Chapter 312 The Queen is Here
After receiving Zhao Xing’s order, Sheng Hong left the palace immediately and brought the craftsman into the palace.
After Sheng Hong reported it, Zhao Xing had no intention of handling government affairs. He learned that Sheng Hong had brought people and summoned him immediately.
"I (Caomin) pays homage to Your Majesty!"
After a while, Sheng Hong and a short middle-aged man in his thirties walked in.
The middle-aged man had a dark face and was very excited when he saluted.
He was a craftsman. He came to Bianjing this time just to see if he could get an official position. He never expected that he would be summoned by the emperor.
"No courtesy." Zhao Xing waved his hand and said pleasantly: "What is your name and where do you come from?"
"Your Majesty, the common man's name is Chen Kui, and he is from Shouzhou. "Chen Kui said.
"I heard that you made a musket that can use gunpowder to spray gravel dozens of steps away. I want to see the power. How about you demonstrate it for me?" Zhao Xing said with a smile.
"The common people obey!" Chen Kui naturally did not dare to refuse.
"Let's go outside." Zhao Xing stood up and said.
There was an open space outside Longtuge, and Zhao Xing asked Chen Kui to demonstrate here.
I brought the musket and gunpowder with me when I entered the palace. I didn’t bring them in when I met the driver before. Zhao Xing also saw them when he came out.
It is indeed a thick bamboo tube, with a hand-held stick at the back and a small ignition hole on the outer wall.
Zhao Xing looked at it briefly and asked Sanshui to lead Chen Kui dozens of steps away to demonstrate.
Although Zhao Xing wanted to take a closer look, Zhao Xing endured it for the sake of safety.
Chen Kui tinkered for a while, and after about half a cup of tea, Sanshui trotted back and said: "Your Majesty, the man said that the noise was a little loud for a while, so he asked your Majesty to cover his ears."
"No need, I'm not that timid yet." Zhao Xing waved his hand.
"Your Majesty, when I asked Chen Kui to demonstrate, he also reminded me to cover my ears, but I didn't pay attention and was startled. The sound was indeed scary, so Your Majesty had better cover your ears. "Sheng Hong reminded.
Zhao Xing waved his hand and said impatiently: "Sanshui, tell him to start."
"Yes!" Sanshui responded and hurried away.
Sheng Hong looked troubled. He wanted to cover his ears, but Zhao Xing didn't do it, and he couldn't do it either.
Over there, after receiving the notice, Chen Kui held the bamboo tube with one hand, took the torch from the forbidden army behind him and lit the fuse.
Then he quickly handed the torch to the soldier and held the bamboo tube tightly with both hands.
"Bang!"
A loud noise came, and Sheng Hong shuddered even though he had been prepared.
Zhao Xing, however, remained motionless and stepped forward quickly.
The sound just started, and smoke filled the other end of the bamboo tube, blocking the view.
"Your Majesty!" When Chen Kui saw Zhao Xing coming, he quickly dropped his bamboo tube and bowed in salute.
Zhao Xing ignored him, but lowered his head and looked at the bamboo tube carefully.
In the meantime, there was darkness all around the nozzle of the bamboo tube, and there were cracks on the bamboo tube.
"Go and see how far the stones are shot." Zhao Xing told Sanshui.
"Can you load the gunpowder and stones faster?" Zhao Xing looked at Chen Kui and asked.
This thing is an inferior version of a shotgun, and it looks like it can only be used once.
However, if the range is really good, even if it is a one-time use, it will still be of great use in defense.
Although on the battlefield, the soldiers rushing in front are all wearing armor. If they use gravel as bullets, there is a high probability that they will not be able to penetrate the armor.
But the armor worn by the soldiers cannot protect the whole body, at least the face cannot be covered.
The disadvantage is that it takes too much time to load gunpowder and gravel.
And it needs a fire, so it won’t be used on rainy days.
"Your Majesty, it can be faster, but not much faster. If the gunpowder and gravel are not installed properly, the power will be greatly reduced." Chen Kui replied.
He was just a little slower than usual because of excitement.
Zhao Xing was a little disappointed when he heard this. The shortcomings are too big. It can work wonders for the first time, but as long as you are prepared later, it will not be of much use. But Zhao Xing soon felt relieved. For him, Chen Kui was the biggest gain.
Chen Kui can make a musket by himself. With the theories he provided, it is not impossible to make more powerful firearms.
"Your Majesty!"
Sanshui trotted back and bowed: "The farthest stone fired is more than 130 steps away, and most of them are around 100 steps away."
"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded, looked at Chen Kui and said, "I plan to appoint you as a ninth-grade Dengshilang and serve in the Firearms Department. Are you willing?"
Dengshilang He is a civil official of the ninth rank. He has no real rights and only receives a salary.
"The common people are willing, thank you for the reward, Your Majesty!" Chen Kui knelt down excitedly to thank him.
The imperial court recruits skilled craftsmen, and it is said that only those with outstanding performance can be promoted to official positions. Now that he has been promoted to an official position, there is no one who would disagree.
"It's time to call yourself a minister." Sheng Hong reminded.
"Yes, yes, yes, sir... Thank you so much for the reward, your majesty." Chen Kui was so excited that he could not speak coherently.
"Okay, get up." Zhao Xing smiled and said: "You join the Firearms Department. If you do well and develop more powerful firearms, I will also reward you."
< br>After saying that, Zhao Xing asked Sanshui to take Chen Kui down, and sent someone to send Chen Kui to the Firearms Department.
"Sheng Aiqing did a good job this time. Sheng Aiqing should pay more attention to selecting craftsmen." Zhao Xing said with a smile.
"I obey the order." Sheng Hong bowed and said.
After praising Sheng Hong for a few words, Zhao Xing asked him to go back.
Zhao Xing was very satisfied with the selection of craftsmen this time, even if it was only Chen Kui.
Zhao Xing, who was in a good mood, had just entered Longtuge. Before he could sit down, the eunuch of the Si Dian hurriedly walked in and saluted: "Your Majesty, the Queen sent someone to announce the good news, saying that the Queen is pregnant. Ryuko!”
"Haha." Zhao Xing was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then he was in a good mood and laughed loudly: "Today is really a double happiness."
Although he didn't care about the legitimate concubines, Zhang Guifen was his wife after all, and she had given birth earlier. The prince is also conducive to the stability of the harem.
Moreover, Zhang Guifen has been unable to conceive for a long time, and she is always thinking too much.
Zhao Xing was not in the mood to deal with government affairs and went directly to Renming Palace.
…………
Renming Palace
Zhang Guifen was stroking her belly with a happy face, listening to Mrs. He's instructions.
Obviously her belly was flat, but she was very careful when stroking it.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty is here!"
At this moment, a palace maid hurriedly came in to report.
Zhang Guifen had just stood up after hearing this, and Zhao Xing had already strode in.
“I pay my respects to Your Majesty!” Zhang Guifen saluted.
Zhao Xing hurriedly stepped forward to help Zhang Guifen up and said: "If you are pregnant, stop saluting and sit down quickly."
"I have just been pregnant, how can I be so delicate. "Zhang Guifen smiled.
“You should be careful just after you are pregnant.”
Zhao Xing helped Zhang Guifen sit down, then waved to Mrs. He who was standing aside and said, "No need to give."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Mrs. He straightened up.
Old Mrs. He is now the exclusive physician for the concubines in the harem and is on duty in the palace during the day.
"The Queen is pregnant. Please take more trouble to check the Queen's pulse every day. You should also give more advice to the maids here about how to nourish the fetus." Zhao Xing said.
"Yes!" Old Mrs. He responded with a smile and said: "The eldest lady is in good health. As long as she is raised normally, the dragon will be born safely. Your Majesty does not need to worry too much."
< br>
After Mrs. He finished speaking, she resigned and left.
"Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Zhao Xing asked.
(End of this chapter)