Chapter 6 Section five

The sage Sun Simiao recorded in the Danjing "the method of volting sulfur in the Danjing", saying: "Two liang each of sulfur and saltpeter, grind it into powder, and put it in a silver pot or sand jar. Dig a pit, put three soap When the game is lit, put it into the pot, set the sulfur and saltpeter on fire, and then the fire can be set on fire." In the "Secrets of Alchemy of the Great Ancestor of the Supreme God", another method of "submerging fire and alum" is proposed: "two liang of sulfur, two liang of nitrate, three and a half coins of aristolochia. The stone is the powder, mix well. Dig a hole and use it as medicine Put the inside of the jar on the same level as the ground. Put a piece of cooked fire, a large marble, into the inside, and the smoke will gradually rise."

Under the so-called "Volume Fire Method", both books write: "When making alchemy with this method, it is necessary to strictly prevent fire. Blending sulfur, saltpeter, realgar, oil and saponin, although it can remove the strongness of sulfur, However, if it is not properly controlled, it will produce huge force and even detonate, and even reach the level of landslides and ground cracks." Han Xiang had heard a long time ago that there was a Taoist priest named Qingxuzi in Zhongnan Mountain who used sulfur and saltpeter to make alchemy. When he was careless, the alchemy furnace exploded, and the purple fire flew into the air, and Qingxuzi was blown into the air. , both arms were broken.

According to the information provided by Duan Chengshi and Guo Huan, the things stolen in the capital robbery case included medicinal materials, saponins, live pigs, and soil next to the latrine.These things do not have much value at first glance, so it is puzzling.But combined with the alchemy and volt fire method, the connection can be found immediately—— Grease can be extracted from live pigs; saltpeter can be extracted from the soil next to the latrine; and sulfur, orpiment and realgar are among the stolen medicinal materials. The fact to be confirmed now is: Which one was stolen first, the Daoist scriptures or those items?

Most of the Taoist priests who are good at alchemy have heard of the sulfur fire method, but the specific formula is only recorded in these two Taoist scriptures. Han Xiang believes that if the two Taoist scriptures were stolen first, it is almost certain that someone is trying to make the secret method of alchemy and fire.In fact, the firecrackers that are everywhere on the street at the moment are mixed with sulfur and saltpeter and then ignited.But judging from the amount of stolen sulfur and saltpeter, that group of mysterious thieves seems to want to make a lot of "firecrackers"?

why?Could it be that they want to make a profit by selling firecrackers on the Lantern Festival?This is too stupid. Han Xiang pondered, he had to tell Duan Chengshi about this discovery as soon as possible.Duan Chengshi, that ghost, might be able to come up with some clues. But now is the climax of the Lantern Festival, and Duan Chengshi must be enjoying the lanterns with his relatives and friends.There is no rush at this moment.Han Xiang glanced at Li Fuyan, who was sleeping soundly on the couch, thinking that nothing would happen, so he decided to join the crowd first as suggested by his servant, and enjoy the festive season with nearly a million people in Chang'an.

Stepping out of the gate is like entering another world. In the sleepless city of Chang'an tonight, there are lanterns and festoons everywhere, and fire trees and silver flowers.The bright lights are like the stars of the Milky Way, reflecting the colorful people all over the street, hugging each other and laughing endlessly.Han Xiang spent many Shangyuan Festivals in Chang'an City, but felt that this eve was more lively than previous years.Is it because of the Buddha bones?Or is it because of Datang's hard-won ZTE?The emperor's painstaking effort for more than ten years to cut down the feudal clan is finally coming to an end.It is reasonable to have such a boiling Shangyuan Festival.

Han Xiang squeezed into the crowd and walked forward with the flow.By feeling, the flow of people is heading northeast.During the Shangyuan Festival, huge colored wheels and hundreds of lantern trees are erected on the sky street in front of the imperial city as usual.Thousands of court ladies danced and sang under the colorful wheel, strange people from outside the region performed various operas and illusions, and athletes from the forbidden army even played tug-of-war to add to the fun.The princes and nobles set up colorful buildings on both sides of Tianjie to watch the lanterns. When they saw the lanterns rising, they scattered a lot of gold and silver, like a goddess scattering flowers, to lure the common people to fight for it, so everyone rushed there.

After walking not far, the flow of people stopped again, bursting into cheers.Han Xiang followed the people around him and looked up to the sky, and saw prayer lanterns flying up above the dark cloud-covered sky, fluttering gorgeously like stars, which attracted everyone, especially the children, to wave their hands on their backs and get excited. Han Xiang was enjoying watching, when he suddenly heard someone shouting in his ear: "Han Lang!" Looking back, it was Duan Chengshi! Han Xiang asked in surprise: "Why are you here? Are you watching the lights with your family?"

"I'm looking for you!" "Find me? Didn't we make an appointment to meet again tomorrow?" "Oh! It's a Buddha bone!" Duan Chengshi was sweating profusely. He didn't know whether he squeezed it out or came out in a hurry, and said loudly, "The Buddha bone is almost at Da'an Guo Temple!" "What?" Han Xiang didn't understand, "Isn't the Buddha bones not released from the ban until the sixteenth day of the first lunar month?" Duan Chengshi's expression was a little strange: "Han Lang, today is the Lantern Festival!"

Han Xiang suddenly understood—the bell of Zishi had just struck, and it was already the sixteenth day of the first lunar month.If it is on other days, the Buddha bone will not leave the forbidden place until the morning bell rings and the palace gate is opened.But the Shangyuan Festival lasts all night, so the Buddha bones will be greeted out of Da Nei on time as soon as the time passes. He looked around, only to realize that most of this turbulent crowd went to Da'an Guo Temple to worship the Buddha bone. Da'anguo Temple is located in Changlefang, with the Daming Palace to the north and the Sixteen Kings' House to the east. Therefore, after the Buddha bone left the forbidden center, it was first welcomed into the Da'anguo Temple to worship.

In order to drown out the firecrackers and human voices around, Duan Chengshi was already shouting at Han Xiang: "I found out that among the Hu people who entered Chang'an on the 12th day of the first lunar month, there was a group of monks from the country of Khotan who made a special trip to worship the Buddha. Bones contributed to the incense of the Western Regions. Now it has been arranged by Honglu Temple, and they are authorized to go to Da'an Guo Temple to offer incense today." He took a breath, and then said, "But I always feel that this matter is strange, so I lied to my parents on purpose. Go to the Han Mansion to discuss with you. Who knows that you are not at home, I guess you will also plan to go to Da'an Guo Temple, just looking for it all the way..." Han Xiang said in shock: "Oops!" "What's wrong?" "The incense is probably haunted!" Han Xiang pulled Duan Chengshi's arm, "It's too late, let's go to Da'an Guo Temple!" Unexpectedly, the surrounding area was crowded with people, and the direction of Suzaku Street to the north towards the imperial city was almost impenetrable.Han Xiang pulled Duan Chengshi through the crowd, squeezed forward, and told Duan Chengshi what he had discovered. Without saying a few words, Duan Chengshi's expression changed drastically. Based on all the findings, the most reasonable inference is that some Hu people pretended to be monks in Khotan and offered incense to the Buddha bone in Da'an Guo Temple, but buried sulfur, saltpeter and other things in the incense.According to the ratio recorded in the secret of alchemy, once it is ignited, an immeasurably powerful deflagration will occur. Buddha bone, Da'an Guo Temple, more and more people gathered, and the candle lanterns everywhere in Chang'an city... The consequences could be disastrous! The two of them couldn't care less about talking, and both started to push forward desperately.On both sides of Suzaku Avenue, Jinwu Guards maintaining order could be seen from time to time, but the crowd was so overwhelming that they couldn't squeeze in front of the soldiers, and it was impossible to speak and warn them.I can only rely on myself! Along the way, rushing left and right, blocking east and west, the two only hated that they didn't have wings under their ribs.After spending more than an hour, I finally entered Changlefang. It was not yet dawn, but there were lights all over the place, and the wheel erected in the imperial city not far away gave off dazzling brilliance, illuminating the entire Changle Square as if it were daytime.After crossing the dense crowd of heads, the square pagoda of Da'an Guo Temple can already be seen clearly, but it is difficult to get even half a step closer. The Jinwu Guard with a sword and a halberd used his body as a barrier to block the people behind him, making a way for the temple.Clean water has been splashed on the streets, reflecting the splendor of the city like a mirror. With great effort, Han Xiang and Duan Chengshi broke through the encirclement and got to the front row of the crowd.The gate of Da'an Guo Temple was wide open, and bursts of Sanskrit sounds came from inside.Looking into the temple through the guard of honor of the Jinwu Guards, I saw the monks of Hesi Temple wearing the most solemn cassocks, chanting sutras in unison, and solemnly waiting for the arrival of the Buddha bones.The incense and candle smoke lingered around them, and then gathered in the air, forming a steaming canopy. Duan Chengshi has sharp eyes: "Look over there!" On the street facing the temple gate, there is a large bronze tripod.Surrounded by several monks, they all looked like barbarians. This must be the incense offered by the so-called Khotan monks, but the incense in the bronze tripod was not lit at this time. Han Xiang and Duan Chengshi nodded at each other, thinking that they would have to wait for the Buddha bone to arrive before offering incense—there is still a chance to stop it!It must be stopped! Among the Jinwu guards in front of the temple, there is only one general wearing bright armor riding high on his horse.Han Xiang and Duan Chengshi squeezed in front of him and shouted in unison: "General, the incense in the bronze tripod is deceitful!" The general had a beard all over his face, and his helmet covered half of his face above the nose, but his shoulders were wide and his waist was round, which made him quite powerful.He stared straight at Han Xiang and Duan Chengshi, as if he didn't understand what they said all at once. Duan Chengshi called again: "General, you must not ignite the incense, the copper tripod will explode!" "What did you say?" Duan Chengshi was taken aback, the general's accent was also that of a barbarian.He was still in a daze, and he heard the general shout: "Go away!" Han Xiang rushed forward: "General, don't take it lightly, please listen to us..." "Quickly drive these two rioters away!" Following the general's order, fists, kicks and sticks rained down on Han Xiang and Duan Chengshi.The two were stupefied, and when they were in a daze, the people around them cheered like a tsunami—the Buddha bone has arrived! The Jinwu Guard left them behind and turned to maintain order.People bowed their heads one after another, and Duan Chengshi and Han Xiang were dispersed.Suddenly there was no shelter in front of his eyes. Duan Chengshi saw that the Buddha bone ceremonial guard was slowly approaching from the direction of Daming Palace. After all the lanterns of the Lantern Festival. Deafening Sanskrit singing resounded in Da'an Guo Temple, and Abbot Master Huineng led the monks out of the temple gate and waited respectfully in front of the bronze tripod.A Hu monk lit incense and respectfully offered it to the abbot. Duan Chengshi shouted hoarsely: "Abbot, you can't light the fire!" But music, prayers, chants, and firecrackers, all kinds of sounds boiling against the sky, had already drowned out his little cry. The guard of honor of the Buddha bones stops in front of the bronze tripod.Abbot Huineng held up the incense sticks and muttered, and all the monks knelt down beside him, and those monks also knelt down. Abbot Huineng finished praying and was about to put the incense into the copper tripod when suddenly a voice came from above his head: "Stop!" Duan Chengshi fell from the sky and rushed straight to the abbot's body, the two of them fell together beside the bronze tripod. It turned out that in desperation, Duan Chengshi climbed up the towering ancient locust tree in front of the temple.Because everyone's attention was focused on the Buddha bone, no one stopped him, so that he could jump directly from the locust tree to Abbot Huineng at the critical moment. Duan Chengshi got up immediately.Abbot Huineng fell hard, Duan Chengshi reached out to help him, and apologized: "Abbot, I'm sorry!" He still wanted to explain a few words to the old monk, but a roar came from not far away: "Who! He ruined my big business!" When Duan Chengshi raised his head, he saw the general of the Jinwu Guard get off his horse, with a sword in his hand, rushing towards him with murderous aura. Duan Chengshi was shocked when he suddenly recognized who he was. In a blink of an eye, the general was in front of him, he raised his sword and slashed, Duan Chengshi rolled on the spot, and the general dodged.The general cut again, Duan Chengshi jumped up and ran.The fall just now still hurt him, Duan Chengshi felt his right ankle hurt so badly, he had an idea and ran around the tripod.Fortunately, his body is nimble, but the general's full body armor is a bit dull after all, and he couldn't reach him after several rounds of chasing. The general was furious, raised his arm and pushed it, and overturned the bronze tripod with his bare hands, and the black powder inside spilled all over the ground. At this time, there was chaos in front of Da'an Guo Temple, people were shouting and shoving, and the Jinwu Guard could no longer control the situation. Duan Chengshi limped and ran towards the Buddha bone again. "Good boy, where else do you want to escape to!" General Hu Ren blocked the way. Duan Chengshi raised his head, facing the sharp sword he held high: "I know who you are!" The general was taken aback. Just at this moment, the tree of lights in front of the temple could not withstand the push of the crowd and fell down, sparks flew down! The moment Mars fell towards the copper tripod, Duan Chengshi saw that Han Xiang had rushed to Jin Yu.He shouted at Han Xiang with all his strength: "Protect the Buddha bone!" Han Xiang rushed to Jin Yu in response. Accompanied by a loud bang, the flames exploded instantly in front of Da'an Guo Temple.