Standing on the emptied dock outside Jiangling City, Zhou Huaian couldn't help but sigh slightly as he watched the tubular objects wrapped in waterproof oil paper carefully loading and unloading from the ship. The journey and beginning of the firearm era may begin here.

This time, a batch of rockets were sent. They were not the kind of fire arrows that were ignited with oil on the arrows, but rockets that could burn or explode with real launching drugs; they were probably similar to the Hell rockets that were popular on the battlefield in the mid-19th century; they used relatively mature cardboard-shell tubes and thin iron-skinned medicine heads. They made an embedded wooden spinal canal with nitrogen reed fibers to delay fire.

The final mass-produced finished product is like a large bamboo with a short root, about 5 feet and six inches long. The biggest feature of the period is the four-piece spiral tail plates wrapped around the iron sheet; it avoids the guiding rod full of metaphysical hit probability of the senior Congreve rocket, and constrains the curve range and dispersion range within a range that is barely acceptable; it is mainly used as a means of supplementing long-range projection firepower in addition to artillery with limited production.

Although this thing is simple to operate and has good environmental adaptability, it can be tied to both sides with a pack horse or other large animal and walk. When it is launched, it can be done with just a guide track of bamboo or simply digging a shallow pit; however, the requirements for the corresponding personnel are not simple, and basic mathematical calculations, surveying, and distance-fixing capabilities are required.

However, this also ensures a certain technical threshold outside the Taiping Army. Even if it accidentally falls into the hands of others, without relatively systematic use training and basic learning, it will not be able to exert any real lethality and hit rate.

In addition, some things that came with wax sealed wooden barrels were made of gunpowder (firing drugs) and explosives (explosions) respectively. Although the application of artillery and other artillery has just begun to be prepared and planned, the corresponding gunpowder manufacturing and production projects have long been started.

For example, those used in conjunction with these gunpowder are transitional firearm equipment that is simple and simple; such as wooden cannons made of iron hoops made of hollowing out the inner chamber of tree trunks, or leather cannons made of leather cannons. Although they are consumables that have not been used several times, their advantage lies in their wide range of sources and convenient local production; for example, gunpowder jars thrown by individual soldiers and paper medicine bags wrapped with iron slag and shattered pots.

These things are easier to use. The former is just enough to pay attention to the charge amount; the latter is enough to equip any soldier who has been trained to throw. It mainly exerts some substitution and supplementary effects in projection firepower where the enemy cannon is not even in time.

And after these relatively cross-age technical equipment, accumulation and reserve channels have a certain base, it is time for the Taiping Army to launch an offensive again; at the moment of such a long time, someone suddenly reported:

"The people from the court have arrived in Jingzhou..."

.........

After a promotion and bonus, Mu Haogu, who was re-appointed as an envoy of the imperial edict, had no joy or excitement on his fair and innocent face.

He just felt that he had been cheated again; he was not enough to take the opportunity to go to the thief's cave once, but he had to come again for a second time. Moreover, he was driven away after being locked in the hotel for a while. This time, he was going to face the head of the thief, known as a generation of demon monk and possessing many strange techniques that bewitch people's hearts.

This is not like those vassal states that rely more on the name of the imperial court on the surface, but rather the treacherous chiefs who have really started to inflict their country with real swords and guns. They are likely to be cut into meat sauce or thrown into a big pot to death if there is a disagreement.

Moreover, in order to prevent Liu Jurong's troops from defending Xiangyang to fight against the thieves, they might be resentful to the imperial court's will and did anything unwise to the angels; he must also take a detour.

As a representative of the court and a member of the in-house officials, he may not have any worries about his life; however, finding a way to make the envoys and representatives of the court in disguise and arrest them without giving their opponents the benefits is a common game between the court and the vassal states since the Zhenyuan period.

If his mission ended here without success and gave up halfway, it must be one of the results that the new officials who rely on and rely on Da Ah's father and acted with him would like to see. In this way, even if he was not sacrificed as a scapegoat and price for negotiating with the vassal states, he would be less likely to be able to be released from prison and return to Chang'an in the future.

So after heading south out of Wuguan and entering Shannan Road, he gave up the traditional traditional Jin, Shang, Jun and Xiang water transportation route, and changed to the land route to the east to Deng, Tang, Sui and Ying. Finally, by using Jiangxi to recruit Cao Quanshi, he released from the Han River directly down to Fuzhou and connected to the tributary of the Yangtze River, Fushui, and arrived in Jingzhou.

Therefore, I rushed along the way and had some concerns to get tired. Mu Haogu, who was originally known for his wealth, could not help but lose weight quickly in the past few days and exposed the contour of the cheek bones on his face.

The process of being stopped by the thief's navy and showing his identity was not as unexpected or twists and turns as he imagined, which made him accumulate a lot of previews and drafts that criticized the other party for his righteousness and were lost.

He was trapped in a hotel before and could not see the reality of many thieves, but in the short time he passed by, he was shocked. The scene here was completely contrary to what the officials in the court said; not only did there not be many defeats and decays under the continuous war, but also the white bones exposed to the wild that the bandits outside the city were rampant and wantonly murdering people and robbing people, but there was also a busy and prosperous atmosphere.

I saw that the fields and fields were full of work in the fields, carrying water, hoeing the ground, and digging canals. The groups of scholars and people on the roads were woven and had few vegetables. Although they were pale and thin, they were rarely covered in clothes. Even if everyone in the Tao was in a hurry, there was no panic or worry about living, or they were dead and numb and dull.

Even the bandits patrolling the road were red and strong, and the slap was full of red and strong, with a striking and vigorous meaning. When they met those people in groups, there would even be people who would greet them spontaneously and talk with little awe. This was an unimaginable thing under the rule of the court.

However, there are many things that surprised and unexpected to him.

For example, along the gravel avenues that were swept through ice and snow and piled up on both sides by straw, there were more than just carriages and horses loaded with gray-brown charcoal; there were still cold winds and large rivers and boats. Many boards were filled with frozen hard fishing catches, or other cargo of unknown purpose.

For example, the canals brought in along the riverside, huge water wheels lined up and many furnaces with fireworks all day long, and workshops are everywhere, and the roar of various forgings and creations can be said to be heard from far and near.

Mu Haogu even saw a group of children sitting on the bare glutinous field, basking in the sun that is rare in winter, following a bald man, shaking his head and singing in unison. The crisp and childish voices were already in a bit of structure and order.

The content of their rap vaguely heard Mu Haogu's ears, but it became a little creepy and chilling; because what these children read in unison was the slander and ruthlessness of the court.

"Good brother, good brother,

After adding the rebels, the poor men in the world looked up;

To eliminate injustice in the world, kill all the insects that harm people,

Eliminate corrupt officials and bullies, and settle down in peace..."

"Don't be rampant in corrupt officials, don't be sad when poor men and poor families,

One day the clouds will disperse and we will go down in the clear world;

Carrying a gun on your shoulders and catching a knife in your hands, let’s fight the world;

The rebels arrived, the government collapsed,

The local tyrants and evil gentry are not careless, and all corrupt officials are buried..."

"The sun is bright and the rebels are famous all over the world.

The poor follow the world and the powerful and bad gentry will be wiped out."

If it weren't for his extremely important mission, Mu Haogu would just want to come forward and scold and teach them a lesson regardless of his decency and cultivation. These humble people who have no king or father but are determined to follow the thief.

How could these ants and worm-like villains not understand the overall situation and long-term future of the court at all? Why should they hide at home and wait for starvation to death after suffering disasters? If they die of illness, they will be cured by the illness. They have to follow these ruthless people to come out to ruin the world of the court, so that the emperors above the ninth level and the princes in the court will be exhausted and uneasy at all times.

Then, Mu Haogu even saw some suspected scholars, right on the side of the road or at the construction site not far away; they stood among the sweating crowds, gesturing something, or were running between the shed and the seal; although they were also wearing patched clothes, they had a kind of demeanor and manner that was different from others.

Because of this kind of familiar and similar character style, he had never seen it in Chang'an. That was because he failed the exams and was poor and poor, and gathered in the Chaicao Market between Yanxingmen and Shengdaofang, and used the sheds built by the poor privately.

Because they lack food and clothing, they look haggard and call them "reeds" by the Chang'an scholars. They are frozen to death and die of illness almost every winter. Especially in recent years, the imperial court's financial plan has gradually become increasingly difficult, and even the Imperial College and the Imperial College are unable to maintain it, so their daily life is not easy.

But although the suspected poor scholars here still had their faces that were frozen blue or white or sallow and dry; they had no common sadness and resentment, but they were a little more vivid and cheerful.

Mu Haogu could only sigh helplessly, and even his thoughts of scolding and scolding were faded. Since even the books of sages who knew the righteousness could not be changed, at least many people who read and politely could be degenerated, then they could only let the sword of the king to let the people of the times understand what the way of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism was.

At this moment, he suddenly felt a little deeply in agreement and understanding of those who were repeatedly impeached by the court, the straight ministers and the generals who were often killed by the innocent and violent ministers. These people who did not want to be loyal to the king and the country but only followed the thief by small profits and harms, are really not enough to be clear and upright to the hearts of the people in the world if they do not kill them.

However, when he arrived at Jiangling City, he couldn't help but feel angry again. Because Mu Haogu saw a big ship newly approaching the dock, a businessman with obvious fur and robes walking down from the ship, and a passenger wearing silk and brocade.

The former has always been known for being speculative and profit-oriented. Even if it is risked by robbers and being liquidated by the government, it is not surprising that it appears here in the thief. However, even if the latter's every move is broken into Hui Mu Haogu, it can be recognized; if it is not the style of the officials, it is from the background and relationship of a certain aristocratic family.

When he was working with Xiao Yang's Shumi Mansion in Chang'an, he had already seen many kinds of existences; but he did not expect that when he came to the south, some officials or aristocratic families would openly communicate with these thieves who killed officials and rebelled.

Suddenly he had no room for anger and position, but became a faint panic and frightened. It seemed that he had accidentally discovered a terrible truth. Why did the situation in Hunan and Lingjing collapse and fall so thoroughly? Could it be that in addition to the decadence of the official army and the incompetence of the generals, he also had something to do with these unscrupulous families in the places?

However, in the following time, he secretly followed Xiao Yang Shumi's extra instructions and carefully looked and tried to record the scenery of Mu Haogu in the area under the rule of the thief; but he was not taken to a hotel or official residence in the city, but was led to a schoolyard outside the city.
Chapter completed!