Chapter 678

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“Empress, please don’t tease us servants. We are of humble status; how can we possibly have the virtue or ability to serve by His Imperial Majesty’s side?”

The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Ziyuan was the first to react, filled with apprehension.

Lu Luo also panicked slightly. Ever since Xiao Ming ascended the throne, the distinction between high and low had become increasingly insurmountable. At this moment, Fei Yuer’s words sounded to them like a veiled way of telling them to leave.

Seeing their faces turn pale, Xiao Ming smiled helplessly and said, “I assure the Empress, this matter is absolutely true.”

As Xiao Ming spoke, Ziyuan and Lu Luo now believed him. Their panic gradually turned into joy.

The two had followed Xiao Ming for five years and had long developed deep affection for him. If they were to leave this place one day, they wouldn’t know how to live.

On countless nights, they had harbored such extravagant hopes, but they never expected that one day, this extravagant hope would become reality.

“Thank Your Imperial Majesty, thank Empress.” Ziyuan and Lu Luo bowed joyfully.

Xiao Ming and Fei Yuer also smiled. He said to the two, “If you’re going to thank anyone, you should thank the Empress Dowager. Why don’t you go now?”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Lu Luo and Ziyuan cheerfully headed to Ciren Palace.

Seeing the two walk away, Fei Yuer gave Xiao Ming a chiding look and said, “Now His Imperial Majesty doesn’t have to secretly meet them every now and then, does he? Tonight, His Imperial Majesty can turn a tablet.”

Xiao Ming immediately felt a little awkward. Some things really couldn’t be hidden from a woman’s keen eyes. During Fei Yuer’s pregnancy, he had indeed often secretly met the two maids.

After all, Xiao Ming was a normal man and had some physiological needs.

He chuckled twice. Xiao Ming said, “I won’t turn anyone’s tablet. The Empress is pregnant, so I should be accompanying the Empress.”

Fei Yuer, hearing this, covered her mouth and laughed.

The next day, the imperial decree enfeoffing Cui Xue’er as Imperial Noble Consort and Lu Luo and Ziyuan as Guiren was delivered to the three. That day, Cui Xue’er entered the traveling palace and temporarily resided in the Chunhua Pavilion of the traveling palace.

This Chunhua Pavilion was located behind Xiao Ming’s and Fei Yuer’s bedchamber. Xiao Ming could reach it by taking a small path from his bedchamber.

With this matter settled, Xiao Ming felt a weight lifted from his mind.

In this northern war, the Prince of Huainan performed very actively, not only distinguishing himself in the destruction of Yan but also actively participating in the attack on Prince Zhao.

Xiao Ming was well aware that the Prince of Huainan’s actions were all to ensure Xiao Ming would treat his daughter well.

However, the northern war had now reached a critical juncture. Xiao Ming’s decision to have Cui Xue’er enter the palace at this moment was also to reassure the Prince of Huainan, so that he could bravely fight the enemy on the battlefield.

“Congratulations, Your Imperial Majesty, on winning back a beauty this time.”

The first thing Cui Xue’er did after entering the palace was to go to Ciren Hall to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager. Then she, Ziyuan, and Lu Luo went to the bedchamber to pay their respects to Fei Yuer. Fei Yuer had already met Cui Xue’er earlier.

He had just returned from the council hall when Fei Yuer began telling him about this Cui Xue’er.

“I don’t believe there’s a woman more beautiful than the Empress in this world,” Xiao Ming said smoothly. Deeply influenced by modern culture, he was very skilled in flattering his wife.

These words sweetened Fei Yuer’s heart. She said, “I’m only afraid that His Imperial Majesty will forget what he’s saying now once he sees this Cui Xue’er.”

As the two were speaking, Qian Dafu suddenly walked over and said to Xiao Ming, “Your Imperial Majesty, Lu Tong seeks an audience.”

“Lu Tong? Let him in.”

Xiao Ming said blandly. Lu Tong had been busy with various chemical experiments during this time. One of the experiments he had ordered Lu Tong to do was the preparation of fulminate of mercury.

Through nearly five years of teaching, he now had a group of basic talents, but although these people had mastered some techniques, they sometimes didn’t know where to start or what to research first.

So, after ascending the throne, Xiao Ming simply formulated a research and development plan, having technical talents like Lu Tong, Lin Wenyang, Song Changping, and Chen Qi produce various technological items one by one according to the plan he listed.

For Lin Wentao, it was the steam engine and steam locomotive. For Lu Tong, it was fulminate of mercury, the most basic priming compound.

After all, smokeless gunpowder was merely a propellant. If firearms were to be upgraded to percussion guns, this priming compound had to be used.

As it involved government affairs, Xiao Ming no longer received Lu Tong near the bedchamber, but waited for him in the main hall.

Soon, Lu Tong appeared outside the main hall and walked towards Xiao Ming.

“Greetings, Your Imperial Majesty!” Upon approaching, Lu Tong bowed and said.

Xiao Ming looked at Lu Tong. “This time you’ve come to see me, have you made any progress?”

“Your Imperial Majesty has divine foresight. This subordinate is here to speak of fulminate of mercury. This priming compound has been successfully synthesized in the laboratory,” Lu Tong said excitedly.

Xiao Ming smiled with satisfaction upon hearing this. In 1799, Edward Charles Howard synthesized fulminate of mercury, and in 1814, fulminate of mercury began to be used in the manufacture of percussion caps.

At this time, the percussion caps were not yet used for metallic fixed ammunition, but merely as separate percussion caps inserted to replace the flint.

But even so, this significantly increased the firing rate of firearms, as it eliminated the step of pouring gunpowder into the flash pan.

And after the birth of the percussion cap came the birth of the percussion device and the breech-loading gun, followed by the metallic fixed ammunition.

Now that Lu Tong had produced fulminate of mercury, for Xiao Ming, he could manufacture percussion caps and percussion devices to upgrade flintlock guns into the most rudimentary percussion guns, increasing the firing rate of firearms.

However, metallic fixed ammunition was still impossible for him, as it was said that only thirteen countries in the world could produce bullets and shells even in contemporary times.

It was evident that the production of bullets and shells required a sufficiently strong industrial system, and for Xiao Ming, Qingzhou’s industry had just begun, making the production of metallic fixed ammunition an insurmountable challenge.

“Not bad, not bad,” Xiao Ming said with a smile. Although the percussion device could only increase the firing rate and not change the range or power, this was still a huge step forward for him, because on the battlefield, victories were often achieved by being able to fire two more shots.

Lu Tong looked relaxed. This was a task Xiao Ming had given him, and now that it was completed, a weight had finally been lifted from his heart.

“Your Imperial Majesty, although fulminate of mercury has been synthesized, in this subordinate’s opinion, this fulminate of mercury is somewhat unstable and prone to explosion. If this is to be used in firearms, care must be taken in its storage.”

Xiao Ming nodded. He said, “Don’t think your task is over. This fulminate of mercury has been developed, but next, you still need to help Song Changping with the manufacture of percussion caps using mercury sulfate.”

“Percussion caps?” Lu Tong scratched his head. He knew nothing about such things. After all, he was currently only responsible for synthesizing various substances.

Xiao Ming then had Qian Dafu bring paper and brush. He began to draw the structure of a percussion cap on the paper stroke by stroke. At the same time, under the influence of the technology crystal, Lu Tong gradually gained a clear understanding of what a percussion cap was.