Chapter 5, Dusk (4)

Wen Tianxiang was not truly asleep; he vaguely felt as if he had returned to another world, becoming once again the loyal Wen Zhong, who idolized Wen Shaobao. In 1937, he chaotically followed the crowd fleeing from Central University. While his classmates all headed south, he resolutely chose to go north

"Damn it!" Zhang Tang shouted, nearly deafening those around him. Seeing the reproachful gazes of the crowd, he awkwardly scratched his bald head and explained, "If, in front of two armies, we unexpectedly threw a few hundred small thunder bombs, how many Tartars would be blown to bits..."

"Do not use castor beans and arsenic, nor make use of them for city defense." Wen Tianxiang saw that everyone regarded the landmines as thunderous explosives, and had no choice but to go along with the misunderstanding. The conditions here are far from those in the dream of the Huangya Cave. Given the current situation, we must adapt to local conditions. "Xiao Zi should no longer serve as a scribe; we will establish a logistics camp, and Xiao Zi will oversee the production of military equipment."

This? The onlookers expressed their astonishment.

In the Eighth Route Army, there were countless arduous yet joyful days. Roasting iron, repairing firearms, creating homemade lathes, and manufacturing mortars. As the Japanese invaders launched a large-scale attack on Huangyadong, Wenzhong became separated from his companions and held his ground against the perilous situation

The crowd gathered around erupted in a burst of light laughter. Someone, disregarding the presence of Wen Tianxiang, joked at the man whose eyebrows had been burned off, saying, "Zhang Daniu, why did you play with fire before shaving your head? If you had set your hair on fire, wouldn't that have saved you the trouble of shaving?"

Just now, he was discussing with Liu Zijun how to implement the military training guidelines written by Wen Tianxiang when the explosion not only startled him but also frightened his beloved steed. Upon learning that the sound was caused by Xiao Zi and others, Zou Chuan began to contemplate. He had heard of the power of the Thunderous Bomb, but such a weapon had never appeared in the militia. From the sound of the explosion just now, even if Xiao Zi could not produce the Thunderous Bomb to blow up the Tartars, he could still create a giant firecracker to deal with the Mongolian cavalry's horses. The Song Dynasty does not produce fine horses, and in battles against the Mongolians, they always suffer losses from the enemy's cavalry charges. If the Mongolian horses could be startled at the right moment before the two armies, they would have already won half the battle before it even began. Regardless of where Prime Minister Wen obtained this formula after going mad for several days, the key issue now is to ensure that this secret does not fall into the hands of the Mongolians.

The eyebrows were not burned just now; it was Master Xiao who wanted to test the speed of the gunpowder, so I held it in my palm. As a result, I accidentally singed it. The man with the bald eyebrows, known as Zhang Daniu, was a straightforward person. With a hint of pride, he said, "Master Xiao said that once we produce the Thunder of Heaven, we can blow up those damned Tartars in the future"

A loud bang jolted Wen Tianxiang awake from his dreams. He sprang forward to the entrance of the tent, instinctively reaching for the rifle placed there. After grasping at nothing, he realized he was Wen Tianxiang, in the Song Dynasty, during the era of matchlock guns. The cannon fire he had just heard could not have been an enemy attack, as the Mongols primarily used catapults, not cannons.

"Is anyone injured?" Wen Tianxiang asked with concern, without the time to examine the explosive results in Xiao Zi's hands. The gunpowder formula recorded in the "Wujing Zongyao" states that the nitrate content is only 56% and has not been purified, so it is certainly not as good as the formula remembered by Wen Zhong. That formula requires the nitrate to be dissolved, filtered, and evaporated through several processes for purification. Sulfur and charcoal must be mixed and crushed, then the powder is stirred together with a wooden stick, sprayed with a small amount of cold water, cold-pressed into blocks, and then carefully crushed into granules before it can be used. After going through these tedious processing steps, although it is still black powder, its power is incomparable.

Referencing Wen Tianxiang's notes, the efficient gunpowder concocted in one morning has now captured the enthusiasm of the scribe Xiao Zi. Upon hearing Wen Tianxiang's arrangements, he felt a surge of confidence, stood up, and replied loudly: "I will obey your orders. If the Chancellor gives me half a month, I will surely produce a thunderous explosion!"

"Make a thunderous sound, but not the kind you are thinking of; it is another kind." Wen Tianxiang picked up a pen from the bamboo-woven desk, dipped it in some water, and drew a circle on the table. "I will hand over the entire supply camp to you. You will select blacksmiths to forge hollow balls the size of a fist from thin iron sheets. Remember, they must be uniform in size, the iron sheet must be thin, and they must be quickly quenched. Fill them with the kind of gunpowder we just discussed and install a fuse. In the future, when the two armies face each other, light them and throw them specifically into the crowd of the Tartars... Remember, they must be uniform in size, the iron sheet must be thin, and they must be quickly quenched. Fill them with the kind of gunpowder we just discussed and install a fuse. In the future, when the two armies face each other, light them and throw them specifically into the crowd of the Tartars..."

Since ancient times, who has not faced death in life? Let my loyal heart illuminate the annals of history. After reciting a line from a poem that is said to be his own in a dream, Wen Tianxiang patted Du Hu's shoulder, and for a moment, his demeanor regained a hint of wildness.

By the mountain stream, the soldiers lined up, one after another, waiting for the officers assigned by Du Hu to cut their hair. The soldiers who had already had their hair cut touched each other's heads, bursting into hearty laughter. They were not scholars and gentlemen, so they did not have many pretensions. The higher-ups said that shaving their heads was better for fighting, so everyone complied. A shaved head is good, it is cool, and it also saves them from being grabbed by the Mongol Tatars by their hair on the battlefield

In the wake of Prime Minister Wen's defeat at Kongkeng, he dreamt of receiving a scroll of heavenly scriptures. The scroll inscribed the words "Expel the Tartars, Restore China". From that moment on, he achieved victory in every battle, ultimately cleansing the land of China from a century of shame. The Duke of Han, the Duke of Wei, the Duke of Zhongshan, and King Kaiping all became renowned generals because they read this heavenly scripture. Years later, a storyteller in a tavern would shake his head and say this. This tale was the favorite of the youth of the Song Dynasty. Upon hearing it, the drinking youths' eyes would light up, and in their hearts would arise the ambition, "If I were to obtain this scripture, I too could traverse the world."

There is no fear, no pain, only disdain for the aggressors. Since ancient times, who has not faced death? Let my loyal heart illuminate the annals of history. With a loud "bang," the grenade exploded, and Wenzhong saw his proud soul.

The sudden blaze startled everyone, causing them to retreat several steps. Looking at Wen Tianxiang, he stood there with a smile, a faint trace of smoke lingering in his palm, while the traces of gunpowder had vanished.

"Xiao Canjun, what has happened, please speak slowly". The hurried Du Hu forcefully tugged at Xiao Zi's clothing, loudly reminding him. Overcome with excitement, Xiao Shuli only then realized his rudeness in front of the Prime Minister. He paused his voice, striving to suppress his inner joy as he explained, "I am a civilian official, and I cannot assist with the military preparations. Therefore, I was pondering over the diagrams the Prime Minister drew for us yesterday. On the page about the Thunderbolt, the method and formula for making gunpowder in the corner are quite different from what is commonly used in the military. So I gathered some saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal to experiment, and unexpectedly, this substance is so powerful that it nearly cost us our lives."

Ignite it; if the flame is high after burning, does not burn the hand, and leaves little residue, this indicates that the gunpowder is basically qualified. This method of inspection is a key point recorded by Wen Tianxiang on those few pages, suggesting that Xiao Zi has not only read it carefully but has also begun to grasp the essentials.

One by one, the Japanese soldiers clad in Mongolian armor fell, shot dead by Wen Zhong, who had exhausted his last bullet. Facing a group of Mongolian warriors rushing in to capture him alive, Wen Zhong pulled the pin on a grenade

A group of bald soldiers huddled near the entrance of a cave not far away, from which faint black smoke was rising. As the mountain breeze blew, the black smoke dispersed, and a whiff of sulfur wafted into the nostrils.

At this moment, he deeply understood the indomitable spirit that Wenzhong displayed in the final moments of his life. It is precisely this same spirit of resilience that supports everyone on Baizhang Ridge. Since ancient times, who has not faced death? Let the loyal heart shine through the annals of history. Regardless of how history is altered, no matter how those with ulterior motives attempt to paint black as white, or cover bloody facts with inked lies, that indomitable spirit that permeates the period can never be erased. Since ancient times, who has not faced death? Let the loyal heart shine through the annals of history. Regardless of how history is altered, no matter how those with ulterior motives attempt to paint black as white, or cover bloody facts with inked lies, that indomitable spirit that permeates the period can never be erased.

On the gentle slope, in the makeshift central tent, under the gaze of numerous concerned eyes, Xiao Zimei, who had not slept for two days, spoke animatedly, "The method written by the Prime Minister, I still have yet to complete the cold pressing, crushing, and screening, but the power compared to the original gunpowder is simply worlds apart..."

His feelings when facing the Japanese invaders at that time are actually the same as my feelings when facing the Mongolians now. Wen Tianxiang put on his clothes and walked out of the tent. He still had no clue as to why the memory of Wen Zhong would suddenly appear in his mind, whether it was the legendary borrowing of a corpse to return the soul.

Several soldiers assisting Xiao Zi gradually emerged from the cave, each with their faces covered in soot. Upon hearing Prime Minister Wen not inquiring about the results of the gunpowder production but rather about the safety of the soldiers, he felt a surge of emotion. One man, who appeared to be closest to the explosion site and had nearly singed off his eyebrows, answered loudly: "In response to the Prime Minister, no one was injured. The gunpowder was not pressed down with stones, so it did not explode; everyone just suffered some burns."

"Your Excellency?" Upon hearing Du Hu's question, Wen Tianxiang looked into the other person's eyes and replied earnestly: "The methods for manufacturing these weapons, just like the divine bow, will eventually be learned by the Tartars. However, as long as there remains a single man in our Song Dynasty who is unwilling to be a slave to the Tartars, with these methods, the Song Dynasty will have the opportunity to be reborn from the ashes"

There is no need for you to say this, several generals chuckled bitterly, ignoring the reckless general. They focused on listening to Wen Tianxiang explain the methods of making thunderous explosives and the rules for their use on the battlefield. Xiao Zi and Liu Zi Jun listened attentively while quickly recording these details. After the events of the morning, the two had come to realize that every sentence written on the papers during the period of Wen Chengxiang's madness contained profound meaning. They could not understand these contents now, but they would gradually figure them out in the future. Regarding why Lord Wen, after falling into a coma, would know so much, they did not wish to inquire. Heaven may bestow great responsibilities upon Wen Chengxiang, perhaps even granting the Song Dynasty a chance to be revived, along with a divine scripture. Lord Wen's unusual behavior in recent days might just be him comprehending the contents of this scripture, contemplating how to impart it to everyone.

"Alright, you few, from now on, follow Master Xiao and specialize in making gunpowder to blow up those damned Tartars," the deputy envoy Zou Shao gave a knowing glance to Wen Tianxiang and instructed the soldiers whose faces were charred black. Although he tried his best to suppress his inner excitement, he inadvertently let slip a curse following Zhang Daniu's lead.

The invention of the crossbow narrowed the gap between knights and farmers, while the use of firearms provided a fair opportunity for a duel between civilization and barbarism. Such a thought suddenly emerged in Wen Tianxiang's mind. He no longer found his peculiar ideas strange; without question, this thought must have originated from the mindset of Wen Zhong in his dreams.

Saving the fate of the Song Dynasty is not the responsibility of any single individual. With the weapons and hope that can change destiny, there will be those who rise up, burning down the dynasty built by the Golden Family with piles of corpses.

No one knew that at that time, Wen Tianxiang was almost regarded as a madman by his generals. On the afternoon of the day when the powerful weapon, the Thunder of Heaven, was invented in the Song army, the young Duke of Wei, Du Hu, once questioned Wen Tianxiang, "Does the Prime Minister believe that our Great Song first suffered defeat at the hands of the Khitan, then at the hands of the Western Xia and the Jurchen, and now has lost more than half of its territory to the Mongols? Is this truly due to the inadequacy of our weapons?"

On Baizhang Ridge, the sky has turned to dusk again

It was Xiao Zi, and Wen Tianxiang exerted great effort to recognize the other person's identity. Before he could ask, Xiao Zi, whose face was charred like a roasted pig, shouted and bent down to enter the cave. Soon, he emerged holding several pieces of blackened stones. Presenting the stones to Wen Tianxiang like a treasure, he exclaimed excitedly, "Chancellor, it worked, it worked, I succeeded"

The progress is so rapid that even Wen Tianxiang would be astonished. Ignoring the objections of those around him, he took a small amount of gunpowder from the treasured ceramic jar of the flute master, placed it in the palm of his hand, and gently waved a fire stick over it.

"The Chancellor is shaving; let us also shave. Do not disturb the Chancellor; allow him to sleep a little longer. Since the great army entered Jiangxi, the Chancellor has not had a good night's sleep." Someone suddenly had a pang of conscience, sighed a few times, and reluctantly walked towards the barber's stand by the mountain stream.

"You should take a break, have some water, catch your breath. That thunderous sound is for defending the city; we have no city left to defend." Du Hu was eating lunch while pouring cold water on Xiao Zixin's enthusiasm. Life in the mountains is tough, but fortunately, there is an abundance of game, so everyone is not starving.

A few clerical staff members, who had come to voice their grievances, peeked their heads into the tent but hesitated and retreated. They were all opponents of the head-shaving decree, pressured tightly by Du Hu, and thus sought out Wen Tianxiang to plead for their hair. Upon seeing Wen Tianxiang's smooth, shiny bald head glistening with a bluish hue, they realized that the matter was already settled and quietly walked away

The soldiers watching the commotion saw the Prime Minister approaching and quickly made way to clear a path. At the entrance of the cave, a man with dark eyebrows and black eyes chuckled, revealing a set of neatly aligned white teeth

If the actions of great figures are comprehensible to us, then we are no longer ordinary people. That afternoon, many looked at Wen Tianxiang with such thoughts. One night, the emergence of military training guidelines and the thunderous artillery gave Wen Tianxiang an aura of mystery in every word and action. This unintentional mystique, in such a perilous time, strengthened everyone's trust in Prime Minister Wen and solidified their belief in the restoration of the Song Dynasty.

After all, no one is born willing to be a slave

"The Chancellor is too weary; we should not trouble him with these trivial matters." A person dressed as an aide removed the dirty ceremonial cap, exposing neatly combed hair to the air

Liu Zijun, who followed Zou Can closely, was astute and understood what Zou, the deputy envoy, was thinking at that moment. First, he noted down the names of several individuals involved in the production of gunpowder and promised them some rewards. Then, he forcibly led Xiao Zi towards the central camp. Seeing this, Du Hu, the deputy envoy for the campaign, dismissed the onlookers under the pretext of dispersing the crowd, shook his head, and followed Wen Tianxiang towards the central military tent

The mountain breeze, cool and refreshing, blew through the tent curtain and onto Wen Tianxiang's face. After a night of busyness, he had breakfast and finally fell into a deep sleep, his brows furrowed as if he were still contemplating future arrangements in his dreams

Wen Tianxiang and Xiao Zi exchanged smiles with each other