Catching Monsters

Chapter 503: Developing Artillery
Of course, Jiang Yun was also well aware that the power of these cannons, if produced, might not pose any threat to advanced cultivators.

But if used on the battlefield, its effect...

Soon, Xu Xiaogang led the two rather old craftsmen back to the Jiang residence.

After Jiang Yun ushered the two into the study, Xu Xiaogang gestured and introduced them, saying, "These two were introduced by the Ministry of Works."

"This is Hu Leqi, a craftsman from the Ministry of Works who manufactures gunpowder."

Hu Leqi looked to be in his fifties, wearing a gray robe, and had a faint smell of gunpowder about him.

It was clearly the smell left over from long-term contact with gunpowder.

"This Qi Hede is one of the top blacksmiths in the Ministry of Works."

Qi Hede was also around fifty years old, with dark skin and somewhat yellow teeth.

Jiang Yun smiled and nodded to the two men. Then he took out the blueprints he had just drawn and handed them to them, saying, "Masters, based on your experience, is it possible to create this?"

"My idea is to stuff gunpowder into this cannon and then detonate it."

"..."

After Jiang Yun shared his general idea about the cannon, Hu Leqi and Qi Hede exchanged a glance, then squatted down beside him, carefully observing the cannon's design.

Soon, Qi Hede slowly shook his head and said, "Lord Jiang, if a so-called 'iron cannon' is made of iron, the gunpowder will definitely shatter the iron when it explodes."

"Just like firecrackers, what you're talking about is rather far-fetched."

Hu Leqi shook his head and said, "Brother Qi, what you're talking about, if the amount and ratio of gunpowder are controlled, shouldn't be easy to explode."

"But this iron has to be refined iron..."

“But if we’re going to do as Lord Jiang says, and launch such a huge iron ball that can travel a mile or two, then the gunpowder power can’t be too weak,” Qi Hede said with a serious expression.

The two quickly engaged in a heated discussion about the matter, and Jiang Yun soon realized that he had probably oversimplified the situation.

Even in my previous life, the production of cannons required extensive research into the technology.

Seeing that the two were discussing intensely, Jiang Yun said, "If you two are interested, I will report to His Majesty and ask him to allocate funds so that you can find a place to study this properly."

Upon hearing this, Qi Hede waved his hands repeatedly: "Lord Jiang, you should find someone else to handle this matter. I, Qi, only know how to forge iron; I can't do anything else."

Upon seeing this, Jiang Yun immediately smiled and said, "Mr. Qi is too modest. Since the Ministry of Works recommended you, you must be a highly authoritative craftsman in this field."

Seeing that Qi Hede still looked displeased and was unwilling to move, Jiang Yun couldn't help but sigh slightly and said, "Mr. Qi, don't you know what I, Jiang Yun, do?"

"I'm discussing this with you now. If it were tomorrow, I might not have the patience to discuss it with you slowly."

Upon hearing this, Qi Hede remembered Jiang Yun's official position. His lips twitched, he took a deep breath, and smiled, "I was too inconsiderate. Since it is Lord Jiang's business, I will certainly do my best."

Jiang Yun: "..."

He understood Qi Hede's thoughts; this guy was indeed the most outstanding craftsman in ironmaking.

However, being in the Ministry of Works, he was usually well-fed and cared for, and he would only work when His Majesty the Emperor needed any ironware, or when the court needed to manufacture a batch of God-Slaying Crossbows.

Now Jiang Yun is asking him to help build this so-called cannon, which is definitely overtime work.

Moreover, it was associated with dangerous substances like gunpowder.

Of course he wasn't happy.

Although Qi Hede agreed verbally, he was not entirely willing. Jiang Yun also knew that a forced relationship would not be happy.

At the very least, we must ensure that the other party takes things seriously.

He smiled and asked, "Mr. Qi, which government office does your child work for?"

Upon hearing Jiang Yun's words, Qi Hede said in a deep voice, "My son is in charge of the Imperial Sacrifices Department at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."

"The Bureau of Pickled Vegetables? What does it do?" Jiang Yun didn't know much about these government offices in the capital, so he turned to look at Xu Xiaogang.

Xu Xiaogang whispered in Jiang Yun's ear, "Cook."

"Oh, oh, oh." Jiang Yun suddenly realized, and then said, "Tomorrow I'll send someone to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to request someone to be transferred to my Eastern Garrison Command as a civil servant, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, Hu Leqi coughed slightly and said, "Sir, I only have one daughter, but my son-in-law..."

"Come on, both of you. My Imperial Guard is in dire need of talents like these two," Jiang Yun said with a smile.

Upon seeing this, the two were naturally overjoyed.

Although they were top-notch craftsmen, they were still just craftsmen. For example, Qi Hede had already exhausted all his efforts to get his son into the Imperial Sauce Bureau.

Not to mention joining a powerful government office like the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"I will arrange a place for the two of you to focus on studying artillery, and I will also send a Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) to protect your safety."

"Neither of you are allowed to leave until this cannon has been thoroughly studied."

"You can ask for anything."

The matter of artillery must absolutely not be leaked.

Soon, Jiang Yun summoned Qi Da and made arrangements for the matter.

After seeing the two off, Xu Xiaogang sat in the study, looking at the design drawings in front of Jiang Yun, and slowly said, "Brother-in-law, is this thing really as powerful as you say?" Jiang Yun stroked his chin: "If things go badly on the front lines, this thing might be able to help you turn the tide."

"Don't underestimate this thing."

Over the next few days, rumors began to circulate in the capital that General Zhang Yuhu at the front had devised a comprehensive counter-offensive plan and was urgently allocating supplies in preparation for action.

Within the capital, many departments were mobilized, especially the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Works.

The Ministry of Revenue needed to raise a large amount of grain and fodder for the front lines, and in some parts of the north, it forcibly imposed additional taxes to quell the rebellion.

The Ministry of War could only intensify the training of the 300,000 new recruits in the north.

In addition to overseeing the manufacture of weapons and equipment for the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works also had to ensure the transportation of grain.

In short, all departments began working intensively, and the Eastern Garrison was no exception.

Early that morning, Jiang Yun arrived at the Eastern Garrison Command. In his study, there were many documents in front of him that required his signature.

For example, the list of the new batch of personnel joining the Eastern Garrison Command, their formal employment, and the dispatch of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to infiltrate the south and investigate the specific locations and transportation times of the southern rebels' grain supplies.

"Qida, just arrange for someone to handle these details." Jiang Yun quickly glanced at the documents and signed them.

Jiang Yun couldn't help but sigh, the job of being a yamen chief was easier than he had imagined; all he had to do was instruct his subordinates on how to do things.

Xu Xiaogang was much more carefree at this point, and his attention to the front lines had decreased significantly. After all, worrying in Beijing every day wouldn't change anything.

The place arranged for Hu Leqi and Qi Hede was a secluded manor twenty miles north of the capital. This manor was a place where the family members of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion would occasionally travel outside the capital.

It was located in a forest, but at this moment, hundreds of Imperial Guards had been stationed near the forest to prevent any unauthorized personnel from approaching.

Unless it's an order from Jiang Yun or Xiao Gang.

Meanwhile, several loud noises would be heard from this forest throughout the day.

At dusk, a loud bang startled the few remaining birds in the woods, sending them scattering in all directions.

At the foot of a small hill behind the manor, Qi Hede had already built a rather crude small cannon, with a diameter of only about one meter.

The fuse that Jiang Yun had set was lit, and with a loud bang, the entire cannon exploded.

Fortunately, Qi Hede, Hu Leqi, and Xu Xiaogang were all far away, so they were not injured by the scattered metal fragments.

"Old Qi, is the iron smelting process still not robust enough?" Hu Leqi shook his head and said, "We've already blown up three cannons in the last two days."

"The amount of gunpowder was also reduced again and again."

Upon hearing this, Qi Hede went up and touched a piece of iron that was still hot. After thinking for a long time, he said, "No, this cannon barrel should be divided into two parts, the muzzle and the powder chamber. Let's try again."

In fact, Jiang Yun's drawing of cannons was rather hasty and simple, because Jiang Yun was not an expert in this field and could only give a general impression of cannons.

Many details are not quite right.

Fortunately, Qi Hede and Hu Leqi had spent their entire lives working with ironware and gunpowder, and were able to gradually improve and refine their methods.

"Lord Duke, you have so many things to do, why are you here with us every day studying cannons?" Qi Hede and Xu Xiaogang stepped forward and slowly picked up the iron fragments on the ground.

Xu Xiaogang was also somewhat alarmed at this moment. Even though he was far away, he could still feel the power of the artillery explosion.

If we can successfully get this thing out and transport it to the battlefield...

Putting everything else aside, the deafening sound alone would wipe out the opposing cavalry.

Because the horses were so frightened, they couldn't charge forward, let alone kill the enemy.

This is good stuff, truly good stuff.

……

"Min'er, Zhang Yuhu has already dispatched an advance force to Shanglin County City."

With a joyful expression, Wang Longzhi walked in from the outer courtyard. Seeing Xiao Min'er admiring the flowers, he quickly came to her side: "He has also dispatched heavy troops to guard both sides of Huangguan Pass."

"Let them all in, and give him Huangguan Pass as well," Xiao Min'er said calmly. "Then, let him continue his attack."

Wang Longzhi nodded slightly upon hearing Xiao Min'er's words.

Xiao Min'er closed her eyes and then said, "In addition, we will move to Guangli County and spread the news."

"Guangli County?" Upon hearing this, Wang Longzhi frowned and quickly flipped through a map to examine it: "Guangli County is flat for dozens of miles around, with no natural defenses. It is quite important as a military stronghold, but it has no natural barriers to defend it..."

"Are you trying to use us as bait to lure Zhang Yuhu's army into attacking?"

Xiao Min'er nodded, but Wang Longzhi said in a deep voice, "But if Zhang Yuhu really leads a large army, how can we resist?"

Xiao Min'er said in a deep voice, then asked, "What place is a hundred miles north of Guangli County?"

"Cangnan River." Wang Longzhi's expression changed slightly: "You mean..."

Xiao Min'er opened her eyes: "Draw the river water southward to flood Zhang Yuhu's army."

Wang Longzhi: "In this way, the floods will be devastating, and countless people will likely die or be injured."

Xiao Min'er said in a deep voice, "As long as Zhang Yuhu's army is flooded, I will have the demonic cultivators of the Demon Spirit Sect find a way to cast a spell to restore the river to its original flow."

(End of this chapter)