Chapter 435: Adding Some Extra Ingredients

"Brother Chen, let's go, keep at it!"

Just after finishing the medicine, Chen Yan said they'd rest a bit, but Li Tai bounced over, grabbed him, and dragged him down.

Seeing this, not to mention Gao Yang, even Li Lizhi's gentle nature couldn't help but knit her brows and block Li Tai.

"Imperial elder brother, you all have injuries now; better rest a day. No need to rush the explosives matter."

Facing his sister's displeased gaze, Li Tai turned to glance at the silent Chen Yan, then at Li Lizhi, and said sullenly:

"Li Lizhi, it's not that we're impatient, but Wujingqi is about to set out on horseback. We must quickly produce usable explosives, otherwise they'll penetrate enemy lands without any support—far too dangerous."

"The explosives are the biggest weapon Chen and I prepared for them; they cannot be delayed."

"Have you set the departure date?" Li Lizhi said expressionlessly. "If I recall correctly, when Wujingqi talked about marching out, the original plan was early spring, and now it's already May. Do I need to say more?"

"I don't stop you from continuing to study that dangerous stuff. I know you're doing great deeds for the Tang Dynasty, but you just got injured; the medicine hasn't even burned for two incense sticks yet. Must you be that urgent?"

"This..." Li Tai hesitated after hearing that.

At this moment, Gao Yang stepped forward and said: "When you make explosives, don't you have anyone under your command? Let them clean up the aftermath first, or prepare the materials, and then tomorrow you can directly start improving, can't you?"

"Moreover..."

She scanned Li Tai up and down and asked, "Does the imperial sister-in-law know about your coming out?"

Li Tai's complexion changed; he quickly said, "Sisters, just pretend I never came today. Brother Chen, I'm leaving now, goodbye!"

Saying that, he turned and left without hesitation.

Li Lizhi laughed, "So Sister Gao Yang has a way—she knows how to use the imperial sister-in-law to threaten him!"

Gao Yang shook her head unusually: "It's because he took your words to heart, but he's just lacking a foothold. I've been sparring with him for so many years; I still understand him—normally he's not someone who fears the inside."

Li Lizhi nodded, saying nothing.

Gao Yang said to Chen Yan, "I don't oppose you continuing to study explosives, but you must promise me to be more careful in the future, don't hurt yourself."

Hearing that, Chen Yan was truly startled.

He blinked, full of disbelief, and said to Li Lizhi, "She isn't Gao Yang, right? She can't be, can she?"

Gao Yang: "......"

Li Lizhi said helplessly, "In the future, don't say Sister Gao Yang doesn't talk to you nicely; she does talk nicely to you, and you act like this—what does that leave her to do?"

"Exactly!" Gao Yang fumed, "Wasting my feelings—why not blow you, you skinny calf!"

Chen Yan smiled cheerfully at the two sisters growing more natural together, and didn't refute.

To him, taking a few insults was nothing; after all, he's taken Gao Yang's scoldings many times and is used to it.

Besides, he hasn't shied away from insulting others himself, so it doesn't matter.

What matters is that this family is getting better and better.

"......"

The next day, after Chen Yan finished teaching everyone, he immediately slung his arm over Li Tai's shoulder and hurried to the research institute.

Upon arriving at the usual explosives workshop, the two didn't rush to start optimizing the explosives; instead they sat down, with another bomb they made yesterday placed before them.

Chen Yan stroked his chin: "I think the current explosive power is sufficient; yesterday that flat ground was blown into a sizable crater, and even at a short distance we were affected. You can imagine what would happen if we were closer."

"However, I think we can still optimize it by adding sharp blades, iron fragments, and the like. Imagine, if we add those, under such a massive blast impact..."

Li Tai imagined the scene and shivered instantly.

Too damn... brilliant!

His eyes sparkled: "You're right; this thing is meant for the battlefield. As long as it can kill the enemy, any method is a good method!"

"But there's a problem—how do we test it?"

"Don't even mention adding iron shards; even without them yesterday it was risky enough for us to meet the old lady. If we add them and something goes wrong, we'd both be finished!"

"That's simple!" Chen Yan replied, "We just keep extending the fuse, right? As long as we leave enough safety distance, it's nothing."

"Besides, aren't we going to dig a dedicated pit for testing, or build some defensive measures?"

"Moreover, why must we go personally? Can't we just use some condemned prisoners?"

Li Tai nodded repeatedly, "Alright, we'll do as you say."

"Today we'll first perfect the fuse, without attaching the bomb, until we have a satisfactory fuse."

"We were indeed a bit reckless yesterday; we need to be more careful."

Chen Yan's face showed oddity: "Wei Wang... this isn't like your style."

Sensing his strange look, Li Tai felt extremely awkward.

Could he tell Chen Yan that he went home yesterday and was rebuked by the Wei Wang Consort and his son?

Even a man of iron can't bear it when his wife and child both come on top of him.

"Alright, alright, enough talk, let's get started!"

Chen Yan gave a knowing smile and didn't continue.

The two immediately got to work, with clear division of labor, and began optimizing the explosives.

Day by day, people at the County Magistrate's office often heard explosions coming from nearby.

They went from initial panic to gradually becoming accustomed.

Li Lizhi and Gao Yang also relaxed.

Because Chen Yan and Li Tai seemed to have learned the lesson, they are now very careful; when igniting the explosives they don't do it themselves and have prepared many safety measures.

Once, they even took the curious Sizi and Princess Chengyang to watch an explosion.

After satisfying their curiosity, Chen Yan wouldn't let them go.

These days passed for over half a month, until May 21.

Xiao Shunzi told Chen Yan that Wujingqi's armor, weapons, and various equipment have all been fully forged.

Coincidentally, Chen Yan and Li Tai had completed the final version of the explosives two days earlier and had already begun secret mass production.

"Brother Chen, what do you say?" Li Tai excitedly looked at Chen Yan.

He could hardly wait to see their expressions after witnessing the power of the explosives!

Chen Yan counted on his fingers, thought for a moment, then decisively said: "The day after tomorrow! I'll have your Father Emperor come over the morning of the day after tomorrow!"

"Let's also invite Uncle Niu, Su Dingfang and the others, and find a good spot."

"Let's have them see what is called art!"

"......"