"Take charcoal for example. Willow is usually used, but the gunpowder made from it has a mediocre explosion effect. The best choice is alder. This tree mostly grows in Sichuan, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Gansu and other places, but not in Henan. So we have to send people to the production area to burn it and then transport it back."
"After talking about charcoal, let's talk about sulfur and saltpeter. These two things are mostly produced in Sichuan and Gansu. Gansu is now the territory of Western Xia, so forget it. So we have to send people to Sichuan to buy them, and then process and purify them after they are brought back."
"Now that we have the ingredients, we need to mix them into powder. To prevent explosions, we need to add water and wine while mixing. Shape it into a cake-like shape, then grind it into grain-sized pieces using a stone mill. Finally, sieve it to separate the gunpowder particles of various sizes."
Wang Dong concluded, "To get the raw materials, I hired over 30 people to go to Sichuan. Some were responsible for purchasing, some for initial processing, and some for transportation... This alone consumed over 60% of our income, not even counting the cost of making homemade mines and grenades."
"Why are they land mines and earth grenades?"
"Because there were no steel mills, we couldn't produce iron shells, so we had to use stone and ceramic shells instead."
"How lethal is this thing if it's used as a shell?"
"Of course it can't compare to an iron shell. To increase its lethality, you could consider adding iron sand."
After listening to this, Zhang Shixun sighed and said, "Now I understand why you spend so much money."
"Gunpowder is a huge commodity that is consumed in war. If you don't store more now, you might run out of supplies once the war breaks out. Then, you'll have no choice but to fight the Jin soldiers hand-to-hand."
Zhang Shixun said: ""
"Old Wang, you've worked so hard. Please stock up on some gunpowder. As for the money, I'll figure it out."
As we were talking, the meal was ready, with four dishes and a soup.
Zhang Shixun and the other two were very satisfied with the meal.
After eating, Ding Dusai said, "Sir, I also want to learn how to cook."
Zhang Shixun put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and said, "Okay, I support you in learning to cook. Once you learn, I won't have to cook anymore."
"You...!" Ding Dusai's face flushed instantly, and he pulled Li Shishi, "Sister, let's go."
Li Shishi smiled and left with Ding Dusai.
, the two girls went back to rest.
After dinner, Zhang Shixun went to visit his mother-in-law and gave her Yue Fei's silver.
"Aunt, Yue Fei is very capable and has made great contributions in the First Army. He will be promoted soon."
"I'm really happy that he can serve his country. I have you to thank for that."
"You're welcome! Yue Fei is a piece of gold that shines wherever he is."
Zhang Shixun looked around the small courtyard and asked, "Why isn't Yue Yun here?"
"He went out to play with the naughty boy from the manor."
"Oh!" Zhang Shixun pulled out a slingshot from his pocket. "This is something I used to play with when I was a kid. Give it to my godson for me. I'm going back to the city this afternoon and I'm afraid I won't be able to see him."
My mother-in-law took it without hesitation.
Zhang Shixun added, "My cousin runs a primary school in the village... Oh! It's a private school. You can let Yue Yun go there to study."
The mother-in-law smiled and said, "Don't worry, godfather, Yun'er has been studying here for a short time."
Zhang Shixun was very satisfied. Yue Yun was also a brave general and he would be useful to him in the future.
This reminded him of Zhang Xian, who was about the same age as Yue Yun.
I don’t know where it is now.
He chatted with his mother-in-law for a while and then said goodbye.
The two girls were strolling around the courtyard.
Li Shishi was pointing and saying, "We should plant two pomegranate trees here, and on the side close to the wall, we can plant some bamboo..."
"Ha! Your wife, what are you two talking about?"
Ding Dusai came forward and said, "We are talking about gardening. Sister Li is an expert."
"I only knew that Madam Li was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but I didn't expect she was also proficient in gardening. How admirable!"
Li Shishi smiled and waved her hand. "I can't say I'm proficient in it. I like to think about gardening in my free time. It's just a hobby."
Zhang Shixun chatted with them for a while, then suddenly asked, "Gentlemen, I have an immature plan. Can you hear it?"
"What's the plan?" the two girls asked in unison.
"I plan to build a concert hall in the capital, equipping it with the most advanced equipment..."
Li Shishi asked, "What is the equipment?"
"The equipment is what's used in Lantern Festival performances, such as the ones that amplify the volume, the fairyland re-creation, and so on."
The two girls looked at each other, their eyes showing joy.
"Just like the Lantern Festival, the program will be recorded in advance and then played publicly in the concert hall... Anyone who is willing to pay can buy a ticket to watch it."
Dingdu Track: "Okay! I like it."
"Everyone who participates in the performance receives a hefty appearance fee. Of course, the fees vary. The more famous you are, the more you get."
Li Shishi nodded and said, "I can guarantee that even if they don't take a penny, the leaders will enjoy it. Who doesn't want to appear in the fairyland?"
"Your performance fee must be paid. We can't let your hard work go to waste. Besides, this concert hall isn't for ordinary people. It's for high-ranking officials, dignitaries, and wealthy businessmen. Therefore, the fees are very high."
"How high?"
"It starts at one hundred taels, and there's an extra fee for a good seat."
Ding Dusai stuck out his tongue and said, "Sir, you are treating these people like pigs."
"That's right, I'm just slaughtering them like pigs."
Ding Dusai said to Li Shishi, "If that's the case, we don't need to be polite to him. Every time we participate in a performance, we have to pay an appearance fee."
"No problem, you guys are indispensable."
Li Shishi smiled but said nothing.
Zhang Shixun paused, then continued, "I'm back this time, and I won't be leaving the capital anytime soon. I can help you organize the activities of the Women's Federation."
"That's great." Li Shishi was very surprised. "Since the establishment of the Women's Federation, we haven't organized any activities. I don't know where to start."
Zhang Shixun looked up at the sky and said to the two of them, "It's getting late, let's go back to the city."
"good!"
When the three of them said goodbye, Wang Dong asked Zaohua to bring three wooden boxes.
Zhang Shixun took a wooden box and asked, "What is this?"
"Don't open the gifts for you yet. Open them on the way."
"Okay, bye then."
Zhang Shixun jumped onto the horse with quick and efficient movements. He had already thought about riding the horse.
Not long after leaving the village, I heard the two women in the sedan chair scream almost at the same time.
Zhang Shixun was startled, "What's wrong?"
Dingdu Track: “Guess what gift your cousin gave you?”
"What gift?"
"Two glass cups!" Ding Dusai lifted the curtain of the sedan chair. "Look, they are so beautiful."
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