Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Hot Air Balloons and Hand Grenades

“Your Majesty, please look, this is the cannon that this humble servant has developed!”

Zhan Liang spoke excitedly to Zheng Yi, with several officials from the Ministry of Industry and Lei Shitou standing beside him.

Everyone’s faces showed signs of fatigue, clearly they had been working continuously on the tasks Zheng Yi had given them.

But Zheng Yi’s expression was a bit odd.

The cannon before him… or rather, calling it a cannon barrel would be more appropriate.

The whole structure is indeed round, cast from refined iron, fixed on the ground, slanting towards the sky.

However, the barrel was quite thick, about a meter in diameter, looking ominously dark.

Zhan Liang said, “Your Majesty, we have tried before, loading gunpowder and an iron ball into this barrel, simply ignite the gunpowder, and within ten breaths, the gunpowder explodes inside the barrel, thereby blasting the iron ball out.”

Zheng Yi’s mouth twitched, is this really a cannon?

An oil drum bomb?

All he could do was rub his temples and ask, “How far can it be blasted out?”

“About ten zhang or so.”

Ten zhang?

That’s about thirty meters or so.

That’s… too short.

“Why not make the barrel thinner?” Zheng Yi asked, “The thinner the barrel, the greater the impact of the explosion, and the farther the iron ball will travel.”

“Your Majesty, we have tried that as well, but the thinner barrels tend to get destroyed by the explosion.”

Zhan Liang hesitated, “After so many days of experimentation, only this thick of a barrel won’t be destroyed, but after about ten uses, it has to be doused with water to cool it down.”

“Is the iron smelting technique not advanced enough?”

Zheng Yi shook his head and said, “Is there a way to improve iron smelting techniques?”

“This…”

Zhan Liang thought for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, I’ve heard that the Wuzhou Imperial Sword Manor has advanced casting techniques. The Three-foot Cyan Peak can withstand a thousand jin of pressure. Maybe their iron smelting techniques are far superior to ours.”

“If we could invite a swordsmith from the Imperial Sword Manor to the court…”

“Wuzhou Imperial Sword Manor?”

Zheng Yi’s brow furrowed slightly. Although the Imperial Sword Manor was not the strongest force in the Great Yu Martial Arts, it was not to be underestimated either.

The entire manor is revered by countless martial artists because they excel in sword casting.

Obtaining the sword casting and iron smelting techniques from the Imperial Sword Manor could indeed be a bit troublesome.

“Leave this matter to me,” Zheng Yi said indifferently, “You continue your research.”

“Understood!”

Just a Martial Arts Sect, bestowing them with the prestige of their sword and iron casting techniques is a favor.

Moreover, such specialized techniques must be controlled within the Imperial Court.

A mere Martial Arts Sect, studying casting swords and smelting iron all day long, what are your intentions?

“Cheng’en.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Pass the order to have Wuzhou Imperial Sword Manor present their iron smelting techniques along with thirty swordsmiths.”

“Understood!”

At this moment, Lei Shitou hurriedly came up: “Your Majesty! This commoner has also researched something new, could you take a look?”

Zheng Yi was intrigued, “Oh? What is it?”

“It’s still Palm Thunder… Oh no, it’s Thunderbolt!”

Lei Shitou eagerly had a pile of Thunderbolts brought out, introducing, “Your Majesty, look, this is the Thunderbolt I have newly developed.”

“With the addition of clay, iron pieces, and salt, the explosion is more powerful, and I added a fuse; it will explode about ten breaths after being lit!”

Hearing Lei Shitou’s explanation, Zheng Yi quickly understood, isn’t this just a hand grenade?

“Your Majesty.”

Zhan Liang suddenly spoke, “Lei Shitou’s improvement to the Thunderbolt is indeed great, but it is too heavy, weighing about three jin, regular soldiers can hardly throw it far.”

“And its power is too great, easily hurting our own people.”

Too powerful?

He was afraid it wasn’t powerful enough!

“How could it hurt our own people?”

Lei Shitou angrily retorted, “Isn’t the Ministry of Industry working on that large balloon, the last test we flew a dog for a tea time.”

“Once the balloon is developed, someone can stand on it, fly over the enemy, and drop the Thunderbolts to bomb them to pieces!”

Zheng Yi’s eyes lit up, instinctively looking at Lei Shitou, this kid is indeed a genius.

His reason for having people develop hot air balloons was just that idea.

Air-to-ground bombing, it is a powerful weapon on the battlefield!

“Has the hot air balloon been developed successfully?”

“Your Majesty, not yet,” Zhan Liang hesitated, “There’s not enough burning material to keep it in the air for long.”

“What’s being used for fuel now?”

“Charcoal and coal.”

“Any volatile oil?”

“Volatile oil?!”

Zhan Liang’s eyes suddenly brightened, “Yes! I will take the people to test the volatile oil right away!”

“You all have done well.”

Zheng Yi said, “Promote Zhan Liang to doctor of the Ministry of Industry, and Lei Shitou to Junior Minister of the Ministry of Industry.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

The two excitedly knelt to express their gratitude, especially Lei Shitou, who started out as a mere Daoist, to become an official within the Six Ministries, and in the capital no less, he couldn’t be more thrilled.

“You two should continue your research, if successful, I will reward you!”

“Understood!”

Upon returning to the palace, Zheng Yi continued to cultivate the Moonlight Gu.

As time passed, the bloody glow on the Moonlight Gu’s body became more intense.

At night, placed outside the hall, one could see with the naked eye the bowl-sized moonlight shining on the Moonlight Gu, continuously absorbing it.

After absorbing the essence of the moon, Zheng Yi put away the Moonlight Gu and proceeded to Chuxiu Palace.

Since Bi He became pregnant, it has been a year since he last stayed in her palace.

Upon discovering during Imperial Household Department’s inspection that Bi He’s visitation token had been hung up again.

Remembering Bi He harbored the “White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill,” he immediately decided to visit Chuxiu Palace tonight.

In the palace, Zheng Yi played a little with his second daughter, Princess Jin Xia, before handing her over to her nanny.

The two girls are over two months old now, after feeding they have become chubby and fair.

Completely different from the little monkeys they were at birth, clearly the nanny took great care in feeding them.

“Your Majesty.”

After taking the child, Bi He immediately approached.

After giving birth, Bi He became more plump and mature.

Especially in front, emanating an enticing milky fragrance, causing Zheng Yi to almost gasp for breath.

“Your Majesty~ the night is late, let me serve you in changing clothes and washing.”

“Very well, my dear consort works hard.”

Zheng Yi gently nodded, allowing Consort Bi to attend him.

Soon, the storm had passed, Bi He, overwhelmed, fell into a deep sleep.

Whereas Zheng Yi’s mind was immersed in the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, examining it closely.

[Absorbed Yin Qi, “White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill” Inner Strength +1.]

[“White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill” progresses to the second layer.]

“Hmm? Bi He’s strength improved?”

Zheng Yi thought, and with a thought, more text appeared on the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror’s face.

[Life Master: Zheng Yi]

[Talent: Yin Yang]

[Lifespan: 24/125]

[Cultivation Technique: “White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill” Second Layer (1/1000)]

[“Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber” Third Layer (10000/10000)]

[Overall Strength: First-grade Realm]

[Innate Spiritual Qi Progress (Tier One): 3/10]

Total lifespan decreased to 125 years, while the “White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill” entered the second layer.

However, overall strength still lingered at the first-grade realm.

“Having a daughter breaks the bottleneck? Bi He is indeed lucky, or perhaps it relates to Pure Yin Qi?”

Zheng Yi murmured as he embraced Bi He’s plump body, “After Luan’er gives birth, I’ll try her.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep