Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 203 The Explosion and Wan Guojun's Fate

Liu Jianjun said the "prominent" mark on his head was caused by a piece of wood flying into his forehead during the explosion.

He was stunned when the plank hit him, which is why he fell to the ground.

Li Xian pointed to the bump on his forehead and asked him if he was starting to believe his father-in-law's superstitions. Liu Jianjun finally showed a hesitant look on his face.

"If you put it that way... it really is a bit eerie."

But he quickly dismissed that hesitation and grinned, "So what if it's weird? If it weren't for your father-in-law's sharp tongue, I might not have been able to come up with this thing so quickly!"

Li Xian finally remembered to ask Liu Jianjun what he had gotten himself.

Gunpowder! Black powder!

Liu Jianjun said smugly, then pulled out something wrapped in a lotus leaf from his pocket as if presenting a treasure.

When you open it, you'll find a dark, powdery substance inside.

Li Xian frowned and asked curiously, "Is it this thing that caused such a commotion?"

He pointed to the lingering smoke of battle.

"Of course, you wait here..." Liu Jianjun said, then turned around and started groping around.

Li Xian watched as he pulled out a piece of bamboo, and remembering the huge commotion from earlier, he couldn't help but say worriedly, "Liu Jianjun... be careful..."

"Hehe, it's alright. I didn't expect this thing to work. I just stuck a piece of incense stick into the hole of this bamboo tube and was startled by the explosion. I won't do that now." Liu Jianjun said while fiddling with the piece of bamboo tube. "This thing needs an open flame to ignite it to explode."

Li Xian then noticed what the bamboo tube in Liu Jianjun's hand looked like.

It was a bamboo tube with two sections intact, but Liu Jianjun had drilled a hole the size of a finger on one side. He was now using that hole to pour the dark, black powder he called "gunpowder" into the bamboo tube.

Li Xian curiously leaned closer.

But Liu Jianjun didn't lose much; he stopped when he had lost about 30%.

Li Xian asked curiously, "Why didn't you pour it all out?"

He saw that Liu Jianjun's purse contained a lot of this black powder.

"Combustion requires oxygen; it's not that the more you pour, the more powerful it will be... Of course, the main reason is that I'm just showing you a sound this time; it's an experiment..."

While speaking in a language that Li Xian couldn't understand, Liu Jianjun inserted a cotton swab into the hole. Li Xian noticed that the cotton swab looked as if it had been soaked in wax.

"It's been soaked in oil, but it's not easy to work with lead wires right now, so we'll just make do for now."

As if knowing Li Xian would be curious, Liu Jianjun answered, then stood the bamboo tube upright on the ground, leaving about half a foot of space between the cotton strip and the tube.

"Alright, move aside!" Liu Jianjun said, as he pulled a tinderbox from his pocket and brought it close to the exposed cotton strip.

Li Xian hurriedly stepped back.

"Get back further! Hide behind that pillar!"

Thinking of the violent explosion earlier, Li Xian immediately hid behind a pillar, only peeking out with his eyes, looking at Liu Jianjun with curiosity and a little nervousness.

This time, Liu Jianjun turned his head and brought the tinder to the cotton strip.

The tampon was quickly lit, and Liu Jianjun immediately ran to Li Xian's side.

Li Xian found it somewhat amusing that he looked so disheveled and embarrassed.

He turned his head to look at the bamboo tube lying on the open ground. The flame on the cotton strip was crooked and looked weak. He was about to doubt Liu Jianjun's words, but when he turned his head again, he found Liu Jianjun covering his ears with his hands.

Before Li Xian could ask anything, suddenly...

"boom!"

An explosion identical to the previous one rang out, accompanied by thick smoke rising into the air.

Li Xian only saw the cotton strip burn to the mouth of the bamboo tube, as if it had triggered something, and the flames suddenly rose up. Then, a violent fire exploded in an instant, and the seemingly sturdy bamboo tube shattered into powder almost instantly.

A violent explosion, accompanied by a pungent smell of sulfur, filled the air. Li Xian stared in disbelief at the scene before him.

This is incredible.

The inconspicuous black powder in Liu Jianjun's hand could actually produce such a thunderous sound!

Li Xian rubbed his still-ringing ears and yelled at Liu Jianjun, "What...what is this?!"

Liu Jianjun lowered his hands from his ears and shouted, "Keep your voice down! I can hear you!"

"What?" Li Xian didn't quite hear clearly, but still shouted.

Liu Jianjun shook his head helplessly, ignored Li Xian, and walked towards the center of the explosion.

Li Xian wanted to warn him to be careful, but then he remembered that this thing was something Liu Jianjun had put together, and that if he dared to go forward, there shouldn't be any problems. So, he followed closely behind.

As they drew nearer, Li Xian noticed a small, shallow pit in the ground.

This time, Li Xian gained a general understanding of the power of this so-called "gunpowder".

Although Liu Jianjun's yard was not paved with bluestone slabs, the mud, once compacted, was almost as hard as bluestone slabs. Yet, the explosion still managed to blast a small crater in the ground. If it had hit a person, they would have been either killed or maimed!

Moreover, Liu Jianjun said that this was just an experimental experiment; if they were to fill the bamboo tube with that so-called gunpowder...

Li Xian didn't even dare to think about it.

"The explosive force of this thing is in all directions, so the ground is minimally impacted, which is why it only created a small crater."

Liu Jianjun's subsequent explanation raised Li Xian's assessment of the gunpowder's power to a new level.

But he continued, "Moreover, my idea is to encase the gunpowder in an iron ball, with a wooden handle attached to the bottom for throwing. When we throw this thing, it will not only have the destructive power of an explosion, but also the destructive power of shattered iron fragments."

Li Xian tried to imagine the scene, and felt a chill run down his spine.

"That's right! And that huge sound!"

Li Xian shouted again, but by this time, the ringing in his ears had subsided considerably, so he subconsciously lowered his voice and said, "If this were used to deal with the Turkic cavalry, the horses would be startled and scatter in all directions, wouldn't that make us invincible?"

Li Xian had more on his mind.

He personally witnessed Liu Jianjun create this thing and found it unbelievable.

However, if this thing suddenly appears on the battlefield, and the enemy doesn't know what it is, but only sees "heavenly thunder" being thrown from their own soldiers, the enemy will probably be so frightened that they will flee before the battle even begins.

Heavenly lightning—that's a legendary power belonging to the gods!

Li Xian looked at Liu Jianjun, a hint of fear in his eyes.

If Liu Jianjun can control even this kind of divine power, what in this world is there that he cannot do?

It should be noted that while the Tang Dynasty had an advantage in the quality of its cavalry compared to the Turks and other neighboring countries, it was repeatedly constrained in terms of quantity, logistics, and strategic initiative.

The most typical example is the Turks. Although their cavalry was poorly equipped and mainly consisted of light cavalry skilled in mounted archery, almost every warrior was equipped with multiple fine horses. They were swift as the wind and were best at long-range raids, harassment, and ambushes.

"Advance when there is an advantage, retreat when there is no advantage, and do not be ashamed to flee."

When the Tang Dynasty faced them, they often found themselves in a situation where they wanted to fight but couldn't catch up, and when they wanted to retreat, they were constantly being attacked by the other side.

But now, if Liu Jianjun could get one of these things for everyone... no, even ten people holding one, it would be enough to wipe out the advantage of the Turkic cavalry!
These are cavalry, the most powerful military force in the world today!

"That's right, this thing is most effective against cavalry. It might work once or twice against humans, but the effect diminishes significantly with repeated use. Humans learn quickly and realize its limited lethality. But horses are different. No matter how many times it's bombed… at least for now, no matter how many times it's bombed, the horses will still have a seizure!"

Liu Jianjun, completely oblivious to the fear in Li Xian's eyes, continued his explanation.

Li Xian had recovered from his initial shock and asked the question that concerned him most at that moment: "Can...can this thing be mass-produced?"

Although this thing theoretically has a firm grip on cavalry, it is almost meaningless if there are too few of them.

Hearing this, Liu Jianjun became slightly more serious and said, "Theoretically speaking, there shouldn't be a problem. Saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal—all three can be found within the territory of the Tang Dynasty..."

Li Xian felt a surge of excitement and asked, "Did you gather saltpeter and sulfur all these days just to make this?"

Liu Jianjun nodded, then said, "But there are also problems."

He counted on his fingers, "The biggest problem is the purification of raw materials. These things must be of high purity, otherwise what you make can only be considered a rough blank."

"If there are too many impurities in the saltpeter, it will directly affect the burning speed and power. The same goes for sulfur. Natural sulfur is not pure and is prone to absorbing moisture. This requires repeated dissolution, crystallization, and screening, which is time-consuming and laborious. I have been working on this these days."

"Besides that, there's security."

At this point, his expression turned serious. Pointing to the bump on his head, he said, "You saw it too. This is only because I knew the power of this thing and took precautions early on. If we were to mass-produce it, just imagine what the consequences would be if there were even one operational mistake."

Li Xian imagined the scene Liu Jianjun described and felt a chill run down his spine once again.

Liu Jianjun only handled a tiny bit of gunpowder, yet it already caused such a huge explosion. If it were mass-produced and stored in a confined environment, weighing hundreds or thousands of kilograms, an explosion would reduce the entire factory to ruins, not to mention the people inside.

"Therefore, mass production is possible, but a strict set of procedures must be established. Site selection, personnel, and operating procedures must all be handled with utmost care."

"Moreover, the core proportions and final assembly must be controlled by absolutely reliable core personnel who have undergone rigorous training. This thing is better to be slow than chaotic, and better to have less than to leak information."

"Most importantly, this thing... should be avoided if possible at this stage."

Li Xian could understand Liu Jianjun's earlier words, but he couldn't quite understand the latter part about not using him.

Liu Jianjun stared intently at Li Xian and said, “The only time this thing can truly run rampant in the world will be after we overthrow your mother, or… when we overthrow your mother.”

Li Xian's heart tightened, and he instantly understood what Liu Jianjun meant.

This thing belongs to Liu Jianjun, it's his own, but it can't be from the Tang Dynasty... or the Wu Zhou Dynasty.

If I can see the power and danger of this thing, then the Queen Mother can naturally see it too.

If this thing were made public, and the Empress Mother obtained it, it would be even more difficult for me to overthrow her.

"You mean...we'll be at war with the Queen Mother?"

"Who knows?" Liu Jianjun said nonchalantly, pursing his lips.

Li Xian glared at him; he didn't want to dodge the question on this matter.

Liu Jianjun then compromised, saying, "My dear son, you need to understand one thing: whether or not there is war or not does not depend on us, but on your mother, the Empress. If she can amicably relinquish the throne, then of course we can all make money peacefully."

"But if she stubbornly insists on sitting in that position, what other options do we have besides resorting to force?"

"Besides, isn't the Xuanwu Gate succession system a long-standing tradition of your Li Tang dynasty?"

Li Xian glared at him again, clearly annoyed.

But then, another sigh followed.

It has to be said that Liu Jianjun's words... make some sense.

At least from Emperor Taizong to his father, the path to the throne was not smooth sailing. In his own generation, it was even more absurd that the throne was taken away by his mother.

If things really came to the point where they had no choice but to resort to arms, Li Xian realized that this seemed to be the only solution.

He wasn't foolish enough to wait until his mother passed away before taking the throne from her.

"I understand. You are in full charge of this matter. Whatever you need, the treasury and manpower, I will provide all the support you can. Confidentiality is paramount, and safety comes first."

Li Xian was talking about gunpowder.

Liu Jianjun grinned and said, "With your words, Xianzi, that's enough. The first step is to finalize the stable formula and the preliminary production process. Then, we need a more remote and sturdy location, preferably a workshop with a cellar or built against a mountain, so that even if there are any accidents, the losses and impacts can be minimized."

"Ideally, this place should be in Chang'an, since that's our base."

After finalizing some details, the two decided to build the future "gunpowder workshop" on the south side of Dayi Valley, across the Yellow Canal from the Cotton Ecological Park.

This place already has a basic industrial base. Most importantly, it is secluded and has convenient access to water, so even if a fire breaks out or an accidental explosion occurs, rescue and relief can be carried out as quickly as possible.

Li Xian couldn't help with the specific production process of gunpowder.

But before Li Xian could help, Fang Xianzhong's loud voice rang out from outside Liu Jianjun's small courtyard: "Your Highness Prince Pei, the servants in your residence said you were with Chief Secretary Liu, so this old minister came looking for you!"

This is my father-in-law returning from court.

Li Xian and Liu Jianjun exchanged a glance, then called out, "Please come in, father-in-law."

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and Fang Xianzhong strode in. He was still wearing his slightly worn blue official robe, but his expression was rather cheerful.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he coughed lightly from the lingering smell of gunpowder in the air. When he saw Liu Jianjun's dark face and the conspicuous bump on his forehead, as well as the fresh shallow pit and bamboo fragments on the ground, he was stunned for a moment and subconsciously wanted to speak.

Seeing this, Li Xian was afraid that his father-in-law would say something that would "add fuel to the fire," so he quickly asked first, "Father-in-law, why did the court session end so early today? Did something important happen in court?"

Distracted by this, Fang Xianzong temporarily forgot about Liu Jianjun's "miserable state" and returned his attention to the affairs of the court. His face instantly regained its previous smugness, and he laughed and said, "Your Highness, Nephew Liu, something big has indeed happened in the court today! It concerns that Wan Guojun!"

His voice boomed, brimming with triumphant satisfaction: "This scoundrel was brought to the court today, and the joint trial by the three judicial authorities has concluded. The evidence is irrefutable! His Majesty was furious in court, condemning him as 'a wolf in sheep's clothing, harming the innocent, and falsely using my will—a crime deserving of death'! He has now been stripped of his official robes and imprisoned in the imperial jail. His Majesty has personally ordered that he be executed in a public ceremony on a chosen day!"

Although Li Xian had expected this news, hearing it from Fang Xianzhong still made him feel a pang of sadness.

The last giant of the era of cruel officials is finally about to fall.

Liu Jianjun clicked his tongue and said, "His Majesty acted swiftly this time; it seems he truly has no intention of leaving any future troubles."

Fang Xianzhong was unaware of Li Xian's affairs, so Liu Jianjun did not speak carelessly to Li Xian's mother as "old woman" in front of him.

"Exactly!"

Fang Xianzhong clapped his hands and said, "Your Majesty's actions are truly gratifying! In the court, Di Renjie, Imperial Censor Wei, and others all praised Your Majesty's wisdom. Wan Guojun has been brought to justice, and the other cruel officials are now trembling with fear, living in constant anxiety. The gloom that has shrouded the court for so many years is finally about to dissipate!"

He spoke with such emotion that he couldn't help but cough twice more. "According to news from the palace, Wan Guojun's punishment this time should be public execution. Your Majesty wants to use this barbarian's head to warn the world and comfort the wronged souls who died unjustly in Lingnan."

The term "execution in the marketplace" refers to a public beheading in a busy area, leaving the body exposed in the street.

Li Xian was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Thank you for informing me, Father-in-law."

"Your Highness is too kind. This is merely my duty." Fang Xianzhong quickly returned the greeting, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards Liu Jianjun and the mess beside him. Unable to suppress his curiosity, he cautiously asked, "Nephew Liu, what happened just now...?"

It's no wonder Fang Xianzhong was overly curious; it was truly remarkable that he could suppress his curiosity and recount the events in the court in their entirety while facing Liu Jianjun's dark face.

Especially now, the bump on Liu Jianjun's forehead has not yet subsided, and he still looks "proud and outstanding".

Liu Jianjun chuckled, his tone nonchalant: "It's nothing, it's nothing, Master Fang. I was just testing a new firecracker and used too much force, accidentally popping myself. Please excuse me."

Fang Xianzhong didn't speak, but stared at the bulge on Liu Jianjun's forehead with a complicated expression.

……

(End of this chapter)