bullyxtreme Chapter 333: Refusal to Approve Gunpowder
Chapter 333: Refusal to Approve Gunpowder
Su Jixiang and Qu Wanning, these two bitches, they can't bear to see her live a comfortable life just because they are living a good life, right?
Qian Feng went to take up his post amid Zhao Xiuwan's contempt.
He thought Zhao Xiuwan was not interested in his transfer because the couple would be separated for a while.
He said affectionately to Zhao Xiuwan who came to see him off, "Don't worry, Madam. I will definitely find time to come back and visit you often. If you are free, you can also go to Songgang County to see me. If you want to go, just write to me and I will find someone to protect you."
Zhao Xiuwan curled the corners of her mouth perfunctorily. Who would want to go to such a barren place where there is almost no grass!
That's why Qian Feng, that idiot, is so happy!
But it’s good that Qian Feng is gone, she is happy and has some peace and quiet.
As soon as Qian Feng left, Zhao Xiuwan went to Lee Garden again.
She will continue to flatter Su Jixiang and Qu Wanning!
The construction of Mangcheng is in full swing. Because of the money raised from the land auction, the Black Tiger Army has begun paving the way.
And the ice flood came as expected.
The snow and ice on the snow-capped mountains on all sides were washed down and had no time to melt, so they flowed along the Songshui River towards the outside of Mangcheng. Because the flow of the Songshui River became gentler outside Mangcheng, a lot of ice and snow that had not had time to melt accumulated, blocking the waterway and causing the water level of the Songshui River to rise sharply.
At this time of year in previous years, the Black Tiger Army would assign people to watch the surface of the Songshui River, ready to use mountain-blasting explosives to blast it open as soon as the cold weather arrived.
But this year is different.
The Foundry Department was established. In order to weaken Wei Ling, Cui Yushan ordered that all gunpowder must be managed by the Foundry Department and registered and stored.
Although the Black Tiger Army also secretly stored gunpowder, since Cui Yushan was in charge of the Foundry, the Black Tiger Army would not easily take out the gunpowder to poke Cui Yushan's eyes.
"Lord Cui." Xie Yingfeng went to the Foundry Office specifically because of the flood.
The so-called Foundry Office was just a courtyard built on a vacant land outside the city.
This place is right at the bend of the ice, and there is already a lot of ice piled up on the river. If it is not exploded in time, it will probably cause rainfall embolism.
It was the first time that Cui Yushan saw Xie Yingfeng come to his house in person.
"Sir Xie? What brings you here? Why do you want to have tea in my little yamen?" Although Cui Yushan had a smile on his face, he had been humiliated several times by Cui Yushan and Wei Ling. This time Xie Yingfeng came to him on his own initiative, so there was no reason for him not to be sarcastic.
"What kind of wind could it be? Didn't I ask you to buy gunpowder?" Xie Yingfeng ignored Cui Yushan's expression and sat in front of him with a smile. "The ice flood has started. I need to use explosives to blast the ice and let the ice flow smoothly through the bend of Songshui River."
“Gunpowder?” Cui Yushan rolled his eyes and said with a smile, “This is something that is expressly prohibited by the imperial court. It can only be used in mines and the Divine Cannon Battalion. As far as I know, the Black Tiger Army does not have a Divine Cannon Battalion yet!”
The Black Tiger Army was mainly composed of cavalry, and was indeed not equipped with the Magic Cannon Battalion and the Fire Gun Battalion. Moreover, cannons and muskets were difficult for Daxie to manufacture, and the production was very low. For his own safety, Emperor Longchang only placed two Magic Cannon Battalions, one Fire Gun Battalion and one Magic Machine Battalion on his side. These four places had firearms.
"Speaking of which, we should thank the Marquis for using gunpowder to blow up the prefectural government office in Mangcheng and other places. That's why Your Majesty issued a ban on strict control of gunpowder after he ascended the throne." Cui Yushan said this with a hint of pride in his eyes, looking at Xie Yingfeng, as if to say that you deserve it.
"Yes." Xie Yingfeng did not refute. Originally, this ban was meant to restrain Wei Ling and the Black Tiger Army. At the same time, it was also a warning to other camps not to have any unreasonable expectations.
"But I came to ask Lord Cui to approve the gunpowder not for the Black Tiger Army." Xie Yingfeng said, "but for flood control and disaster relief! The annual ice flood is coming. Can't you see that water has begun to accumulate not far from your government office? As the river level rises, the water in the mine will rise with it. Lord Cui is unwilling to borrow gunpowder to blast the ice. Don't wait until something serious happens that threatens lives before getting anxious."
Cui Yushan had never seen Ling Xun before, so he just smiled and said, "Master Xie's tone is not very good! Are you here to ask for something or to give an order?"
"I am the acting governor of Mangcheng, and I am in charge of the food, drink, defecation and safety of the people in Mangcheng. Lord Cui, do you think I am here to ask for something or to give an order? Do you approve the explosives or not?" Xie Yingfeng asked.
He didn't have a good temper towards Cui Yushan either.
"No!" Cui Yushan gritted his teeth and said, "Master Xie, I am not under the management of your Mangcheng. I am directly managed by the Ministry of Revenue!"
"Okay, if Lord Cui doesn't want to lend it, I will write to the court truthfully!" Xie Yingfeng was too lazy to waste time talking to Cui Yushan! He brushed his sleeves, stood up and said, "Lord Cui has just taken office and may not know about the situation in Mangcheng. I have explained the interests to Lord Cui. Lord Cui is still stubborn. When the river bank is collapsed by ice and floods Mangcheng, I will see how Lord Cui will explain to His Majesty and the Ministry of Revenue! His Majesty and the Ministry of Revenue sent you here, not to watch people die without help or take their lives lightly!"
After Xie Yingfeng finished speaking, he turned around and left.
When he came, he and Wei Ling had already guessed that Cui Yushan would not easily grant them the gunpowder for use.
Therefore, Wei Ling has mobilized a number of Black Tiger soldiers to guard the river bank day and night.
The people of Mangcheng have never suffered from ice floods since Wei Ling took control of Mangcheng.
Seeing that the water of Songjiang River was about to be blocked by large chunks of ice, the people became anxious.
The previous governor of Mangcheng never cared about the lives of the people of Mangcheng. As soon as the Songshui River broke its dike, he would immediately write a memorial to the court requesting disaster relief.
The people’s suffering is exchanged for huge amounts of silver!
Once the silver arrived, he used explosives to blast the ice and direct the river water to flow eastward, which was considered one of his political achievements. However, the people in the city were scattered by the river water that overflowed the river embankment.
Since Wei Ling took over Mangcheng, this phenomenon has never happened again. Even if Wei Ling went on an expedition, Nangong Rui, who was in charge of Mangcheng on his behalf, would abide by Wei Ling's trust and would not let the water of Songjiang River flow freely and harm the people.
So the people didn't hear the sound of the ice blasting, but when they saw a steady stream of Black Tiger troops rushing towards the Songshui River, they went to inquire out of curiosity.
After some inquiries, they learned that the officer from the Casting Department refused to approve the Black Tiger Army to use explosives to blast the ice, which resulted in the Black Tiger Army having to manually clear the ice on the Songshui River.
Even though there are many Black Tiger soldiers, the river water keeps sending ice here, and the speed of dredging cannot keep up with the speed of ice accumulation!