127: Science and technology is the primary productive force

Yuan Tiangang, who was standing beside them, slapped his forehead and smiled wryly, "I knew I seemed to have forgotten something... So it was this!"

The topic Tang Ku brought up immediately pulled Yuan Tiangang back to reality. He turned his head to Li Chunfeng and said, "Brother Li, even if it's designed, it can't be used... The steelmaking technology can't meet the demand, so there's no seamless steel pipe. Without seamless steel pipe, how can we make durable cannons?"

Li Chunfeng, however, smiled and said, "I know that. The current casting technology really can't meet the requirements for manufacturing this kind of weapon. If it's used excessively, it's prone to bursting!"

"You thought of it!"

Yuan Tiangang couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Then how should this problem be solved?"

Li Chunfeng laughed, "Brother Yuan, you're confused. Aren't we Daoist Disciples? Before we have seamless steel pipes, why don't we use Dao methods to design a coating for the cannon body?"

"Coating?"

Yuan Tiangang was bewildered, "What concept is this again?"

"You, you, you're asking me about notes you wrote yourself?"

Li Chunfeng laughed, "That book of yours is full of future ideas that the Holy Monk has already talked about, isn't it? Among them is the existence of this kind of high-temperature resistant coating..."

"Oh, right, our current technical means are indeed insufficient, but techniques and spells are enough to compensate. I've thought about it: once the cannon body is cast in iron, it can be directly coated. For the specifics, we'll need to invite more Xuanmen spellcasters to consult and see what Materials are suitable for reinforcing the cannon body... Moreover, as far as I know, many Immortal Magic Treasures are not very strong when first cast. After adding Formations and some cultivation Materials to them, they become Sharp Weapons. We can completely start from this aspect!"

Yuan Tiangang's eyes lit up, and he said again, "That's too good! My mind is muddled from organizing Materials. I really need you to remind me!"

Tang Ku's mouth twitched as he muttered, "It seems there's nothing for me to do here!"

However, he quickly thought of a few more loopholes and couldn't help but remind them, "Well, these are all easy to solve, but there's one point, and that's the efficiency problem: how to achieve mass production in a short time! And there's the mobility problem. Your cannon body design is too long and too big. How to make this thing into mobile equipment is also a problem... Oh, right, there's one more thing. I suggest you miniaturize and individualize these similar weapons. It would be best if our Great Tang army could have one per person in the future. Of course, the power and usage aspects need to be weighed by yourselves... Hmm, the enemies we might face in the future could be very powerful, even stronger than Heavenly Soldiers and Generals. How to improve the combat capability of individual soldiers is the key!"

The two men's eyes grew brighter and brighter, especially Li Chunfeng, who bowed deeply to Tang Ku and said earnestly, "Thank you, Holy Monk, for your guidance. I am truly grateful. I will immediately begin designing new blueprints..."

Yuan Tiangang laughed, "This is where you're confused. You just need to reduce the size on this drawing, keep the proportions unchanged, and then design the firing mechanism to be usable with one hand or two hands. In other words, you just need to design a new firing method, and the rest can be scaled down proportionally... Hmm, you do these detailed tasks, and I'll go find some skilled craftsmen who can read drawings and officials from the Bureau of Works to help... Oh, right, besides weapons, we also need to develop some convenient farm tools. The Holy Monk said before, well, he said that science... science and technology is... is..."

"The primary productive force!"

Li Chunfeng interjected, "I've already thought of this. It's not easy for the common people to farm. If food production doesn't increase in the future, the national strength will weaken... Hmm, besides farm tools, we also need to send people to other countries to introduce other types of grain that our Great Tang doesn't have, and even fruits, vegetables, and meat can be introduced. This cannot be rushed..."

Listening to the two of them discuss, Tang Ku sighed inwardly, placed the wine pot in his hand on the table, and turned to go downstairs and leave.

There was nothing for him to do here anymore!

In fact, these two Tang Dynasty divine scientists had already considered everything thoroughly; with just a little guidance, they could design astonishing things.

The strange weapons in Yuan Tiangang's underground vault were still vivid in his mind. This old man, if he wished, could accelerate the technological strength of the Great Tang by hundreds or even thousands of years, like pulling up seedlings to help them grow... No, that's not right, not just thousands of years, because this world has immortals, gods, demons, and naturally, raw Materials can also be chosen from the things these immortals use to refine Magic Treasures. In other words, this truly was a great clash of ideas between scientific concepts and cultivation concepts.

And although he was the one who initiated all this, the only two who could make it a reality were these two!

In the imperial palace, Tang Ku met Li Shimin again. The emperor was very happy, arranged a banquet and sat opposite Tang Ku, saying with a smile, "Has Holy Monk seen the two of them?"

"Hehe, I've seen them... I have to say, that old man Yuan Tiangang... is indeed very capable!"

Tang Ku drank the wine and smiled wryly, shaking his head helplessly.

"Hehe, when I saw the things they had, I was greatly startled. Later, when I understood, the shock in my heart was truly immeasurable!" Li Shimin looked out the door with a wistful expression, revealing a conflicted look, and said with a bitter smile, "How wonderful it would be if I could truly live to see the day these things come to fruition!"

"Your Majesty will definitely see it!"

Tang Ku saw a faint golden glow on Li Shimin's body, and when he looked closely, there was a faint Dragon Qi rising, and he couldn't help but sigh, "Your lifespan is still long, and with their progress, plus your support with the strength of an entire nation, Poor Monk dares to bet that within a year, all these things will successively come into being!"

"Let's hope so... Hmm, is Holy Monk leaving again?"

Li Shimin looked at Tang Ku and said.

"Hmm? Your Majesty, why do you say that?"

Tang Ku was slightly taken aback.

"Every time you've returned before, as soon as you've seen everyone you needed to see in the city, you'd leave immediately. Isn't that your habit?"

Li Shimin said with a smile.

"Have I developed this habit?"

Tang Ku scratched his bald head, then smiled, "There are indeed a few small matters to attend to... Hmm, how about this: my companions are all at the Chang'an Inn, Your Majesty, please make arrangements for them. I do need to leave for a while, perhaps three to five days... With them here, there aren't many who would dare to lay a hand on Chang'an!"

"You can rest assured about that. With me here, they will not be mistreated!"

Li Shimin smiled, then said, "Hmm, I have already made a decision. Three months from now, I will pass the throne to Crown Prince Li Chengqian. I have been on the throne for too long, and you also said that I can live for a long time. If I continue to be this emperor, I am afraid some family affairs will arise. I can't let him be a Crown Prince when he's fifty or sixty, can I!"

Tang Ku was stunned, then immediately understood Li Er's thinking. He couldn't help but praise the Emperor's wisdom; he truly thought far ahead!