Renchen, the first month of the first year of Yuanyou (the third day of the lunar month).

In Funing Hall, Zhao Xu was eating today's breakfast.

Shi Deyi was beside him, reporting in a low voice.

"Yushitai, this morning, we impeached Kumamoto again, Miao Shizhong..."

"At the same time, Wang Xiaoxian, Minister of Dali Temple, and others said: Chengzhuo corrupted the law and illegally ceded territory. His crime will not be pardoned. He will be imprisoned and imprisoned for his crime!"

Zhao Xu ate the last egg and then took a sip of the sweet tofu curd.

Then he looked at Shi Deyi and said, "Don't report anything about Cheng Zhuo in the future!"

He is too lazy to care about the life and death of an idiot!

"As for Miao Shizhong and Xiong Ben..." Zhao Xu said: "The censors should impeach them for a few days first!"

Both Kumamoto and Nae Tokinaka are the kind of old scalpers who work quietly.

Such ministers must be protected even if they make some mistakes.

That's great. Zhao Xu will fine them thirty kilograms of copper when the time comes.

As soon as Shi De lowered his head, he naturally heard Zhao Xu's intention to protect him, so he asked: "Do you want the Bianjing Newspaper to..."

"No need!" Zhao Xu shook his head: "Bianjing New News should stop for a few days!"

Don't let people see the relationship between Bianjing Newspaper and him.

The best thing is to keep it as it is now, as if there is nothing, if there is nothing, if there is nothing.

Not only let them guess, but also let them not guess.

Hu Feipan, played by Tong Guan, accomplished this task very well.

Support today, oppose tomorrow.

It’s confusing!

This is the art of domination!

Ministers can guess, and the emperor can act.

In this game, the most important thing is that no one can get the Stone Hammer Iron Certificate.

Then the game would be boring.

Because there will be many people who will follow suit without thinking.

Like now, even the ministers can only guess and whisper in their hearts that it is best.

Bianjing Xinbao can play the role of testing the news without taking any responsibility!

Don't ask, asking is to prevent people from talking more than to prevent rivers! Asking is to let people talk, and the sky will not fall!

…

That afternoon, Zhao Xu appeared at Chongzheng Hall and met Shen Kuo who entered the palace.

At the same time, he also obtained the black powder made by Shen Kuo.

At present, granular gunpowder has still not been successfully prepared.

However, by grinding and purifying saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal, relatively powerful black powder was obtained.

Zhao Xu played with the small handful of black powder, nodded, and asked: "How much gunpowder does the Gunpowder Department produce now?"

Shen Kuo replied: "Your Majesty, I have prepared more than 10,000 kilograms of gunpowder in the Gunpowder Department since October..."

"More than a thousand kilograms of them were used for experiments, and about a thousand kilograms were lost due to moisture and other factors... The remainder is about eight thousand kilograms!"

Eight thousand kilograms is almost 4,600 kilograms.

There is no doubt that this is a huge strategic reserve.

It should be noted that Kaifeng Prefecture now purchases saltpeter from the private sector on a regular basis every month.

A large amount of saltpeter was continuously sent to the Gunpowder Department, and then through processes such as boiling, it was turned into saltpeter, and then ground and purified into saltpeter powder.

According to Cai Jing's report, Kaifeng Mansion's current monthly expenditure on buying saltpeter has reached one thousand gu!

Zhao Xu played with the black gunpowder in his hand and asked, "Have you thought of a way to properly store the gunpowder and prevent the gunpowder from regaining moisture?"

In a few months, thousands of kilograms of gunpowder were lost due to the return of moisture.

This loss rate is too high!

Even Zhao Xu can’t bear it!

"Reporting to your Majesty, I and the craftsmen in the Gunpowder Department have found some solutions..."

"Gunpowder can be wrapped in cloth and placed in a dry, sealed wooden barrel...the gaps in the barrel can be filled with beeswax...so that it can be stored for a long time..."

Zhao Xu nodded as he listened. He didn't know whether this was feasible or not.

But at least Shen Kuo must have done experiments.

So, he asked again: "How much gunpowder is there in the inventory of the Gunpowder Department now that can be used for blasting?"

Through constant trial and error, the Gunpowder Department found a variety of black powder proportioning methods.

Among them, there is gunpowder that is mainly used for blasting and mining: as long as the sulfur content in it is increased to more than 60% or even 70%.

Then, the explosive power of gunpowder will reach its maximum!

On the contrary, reducing sulfur and increasing charcoal and saltpeter can slow down the burning of gunpowder.

This was also the recipe for later fireworks.

This is the mystery and beauty of chemistry!

Shen Kuo replied: "About fifteen hundred kilograms!"

"Good!" Zhao Xu touched his palm and said: "We will transfer 800 kilograms from the Gunpowder Department, seal it in wooden barrels, and then select the gunpowder department craftsmen. I will appoint a team of Yulongzhi to protect me and go south with Di Yong.

!”

"Use it as a weapon to attack difficulties!"

In case you accidentally hit Shenglong Mansion, or encounter any other important fortress in Jiaozhi.

These gunpowder can be used as a weapon to destroy the city - just dig a tunnel, stuff it with hundreds of kilograms of explosives, then fill the tunnel and light it...

Take the perspective of urban defense in this era.

Even the city gate of Bianjing City might be knocked down!

Shen Kuo glanced at Zhao Xu longingly - he actually wanted to say: "Your Majesty, please order me to leave Guangxi!"

His elder brother Shen Qi was once the Guangxi military envoy who focused on destroying Jiaozhi.

Unfortunately, the major event failed to come to fruition, but because Liu Yi was greedy for power, Jiaozhi was alerted and caused a military disaster due to lack of preparation.

Shen Qi was convicted for this!

If possible, Shen Kuo would certainly hope that he would lead the army to regain ground for his clan brother.

It's a pity that the words are on my lips, but I dare not say them anymore.

It's not that I'm afraid of being rejected, but I'm really afraid of disappointing my wife.

Since Zhang arrived in the capital, his temperament has improved and he has become more comfortable.

If he knew that he would take his family to wander again...

Therefore, Shen Kuo could only seal the desire in his heart firmly!

At this time, Zhao Xu said to Shen Kuo: "Since you took office, you have made many meritorious deeds for me and the world!"

"I would like to increase your official position and make your wife the county lady..."

After Shen Kuo heard this, he thanked him immediately and burst into tears of gratitude: "Your Majesty, I am so kind to you. I am very grateful to you and shed tears of gratitude!"

Zhao Xu looked at it, chuckled, and said: "You should guard against arrogance and impetuosity and make further contributions to our great Song Dynasty! I will not hesitate to reward you!"

It is very simple to deal with an official fanatic and a strict wife like Shen Kuo.

While giving him a promotion, he also gave his wife a title.

Now she is a county lady, and next year she will be given the title of county lady, followed by a country lady, and then each country will be bigger than the other.

If that doesn't work, you can still grant the title of wife of the two countries.

In short, under a system like the Song Dynasty, there was no fear of ministers being unblockable.

Because of honors, titles, food, official posts, and government posts, there are layers of matryoshka dolls.

You can even grant your wife the title of patronymic son, give posthumous gifts to your father and ancestors, and even add Jiedu to serve as an envoy...

Han Qi ministered to three emperors and supported two emperors, and there was still a lot of room for improvement.

What about other people?

It is no exaggeration to say that even a certain minister took over the party by himself. The Khitan pacified Jiaozhi and annexed Korea and Japan.
To be continued...