The prince is more stable

Chapter 67 Ambition
Zhao Xiaoqian had no answer to the question of whether he could defeat the Liao cavalry.

Zhao Xiaoqian has always stubbornly believed that the key factor that determines the outcome of a war is people, not weapons.

No matter how fast the bullet is, it cannot hit the head of Huoyun Evil God, but as long as you are strong enough, stepping on his toes can make Huoyun Evil God scream.

The Liao Kingdom has always been a source of worry for successive Song Dynasty officials, and a sword hanging over the head of the Song Dynasty. No one knows when it will fall.

But the more than one hundred years that passed were always a burden on the rulers and ministers of the Song Dynasty.

Zhao Xu was not a foolish ruler. After he took power, he was indeed enterprising. He wanted to achieve achievements that surpassed his predecessors, but he also needed confidence and bargaining chips to fight against the Liao Kingdom.

Today, he seemed to have found this bargaining chip.

A strange thing, after being ignited by gunpowder, can actually shoot fifty steps away.

According to Zhao Xiaoqian, if the inner wall of the barrel is rifled and a conical bullet is used, the bullet can be fired even farther, and it is not impossible to shoot two hundred or three hundred steps.

Zhao Xu didn't know what "rifling" was, nor did he know what a tapered bullet was.

But he understands distance and range.

If this kind of musket could really fire at a distance of three hundred steps, then from now on, why would the Song Dynasty fear the Liao cavalry?

The scene of playing music with Zhao Xiaoqian the day before yesterday emerged in Zhao Xu's mind.

It is indeed time for the Song Dynasty's army to change. If the Song army's morale is high and everyone is willing to sacrifice their lives for the country, and equipped with this kind of musket that can strike at three hundred steps, the Liao Dynasty will not be invincible.

There is no need to pay the humiliating annual tribute anymore.

"I was right about him. Zi'an is indeed a talented person!" Zhao Xu looked at Zhao Xiaoqian excitedly.

"Your Excellency, I am deeply ashamed to accept your compliments."

Zhao Xu stared at the flintlock rifle in his hand and said, "Zi'an, you know that our Song Dynasty actually has a military weapons bureau. We have more than ten kinds of weapons related to gunpowder. In the sixth year of Yuanfeng, during the war between the Song Dynasty and the Western Xia, fire weapons such as fire caltrops and poisonous smoke balls were already used..."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded: "I know."

"Even though we have firearms, we still can't perform as expected on the battlefield. Zi'an, do you know why?"

Zhao Xiaoqian thought for a moment and said, "Is it about the gunpowder?"

Zhao Xu sighed, "That's right, it's the gunpowder problem. The gunpowder used by the Military Equipment Bureau is, to put it simply, 'boring.'"

This is a very clichéd statement, but you understand it as soon as you hear it.

In fact, the military use of gunpowder has existed since the founding of the Song Dynasty. However, the firearms produced were not powerful enough due to the gunpowder ratio.

Therefore, the use of various firearms of the Song Dynasty on the battlefield was mainly based on "burning" rather than "explosion", or in other words, even if they could explode, the power would not be enough to effectively kill the enemy.

If the Song army's firearms were really that powerful, the Song Dynasty would have unified China long ago. Would it be necessary to send annual tribute to the Liao Kingdom?
Zhao Xiaoqian also made firearms, but Zhao Xu hit the nail on the head with just one sentence.

The real innovation was not the flintlock, but the gunpowder that fired the iron balls.

This is also what Zhao Xu was excited about. Zhao Xiaoqian found the most powerful gunpowder ratio.

Now that gunpowder has the optimal ratio, its use on the battlefield will be very different from before.

Zhao Xiaoqian was a smart man. He knew that Zhao Xu would not talk to him about gunpowder for no reason.

He took out a piece of paper from his bosom, with only three lines of words written on it. He had written them in advance when he was preparing gunpowder in Yuqing Palace.

"Your Majesty, this is the best recipe for gunpowder. I would like to present it to you." Zhao Xiaoqian presented it with both hands.

Zhao Xu took the recipe, read it carefully, then folded it and put it solemnly in his arms, smiling with satisfaction.

"Zi'an, you have made great contributions to the country!" Zhao Xu patted his shoulder vigorously.

It is no exaggeration to say that this recipe in my arms is enough to change an era.

"Your Majesty, the gunpowder ratio I have improved... is very overbearing. If you want to prepare it in large quantities, please select trustworthy people. Otherwise, if the formula is spread outside, I am afraid it will cause disaster." Zhao Xiaoqian whispered.

Zhao Xu said seriously, "Having witnessed the power of the flintlock rifle today, I already know how powerful it is. If word gets out, it might backfire on me. Zi'an, don't worry, I won't be careless."

Walking up to Zhao Xiaoqian, Zhao Xu said seriously, "Zi'an, do your job well and be a good person. Let those dissatisfied court officials see that my decision to appoint relatives was correct. My brothers are more talented than the court officials and can serve the country better."

"Let those old guys who are about to die see what kind of great achievements we young people can accomplish!" With a sharp weapon in hand, ambition is born.

As Zhao Hao expected, because of Zhao Xiaoqian's gunpowder, Zhao Xu suddenly became confident about the future of the Song Dynasty.

…………

In the palace, the emperor and his ministers are full of ambition.

Outside the palace, a violent storm was brewing.

The case of Zhao Xiaoqian being stabbed late at night will not be easily revealed and must be thoroughly investigated. This is the order Zhao Xu personally issued to Kaifeng Prefecture, Dali Temple, and Imperial City Division.

This matter was truly too terrible. For the rulers and ministers of the Song Dynasty, who advocated gentlemanly politics, it was like a slap in the face and was absolutely intolerable.

Kaifeng Prefecture and Dali Temple were anxious. While Zhao Xiaoqian was busy making guns and gunpowder in Yuqing Palace, all the officials in Bianjing City were sent out. From the city market to residential houses, from the princes' mansions to the court officials' offices, the officials visited everywhere, looking for clues about the murderer.

The Imperial City Division also sent out its elite troops, with Wei Jie leading the team personally.

Compared with the visits to Kaifeng Prefecture and the Dali Temple, the Imperial City Division's handling of cases was not so polite.

On the second day after the incident, the Imperial City Division summoned more than a dozen old party officials. There was no evidence and no clues. Just because these officials had disliked Zhao Xiaoqian and submitted the most impeachment memorials against him, they became the suspects of the Imperial City Division.

The most innocent person was an acquaintance, Su Che.

That’s right, the first person the Imperial City Administration questioned was Su Che.

As for the reason, before Zhao Xiaoqian was assassinated, he was drinking with Su Zhe in a brothel. The Imperial City Bureau also found out that Zhao Xiaoqian and Su Zhe had a dispute at that time.

Su Che is a well-known die-hard member of the old party.

Well... who else do you suspect? Suspect number one is here.

Su Che was innocent and had done nothing to offend anyone. He just had a drink in a brothel and was inexplicably sent to the prison of the Imperial City Bingjingwu.

…………

Minister of Revenue, Cai Jing's office.

Cai Jing was less than fifty years old, but his life was very exciting.

This treacherous minister who was severely criticized by later generations was actually a successful candidate in the imperial examinations. He passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi. He had been an envoy to the Liao Kingdom, served as a court official, and served as the prefect of Kaifeng for several years.

He was scolded by the New Party and ostracized by the Old Party. When his situation was at its worst, he was demoted to be a local militia captain.

If I were to do the best, it would probably be now.

After Zhao Xu took power, he needed manpower, so Cai Jing was transferred back to Bian Jing and became the Minister of Revenue.

It was not until this time that Cai Jing finally saw the situation clearly. He knew that the future of the Song Dynasty would be dominated by the New Party.

As a result, the fence-sitter who used to walk the fine line between the two parties has now become the most determined member of the New Party.

His position must never change, otherwise he will not be the Minister of Revenue for long.

Cai Jing, who had just left the government office, was now sitting in the central hall of his mansion, his hands crossed on his chest, his eyes closed tiredly.

Cai You quietly walked into the central hall and saw Cai Jing dozing in the hall, so he turned around and planned to leave quietly.

Cai Jing did not open his eyes, but seemed to know that Cai You had entered the hall.

"Is You'er back from the Imperial College?" Cai Jing asked.

Cai You turned around and saluted: "Yes, I just returned home."

Cai Jing hummed and said, "Studying is important, and so are connections. You can't just stay at home and study, ignoring what's happening outside. That's what corrupt scholars do."

"Yes, my child will learn from it."

Cai Jing finally opened his eyes, looked at Cai You, and said calmly, "You have established a friendship with the Prince of Chu. Remember to always maintain this friendship."

"From my perspective, this boy is extraordinary. If Youer keeps in touch with him, you will definitely benefit in the future."

(End of this chapter)