Everyone gathered around the patch of ground charred and pitted by the gunpowder, disbelief etched on their faces. Xiao Ba crouched down, touched the upturned clods, and exclaimed, "Madam, how can this thing be so powerful!"
Lin Yi, however, remained calm. "This is just average. Now, pay attention to the lesson. This is the initial version of black powder—very simple and easy to make, but it has a fatal flaw: it's prone to premature explosions. Suppose we load a cartload of this powder, and on the way, one charge detonates accidentally, triggering a chain reaction. Just imagine how terrifying that would be."
A grave look swept over everyone present. Tan Longtao asked urgently, "Madam, it would be such a waste to abandon such a powerful tool because of its risks! Is there a solution?"
"There is," Lin Yi nodded. "The solution is simple: make it on-site."
Gu Fang seemed to catch on. "You mean, transport the ingredients separately?"
"Exactly," Lin Yi nodded. "Black powder is only dangerous when the three powders are mixed. So as long as we grind them separately and transport them separately, there's no problem. When we get to the site, we mix and load the bottles on the spot. But be careful: when mixing, absolutely avoid any open flame, friction, or static electricity, because any of those can serve as an ignition source and detonate the powder. Also, make sure the powders are well purified; impurities increase the chance of accidental explosion. And after an explosion, don't rush to the scene—toxic gases are produced, so you have to wait until they dissipate."
Gu Fang pondered for a moment, then asked, "What was the purpose of that thin bamboo tube you inserted into the bottle just now, Xiaoyi?"
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