From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 445

Put aside the worries in your heart. Now that things have come to this, you have to continue no matter what.

Zhou Yuan looked at everyone in the room and said in a deep voice: "I will give 300 taels for each of the eleven muskets, and 500 taels for the flintlock."

"Four people died, and I will give 300 taels of pension to each person."

"A total of 5,000 taels of silver. I will bring the silver notes to you tonight, and you will be responsible for the exchange and distribution."

Here, he paused slightly, his eyes swept over everyone, and his tone became more serious: "Tomorrow I will organize the soldiers of the Southern Palace to counterattack the Portuguese. Is there anyone willing to continue fighting with me?"

"Let me make it clear first. This time there is no pension, and there is no 300 taels for seizing guns. This time I will only take care of food, and there is almost no reward."

"How to decide, you still have half a day to think about it. When I bring the silver notes tonight, I hope to hear your reply."

"Now I say the last word, and give it to you."

Everyone looked at him, with different expressions.

Zhou Yuan said in a calm voice, "The greatest heroes serve their country and their people."

He left without waiting for anyone to answer.

Guan Lu winked, and several subordinates picked up their guns and followed him out.

Back at the Xunnan Palace, Zhuang Xuansu, Princess Qinshui, and Guan Caixi saw the matchlock gun and became interested.

Luo Zhiyuan was even more excited and asked Zhou Yuan for a gun.

Zhou Yuan's face was not good, but he said slowly, "Be quiet, listen to me how to operate this matchlock gun."

He picked up a gun, opened the medicine tank, took out the burnt residue inside, and blew away the remaining dust with his mouth.

"This is the first step, cleaning the medicine tank. If it is not cleaned, it is likely that the gunpowder will not burn fully, the explosive thrust will not be enough, the bullet range and accuracy will be affected, and it may even explode."

As he spoke, he took out the seized medicine bag, filled it with gunpowder, and pressed it tightly.

He said in a deep voice: "Compression is for better sealing and stronger power."

"After filling the gunpowder, cover the gunpowder tank, otherwise it will affect the gunpowder inside in strong winds or rainy days."

Then he turned the gun upside down on the ground, held it with his hand, and took out a lead bullet.

"This step is to fill the bullet. If you fill it directly, it is likely to cause the lead bullet to slip out, so it is often wrapped with cloth, leaves or paper, and then stuffed into the bottom of the barrel with a fork."

After following the method, Zhou Yuan looked at everyone and said: "The next step is to ignite the ignition line."

"Insert the ignition line into the gunpowder tank, and then ignite the ignition line. The burning speed of the ignition line is not fast, and it takes about seven or eight breaths."

"Within these seven or eight breaths, you must raise the gun and aim!"

While speaking, Zhou Yuan quickly raised the gun and aimed at the banyan tree in the yard.

With a loud bang, the bullet was fired and hit the target.

Everyone was stunned, and exclamations came from outside.

Zhou Yuan said: "Luo Zhiyuan, go outside and tell them not to be nervous."

"Okay..."

Luo Zhiyuan ran out quickly, yelled outside, and then ran in excitedly, his face flushed, rubbing his hands and eager to try it himself immediately.

Zhou Yuan said: "Each step is very important, and the order cannot be changed. After firing a shot, repeat these steps."

"Some skilled Portuguese can complete a series of methods such as cleaning the gunpowder tank, loading gunpowder, loading lead bullets, and lighting the fuse within fifteen breaths. With the burning time of the fuse, they can fire a bullet in more than twenty breaths."

Speaking of this, he looked at Luo Zhiyuan and said lightly: "You already know the process. Now I will give you a chance. If you can complete the operation within thirty breaths, I will give you a gun."

Luo Zhiyuan said quickly: "I can, I promise!"

"Master Zhuang, please time him."

Zhou Yuan handed Luo Zhiyuan a gun and pushed it away quickly.

Luo Zhiyuan immediately got busy. This guy was really talented. He cleaned the gun tank, loaded the gunpowder and fired the gun in one go, taking only more than 20 breaths.

It was just that the shot was a little off-center and failed to hit the banyan tree, but it made a wound on the wall next to it.

"Ah!"

Luo Zhiyuan covered his mouth and jumped up in pain.

Apparently, the recoil caused the butt of the gun to hit his mouth, and his lips were broken by his teeth.

But he was very excited and couldn't help but yelled, turning back and shouting: "Zhou Yuan, I did it, I did it, I shot it out."

Zhou Yuan kicked him on the knee, causing him to stagger.

"Damn it, do you know any etiquette? You can't call me by my name!"

Zhou Yuan was very unhappy.

Luo Zhiyuan evenHe hurriedly said, "Brother Zhou, give me this gun, and give me a bag of medicine and a bag of bullets."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Of course I can give it to you, but not now, but after the battle tomorrow."

"Don't think I don't know, you want to join the battle."

Luo Zhiyuan was slightly stunned, his face suddenly fell, and he begged, "Brother Zhou, just let me go, I also want to kill foreign pirates."

Zhou Yuan said, "How old are you this year?"

"Seventeen!"

"Say it again!"

"Fifteen..."

Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said, "That's right, stay at home at the age of fifteen."

"Now I have to go to teach the soldiers, I don't have time to play with you."

I have to explain to them the basic principles of the firearm, so that when they face it, they will have a good idea in their hearts and know when the other party can fire the second shot.

At the same time, if the gun is seized on the battlefield, it can be used to counterattack immediately.

In addition, there is a detailed deployment of tomorrow's battle plan, and the things that should be prepared must be prepared.

Seeing Zhou Yuan ignored him, Luo Zhiyuan looked at Princess Qinshui and whispered, "Sister Qinshui, please help me persuade Brother Zhou. I want to fight the foreign pirates."

Princess Qinshui spread her hands and said, "We can't control these things. As long as it's about serious and important things, he is the one who makes the decision."

Luo Zhiyuan didn't give up. He looked at Guan Caixi and smiled with a rotten face, "Sister Caixi..."

Guan Caixi didn't say anything, but stared at the banyan tree in front of her and couldn't help laughing.

Princess Qinshui asked in confusion, "Sister Xiaoxi, what are you laughing at?"

Guan Caixi said, "So handsome, Zhou Yuan's shooting posture just now was so handsome. With a bang, his hair flew up, and his face was very cold."

Princess Qinshui obviously didn't expect the other party to say such a thing, and she was dumbfounded.

Then she gritted her teeth and said, "Guan Caixi, what are you thinking about!"

Guan Caixi curled her lips and said, "I'm just telling the truth, I don't mean anything else."

She laughed again, covering her mouth and said, "I'm definitely not going to practice martial arts, it's too hard, but I'm sure I can use a gun. I'll be a master in the future."

After saying that, she looked at Guan Lu excitedly.

Guan Lu quickly stepped back two steps, then turned back and ordered: "Well, pick up the gun quickly and send it to the adults."

"No!"

Guan Caixi hurriedly said: "Leave one for me. Luo Zhiyuan is a child and has no sense of propriety. Naturally, he can't use it."

"But I can, I have learned it."

Guan Lu laughed dryly: "Miss Guan, I can't decide this matter. I must get the consent of the adults."

After speaking, he immediately turned back and said: "What are you doing! Take the gun and run!"

A group of subordinates quickly picked up the gun and ran. Guan Caixi shouted twice, but no one could be seen.

She looked at Guan Lu and gritted her teeth and said: "Okay, Guan Lu, I think you are usually quiet and honest, but I didn't expect you to be as cunning as Zhou Yuan!"

"I have something else to do, so I'll leave first."

Guan Lu ran away directly without getting entangled at all.

Seeing this scene, Princess Qinshui and Zhuang Xuansu couldn't help laughing.