Chapter 152: Granular Gunpowder

"Today, I will teach you something fresh."

Zhao Xu said to Wang Chong.

That day, he had deliberately not given Wang Chong the optimal ratio for Black Gunpowder.

He had only provided a rough range, specifically to leave a difficult problem for him to solve.

He did not expect that in just two days, Wang Chong would find the optimal ratio.

From the explosions he had heard over these past two days, they were almost incessant, day and night.

It was evident that Wang Chong had worked very hard, and finding it in such a short time showed that he had summarized the patterns through constant failure, which was why he could find it so quickly.

Both of these points made him very satisfied.

It seemed Wang Chong had indeed inherited some of Wang Ying's strengths.

"I humbly request your instruction, Your Highness." Wang Chong's eyes were very bright.

Zhao Xu said: "Do you know what is needed for Gunpowder to burn?"

"It is surely fire," Wang Chong said.

"That is known to everyone, but it also requires another thing; this thing is called oxygen," Zhao Xu said.

"Oxygen? What is that?"

"It is what you breathe; about one-fifth of the air is oxygen," Zhao Xu explained patiently.

Wang Chong's appearance suddenly made him want to cultivate a group of people to act as his subordinates.

This was just like how a Laboratory needs a mentor and numerous ordinary research personnel.

In this way, he would guide as the mentor, and others would be responsible for execution.

Over time, these people would be able to stand on their own and become the talent foundation for Yan Commandery.

However, before that, he had to teach them some basic things so they possessed fundamental literacy.

"For now, you only need to know that everything that burns requires it," Zhao Xu said. "The same is true for Gunpowder. Although you have found the ratio for Gunpowder now, you have yet to find how to make Gunpowder exert its maximum power."

Wang Chong thought hard, "Everything that burns needs it. The little one only knows that if Gunpowder is spread out, it burns faster, and if it is packed tightly together, it burns slowly."

"Correct, that is the very principle," Zhao Xu said, not beating around the bush with Wang Chong.

"I will teach you another method; go back and make a batch of Gunpowder." Zhao Xu wrote a few sentences with a brush and handed them to Wang Chong.

Wang Chong took a look, his face showing anticipation, "The little one will go back and try it now."

Having said that, he bowed and turned to leave.

Zhao Xu smiled.

The thing he gave Wang Chong was actually the manufacturing method for Granular Gunpowder.

During the transportation of Black Gunpowder, the difference in material density would cause a phenomenon of layering.

This would lead to a great reduction in power when used.

At the same time, fine powder packed tightly together lacked oxygen inside, which would also lead to problems like slow burning.

This also caused the power of the Gunpowder to weaken.

Using such Gunpowder, even with perfect Artillery, one could not unleash its true power.

Therefore, before his Artillery made its debut, the problem he needed to solve was the Gunpowder.

And granulating the Black Gunpowder perfectly solved this problem.

As for how to granulate it, it was actually very simple.

Because the original Granular Gunpowder was caused by a puddle of urine.

A craftsman making Black Gunpowder had urinated on the powdered Black Gunpowder.

Later, when it was collected and used, it was inadvertently discovered that the power of this Gunpowder was much greater than that of the powdered Gunpowder.

So for a long time, people used urine mixed into the Gunpowder, recognizing that urine had a miraculous effect.

It was not until later that people adopted other liquids and found the effect was about the same.

The era of human urine Gunpowder then ended.

The method he just gave Wang Chong was to mix Wine into the Gunpowder to manufacture Granular Gunpowder.

He also wrote specific requirements, such as the size being like a mung bean, and that it should not feel hot when burned in the palm of the hand.

He thought for a while.

Zhao Xu went to the study, picked up a brush, and wrote down the basic subject knowledge in his mind, compiling them into books.

These three subjects were Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.

To him, the knowledge involved in the technology he had provided so far was not yet too much.

But the further he went, the more he would need professional people to assist him.

Even Wang Ying would likely be phased out.

After all, what he understood was still only superficial.

Once these books were organized, he would find some youths like Wang Chong to teach.

After all, young people had flexible minds and were easy to accept fresh things.

Of course, those with talent were not limited by age.

Writing until evening, Zhao Xu had just put down his brush when there was suddenly another loud bang.

This loud bang was even louder than the sound during the day.

He smiled; Wang Chong had started again.

At Wang Ying's house.

Wang Ying looked at the pit in the ground, his muscles twitching.

"You wretch." Wang Ying picked up the broom in the corner and began to beat Wang Chong.

"You wicked son, how many times have I told you to go to the Armory Bureau to handle it tomorrow? You actually dared to sneak gunpowder home."

"You even dared to steal my Wine; do you know that was a reward from Yan Wang? I haven't even been able to bring myself to drink it."

Wang Chong covered his head and ran all around the courtyard.

He didn't hear a word of what Wang Ying was saying, only remarking, "His Highness Yan Wang was right, the power is truly great."

"His Highness Yan Wang is truly amazing to know so much."

"..."

Wang Shi felt sorry for her son and said from the side, "Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and the son of a rat will dig holes; you aren't much better yourself, so why blame Chong'er?"

Wang Ying was so angry he threw the broom onto the ground, "I shouldn't have let you go to the Armory Bureau."

Wang Chong heard this sentence and said, "You're just afraid I'll surpass you in the future."

"Bullshit, if you have the ability, then try surpassing your old man."

"I'll try if I want to." Wang Chong didn't yield in his speech, but he hid behind his mother.

Qingfeng Pass.

In the vast night, Guo Tu glanced at Yan Commandery behind him and headed north under the escort of guards.

After making a promise before Yuan Li, he prepared to head to the Black Iron Royal Tent.

Before coming, he had already received news from Yanguan.

Yuan Li had also been given a fright.

If the Northern Di really broke through the pass, the Yuan Family would also be unable to escape unscathed.

But upon learning that the Northern Di only wanted Kutu, Yuan Li breathed a sigh of relief.

However, this incident made Yuan Li's vague intentions gradually become clear.

Therefore, this time, an additional task was added to his trip to the Northern Di.

That was to befriend the Northern Di and leave a way out for the Yuan Family.

And even, in the future, to rely on the Northern Di to realize his ambition of carving out Yanzhou.

Furthermore, if chaos were to arise during a change in the throne of Great Song, he could borrow Northern Di troops to contend for the world.

As his strategist, he naturally strongly supported such an ambition of Yuan Li's.

To him, things like loyalty to the country or the responsibility of an ordinary man were nothing but bullshit.

Reaching the pinnacle of officialdom and enjoying wealth and status was what was real.

In order to realize this one day, he was willing to do anything.

Three days later.

A stretch of withered yellow Grassland appeared before him.

Winter was about to arrive, and the pasture was no longer lush and green.

He was straining his eyes to look into the distance when suddenly a unit of Northern Di Cavalry charged out from the grass that was as tall as a person.

The Curved Blade in their hands was aimed at him.

"Wait, I am the strategist Guo Tu from the Yuan Family estate; please take me to see your Enke Langlu."

"The Yuan Family?" The Cavalry looked at each other.

The leader of the Cavalry said, "Follow us, but Enke Langlu is now the new king of the Black Iron Royal Tent."