Chapter 639: Double Joy

"Uh..."

In the Council Hall, the ministers were dumbfounded.

Although they were full of confidence in the Prince's Personal Guard, the crisis they were currently facing was no small matter.

Just as Liu Fu had said, they should be cautious regarding the Lu City Alliance.

But they had not expected that Yan Wang would be so indifferent, even appearing as if he intended to slaughter everyone in his path.

Yang Feng sensed something amiss, so he reminded him: "Since Your Highness took charge of Yanzhou, although you have won battle after battle and have never tasted defeat, the current situation is worse than ever before. Your Highness must not be careless, lest you harbor lifelong regrets."

"Hahaha..." Seeing Yang Feng and the others looking nervous one by one, Zhao Xu could not help but laugh.

Before receiving the news sent by the Mineral Prospecting Department, the Lu City Alliance had indeed given him a headache.

But now, the threat of this alliance had plummeted for him.

The discovery of the Diatomaceous Earth mine would provide Yanzhou with all the conditions necessary to manufacture Yellow Gunpowder.

Next, the various types of firearms in Yanzhou would see a huge increase in power.

Thus, the army under his command would be fully capable of dealing with this crisis.

"Rest assured, this Prince has his own plans; I never fight a battle I am not prepared for," Zhao Xu said.

Liu Fu, Yang Feng, and the other ministers said no more, out of trust in Yan Wang.

They believed that Yan Wang would not act recklessly in this matter.

Only one minister who had fled from Jinling to Yancheng was terrified, muttering to himself: "Why is no faction willing to form an alliance with us?"

"Because we are breaking an old order and building a new world," Zhao Xu said in a resolute tone.

Pausing for a moment, he continued: "Our most reliable ally will always be ourselves."

Upon hearing this, the ministers felt a shock in their hearts, and the looks they cast toward Zhao Xu were full of fervor.

Zhao Xu then waved his hand to dismiss everyone, and ordered Feng'er to bring Chen Ce to the Council Hall.

Before long, Chen Ce walked in carrying a bag.

He bowed to Zhao Xu and said: "Head of the Mining Division Chen Ce pays respects to Your Highness."

Zhao Xu looked at Chen Ce and could not help but be taken aback.

Unlike the other ministers in their bright, clean attire, Chen Ce's hair was messy, his clothes had many holes, and his big toe was even poking out of his shoe.

Clearly, he had just returned from the field.

However, he was full of spirit, and there seemed to be a glimmer in his eyes.

Seeing that Zhao Xu did not speak, Chen Ce opened the bag in his hand: "Your Highness, if I have not found the wrong thing, this should be Diatomaceous Earth."

Zhao Xu then came back to his senses and glanced into the bag.

He then stepped forward and grabbed a handful of the dark yellow, flour-like soil from inside the bag.

After carefully examining it, he noted that unlike ordinary soil, the Diatomaceous Earth was significantly lighter; this was one of the differences between Diatomaceous Earth and ordinary soil.

If placed on the surface of water, Diatomaceous Earth could even float.

So he weighed it in his hand,

and sprinkled the Diatomaceous Earth into the tea in a teacup; the Diatomaceous Earth did not sink.

"That's right, it is real Diatomaceous Earth," Zhao Xu smiled, "Chen Ce, you have performed a great service this time; this Diatomaceous Earth has come at just the right moment."

Chen Ce showed a shy smile and said: "I have been anxious, fearing that I would delay Your Highness's important affairs; now I can be at ease."

Zhao Xu nodded: "Mineral prospecting is hard work, but its importance is no less than that of government affairs and the military. This relates to the development of Yanzhou's industry, so I will need you to continue enduring hardship."

"This bit of hardship is nothing at all. If not for Your Highness, where would I be today? I fear I would have suffered even more." A touch of determination appeared in Chen Ce's shy expression.

They had come through the dark period when Yanzhou was ruled by Rich Clans, so they cherished today all the more.

Thinking of something else, he took a booklet out from his bosom and presented it to Zhao Xu: "Your Highness, these are other mineral deposits discovered."

Diatomaceous Earth was the mineral Yan Wang wanted to focus on finding.

So during this time, their Mineral Prospecting Department had almost run their legs off, finally finding the Diatomaceous Earth mine in a mountain hollow west of Dai Commandery.

But besides that, their Mineral Prospecting Department had also been searching for other mineral deposits at the same time.

This booklet contained the locations of the mineral deposits discovered by the Mineral Prospecting Department.

Zhao Xu took it and flipped through it carefully.

Recorded on it were newly discovered iron mines, Copper Ore, Lead Ore, Tin Ore, lime mines, Kaolin, and other deposits.

On the last page of the booklet, he also saw Tungsten Ore.

"Excellent," Zhao Xu said.

With the Steam Engine put into use, Wang Ying had frequently reported a problem to him during this time, which was that the consumption of Lathe tools had accelerated greatly.

Ordinary High Carbon Steel was gradually unable to withstand the high-speed wear and tear brought about by the Steam Engine.

Furthermore, once the Converter steelmaking production line was put into use, the quality of Yanzhou's steel would reach a higher level.

Processing this type of steel required even harder tools.

Therefore, it was time to smelt Tungsten Steel and manufacture Tungsten Steel Tool.

Obtaining both Diatomaceous Earth and Tungsten Ore at the same time, Zhao Xu was greatly invigorated.

Diatomaceous Earth would let Yanzhou bid farewell to the Black Gunpowder era, while Tungsten Steel would let Yanzhou bid farewell to the High Carbon Steel tool era.

One promoted the development of firearms, and the other would promote the development of industry; both were very important.

Feeling refreshed, he said to Chen Ce: "Go to the Government Office and collect five thousand taels of Silver as a reward for your Mineral Prospecting Department."

"Many thanks, Your Highness!" Chen Ce was overjoyed.

After commending Chen Ce a few more times, Zhao Xu ordered Xu Lie to send the Diatomaceous Earth to the Technology Academy, so that Qu Sheng and the others could manufacture Yellow Gunpowder and establish the Yellow Gunpowder Workshop as soon as possible.

However, just as Xu Lie left, he realized a problem.

The power of Yellow Gunpowder was great.

However, the next question is whether the firearms currently equipped by the Prince's Personal Army can withstand Yellow Gunpowder.

According to the knowledge in his mind, in the history of firearm development, flintlocks were paired with Black Gunpowder.

After Yellow Gunpowder appeared, gun barrels immediately became steel-made.

Therefore, he was very glad that he had decided from the very beginning to use steel to manufacture gun barrels and Artillery.

Otherwise, the Rifled Muskets currently equipped by the Prince's Personal Army would likely all be scrapped.

But even so, how much Yellow Gunpowder the currently equipped Rifled Muskets and Artillery can withstand is also a question.

It requires specific tests to verify.

Thus, he sent another order to Qu Sheng, telling him to step up the production of a batch of Yellow Gunpowder.

After all, this process is not difficult; it only requires using Diatomaceous Earth to absorb Nitroglycerin.

In less than five days, Qu Sheng prepared one hundred catties of Yellow Gunpowder.

Zhao Xu immediately took the Yellow Gunpowder to the Drill Ground of the Armory Bureau.

He replaced the Black Gunpowder in the Rifled Muskets with Yellow Gunpowder to conduct test firing.

He stayed at the Drill Ground for the whole afternoon, and by evening, he had roughly obtained the results.

"Your Highness, this Yellow Gunpowder is truly powerful; three guns exploded, the remaining nine had their barrels deformed, and only the four with reduced gunpowder amounts were normal," Wang Ying said, "and these four muskets increased the effective range to three hundred and fifty meters."

He had been accompanying Zhao Xu to participate in the test firing all afternoon.

Zhao Xu rubbed his face; he was both satisfied and dissatisfied with this result.

The Rifled Musket model he manufactured was imitated from the contemporary Minie Rifle.

If the gun barrel were strong enough, the maximum range could reach nine hundred meters, and the effective range could reach five hundred meters.

But because of the gun barrel issue, the power was clearly compromised.

However, it seems not bad that the Rifled Muskets currently equipped by the Prince's Personal Army can unleash their potential up to three hundred and fifty meters.

So he said: "Let it be this way; switch the gunpowder for the Prince's Personal Army, but don't replace the guns."

He decided to wait until the Converter produced the first batch of steel before gradually replacing the army's muskets.

Thinking of something, he said to Wang Ying again: "Test the Artillery and Mortars as well; once the results are out, let this Prince know, and also, there is one type of firearm that needs you to recast."