Back mountain of Xuandu Temple, Firearms Supervisor!
Meton received Li Shimin's order and did not dare to delay. He immediately took up the post.
"Merton!" Yuwen Bo respectfully said.
This time, the Ink Technique Exhibition really opened Yuwen Bo's eyes. Yuwen Bo was also from a family of craftsmen, and his family's knowledge was profound. He thought that he wouldn't lose to anyone in the craftsmen's field. But after seeing Morton's amazing skills, he suddenly realized that there was always someone better than him.
Ordinary carpenters only boasted about their skills. The Yuwen family was even better at building Chang 'an City. However, compared to the Mo family, the Yuwen family's structure and skills were worlds apart.
Meton nodded and asked, "How is the Firearms Supervisor project going?"
Yuwen Bo respectfully said, "Merton, it is all thanks to the help of the Mo family. Now the Firearms Supervisor is almost finished. We are just waiting for Merton to check it out."
Moton nodded. Even with the Mohist family's machinery and the imperial court's generous support, Yuwen Bo's contribution to the Firearms Directorate being able to take shape in the past month was undeniable.
Meton stepped into the Firearms Supervisor and saw that the newly built Firearms Supervisor was unusually empty. The floor was covered with red bricks. All the buildings were made of bricks and tiles. Other than the necessary beams, there was very little wood. This was a lesson learned from the last explosion.
"Master Yuwen, you have done a great job this time. Leave the rest of the project to me. In the future, when the Firearms Supervisor is finished, I will submit a memorial to the imperial court. You will be credited." Meton saluted.
"Thank you!" Yuwen Bo was overjoyed. Naturally, he didn't think that Modun would be greedy for his contribution. Ever since Yuwen Kai passed away, the Yuwen Clan had been on the decline. With this contribution, perhaps the Yuwen Clan would be able to make a comeback.
Seeing Yuwen Bo leave, Meton stood at the door of the Firearms Supervisor. Looking at the empty Firearms Supervisor, his heart was suddenly filled with pride. This was a place that would change the world.
"Rumble!"
The sound of horse hooves galloping could be heard. A general was riding a tall horse. Behind him, more than a hundred soldiers were running in an orderly manner.
"Greetings, Merton!" The general dismounted from his horse and saluted Meton.
"So it was Xi Jun who bought it. What wind blew you here!"
Meton took a closer look and found that it was actually an old acquaintance, Xi Jun.
"Merton submitted a request to the court to strengthen the defense. His Majesty has ordered me to send over a hundred riders, a hundred and twenty, for Merton to command." Xi Junmai bowed.
"Hundred riders!" When Meton saw the elite soldiers behind him, he was immediately overjoyed. Li Shimin really valued gunpowder. Otherwise, he would not have ordered his trusted subordinates to guard the firearms.
"Xue Rengui, step forward!" Xi Junmai shouted.
Immediately, a tall and sturdy youth stepped forward and cupped his hands at Meton. "Xue Rengui greets Merton."
Meton's eyes widened. He had never imagined that the butterfly effect would appear right before his eyes. In history, Xue Rengui had only joined the army seven years later. From then on, he had soared into the heavens. Who would have thought that he would join the Hundred Riders in the eighth year of Zhenguan's reign?
However, Xue Rengui had a clean background and was born with divine strength. He had just turned twenty and was in the prime of his life. It was not impossible for him to join the Hundred Riders.
"Pass on His Majesty's decree! Starting today, Xue Rengui will lead these hundred and twenty guards to the firearms, "Xi Junmai shouted.
"As you command!" Xue Rengui bowed.
After giving his instructions, Xi Junmai left with his subordinates.
"I hope that General Xue will have a pleasant cooperation in the future!" Meton was inwardly excited. This was a legendary figure from the Three Arrows of Mt. Dingjun.
"This one is only a lowly lieutenant. I am not worthy of the title of general. In the future, I will follow Merton's orders." Xue Rengui hurriedly returned the greeting.
Meton was amazed by his reputation in the future, but Xue Rengui had also heard of Meton's great name. It was under this strange state of mind that the two of them completed their first meeting.
"Lieutenant Xue, please immediately seal off the firearms. From now on, all people and carriages entering and leaving the firearms will need my permission," Meton sternly said.
"As you command!"
Xue Rengui immediately accepted the order. With a wave of his hand, a hundred riders immediately stood guard at the gates of the firearms. At the same time, the riders were divided into several squads and continuously patrolled the firearms.
Soon after, the Ministry of Works' craftsmen were quickly verified and entered the firearms.
Meton let out a sigh of relief. Now that he had the firearms and craftsmen, everything was ready. He only needed to wait for the materials to be delivered. Then, the firearms could officially begin work.
"Congratulations, Merton. You are a new official!" The first to deliver the materials was the Xuandu Temple, which was the closest to the firearms. The person sent by the Xuandu Temple was Meton's old acquaintance, Chang Shengzi.
"It's Taoist Changsheng!" Meton hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.
"This is what Merton needs." Chang Shengzi stretched out his hand and pointed to the carriage behind him.
Meton's eyes lit up and he walked to the carriage. Chang Shengzi directly lifted the oilcloth on the carriage, revealing the pale yellow sulfur.
"According to Merton's request, all of it has been purified," Chang Shengzi said proudly.
Since he received Meton's guidance on refining enough gold, Chang Shengzi was now very proficient in the art of purification. In addition, the power of gunpowder was related to the purity of sulfur. What Meton asked was naturally the Taoist External Elixir Sect to purify the sulfur.
"Thank you for your hard work, Taoist Changsheng," Meton said with satisfaction.
The next delivery was charcoal. Zhang Mu brought five carriages full of high-purity charcoal made by the Mo Family's Village.
"Deng Chong of the Ice Reverence Department pays his respects to Merton," a eunuch saluted in a sharp voice.
Meton went up to him with a smile and said, "So it's Eunuch Deng!"
The Ice Reverence Department was a department in the palace that specialized in storing ice. Usually, they would dig up river ice and store it in winter. In summer, they would send ice to the various palaces. Their power was very small and their status was insignificant. If they did not manage it well, the palace would be short of ice and the nobles would inevitably be punished.
Since Meton invented saltpeter to make ice, the status of the Ice Reverence Department had soared, and they no longer had to worry about being punished. Meton had dealt with Deng Chong when he was making ice cream in the palace.
In fact, if Meton wanted saltpeter, he did not need to go through the palace. The Taoists also had a lot of saltpeter. However, gunpowder was of great importance. If there were no people in the palace, how could Li Shimin rest assured? Meton did this to avoid suspicion in the future.
"These are the saltpeter stored by the Ice Reverence Department. Mo Jiazi, please check them." Deng Chong waved his hand, and seven carriages of saltpeter suddenly appeared in front of Meton.
Meton nodded. The proportion of saltpeter in gunpowder was more than 70%, so it was the most used. Moreover, these saltpeter were all refined after being made into ice, so their purity was quite high.
After Meton checked them, he began to put them into the warehouse.
At this point, all the things Meton needed were here. As long as he gave the order, the firearms supervisor could officially operate.
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