At that time, the imperial court called these gold miners "gold bandits" and captured people all over the mountains and plains. Basically, anyone caught would be beheaded.

The goldsmiths had long since learned how to pan for gold and survive amid government raids.

Not to mention, now there are County Magistrate Chen, Qu Shaoyang and others who are backing the goldsmiths and can tip off the goldsmiths at any time. It is very easy to avoid the court's pursuit.

After resolving the issue of the Damiaogou gold mine, Qu Shaoyang did not stay in Tonghua City for long and set off back to Maoer Mountain.

Qu Shaoyang did not go home, but went straight to the Sandaogou Gold Field and the Mantianxing Gold Field.

He instructed Qu Jiang, Qu Laokouer, Liu Dongshan, as well as the two gold mine bosses and shopkeepers.

Let them all be more careful and stop mining gold immediately if there is any sign of trouble.

This place is quite remote. Even if the imperial court sends people to investigate, they will have to go through the inspection office, so there will definitely be a chance that they will leak the information.

After everything was arranged, Qu Shaoyang went home.

"What happened? You've been gone for several days without informing your family.

That day I just heard the officer in the yamen say, "Master Chen is looking for you? What's the matter?"

As soon as he entered the backyard, Chen Xiuyun, with her bulging belly, handed Qu Shaoyang a towel, asked him to wipe the sweat off his face, and asked.

“Oh, it’s about the gold mine.

I don’t know what the imperial court has done wrong. They said that from now on, mining is not allowed to prevent outsiders from coveting the minerals.

It's all bullshit, doing useless things all day long."

Qu Shaoyang had been running between Tonghua City and Sandagou and Shishidaogou these days, and was covered in dust and dirt, so he took the towel and wiped his face and neck thoroughly.

"I left in a hurry and was unable to come back to tell you. I'm sorry for making you worry.

How are you? How are you these days? Is the little one in your belly well behaved? "

After wiping his face, Qu Shaoyang threw the towel to the maids beside him, then put his arm around Chen Xiuyun's waist and helped her sit on the kang.

Chen Xiuyun is only six months pregnant, but her belly looks very big, almost like she is eight months pregnant.

Chen Xiuyun had a difficult pregnancy. She started vomiting right after she became pregnant and continued to vomit for several months. She finally stopped vomiting a while ago.

"It's OK, but the fetal movement is quite intense. I feel like the two little ones are fighting in there all the time. It's really troublesome."

Chen Xiuyun inherited her medical skills from her parents. Judging from the pulse and fetal movements, she was probably pregnant with twins.

"Well, if you say so, I'm afraid this baby will be another bad boy."

When Qu Shaoyang heard this, he sighed. He had always wanted to have a daughter, but it turned out to be so difficult.

Chen Xiuyun knew what her husband was thinking, so she smiled.

"Oh, by the way, mother sent someone to send a letter, saying that they will come over when the girl from my second brother's family turns one year old."

When Chen Xiuyun was three months pregnant, she notified Doctor Chen and his wife who were taking care of their granddaughter in Kuandian.

Of course, Chen Xiuyun did not tell her parents that she suffered a lot during this pregnancy, nor did she say that she might be pregnant with twins.

Doctor Chen and his wife thought that they would come and look after their granddaughter when she turned one year old.

This is what parents do. They worry about all their children and will do their best to help no matter which family has problems.

"Well, then you can write a letter to our mother and ask them to bring my second sister-in-law and little niece to live with us for a while.

It’s cooler here in the summer than in Kuandian, but my child is young and will suffer in the hot weather.” Qu Shaoyang said immediately after hearing this.

"What's the matter? Are you greedy for someone else's daughter again?" Upon hearing this, Chen Xiuyun glanced at Qu Shaoyang and deliberately made fun of him.

"Why would I covet someone else's daughter? You have two babies in your belly, and there might be one hiding inside."

Qu Shaoyang touched Chen Xiuyun's belly and smiled. "I was thinking that when our mother came to take care of you, she must still be thinking about her little granddaughter at home.

Why don't you come over here? We have beautiful scenery here, everything you need, and there are many children who can play with my niece. How great is that?"

What could Qu Shaoyang say? He couldn't tell Chen Xiuyun that this year was not peaceful, and in a few months, the Japanese would fight with the Qing Dynasty, and Kuandian would be occupied by the Japanese, right?
Maoer Mountain is far away from the battlefield and is a good place.
Qu Shaoyang meant to ask his father-in-law to bring his family over earlier.
Otherwise, if a war breaks out and there is chaos and disorder, it would be terrible if any family members were harmed.

"Well, what you said makes sense. Okay, I'll write a letter to our mother and have someone deliver it tomorrow."

Chen Xiuyun thought it made sense and agreed.

The couple chatted for a while, and it was getting late.

The rule of the Qu family is that as long as Qu Shaoyang is at home, the family will eat dinner together in the evening.

If he is not at home or has other things to do, all parties can do as they please.

So Chen Xiuyun ordered the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes, and asked someone to inform Chen and Meng Lanxin that Qu Shaoyang had returned.

When Meng Lanxin heard this, she immediately led her son to the main courtyard.

When Chen Xiuyun was pregnant, most of the household chores were left to Meng Lanxin to handle, so Meng Lanxin stopped breastfeeding Youqing just after he turned one year old.

After weaning, babies will lose milk fat. Little Youqing is a little thinner than before.
Of course, weighing only twenty-three or twenty-four kilograms, he was still very fat compared to other children.

As soon as the little fat baby learned to walk, he refused to be held by anyone and insisted on walking unsteadily on the ground by himself.

When he saw Qu Shaoyang, the little fat kid recognized his father, grinned, and ran towards Qu Shaoyang happily.

When Qu Shaoyang saw his son taking two steps, he was afraid that his son would fall, so he quickly took two steps forward and picked up his son.

"Little Fatty, do you miss your daddy?"

Youqing nestled in his father's arms and nodded.

Qu Shaoyang asked again, "What are you thinking about?" Youqing pointed to his heart with his chubby little hand.

This baby has a good height and weight, and his gross motor skills are well developed, but his language is a little lacking.

At present, he can only call mom and dad, and can't say anything else.
Moreover, this child is not talkative, unlike other children who chatter all day long.

Chen Xiuyun checked Youqing and found that the kid had no problem with his hearing and language and could communicate with others normally, but he was just too lazy to speak.

Just at this time, Chen also came with Genyou.
As soon as Youqing saw Genyou, he immediately became dishonest. He twisted his body and struggled to go downstairs to find his brother.

When Qu Shaoyang saw this, he quickly put Youqing down, and then Youqing ran off to find Genyou.

Genyou was also very nice to his younger brother. He took out a piece of snack from his pocket and put it into Youqing's hand.

Youqing clasped his hands together, thanked his brother, and then stuffed the snacks into his mouth.

This baby has a strong appetite. He eats everything since he started eating complementary food. He hasn't been making any fuss after he was weaned and eats normally.

Dinner was ready, Gensuo came back from school, and the family sat together to have dinner.

After dinner, Qu Shaoyang chatted with Chen Xiuyun for a while, and then was chased by Chen Xiuyun to go to Meng Lanxin's place.

The next day after returning to Maoer Mountain, Qu Shaoyang went to the explosives laboratory and workshop.

Last summer, Qu Shaoyang spent a high price to recruit more than a dozen technical personnel from the arsenal from abroad.

The initial purpose was mainly to carry out daily inspection and improvement of guns and artillery. Later, when explosives were successfully developed, Qu Shaoyang had other ideas.

"Master Qu, our ammonium nitrate explosives are almost ready for testing.

At the other end of the workshop, a batch of grenades and mines were assembled as the adults said, and they were about to do an explosion experiment.

Now that the adults are here, why don't we give it a try together and see what the results are."

Anders is currently the main person in charge of the laboratory and workshop. He has been in Maoershan for two years and speaks Qing Chinese quite well, so we can communicate normally.

As for the grenades and mines that Anders mentioned, they were just some small suggestions given by Qu Shaoyang to the technicians who understood ordnance manufacturing after they arrived.

In fact, grenades and mines have existed before.

If we trace it back carefully, the fireball used in the late Tang Dynasty should be considered the most primitive form of the grenade.

In the 13th century, people were already putting gunpowder into ceramic jars and throwing them out to create an explosive effect.

In the West, people had already started making grenades in the 15th century.

In the Russo-Japanese War ten years later, the use of grenades also achieved very good results.

As for landmines, they also appeared very early.
As far as Qu Shaoyang knows, the Qing army had already used landmines when defending against the attack of the Japanese this autumn.

Of course, the materials they use may be different from what Qu Shaoyang is currently having people develop.

Now that explosives have been developed, they must have more uses than just blowing up outposts and mines.
So Qu Shaoyang asked people to research some grenades, mines and other things, which might be useful in the future.

But I didn’t expect that Anders and his team were so capable that they actually developed the product in just a few months.

"Okay, let's go take a look."

Qu Shaoyang was also very curious and wondered how powerful these things Anders and others had made were.

In this way, Qu Shaoyang followed Anders and others, bringing the newly developed equipment, to an open mountain area four or five miles away.

This is the testing ground where Anders and his team conduct field explosion experiments, with specially built shelters and other things.

About 20 to 30 meters in front of the bunker, a large pit was dug.

At this time, there were many human-shaped targets made of thin wooden boards standing inside the pit.

Then I saw the worker in charge of the test taking out a grenade with a wooden handle from a box.

Then, he unscrewed the metal cover at the end of the wooden handle of the grenade, pulled the fuse coated with porcelain powder, and threw the grenade into the big pit with force.

Qu Shaoyang and others were lying behind the bunker, and they heard a loud bang.

The sand and soil in the pit were scattered everywhere, and the pit was full of dust.

Several technicians rushed forward to check and found that another pit had appeared inside the big pit.

The most crucial thing is that many of the thin wooden targets around the pit are still covered with iron fragments from the explosion.

If these targets were replaced by humans, they would probably be seriously injured even if not killed by the blow just now.

"Try the other one." Anders said to the foreigners in a gibberish.

They made two types of grenades in total. The one I just mentioned had a wooden handle, and the other was oval-shaped like an iron egg.

Both methods were made mainly to compare the explosion effects and operating procedures to see which one is more convenient.

So someone went down into the pit, pulled out all the broken targets, and replaced them with a batch of new ones.

Then, the experimenters detonated another type of explosion, which was also quite powerful. From this point of view, the experiment was quite successful.

(End of this chapter)