Chapter 88: Ambition Takes Flight, The Crazy Trial and Error of the Tang Dynasty Aviation Industry

Hearing this, Xiao Sizi immediately grew tense.

Her small hands nervously gripped the hem of her clothes, looking left and right like a startled fawn.

She struggled internally for a moment, then spoke with righteous firmness: "No!"

"These are stars that others worked hard to calculate; taking them without asking is theft. Brother, let's hurry and return them in the dark; Sizi won't look anymore!"

Seeing this, Lin Xuan burst into laughter: "I was just teasing you! I bought this just now at that booth for five thousand yuan; it's a legal and compliant new toy!"

Xiao Sizi then realized she had been tricked.

However, upon learning this was a gift her brother had specially paid for, she was not angry.

Instead, deep curiosity and joy appeared in her watery, big eyes.

Lin Xuan slid the Mobile Phone into the bracket at the top of the Remote Control and plugged in the data cable. Read all novels at ttnks. tw, choose whatever you like.

He pressed the power button on the back of the machine.

A short press once, a long press once.

Beep—!

The machine started.

Red and green signal lights alternated on the bottom.

The motors emitted a faint sound of electricity.

Lin Xuan handed the Remote Control to Xiao Sizi, pointing at the two metal joysticks on the panel.

"You need to hold it with both hands; the left controls rising and falling and spinning in place."

"The right controls moving forward, backward, left, and right; put your thumb on it."

Xiao Sizi took the Remote Control, her fingers pressing against the metal rods with anti-slip teeth.

"Left thumb, push up."

"Slowly, push just a little bit." Lin Xuan gave the command.

Xiao Sizi obediently exerted force with her thumb and pushed up slightly.

All four motors roared simultaneously.

The propellers spun at high speed, slicing through the air and generating a powerful downward airflow.

The turf was blown down and flattened in all directions.

The Drone lifted off the stone bench.

It rose steadily and hovered at a position two meters above the ground.

The Mobile Phone screen lit up at the same time.

A full-color high-definition image was transmitted over.

The camera looked down at the lawn, capturing the tops of Lin Xuan and Xiao Sizi's heads and the surrounding stone path with perfect clarity.

Xiao Sizi stared fixedly at the screen.

"Right hand, push a little to the left." Lin Xuan continued to guide.

Xiao Sizi moved the right joystick.

The Drone in mid-air shifted three meters to the left.

The image on the screen slid to the right in sync.

Xiao Sizi's eyes lit up.

No need to climb a high tower, no need to build a watchtower. With a slight movement of the finger, one could hang their eyes in the sky and move their line of sight at will.

This feeling of absolute control, flowing through the plastic Remote Control in her hand, washed over the nerves of the Tang Dynasty princess.

"Push all the way up." Lin Xuan ordered.

Xiao Sizi's left thumb pushed fully forward with a sudden jerk.

The motors emitted a sharp whine.

The Drone shot straight up, rising to about eighty meters.

The entire cluster of buildings in the residential area came into view.

The traffic on the distant streets turned into a glowing, flowing long ribbon.

Xiao Sizi lifted her face, looking at that tiny machine flashing red and green lights in the night sky.

Experiencing the novelty of stepping on the firmament beneath her feet.

Tang Dynasty, Liangyi Hall.

Li Shimin looked at the Sky Screen; on his face, besides relief, there was even more wild joy.

In the past, watching documentaries on the Sky Screen, watching rockets land on the moon, those were miracles built by countless adults and massive steel structures.

They were too far from the Tang Dynasty.

But at this moment, a five-year-old child, holding a square block the size of two palms, could fly to the sky and embrace the moon.

It was not about the mechanical principles of later generations, but about the "threshold" of the act of flying.

It had been lowered by later generations to a point where even a child could touch it.

This was truly too exciting.

So much so that Li Shimin's originally restrained heart began to form thoughts again.

"Summon Yan Lide!"

Half an hour later.

Master Craftsman Yan Lide ran all the way and rushed into the great hall.

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He fell to his knees on the blue bricks with a thud, his forehead touching the ground, panting heavily.

"Your subject bows and greets Your Majesty."

Li Shimin walked before Yan Lide, looking down from a height.

"You have seen what the Sky Screen displayed."

"Children of later generations can manipulate mechanisms to soar hundreds of feet."

"Can the tens of thousands of skilled artisans of the Tang Dynasty's Department of Construction make a living person rise three feet off the ground?"

Yan Lide shuddered all over.

Cold sweat instantly soaked the back of his official robe.

"Your Majesty, the material of that thing in later generations is unknown, and its power is formless."

"Your subjects are dull and truly do not know where to begin..."

"Excuses!" Li Shimin kicked over a nearby copper basin with one foot.

Water splashed everywhere.

"The Tang Dynasty does not understand the principles of the later generations."

"But the principles of creation in this world must have something in common!"

"Why can the Kongming Lantern rise into the sky? Why can kites ride the wind to take off? Why can the gunpowder tubes used in alchemy blast through the cauldron lids?"

Li Shimin fired three questions in succession, each word like a hammer blow.

Yan Lide opened his mouth, speechless.

"Convey my oral decree."

"All construction in the Royal Gardens is to be halted immediately."

"All funds, timber, raw silk, and fierce fire oil of the Ministry of Works and the Department of Construction..."

"... are to be sealed and redirected to this new project."

"Starting tomorrow, summon all carpenters, blacksmiths, and leatherworkers from across the land!"

"Enlarge the Kongming Lantern a hundredfold and hang a bamboo basket beneath it using iron fittings!"

"Build paper kites the size of doors and tie condemned prisoners to them before throwing them down!"

"Tie gunpowder tubes to wooden carts and ignite them to see if they can launch into the sky!"

The Tang Dynasty emperor issued an extremely crude research and development directive.

"If a condemned prisoner falls to their death, reward their family handsomely!"

"If one object is smashed, build ten more!"

"Funds will be sufficient; lives will be filled in!"

"If the Tang Dynasty cannot produce that kind of flying lantern..."

"... then the Tang Dynasty will use lives to fill the gaps and money to smash out a path to the heavens!"

Yan Lide's hands trembled.

He picked up the imperial edict from the ground and bowed heavily to accept the order.

The imperial edict was issued.

In Chang'an, the Department of Construction lit over a thousand torches overnight. Countless artisans were dragged from their sleep by soldiers and shoved into the workshops.

The Ancient Aviation Industry of the Tang Dynasty had no wind tunnels and no aerodynamic formulas.

All they possessed were the most primitive wood, oxhide, and gunpowder...

... and the uncompromising will of the Eternal Emperor, regardless of the cost.

Five days later.

A barren slope on the outskirts of Zhongnan Mountain.

A giant oxhide paper lantern with a diameter of three zhang was set upon an iron basin.

Fierce fire oil burned violently inside the basin.

Hot air rose, and the surface of the lantern swelled.

It pulled on a willow basket filled with sand and earth hanging below.

The lantern strained against the thick hemp ropes fixed to the ground; its base hovered more than one zhang off the ground, shaking violently in the wind. The artisans around it, faces covered in black soot, erupted in frantic roars.

The prototype of the first military Hot Air Balloon forcibly rose up in this age of cold weapons.

On the edge of a cliff on the other side.

Several master craftsmen held a massive Glider made of extremely resilient bamboo ribs and heavy silk.

A live sheep was tied beneath it.

Soldiers pushed the Glider off the cliff.

Air currents lifted the wide wings.

The sheep glided for dozens of zhang in the air.

Then, due to unstable air currents, it plunged headlong into the deep valley.

Another ten-plus days passed.

Outside Chang'an, at the Ministry of Works' Test Flight Field.

A massive wooden paper kite, three zhang long, lay stretched across a dry riverbed.

More than a dozen artisans, bare-chested, pulled on thick hemp ropes, attempting to use the wind to lift this behemoth into the sky.

The paper kite rose half a foot off the ground.

A gust of chaotic wind swept through.

The wooden frame emitted a crisp crack and snapped in the middle.

The paper kite crashed heavily back into the cracked yellow earth.

……

The imperial edict was issued.

In Chang'an, the Imperial Workshop lit over a thousand torches through the night. Countless craftsmen were dragged from their sleep by soldiers and shoved into the workshops.

The Ancient Aviation Industry of the Great Tang had no wind tunnels, no aerodynamic formulas.

All they possessed were the most primitive wood, oxhide, and Gunpowder...

and the uncompromising will of the Eternal Emperor, regardless of cost.

Five days later.

A barren slope on the outskirts of Zhongnan Mountain.

A giant oxhide-paper lantern, three zhang in diameter, was mounted on an iron basin.

Inside the basin, fierce fire oil burned violently.

Hot air rose, swelling the surface of the lantern.

It pulled on a willow basket filled with sand and earth hanging below.

The lantern strained the thick hemp ropes fixed to the ground; its base hovered more than one zhang above the earth, shaking violently in the wind. The craftsmen around it, faces covered in black soot, erupted in frenzied shouts.

The prototype of the first military Hot Air Balloon was forcibly raised in this age of cold weapons.

On the edge of a cliff on the other side.

Several master craftsmen held up a massive Glider made of extremely resilient bamboo frames and heavy silk.

A live sheep was tied beneath it.

Soldiers pushed the Glider off the cliff.

Air currents lifted the broad wings.

The sheep glided through the air for dozens of zhang.

Then, due to unstable air currents, it plunged headlong into the deep valley.

Another dozen or so days passed.

Outside Chang'an, at the Ministry of Works Test Flight Field.

A giant wooden paper kite, three zhang long, lay sprawled across the dry riverbed.

More than a dozen craftsmen, bare-chested, pulled on thick hemp ropes, trying to use the wind to lift the massive object into the sky.

The paper kite rose half a chi off the ground.

A gust of chaotic wind swept through.

The wooden frame emitted a sharp crack and snapped in the middle.

The paper kite crashed heavily back into the cracked yellow earth.

Yan Lide's hands trembled.

He picked up the imperial edict from the ground and bowed his head heavily to accept the order.

……

The imperial edict was issued.

In Chang'an, the Imperial Workshop lit over a thousand torches through the night. Countless craftsmen were dragged from their sleep by soldiers and shoved into the workshops.

The Ancient Aviation Industry of the Great Tang had no wind tunnels, no aerodynamic formulas.

All they possessed were the most primitive wood, oxhide, and Gunpowder...

and the uncompromising will of the Eternal Emperor, regardless of cost.

Five days later.

A barren slope on the outskirts of Zhongnan Mountain.

A giant oxhide-paper lantern, three zhang in diameter, was mounted on an iron basin.

Inside the basin, fierce fire oil burned violently.

Hot air rose, swelling the surface of the lantern.

It pulled on a willow basket filled with sand and earth hanging below.

The lantern strained the thick hemp ropes fixed to the ground; its base hovered more than one zhang above the earth, shaking violently in the wind. The craftsmen around it, faces covered in black soot, erupted in frenzied shouts.

The prototype of the first military Hot Air Balloon was forcibly raised in this age of cold weapons.

On the edge of a cliff on the other side.

Several master craftsmen held up a massive Glider made of extremely resilient bamboo frames and heavy silk.

A live sheep was tied beneath it.

Soldiers pushed the Glider off the cliff.

Air currents lifted the broad wings.

The sheep glided through the air for dozens of zhang.

Then, due to unstable air currents, it plunged headlong into the deep valley.

Another dozen or so days passed.

Outside Chang'an, at the Ministry of Works Test Flight Field.

A giant wooden paper kite, three zhang long, lay sprawled across the dry riverbed.

More than a dozen craftsmen, bare-chested, pulled on thick hemp ropes, trying to use the wind to lift the massive object into the sky.

The paper kite rose half a chi off the ground.

A gust of chaotic wind swept through.

The wooden frame emitted a sharp crack and snapped in the middle.

The paper kite crashed heavily back into the cracked yellow earth.

……

The imperial decree was issued.

In Chang'an, the Imperial Workshop lit over a thousand torches through the night. Countless craftsmen were dragged from their sleep by soldiers and shoved into the workshops.

The Ancient Aviation Industry of the Great Tang had no wind tunnels, no aerodynamic formulas.

All they possessed was the most primitive wood, oxhide, Gunpowder...

and the uncompromising will of the Eternal Emperor, regardless of the cost.

Five days later.

A barren slope on the outskirts of Zhongnan Mountain.

A giant oxhide paper lantern, three zhang in diameter, was mounted on an iron basin.

Inside the basin, fierce fire oil burned violently.

Hot air rose, and the surface of the lantern swelled.

It pulled on a willow basket filled with sand and earth hanging below.

The lantern strained against the thick hemp ropes anchored to the ground; its base hovered more than a zhang above the earth, shaking violently in the wind. Craftsmen all around, faces smeared with black soot, erupted in frantic shouts.

The prototype of the first military Hot Air Balloon was forcibly raised in this age of cold weapons.

On the edge of a cliff on the other side.

Several master craftsmen held up a massive Glider made from highly resilient bamboo frames and heavy silk.

A live sheep was tied beneath it.

Soldiers pushed the Glider off the cliff.

Air currents lifted the broad wings.

The sheep glided through the air for dozens of zhang.

Then, due to unstable air currents, it plunged headlong into the deep valley.

Another dozen or so days passed.

Outside Chang'an, at the Ministry of Works Test Flight Field.

A giant wooden paper kite, three zhang long, lay sprawled on a dried-up riverbed.

More than a dozen craftsmen, bare-chested, pulled on thick hemp ropes, trying to use the wind to lift this behemoth into the sky.

The paper kite rose half a chi off the ground.

A gust of chaotic wind swept through.

The wooden frame emitted a sharp crack and snapped in the middle.

The paper kite crashed heavily back into the cracked yellow earth.

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……

The imperial decree was issued.

In Chang'an, the Imperial Workshop lit over a thousand torches through the night. Countless craftsmen were dragged from their sleep by soldiers and shoved into the workshops.

The Ancient Aviation Industry of the Great Tang had no wind tunnels, no aerodynamic formulas.

All they possessed was the most primitive wood, oxhide, Gunpowder...

and the uncompromising will of the Eternal Emperor, regardless of the cost.

Five days later.

A barren slope on the outskirts of Zhongnan Mountain.

A giant oxhide paper lantern, three zhang in diameter, was mounted on an iron basin.

Inside the basin, fierce fire oil burned violently.

Hot air rose, and the surface of the lantern swelled.

It pulled on a willow basket filled with sand and earth hanging below.

The lantern strained against the thick hemp ropes anchored to the ground; its base hovered more than a zhang above the earth, shaking violently in the wind. Craftsmen all around, faces smeared with black soot, erupted in frantic shouts.

The prototype of the first military Hot Air Balloon was forcibly raised in this age of cold weapons.

On the edge of a cliff on the other side.

Several master craftsmen held up a massive Glider made from highly resilient bamboo frames and heavy silk.

A live sheep was tied beneath it.

Soldiers pushed the Glider off the cliff.

Air currents lifted the broad wings.

The sheep glided through the air for dozens of zhang.

Then, due to unstable air currents, it plunged headlong into the deep valley.

Another dozen or so days passed.

Outside Chang'an, at the Ministry of Works Test Flight Field.

A giant wooden paper kite, three zhang long, lay sprawled on a dried-up riverbed.

More than a dozen craftsmen, bare-chested, pulled on thick hemp ropes, trying to use the wind to lift this behemoth into the sky.

The paper kite rose half a chi off the ground.

A gust of chaotic wind swept through.

The wooden frame emitted a sharp crack and snapped in the middle.

The paper kite crashed heavily back into the cracked yellow earth.

Yan Lide's hands trembled.

He picked up the imperial edict from the ground and bowed his head heavily to accept the order.

The imperial edict was issued.

In Chang'an, the Bureau of Palace Construction lit over a thousand torches overnight. Countless craftsmen were dragged from their sleep by soldiers and shoved into the workshops.

The Ancient Aviation Industry of the Great Tang had no wind tunnels, no aerodynamic formulas.

All they possessed was the most primitive wood, oxhide, Gunpowder...

and the uncompromising will of the Eternal Emperor, who spared no cost.

Five days later.

A barren slope on the outskirts of Zhongnan Mountain.

A giant oxhide-paper lantern, three zhang in diameter, was mounted on an iron basin.

Highly flammable oil burned fiercely inside the basin.

Hot air rose, causing the lantern's surface to swell.

It pulled on a willow basket filled with sand and earth hanging below.

The lantern strained against the thick hemp ropes anchored to the ground; its base hovered more than one zhang above the earth, shaking violently in the wind. Craftsmen all around, their faces smeared with black soot, erupted in frantic shouts.

The prototype of the first military Hot Air Balloon forcibly rose in this age of cold weapons.

On the edge of a cliff on the other side.

Several master craftsmen held a massive Glider made from extremely resilient bamboo frames and heavy silk.

A live sheep was tied beneath it.

Soldiers pushed the Glider off the cliff.

Air currents lifted the wide wings.

The sheep glided through the air for dozens of zhang.

Then, due to unstable air currents, it plunged headlong into the deep valley.

Another dozen or so days passed.

Outside Chang'an, at the Ministry of Works Test Flight Field.

A giant wooden paper kite, three zhang long, lay sprawled across a dry riverbed.

More than a dozen craftsmen, bare-chested, pulled on thick hemp ropes, trying to use the wind to lift the massive object into the sky.

The paper kite rose half a chi off the ground.

A gust of chaotic wind swept through.

The wooden frame emitted a sharp crack and snapped in the middle.

The paper kite crashed heavily back onto the cracked yellow earth.

The imperial edict was issued.

In Chang'an, the Bureau of Palace Construction lit over a thousand torches overnight. Countless craftsmen were dragged from their sleep by soldiers and shoved into the workshops.

The Ancient Aviation Industry of the Great Tang had no wind tunnels, no aerodynamic formulas.

All they possessed was the most primitive wood, oxhide, Gunpowder...

and the uncompromising will of the Eternal Emperor, who spared no cost.

Five days later.

A barren slope on the outskirts of Zhongnan Mountain.

A giant oxhide-paper lantern, three zhang in diameter, was mounted on an iron basin.

Highly flammable oil burned fiercely inside the basin.

Hot air rose, causing the lantern's surface to swell.

It pulled on a willow basket filled with sand and earth hanging below.

The lantern strained against the thick hemp ropes anchored to the ground; its base hovered more than one zhang above the earth, shaking violently in the wind. Craftsmen all around, their faces smeared with black soot, erupted in frantic shouts.

The prototype of the first military Hot Air Balloon forcibly rose in this age of cold weapons.

On the edge of a cliff on the other side.

Several master craftsmen held a massive Glider made from extremely resilient bamboo frames and heavy silk.

A live sheep was tied beneath it.

Soldiers pushed the Glider off the cliff.

Air currents lifted the wide wings.

The sheep glided through the air for dozens of zhang.

Then, due to unstable air currents, it plunged headlong into the deep valley.

Another dozen or so days passed.

Outside Chang'an, at the Ministry of Works Test Flight Field.

A giant wooden paper kite, three zhang long, lay sprawled across a dry riverbed.

More than a dozen craftsmen, bare-chested, pulled on thick hemp ropes, trying to use the wind to lift the massive object into the sky.

The paper kite rose half a chi off the ground.

A gust of chaotic wind swept through.

The wooden frame emitted a sharp crack and snapped in the middle.

The paper kite crashed heavily back onto the cracked yellow earth.

Yan Lide's hands trembled.

He lifted the imperial edict from the ground, kowtowed heavily, and accepted the order.

……

The imperial edict was issued.

In Chang'an, the Imperial Workshop lit over a thousand torches through the night; countless artisans were dragged from their sleep by soldiers and shoved into the workshops.

The Great Tang's Ancient Aviation Industry had no wind tunnel laboratories, no formulas of aerodynamics.

All they possessed were the most primitive materials: wood, ox hide, Gunpowder...

... and the unyielding will of the Eternal Emperor, regardless of cost.

Five days later.

On a barren slope at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain.

A giant ox-hide paper lantern, three zhang in diameter, was mounted atop an iron basin.

Fierce-fire oil burned violently within the basin.

Hot air surged upward; the lantern's surface swelled taut.

It strained against the wicker basket hanging below, filled with sand and earth.

The lantern pulled the thick hemp ropes staked to the ground until its base hovered more than one zhang above the earth, shaking violently in the wind; the artisans surrounding it, faces smeared with soot, erupted into frenzied shouts.

The prototype of the first military Hot Air Balloon forcibly rose from the ground in this age of cold steel.

On the edge of a cliff on the other side.

Several master craftsmen held aloft a massive Glider made of extremely tough bamboo ribs and heavy silk.

A live sheep was tied beneath it.

Soldiers pushed the Glider off the cliff.

The updraft lifted the broad wings.

The sheep glided through the air for several dozen zhang.

Then, due to unstable airflow, it plunged headfirst into the deep valley.

Another ten-odd days passed.

Outside Chang'an, at the Ministry of Works' Test Flight Field.

A giant wooden paper kite, three zhang in length, lay sprawled across a dried-up riverbed.

Over a dozen artisans, bare-chested, hauled on thick hemp ropes, attempting to use the wind to lift the colossal object into the sky.

The paper kite rose half a chi off the ground.

A gust of chaotic wind swept through.

The wooden frame emitted a sharp crack and snapped in the middle.

The paper kite crashed heavily back onto the cracked yellow earth.

……

The imperial edict was issued.

In Chang'an, the Imperial Workshop lit over a thousand torches through the night; countless artisans were dragged from their sleep by soldiers and shoved into the workshops.

The Great Tang's Ancient Aviation Industry had no wind tunnel laboratories, no formulas of aerodynamics.

All they possessed were the most primitive materials: wood, ox hide, Gunpowder...

... and the unyielding will of the Eternal Emperor, regardless of cost.

Five days later.

On a barren slope at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain.

A giant ox-hide paper lantern, three zhang in diameter, was mounted atop an iron basin.

Fierce-fire oil burned violently within the basin.

Hot air surged upward; the lantern's surface swelled taut.

It strained against the wicker basket hanging below, filled with sand and earth.

The lantern pulled the thick hemp ropes staked to the ground until its base hovered more than one zhang above the earth, shaking violently in the wind; the artisans surrounding it, faces smeared with soot, erupted into frenzied shouts.

The prototype of the first military Hot Air Balloon forcibly rose from the ground in this age of cold steel.

On the edge of a cliff on the other side.

Several master craftsmen held aloft a massive Glider made of extremely tough bamboo ribs and heavy silk.

A live sheep was tied beneath it.

Soldiers pushed the Glider off the cliff.

The updraft lifted the broad wings.

The sheep glided through the air for several dozen zhang.

Then, due to unstable airflow, it plunged headfirst into the deep valley.

Another ten-odd days passed.

Outside Chang'an, at the Ministry of Works' Test Flight Field.

A giant wooden paper kite, three zhang in length, lay sprawled across a dried-up riverbed.

Over a dozen artisans, bare-chested, hauled on thick hemp ropes, attempting to use the wind to lift the colossal object into the sky.

The paper kite rose half a chi off the ground.

A gust of chaotic wind swept through.

The wooden frame emitted a sharp crack and snapped in the middle.

The paper kite crashed heavily back onto the cracked yellow earth.