In the backyard of Emperor Wei's palace!
The originally beautiful backyard was almost destroyed in an instant. In the huge open space, a huge hot air balloon was slowly rising.
A huge basket was hanging below the hot air balloon. In the basket, a charcoal furnace was burning fiercely, emitting waves of heat, causing the hot air balloon to constantly sway. If not for the basket being filled with heavy objects, it would have already soared into the sky.
Beside the basket, Lu Ding was busy checking the operation of the hot air balloon. Seeing that Li Tai was leading Li Shimin and the others here, he quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty!"
"No need for formalities!" Li Shimin waved his hand.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Lu Ding stood up and respectfully waited at the side.
Li Shimin looked up and observed the hot air balloon in the sky. He found that this hot air balloon was much bigger and more exquisite than when it first appeared in Chang 'an City.
"This thing can really carry people to the sky!" Li Shimin asked eagerly.
Lu Ding nodded and said, "It is all thanks to Your Majesty's trust. After two years, I finally succeeded in developing it. I have tested it many times in the valley. It can carry hundreds of kilograms of heavy objects into the sky, and all the living creatures used have survived."
Meton frowned and said, "Today, our goal is the clouds in the sky. It is not as simple as just lifting them into the sky. I am afraid that a charcoal furnace alone can't do it!"
He knew that the clouds were at least six hundred meters above the ground. A charcoal furnace alone would not be able to make the hot air balloon reach such a high position.
"Marquis Merton has sharp eyes! It is indeed difficult to achieve with a charcoal furnace alone. However, after I discovered Merton's secret wine-making technique, I refined the purest wine. It is extremely effective to assist the charcoal furnace! " Lu Ding said. He walked to the basket and pressed a mechanism. Suddenly, a tongue of flame suddenly spewed out from the bottom of the hot air balloon. The intense heat caused the hot air balloon to suddenly rise. Even with the heavy sandbags, it was still slightly off the ground.
"Master Craftsman Lu is really amazing. I admire you!" Meton couldn't help but admire Lu Ding's ingenuity. He had actually replaced gasoline and liquefied gas commonly used in hot air balloons with very high purity alcohol.
"In that case, Mo Jiu also approves of Master Craftsman Lu's hot air balloon!" Wei Zheng asked curiously.
Meton nodded solemnly and said, "This is indeed the best and most advanced hot air balloon at present. Even the Mo Family Village can't make it better."
Lu Ding's face immediately showed a trace of excitement. Being able to get Mo Jiazi's recognition was the greatest honor for a craftsman in the Tang dynasty.
"With Mo Jiu's approval, I am looking forward to today's trip!" Li Tai said loudly. The main reason he invited Meton here today was to check it out. Now that Meton also approved of the hot air balloon, he was immediately full of confidence.
Lu Ding looked up at the sky and felt the imperceptible wind. He nodded solemnly and said, "Replying to Your Highness, there is no wind today and it is cloudy. This is the best time to test the flight."
"Is this thing safe?" Li Shimin frowned and said. Everyone dreamed of flying, but when faced with the unknown sky, how many people wouldn't hesitate in their hearts?
Lu Ding said solemnly, "I don't know what is in the sky, but I have tested it many times with living creatures. All of them landed safely. As for carrying people, this is the first time. If you feel uncomfortable, you can reduce the valve and the hot air balloon will naturally descend slowly. In addition, I also made a safety measure, a parachute.
Back when we were making the hot air balloon, Marquis Mo had mentioned that if the hot air balloon encountered danger in the air and fell from a high altitude, we could use a parachute to escape. After two years, this humble one has successfully made a parachute. "
"A parachute?" Meton was stunned. At this time, he realized that he had truly underestimated Lu Ding. He had only casually mentioned the idea of a parachute. He didn't expect that Lu Ding would actually be able to make one.
When the ministers understood the effects and principles of a parachute, they came to a realization. No one had thought that there would be such a method to escape from high altitudes. With this layer of protection, the risk of riding the hot air balloon would be slightly reduced.
"Today, I am willing to take the risk and personally ride the hot air balloon to explore the clouds!" Li Tai took a deep breath and said with a burning gaze.
"You can't! His Highness Emperor Wei's body is precious. How can you take the risk? "The ministers hurriedly dissuaded him.
"The sky is an unknown place. The risk is unpredictable. If the wind suddenly blows, wouldn't it be dangerous?" Wei Zheng reprimanded.
Li Tai firmly said, "The Annals of Heaven and Earth was written by I. Who else but me can prove that the clouds are the cause of rain?"
Emperor Wei waved his hand. "A gentleman does not stand under a collapsing wall. Why don't you find someone else to test the clouds? When there is a great reward, there will always be brave men. Emperor Wei, there is no need to take the risk."
"That's right! That's how it should be! "The ministers all tried to persuade him.
"Why don't you let this brat do it?" Suddenly, a voice rang out, causing everyone to fall silent.
"Mo Jiazi!"
Everyone turned around and immediately focused their gazes on Meton.
Meton sighed. "This brat was the one who suggested the hot air balloon, and the method of making wine to test the rain also came from this brat. I'm afraid that there is no one more suitable than this brat."
The ministers fell silent. Although they normally didn't like Mo Jiazi, when they saw Meton take the initiative to step forward, they couldn't help but feel troubled.
"Brat Mo, I believe that you understand the risks better than anyone else." Emperor Wei looked at Merton with an inexplicable gaze.
Meton proudly said, "When the Mo Family's ancestors traveled through the Far West, the risks they faced were far greater than this. Riding the hot air balloon once to test the secrets of the clouds, in this brat's opinion, this is already the most cost-effective thing in the world."
It wasn't that Meton was in the limelight, but that Meton, who came from the future, understood that although the hot air balloon had its risks, Lu Ding had already done everything he could to reduce the risks to the minimum. Moreover, he was the one who started this matter, so he naturally had to clean it up. No matter how difficult it was, he had to overcome the fear in his heart and ride the hot air balloon.
At that moment, Meton took a deep breath and smiled. "Moreover, to be able to become the first person to ascend to the heavens, how could this brat refuse such a good thing?
"The first person to ascend to the heavens!"
When Li Tai heard this, he couldn't help but feel a burst of regret. He hurriedly said, "The space in this hanging basket is big enough, let I accompany you!"
Meton looked at Li Tai's round body and attacked him. "You're too heavy!"
Since the entire imperial court had already dissuaded Li Tai, Meton naturally wouldn't let Li Tai take any more risks.
Li Tai looked at his own body that was close to two hundred jin and was immediately dumbfounded. He could only watch as Meton walked towards the hanging basket.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this old servant's body is light. How about letting this old servant accompany Merton!" Pande suddenly said.
"Permitted!" Li Shimin nodded.
The theory of immortals was extremely popular in the Tang dynasty. This time, they had ascended to the sky above the clouds to see what was in the sky. Of course, Li Shimin wouldn't go himself. He could only send his most trusted aide, Pande, to accompany him. Only then would he be satisfied.
"Mo Jiu, you won't think this old servant is a burden, right?" Pande looked at Meton with a smile, but his words didn't have the slightest intention of letting Meton refuse.
Meton looked at Pande who was as thin as firewood and couldn't help but laugh dryly. "With Eunuch Pande accompanying me, this brat naturally can't ask for anything more. With someone accompanying me along the way, this brat will also be less bored."
The two of them boarded the hanging basket. Lu Ding immediately went forward and told them what to pay attention to. After the preparations were completed, the sandbags in the hanging basket were thrown to the ground one by one. The steaming hot air in the charcoal furnace immediately made the two of them feel a huge pulling force.
Everything was ready. They only needed to wait for the order, and the hot air balloon would rise into the sky.
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