My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 317 What can we do with Thunderbolt?
The reason Li Chunfeng was able to develop Thunderbolt Fire so quickly was not because he was a genius or because he created something out of nothing.

Rather, his way of thinking has been influenced by Li Chengqian.

What's more, he himself is very good at studying things to gain knowledge.

Besides, matters like gunpowder are not actually that difficult.

Previously, the Gunpowder Department had already deduced the main ingredients based on the prince’s large number of purchasing records.

Saltpeter, sulfur, charcoal.

Ultimately it's a question of ratio and production process.

The ratio is roughly known, and the only thing left to do when it comes to the production process is to figure it out.

The reason why the Thunderbolt Fire produced by Li Chunfeng now cannot reach the level of Li Chengqian.

The reason for this is that there is a missing process.

That is the granulation of gunpowder.

Granulated gunpowder can burn more completely and produce greater power.

Of course, the ratio is slightly worse.

Li Chengqian's ratio is the best ratio discovered through scientific exploration in later generations.

Without the knowledge of physics, it is almost impossible to reach this level.

All in all, the Human Torch is now created.

Prince Wei's Mansion.

Cui Shengyu arrived early.

Li Tai paced back and forth in the study with a serious look on his face.

In fact, he didn't really want to hand over the Thunderbolt Fire formula to the Five Surnames and Seven Families.

However, the situation Li Tai is facing now makes it too slim for him to become the crown prince.

Even if he becomes the crown prince, how long will he remain the crown prince?

Li Tai urgently needs to have his own power.

Just like Li Chengqian now.

Although Li Tai wanted to see Li Chengqian fail the most, deep down he also hoped that he could become the second Li Chengqian.

This is the power of role models, just like the Xuanwu Gate Incident of Li Shimin back then.

"Please come in, Master Cui."

Upon hearing that Cui Shengyu had arrived, Li Tai gave instructions.

Cui Shengyu stepped into the study, bowed and said, "King Wei, we said goodbye yesterday, and today I have come to listen to your reply."

Li Tai raised his hand to signal Cui Shengyu to sit down. He stared at him closely and said slowly, "Master Cui, this matter is of great importance. I couldn't sleep last night and thought about it over and over again."

Cui Shengyu quickly replied, "We are aware of the risks involved, but once successful, the benefits will be immeasurable."

Li Tai frowned slightly, and said with a slightly dissatisfied tone: "Mr. Cui, you only talk about the benefits. Have you ever thought about what consequences I will face if the information is leaked? I can't bear the wrath of my father."

Cui Shengyu said sincerely: "We, the Five Surnames and Seven Families, will go all out on this matter to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"Now the Crown Prince's power is growing with the help of artillery. If the King of Wei can control the Thunderbolt Fire, with our power, what an advantage will he have in this court struggle."

These words really touched Li Tai's heart.

He knew that once the Five Surnames and Seven Families took control of the Thunderbolt Fire, it would be difficult to get rid of it.

But what's the point if he can't ascend the throne successfully?

All of this is based on the premise that he can ascend the throne and become emperor.

Having said that, even if Li Chengqian was defeated, he would still be the crown prince.

Can I just wait quietly for my father to pass away and then naturally succeed to the throne?

Back then, my father didn't wait for my grandfather to pass away.

After a moment of silence, Li Tai said, "Master Cui, even if I want to help, this formula is not easy to obtain. The Gunpowder Department has extremely strict supervision, and every process is recorded by a dedicated person."

Cui Shengyu smiled when he heard this but did not answer.

As long as the King of Wei wants it, he can get it.

If you don't want it, you won't get it.

Seeing Cui Shengyu didn't say anything, Li Tai didn't get angry and continued, "Mr. Cui, even if I get the formula, how can you guarantee that you can manufacture it in large quantities without being discovered? The saltpeter and sulfur needed to make Thunderbolt are now monopolized by the court. "

Cui Shengyu said confidently: "Don't worry, King Wei. My Five Surnames and Seven Clans have industries in various places, including mines."

"Although saltpeter and sulfur are controlled by the imperial court, we also have our own channels. As long as we have the formula, it is not difficult to manufacture them."

"Moreover, we will choose an extremely secret place to manufacture it, and the imperial court will definitely not notice it."

This is the foundation of the Five Surnames and Seven Families.

They have their own soldiers and their children, as well as a large number of hidden mineral resources, fertile land and population.

Although it seems that the Five Surnames and Seven Families are being suppressed very badly now, in fact, a lean camel is bigger than a horse.

Li Tai was silent for a moment.

He was actually also wary of the Five Surnames and Seven Families.

I even had some ideas in my mind.

If I become the king, I will also suppress the Five Surnames and Seven Affiliations.

Especially their hidden mineral deposits, they must be collected with great effort.

We are allies now, but that doesn’t mean we will be allies in the future.

Without asking for any more conditions, Li Tai said, "Come over tomorrow evening and I'll give you the formula."

Cui Shengyu bowed and said, "Thank you, King Wei." For Li Tai, getting the recipe was not a difficult task.

Not to mention that he was favored by Li Shimin, judging from the calls for the new crown prince, there was no one else but him.

In Chang'an, apart from his father, who else could have a more noble status than him?

What's more, my father has already issued an edict, asking him to be in charge of the Gunpowder Department as well.
-
After Li Shimin announced to the world that the imperial court had successfully developed Thunderbolt, the entire Chang'an fell into a tense and busy atmosphere.

The Gunpowder Department, which was responsible for supervising the production of Thunderbolt, became the core area of ​​​​utmost importance.

Li Xu, the head of the Gunpowder Bureau, has been extremely busy recently.

He would rush to the Gunpowder Department before dawn every day and would not return to his mansion until late at night, dragging his exhausted body.

That day, as soon as he stepped into the gate of the Gunpowder Department, a group of craftsmen surrounded him.

"Boss, we have been working day and night these days, but the supply of raw materials is really not enough."

The older craftsman said worriedly.

Li Xu frowned and said, "I know about this matter and have petitioned the court many times, begging for an increase in the supply of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal. However, these materials are now under the exclusive control of the court, and it is not easy to allocate them. You guys try your best to support them first, and I will go and urge them."

After sending the craftsmen away, Li Xu rushed to the Secretariat without stopping.

In the Shangshu Province office, he met the Shangshu Lang who was in charge of material allocation.

"Shangshulang, the Gunpowder Bureau is in urgent need of raw materials for making Thunderbolt Fire. Shangshulang, can you please speed up the supply?" Li Xu asked anxiously.

Shang Shulang looked helpless and sighed, "Master Li, do you think I'm not in a hurry? But now all places are preparing for war, and the demand for these materials is huge. And there are often changes during transportation, either the road is washed away by rain or it is robbed by bandits. I have tried my best to coordinate, but I am really powerless."

Li Xu's heart sank, but he still did not give up: "Shangshulang, this Thunderbolt Fire is a key weapon in the confrontation between the court and the crown prince. If the manufacturing progress is delayed due to insufficient supply of raw materials, none of us can afford it. Shangshulang, think of a way to see if you can allocate some from other places, or give priority to the needs of the Gunpowder Bureau."

Zhang Shangshulang pondered for a moment and said, "In that case, I will negotiate with other government offices to see if we can transfer some of them here. But this is only a temporary solution. In the long run, we have to find a way to solve the transportation problem."

After leaving the Secretariat, Li Xu's mood did not improve.

Even if Zhang Shangshulang agreed to coordinate supplies, it would only temporarily alleviate the urgent need.
-
Inside the Luoyang Palace, Li Chengqian was discussing military deployment with Su Dingfang in the study when a messenger hurried in, knelt on one knee, and presented a secret letter.

Li Chengqian unfolded the secret letter, glanced at it, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and then gently placed the secret letter on the table, without any panic on his face.

The secret letter clearly stated that the person who created Thunderbolt Fire was Li Chunfeng.

Li Chengqian was quite satisfied with this.

He found it strange that the imperial court had been busy for so long but still hadn't been able to produce simple black gunpowder.

After all, from Li Chengqian's point of view, black gunpowder is not difficult.

It's just a matter of power.

Historically, although the development of gunpowder was not taken seriously in the middle and late Tang Dynasty, its development speed was extremely rapid.

It was not until the Song and Yuan dynasties that it developed rapidly due to wars and reached its peak in the early Ming Dynasty.

"General Su, the imperial court has already developed the Thunderbolt, and is now rushing to manufacture it in order to counter our artillery."

Li Chengqian spoke in a relaxed tone, as if he was talking about something insignificant.

Su Dingfang took the secret letter, glanced through it quickly, frowned, and said, "Your Highness, although the Thunderbolt is different from our artillery, its power should not be underestimated. I'm afraid that this move by the court will hinder our army's subsequent actions."

Li Chengqian stood up, walked with his hands behind his back, and laughed loudly: "General Su, don't boost others' ambitions and destroy your own prestige. So what if the court has Thunderbolt Fire? How can our army's artillery be easily surpassed?"

Su Dingfang clasped his fists and said, "Only by knowing ourselves and the enemy can we fight a hundred battles without danger. Our army still needs to understand the specific situation of the imperial court's thunderbolts, such as their power, quantity, and deployment location."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly and said, "I have already made arrangements for this matter. Detailed intelligence will be received in a few days. General Su, in your opinion, how should our army deal with this new variable?"

Su Dingfang pondered for a moment, clasped his fists and said, "Your Highness, if we consider it from a tactical perspective, first, the imperial court's Thunderbolt has just been successfully developed, and their soldiers may not be proficient in using it. Our army can take this opportunity to take the initiative to attack and disrupt their deployment. Second, our army has an advantage in the number of artillery, so we can use concentrated firepower and focus on breakthroughs. Choose the weak point of the imperial court's defense line, use our army's artillery to attack with all our strength, tear open their defense line, and then quickly follow up with elite cavalry to expand the results of the battle."

Li Chengqian heard this and a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes. He said, "General Su's words are exactly what I want. Our army's artillery is already very powerful, and our soldiers are willing to sacrifice their lives. How could they be afraid of the court's newly created Thunderbolt?"

Su Dingfang said: "Your Highness, I heard that Liaodong is rich in minerals, and saltpeter, sulfur and other raw materials for making ammunition may be produced. Our army can send people to Liaodong to increase the mining efforts of these raw materials and ensure that the raw materials can be delivered to Luoyang in time."

Li Chengqian laughed and said, "General Su and I have the same idea. I have already asked someone to take care of this matter. I believe that the supply of raw materials will be greatly improved in the near future."

"By the way, what are the recent movements of the Five Surnames and Seven Families? I heard that they are colluding with Li Tai and intend to obtain the formula of Thunderbolt Fire."

Su Dingfang clasped his fists and said, "Your Highness, the Five Surnames and Seven Families are intertwined and their intentions are hard to predict. According to spies, Cui Shengyu went to the Prince of Wei's mansion and had a secret talk with Li Tai. As for whether they have reached a deal, it is still unknown."

Li Chengqian snorted coldly, a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes, and said: "If the Five Surnames and Seven Families really colluded with Li Tai, obtained the formula of Thunderbolt Fire, and made Thunderbolt Fire, what can we do? If they dare to act rashly, I will make sure they have no way back. General Su, do you have a plan to deal with it?"

Su Dingfang said, "Your Highness, if the Five Surnames and Seven Nobles are involved in this matter, our army can take action from two aspects. First, we can secretly sabotage their efforts to manufacture Thunderbolt Fire, destroy their workshops, and cut off their supply of raw materials. On the other hand, we can use the delicate relationship between the Five Surnames and Seven Nobles and the court to spread the news, let the court know their plot, and arouse the court's suspicion of the Five Surnames and Seven Nobles, causing conflicts among them and making them unable to take care of our army."

"If His Majesty learns of this news, he will be furious at the Five Families and Seven Noble Houses and the King of Wei."

At this time, another messenger came in and reported: "Your Highness, there is news from the front that the court has sent more troops to Tongguan, Hulaoguan and other places, and it seems that they are preparing for war."

Li Chengqian looked calm, with a smile on his face, and said, "The court is panicking and wants to use checkpoints to block our army's westward advance. General Su, these checkpoints are strategically located and are easy to defend but difficult to attack. If our army attacks by force, it will probably pay a heavy price."

Su Dingfang said: "Your Highness, a strong attack is not a good strategy. Our army can try to bypass the frontal checkpoint and find other ways to bypass the defense line. We can send a small force to harass near the checkpoint to disperse the court's troops and create opportunities for our main force."

Li Chengqian shook his head slightly and said with a smile: "General Su, although the roundabout tactics are good, they are difficult to implement, and the logistical supply is difficult to guarantee. I have a plan that can break this situation."

A hint of curiosity flashed across Su Dingfang's eyes, and he clasped his fists and said, "I'd like to hear your opinion, Your Highness."

Li Chengqian walked to the map, tapped it lightly with his finger, and said, "The court's heavy troops are gathered at Tongguan and Hulaoguan, and their rear must be empty. Our army can pretend to advance westward to attract the court's main force, but secretly send elite troops to raid the important town behind them and cut off their food and grass supplies. Once the court's army loses its supplies, the morale of the army will be in chaos. At that time, our army will attack head-on and will be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Su Dingfang heard this and his eyes were full of admiration. He praised: "Your Highness, this is a brilliant plan. I admire it. In this way, even if the court has thunderbolts, it will be difficult to resist our army's attack."

Li Chengqian said confidently: "I have been planning for a long time. How can I lose my balance just because there is a new Thunderbolt in the court? General Su, you should start preparing immediately, select the best troops, and formulate a detailed battle plan. You must make sure to hit the target with one strike."

Su Dingfang took the order and began to prepare for military action. Li Chengqian continued to handle various affairs in the palace of Luoyang calmly, victory was already in his grasp.

In the following days, Luoyang City was bustling with activity.

Craftsmen worked day and night to produce more artillery and ammunition, and the soldiers stepped up their training.

Li Chengqian often visited the military camps to inspect and boost morale.

It won't be long before a big war breaks out.

The war between the Human Torch and the Artillery.

(End of this chapter)