Blind Liu passed on everything he had learned in his life, except for the cultivation of immortality and martial arts, to Ding Youtian. Even before Ding Youtian formally became his disciple, he had already subtly taught him astronomy, geography, marching and fighting, and the overall situation through storytelling.
Otherwise, with the knowledge and experience Ding Youtian had gained from studying under Master Mo for several years, how could he have decided to keep a low profile after Magistrate Hu's family was executed?
But modern weapons were beyond Blind Liu's knowledge, otherwise Ding Youtian would not have asked which was more powerful, a gun or a howitzer.
He called Ma Fuquan the Wu Captain, and Ma Fuquan did not correct him. Since he was just a vegetable over there and would hopefully be able to go back to being a Wu Captain sooner or later, he just accepted his name.
Glancing over the row of howitzers in the cave, he smiled slightly. "Munitions are called homegrown cannons, also known as old foreign cannons. They have limited chamber pressure tolerance and are very outdated weapons. Their optimal range with armor-piercing capabilities is no more than thirty meters, and their effective range is about fifty meters, with a maximum range of a hundred meters. Compared to howitzers, to say they're dwarfed is an understatement. There's absolutely no comparison."
"Oh, so there's nothing to fear then?"
Ding Youtian waved his hand again. "Otherwise, the great wizards of the Moon Nation possess some uncanny magic. If they imbued their cannons with magical powers, their range would be extended, and their accuracy would be greatly improved. I'm afraid they would be just as good as howitzers."
"Theoretically, it shouldn't be possible. No matter how powerful the witchcraft is, it is impossible to change the chamber pressure." Although he had experienced such a bizarre thing as soul travel, Ma Fuquan still believed in science more. How could witchcraft possibly do something that the current scientific and technological power of this time and space cannot do?
But nothing in this world is absolute, and each time and space may be different. Therefore, he added: "I suggest that it is best to send someone over to investigate the situation. Only by knowing both ourselves and the enemy can we win every battle."
Ding Youtian already had spies in Yue Country. Someone would report in a few days about Yue Country producing guns and cannons. However, it would be difficult for ordinary spies to get the core secrets. He pondered for a while, wondering whether he should send Xu Dali to infiltrate Yue Country to find out?
Just thinking of Xu Dali, he immediately thought of Xu Dali's master Lei Jiang, and his face was moved.
Lei Jiang avoided meeting Xu Dali simply because Yan State had been destroyed by the Yan Dynasty. He was concerned about his homeland and unwilling to serve the current court, preferring to wander the world and retreat to the mountains. However, upon learning that the foreign tribes might invade the Central Plains, as a native of the Central Plains, he put aside his old grudges and rushed to report the situation.
There are probably many people like Lei Jiang in the five countries of the previous dynasty. They may not serve the new court, but they will never sit idly by and watch foreign invaders invade the Central Plains. They are truly respectable!
Thinking of this, he looked at Ma Fuquan and raised the corner of his lips slightly, "There's no need to send anyone else to inquire. Dali's master will definitely send another secret letter."
"That's true." Ma Fuquan heard Jian Ning tell him that Xu Dali's master Lei Jiang was Wei Dong's junior fellow apprentice, and his skills were no less than Wei Dong's.
Before leaving the cave, Ma Fuquan looked at the various weapons and ammunition stored there, feeling a little regretful. If a war broke out between Yue Kingdom and Dayan Dynasty, he would very much like to lead the Wuyi Battalion to charge into battle on the battlefield, show his heroic qualities, and then return to the modern era to witness the ancient large-scale battlefield with his own eyes. After returning, he would also have something to brag about to his quartermaster Yu Dahai.
"Does the imperial court know about these weapons?" Ma Fuquan asked after retracting his gaze.
Ding Youtian's heart tightened. Huo Jincheng had asked him the other day why Qiu Ge and Guo Guo were sent to guard Jiguan Mountain. He had glossed over the question and not told him the truth.
Because Jian Ning had told him that with the current technological capabilities of Dayan Dynasty, it was impossible to produce those sophisticated weapons. He was worried that if he told Huo Jincheng the truth, given Huo Jincheng's personality, he would definitely want to produce more in large quantities, which would only waste manpower and material resources, so it was better not to tell him.
When Ma Fuquan asked this, he suddenly thought that since the Yue Kingdom had produced guns and cannons, it was only a matter of time before Pei Xiyuan invaded the Central Plains with his ambition. Once the war broke out, these weapons could not be concealed. If he waited until after the war to let the emperor know about it, it would inevitably plant a thorn in the emperor's heart.
He bowed to Ma Fuquan and said, "I'll write a letter to Jincheng as soon as I get back. I'll have Brother Tong deliver it to Dingzihao, using the Ginkgo Cream route. I'll have all the major escort agencies rush it to Jincheng within a hundred miles. Thank you, Captain Wu, for reminding me. I almost planted a hidden danger for the future."
"Don't be polite, let's go."
Ding Youtian wrote a letter to Huo Jincheng as soon as he returned to the yamen. He wrote two letters in total, one to Huo Jincheng and the other for him to submit to the emperor.
In the letter he asked him to submit to the emperor, he wrote that after learning that the Moon Kingdom had produced guns and cannons, he used the white jade ring given to him by the spirit Yang Dali to summon Yang Dali, and gave all the modern weapons he took out of the armory to Yang Dali.
After Tong Bajin delivered the letter to Dingzihao, he returned to his room and told Jian Ning, "Thankfully, the military team reminded me today. It's true what you once said: even the wisest can make mistakes. I forgot to report those weapons to the court in advance. If word of their power on the battlefield were to reach the emperor, how could he rest assured knowing that you and I had secretly hidden such powerful items? Furthermore, you and I have my father-in-law and my master behind us. I'm afraid it will only make the emperor sleepless and uneasy. Wouldn't that just bring trouble upon ourselves?"
Ding Youtian still felt a lingering fear when he thought about it.
Jian Ning also understood the principle that even an innocent man could be guilty of possessing a treasure. Even before she and Ding Youtian had discussed storing the weapons in the cave, she had already planned to notify Ma Fuquan if there was any sign of trouble, and have him inform Huo Jincheng. But after reading Lei Jiang's secret letter, she hadn't remembered it at the time. Damn it!
Jane Ning clapped her hands on her forehead.
The next morning, after breakfast, Ma Fuquan and his family prepared to take a boat back to Dingxian Village. Since they were going to stay in Dingxian Village for a few days, Jian Ning left Yuechan behind so that Dabao and Da Niu could stay for a few more days. Before Ma Fuquan and his family set off for Beijing, Jian Ning would take them back to meet them and return to Beijing together.
Unexpectedly, Erniu and Sanniu started to make a fuss. Ma Xiaodou had persuaded them to go back to Dingxian Village with him to play for a few days last night. They both didn't like studying, so they jumped up and down and insisted on going with him.
Tian knew that it was good to be literate. If Wu Juan couldn't read, how could she stay by her bed and study every day? So she didn't try to persuade Jian Ning. If she had, she would have spoken up for them both long ago.
Jane Ning was a little confused about these two little guys. She never met their demands just because they were making noise. She didn't understand why they were still making noise?
She didn't understand, but Ding Youtian did. He knew they were only there because of Ma Fuquan's family. He pointed at Erniu and Sanniu and said, "I'll only say this once: hurry to school and don't get beaten."
Dabao also had a stern face and acted like an elder brother, "If you two keep making trouble, I'll punish you two."
Erniu and Sanniu saw that Ma Fuquan and Tian Shi didn't speak up for them, so they looked at each other. Sanniu lowered her head and took the lead in slinging her schoolbag.
"Yaoyao!" After Erniu also put on her schoolbag and led Sanniu to the front yard, Ma Xiaodou suddenly ran to the porch and shouted, "When I grow up, I will marry you and make you my little wife!"
Yuechan harnessed the carriage and led it over. Hearing what he said, she silently glanced at Jian Ning who came out of the dining hall.
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