The internet was disconnected last night. He just called and it connected.
A loud and clear sound lingered in Ji Hao's ears, as a human-shaped target about one hundred and thirty steps away had a large hole in its arm.
Li Longji picked up the binoculars and looked at it. He shook his head regretfully and said to Gao Lishi who was standing beside him, "It can shoot farther and harder than a pistol. It takes longer than a bow to find the target, aim, shoot, reload, and reload. What do you think?"
Gao Lishi also had a gun in his hand. After aiming for a while, he didn't dare to shoot because the wind was strong. He was afraid that he would shoot too far away from the target and make the emperor think that he was going easy on him. He was also afraid that he would accidentally shoot the head of the target.
Hearing the Emperor's voice, Ling Zhi lowered the muzzle of the gun and finally shot between the target's legs, piercing through the wooden planks used to block the target's back. He secretly sighed in relief and replied,
This gun has a longer range than a bow and arrow. Moreover, it is easier to carry the bullets. It is more accurate than a bow and arrow in strong winds. I think we should make more and equip more troops. "
Li Longji nodded slightly and reloaded his gun. This time, he didn't really aim and just casually fired based on his feelings. He actually hit the target's neck. Picking up the binoculars, he looked at the hole in the target's neck and nodded with satisfaction.
"This is also a skilled job. This time, Xiao Bao wants to show it to Mo Jilian and Zu Zazan. I wonder if they will be on guard and find a way to deal with the new weapon?"
"Your Majesty, if not, when can we pacify the surrounding small countries? According to Xiao Bao, the world is big. There should be a result. What is more important is the etiquette of Zu Zazan and Chi De when they meet Your Majesty. Does Your Majesty really want to be on equal footing with them? "
Gao Lishi didn't mention how to prevent the other party from finding a way to deal with the new weapon because he still had more powerful weapons that he didn't take out. He planned to use them in the sword competition. At this time, the most important thing was to see the etiquette of the Tubo and Turkic monarchs.
Li Longji also knew that he couldn't treat the Tubo and Turkic monarchs like how he treated the Khitans. Seeing that the monarchs of the two countries were coming, face was very important.
He said to Gao Lishi, "Order the Ministry of Rites to come up with a few plans. When the two of them arrive, we will act according to plan."
*****
On the way, Zuzan Chide was also considering this matter. He wasn't willing to bow to Li Longji when they arrived at the Great Tang's capital. He wanted to be neither servile nor overbearing so as not to throw the face of Tubo. Otherwise, if they really fought in the future, their morale would be gone. Although the soldiers didn't have much morale when they heard that Wang Juan was in charge, they still didn't have much morale.
The conditions of the accommodation last night were not bad, but the reception was not good. The imperial court in the capital did not send extra people over, nor did they send a guard of honor to receive them. There were no officials from the Ministry of Rites, but it could not be said that there were no officials. There were nine, appointed at the last minute. Zhang Xiaobei and the others were one of them.
"Zan-Pu, shouldn't we protest to the Great Tang Imperial Court? They dared to disrespect us and didn't even send officials from the Bureau of Rites. They clearly look down on us."
Just as Zu Zan was about to leave and get on the carriage, a palace official beside him voiced his dissatisfaction.
"Assistant Minister Zhang and the other nine are not officials from the Ministry of Rites? Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan sent their younger siblings to greet us. How are they looking down on us? Could it be that their status is not high enough? "
Zu Zan really wanted to protest to the palace officials, but he didn't dare to do so. If he really protested, it wouldn't be the Great Tang looking down on Tubo. It would be Tubo looking down on Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan. These two were like lunatics, capable of doing anything. If they were unhappy, they might not go to the capital and turn around to lead their troops back to Tubo.
En, all of these could happen.
The Tubo officials who followed them only mentioned a few words to express their stand. If they really wanted him to protest, he wouldn't dare to do so. He bowed to Zu Zan and started a new day's journey.
Xiaobei was still acting as a tour guide, answering the questions of the Tubo guests at any time and place. He was very familiar with this. This was how a diplomatic talent was like.
The curtains of the car window were raised. As the group walked along the river, they could see the beautiful scenery. Princess Jincheng had a good sleep yesterday. She dreamt of herself before she got married. She dreamt of catching butterflies with the company of palace maids when she was young. When she woke up, her eyes were filled with tears.
Now that she was sitting in the carriage, looking at the floating clouds in the sky through the window, she felt a little absent-minded. She stared at a large courtyard and saw people busily walking in and out. Her eyes were in a daze.
Xiaobei was still inexperienced and thought that Princess Jincheng was curious about that place. He introduced it to her, "Princess Aunt, that place is a cooked food processing factory. It's the smoked pig trotters and pickled mutton. When it's done, it will be sent to some places in the county. I haven't tried it before, so I think the taste is ordinary.
In a while, when it's close to noon, you can go to Zhuangzi. You can taste the authentic and delicious smoked chicken there. The scenery there is better than here. Brother said that he has arranged a very interesting entertainment program for you, but don't go to the Heavenly World there to play. It's not interesting at all. Sister said that it's specially prepared for those who are looking for trouble. "
"Oh? What kind of place is that? "Princess Jincheng was awakened by Xiaobei's words and asked curiously.
"It's just for fun. Yesterday was sad, today was sad, and tomorrow was sad. There's also Sister's poem. Xiaoyuan, Xiaoyuan, come here. What's with the Heavenly World? You don't have to come up. Quickly tell me."
When Xiaobei was introducing it, she was worried. She didn't remember what Wang Juan wrote and shouted out the window. She called Xiaoyuan over but didn't let her get in the carriage.
Xiaoyuan angrily glared at Xiaobei and recited, "Outside the curtain, the rain is murmuring, the spring is waning. Luo Qin can't stand the cold. In the dream, he doesn't know he's a guest, he indulges in pleasure.
Alone, he doesn't lean on the railings, he passes the mountains without limit. It's easy to leave, but difficult to see. The flowing water falls, the flowers go, the Heavenly World. "
After reciting it, he didn't wait for Xiaobei to catch him. He ran to the back of the carriage and sat down. He swung his legs and looked at the flowing water. He really looked like a scholar.
"That's right. In the dream, he doesn't know he's a guest, he doesn't know." Princess Jincheng heard a similar feeling and sighed helplessly. She didn't know what to think, but her eyes became confused again.
Zu Zan was very surprised. He didn't expect that such a sentence would come from Wang Juan's mouth. He thought that she would kill people. He suddenly thought of something and asked Xiaobei, "Since it's cooking, it's natural to use fire. Why can't we see a lot of smoke?"
Zhang Xiaobao was trying to eat the ginger that she didn't like. She didn't sleep well last night and caught a cold. When she heard Zu Zan's question, she swallowed the ginger in her mouth and frowned. It wasn't clear whether it was because it was spicy or because she didn't like the ginger. She explained.
"Without firewood and coal, there's naturally no smoke. There are a lot of people working there. Also, they collect all kinds of feces and other things from the surroundings to make a methane pool. It's just enough to make a fire for cooking.
Not only do workshops use it, but many people also use it. Now that it's cold, the methane pool produces less methane. If it's summer, there will be countless flames swaying at night on both sides of the river to light up people who come out to play at night. "
When Xiaobei said this, Zu Zan remembered that there was such a piece of information. Many places in the Tang Empire, especially the places south of the Yellow River, used methane. It was a very magical thing. Unfortunately, there was no cement.
Even if they found a pond and inserted a bamboo pipe to produce methane, it wouldn't be safe to use it. The Tang Empire didn't sell cement. It was hard to imagine.
As they walked, they talked. When Xiaobei's mouth was dry and she regretted being a tour guide, the group finally arrived at Tuqiao Village.
Under the clear sky, the Ge Family's Zhuangzi and the Wang Family's Zhuangzi came into view first. Further away, there was a hazy fog.
There were small bridges and flowing water, winding corridors, green mountains, smoky buildings, clear sounds of books, and the sound of birds chirping. It was simply a paradise on earth.
Those who had never been here before felt like they were in a dream.
"Aunt Princess, this is my home. Actually, I haven't been here many times, but I feel that it's very good. In a while, let's go to Between the Clouds and the Water in front to eat. It's the flagship store Between the Clouds and the Water."
Xiaobei's voice woke up Princess Jincheng who was immersed in the dream-like scenery. She pointed to the foggy area in front and asked curiously, "Why is there fog there?"
Zu Zan also looked like he was waiting for Xiaobei to explain.
"There are many ways. You can use ice, you can boil water, and there's also a special water sprayer. It's very expensive. Brother and sister said that there's another way, which is to use pressure. They can't do it yet, and they don't know how to do it either. Then, there will be fog. You can even make it rain as long as there are clouds."
Xiaobei was counting his fingers as he spoke. It seemed like he was trying to calculate how much a day of fog would cost, but in the end, he couldn't do it.
Zu Zan believed the first part of the words, but he snorted at the latter part. Make it rain? Did he really think that he was a god?
However, he didn't have any objections to going to Between the Clouds and the Water to eat. It was said that Between the Clouds and the Water in Sanshui County was the best. He finally had a chance to see if it was better than his own palace.
Just as everyone wanted to enter Between the Clouds and the Water to take a look, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan came over and invited everyone to play in the mountains for two hours. When they came back, they could eat more. They said that there was hunting for entertainment.
They also told Zu Zan that Mo Jilian had also come for two days to participate.
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