Great Ming Dynasty Wen Chao Gong

Chapter 81 The feeling of climbing in a hot air balloon

After finishing the natural history class, Zhang Xiao gave two more bags of mathematical stationery to the two highnesses. Of course, Zhang Xiao did not put the sharp stationery inside this time.

The next class is in a week, and Zhang Xiao is still busy with an important thing, which is the official launch test of the hot air balloon.

When we arrived at the experimental site, although it was considered a remote suburb, there were still people coming to watch. Even officials came to watch.

Zhang Xiao also found familiar faces in it.

"Brother Dong, why are you here too?" Zhang Xiao greeted Dong Qichang.

"Brother Zhang Xian, you have done such a big thing. Why doesn't Dong come to support you? But Wang Cifu can't come today. He asked me to tell you something." Dong Qichang said.

"It's normal for the cabinet to be busy with everything. Today's balloon test will be reported to Wang Cifu later. However, although the hot air balloon is much bigger this time, it needs to be fixed with a rope underneath, so it won't fly too far. There are still more people behind it. Experiment." Zhang Xiao said.

"Zhang Shidu, I really didn't expect this hot air balloon to be so big." Li Rubai admired as he looked at the hot air balloon.

"General Zizhen, have you selected the warriors for the test?" Zhang Xiao asked.

"Of course, Li Sandao, come here and listen to Zhang Shidu's question." Li Rubai said.

A seemingly ordinary and even lean man stood up: "Second Young Master, Li Sandao is ready."

"This is Li Sandao, my servant. He has been fighting with me for many years. He has good skills and a clever mind. He also has a military position in the army." Li Rubai said.

"Li Baihu, this experiment has been very hard. Li Baihu must have learned how to operate the hot air balloon." Zhang Xiao asked.

"When Mr. Zhang was releasing smaller balloons here before, Li Baihu also watched them, so he took the initiative to ask for help this time. Li Baihu, do your best this time, get down from the balloon, I I'll help you ask for credit from the Ministry of War." Li Rubai said.

"Thank you, Second Young Master." Li Sandao responded.

"By the way, since you want to try, you have to try everything. Li Baihu, you have to bring this." Zhang Xiao took out a monocular telescope.

"What kind of novelty is this?" Li Rubai asked curiously.

"This is a telescope given to His Majesty by the Western Yi tribute. His Majesty gave me a pair. With this telescope, you can see the distance. When the time comes, Li Baihu will need to take this telescope up to the sky to see how effective it is." Zhang Xiao explained.

"Oh, can I try it first?" Li Rubai asked.

"Of course, please take it, General Zizhen." Zhang Xiao carefully handed over the telescope.

"I saw Zhang Shidu that you took it like this just now, and I took it the same way. Hey, you really saw far enough. This thing is good. We should ask the Ministry of War to issue one to all of us officials." Li Rubai tried it and handed it to Zhang Xiao.

"Li Baihu, try using it too." Zhang Xiao handed the telescope to Li Sandao.

"This is something used by His Majesty. I, Li Sandao, are worth it in my life." Li Sandao happily took the telescope.

"The hot air balloon is ready. It almost caught fire. Li Baihu, I have to rely on you this time." Zhang Xiao said.

Li Baihu picked up the igniting fire, stepped into the basket of the hot air balloon, and lit the hot air balloon.

As the fuel was ignited, the originally drooping hot air balloon gradually inflated. After a while, the hot air balloon slowly took off, and then gradually rose up.

"I didn't expect that this enlarged Kongming Lantern could really send people high into the sky." Li Rubai said with emotion as he looked at the flying hot air balloon.

"Is General Zizhen still satisfied?" Zhang Xiao asked.

"If such a thing arrives in North Korea, not to mention how useful it is, it can at least scare the Japanese. But how high can this hot air balloon fly? If it is not fixed, can it float very far?" Li Rubai asked . "The hot air balloon can't fly very far now because for safety reasons, I haven't dared to put too much fuel in it. If more fuel is put in, it can stay in the sky longer. The fuel in this hot air balloon is almost burned out now. It has to come down slowly." Zhang Xiao explained.

"Oh, okay, now the hot air balloon is starting to descend." Li Rubai said quickly when he saw that the hot air balloon he had been staring at was about to fall.

"Everyone below has dispersed. Now the hot air balloon is preparing to land. Arrange people in advance to catch the hot air balloon when it lands." Zhang Xiao ordered.

The hot air balloon landed slowly, but it still hit hard when it hit the ground. Fortunately, the gondola only shook and did not turn over.

"The fire has been extinguished. Let's hold down the hot-air balloon until the heat inside the balloon dissipates and it droops down." Zhang Xiao then ordered.

Everyone held down the basket of the hot-air balloon. As the heat gradually dissipated, the hot-air balloon also drooped down.

Li Baihu, who was sitting inside, slowly turned over and came out. However, Li Baihu, who was as light as a swallow and energetic, was now pale and speechless.

"What are you doing standing there in a daze? Get Li Sandao a maza and a pot of water." Li Rubai shouted to the men next to him.

Maza and water were brought up. Li Sandao sat on the horse and drank a pot of water to regain some energy.

"Li Sandao, I didn't see you so scared when you were fighting with Mongolian swords. Why did you end up like this?" Li Rubai patted his old guard.

After waiting for a long time, Li Sandao said with tears in his eyes: "Second Young Master, am I embarrassing our Liaodong Cavalry by looking like this?"

"That's not true. Everyone has come down. What are you afraid of? I'll treat you to a meal and a drink tonight. Just sleep for a while tomorrow." Li Rubai said.

"Originally it was nothing. I operated this big balloon and it flew very high. I also used a telescope to look at it. It was indeed far enough and clear. But I accidentally glanced at the ground from behind and realized that it had flown so high. I'm so high that I can hardly see what's underneath. I'm so dizzy now that I almost fainted. Second Young Master, I feel uncomfortable in my chest now, and my heart is beating so fast." Li Sandao said.

"Let Li Baihu sit for a while. Li Baihu has really worked hard for you this time. When I, Zhang Xiao, report the performance of the hot air balloon test flight, I must mention Li Baihu's name several times." Zhang Xiao said. After all, let alone the hot air balloon in this time and space, it turns out that the time and space itself has never dared to ride in a hot air balloon. This majestic Baihu is probably a little afraid of heights. It is his first time to go to the sky. It is already good to look like this.

"Zhang Shidu, I have been holding this telescope steadily. Please take a look and see if it is not broken." Li Sandao returned the telescope to Zhang Xiao. Zhang Xiao could still feel that he was suppressing his trembling.

Li Baihu still did not recover in the end. Later, several comrades in the army helped him away.

Zhang Xiao began to chat with Li Rubai.

“General Zizhen, I’ve seen you look at this telescope several times, so I’ll give it to you,” Zhang Xiao said.

"This is a gift from the emperor, so it's not good." Li Rubai was a little embarrassed.

"No problem, His Majesty gave me this telescope because he wanted to see how effective it would be when used in a hot air balloon. If I hold this telescope, it is just a toy. If the general holds it in his hand, it will determine the outcome of the war. "Zhang Xiao said.

"Then Rubai would rather be respectful than obey orders. Today's hot air balloon also opened my eyes, but I feel that the hot air balloon is still a bit dangerous. If there is a rope to fix it, you can slide down along the rope. If If there is no rope to fix it, if it floats and something happens midway, it will be dangerous." Li Rubai analyzed.

"That's true, so non-loyal and brave men in the military are not allowed to operate this hot air balloon. But when General Zizhen chooses people, he can also try to see if the chosen people's feet will feel weak when looking down from a high place. If his legs feel weak, If you are soft, it is recommended not to try to go to heaven, it is not safe. I didn't remember to remind the general about this before, so I am really sorry." Zhang Xiao said.

"Hey, I made Zhang Shidu laugh. This Li Sandao is not afraid of being slashed by the Mongolian cavalry. He fell from the sky today and his legs are still so weak." Li Rubai apologized.

"This is a fear of heights, which is common among people. I don't mean to blame Li Baihu." Zhang Xiao said.

"Zhang Shidu, if the balloon is made more later, can I sit on it? I have been painting landscapes all day, but I have never experienced what it looks like from the sky." Dong Qichang asked next to him.

"Brother Dong, I suggest you not to rush yet. It is still relatively complicated and dangerous to operate a hot air balloon now. If the military needs reconnaissance, we have to try it first." Zhang Xiao said. After all, it was not easy for the Ming Dynasty to produce such a famous calligrapher and painter. Zhang Xiao also wanted to talk more about literature, calligraphy, and painting art with Lao Dong.

(End of this chapter)