Chapter 298 Gunpowder Successfully Made
The third day arrived as promised.
Early in the morning, Jiang Ling got up and sat in the flower hall of the villa, waiting for news from the East Palace.
Time passed slowly, and by midday, the expected messenger from the Crown Prince still hadn't appeared.
Just as Jiang Ling was about to lose her patience and was about to ask Cheng Fang to go to the East Palace to inquire again, a man who looked like a eunuch finally appeared at the gate of the villa, led by the Cheng family steward.
Jiang Ling immediately stood up.
The eunuch, expressionless, first gave a proper bow, then announced in a shrill voice: "His Highness the Crown Prince has decreed: Hearing of Jiang's cleverness and Cheng's loyalty, a banquet will be held at the Imperial Estate on the outskirts of the capital in three days. The two ladies are invited to attend and reminisce about old times. We hope you will attend on time."
After the imperial edict was read, the eunuch bowed and withdrew, leaving Jiang Ling and Cheng Fang standing there in a daze.
There was no mention of a marriage alliance or gunpowder; it was just a seemingly ordinary invitation to "reminisce," but the location was set at the Imperial Estate on the outskirts of Beijing.
Jiang Ling instantly understood Qin Zhao's intention.
He gave her three days, not to consider the marriage alliance, but to ensure that she had all the materials needed for the gunpowder demonstration within those three days!
Three days later at the Imperial Estate on the outskirts of Beijing, he wanted to see the power of gunpowder with his own eyes and personally verify the value of this "gift"!
His silence and lack of comment on the marriage alliance was itself a signal.
In such a short timeframe, changing the choice of a relative is virtually impossible, and the resulting turmoil is something no one can afford.
Therefore, he most likely tacitly approved of Cheng Jiaojiao's "assassination" within the territory of the Great Sheng Dynasty.
In this way, the princess who was sent to marry a foreign ruler died tragically, and the Great Yu Dynasty had a sufficient reason to launch an attack on the Great Sheng Dynasty.
Gunpowder will become the key weapon that determines the outcome of this battle!
Jiang Ling explained to Cheng Fang, "He wants to inspect the goods. We have three days to prepare everything."
Cheng Fang's expression was solemn; he had naturally guessed the Crown Prince's plan.
The thought that his sister's future was now tied to this dangerous gunpowder filled him with mixed emotions, but there was no other way now.
Jiang Ling made a decisive decision: "We're going to the Ji family right now to find Ji Wensheng!"
Jiang Ling had already instructed Ji Wensheng to help procure the raw materials, so logically, news should be forthcoming by now.
The two dared not delay and immediately set off for the Ji residence.
After anxiously waiting at the Ji residence for nearly a day, Ji Wensheng, looking travel-worn, finally arrived at dusk.
He had been traveling with the group, but apparently rushed back after receiving the news.
"Boss Jiang, Cheng Fang!" Ji Wensheng bowed, his face showing weariness, but his eyes remained shrewd.
"I am aware of the general situation. Fortunately, the raw materials have not failed me!"
He reported very quickly: "The saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal have all been selected according to your list, using the highest purity batches. They will be transported by the Ji family's most reliable caravan via waterway and will definitely arrive at the capital's docks before noon tomorrow!"
Jiang Ling's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally felt half relieved.
With Ji Wensheng handling the procurement, the source and quality of the raw materials are guaranteed, and the traceability is more convincing.
If she brought it directly from the modern era, it would be harder to explain.
"Thank you so much, Boss Ji!" Jiang Ling said sincerely.
At the critical moment, Ji Wensheng's efficiency and reliability were on full display.
"Mr. Jiang, you're too kind. Since I've promised you, I'll do my best." Ji Wensheng waved his hand, but a hint of worry lingered in his expression.
"However... Mr. Jiang, the things you want are no small matter. I hope you will use them with caution."
Jiang Ling nodded: "I understand the pros and cons."
Cheng Fang's expression of gratitude to Ji Wensheng was even simpler; he simply walked over and patted him heavily on the shoulder.
They didn't even need to speak; they understood each other perfectly.
The next day, at the crack of dawn, Cheng Fang, holding the Crown Prince's warrant, personally led a team of the Crown Prince's guards to the dock to meet the Ji family's merchant caravan.
Just past noon, several horse-drawn carriages covered with tarpaulins, under heavy guard, quietly drove into the imperial estate on the outskirts of Beijing.
The estate was already under martial law, and all irrelevant people were cleared out, leaving only the craftsmen trusted by the Crown Prince and a few close confidants.
Jiang Ling and Xiao Ran were also secretly brought into the manor.
In a secluded imperial estate on the outskirts of Beijing, the atmosphere was somber.
The outer perimeter was heavily guarded by layers of imperial guards clad in black armor.
Inside the largest workshop in the village, the lights were on, and more than a dozen old craftsmen who had been urgently summoned held their breath and watched Jiang Ling, Cheng Fang and Xiao Ran walk in.
They had been sternly warned beforehand that everything they saw and heard was top secret, and that if it was leaked, their entire family would be exterminated.
Jiang Ling didn't say much and directly took out the recipe notebook.
Instead of distributing them directly, she asked Xiao Ran and Cheng Fang to help her write down the key steps and ingredient ratios on a prepared wooden board.
"Fellow masters," Jiang Ling said clearly, her gaze sweeping over the group of capable-looking faces.
"The thing we're about to make is called 'gunpowder.' The process is extremely dangerous; any oversight could trigger an explosion, leaving no trace of the victim. Therefore, please strictly follow my instructions. Do not attempt anything on your own, and absolutely do not use any open flame!"
Her tone was serious, carrying an unquestionable authority.
The craftsmen solemnly agreed.
These craftsmen were all personally recruited by the Crown Prince, and their loyalty to him was second only to that of his personal guards.
Before they came, the Crown Prince had told them to follow Jiang Ling's arrangements in everything.
They all obeyed.
For the next day and night, Jiang Ling stayed almost constantly in the work shed.
She personally supervised the grinding fineness of the raw materials, repeatedly explaining the basic ratio principle of "one part saltpeter, two parts sulfur, and three parts charcoal" and the key to granulation.
She demonstrated how to carefully mix the ingredients, how to control the humidity, and how to gently stir with wooden tools to avoid friction and heat generation.
Xiao Ran became her capable assistant. He was meticulous and quick-witted, and was responsible for passing tools, checking raw materials, and most importantly, conducting ignition tests.
Cheng Fang was responsible for coordinating internal and external affairs, ensuring the supply of materials, and dealing with any potential external threats.
Time passed by, and the shed was filled with the distinctive smell of saltpeter and sulfur.
However, failure was inevitable.
The initial mixing ratio was slightly off, resulting in incomplete combustion.
The humidity wasn't controlled properly during the second granulation, resulting in a paste-like consistency.
The third time...
Every time she failed, Jiang Ling would carefully analyze the reasons and adjust the formula.
Finally, on the evening of the second day, after countless careful adjustments and small-scale trials,
"boom!!"
A loud, even more muffled and powerful bang than when it was demonstrated at the villa came from behind the thick earth and stone shelter that had been specially built outside the shed!
The ground trembled slightly, and dust fell softly from above the bunker.
Everyone held their breath.
As the smoke and dust cleared, the Imperial Guard soldier responsible for checking the results rushed over, his face filled with barely suppressed shock, and knelt on one knee to report:
"Reporting to Miss Jiang and Prince Cheng! The solid earthen and stone target wall ahead, which is about half a person's height, has been completely blasted open with a large hole!"
It was a success!
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