Opening a Tavern in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 193: Grenade Making Method is a trump card

In the bustling Zuixianlou Tavern, Li Shimin put aside his previous gloom and was enthusiastically discussing the strategy to fight against Goryeo with Xiaoyu and others.

At this time, Yu Yu blinked her big eyes, with a mysterious smile on her lips, and quietly jumped away from everyone's sight.

Yu Yu came to the backyard of the tavern, where she usually played and explored her little world.

She blinked her big eyes, opened the system's virtual interface, and asked in a baby voice, "System, do you know how to make a grenade? I want to help His Majesty make a powerful weapon to defeat the Koreans."

The system's electronic sound rang out: [A diagram of how to make a grenade]

Yu Yu took the recipe and skipped back to the second floor, her little face flushed and her eyes sparkling with excitement.

When she saw Li Shimin, she ran over and pulled the corner of Li Shimin's clothes and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, how to make a grenade!"

Li Shimin squatted down and asked with a smile: "Oh? Yuyu, tell me about it quickly."

Yuyu gestured in the air with her little hands and said, "First, we need a sturdy container made of metal like iron. We need to shape the iron block into a hollow ball. The ball should be neither too big nor too small, so that the soldiers can easily carry and throw it."

"The shell of the ball needs to be thick enough to resist the explosion of the gunpowder, but not too thick, or it will be too heavy and won't be thrown far."

Li Shimin nodded, a hint of anticipation in his eyes: "And then?"

Yuyu continued, "Then we need to make gunpowder, which requires saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal. Originally, the mixture was made in the ratio of one sulfur, two saltpeter, and three charcoal, which is how common black powder is made."

"But the gunpowder for grenades needs to be stronger. You can add more saltpeter. But when mixing the gunpowder, you have to do it in a well-ventilated place without fire. Otherwise, it will be very dangerous."

Li Shimin frowned slightly and warned: "This gunpowder thing is indeed dangerous, you must be careful."

Yuyu continued, "Put the prepared gunpowder carefully into the hollow ball. Don't fill it too full. Fill it about two-thirds full. You need to leave room for the explosive gas."

"And the fuse. Find a thin piece of twine or cloth that won't burn too quickly. Soak it in water with potassium nitrate for a long time, allowing the water to seep into the cloth. After it's dry, insert one end of the fuse into the gunpowder, leaving the other end outside. The fuse should be about 5-8 cm long. This way, when you light it and throw it, it will reach the enemy before it explodes."

"Finally, we need to check the finished grenades carefully to see if they are stable and safe. We can't let anything go wrong."

Li Shimin's face was filled with smiles. He nodded repeatedly and said, "Well, well, Yuyu, you've really done a great job today. I'll go back and tell the ministers to gather skilled craftsmen and quickly make grenades according to your method."

After saying this, he started to walk out of the tavern. After a few steps, he turned back, looked at Yuyu lovingly, and praised her, "You little girl, although you are young, you are so clever. Once this grenade is made, and you show your prowess on the battlefield and repel the Goryeo army, I will definitely reward you handsomely."

Yuyu smiled and waved her hands: "Your Majesty, I don't need any reward. As long as I can help the Tang Dynasty win the war and keep everyone safe, that's all that matters."

Li Shimin laughed heartily: "You, little girl, are truly kind and honest. I will return to the palace first. You should wait for good news at home."

After saying this, he left in a hurry with his attendants, his steps showing a bit of urgency. He was eager to tell the ministers about this good idea immediately so that the grenades could be made as soon as possible to add a powerful bargaining chip for the upcoming war with Goryeo.

After Li Shimin returned to the palace, he went straight to the main hall. A group of ministers had already discussed and were waiting there. When they saw the emperor return, they all bowed.

Li Shimin did not delay and said directly: "My dear ministers, today I have come up with a brilliant idea that is related to the chances of victory for the Tang Dynasty against Goryeo."

The ministers looked at each other with curiosity and confusion, and Li Shimin told them the method of making grenades that Yu Yu had told them.

He gestured as he spoke, "The grenade requires a suitable hollow sphere made of iron as a container, then a powerful mixture of gunpowder mixed in a special ratio is placed inside, and then a carefully crafted fuse is attached. When used, it is lit and thrown at the enemy, and it explodes and injures people. It's extremely powerful."

After hearing this, the ministers were stunned at first, and then they talked about it. Some were amazed, thinking that if such a novel thing could be made, it would definitely change the situation of the war; others looked doubtful, worried that there would be many difficulties and dangers in the production process.

At this time, Lord Zhang stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this method does sound ingenious, but gunpowder is always dangerous, and making grenades requires many delicate steps. If there is any mistake, accidents may occur."

Li Shimin frowned slightly, but said firmly, "I know this is not an easy task, but with Korea invading, the situation is urgent. If we have such a powerful weapon to help us, the Tang Dynasty will have a better chance of victory."

"We can first let our skilled craftsmen carefully experiment, ensuring safety precautions are in place, and gradually refine it. What do you think, my dear ministers?"

When the ministers heard what the emperor said, they all nodded in agreement and expressed their willingness to work together to arrange people to make the grenade.

The atmosphere in the entire hall changed from initial doubt to enthusiasm, and everyone was looking forward to the successful creation of this mysterious grenade as soon as possible.

When Cheng Yaojin heard what Li Shimin said, his eyes widened at first, then he broke into a wide grin, his laughter echoing throughout the hall: "Your Majesty, this is truly wonderful! That Goryeo country still dared to invade our Tang Dynasty. Now that we have this powerful grenade, we will surely beat them to a pulp, hahahahaha!"

As he spoke, he rubbed his hands together, as if he couldn't wait to take this new weapon to the battlefield and let the Koreans see its power.

Li Jing's eyes also flashed with surprise. He nodded slightly and praised, "Your Majesty, this is a brilliant plan. If this grenade is used properly, it can bring about unexpected results on the battlefield."

"Attacking them when they're off guard is extremely beneficial, both in breaking the enemy's formation and intimidating their morale. It seems that the Tang Dynasty has gained another trump card in its fight against Goryeo."

Cheng Yaojin stepped forward and asked Li Shimin anxiously, "Your Majesty, when will this grenade be forged? I can't wait to test its power. When the time comes, I will definitely carry it and rush to the front to let those Korean bastards know how powerful the Tang Dynasty is!"

Li Jing was much calmer. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Don't worry, General Cheng. Making grenades is a good thing, but it involves gunpowder after all, and the risk factor is quite high."