Datang: Huchi served as a bodyguard, but refused to enter the court as an official

The space inside was also excavated manually.

Liu Bai got off his horse. At this moment, the door was opened, and a large group of people came out.

These people are all men.

Some were old, some were younger, but none were particularly young.

It seems that they are at least 40 years old.

These people silently saluted Liu Bai.

Liu Bai still didn't say anything, as if he was used to the silence of this group of people.

He took Xu Chu and walked into the cave.

The tunnel is a bit narrow, barely able to accommodate two people.

People like Xu Chu have to bend over when entering.

After walking a long way, I finally came to an open field.

There are not many traces of artificial excavation in this open land, it should be a natural cave.

A middle-aged man in a fleece came up to him in a hurry.

"Master!"

Saying that, he handed over the thick clothes in his arms to Liu Bai.

The temperature in the cave is much lower than outside.

While putting on clothes, Liu Bai said with a smile, "Are you still used to it?"

The middle-aged man hurriedly bowed and said, "Thanks to the young master, life here is very good."

Liu Bai nodded, and said: "You are a person who can bear loneliness, if someone else sat in your seat, I'm afraid you would have gone crazy."

The middle-aged man laughed and led the way.

The karst cave is very large, and it can even compare to Li Chengqian's East Palace in terms of size.

Under the lights, there are many busy people.

Counting the group of people who greeted Liu Bai just now, there were hundreds of people at least.

However, except for those who just greeted Liu Bai, almost everyone else was wearing handcuffs and shackles!

They also remained silent, with blank expressions, as if they had lost their minds a long time ago.

Liu Bai patrolled around and said to the middle-aged man, "Lao Meng, you did a good job."

This Lao Meng is an old acquaintance.

Meng Shibin!

Zhang Zhongjian's second boss!

Ever since Ma Biao and others drove the five-toothed warship to become robbers, Meng Shibin left Zhang Zhongjian and came to the depths of the Qinling Mountains.

Liu Bai couldn't think of a more suitable candidate than him to do such a secret thing.

As long as you enter this cave, let's say it is not good, you will never want to go out in this life.

And Meng Shibin was guilty of a serious crime, so being able to stay here can be regarded as meritorious service and atonement.

If he continues to stay in the outside world, his head will definitely be gone.

No matter how powerful Li Jing was, he could only save Zhang Zhongjian's life.

As for Meng Shibin and others who participated in the robbery of military supplies together, if nothing happens, they will surely die!

Therefore, Meng Shibin is quite content to survive.

As for whether he can deal with the outside world, he doesn't care.

Besides Zhang Zhongjian, he didn't want to deal with anyone else.

The only thing that is not very comfortable is that the people here don't say a word.

Those who are in handcuffs and shackles can talk, but unfortunately all they speak are birdsong, and they can't understand a word

Chapter 793 A...Red Cannon

Meng Shibin was under Zhang Zhongjian at the beginning, and he was the second in charge in name, but in fact he was working as a military adviser.

However, being a military adviser in a group of bandits is not considered very capable.

At most, it's just a little brighter.

In this deep mountain, what he does is the big housekeeper.

Hundreds of people eat and drink, all under his control.

He couldn't get in the way of the real core secrets.

In a certain secret room in the cave, the one standing in front of Liu Bai is the one who really speaks effectively.

"Master, if we send twice as many slaves, we must be able to catch up with the battle of Gaochang Kingdom, but if there are still only these people, the progress will probably be delayed for more than two months."

It can be heard from the address that this person who speaks well comes from the Liu family.

This person is relatively young, and looks like he is in his early 30s.

He has the simple and honest appearance of a farmer, but his eyes are very clever.

Most of the people who came out of Liujiazhuangzi have this kind of appearance.

But don't be fooled by their appearance.

It looks unremarkable, maybe it is the big owner of a certain firm, or the leader of a certain line of business.

His name was Deng Gao, and he was the first apprentice Jin Dajian accepted after he came to Liu's house.

A purebred youngster of the Liu family, his ancestors ran business with the old man of the Liu family.

To Liu Bai, it is absolute loyalty.

Because of 'the roots are right and the seedlings are red', Liu Bai felt relieved to entrust such a confidential matter to him.

"Don't think about the slaves. The Battle of Goguryeo brought more than 1 slaves. [-]% of them are going to build the imperial mausoleum for His Majesty. There are only a thousand people left. You can't let women and children go to the mountains. Will I do coolie for you?"

Liu Bai gave him a kick with a smile.

Deng Gao spread his hands helplessly, and said, "Then it can only be delayed for two months. By then, the crown prince will go to Gaochang Kingdom, and our family will have to send out our own people to transport them to the Western Regions."

Liu Bai thought about it for a while, and said: "Let's leave at our house, Du Chi and the others will be back soon, it's a big deal, let him make another trip."

After finishing speaking, Liu Bai walked to the end of the secret room, and lifted the red cloth covering a huge object.

Whoa!

When the red cloth was opened, what appeared in front of Liu Bai was a cannon!

The body of the cannon is more than one foot long, and the caliber is half a foot!

This is the parameter that many craftsmen of the Liu family have studied together.

The whole is forged from pure copper, with several inscriptions engraved on it, which should be the serial number of this cannon.

Below is a fort made of iron and wood.

There is also a layer of steel plate on the outside to ensure that it is strong enough and provides enough mobility.

Liu Bai looked up and down, picked up the stick again, and knocked on the cannon carefully.

"not bad!"

Deng Gao sighed, and said: "Master, you don't know that this cannon weighs three thousand catties, but the pure copper that can be consumed is not less than ten thousand catties. If there is any accident in the forging, we have to start all over again. So far, they have only forged a mere twelve qualified red cannons."

"Twelve Gates"

Liu Bai felt that it was indeed a little less.

The red-clothed cannon has a range of more than two miles, but the effective range to ensure accuracy is only two hundred feet.

This means that the range of firepower that a cannon can cover is not too large.

To support the entire battlefield, there must be at least twenty doors.

If it is lower than this number, then the significance of the existence of the cannon is not great.

"We must ensure the quality. Even if the output is lower, the quality must not be reduced!"

Liu Bai said firmly.

Deng Gao patted his chest and said, "Young master, don't worry, you can use your head to vouch for it! If there is an explosion, you can stuff me in and shoot me out like a cannonball!"

After watching the cannon, Liu Bai came to Deng Gao's office.

In the cave, the rooms are separated by wooden boards.

Only the secret room just now had walls made of refined steel.

Liu Bai sat on Deng Gao's chair, crossed his legs, closed his eyes and meditated.

Making cannons is a plan that started a long time ago.

Similarly, this is the only plan that Liu Bai never told anyone.

Even Li Er didn't know about it!

The first peak in the development of gunpowder was the emergence of artillery.

In this era of personal bravery, artillery is completely invincible.

Liu Bai intends to let this 'artifact' shine on the battlefield of Gaochang Kingdom.

Not only to make contributions, but also to grab cotton!

Although the system has donated cotton, the current output is still too low.

It is barely enough to supply the friendly people around, but it will take at least four or five years to form a large-scale production.

That's why Liu Bai couldn't wait to start attacking Gaochang.

An industry related to people's livelihood is a good industry!

And the 'red cannon' I saw just now is not strictly the same as the red cannon in history.

After all, Liu Bai never got any blueprints about artillery from the system.

Fortunately, the principle of the original artillery is relatively simple.

Under Liu Bai's introduction, the god-like craftsmen of the Liu family quickly drew the drawings.

The only thing that is more difficult to overcome is the bubble problem inside the pure copper when casting the cannon body.

If there are too many bubbles, cracks will appear in the gun body after a few times of use, and the chamber will explode after a few more uses.

Once this problem is overcome, everything will come naturally.

Apart from the lack of manpower, there are basically no other problems.

"Could it be that we need to give up one side first?"

Liu Bai thought for a moment, then opened his eyes.

Deng Gao said cautiously: "Young master, why don't you let the matter of Lingnan be put aside first, and the artillery will be supplied to the battle of Gaochang Kingdom first?"

Liu Bai shook his head and said: "No, young master, I have already used that fish to arouse the Emperor's interest in Lingnan, and when the time comes, we can say that the artillery was made by someone sent by the Emperor, and our family does not need to be tainted with this name." , so even if you give Lingnan a few statues less, you must give them."

Deng Gao said with a face full of embarrassment: "Based on the current output, after two months, at most seven or eight more will be produced. If Lingnan is also taken into account, I am afraid that the crown prince will be there."

Liu Bai pondered for a while, and said: "What you have to do now is to try your best to increase the production while ensuring the quality. As for the manpower problem, I will find a way. Trusted people."

"I'm afraid that's all there is to it. Our folks in Zhuangzi can trust it, but I'm too embarrassed to order them directly."

Deng Gao smiled awkwardly and scratched his head.

"In short, the battle of Gaochang Kingdom cannot be postponed. Lingnan can give a few less, but it must be given. You let Meng Shibin arrange it. When the emperor later, the artillery allocated to Lingnan will be sent to the Bahe River. At that time, Naturally, someone will hand over to him."

Chapter 794 The Liu Family Master Has Returned? !God, it's going to turn upside down

Liu Bai didn't stay in the cave for long.