"Without the prefectures, my Great Song's armies can only confront the Liao cavalry on the plains. Now that the Liao have perished and the Jurchens have risen, their combat strength surpasses that of the Liao. If they march south, do you think the Hebei garrisons can defend the territory?"
"So, this device, my lord, is intended to counter the Jurchen cavalry?" wAp.kanshu伍.net
Li Zong's eyes lit up.
"Precisely, this device is meant to counter the Jurchen cavalry! All horses fear thunder, and this device not only possesses immense destructive power but can also be used to frighten enemy steeds, making it invincible against cavalry!"
"However, to produce this device, we need vast amounts of steel, and the sooner the better! Given the current situation between the imperial court and the Jurchens, how much time do you think we have to waste after the fall of the Liao?"
After hearing Han Mo's words, Li Zong fell silent.
"Between two evils, choose the lesser. They will indeed lose some reputation, but as you have seen, their families have come with them. Do you think I would mistreat them?"
"Li Zong is too foolish; I beg for your punishment, my lord!"
Taking a deep breath, Li Zong was utterly convinced.
His eyes had only seen the craftsmen, but Han Mo's eyes had already foreseen the power struggles between the two nations. He was still concerned with the personal gains and losses of these craftsmen, while Han Mo was already planning for the future of the Great Song.
In front of Han Mo, he even felt a sense of inferiority.
"Enough, my esteemed brother, you need not belittle yourself. It is merely that I occupy this position, and my surroundings and experiences are different from yours!"
Regardless, Li Zong's performance today was generally satisfactory.
As a traditional scholar-official, he did not directly accuse him of moral failings, which Han Mo found very pleasing.
Even more commendable was that after reviewing Han Mo's artillery blueprints, he did not blindly believe them nor blindly trust Han Mo's identity. Instead, he proposed the idea of testing the device.
To dare to question under such a significant difference in status already surpassed many scholars.
Although the research into artillery was important, the issue was that Han Mo did not have much energy to constantly waste on such matters. Moreover, Han Mo had a vague feeling that he could not remain in the Liangzhe Circuit for too long.
He needed to cultivate his influence as quickly as possible and find people who could be accepted by all parties.
While Li Zong might not be considered a technical talent, his attitude was at least correct.
Specific talents could be found elsewhere and nurtured, missing craftsmen could be recruited from various places, and lacking soldiers could be directly trained.
Wasn't it just a matter of spending money?
For others, it might indeed be difficult, but for Han Mo, this was not a trivial matter!
If only a technical official was needed, Han Mo could promote one from among the craftsmen.
However, for this promoted individual to wield greater authority in the future, it would require him to be not only from a scholarly family but preferably from a renowned lineage!
Under these circumstances, was Li Zong not the most suitable candidate?
Even if he left his current position in the future, with his full support, this person could still rise to prominence with him.
He dared not speak of other official positions, but a mere Judge of the Bureau of Military Equipment should be no problem!
"No, no, no. My lord's vision is so broad, and his magnanimity is a thousand times greater than Li Zong's!"
"Enough, let's not dwell on these matters. I have a task I wish to entrust to you next, esteemed brother. I wonder if you dare to accept it?"
Seeing his constant apologies, Han Mo simply smiled.
"If there is anything Li Zong can do to be of service, my lord, please speak directly!"
Seeing the smile on Han Mo's face, Li Zong seemed to guess something and immediately knelt on one knee before Han Mo.
"Esteemed brother, what are you doing? We are not strangers, and I dare not accept such a grand gesture from you!"
Seeing his excited demeanor, Han Mo quickly stood up and helped him up.
If it were just him, it would be fine, but his father was under his command. If his father knew that his son had knelt before him, he would surely be mocked when visiting their home in the future!
"No, no, no. My lord, you must accept this courtesy!"
Li Zong stubbornly wanted to complete the bow to Han Mo, but with Han Mo's divine strength, how could his small arms and legs contend with Han Mo's innate power?
"Alright, esteemed brother, to manufacture this device, we first need to create another. I have a blueprint here, and I wish to assign the task of manufacturing this device to you. I wonder if you dare to accept it!"
After forcibly seating him, Han Mo took out the drawing of a water-powered lathe he had drawn from a nearby box.
Although the device was very rudimentary, and Han Mo himself was unsure of the precision after processing given the current situation, he still wanted to try.
If this device failed, he would likely have to return to the old path of casting cannons…
"Is this device used to make that iron pipe?"
After staring at the blueprint for a long time, Li Zong asked again with his head in his hands.
"Precisely, water flow drives this wheel mechanism, which then transmits power through gears, much like this!"
As Han Mo spoke, he performed a trick, taking several wooden gears from a nearby cabinet, arranging them, and then rotating the first gear.
As the first large gear turned, the smaller gears behind it began to spin rapidly.
Seeing this scene, Li Zong's mouth fell open. This was how it could be done?
"Gulp—"
"However, to withstand the power of gunpowder explosions, wouldn't this device need to be made of refined steel? And how can refined steel be turned into a pipe?"
Although Han Mo's demonstration was vivid, Li Zong still asked with disbelief.
"Has esteemed brother never heard of the idiom 'shaving iron like cutting mud'? I have already sent people to purchase extraterrestrial iron at a high price. We have had some success recently, and it is now on its way back at full speed!"
"Extraterrestrial iron?"
After hearing Han Mo's words, Li Zong felt a pang in his teeth. How much would that cost?
"Actually, esteemed brother, you are overthinking it. We do not need much. We only need to use extraterrestrial iron to forge the cutting edge at this position, and then use gears to drive the iron embryo to rotate. Wouldn't the iron be shaved off bit by bit?"