In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

The stunned, terrified, and numb expressions in the audience were the best test evidence of the power of this test explosion.

Wan Jun, Xue Rengui, and their confidants exchanged glances, stunned and speechless!

"What...is this?"

"..."

The terrifying power of the explosion shattered their understanding of the world.

That force, like divine punishment, seemed capable of easily tearing their bodies apart and destroying their lives.

The news was immediately blocked.

Those who witnessed the black powder explosion were all high-ranking officials and soldiers from Liangzhou.

As for the soldiers in the other prefectures, they were unaware of the existence of gunpowder, and Li Yuanchang did not intend to let them know for the time being.

After all, strictly speaking, they are not the absolute core of the elite forces. Once gunpowder is deployed, it will definitely be given priority to be controlled by the eight thousand elite soldiers.

Afterwards, Li Yuanchang conducted an on-site survey.

This time, the eight-pound gunpowder blasted a crater more than one meter in diameter, and the powerful killing range of the shock wave was about five meters.

It's practically impossible to survive within this range; the closer you get, the less likely you are to be left with a complete corpse. Even the pinnacle of cold weapon defense, the Bright Armor, cannot stop it.

The five- to twelve-meter range can cause some impact, but not enough to kill or render someone unconscious.

In addition to these actual kills, they also have a deterrent effect.

When gunpowder explodes, the sound is so loud it's louder than thunder. In ancient times, the mental damage caused by this explosive was extremely high!

Many ancient people, upon hearing this unknown sound, would instinctively lie down, their legs trembling.

Such power has instantly made it the most unbeatable cheat code of our time.

But Li Yuanchang was still not satisfied.

Due to limited raw materials and manpower, he planned to add some more features to the gunpowder, namely, to increase the amount of shrapnel!

As we all know, the shrapnel from a grenade explosion is the real cause of mass destruction, but the earthenware pot grenade that Li Yuanchang is making now has too little damage from the shattered tiles.

He decided to add some iron nails, or "barbed wire," to the earthenware pot so that when it exploded, the damage would be maximized!

He immediately put his plan into action.

Lime and tung oil paste were mass-produced, and all the caltrops used in the army were dug out.

This thing is just two herringbone nails joined together, specifically designed to protect against cavalry. It's a good thing, but now that we have gunpowder, the priority of barbed wire has plummeted.

The entire black powder industry chain began to be built in the deep mountains west of the Liao River.

He first gathered the original twenty master craftsmen of the Hanwang Arsenal and began to teach them in batches how to refine saltpeter, purify sulfur, and pound saltpeter.

Then they teach the people below them.

He mobilized a total of eight hundred of his most meticulous and loyal soldiers to participate in the production of gunpowder.

The entire gunpowder production process was divided into three main parts, and apart from Li Yuanchang, no one else possessed the complete production method and proportions.

In this way, even if someone leaks it, only one-third of it can be leaked.

Within just a few days, the arsenal was already operational.

When supplies were insufficient, Li Yuanchang would send people on urgent missions to the nearby Northern Song and Southern Qin branches in Yingzhou. Backed by two top merchant houses, he could get whatever he wanted.

Not in Chang'an, not in Liangzhou, and without surveillance, he could be said to have acted with complete freedom.

Modern knowledge brings about an absolute dimensional reduction attack.

At this moment, the Goguryeo court was still immersed in the joy of defeating the Great Tang Khan.

Little did they know, an even more terrifying person was about to arrive!

Their nightmare has already begun.

……

February, the twenty-first year of the Zhenguan era.

It was snowing lightly in Chang'an, but the weather here was much better than in Liaodong.

Inside the Liangyi Hall.

When Changsun Huan returned to the capital to report, his wailing echoed throughout the palace, and almost all the civil and military officials watched.

"Your Majesty, that Prince of Han is utterly lawless! So what if he himself said he despised the court!"

"He not only assaulted the imperial envoy, but also expelled me. I traveled thousands of miles to visit the army, yet I wasn't even offered a cup of tea!"

"You must do me justice!"

Changsun Huan wailed, tears streaming down his face, and in an attempt to gain sympathy, he didn't even change his clothes, which were covered in mud.

At first glance, he appears to be a victim.

Inside the palace, where the stove was blazing and the room was warm as spring, the officials wore varying expressions.

The conflict between the Changsun family and the Prince of Han had long been public, which was not surprising to many people, but the complex relationship meant that few dared to speak out.

Most people have learned to be smarter and won't take sides when things are unclear.

"Alright, stop crying." Li Shimin frowned.

"What kind of decorum is this, weeping and wailing in the main hall?"

Changsun Huan wiped away his tears, and the crying stopped.

Li Shimin placed the letter on the table: "The Prince of Han said in his memorial that you led men to the military camp and beat up a general. Is this true?"

When Changsun Wuji, who was standing at the very front, heard this, he almost spat out blood. He didn't even dare to do that.

Seeing his father's expression, Changsun Huan immediately panicked and shook his head in denial: "No, Your Majesty, no!"

Li Shimin was a man of great stature; he saw through the clues at a glance.

Are you sure you don't?

The rhetorical question, consisting of only five words, seemed ordinary, but when uttered by Li Shimin, the imposing aura of a superior was something that Changsun Huan could not withstand.

He immediately panicked: "Your Majesty, there was some conflict, but... but those two generals initiated the conflict, offended me, and refused to obey orders to stop the drill."

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials were speechless, thankfully they hadn't taken sides beforehand.

Li Shimin's face immediately darkened.

Inconsistency indicates lying.

Moreover, it is taboo for civil officials to order military officers to stop the drills, especially since this is the Tang Dynasty, not some other dynasty.

Seeing that something bad was about to happen, Changsun Wuji reacted quickly and stepped forward to reprimand him.

"presumptuous!"

"Changsun Huan, how dare you! His Majesty sent you to investigate the situation, and this is how you find out?"

"Father……"

"Shut up!"

"There are no fathers and sons in the court. I'll settle accounts with you when we get back!"

After scolding him, Changsun Wuji quickly knelt down and begged for forgiveness: "Your Majesty, as the head of all officials, I have failed in my supervisory duties and am guilty."

"Changsun Huan's words and actions are inconsistent. As his father, this old minister is guilty."

"We urge Your Majesty to punish them as well, to set an example!"

The displeasure on Li Shimin's face gradually eased.

Given Changsun Wuji's current state, he couldn't be too harsh on him, especially since Changsun Huan was his own nephew.

"never mind."

"The fault is not yours. You can give him a good talking-to when you get back."

"This matter is not entirely Changsun Huan's fault. The King of Han does have a bad temper, and in any case, he went a bit too far."

"I will issue a written edict to the Prince of Han, reprimanding him for his behavior."

The standard approach is to give both sides equal blame, smooth things over, and appease each other.

"Your Majesty is wise!!"

All the civil and military officials bowed in unison.

Li Shimin stopped talking about the matter, but his gaze fell on the envelope several times.

He knew very well that this was Changsun Huan's fault, but what concerned him was that Li Yuanchang had led the troops but was slow to advance, although the letter explained the reasons.