Zhu Zhanzhen naturally knew that there were people written in textbooks who used fireworks, rockets and kites to fly into the sky, but the person who was killed in the end was called "the world's first aerospace person."
But in this era, Wanhu has become the object of ridicule. No one thinks that people can fly. Flying is out of reach for humans. Only gods can do it. Wanhu is a wishful thinking and ends up dead.
end.
But compared to those who laughed wantonly on the ground, even if Wanhu died, he died in the air, in the sky he yearned for.
Those who dare to be the first and pioneer should be admired.
Zheng He sighed and said: "Wanhu was good at making firearms and his skills were superb. He was awarded by Emperor Taizu. Although he died, his grandson inherited his mantle. The idea of making firearms was very advanced, but he was also very popular for it.
Being ostracized, and because this person has a weird temperament, he lives in isolation."
Zhu Zhanzhen admired Wanhu very much and said, "Can you take me to see him when you have time?"
"Of course. His home is by the river, but I don't know if he is there now."
Walking along the river, there is a lonely house on the hill beside the river, alone, as if abandoned by the world in this corner.
The house is also very simple, and any gust of wind seems to blow it away.
Tao Chengdao changed his name to Wanhu because he was granted the title by Zhu Yuanzhang. It stands to reason that even if he dies, his rich family fortune will be a blessing to his descendants. How come he lives in such a simple way?
As soon as you get closer, you can smell the aroma of wine and the smell of alcohol fills the room.
Zheng He knocked on the door and found that the door was ajar. He knocked lightly and it opened with a creak.
The house was too simple to be habitable. On the bed made of thatch, a middle-aged man with unruly beard and disheveled hair was lying down sleeping.
The sound of snoring was loud, and Zheng He's men stepped forward and shook the middle-aged man.
The hungover man was shaken awake with a splitting headache. He patted his head and burped loudly. The smell was really not good.
"Aka." Zheng He waved his hands to disperse the smell with a hint of disgust, and called the man's name.
The man saw clearly that the people in front of him were busy laughing: "Oh, Mr. Zheng He, there are times when you are far away and there are times when you are far away."
Zheng He introduced to Zhu Zhanzhen: "This is Tao Ka, the grandson of Tao Chengdao. A Ka is the fifth son of the current crown prince. I am not polite."
"Taoka has met His Highness the Fifth Prince." Taoka saluted with a smile on his face.
Zhu Zhanzhen didn't mince words: "Are you good at firearms?"
"They are all fur skills."
At this time, Zhu Zhanzhen noticed a firearm on the table. It was a fire blunderbuss. It was widely manufactured in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. Now, the Shenji Camp of the Ming Dynasty was widely equipped with fire blunderbuss.
Compared with the fire cannons of the Yuan Dynasty, the fire cannons of the Ming Dynasty were improved and required significantly less gunpowder, and their range was also increased.
It is fired in a group of 2 people, one person is responsible for the support and aiming, and the other person is responsible for ignition and shooting. The range can reach more than 100 meters.
The fire gun in Taoka's room is obviously smaller than the one in Shenji Camp, and has a handle similar to that of a modern pistol. This thing should be called a kidnapper's gun, which means a bit like a pistol.
Zhu Zhanchen reached out to take it, but Tao Ka stopped him quickly: "Your Highness, it contains gunpowder, so be careful."
"Did you do this yourself?"
"Yes, it was done by ordinary people, hiccup." As he spoke, Taoka burped again. The smell was really unpleasant.
"Go outside and let me see."
The group of people came outside the house, and Taoka lit gunpowder toward the river and fired a shot.
With a bang, the kidnapper's gun was launched. Zheng He looked at it and said: "This fire gun is small, but it is not as powerful as the one in the Shenji Camp, and its range is also much shorter."
But as soon as Zheng He finished speaking, the second bang sounded again.
Everyone was surprised that this kidnapper's gun could fire continuously, and then there was another bang, three times in a row.
It's just that every launch has to ignite a spark, it's not really a continuous launch.
Tao Ka proudly said: "This kidnapper gun was developed by myself. It can be operated by one person and can be loaded with three rounds. Although it is not as powerful as the fire gun in the army, it is more than twice as light."
"It's a good idea, but the name is a bit ugly. Why don't we call it Pistol from now on?" Zhu Zhanzhen seemed to have sensed the old Zhu family's tendency to change names, so he changed the name of "Kaizi Gun".
"Pistol, that's a good name." Taoka was very happy that someone appreciated his work.
Zhu Zhanzhen also knew that Tao Ka did have some ideas, but he didn't know much about him now and couldn't be sure whether he was a useful person. His appearance as a drunkard made people think that he didn't dare to trust him too much.
"Taoka, where do you work now?"
"No position." Taoka was a little embarrassed.
Zheng He then answered: "The Tao family has a rich family, but in order to prove that his grandfather was right, Taoka's father spent a huge amount of family property to make rockets to fly into the sky. In the end, the workshop exploded and his father died."
Talking about his life experience, Taoka lowered his head. His childhood wealth and his current abject poverty made him look down upon and laugh at from countless people.
The dreams of his grandfather and father were ridiculed by others, but he also kept his dreams deep in his heart.
Now he is also ready to accept the ridicule of the noble young man in front of him. He is used to it. When people hear his grandfather's name, they can't help but think of the joke about flying into the sky and being blown up to death.
"Do you still want to fly?" Zhu Zhanchen asked slowly, looking at the river.
"Ah?" Taoka didn't react for a moment.
"Do you still want to fly?"
Zhu Zhanyi asked again, and Tao Ka also confirmed that Zhu Zhanyi was indeed asking this question.
He was stunned. In fact, he wanted to answer yes, but his answer brought him so much ridicule and ridicule. His downfall was not only due to the decline of his family, but also his own self-destruction.
He had experienced the feeling of being laughed at and stepped on by others countless times. He wanted to argue, but the tragic death of his grandfather and father was a fact, and it was impossible for people to fly into the sky.
Humans have no wings and are not gods, so how can they fly?
He hesitated, the cold wind by the river blew his disheveled hair to cover his face, and the rustling sound beat at him.
Finally the man spoke: "Yes, I want to fly."
It's just ridicule, it's just ridicule, just like the raging river coming, I feel it all, this is my dream, stay true to my heart.
"Okay, I support you."
"This world does not lack silent people who are doing nothing, nor does it lack people who hide behind and make harsh noises. What it lacks are those who dare to explore like Wanhu. Some people conquer the sea, and some people have to conquer the sky. I want the vast sky to be mine.
earth."
The boy's immature voice reached Taoka's ears, and his lifeless eyes burst out with light as he looked at the handsomely dressed young man in front of him in surprise and disbelief.
At this moment, the young man in front of me is really handsome.
The young man walked forward slowly and pointed at the river: "The rivers, lakes and seas are the rivers and seas of my Ming Dynasty."
Then he pointed to the sky: "The sky hanging high above must also be the sky of my Ming Dynasty."