Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

The debate over whether to use the Beiyang or Nanyang forces was a hot topic in the fifth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign.

After expelling the Tartars and recovering Liaodong territory, it was clear to everyone that the court's strategic focus was shifting.

The allure of establishing vassal states has led more and more people to turn their attention overseas.

Almost everyone in the capital who was eligible for a fiefdom was debating whether to go to Southeast Asia to establish a fiefdom or to the Beiyang region to seize it.

However, for the Xu brothers, this was not something to argue about at all.

Born in Korea, they naturally chose to establish a domain in Japan, which was the closest country to Korea.

Xu Litiedao, who was granted a hereditary knighthood by the emperor for his numerous merits in the development of firearms:
“We brothers are skilled at blacksmithing, so the fiefdom we choose must have an iron mine.”

"Go to Japan and see where they forge Japanese swords, and see if there are any iron mines to mine."

Xu Qifu nodded, and said happily:

"Brother, rest assured, I will definitely choose a good fiefdom."

"It's a pity we can't choose in North Korea, then we could return home in glory!"

Born in North Korea, he still preferred to go to North Korea to choose a fiefdom.

However, with so many yangban (aristocratic class) in Korea, even if a system of enfeoffment were implemented, it wouldn't be available to commoners like them. Xu Litie chuckled and said:
"Without pressure from the Ming Dynasty, why would the Joseon royal family have granted fiefdoms?"

"We don't have many brothers in North Korea, so let's not get involved in their mess."

"After you go back, you can recruit people in your hometown and bring them to Japan in the future."

I talked with Xu Qifu about which people from our hometown could be used, and we should try our best to recruit them as retainers.

Xu Qifu was quite confident about this, as he and his brother were already quite famous in their hometown. He was certain they could recruit many people upon returning to North Korea.

However, he still said regretfully:
"It's a pity that my brother can't go back, otherwise he would definitely be able to recruit more people."

“My status is still somewhat lacking, and I do not have a hereditary title.”

Thinking about his laxity over the past few years under his elder brother's protection, he felt a pang of regret.

If I study hard with my older brother and get him into the research and development team, I might be able to share in the credit and earn a title or honor.

Unfortunately, what's missed is missed. While his elder brother was granted a title due to his merits, the bigger reason was that the emperor needed auspicious omens for his birthday.

Xu Litie, as a representative of Korean descent, received a hereditary title, just like Li Sanshui.

To be granted a noble title again for this reason would require another stroke of good fortune.

Xu Qifu figured he wouldn't wait, and good things wouldn't always go to his brothers. After learning about the policy of opening up fiefdoms, he decided to help his elder brother open up fiefdoms and go there to manage them.

As for his elder brother, Xu Litie, he was unable to leave at all:

"Senior technical personnel, especially those handling classified information, must obtain approval to enter or leave the country."

"I am a sixth-rank official, a senior engineer certified by the Shaofu Temple, and I am still developing the most confidential firearms. It is impossible for me to leave the country."

"This time, we are relying on you to open up the fiefdom. In the future, that fiefdom will be our common foundation."

Xu Qifu was filled with excitement and promised his elder brother that he would definitely choose a good fiefdom.

However, although the two, being of Korean descent, were not ostracized, they also received little preferential treatment. Xu Qifu said:

“Brother, you need to make contributions to choose a good fief.”

"Could we buy some firearms from the Tongzhou Arsenal?"

Xu Litie shook his head and rejected the idea:
"The firearms produced by the Tongzhou factory are all subject to quotas."

"Even ordinary marquises and earls can't buy them, let alone us?"

“I have connections with Shenmu Boxusen through the Engineers Association, and I can buy from his factory.”

"The firearms workshop he co-founded with the inner court could sell the weapons it produced independently."

Xu Sen, who was bestowed the title of Shenmu Bo, was a special engineer.

The other engineers who were granted titles all served in the imperial court, accumulating merits year after year.

Only Xu Sen, whose revolving musket was not supported at the time, angrily cooperated with the Imperial Armory to perfect the revolving musket.

Because of his important role in the Liaodong War, the imperial court conferred upon Xu Sen the title of Earl of Shenmu, granting him a patent for this type of firearm through the noble title.

Even so, Xu Sen still retains the patent rights and can sell this weapon to the public.

Through his joint venture with the imperial court, Xu Sen amassed a fortune in firearms workshops. Among engineers, he was arguably the wealthiest and most powerful.

Xu Qifu said with great envy:
“Brother, now that you have a title, you can go out and start your own business.” “If we were as wealthy as the Earl of Shenmu, we would definitely be able to build a successful fiefdom.”

Xu Litie shook his head and smiled bitterly:

"It's not that easy!"

“Your older brother is skilled, and I make money by relying on my skills.”

"But no matter how good my skills are, how many guns can I make? I can't make much money at all."

"If you want to make money, you can only be like Uncle Xu, who can independently research and develop firearms."

He sighed again:

"His Majesty has chosen his family's firearms for this year's hunting rifles."

"Let's hurry up and buy it! Otherwise we'll waste time and won't be able to buy it in a while."

He took his younger brother to visit the Shenmu Earl's residence, hoping to obtain firearms.
-

Xu Sen has been riding high these days.

During the Emperor's hunting expedition on the last day of the year, he chose a revolver hunting rifle from the Xu family workshop, which greatly boosted the family's business.

Now, not only are ordinary people buying firearms, but many nobles are also coming to him to commission custom-made firearms, requesting to purchase the same model used by the emperor.

What they valued most was safety; the fact that even the emperor trusted the use of firearms gave them peace of mind.

However, such high-end firearms are all handmade by skilled craftsmen, so how can production be expanded in a short period of time?
Many of those who ordered muskets were dukes and marquises, so Xu Sen had to put in a lot of effort.

Upon learning of the Xu brothers' visit, he immediately thought of Xu Litie, who possessed superb craftsmanship.

This person can handcraft sniper rifles; those rifles requiring high precision can all be made by him.

Thinking of this, Xu Sen happily went out to greet him personally:
"Why didn't you two brothers give us a heads-up before you came?"

"If you need anything, just write a letter. Would I, your foolish brother, refuse?"

They warmly welcomed the Xu brothers into the mansion, demonstrating the unity of the artisan aristocracy.

Those who were granted titles through their skills were considered outcasts among the nobility and had no choice but to band together and support each other.

Xu Litie also became one of them after being knighted as a hereditary knight.

Therefore, he was confident that he could buy a musket from Xu Sen.

Even so, Xu Litie was still flattered by Xu Sen's attitude and said:

"You flatter me, Your Excellency!"

"We brothers have come here this time to ask for your help, Lord Lord."

He stated his request, saying:
"A junior knight can have a hundred households and a thousand military and civilian households."

"I came here this time to order one hundred firearms, and I will buy another one thousand when I have more money later."

"Does Your Excellency have any recommendations?"

Xu Sen, eager to curry favor, stroked his beard and said:
"This is simple!"

"The revolver muskets used in the military use 10x40 ammunition, and all armies are permitted to equip themselves with weapons that use this ammunition."

"The power of this ammunition is actually sufficient. In addition to the revolver musket, my workshop has also developed a single-shot musket that uses it."

"You can buy two types of muskets to match; that's what my guards do."

He ordered the guards of the mansion to step forward and demonstrate the combination of two types of muskets:

Junior officers used revolver muskets as a form of sustained firepower.

Ordinary soldiers used single-shot muskets, which were not only cheaper, but also had a better sealed chamber, allowing them to fully utilize the bullet's power and increasing the effective range to 150 meters.

This range and power are more than enough to easily defeat bows and arrows. Even the firearms currently equipped by Japan cannot compare to them.

Xu Litie examined them and tried them out, finding that both firearms were indeed quite good.

In particular, the price of single-shot muskets was very cheap, which greatly reduced his burden.

So he quickly decided to buy a 100-household musket and agreed with Xu Sen to use the labor cost of making high-end muskets to order the next batch in advance.

The two noblemen surnamed Xu reached a cooperation agreement and agreed to help each other when they established their fiefdoms. (End of Chapter)