Steel Dynasty - Chapter 398

[Chapter 398 Profitable Hot Air Balloon]

“Five thousand muskets?”

Xiao Ming was a little disappointed with this number, but when he saw the expressions of Xiao Wenxuan and the ministers, he understood.

After all, they still have doubts about the effectiveness of the musket-equipped troops, or perhaps more because they feel sorry for the money.

When he was in Qingzhou, he heard courtiers complaining about the price of the artillery more than once. Some ministers even asked the court to allocate funds to their clan’s workshops to imitate the Qingzhou artillery.

These ministers in the court are not loyal and patriotic, but these ministers do not get any benefit from the artillery trade. Naturally, they cannot stand the flow of such white money.

Therefore, in Xiao Ming’s view, the country of Chongqing was heading towards complete corruption just like the end of every dynasty.

Party strife, extreme corruption, a large number of profiteers who betray the country for glory, the people only know the clan but not the country, etc. The characteristics that the last dynasty should have are now all present in the Chongqing Kingdom.

What made Xiao Ming feel the deepest was the Jinwu Guard. This so-called most elite imperial army in the Chongqing Kingdom had been owed wages several times, and its military equipment had not been updated for many years.

Luo Quan personally told him these things.

Because of this, Dayu’s failure to defeat the barbarians was not only a matter of horses, but also the oppression of military officers by civilian officials.

And because Xiao Wenxuan rebelled to seize the throne, he has always been wary of the army. In other words, he emphasized culture over military force. The army was used excessively for internal rule rather than defense against foreign enemies.

Thinking of all these things, Xiao Ming could only sneer secretly. The reason why he wanted to sell arms to the court was not only to make money, but also for the future of the royal family.

Because if he really hands over the technology of muskets and artillery, he can be sure that the money for the cannons and muskets will be deducted at all levels. In the end, it will only result in the Forbidden Army holding a batch of garbage firearms that either explode or misfire. , in the end it was other feudal kings who were cheaper.

After all, they are always sharpening their knives.

After figuring this out, Xiao Ming no longer cares about the quantity. This trade agreement is the focus. Let’s sell as much arms as we can.

Anyway, he will return to Qingzhou after his wedding. No matter how hard it is for him in Chang’an, he will remain unmoved. He only needs to run his own fief to maintain his own safety.

No longer talking about the musket issue, Xiao Ming said to Xiao Wenxuan: “Father, let’s take a look at the hot air balloon. This will definitely surprise Father.”

“Yes, yes, this is good.”

Xiao Wenxuan looked excited. He was very excited about this. It is said that I am really interested in hot air balloons that can go up to the sky.

At this time, Liang Yubin and He Cheng commanded the soldiers to unload the hot-air balloon from the vehicle. Then they spread the hot-air balloon and began to use bellows to inflate it.

This was a long process, and it took half an hour for the hot air balloon to stand up.

At this time, the two began to heat the air under the hot air balloon.

As the air inside the hot air balloon gets hotter and hotter, the hot air balloon originally on the ground gradually rises higher.

“It’s flying, it’s flying.” The ministers said excitedly one by one.

Fiji was always calm, but when he saw such a big thing flying into the sky, he opened his mouth in surprise.

Xiao Wenxuan tried his best to maintain his dignity, but everyone could see how shocked he was at this time.

What shocked them next was that Liang Yubin and He Cheng boarded the hot air balloon. After the soldiers released the rope, the hot air balloon began to take off.

“Ming’er, this hot air balloon is really magical, can I also ride in the hot air balloon?” Xiao Wenxuan said excitedly.

“This won’t work, father. This hot air balloon may fall. Without safety preparations, I don’t dare to let my father take this risk.” Xiao Ming explained hurriedly.

The reason why Liang Yubin and He Cheng made great contributions was because they dared to risk taking a hot air balloon ride. Others did not know the risks of this hot air balloon, but he and the students of Bowen Blood Student knew all about it.

“Fall down!” Before Xiao Wenxuan could speak, Luo Quan suddenly exclaimed. He had been on a hot air balloon before, and when he heard this, he couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

Xiao Wenxuan’s expression was very exciting. The two things Xiao Ming showed today were quite dangerous. One was not accurate enough, and the other could explode.

Although the degree of surprise is enough, the actual use is still unknown.

Glancing at the shocked Luo Quan, Xiao Ming smiled and said to Xiao Wenxuan: “Father, do you want to buy a hot air balloon to play with? In fact, as long as it is operated properly, this hot air balloon will not explode, and it is good to observe the enemy’s situation before the formation. “Yes, Your Majesty, there was a lot of grass under the hot air balloon. It should be fine if it falls. After all, it only needs to be raised thirty steps.

“

Although Luo Quan was frightened, But I still get excited when I think of the battlefield observation role of hot air balloons.

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Wenxuan looked at Xiao Ming, who looked like a profiteer, and asked: “How much money are you prepared to sell to me for this hot air balloon?”

“Father, this is not expensive, just one hundred thousand taels of silver, and I will also pay you. How about you help your father train the operator of the hot-air balloon? “

The structure of the hot-air balloon is very simple, and the cost is less than three thousand taels of silver. Xiao Ming is very open-minded.

He has now figured out that instead of having the money of the court put into the pockets of these corrupt officials, it is better to put it in his own pocket.

“One hundred thousand taels?” Xiao Wenxuan hesitated. Upon

seeing this, Xiao Ming continued: “Father, when I ask the soldiers to prepare safety measures, I will let my father personally wait in the hot air balloon to feel whether the one hundred thousand taels is worth it.

After that, Xiao Ming said to Luo Xin : “Get the spring mat ready.

“Yes, Your Highness.

“

Luo Xin responded, directly taking out several small spring cushions from the carriage and putting them together.

Now that Qingzhou can produce spring steel, producing springs is naturally not a problem, so for safety, he asked the workshop to produce a spring cushion similar to a sofa. The wooden block pressed the spring and the cotton cushion was installed on the spring cushion.

When Luo Xin had someone assemble it, Xiao Ming stood on the spring cushion and jumped up. When he fell, he was bounced up by the spring cushion and flew up again.

“This… what kind of spell is this!” The ministers immediately exploded.

In their eyes, Xiao Ming just jumped for a moment, and then magically flew up on his own, like a ghost.

When Xiao Wenxuan saw this, his expression changed drastically.

Xiao Ming saw that everyone was so surprised, so he said: “Don’t be surprised, everyone, this is just a spring.”

As he said this, Xiao Ming came down and opened the contents to show the ministers.

At this time, Liang Yubin and He Cheng also controlled the hot air balloon and came down. Xiao Ming no longer explained the spring, but let Xiao Wenxuan board the hot air balloon.

This time, he boarded the hot air balloon with Xiao Wenxuan. The two of them continued to rise, and the scenery of Chang’an City gradually came into view.

Xiao Wenxuan was a little scared and a little excited at the same time, but when he took a look at Chang’an City, he gradually calmed down.

Xiao Ming saw the opportunity and asked, “How do you think, Father? Is this hot air balloon worth buying?”

“It’s worth it, buy it!” Xiao Wenxuan laughed.

(End of chapter)