"No, one jin is enough!"
"Yes!"
Although he didn't know what Han Mo was trying to do, Li Zong gave an order. Soon, a nimble servant brought a one-jin package of gunpowder and cautiously placed it on a large rock about fifty paces away.
"Sir, all these remaining large rocks are for experiments. They have been pre-drilled, and the gunpowder will be inserted directly into the holes before ignition!"
As his subordinates made preparations, Li Zong began to briefly introduce the planned procedure to Han Mo.
"If you are ready, start the ignition!"
"Ignite!"
At Li Zong's command, the craftsman responsible for ignition lit the fuse and immediately fled back desperately.
With a deafening roar, a fireball suddenly rose into the night sky. Immediately after, the strong smell of gunpowder drifted into Han Mo's nostrils with the night breeze.
"Let's go take a look!"
"Yes!"
Hearing Han Mo's instruction, Li Zong quickly took a torch from a subordinate and followed Han Mo to the spot where the gunpowder had been placed.
"It looks like the effect is decent, but it would be better if it were stronger!"
Zong Ying said with some disappointment, looking at the large pit blasted into the boulder.
"Bring another packet of gunpowder. Measure out eight qian of one-jin gunpowder, mix it in, and try again!"
As Han Mo spoke, he handed the box he had brought to Li Zong.
"What is this?"
Opening the box and smelling the enticing sweet fragrance, Li Zong asked curiously.
"What it is doesn't matter. I just want to know the effect after adding this."
Given the current level of scientific technology, it was difficult for Han Mo to explain what effect this would have. Fortunately, his current status was high enough that he could speak directly and imperiously.
"Yes!"
Hearing the somewhat stern tone of Han Mo, Li Zong dared not ask further. He took the box with both hands and then took another packet of gunpowder from his subordinate.
After instructing the soldier holding the torch to move further away, he took a small scale and carefully measured out eight qian of white sugar, then added it directly to the gunpowder packet as Han Mo had instructed.
Using a small wooden stick, he stirred everything thoroughly before sealing the packet again.
"Sir, we should return to a safe position first."
Seeing that his subordinate had finished re-installing the packet, Li Zong pointed to their prepared observation spot in the distance again.
"Mm!"
A wealthy man does not stand under a dangerous eave. Han Mo generally agreed to such safety-conscious requests.
After they had retreated to a safe location, the craftsman responsible for ignition lit the fuse in his hand.
"Why hasn't it exploded yet? Could it be that the fuse wasn't inserted properly?"
After waiting for more than ten breaths, looking at the dark night sky ahead, Li Zong immediately turned his head, preparing to go and investigate what was happening.
"Don't move!"
"Boom—"
Han Mo had only spoken half of his sentence when a sound like muffled thunder suddenly erupted from afar. Without even needing to check the situation, Li Zong could tell from the sound alone that the power of this thing was definitely more than twice as strong as before!
"S-sir, what exactly was in there?"
After exhaling a long breath, Li Zong couldn't help but feel a sense of lingering fear.
If Han Mo hadn't stopped him just now and let him go forward to check, he might have been blown away himself...
"Let's go, we'll take a look first!"
Compared to the shocked Zong Ying, Han Mo was clearly much calmer, as the increase in power was within his expectations.
"Right! Exactly!"
Snatching a torch, Li Zong tremblingly followed Han Mo to the spot where the gunpowder had been placed.
During the first explosion, only about one-eighth of the boulder was blown away. However, the second explosion had actually blown away more than half of that boulder!
Looking at the remaining half of the bluestone in front of him, Li Zong's jaw almost dropped to the ground...
"Have your men continue the experiments, gradually increasing the dosage. I want to know how much the power of this thing can be increased at its maximum."
After exhaling a long breath, Han Mo looked at Li Zong again.
"Don't worry, sir, I'll handle this personally!"
Hearing Han Mo assign him this task, Li Zong immediately became excited.
As an ardent enthusiast of military equipment, no one understood what an increase in power meant better than he did!
This thing, when used for attacking cities and capturing fortresses, was simply invincible. With the court currently engaged in military campaigns, if they could come up with a formula for this more powerful gunpowder, the combat effectiveness of the Song army would undoubtedly reach a new level!
"The pace can be a bit slower, but there is one thing you must guarantee for me. All those involved in this experiment, including yourself, must not leak even a single detail of the experiment! You should know better than I do what it means if this thing falls into the hands of the Jin people!"
Although Han Mo had an eight-tenths trust in Li Zong, the impact of this matter was too great, and Han Mo had to remind him again.
"Don't worry, sir, I understand! Starting today, these people will eat and live at the testing ground. I will personally arrange for people to take care of their daily needs. Without your order, they will not have any contact with outsiders!"
Thinking of the terrible consequences if these things were controlled by the Jin people, Li Zong shivered all over.
The Song army's advantage compared to the Jin army was primarily in defending cities. If they fought in the open field, the Song army's chances of victory would be at most thirty percent.
After all, the vast majority of the Jin army was cavalry. Cavalry fighting infantry, if they didn't make any fatal mistakes themselves, it would be difficult for the Song army to do anything about them...
If they mastered this thing, then what city in this world could still be defended?
"It's good that you have this in mind. I'll leave things here to you. When you have results, send someone to the yamen to find me immediately!"
"Yes!"
After responding, Li Zong immediately led his men into intense research, while Han Mo and Zong Ying returned to their carriage.
"Do you still think this thing is ordinary now?"