Ch 28: The Power Of The Giant Grenade

Sun Jian strode onto the raised platform, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Village Head.

Some people didn’t dare to speak, but that didn’t mean everyone was silent. At that moment, a tall, thin villager stood up.

“Sun Jian, I admit you’re different now. You can make iron tools and practice healing.”

“You not only have connections with the Government, but also a huge amount of grain and iron farming tools. Even I, Old Cao, have to reconsider my opinion of you.”

“Normally, I wouldn’t dare to provoke you, but this time is different! I, Old Cao, haven’t eaten your food or received your kindness. I’m able to provide for my family, even if I’m begging for food, I can’t possibly fight bandits to the death. Losing my home is one thing, but losing my life is worse!”

Old Cao was a farmer with land in the village, but for the past few years, he had no harvest. The Government sent him a war widow as a wife two years ago, but she died of starvation a few days later. Now he barely makes a living by hunting in the mountains and gathering wild vegetables.

“Yes! Sun Jian, it’s not that we don’t want to listen to you, but we don’t have the ability to fight the bandits. Many people will die!”

The surrounding villagers echoed his sentiment, and the scene became chaotic again.

“Quiet!”

Sun Jian raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop.

“I understand your concerns, but you don’t know how I’m going to deal with the bandits. How can you conclude that people will die?”

“Isn’t it just setting traps and waiting for the Government to send troops?”

“Those bandits have knives and guns. We only have the iron farming tools you gave us.”

“Yes! Even if the traps work, there are too many bandits. We’ll definitely suffer heavy casualties.”

Listening to the villagers’ discussion, Sun Jian smiled slightly and took out an anti-infantry mine, an extra reward just given by the System.

“What is this?”

The Village Head stood next to Sun Jian. Seeing the iron lump Sun Jian pulled out of his bosom, he was stunned.

The villagers also cast questioning glances.

“This is the trap I developed to deal with the bandits,” Sun Jian said loudly.

“What? This iron lump is a trap?”

“Hahaha, don’t joke. What can this thing be used for? Throw it and hit the bandits on the head?”

“Sun Jian, don’t tease everyone. That thing is so small, it’s not as useful as your iron shovel.”

Faced with the villagers’ doubt, Sun Jian remained calm and didn’t rush to explain. He even felt like laughing.

These country bumpkins have never seen the world.

Laugh away, laugh as much as you can. You won’t be laughing when I detonate the mine.

“Sister Chu, what is my husband holding?” Gu Zijian looked at Sun Jian, calmly holding the mine on the stage, with a puzzled look.

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen it before. Maybe my husband has his own plans?” Chu Qingcheng trusted Sun Jian implicitly, believing he had his reasons.

Zhou Wan’er rolled her eyes towards Sun Jian. “Who knows what that guy is up to? He always has those strange things.”

“Do you remember the fishing rod he took out? It didn’t have a hook, but after operating it underwater, the fish seemed to be controlled, and they floated to the surface… anyway, if he says it’s useful, it probably is.”

The villagers talked among themselves, with few believing Sun Jian.

Some villagers even hurriedly said to Village Head Sun Liangzhi, “Village Head, the bandits are coming soon. If there’s nothing to do, we’ll go back and pack our things. We still have time to escape.”

“Yes! I have to pack the grain. My wife has fainted several times from hunger. I still have to carry her.”

“Sigh! If we don’t leave, the bandits will massacre and burn the village. This world is driving people to death!”

The Village Head couldn’t withstand the pressure and whispered, “Sun Jian, if you’re just joking, Old Man, I can’t help you stop everyone from fighting the bandits!”

Sun Jian wanted this effect. He shouted to the villagers who wanted to leave, “Everyone, wait.”

“I haven’t told you how to use this iron lump, how can you know it’s useless?”

“Don’t be in such a hurry. Even if the bandits come, it will be three days later. You’ll have time to escape. Let’s see its power first.”

“Old Cao, take this. Help me out.”

Before the villagers could question him again, Sun Jian decisively stepped off the platform, placed the mine in Old Cao’s arms, and then shouted to everyone, “Who brought a fire stick? I need it.”

“Me! Me! Me!”

Old Jiang rushed out from the crowd, took a fire stick out of his coarse cloth pocket, and handed it to Sun Jian.

“Everyone, watch carefully.”

Without saying a word, Sun Jian disassembled the mine’s trap mechanism, turning it into a giant grenade, and pulled out the fuse.

“Old Cao, you’re strong. After I light it, throw it as far as you can. Understand?”

Sun Jian pointed to a dilapidated house in the distance that had been abandoned. “Throw it over there!”

“Ah?”

Old Cao was still completely confused. Not only him, but everyone present didn’t understand what Sun Jian was doing. They were all watching.

The reason Sun Jian chose Old Cao was that among those advocating for the villagers to flee, Old Cao was the first. Convincing him was equivalent to convincing most of the cowardly villagers.

Secondly, although Old Cao often went hungry, he frequently hunted and ate game. His physique and strength were much greater than ordinary people’s, so he wouldn’t be too weak to throw the mine at his feet.

“Remember, keep your hands steady, or everyone will die with you.”

“This…”

Before Old Cao could say no, Sun Jian had already lit the giant grenade’s fuse with the fire stick.

Sizzle sizzle.

When the open flame ignited the fuse, the gunpowder immediately sparkled, making Old Cao’s hand tremble.

Gunpowder wasn’t a rare thing in this era. Most people who had seen the world had witnessed it.

During festivals or markets, even some street performers in Hongnong County Town used firecrackers and fire-breathing acts that involved gunpowder. In the past, during peaceful times, wealthy families would buy some gunpowder to stuff into bamboo tubes as small fireworks for the New Year.

Gunpowder was also used by some nobles and wealthy families when refining pills.

However, at this time, gunpowder hadn’t been fully used in warfare. People didn’t know that it could be combined with sulfur and niter to make explosives, nor did they know it could explode.

“Gun…gunpowder?”

Seeing the fire, a few villagers who recognized it exclaimed.

Zhou Wan’er and the others naturally recognized it, but before they could finish speaking, Sun Jian shouted, “Throw!”

Old Cao was startled and quickly ran forward a few steps, swung his arm, and threw the giant grenade.

“Get out of the way! Get down! Cover your ears!”