"Yes, Grandfather was not mistaken, this is indeed a firearm."
Chen Shi picked up a thunderbolt and examined it closely.
He suddenly remembered that his men had reported earlier that a firearm had been thrown into an open area outside the city, suspected to be the work of an enemy spy. The firearm was incredibly powerful, capable of leveling a huge rock.
If this firearm were to fall into Fengyang City, the border people would surely suffer countless casualties.
This matter greatly troubled him, but he never expected that his granddaughter would actually produce this firearm.
He looked at Shen Danru in surprise: "Ru'er, was the explosion outside the city caused by this firearm?"
Shen Danru nodded: "Grandfather, it was I who threw it."
Shen Shi looked Shen Danru up and down with concern, and only when he saw that she was safe and sound did he feel relieved.
"Ru'er, how can a girl like you come into contact with such dangerous things? What would your grandfather do if something happened to you?"
Shen Danru smiled and said, "Grandfather, don't worry, I'm fine."
Shen Shi felt somewhat helpless towards Shen Danru, thinking that his granddaughter was far too bold and not at all like a girl.
She was quite different from the granddaughters of his old friends.
While he was worried, he told Shen Danru that she must never touch those things again.
At that moment, he suddenly remembered that he hadn't asked his granddaughter the most important question yet.
"Ru'er, how did you find this item?"
Chen asked.
Shen Danru replied, "Grandfather, I made this myself; I didn't get it from outside."
Shen Shi stared wide-eyed, asking incredulously, "Did Ru'er really do this?"
Shen Danru nodded: "Grandfather, this is called a thunderbolt bomb. The enemy army frequently invaded, and I couldn't bear to let you spend your life guarding the border, so I tried to make a thunderbolt bomb."
"I went outside the city today just to test its power, because it was my first time doing it and I couldn't guarantee I would succeed."
Upon hearing this, Shen Shi's eyes filled with tears, and he could no longer bear to blame his granddaughter.
He looked at Shen Danru gratefully: "Good child, a few days ago you said you wanted to give your grandfather a big gift. Is this the gift you were talking about?"
Shen Danru nodded.
Seeing his granddaughter nod, his eyes immediately welled up with tears: "I really like this gift."
This left Shen Shi with mixed feelings.
His granddaughter risked everything for him.
She was originally a young lady from a secluded family, and should have been pampered and raised in the mansion, playing the zither and embroidering.
But she traveled thousands of miles to the border for her grandfather, and now she's risking her life again for him.
Logically, he, as the grandfather, should have given his granddaughter a gift, but he gave her nothing. Yet, his granddaughter not only saved his life but also gave him such a great gift.
He felt increasingly guilty towards Shen Danru.
"Thank you, Ru'er. With the thunderbolts you developed, the enemy will no longer dare to be arrogant."
Shen Danru nodded slightly: "Grandfather, I also know of a type of firearm called a muzzle-loading smoothbore iron cannon. This iron cannon is used in conjunction with thunderbolt shells. By loading thunderbolt shells into it, not only can the range be increased, but the accuracy of long-range shooting is also higher."
"Compared to manual throwing, its range can be several times greater. If you need, I can draw up the relevant diagrams for you."
Shen Shi was even more surprised by Shen Danru's words.
"Ru'er, how did you acquire this knowledge?"
Shen Danru smiled and said, "I once met a master craftsman by chance. I saved his life, and in return, he gave me a book. I learned this knowledge from the book."
That was the only explanation she could give to her grandfather.
Shen Shi was shocked; there were still such capable people in the world.
Even the Qing Dynasty's Ministry of Personnel failed to develop a method for manufacturing this type of firearm, yet someone recorded it in detail in a book.
Shen Shi asked anxiously, "Where is that master craftsman now? Could you introduce me to him, Ru'er?"
Shen Danru shook her head: "I have never seen that master since that encounter."
There was no master craftsman at all; that was just an excuse. The system taught her all these things.
Shen Shi felt a little regretful. If such a talented person could have been employed by the imperial court, the Great Shun Dynasty would have become even stronger, and enemy countries would no longer dare to invade.
"Grandfather, wait a moment, that book is in my room, I'll get it for you."
Shen Shi stopped her, saying, "Ru'er, it was given to you by that master. How could your grandfather take it for himself? Your grandfather is already very happy with the thunderbolt that Ru'er made for him."
Seeing Chen Shi's resolute expression, Chen Danru nodded in agreement.
“Alright, then I will draw up the blueprints for the muzzle-loading smoothbore arquebus, and Grandfather can take them and arrange for someone to build it.”
An hour later, Shen Shi held the blueprints for the muzzle-loading smoothbore iron cannon drawn by Shen Danru, his face showing excitement.
“Grandfather, I suggest we keep this blueprint a secret for now, and have a few craftsmen you trust secretly make it, so that we can catch the enemy off guard.”
"If there are spies in the military camp, the blueprints might be leaked."
Shen Shi nodded and took the blueprints, feeling that his granddaughter's words made a lot of sense.
Only by possessing these advanced weapons and equipment can a nation resist invasion by any enemy country.
Fearing there might be spies within the military camp, he decided to keep the matter a secret.
Not long ago, they successfully repelled the enemy, but on their way back to Shengjing, the enemy launched another attack.
At that time, he began to suspect that enemy spies had infiltrated the Great Shun Dynasty, and that they might even exist within the court itself.
He has already secretly sent people to investigate.
Shen Danru handed Shen Shi another drawing: "This is the method for making thunderbolts. I have written down in detail the required materials, detailed manufacturing method and precautions. Grandfather can take it and make it."
Shen Shi was anxious and immediately took the blueprints to the military camp, hoping that the craftsmen could build a muzzle-loading smoothbore cannon according to the specifications and requirements on the blueprints. This would be a major breakthrough in the firearms technology of the Great Shun Dynasty.
He only found six trustworthy craftsmen, summoned them to his tent, and instructed Du Huan to arrange for elite troops to guard the outside strictly, not letting anyone in.
The craftsmen looked at the blueprint with surprise on their faces.
When they learned that the drawing was done by the granddaughter of General Shen Shi, they were even more impressed. Indeed, the granddaughter of the old general was no ordinary person.
After discussing it for a while, one of the craftsmen asked:
"General Shen, there are a few structural details on the blueprints that we don't quite understand. Could we please meet you in person so we can ask you some questions?"
"this…."
Chen hesitated for a moment.
Because of military regulations, women were not allowed to set foot in the military camp; those who disobeyed would be executed.
Even his granddaughter cannot break this military rule.
“General Shen, your granddaughter came to the military camp to do good for the country and the people, not to play around. Although military regulations are strict, exceptions can be made sometimes.”
Seeing that General Shen was hesitant, the craftsmen tried to persuade him.
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