Yuan Tiangang, you damned...
When one is at home, disaster strikes from the sky. This is the second time I've been here, and it's all your fault!
Am I the one who's messing with you?!
In the courtyard, Chai Shao sparred with Yuan Tiangang, all the while spewing curses.
He shuddered at the memory of what happened that morning, feeling a chill between his legs. If it had been even slightly off, he would have bid farewell to his happiness for the rest of his life.
Duke of Qiao, do not push your luck!
Do you really think I, a mere Daoist priest, am afraid of you?!
Yuan Tiangang was utterly bewildered, completely unaware of what was happening. He had been parrying and dodging, but gradually, Chai Shao's relentless attacks ignited his temper.
Although I am a recluse, abiding by the law and not transgressing it, why must I be treated like a grandson and beaten from all sides!
Having dealt with gunpowder daily, I find myself drawn to things that explode at the slightest spark.
Unconsciously, my temperament has also become somewhat fiery.
Seeing Chai Shao still refusing to let up, and after parrying another punch aimed at his face, Yuan Tiangang reached into his robe. When he withdrew his hand, five black spheres were held between his fingers.
Thunderous Doom!
With a fierce shout, he stomped his foot, retreating several steps. Then, those five black spheres hurtled towards Chai Shao.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!
After a series of explosions, Yuan Tiangang stood in place, stroking his beard, with an air of celestial grace as he gazed at Chai Shao, who was enveloped in smoke.
This scene was witnessed by the three people emerging from the house.
Li Ji and Li Xiaogong exchanged glances. Old Yuan is truly formidable!
As for Fang Er, he instantly lost his composure. Damn it, I searched the house just now and forgot to search Yuan Tiangang!
This old Yuan actually hid contraband!
As the smoke cleared, a dishevelled Chai Shao appeared before everyone.
His hair and beard were in disarray, his face as black as if he had just emerged from a coal mine. His clothes had several new holes in them. He was a picture of misery!
Yuan Tiangang! I'll... you...
As Chai Shao spoke, a puff of white smoke drifted from his mouth.
This scene was absolutely priceless!
Stop your nonsense. I, this Daoist priest, will ask you one thing: are you going to fight or not?
Yuan Tiangang placed one hand on his hip, his right index finger pointing at Chai Shao as he roared.
He had deliberately controlled the landing spots of those five palm thunderbolts, keeping them at a distance from Chai Shao.
This was already a display of restraint; otherwise, Chai Shao would not have been able to stand here in one piece.
A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! Stop fighting quickly!
Fang Er, seeing this, rushed between the two, smiling at them.
He didn't know if it was a misunderstanding, and he hadn't even figured out why Chai Shao had attacked in the first place.
Old Chai's eyes were red with a sense of injustice.
This scoundrel! Fighting privately, he actually brought out such a deadly weapon. Shameless!
What misunderstanding! Last time, it caused me to have my hands bandaged for half a month.
This time, he almost crippled my... I won't let him get away with this! Move aside, and see if I dare to blow him away with one shot!
Crippled his what?
His what?
Fang Er was even more confused. Why had this old fellow's speech become so unintelligible?
Li Ji, standing nearby, was suddenly aghast. Old Chai had actually drawn the handgun from his waist. He quickly rushed forward and held his arm.
No, no, no, don't be like this! There's no need to resort to weapons!
An Zhi, quickly, open that package on the ground, and you'll know why.
Fang Er finally noticed the object Chai Shao had thrown to the ground earlier. He walked over and opened it, finding with astonishment that it was the outer casing of the model.
Recalling Chai Shao's earlier words, he suddenly froze.
Could it be... did it hit him again?
No wonder he said earlier, "When one is at home, disaster strikes from the sky." So it turns out he received another delivery!
No, the way he was speaking earlier, twisting his words, it seemed to have hit his... private parts?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but cast a curious glance at Chai Shao's lower half.
This one glance made Chai Shao leap up and curse Fang Er, pointing at his nose.
You little brat, where are you looking! I'm not crippled yet!
Kill! Kill them for朕!
You dare to seek revenge on朕! Come, I can destroy you once, and I can destroy you twice!
The people in the courtyard paused for a moment and quickly ran into the house.
Even Chai Shao and Yuan Tiangang followed behind.
As everyone entered the room, they saw Sun Simiao re-inserting silver needles into Li Shimin. Old Li was covered in sweat, as if he had just been fished out of a water vat.
Fang Er was startled by this sight and asked Sun Simiao, "Elder Sun, what happened?"
Old Sun, without looking up, finished inserting the needles and began massaging the acupoints on Li Shimin's head.
Yang deficiency, weak spirit, spirit unsettled, nightmares only, no harm. You should all go about your business; with this old Daoist priest here, no trouble will arise.
This means he has neurasthenia, right?
It seems there is such a record in history. Li Shimin, due to his excessive killing in the past, had nightmares for a period after ascending to the throne. It was only when Qin Qiong and Yuchi Jingde guarded the door fully armed that he was able to sleep soundly.
This is also the origin of their revered status as door gods.
Let's observe for now. If it doesn't work, we'll send Zhang Tianfei to southern Yue and Mo Bei to bring back the two door gods to help stabilize the situation.
Since Sun Simiao said so, Fang Er and the others, who knew nothing of medicine, had no choice but to leave together.
Yuan Tiangang was also pulled along, and they left Wentian Temple.
When they reached the workshed, Zhao Gang and the others were still pondering how to make the projectile meet the requirements. As for the mold for the propellant charge, it had already been made.
A steel tube one meter and five long, with a five-centimeter diameter plum-shaped steel core inside, the entire thing was detachable.
A full twenty sets of molds were neatly arranged in a corner of the workshed.
Taking these molds, the group left the Duke's mansion.
The gunpowder that Wang Xuance and the others had carried out was piled not far from the mansion, guarded by special forces members.
They had people go back to get glutinous rice juice and egg whites as binders. Barrels of gunpowder were mixed into a mud-like paste and then poured into the molds for shaping.
After drying, the propellant charges still needed to be trimmed.
Strictly speaking, for mere rocket shells, this trimming step could be omitted; those cast in one piece would suffice.
However, considering future aerospace rockets, it was better to train more craftsmen.
After all, practice is the best teacher.
Only by encountering problems in practice can they leave a sufficiently deep impression in one's memory.
ps: First update. Another chapter will be released tomorrow at noon. Good night, everyone, sleep well. Please also consider leaving a "for love" donation and a催更. Thank you.