Granny Sha and the others did not take excessively. They took seven of the person-high caltrops, moved five baskets of the fist-sized caltrops, and left the medium-sized ones untouched. They also took some Frangible Cannons along with their matching mother-and-child ammunition, twelve rockets, fire steels, and a number of bowl-mouth cannons.
"Zhuge Jian likes this kind of firearm. I'll help him take a few more barrels."
Situ Wen said, "Instructor, I'd like to take a few copies of the firearms here to study."
Chen Shi gave him a few wooden boxes he had made himself, telling him to pack them himself.
Situ Wen was both surprised and delighted, loading up on everything from the great general cannons and fire steels to various projectiles of all sizes.
He did not take many—just three or four of each kind.
Hu Xiaoliang asked in confusion, "Celestial Artisan, what do you need these firearms for?"
Situ Wen smiled. "Since I'm an artisan of the Heavenly Court, I certainly can't rely on others. I'm taking them to take apart and study so we can build our own."
Hu Xiaoliang got a fright, hastily pulling him aside to say, "Building these things is a capital offense!"
Situ Wen asked with surprise, "Which of the things we're doing now isn't a capital offense?"
Hu Xiaoliang looked around. They were currently in the imperial court's Guangji Treasury, hauling away imperial firearms—was this not a capital offense?
"My Lu Ban Association has blacksmiths, and Red Mountain Hall has talisman masters, plus plenty of hands. We can definitely pull it off."
Situ Wen said, "If we start researching and manufacturing them now, it won't be too late when we need them in the future."
Hu Xiaoliang blinked. When they needed them? When would that be? Why would they need them?