Chapter 57 Section 12

After listening to Shi Yue's description of these firearms calmly, Pan Zhaolin said disapprovingly, "My lord, the outcome of a war is not determined by weapons." Shi Yue never refuted the wise words, but he also had his own opinion: "A better weapon is better than a worse weapon." Pan Zhaolin poured another dish of cold water that was enough to dampen all the enthusiasm of Shi Yue on the first day of taking office: "War is actually a waste of money. The price of gunpowder weapons is not low, and their functions are limited, meaningless. The Song Dynasty has no ability to mass-produce gunpowder weapons. There is also no money to equip gunpowder weapons on a large scale. Besides, I have never heard of a case where you can win by relying on gunpowder weapons.”

Shi Yue's heart sank immediately, war is money, this is the truth.Especially in ancient times, it was almost impossible to support war with war.He walked up and down the garden rubbing his hands, his brow furrowed. Seeing him like this, Shi Jian smiled and said, "My lord, don't worry too much. Is it possible that you have to use firearms to win the battle?" "What do children know!" Shi Yue waved his hand at him, Shi Jian stood aside with his mouth pouted, not daring to make a sound. Pan Zhaolin didn't know why Shi Yue paid so much attention to firearms, and said: "What matters in war is the general's strategy and the soldiers' daily training. The armor of this dynasty is not inferior to that of Xia or Khitan." The Liao Kingdom has always been reluctant to call the country directly.

"The key is that we don't have cavalry, so we can't afford cavalry!" Shi Yue said, frowning. "Can firearms fight against cavalry?" Pan Zhaolin was incredulous. Firearms at that time were only auxiliary weapons on the battlefield. "Of course not now, but I can improve it." Shi Yue said hesitantly. Pan Zhaolin felt a little inconceivable, that improved firearms could be used against cavalry?He couldn't help being interested, and said, "Excuse me, my lord, how can we improve the law?" "This..." Shi Yue was stopped by the question, he didn't understand the design of firearms.

Shi Yue stayed in the iron smelting workshop and the east and west workshops for making weapons for another month, doing almost nothing.In addition to watching the workers start work in person, they chatted with officials and workers.In a month, Shi Yue talked to hundreds of people.Feng Jing was quite dissatisfied with him going to these places with a good future to do nothing, so he specially wrote a letter to persuade Shi Yue.However, Shi Yue just laughed it off. In late October, Shi Yue, who had almost disappeared from Baishuitan, suddenly appeared in front of Sang Chongguo. "Shi Ziming, you are amazing. The college was so busy at the beginning of the school year, you hid in Yubu to take a break. Now that everything has been arranged, you just showed up. Isn't this too much?" When I got to Shiyue, I couldn't get angry.

"With Changqing here, I can rest assured." Shi Yue smiled flatteringly, "I also have an errand, so I can't help myself." "Let's not come here. Tonight, I want good wine from Renhe Restaurant outside the old Songmen, girls from Biyuexuan, and Zhang Bajia's private seat..." Sang Chongguo decided to make a good deal of it. "Okay, okay." Shi Yue never dared to say no, "Now let me meet Shen Kuo and the students who study Gewu, okay?" Sang Chongguo looked at Shi Yue suspiciously, and said, "What did you see them do? What's their plan?"

"Hey..." Shi Yue unconsciously smiled like Pan Zhaolin.