Chapter 276 Test the Power
Zhao Yuanxi looked at their miserable state and couldn't help but sigh, "You two are quite impressive to be alive."
Shi Sheng chuckled and said, "We are just a little more cautious."
"I don't mean to praise you." Zhao Yuanxi said helplessly, holding his forehead.
They were only alive because they didn't use enough firecrackers. After all, you can't expect a single firecracker to kill someone. But they are still standing here safe and sound, so they really have a bit of luck.
Saltpeter itself will not explode, but because of its oxidizing properties, it will decompose and release oxygen when exposed to heat, which will intensify the combustion phenomenon. If it is mixed with phosphorus, sulfur, metal and other substances, it is very likely to explode.
"Does the Empress Dowager know the reason?" Han Zhong thought about it and guessed the Empress Dowager's intention.
"Understand a little bit, pack up your things and follow me out of the palace."
Trying to detonate the black powder she made would not be possible in the palace. Although the place is big enough, there are too many people coming and going.
Zhao Yuanxi decided to take them out of the palace. She bought a number of houses outside the palace, which were originally used to accommodate people from Yongcheng. As they settled down in Xianyang, several houses became vacant.
Shi Sheng and Han Chong immediately packed up their things and left the palace with her.
The house is nestled against the mountains and beside the water, very secluded and a very suitable place for seclusion. This is Zhao Yuanxi's first time here, and she fell in love with the surrounding environment as soon as she saw it. If she were not the queen mother, perhaps she would also choose a place like this, raise a few lovely children, and live a peaceful life.
However, when I think about the taxes and labor service that the common people in ancient times had to endure, it seems that life is better now.
Han Chong and Shi Sheng looked around. In the time it took to stick out an incense stick, they only saw two or three pedestrians on the road. They couldn't help but wonder why the Queen Mother brought them here.
But after entering, he found that the servants inside were no different from civilians.
It seems like this is just a secluded house.
"What are you doing standing at the door? Come in." Zhao Yuanxi was holding a wooden box in his hand.
The two of them hurried forward to help.
Zhao Yuanxi didn't refuse and handed the wooden box to them with a smile, "Be careful, don't drop it."
The two looked at the ordinary wooden box and didn't think there was anything special about it, but these words made them more cautious.
Although they were prepared, they still staggered two steps the moment they took the wooden box, which made their hearts skip a beat. Only then did they realize that the Queen Mother was really reminding them not to fall.
This seemingly light box turned out to be so heavy.
The two men couldn't help but doubt themselves. What the Queen Mother could get alone, they almost failed to catch!
At the same time, they couldn't help but wonder what was inside.
Zhao Yuanxi led them to the backyard and said, "Open the box."
Shi Sheng couldn't wait any longer and opened the lock on the box without hesitation, revealing the round black ball inside.
Under everyone's puzzled gaze, Zhao Yuanxi took out a small black ball, about the size of her fist, with a long thin line attached to it. If you look closely, you can find that the outer shell of the ball is made of clay, and the sealing part is covered with a layer of yellow mud.
The two of them stretched their heads and came over to take a closer look, but they couldn't see anything special. It looked like the jar that their mother used to pickle vegetables at home, but it wasn't as exquisite.
Shi Sheng was puzzled and couldn't help asking, "Empress Dowager, what is this?"
He didn't believe that the Queen Mother brought them here just to see the pottery jars.
Zhao Yuanxi smiled and explained, "This is what you've been researching. I simply placed it in this pottery jar. The wire outside is used to ignite it. Do you want to test its power?"
The Queen Mother not only understood how to make this thing, but had already made it a long time ago.
Shi Sheng and Han Chongqiang suppressed their shock and nodded repeatedly.
Zhao Yuanxi asked everyone to disperse and placed the black powder in the crevice of the stone. Then he asked someone to take out a tinderbox and light the fuse. He then pulled You and hid behind a tree and warned, "Cover your ears."
Everyone held their breath. After a few breaths, there was a loud bang and the pottery jar exploded instantly. Smoke and dust rose up, making it impossible to see what was happening there for a moment.
The palace maids and guards guarding outside heard the explosion coming from inside and were so scared that they rushed in to check.
Seeing that the Queen Mother was safe, he squatted beside a pile of rocks with great interest, picking up a few pieces of broken pottery in his hand.
Yuye was shocked and looked at the clear blue sky, making sure that the sound was not thunder!
Seeing more people around, You calmed down and waved to the palace servants and guards, "The Queen Mother is fine, you can all leave! If there is anything, we will call you."
The palace maids left as usual, but the guards were still worried, "Madam Yuzu, what happened just now?"
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. If the Queen Mother doesn't say anything, we should keep our mouths shut."
"But this—"
"Don't worry! The Queen Mother knows her limits. Nothing will happen. Everyone, go down!"
Since the Empress Dowager didn't let them see this scene, I guess she didn't want too many people to know.
Seeing the determined attitude of the Yuzu maid, the guards had no choice but to leave.
Zhao Yuanxi noticed that the crack in the rock was only two fingers wide originally, but now the entire rock collapsed directly from the mountain and shattered into pieces on the ground. The effect was pretty good. If the dosage was increased, it should be able to be used for mountain blasting.
Han Zhong's voice was excited, "That saltpeter is so powerful."
At the same time, they also felt a little scared. The stone was only as big as a fist and could be broken into pieces. The small explosions they had experimented with many times before could indeed be considered good luck. If they were as powerful as the one in the hands of the Queen Mother, their lives would be in danger.
Zhao Yuanxi picked up another one and weighed it in his hand. "It's not just saltpeter, it's also mixed with sulfur powder and charcoal."
"You can see how dangerous this thing is. I'm going to need a lot of this black powder soon, so I'll have to trouble you to come and help make it."
"Black powder—" Han Zhong muttered, unable to help but ask, "What is the Queen Mother doing with all this? Is it just to blast this rock?"
Zhao Yuanxi couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, "It's used to blast rocks!"
Then I explained to them the purpose of the black powder, and they suddenly understood.
Han Zhong hesitated and asked, "Isn't this thing too dangerous?"
"Don't worry, I will participate in the whole process of production, I just need your help." After all, she only has two hands, and even if she works for ten days or half a month, she can only make about a hundred.
"Everything here must be kept secret. Before we use this black powder, no one except us can know about it. Even if it is used later, it must be strictly controlled and no mistakes are allowed."
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