Chapter 158

"Great Ming has mastered a new type of gunpowder?!"

Zhu Youjian watched Tang Ruowang with keen interest and said,

"Indeed, why does Vice Minister Tang not believe it?"

"Yangxing, do we have any of those things we just experimented with left over?"

Luo Yangxing, standing beside Zhu Youjian, clasped his hands and said,

"Your Majesty, only a few pieces remain."

Zhu Youjian sneered and pointed at Tang Ruowang beside him, saying,

"Let Vice Minister Tang open his eyes!"

"Yes!"

Not long after.

Under the gaze of the assembled missionaries.

Luo Yangxing took out several solid objects, then skillfully wrapped them in kraft paper.

Immediately, he buried them in the courtyard outside the palace.

With the fuse ignited.

Another deafening "Boom!" echoed!

After Tang Ruowang and Nan Huairen came to Great Ming, they had both, in turn, assisted the Great Ming Ministry of War in casting cannons.

Both knew clearly.

With just this little gunpowder.

Such immense power was absolutely impossible.

Even though they were inside the main hall.

They all felt the blast wave rushing toward them!

Nan Huairen, unable to believe his eyes, looked outside the hall, then excitedly ran to Zhu Youjian's presence.

"Your Majesty, Great Emperor of Great Ming, I, your subject, request to join the Ministry of War to help formulate the ideal explosive ratio."

Zhu Youjian didn't even glance at Nan Huairen, then disdainfully said,

"I have important matters shortly. Since you know this was no accident, withdraw now."

Before Nan Huairen could recover his wits.

Two members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard beside Zhu Youjian had already walked up to Nan Huairen.

Clearly, Zhu Youjian's meaning was very plain.

If Nan Huairen spoke one more word, it would be refusing the face being shown.

Just after Nan Huairen and Tang Ruowang were driven out of the Qianqing Palace.

Almost simultaneously, a nearly identical flicker of fear appeared on both their faces.

Tang Ruowang's homeland lies by the banks of the Laiyinhe.

Four hundred years ago, a vast empire stationed in the north of the Central Plains, carrying terrifying weapons none of them had ever seen, marched to Tang Ruowang's homeland.

And those heavy-armored cavalrymen, whom countless old nobles took pride in.

Turned into tin cans amidst the masterful Mobile Corps Commander tactics of the grasslands and the explosions sounding like Judgment Day descending.

Even though four hundred years had already passed.

Mentioning that Yellow Peril, fear still filled the faces of Tang Ruowang and Nan Huairen.

And today.

This Great Ming, which defeated the grassland empire, had actually re-mastered a new type of gunpowder even more powerful than black powder.

Nan Huairen and Tang Ruowang immediately lost their composure.

Within the palace, the two immediately began conversing in their native tongue.

"We must send a letter to the Vatican immediately; the Vatican must take this matter seriously. If we do not intervene soon, the third Yellow Peril will be right before our eyes."

"The most fundamental thing is that I feel we must obtain the formula for this new gunpowder in a short time."

"The Great Ming Emperor seems already suspicious of us."

Fear and tension filled the faces of Tang Ruowang and Nan Huairen.

But within the palace, Zhu Youjian soon pushed these two Westerners to the back of his mind.

After all, for Great Ming.

These few Western barbarians.

Were truly too weak.

Great Ming's true enemies are in Liaodong, in Hetu Ala!

Not long after.

The newly appointed Vice Minister of War, He Tengjiao, arrived before Zhu Youjian.

Zhu Youjian, hands clasped behind his back, stood alone in the hall and asked He Tengjiao casually,

"Minister He, no need to bow; bestow a seat."

"Yes!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I wonder for what matter Your Majesty summoned me?"

A small Eunuch nearby thoughtfully brought over a stool.

He Tengjiao sat down directly.

Zhu Youjian gazed at the distant map and couldn't help but click his tongue, saying,

"Let us not rush the matter; I will pose a question to test Minister He."

"Do you know how high and how thick the Jianzhou Jurchens'false capital is?"

Hearing Zhu Youjian's question, He Tengjiao blurted out the answer instantly.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Jianzhou Jurchens'false capital began at our Great Ming's Shenyang Central Guard, originally nine li and thirty paces in circumference, two zhang and five chi high; outside the city were two moats, each three zhang wide and eight chi deep, expanded starting from the first year of Chongzhen."

"To this day, the circumference is nearly ten li, and the moats have widened to fourteen zhang and five chi (forty chi)."

The city walls are nearly six meters thick.

Black powder used solely for setting off firecrackers during the New Year could absolutely not blow it open.

Zhu Youjian naturally understood this principle.

Zhu Youjian's brows gradually furrowed tightly, and he murmured involuntarily.

"One zhang and eight chi..."

"He Qing, I am sending you to Liaodong to deliver a grand gift to Huang Taiji; does the Ministry of War have anyone willing to go?"

Hearing Zhu Youjian's words.

He Tengjiao was stunned for a moment, then looked at Zhu Youjian firmly and said.

"How would I dare not? Is the Ministry of War not precisely meant to do such things?"

Hearing He Tengjiao's reply.

If it were that bunch from the Ministry of War before the Battle of Xingshan.

They would likely, upon hearing that someone was to be sent to Liaodong.

Already be so terrified that their calves turned to jelly.

Zhu Youjian could not help but burst into loud laughter.

"Hahaha."

"He Qing, oh He Qing."

"I truly did not choose the wrong person!"

Having said this, Zhu Youjian picked up a memorial from his imperial desk and handed it to He Tengjiao standing before him.

After just one glance.

He Tengjiao's face immediately revealed an uncontrollable smile.

And just as the ruler and his minister, Zhu Youjian and He Tengjiao, hid inside the hall chuckling wickedly.

In the Hongwu era, on the Grand Canal outside Jin Ling, two elaborately decorated transport boats quietly appeared on the water's surface; the massive "Jin" banner and the "Yan" banner fluttered respectively at the bows of the ships; the Prince of Yan had arrived in the capital!

112, Zhu Yuanzhang: Biao'er, the person I most wish to see in the chat group is you...

Inside the Qianqing Palace.