As the Emperor, Zhao Zhen knew more than most court officials what the iron shell fire thunder meant?

The Song Dynasty Firearms Bureau has developed iron-shell fire thunder for decades, but has not been created. It can be said that if the iron-shell fire thunder could be created ten years earlier, the outcome between the Song and Xia wars would be completely different.

Zhao Zhen also saw this sentence in Fan Ning's performance report. He immediately used ink to erase the sentence in the performance report of all prime ministers and stopped Cheng Lin from asking about it.

This is the most absolute secret of the Song Dynasty, and it must not be circulated and fall into the hands of the Liao Kingdom or the Xixia people.

Zhao Zhen couldn't wait and asked to go to the Firearms Bureau to test the lightning in the next morning. He wanted to see with his own eyes the power of the iron shell fire thunder.

This time Fanning brought back three iron-shelled fire thunders, but he did not bring back any of the craftsmen who made the fire thunder. This is also Fanning's cautiousness. Iron-shelled fire thunder is a powerful weapon that can change the rules of war and must not be taken out easily.

In history, iron shell fire thunder was finally created at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, but it was the Jurchens who carried forward the iron shell fire thunder.

History is so cruel. If iron-shelled fire thunder could be created in the middle of the Northern Song Dynasty, then the tragic encounters in the late Northern Song Dynasty would probably be avoided.

As soon as dawn the next day, Fan Ning took two followers to the Firearms Division outside the North City with his two entourages in Zhu Yuanfeng's carriage.

The Firearms Office is in the Imperial City, and outside the city is a firearm manufacturing workshop and test site, covering an area of ​​about 300 acres, with about 500 firearm craftsmen. They are surrounded by high walls and a sentry tower is built. One thousand soldiers are stationed here, with a very tight guard.

Fanning and two followers came to the front door with a heavy wooden box. Eight soldiers were guarding the gate and looked coldly at the approaching three people.

Fanning put the wooden box on the ground, stepped forward and clasped his fists and said, "After the emperor's oral order, come to the Fire Equipment Department, please inform the chief officer, and say that Fanning of Kunzhou is here!"

Several soldiers were startled. It was Fan Ning, Kunzhou. The leader of the soldier stuttered: "Please wait for Magistrate Fan. I will report it now."

In just a moment, a black and fat man ran out and smiled and said, "I'm so sorry. I didn't expect that Magistrate Fan came so early. Zhang Wenjin, the chief supervisor of the Military Weapons Department, was in a hurry to welcome him."

Fan Ning said lightly: "I guess the emperor is coming soon, so Zhang Dujian would be better prepared to welcome him."

"Thank you, Magistrate Fan, for your reminder!"

Zhang Wenjin had already received the news yesterday. He hurriedly stepped forward and took the initiative to lift the wooden box. He felt it was quite heavy. He immediately asked with surprise and joy: "Is this the iron shell fire thunder?"

Fanning could see that the surprise on his face was from the bottom of his heart. He had a little better impression of him, so he smiled and nodded, "That's it!"

"What does Jiaku 594 mean?" Zhang Wenjin couldn't help but ask strangely when he saw a row of numbers on the wooden box.

"This is a moisture-proof wooden box. Every iron-shell fire thunder is placed in such a wooden box. The wooden box is its number. Library A represents the finished product, Library B represents the semi-finished product, and Library C represents the scrap. Every iron-shell fire thunder, regardless of the finished product, semi-finished product or waste, has a number."

"What is the maximum number of the A library?"

Fanning smiled: "It exceeded 600 at the end of last year."

Seeing his lips moving, Fan Ning knew what he wanted to say and smiled and said, "The allocation of the iron shell fire thunder was approved by the emperor himself. Zhang Dujian wanted to transfer a few of them, and it must be approved by the emperor."

Zhang Wenjin sighed, "Old craftsman Song has been unknown to me for decades. Unexpectedly, he created iron shell fire thunder when he went to Kunzhou. It's because I am not qualified!"

Seeing that he was quite guilty, Fan Ning smiled and comforted him, "It was not entirely due to Song Laojiang's credit for creating iron shells and fire thunder, but to a greater extent, it was a coincidence that Zhang Dujian did not have to blame himself."

The two came to the reception hall to sit down. A tea boy served hot tea. Zhang Wenjin couldn't help asking again: "Does Fan Dujian think the emperor will approve our Firearm Bureau to make iron shell fire thunder?"

Fan Ning pondered for a moment and said, "I might as well say it straight. Kunzhou has also established a firearm branch to make all its efforts to create iron shell fire thunder. This time I will return to Kunzhou, and I will bring thirty firearm craftsmen and gunpowder craftsmen to go with me. They need to settle down in Kunzhou.

The emperor's meaning is that the iron fire thunder is manufactured in Kunzhou. In the future, when the conditions are suitable, the finished products will be transported to the capital and a special warehouse will be built to guard it closely. If Zhang Dujian wants to understand the iron shell fire thunder, there is only one way. If I don't say it, Zhang Dujian should also understand it."

Zhang Wenjin showed disappointment on his face. Of course, he knew what Fan Ning said. How could his family move to Kunzhou?

Zhang Wenjin asked unwillingly: "What Magistrate Fan said about the conditions that were suitable for the finished product to be shipped to the capital. What specific conditions does it mean?"

Fanning smiled slightly, "On the eve of the war!"

Zhang Wenjin completely gave up now. He probably didn't have the chance to carefully study the secret of the Iron Shell Fire Thunder.

Fan Ning said slowly again: "If iron and fire thunder are created in the capital, can Superintendent Zhang ensure that the Liao Kingdom or the Xixia spies will not get its secret?"

Zhang Wenjin didn't say anything anymore. He knew that the spies of the Western Xia were still weaker, but the spies of the Liao Kingdom were omnipresent in the Song Dynasty. The firearms of the Song Dynasty were no longer a secret in front of the Liao army.

Under the temptation of a lot of money, he could not guarantee that his officials and craftsmen would insist on not leaking.

Zhang Wenjin sighed, "You are right, it's better to be cautious."

At this moment, a follower rushed over and said anxiously: "Report to the Chief Minister, the Emperor has arrived!"

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Emperor Zhao Zhen came to the Firearms Bureau secretly and brought only twenty personal guards and came in a tight carriage without any officials accompanying him.

Zhao Zhen directly entered the Firearms Bureau test site from the side door. The test site covers an area of ​​100 acres and has various experimental buildings, including wooden buildings, stone houses, and even a city wall dozens of feet long.

There is a special VIP station in the test site, but it is only 120 steps away from the explosion point. For paper fire thunder, ceramic fire thunder and porcelain fire thunder, there is no problem with this distance, but for iron fire thunder, 120 steps are too close and will still be injured by iron fragments. Fanning asked to set up a viewing point two hundred steps away.

The viewing point moved two hundred steps away. Emperor Zhao Zhen looked at various buildings in the distance and asked with a smile: "What target Fan Aiqing plans to use today?"

Fan Ning bowed and said, "This time I brought three iron fire thunders to test the wooden house, city wall and wooden stake formation. Does Your Majesty agree?"

Zhao Zhen smiled slightly, "I will wait and see!"

Fanning made a gesture to the entourage, and the two entourages immediately picked up a wooden box and ran into the test site.

These two followers are soldiers who are specially responsible for testing iron fire thunder in Kunzhou Firearms Branch. They are very experienced. They are wearing iron armor and carrying an iron shield, and are protected very closely.

The two entered a wooden house. At this time, Fanning said to Zhao Zhen: "Your Majesty, please cover your ears, the explosion is extremely deafening."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhen quickly covered his ears, and Zhang Wenjin quickly covered his ears. He knew very well that the explosion of the Iron Fire Thunder was extraordinary.

In just a moment, two soldiers rushed out of the wooden house, ran for dozens of steps, and rushed into the sand pit, covering their ears tightly, and covering their heads with iron shields.

At this moment, there was a shocking explosion, and thick smoke filled the house. The wooden house was blown to pieces. The roof, beams and broken wood of all sizes rose into the air, flying three feet high, flying dozens of miles away, and landing on the ground with a bang.

Although Zhao Zhen covered his ears, he was still shocked by the strong explosion. He felt a palpitation in his heart. The explosion sounded through his fingers, causing a buzzing sound in his ears.

After a while, the smoke gradually dissipated, and the wooden house had completely disappeared, leaving only a few wooden stakes standing in their original location, and a pit one foot deep appeared on the ground, and the stone house more than ten steps away also collapsed.

In fact, after the continuous improvement of craftsmen in the past two years, the power of the iron shell fire thunder made in Kunzhou is three times that of the original iron fire thunder, and it is close to the power of explosives. This time, the three iron fire thunders brought by Fanning are the most powerful types, each iron fire thunder weighs fifty kilograms.

Everyone present was stunned. After a while, Zhao Zhen sighed: "If there were such a powerful and powerful weapon to fight Xixia, Yuan Hao would have been obeyed!"

"Your Majesty, will you continue to conduct the test?"

Zhao Zhen looked at a wooden stake formation in the distance and asked, "What will the effect of iron fire thunder dealing with cavalry?"

"Report to Your Majesty, just from the explosive power, the threat is actually not great. An iron fire thunder explodes, and the explosive power can affect up to three feet, which will cause very little damage to the huge cavalry. However, if the iron fire thunder is filled with thousands of poison-tempered iron nails, once it explodes, the cavalry within a radius of hundreds of steps will not be spared."
Chapter completed!