One night passed, Zhou Yu woke up and went to the Imperial Study Room and the back of the Qianqing Palace to look at the solidification of the cement mortar.

The situation cannot be said to be good, it can only be said to be very bad.

Although the craftsmen made the cement strictly according to the formula given by Zhou Yu, it was the first time after all and the firing temperature may be slightly lacking, which would affect the quality of the cement to some extent.

But the biggest problem is the temperature. Even though it has passed the New Year's Eve, the temperature is still very low. The condition of the cement piers placed outside and the cement filling the gaps on the ground are not very good. The only thing is the cement in the wooden barrel. Because it is placed in the room, it is considered normal. Whether it can be used or whether the manufacturing process needs to be further improved or not, we still have to wait and see.

Cement is very important in construction and development and is an indispensable foundation for many things to come, and then there is steel.

Steel and cement are equally important. Zhou Yu does not require that this kind of steel can reach the strength of special steel in the modern world, as long as it can be used at ordinary levels. The future output of the two will definitely be more and more when they complement each other.

In the morning, he handled state affairs and met with ministers in the imperial study room. At noon, Cheng Jing hurried over to report. He excitedly reported to Zhou Yu the process of testing the new gunpowder during the day. He said that after filling the new gunpowder, the power of the artillery rocket changed. It is much higher than before, and the explosive pack is also extremely powerful, so it is quite convenient to use.

Whether it is used for siege or defense, it is considered a magical weapon, not to mention the kind of grenades that can be carried with dozens of people. It is simply like the thunder god coming to the world to hit wherever he wants. Cheng Jing's face was so excited when he reported From the look of it, you can tell that you have tried those things yourself.

After Zhou Yu finished listening to Cheng Jing's report, he also asked questions carefully. The questions were very detailed, but Cheng Jing answered in more detail. How big was the crater caused by the explosion? What color was it when it exploded? If there was a sound several miles away, it would still be heard no matter how far away it was. He could feel the vibration, how much weight was used, etc., and he also gave Zhou Yu a clearly written record, which also included a comparison record with the previous gunpowder.

With this record, Zhou Yu can have a clearer understanding of how much the new gunpowder has improved. However, in any case, these gunpowders have never left the category of black gunpowder. They can only be regarded as more advanced black gunpowder, but they have changed from powder. It's just particles. Next, we still have to continue to improve, and we must go one step further to get paper-cased fixed-loading ammunition.

However, the process of gunpowder granulation was not completed throughout the Ming Dynasty. No one wanted to improve gunpowder at all. Ancient methods, systems, and ancestral rules all contributed to the brilliance of Chinese civilization. But it is also because of the old-fashioned and selfishness of some people that civilization that has lasted for thousands of years has remained in the same place.

But that won’t happen in this world. The Ming Dynasty already had the foundation for industrialization. What Zhou Yu had to do now was to push forward the process of industrialization starting with armaments.

It is strange to say that the Ming Dynasty clearly already had the foundation and development possibilities of industrialization, as well as the ruling force for overseas colonization, but why was it unable to take one more step in this direction? If this step could When we go out and lead the world in the next few hundred years, it will be the Han people.

If you think about the Ming Dynasty, iron-clad ships, field guns, mortars, and powerful high-speed artillery could really be developed in this era. The world has indeed gone on a crazy road and will never return.

There is still a question mark as to whether there will be other human races a hundred years from now.

I talk about the great country on my lips, but in my heart I think every day about what a country that is not my race will do. Who can guarantee that, if the Ming Dynasty were to move towards this at the best time, who can guarantee it?

If we continue in this direction, we may be able to develop to the level of World War I in fifty to one hundred years.

After reading the record handed over by Cheng Jing, Zhou Yu casually lit it and threw it into the copper basin: "My dear companion, I have rewarded the craftsmen in the workshop."

"I have already rewarded you according to the emperor's instructions." Cheng Jing said excitedly: "The previous gunpowder was in powder form, which was not only difficult to store but also easy to get damp. I didn't expect that it would change so much after it was turned into powder form. Your Majesty

His wisdom is simply unprecedented and unprecedented. The iron barrel cannon is more powerful than our existing cannons. Wherever the cannon stone hits, there will be no grass. If this cannon had existed in the first place, I am afraid that it would have suffered at the Bauhinia Pass.

.”

Zhou Yu shook his head and said: "This flattery is too stiff. You go and make arrangements for me to leave the palace in the evening. In the afternoon, the imperial concubine will host a banquet in Kunning Palace to entertain several beautiful ladies. Please see what you need to pay attention to."

"

Cheng Jing said: "Okay Your Majesty, I will go and have a look later. However, the Imperial Concubine and the nuns in the Empress Dowager's palace will see that nothing will go wrong."

Zhou Yu nodded: "Is there any suitable place in the palace where a workshop can be placed?"

Cheng Jing was stunned for a moment but then thought about it carefully: "Your Majesty, if it were within the palace, we might not be able to find a suitable place to place the workshop, but there are quite a few places to place the workshop next to the Long Live Mountain Royal Garden."

The Wansui Mountain Royal Garden is located just north of the Imperial Palace outside the Shenwu Gate. It has been incorporated into the Imperial City since the Yuan Dynasty to divert water for irrigation. Flowers, plants and trees were planted in it and became the Royal Royal Garden. There were changes in the Ming Dynasty when the Forbidden City was built.

The gravel and soil accumulated in the moat formed a mound of dirt. It was named Long Live Mountain because it resembled a large crawling turtle, and the place was also used as a royal garden.

In the Qing Dynasty, the name of this place became Jingshan, and Jingshan Imperial Garden later became Jingshan Park.

"But, the workshop will be very important in the future and I don't feel at ease if it is placed in the city. I would be more at ease if it is placed near the palace."

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Cheng Jing nodded: "I will go down immediately to make arrangements."

"Um."

Zhou Yu nodded: "You should choose a suitable land or a suitable yard first."

"I understand."

It doesn't matter where it is. The problem is that if it is placed outside the palace, it will be inconvenient for him to go there every day to see it. If it is behind the palace, it will definitely be much more convenient.

Although he has given the detailed manufacturing process of those things, if you want to develop quickly, you still have to personally watch and lead. Normally, if it takes fifty years to develop to what he needs, he will personally participate in this process.

The process may only take five years to do.

Of course, the things that need to be done at present will not take as long as fifty years. It may be done in two or three years. But if he can personally watch it, it will not take two or three years, but can be done in two or three months.

.

Naturally, it must be fast. The faster, the better. He also thought about quickly making a small generator to use. Although lighting candles at night can make the palace very bright depending on the number, it is still inferior to lamps.

There were a lot of them, and even if it was just for the eyes, I had to rub the lamp out quickly.

When the lanterns first came on and the sky gradually darkened, someone came to report that the show girls had entered the Kunning Palace. Zhou Yu put down what he was doing and headed towards the Kunning Palace. The distance between the two palaces was actually not far, only a few steps away.

The red candles in the palace were swaying and the fragrance was thick. Concubine Hang was sitting dignifiedly on the throne in a rich dress. Several beautiful ladies who had passed all the examinations but had not been able to wait for the emperor's summons were also dressed in fine clothes under the guidance of the palace maids.

Luo came to Kunning Palace.

Several beautiful ladies are all beautiful people, each one is as delicate and beautiful as a flower. After entering the palace, they bowed down with unified movements.

"The court ladies (people's daughters) join the imperial concubine. May the imperial concubine live a thousand years."

Concubine Hang has a gentle personality. Even if she pretends to be dignified and majestic, her own personality cannot be changed.

With a slight smile, Concubine Hang raised her hand and said softly: "Everyone, get up. You will all serve the emperor in the palace from now on. You must abide by the rules in the palace. But today is just a family gathering organized by the palace, so that's fine.

Let me and you sisters get close to each other, and you don’t have to be too formal to sit down."

Saying this makes it clear that these are just polite words. Several beautiful ladies did not want to lose etiquette because of a word. When they stood up, they saluted Concubine Hang again and said: "Thank you, Concubine Huang."

The beautiful ladies took their seats respectively, and the palace maids and eunuchs also filed in from outside, carrying plates and placing many things in order.

Concubine Hang looked at the ladies and said, "Sisters, please check whether the names on the screen behind you are correct. The emperor will be here today. It will be bad if you get the names wrong."

.”

The obedient ones looked back at the screen behind them, and then reported to Concubine Hang one by one that there was no problem.

And just behind these screens, there were actually attentive eunuchs observing them.

These were not arranged by Concubine Hang, but by the maids and nuns who had followed the Empress Dowager for many years. They used various actions to observe what kind of person she was.

Among these five beautiful women, there are two civilian girls. The other two are the daughters of hundreds of households in the army and the daughters of hundreds of Jinyiwei. The last one, Li Xiangning, is considered to be better, but it is only because there is a girl in the family who has been raped before.

My aunt, who was named the Concubine Xian, only had some money and prestige in her family, but she had no real power.

At most, he could hold the position of Imperial Guard, or hold some idle positions in some governor's mansion or government office.

Concubine Hang paid a little attention when she knew Zhou Yu seemed to know Li Xiangning. She also learned about Li Xiangning's situation from other people's mouths. Concubine Hang actually noticed Li Xiangning as soon as she arrived today.

Among the five people, only Li Xiangning behaved the most calmly. She acted calmly and gracefully in every move, and there were not many other expressions on her face, as if she was accustomed to everything in front of her.

Although the other four people have been studying for a period of time, they still showed some nervousness and panic when facing the woman with the most power and status in the harem. However, it is normal to be nervous and flustered.

"Is this Li Xiangning? She is really beautiful and fragrant. If you look closely, she looks a bit similar to me. She is destined to enter the palace since she was a child?"

Women know women best, and it is Li Xiangning that Concubine Hang pays most attention to.

The day before, Zhou Yu showed a little familiarity with Li Xiangning and was noticed by Concubine Hang. So he asked the old ladies about Li Xiangning, and then he knew everything about Li Xiangning.

It also includes some things that happened after the emperor was a child.

It can be said that the two have known each other since they were very young. They died of illness shortly after Queen Hu was deposed. At that time, Zhou Yu was still a little guy learning to talk, but the person who took care of Zhou Yu at that time was not the new queen.

Sun, but the Empress Dowager and Concubine Li Xian, and more often than not it was Concubine Li Xian who took care of Zhou Yu's three predecessors, siblings.

Under such circumstances, I naturally got to know Li Xiangning. They were supposed to be childhood sweethearts, but everything changed because of Baozong's intervention. Zhou Yuna was only a few years old when Xuanzong died, and Baozong was even more...

He has always been favored and became the emperor at a young age. It can be said to be a love story about a man's love. When he was a teenager, Zhou Yu's predecessor felt the pain of falling out of love and being robbed of his beloved.

In short, the Baozong has been attracted to Li Xiangning since he was a child, so Li Xiangning has been trained since he was a child to be sent to the palace, but this person just arrived in the palace before he could serve the Baozong.

came, so the woman who was bound to attack had no choice but to enter Zhou Yu's harem.

Concubine Hang still knew this in her heart, and now she looked at Li Xiangning with a somewhat strange look.

Now in Concubine Hang's heart, she has a bad feeling about Li Xiangning. She and the Emperor were childhood sweethearts, but she abandoned the Emperor and chose another person. But now the person she chose before has died and the abandoned person has become the Emperor. I really don't know.

How could this Li Xiangning have the nerve to stay here?

But if Li Xiangning had not given up on the emperor, then Li Xiangning might have become the empress of the Ming Dynasty now. Doesn't this mean that what was originally thought to be sesame seeds has now turned into a watermelon? What was originally thought to be a watermelon is actually just a watermelon.

Sesame?

It was at this time that Zhou Yu walked in from outside the door.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

A shout made everyone stand up. Concubine Hang stood up and walked down the steps and stood in the middle of the hall. Several beautiful ladies also stood up and hurriedly came to stand behind Concubine Hang.

As soon as Zhou Yu came in, Concubine Hang made a Wanfu salute to Zhou Yu, while the other ladies knelt on the ground and saluted.

"I respectfully welcome your Majesty."

"My daughter (Ming Dynasty) comes to see the Emperor."

"Get up." Zhou Yu glanced at the five beautiful ladies kneeling down, then took Concubine Hang's hand and said with a smile, "I'm not too late."
Chapter completed!