In the end, Wu Chengsi's memorial was successfully passed, and Wu Zetian successfully won the ancestral temple and the title of king for her ancestors of the Wu family.

This is undoubtedly a very important step.

Because after taking this step, it means that it is not far from the final ascension, and all the civil and military officials of the court are mentally prepared for this.

Now, the only suspense is,

When will Wu Zetian take this final step?

Of course, everything has advantages and disadvantages. Establishing the Seven Temples of the Wu Family and appointing the kings of the Wu Family can certainly unite the hearts of the Wu Family, but in turn it will make the Li Family give up the final unrealistic fantasy.

A huge storm is brewing.

...

Autumn is coming soon.

In a blink of an eye, it was early winter in the first year of Civilization (the reign of Emperor Ruizong of Tang Dynasty).

After a heavy snow, the entire Guanzhong land was covered with silver and became particularly enchanting, but for the Guanzhong people who were short of food and clothing, suffering had just begun.

Especially the people in Qipanshan District.

"Husband, be careful on the road."

Princess Taiping sent Pei Shaoqing out with her big belly.

"Madam, don't worry." Pei Shaoqing supported Princess Taiping and reminded, "You must be more careful yourself. You will be about to give birth in two months."

"I'm fine."

Princess Taiping smiled and said, "What can I do at home?"

"Anyway, be careful." Pei Shaoqing said, "Don't throw my baby big or small."

After saying that, he hugged Princess Taiping and kissed her on the face. Shangguan Wan'er, Changjin, then covered her mouth and joking, while Qingxuan looked desperate.

I thought you two showed your love,

Can you stop in public?

After getting tired for a long time, Princess Taiping finally returned to the villa.

The princess mansion in Changlefang is still not built, so I have been living in the villa of Leyouyuan.

Pei Shaoqing also turned over and took Qingxuan, Shangguan Wan'er, Cui Erlang and others to Cuiwei Palace at the foot of Qingyang Mountain.

Pei Shaoqing asked Shangguan Wan'er as he walked: "Wan'er, how were the itineraries arranged this time? What are the specific urgent tasks to be done?"

Shangguan Wan'er immediately took out an exquisite soft copy from the leather bag, opened it and said, "This time it was Cuiweigong, checking the reserve of cotton wool and the storage quantity of cotton seeds."

"Look at the progress of rockets, fire thunder and other firearms."

"Then go to the upper reaches of the Ba River to check the construction progress of Bazhuang."

"Then provide relief to Qipanshan District and distribute grain to the princess' enfeoffees."

Pei Shaoqing frowned and said, "It's so snowy, can you still walk to Bazhuang?"

Cui Erlang, who was following the horse, immediately replied: "Dalang, we went up yesterday and can leave."

"Okay, then go." Pei Shaoqing finished speaking, and then whipped the horse's thighs. The mount immediately raised his head and neighed with a sad voice, shook his four hooves and ran away.

...

The horse team left the city from Mingde Gate and headed south along Zhuque Avenue.

It was fine when I first left the city, but after more than thirty miles away, it began to become dilapidated.

There are constantly hungry people in ragged clothes kneeling in the snow begging for food, and some even hungry people are frozen to death even if they can't survive the severe winter.

This is the cruel reality. The smooth implementation of Kaizhong Fa cannot fundamentally solve the problem, because the fundamental problem in Guanzhong is that land annexation is becoming increasingly serious, and a large number of self-cultivated farmers have lost the land they rely on for their livelihood, or the amount of land is too small to support the family, and this cannot be solved by Kaizhong Fa.

Although Jingzhao Mansion also set up a porridge shed outside the city, there are always people who cannot take care of it.

When you enter the Qingyang Mountain area, the situation is even worse, and the hunger on the roadside becomes more and more.

Pei Shaoqing didn't have much to do in this regard, so he could only ask the Shouchalang to distribute a small bag of food to each family.

The Shouchaosi's ability is still very limited now, and it is impossible to provide large-scale relief to the people of Guanzhong.

However, Pei Shaoqing was confident that by the end of next year, the Shouchao Department would have the strength to provide large-scale relief to the people of Guanzhong. He dared not say anything else, but he was sure to ensure that no one was starved to death.

Because next year, with the completion of Nancheng City and the opening of various handicraft workshops, the profits of the Shoghazi will be greatly increased, and it will also absorb a large number of landless farmers to enter the workshops. Therefore, by the end of next year, the hunger index in Guanzhong will be greatly reduced, and the situation of starving people to death will also disappear.

But now, the ability of the guard and capture department is limited.

The snow march was slow. I went out in the morning and arrived at Cuiwei Palace until it was almost evening.

When Pei Shaoqing entered the backyard of Cuiwei Palace, he almost didn't recognize it because the entire backyard was almost turned into a blacksmith workshop. Zhang Jiu was carrying dozens of blacksmiths, but in the winter, he was exposed and was blowing the breeze into the furnace with a bellows. Every time he blew, orange-red flames would suddenly burst out from the furnace.

Judging from the color of this fire, it should be more than one thousand degrees.

Seeing Pei Shaoqing coming in, Zhang Jiu quickly put down the hammer in his hand and brought his apprentice to greet him.

"Old Zhang, you guys are busy." Pei Shaoqing waved his hand at Zhang Jiu, and Zhang Jiu asked his apprentices to go back.

Zhang Jiu stayed behind and explained to Pei Shaoqing: "Si Cheng, Xiao Lao is taking his disciples to cast cannons, and now he has cast seventeen cannons."

"Is that true?" Pei Shaoqing was overjoyed when he heard this, "Where is it?"

"Si Cheng, please come with my elders." Zhang Jiu took Pei Shaoqing to a temporary straw shed.

But I saw that there were a series of cannons neatly placed in the straw shed, all of which were made into cannon trucks according to the style designed by Pei Shaoqing. Two rows of wheels were installed under the base of the cannon truck, which could be dragged and moved by mules and horses.

The cannon body is made of molten iron.

Of course, it is not only a smoothbore cannon, but also a front cannon.

With the current technology conditions, breech guns don’t have to think about them.

Looking at the cannons, Pei Shaoqing suddenly felt itchy and asked, "Lao Zhang, where is the cannonball?"

"Si Cheng, Xiao Lao is not responsible for the shells." Zhang Jiu waved his hands repeatedly, "The shells, fire and thunder are all personally responsible for the shells, Lu Shucheng."

"Where are Lao Lu's others?"

Pei Shaoqing asked again: "Why didn't you see him?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Shisan's voice sounded behind him: "Si Cheng, I'm old."

Looking back, he saw Lu Shisan running over panting, then crossed his hands and saluted: "Sister Si Cheng."

"Forgive." Pei Shaoqing waved his hand and said, "Old Lu, where did you go just now? Why didn't I see you and your apprentices when I came in?"

"Return to Si Cheng's words."

Lu Shisan gasped and said, "Old Xiao went to the minefield just now."

"Minefield?" Pei Shaoqing was a little confused, "What kind of minefield?"

Lu Shisan said oh and explained: "It's a newly built test site."

He paused and asked again: "Si Cheng, do you want to go and see the effects of the rush and fire thunder?"

"Of course." Pei Shaoqing said happily, "I came to Cuiwei Palace today, mainly for this."

When the group came to the test site, they saw a carriage on the test site. The entire carriage was made of solid red sandalwood riveted.

A large number of small holes were drilled in the cabin.

The diameter of the small hole is slightly thicker than that of the big thumb.

Pei Shaoqing counted, thirty rows, each row of thirty holes, and a car could hold nine hundred arrows!

A large number of rockets were placed next to the carriage, but the rockets made by Lu Shisan were slightly different from those designed by Pei Shaoqing.

The rocket designed by Pei Shaoqing is made of bamboo made of gunpowder tubes and is tied to the rocket's pole, but the rocket designed by Lu Shisan, the paper tube used for medicine tubes, and the arrow shaft penetrates through it.

Seeing Pei Shaoqing's doubts, Lu Shisan explained carefully: "Si Cheng, we have tried the rocket you designed. After comparing the two, it was found that the paper tube was loaded with a larger volume and lighter weight, and it was just as firm! The rocket that penetrated the medicine tube was shot farther than the rocket that tied the medicine tube."

"The rocket with a drug tube can shoot about a hundred steps."

"The rocket that penetrates the medicine tube can shoot 120 steps away!"

According to the Tang system, one step is about 1.5 meters, one hundred steps is 150 meters, and 120 steps is 180 meters. This range is obviously closer than a crossbow.

Because of the Tang army's test equipment, the range of the wooden single crossbow has 160 steps.

However, the advantages of Rockets are also very obvious, that is, the volume is large!

If 900 rockets are launched at the same time, the scene will definitely be extremely cruel.

If one hundred rockets can be launched at the same time, then ninety thousand arrows can be launched at the same time. If they are facing the cavalry or infantry that charge, thinking about it can make people feel excited.

"Load the car!" Pei Shaoqing waved his hand and said, "Test shot and see."

"Here!" Lu Shisan bowed his hands and said, "Hurry up, load the car and test the shooting!"

Lu Shisan's dozens of apprentices immediately became busy, first loading 900 rockets, then brought hundreds of dummies with straw slaughtered people and placed them in front of the rocket car.

In order to test the penetration of the rocket,

Pei Shaoqing also asked the accompanying guard to take off more than a dozen crotch armors and put them on the dummy.
To be continued...