In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1057 Bombing Shanhaiguan

"General?"

Liu Heiying was taken aback, then abruptly turned to look at Lu Yunyi, his face full of confusion:

"Brother Yun'er, what are you up to now?"

Lu Yunyi smiled and pointed to the barren beach ahead:

"Don't rush, let's see its power first."

About half an hour later,
Ma Yonghua, accompanied by two experienced craftsmen, carefully walked out of the courtyard house.

The three were wrapped in thick cotton-padded clothes, and on top of that, they wore armor.
In addition to a mask and goggles, their faces were also covered by dark face armor.

With only her eyes showing, she looked extremely bloated.

Ma Yonghua held a pristine white porcelain plate in both hands, with three layers of thick silk lining the bottom.
In the center of the silk was a brick-sized, bluish-gray object.

It was Jing Lei Zi!
Lu Yunyi took the telescope from Basong and examined it closely.

The surface of that thunderclap was rough, like a block of solidified cement.

It is denser than cement blocks, and you can vaguely see the fine particles inside.

His expression was slightly strange.
Its appearance does resemble the rumored TNT.
The only difference is the color; and the stability is far worse.

In my field of vision, Ma Yonghua's pace was surprisingly slow.

He tentatively placed each foot before taking a step.

I was afraid that the vibrations from the snow would disturb the contents of the porcelain plate.

His hands were as steady as a rock, the porcelain plate didn't even shake, and cold sweat slid down his cheeks from his forehead; he was extremely nervous.

Two craftsmen followed behind, one carrying a long wooden pole with an iron mesh attached to its top.
A man carrying a copper box full of tinderboxes dared not even breathe loudly.

Liu Heiying watched in horror, and couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his forehead:

"Brother Yun'er, this thing is too eerie."

Lu Yunyi didn't speak, but his breathing unconsciously softened.

Judging from the expressions of Ma Yonghua and the others

He could sense the danger of the thunderbolt, and he looked forward to its power even more.

Finally, the three of them reached the boulder they had seen earlier.

This rock is even larger than the one we used to test the powder particles.
It is as tall as three people, with its base deeply embedded in the frozen soil, looking indestructible.

Ma Yonghua carefully placed the porcelain plate on the flat ground at the foot of the boulder, moving gently.

He slowly released his grip, took a step back, and observed for a moment.
After confirming that Jing Leizi was unaffected, he gave the craftsman behind him a wink.

The craftsman with the wooden pole immediately stepped forward.

Gently drape the top wire mesh over the porcelain plate and secure it in place to create a simple protective layer.
The other person took a lit tinderbox from the copper box.

Carefully place it into the groove on one side of the wire mesh.

"grown ups!"

The craftsman beside Lu Yunyi quickly explained:

"This thunderbolt is too sensitive; even the slightest spark or vibration could cause it to explode."
We dare not install a lead wire, so this is the only way we can use it!

He'll use a wooden stick to push the tinder aside in a bit; whether it ignites or not depends entirely on luck.

You two must hold on tight to what's around you!

Lu Yunyi raised his hand to signal:
"Do it!"

In his field of vision, Ma Yonghua took a deep breath.

Hold the other end of the wooden pole with both hands.
His eyes were fixed on the thunderbolt and tinderbox inside the iron net.

His arm trembled slightly as he pushed the wooden pole little by little.

Let the iron mesh at the top, carrying a tinderbox, slowly approach the bluish-gray block.

All eyes were fixed on the small tinderbox, and the air seemed to freeze.

When the flame of the tinderbox was only an inch away from the thunderclap...
Ma Yonghua abruptly released the wooden pole, turned around, and shouted to the two craftsmen:

"run!"

The three of them galloped wildly toward the earthen slope like untamed horses.

Their cotton-padded coats and armor weighed them down, causing them to stumble and stagger, the snow flying everywhere under their feet.
But no one dared to slow down.

I just want to get out of this awful place as soon as possible!

Lu Yunyi and Liu Heiying on the earthen slope also held their breath, staring intently at the foot of the boulder.

Liu Heiying instinctively grabbed Lu Yunyi's arm.

Just as Ma Yonghua and his two companions had run about a hundred paces,
A deafening roar suddenly erupted!

"boom!"

It was as if the sky had collapsed and the earth had cracked open.
The deafening roar instantly drowned out everything else.
The echoes lingered over the barren beach, even reaching the distant mountains.

A dazzling burst of fire erupted from beneath the boulder.

It instantly illuminated the entire wasteland, even more dazzling than the midday sun.

Immediately afterwards, an invisible shockwave swept outwards like a giant wave.

The once indestructible boulder shattered like paper in the firelight!
Countless fragments of rock were swept away by the shockwave and flew everywhere.

The largest pebbles were as big as a human head.
It flew more than a hundred paces away and crashed heavily into the snow, creating deep craters.

The ground shook violently, and Lu Yunyi and Liu Heiying, who were on the earthen slope, both staggered.
The snow underfoot slipped away with a soft rustling sound, and stones rolled down the slope.

A thick plume of black smoke shot into the sky.

Like a giant black dragon soaring into the sky, it seemed to be trying to tear a hole in the clouds.

The black smoke, mixed with stone chips and dust, blocked out the sun, instantly darkening the once clear sky.

No matter how fast Ma Yonghua and his two companions ran, they were still overtaken by the shockwave.

It felt like being hit in the back with a heavy hammer; the three of them staggered and fell into the snow.
The faceplate and goggles were all blown away.

His face was covered in dust and snow.
Ignoring the pain, he scrambled to his feet and continued running towards the earthen slope.

On the earthen slope, Liu Heiying's face was deathly pale.
My ears were ringing, and I couldn't hear anything for a long time.

Although he had witnessed the power of the Thunderclap Spear, he hadn't expected it to be this astonishing.

This isn't explosives, it's a bolt from the blue!

He turned to look at Lu Yunyi, only to see the other man suddenly raise his head, his eyes showing no fear whatsoever.
Instead, it burst forth with an unprecedented brilliance, astonishingly bright.

Lu Yunyi's breathing became rapid, his chest heaving violently.
His hands were clenched into fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the force.

"Okay! Okay! Okay!"

Lu Yunyi said "good" three times in a row.

His voice was a little hoarse from excitement, but he couldn't hide his excitement.

"Brother Yun'er! Are you alright?"

Liu Heiying finally recovered and quickly asked.

This was the first time he had ever seen Lu Yunyi so out of control.
His excitement was so intense that it made him a little nervous.

Lu Yunyi did not answer, his gaze fixed on the distant, smoking boulder ruins, his mind in turmoil.

Thoughts intertwined rapidly.
A meticulous plan with a very high success rate quickly took shape in his mind.

Ma Yonghua and his two companions finally reached the bottom of the earthen slope, where they collapsed, panting heavily, onto the snow-covered ground.

His face was filled with the relief of surviving a disaster, and a hint of undisguised pride.

The incredible power they just witnessed was something they developed themselves.

This sense of accomplishment temporarily overwhelmed all fear.

Lu Yunyi quickly walked down the slope, helped Ma Yonghua up, and asked urgently:

"Ma Yonghua, the power of this thunderbolt is greater than I thought."

But why is it so unstable?

Is there any way to make it safer?

Ma Yonghua was helped up, panting heavily, but his eyes were unusually bright despite his face being covered in soot.
"Your Excellency, this 'Thunderbolt' is based on granular gunpowder."
It was made by adding purified saltpeter and sulfur, and mixing in some ore powder imported from Korea, and then pressing it at high temperature in a large iron pot used for refining fertilizer.

My subordinates have tried many methods, but none of them have solved the stability problem.
"And ever since the last explosion, I haven't dared to study it on my own." "Why?"

Ma Yonghua looked at Liu Heiying, his meaning all too clear: it was Lord Liu who wouldn't allow it.

Lu Yunyi nodded, his tone serious:

"Safety is indeed the most important thing, but we can't throw the baby out with the bathwater."

The commander will reward you with a thousand taels of silver if you can come up with a way to stabilize Jing Lei Zi!
However, there is a prerequisite: no unauthorized experiments are allowed; safety must be ensured.
Moreover, a military officer had to be present for each experiment.

Many hands make light work; Jing Lei Zi's core technology must not be leaked.
But there's no need to hide the fact that we're figuring out a stable method; we just need to keep the fact that we're using it on gunpowder a secret.

Get everyone in the workshop involved.
Whether it's modifying the formula, improving the process, or finding new storage and detonation methods, we can try them all!

He patted Ma Yonghua on the shoulder, his tone slow but highly persuasive:
"Ma Yonghua, you are a rare talent."

The workshops of Daning need you, and the future battles need you even more!

If you can solve this problem

I will not only reward you with a thousand taels of silver, but I will also recommend you to the imperial court for merit.
I'll make you the most outstanding craftsman in the Ming Dynasty! Promotion and wealth will be no problem in the future.

Ma Yonghua's eyes lit up instantly.

The fatigue and fear on his face vanished, replaced by overwhelming excitement.

The reward and fame were tempting, but what he wanted most was to be able to fully unleash his talents in studying the Thunderclap Seed.

"My lord! Don't worry!"

He suddenly straightened his back, his voice firm and powerful:

"Even if it costs me my life, I will definitely solve the stability problem of Jing Lei Zi!"
"If I can't do it, I'm willing to offer my head!"

"Okay! I believe you!"

Lu Yunyi nodded, his eyes filled with satisfaction:

"Just let us know what supplies the workshop needs."
Whatever it is, I'll get it for you at any cost!

"If we're short-handed, just say so. Whichever craftsman you need from the military headquarters, I'll transfer them to you."

Liu Heiying stood to the side, his mind already filled with doubts.

Although Jing Lei Zi is important, it's not enough to warrant Yun'er Ge's such attention.

What on earth does he want to do?
Half an hour later, the two descended the mountain, boarded the carriage, and prepared to return to Daning City.

The carriage rolled over the snow, and a cold wind slipped in through the gaps in the curtains.
The chill was biting, but it couldn't dispel the somber atmosphere in the carriage.

Liu Heiying was restless, his dark face full of doubt, glancing from time to time at Lu Yunyi, who was resting with his eyes closed beside him.

The terrifying power of the Thunderclap was still echoing in my mind.
What intrigued him even more was Yun'er's almost uncontrollable excitement.

He knew this older brother too well; he was always calm and reserved.
Even after winning a major victory, he remained calm and unperturbed.

What moved him so deeply was definitely not simply the power of gunpowder.

"Brother Yun'er".

Liu Heiying finally couldn't hold back any longer and said in a deep voice:
"What exactly are you planning? Even if Jing Leizi is powerful, there's no need to get so agitated, is there?"

Lu Yunyi slowly opened his eyes and smiled faintly:
"Black Hawk, what do you think of Shanhaiguan?"

Liu Heiying was taken aback for a moment, then replied:

"Excellent! The most formidable pass under heaven! It guards the vital passage between the inside and outside of the pass, and its walls are impregnable!"

"Shanhaiguan is indeed the most formidable pass under heaven."

Lu Yunyi's tone became a few degrees more serious:
"But for the people inside the pass, it is a guardian deity; for us people outside the pass, it is a shackle!"
Our official road is almost at Shanhaiguan now.

In the future, the movement of caravans and the mobilization of soldiers will all be subject to this pass.

He paused, then pointed out a more critical hidden danger:
"More importantly, Shanhaiguan is no longer in our hands, nor in the hands of the Prince of Yan."

If the situation in the capital changes, someone could block this pass.

Our Daning became an isolated city outside the Great Wall.
Food supplies, provisions, and trade routes were all cut off.
Even the most elite soldiers will be helpless and await their doom at that point.

Liu Heiying frowned, vaguely understanding something. His face showed shock, and his voice involuntarily lowered:
"Brother Yun'er means to use the Thunderclap to capture Shanhaiguan?"
But that pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the defending troops are elite. If we act rashly, it would be tantamount to rebellion!

Lu Yunyi knew he had misunderstood, and shook his head with a smile:

"Instead of going to great lengths to seize it, it would be better to let the imperial court dismantle it on its own initiative."

"Demolished?"

Liu Heiying was even more shocked, his eyes filled with astonishment, and his fists, which were resting on his knees, clenched tightly.
How...how do I dismantle it?
Moreover, it took nearly 100,000 laborers to build Shanhaiguan Pass; how could the imperial court possibly demolish it?

"If it's not dismantled, it will forever remain a weapon in someone else's hands."

Lu Yunyi's tone was firm:
"Even if we don't dismantle it, we must keep it under our own control."

Whether or not to demolish it is not up to us, but up to the situation. And that thunderbolt is the key to changing that situation.

He looked at Liu Heiying, whose face was full of astonishment, and slowly explained:

"I plan to send Jing Lei Zi to the capital."

Let the dukes and marquises of the Governor's Mansion witness its power firsthand.

A single thunderbolt the size of a brick can shatter a boulder weighing a thousand pounds; what if it were used in a siege?

Liu Heiying's pupils suddenly contracted.
The image of a thunderbolt exploding through the city wall flashed through my mind instantly, and a cold sweat broke out on my back.
"You mean to let the imperial court know that Shanhaiguan Pass can't stop this gunpowder?"

Lu Yunyi nodded:
"Shanhaiguan was built with huge stones and mortar joints, but that couldn't stop the thunder."

As long as the imperial court understands that this formidable pass is utterly ineffective against modern gunpowder, it will be a formidable obstacle.
Even if we don't demolish it, there will be people in the imperial court who want to demolish it.

Just like the armor we wear now,

Since we achieved the effect of one person fighting against a hundred with firearms in Yunnan,

The Governor's Office then developed a new perspective on ironclad armor.

Even if traditional armor can withstand fireballs, the powerful shock can still injure internal organs and render a person incapacitated for a short period of time.

Currently, the only armor that can protect the Ming Dynasty from fireballs is lamellar armor, but it is too expensive and heavy, making it uneconomical.

Therefore, the workshops of the Governor's Office have improved the cotton armor.

Ten pounds of cotton were soaked in water and pounded into thin sheets, with iron sheets sandwiched inside and secured with rivets.

The cotton layer cushioned the impact of firearms, and the iron sheet blocked cold weapons, so it wasn't too heavy.

The development of this cotton armor was initially slow, but ever since the flintlock musket became known for its accuracy, the Imperial Guards have begun switching to cotton armor.

Liu Heiying looked shocked: "There's actually such a thing?"

Lu Yunyi nodded:
"The changes of the times are independent of human will."

The Ming army currently possesses a million armored soldiers; as long as firearms continue to advance...

Even if the imperial court is reluctant, it will gradually replace them, or at the very least, add an extra layer of cotton armor.

Even if the cities within the pass are not rebuilt after the invention of gunpowder like Jing Lei Zi,
The important towns and passes where the king was stationed also had to be rebuilt.

Otherwise, once the dynasty declines and gunpowder flows out of the country, the passes will be unable to stop it, and we will have to replace them no matter how reluctant we are.”

Liu Heiying's breathing became rapid; he suddenly thought of something:

"Brother Yun'er, this is similar to dried apricots in many ways."
Since dried apricots began to be used as military rations, the amount of regular dried rations and fried rice has decreased significantly.

Now that we have dried sweet potatoes, dried apricots will soon be replaced.

The speed of change is astonishing. And most importantly, people have no choice but to change, even if they don't want to.

He took a deep breath and asked tentatively:
"Brother Yun'er means to rebuild Shanhaiguan with concrete?"

Lu Yunyi nodded and said calmly:
Who in this world understands cement and concrete best?
Besides our Daning, there's only Li Zhigang from Henan who's in charge of flood control.

We built 800 li of official roads, and Li Zhigang built 500 li of river embankments.

There is no other way to rebuild Shanhaiguan.

Upon hearing this, Liu Heiying felt no excitement; instead, he felt a chill run down his spine and his lips went dry.
"Will the imperial court agree to this?"

"It would be best if they agreed, but if they disagree, we'll force them to agree."

Lu Yunyi's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Liu Heiying felt an overwhelming aura wash over him, his breath quickened, and he murmured a question:

"How...how do you force me?"

(End of this chapter)