Chapter 239 Seeking Help from Gongshu Tianyuan
Chapter 239 Seeking Help from Gongshu Tianyuan
"Not bad at all" means generally satisfactory. If an ordinary person gets such a comment from the commander in the camp, it is actually not bad.
But if the person who received this evaluation was proud of the "Tuhuo Qiang", he would be the honorary number one firearms craftsman in Dayu.
It becomes derogatory.
Blatant derogation.
At this moment, the smug smile on Chen Gui's lips froze instantly.
He turned his head to look at the tall and handsome Zhao Duan next to him. His expression became visibly ugly and his goatee began to tremble.
"My Lord... do you think it's just mediocre?"
Chen Huoshen stared at Zhao Duan, and the slight good impression he had for this new boss disappeared in an instant.
He was extremely proud. At least in the field of firearms, he believed that he was the best in the world.
And yet, at this moment, his most proud work was being perfunctorily evaluated by a young man who was several decades younger than him.
How could Chen Huoshen not be angry?
It is only natural that Lenovo deliberately suppressed the other party... Is it really as the clerk said, that they are here to criticize me because I didn't go to greet them?
But thinking of the other party's power...
Chen Huoshen suppressed his anger and said indignantly:
"Your Excellency has great martial arts skills, which are unmatched by ordinary people. Naturally, you think this firearm is not worthy of your attention. However, among the people in the world, only a very small number of people have great martial arts skills. When large armies fight, most of the soldiers are ordinary soldiers..."
Zhao Duan stood with his hands behind his back, glanced at the angry old craftsman, smiled, and said:
"I mean, for the military, this thing is just barely adequate."
Then, before Chen Gui could get angry, his next words were like a bucket of cold water:
"When two armies fight, the key is to kill the enemy. Just as an iron bow is many times more powerful than a wooden bow, there are also soldiers with amazing physical strength available in the army.
But when it comes to real battle, even the son of the Duke of Zhenguo would not use the powerful iron-framed bow, but only the inferior yellow pear wood bow.
Because the former is too laborious, heavy and difficult to carry, and the time it takes to shoot one arrow is enough for an ordinary light wooden bow to shoot two arrows..."
He reached out his hand with emotion and patted the smoke-filled, warm "gun barrel" beside him, which made a banging sound:
"From what I've just observed, the time spent on filling this thing with gunpowder is far more than that of an ordinary bow and arrow. This alone determines that this thing is flashy but not practical."
These words were spoken lightly, but they were like a heavy punch that hit Chen Huoshen's heart.
The chief of the Firearms Bureau was temporarily unable to refute.
Yes!
This is indeed the biggest drawback of the musket, it is too troublesome to reload!
"...What Zhao Chenshi said is indeed a drawback, but any weapon replacement cannot be achieved in one go and needs to be improved step by step...
This musket was invented not long ago, so it is still a little complicated. Give me some time, and I will definitely..."
Chen Gui explained with a straight face.
Zhao Duan interrupted him: "Six hundred years."
Chen Gui was stunned.
Zhao Duan stroked the muzzle of the gun, turned his head and looked at him calmly, his eyes complicated:
“When I came here, I looked through the information. Firearms were first used in the military six hundred years ago during the reign of Emperor Taizu. However, the use of firearms at that time was extremely crude and unsuitable for major use.
At that time, many people must have thought that it would be of great use in the future... But six hundred years later, the main force of the battle formation is still the infantry's spears and shields, and the cavalry's swords and horses...
"Master Chen, do you think it will take several hundred years for your musket to be useful?"
Chen Huoshen was choked and speechless.
Zhao Duan didn't mean to rebuke him. He held the warm copper tube in his hands, stroking it, and suddenly said:
"A musket... With a tube this thick, it's not an exaggeration to call it a cannon. Sir Chen, you should have some subsequent ideas for it, right? Can you tell me about it?"
Chen Huoshen was silent for a while, gritted his teeth, and simply went all out, saying:
“Indeed, there are some ideas. In my opinion, this musket is just a prototype. In the future, firearms will move in two directions.
One is extremely large, much larger than this one, and can fire iron bullets or guns farther at a time, and can blast open city gates.
One is very small, as small as the gentleman's sword on the waist of a scholar. Each soldier holds one, which can fire even smaller iron bullets and kill the enemy from a distance of 100 meters..."
As he talked about his idea, the eyes of this already old craftsman were shining.
It was as if he had forgotten that he was the listener next to him.
Hou Renmeng and Qian Kerou were also brought in.
I thought that if it could be accomplished, the battle formation would really have to be rewritten.
Zhao Duan was slightly surprised.
The direction judged by the other party is indeed correct.
Sure enough, true industry leaders always make accurate judgments about the future.
"Then why only make this prototype? What are the difficulties that hinder your vision?" Zhao Duan asked casually.
Chen Huoshen suddenly fell back to reality from his dream.
The fifty-year-old craftsman shook his head, looking dejected:
"Too many. Not to mention, there are still some problems with the smelting process. Just with these two ideas, although I am sure that they are the direction, I have no idea how to do many details..."
As he said this, he suddenly laughed at himself:
"What you said may be right. I cannot say for sure when I can improve it to be stronger than bows and arrows in battle. Maybe I will have an epiphany one day and it will take a few years. Or maybe... I may not see that day until I die."
Zhao Duan pondered for a moment and asked:
"Based on your knowledge, how can we speed up its evolution?"
Before I knew it, the atmosphere became weird.
It seems that they are not observing but discussing.
Chen Huoshen was put into the rhythm, thought for a moment, and said:
"The most likely and fastest way I can think of is to seek help from a sorcerer."
"Warlock?"
"Yes, I have heard that among the gods in the heavens, there is a sorcerer named 'Craftsman God'. A sorcerer who practices Craftsman God can master all kinds of creation abilities, understand the principles of heaven and earth, and create wonderful things that are far beyond common sense."
Chen Huoshen had some aspirations:
"Unfortunately, I don't know much about those Xuanmen masters. I have tried to inquire from many sources and learned that the most powerful craftsman in the capital seems to be named Gongshu Tianyuan, and he is a disciple of Zhang Tianshi..."
Zhao Duan's expression became strange:
"Do you think that Gongshu Tianyuan can help you? If so, why don't you ask the court to act as a matchmaker?"
Chen Huoshen exhaled and said bitterly:
"Tried, how could I not have tried? But when the message was delivered to the Heavenly Master's Mansion, there was no response. Later, the generals above brought back a reply letter saying that the Heavenly Master's disciples were researching magical instruments, which were different from ordinary gunpowder, and they were powerless...
I think it's not necessarily because I can't do anything, but more because I don't want to waste energy on this matter...
After all, he is the disciple of Zhang Tianshi, what kind of immortal figure? Not to mention me, even if Envoy Xue went to invite him, he would still not give me any face. "
The Tianshi Mansion has an extremely high status. The so-called high officials of the imperial court are really useless.
If people don't give you face, then they won't give it to you, and there's nothing you can do about it.
No... Gongshu Tianyuan, the fat guy, might really be "powerless" because the ideas behind what he created are too weird...
They don’t understand design at all… I’m afraid the guns and cannons they make will be weird things from the “mysterious side”…
Unless... someone gives him the blueprints and explains the general idea, this descendant of the God of Craftsman can use his extraordinary talent to implement it.
Thinking of this, Zhao Duan suddenly came up with an idea.
"boom."
He casually threw the heavy bronze pipe on the ground, which made Chen Gui feel distressed.
——Even though he is just a piece of iron, I don’t know why he feels so sorry for him.
"Yes, I have seen enough. Sir Chen, how about going out with me?"
Zhao Duan clapped his hands and said.
Chen Huoshen suddenly came back to his senses, his eyes alert: "What do you mean, sir?"
Zhao Duan smiled and patted his bony shoulders, saying:
"You'll know when the time comes."
……
……
Chen Gui, who was a sixth-rank official, could not resist the orders of the commander-in-chief.
Feeling uneasy, he and Zhao Duan and his group of four left the Firearms Bureau on horseback and went straight into the South City Gate.
We drove along the streets in the city, making many turns and finally stopped outside the towering Tianshi Mansion.
"Sir, what are you..."
Chen Huoshen, who was riding on his horse, was horrified.
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"Didn't you say that Gongshu Tianyuan might be able to help? Since I have joined the Shenji Camp as a clerk, I naturally want to work for the Shenji Camp, so I will help you get in touch."
Chen Huoshen was shocked, but he was not happy. Instead, he waved his hand and said:
"Your Excellency's kindness is appreciated. But it is not easy to meet a disciple of the Heavenly Master... Before, when Privy Councilor Xue came, it didn't work..."
He naturally felt that Zhao Duan was too arrogant.
They think they are powerful, but the Tianshi Mansion does not recognize any "high-ranking officials" from the imperial court.
"Master Chen, now that you are here, make the best of it. My master said he would help you, so he will naturally help you."
Behind him, Qian Kerou dismounted and said with a smile.
Hou Renmeng also dismounted and said coolly:
"My master is familiar with Priest Jin Jian, who is also a disciple of the Heavenly Master."
They just thought that Zhao Duan wanted to borrow Jin Jian's connections.
Chen Huoshen still didn't believe it.
He got off the horse nervously, just sighed, and thought about how to save Zhao Duan's reputation later.
At this time, Zhao Duan had already walked forward.
After whispering a few words to the priest guarding the gate, the latter hurried in.
Not long after, a short and fat figure trotted out from the Tianshi Mansion.
The man was wearing a dirty priest's robe embroidered with gold thread and carrying a bamboo tube on his back.
On his round, fat face, his small eyes were as big as soybeans, and he ran out laughing, saying:
"Envoy! Why didn't you send someone to inform me earlier that you were coming? I could have packed everything and come to pick you up! I've been waiting for a long time..."
As he spoke, he habitually extended his greasy hand for a "handshake".
Zhao Duan smiled reservedly.
After a brief greeting, he called the three people waiting behind him over and explained:
"Gongshushen..."
"Hey, sir, you can just call me Tianyuan, or address me as brother. Don't be so formal." Gongshu Tianyuan said unhappily.
"...Oh, that's good. Brother Gongshu, this is Chen Gui from the Firearms Bureau of Shenjiying. I brought him here because I have a favor to ask of you."
"No problem, no problem!"
Gongshu Tianyuan patted his chest loudly:
"I was just worrying about how to repay you, sir. Come in and sit down with me and we'll talk."
next to.
Chen Huoshen was completely stunned.
He swallowed slowly and whispered to the two people beside him for confirmation:
"This person is really..."
Although the two generals of Lihuatang were also surprised, they were used to it and were fine with it. They nodded immediately:
"Of course it's Gongshu Tianyuan."
Chen Huoshen felt dizzy and pinched his thigh hard with his right hand.
pain!
Not a dream!
But...why is it like this?
Why would the disciple of Tianshi, who didn't even give the slightest respect to Privy Councilor Xue, be so close to Zhao Chenshi?
Don't say it's too cold, there's even a hint of...
Flattery?
Chen Huoshen was in a trance and felt that the entire Shenji Camp might have thought of something wrong.
(End of this chapter)