Wanli Ming Emperor

Chapter 207: Keqin's Small Things, Wen Zhaowu Mu

This brief interlude caused everyone who was accompanying them to fall into deep thought.

On the one hand, he felt that he should put pressure on the Prince of Shunyi who was making some moves, but on the other hand, he was afraid that this would anger the Tartars and cause trouble.

Unfortunately, the emperor directly asked the Secretary of the Central Secretariat to return to the palace to draft the edict, leaving no room for discussion.

After lunch, some were worried, some were whispering to each other, all of them were discussing whether Altan Khan would obey the imperial edict to come to the capital, if so, how to treat him, if not, what to do, etc.

It was not until the afternoon when the emperor led everyone to the Grand Parade Ground to test the new firearms that everyone focused their attention on what was in front of them.

……

"Your Majesty, these firearms are not loaded with ammunition, so you can play with them without worry."

In the large parade ground, every fifty steps there were wooden signs and targets made of scarecrows.

The emperor and a group of civil and military officials gathered around a group of firearms, pointing and talking.

The eunuchs and craftsmen from the Armory Bureau accompanied him carefully, occasionally explaining a few things to the emperor and the court officials.

Zhu Yijun picked up a musket and turned it over and over with great interest: "Master Qian, please tell me and the ministers about it one by one."

It's not that Xiao Zhu is hiding his incompetence, but regarding the technical issues of firearms, apart from the most basic common sense, he really doesn't understand anything else.

Politics and philosophy were related to one's career in the previous life. People who work in this field know a little about them. As for firearms, I'm afraid only people with experience like Shengtian Banzi would be interested in them.

Upon hearing this, the eunuch from the Armory Bureau quickly gave up his position and let Qian Dajiang come out.

The latter was obviously not used to this kind of occasion, and hesitated for a long time: "Your Majesty, what you hold in your hand is a musket..."

Zhu Yijun interrupted helplessly: "I know it's a fire gun, just tell me what's new about it."

He still has some common sense. There are two types of ignition methods for pistols.

One is a musket, which has only a bare barrel. One person holds the gun and aims, while another person adds ammunition into it. Because of the way of ignition, one has to throw red-hot wire or charcoal into the flash port, so it is also called a matchlock gun. It is not only inconvenient but also inaccurate. Among handheld firearms, it is already a backward type.

Another type is the bird gun, which was introduced from Japan during the Jiajing period. It was based on the matchlock gun and added a rear sight, a star sight, a gunstock, and a gun mechanism. It could be held by one person and had a front sight for aiming. Both its practicality and accuracy were greatly improved. Even the method of igniting the fire was changed from the primitive method of opening the matchlock and throwing charcoal to lighting the fuse.

Of course, due to the cost, the border troops still mostly use muskets. Only the Imperial Guards and the Beijing Camp, which are under the command of the emperor, can be equipped with cutting-edge firearms such as bird guns on a large scale.

Seeing that Master Qian was interrupted by the emperor, the eunuch Wei Zhongde, who was in charge of the Armory, hurried forward to save the situation.

The latter took over the conversation: "Your Majesty! Following your Majesty's inspiration, the Arms Bureau has improved the technology of rotating the barrel in the past few years, and made the bullets and arrows match it, so that the bullets and arrows can spiral out of the barrel."

"Both the range and accuracy are far better than before. Even bird guns cannot match them!"

He doesn't understand technology, but he did his homework before coming, so there's no problem with him giving a brief report.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but show a look of surprise on his face, and subconsciously raised his voice a few degrees: "Did you make it?!"

It was naturally he who proposed the concept of spiral rifling. Of course, it was only limited to the general and ambiguous direction. It was up to the craftsmen to rack their brains to figure out how to achieve the effect he mentioned.

However, I didn’t expect that in just over five years, there would be results.

Seeing the emperor's delight, everyone put their eyes close to the gun barrel and looked at it curiously, and sure enough, they saw spiral grooves in the barrel.

"Allow me to demonstrate to your majesty."

After saying that, Wei Zhongde ordered his men to fetch gunpowder, load the bullets, and prepare for the demonstration.

Zhu Yijun saw eunuchs and craftsmen working in pairs, one holding the gun barrel and the other preparing ammunition. He frowned and asked, "Since the technique of modifying the gun barrel should be universal, why not use it on the bird gun instead of the fire gun?"

Wei Zhongde didn't quite understand this and quickly winked at Qian Dajiang.

The latter understood and explained first: "I will teach your Majesty that in order for the arrow to rotate along the barrel, the arrow can only be thicker than the barrel."

"When loading, it takes a long time to hammer. The shape of the fire gun is simpler than the bird gun, and it is easier to load, and it is more suitable for rifling."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone saw the young eunuch in charge of the demonstration was grunting as he used a hammer to load the bullets.

Jia Sanjin, the official in charge of the Military Affairs Office, curled his lips and said, "On the battlefield, how can we have so much time to reload bullets and arrows for the soldiers?"

Not to mention a cavalry charge, with that much time, even the old, weak, sick and disabled could be killed in front of us.

Qi Jiguang also showed a look of regret on his face.

Master Qian scratched his arm uncomfortably and smiled awkwardly: "I'm still trying to figure it out. I'm still trying to figure it out."

At this time, the few young eunuchs who were testing the guns had finally finished loading.

Although everyone was shaking their heads in their hearts, they still looked at it intently.

boom!
boom!
boom!
A few gunshots were heard and the smoke cleared.

"Six out of ten hit the target!"

Fifty steps away, the young eunuch hurriedly pointed at the target and shouted towards this side at the top of his voice.

This hit rate is already very high.

But all the civil and military officials looked uninterested.

Wang Chonggu put down the musket and shook his head: "It's definitely not possible if the bullet is thicker than the barrel. The speed has dropped by nearly half compared to before. I'm afraid it will be difficult to penetrate even armor."

The veteran soldiers could tell how much the speed had been reduced by listening to the whistling sound of the bullets and arrows.

As the speed slows down, the power naturally weakens.

In short, aiming the head may be helpful, but it is not practical.

Master Qian couldn't help looking a little disappointed.

At this time, Zhu Yijun suddenly said: "Let's put it this way. Even if there are some limitations, it can be used as a technical reserve."

"Besides, since we have come this far, if we think of a way to improve the bullets and arrows, we may be able to refine them."

After that, he looked at Wei Zhongde and Qian Dajiang and said, "As usual, I will pay you the reward money for the rifling. I will start a new project on the difficulty of slow loading and discharge speed."

Wei Zhongde and Qian Dajiang were delighted and expressed their gratitude profusely.

Zhu Yijun would naturally not use the excuse of being impractical to bully the old craftsman.

In the past few years in the Armory Bureau, he had spent money to buy back the inherited skills from these craftsmen and integrated them, and had also lavishly rewarded them for their achievements, spending hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.

What's more, technological progress is something that is achieved gradually through exploration and cannot be achieved overnight.

People like Wang Chonggu have become accustomed to imitating advanced firearms over the years, so they expect to achieve the desired result in one step.

Seeing that the emperor was generous and used the palace's money to give out rewards, the court officials naturally had nothing to say.

When Qi Jiguang saw that the story about the fire gun had been told, he immediately took advantage of the opportunity and pushed the gun in his hand forward and asked, "Is this the flintlock rifle that Your Majesty was talking about?"

Everyone looked back at the same time.

Qi Jiguang was seen holding a musket that was 80% similar to a bird gun.

There is a trigger on the buttstock, and the trigger and hammer form a small mechanism. A piece of flint is clamped in the jaws of the hammer, and the anvil can be seen when the loading port is opened.

Although he knew that there was no gunpowder in the gun, Jia Sanjin still coughed lightly and said, "General Qi, pay attention to the discipline of the Beijing camp and keep the gun away from people."

Qi Jiguang readily followed the advice and handed the flintlock rifle to Jia Jishizhong.

Just as Jia Sanjin was about to take it, Zhu Yijun walked between the two of them and reached out to take the flintlock: "It is the flintlock."

"Every time the trigger of this gun is pulled, the flint on the hammer will hit the vent, sparks will ignite the gunpowder and fire the arrow."

"Unlike the matchlock-fired bird gun, the flintlock rifle does not require a flint to ignite, is easy to use, takes less time to load, and fires faster."

After that, he pulled the trigger a few times, and sparks flew.

After frightening Jia Sanjin so much that he trembled, Zhu Yijun smiled and handed him the flintlock.

Wang Chonggu also became interested and reached out to take it from Jia Sanjin's hand.

There are too many disadvantages to using a matchlock to ignite a fire. It is afraid of water and wind. It has to be done at the right time. The matchlocks are of different lengths and take different times to ignite, which tests the soldiers' proficiency and often causes the fire to fart.

It would seem that it would be much more practical if flint could be used to light a fire instantly.

Wang Chonggu looked over and over, then pulled the trigger repeatedly at the ground.

After a while of experimenting, Wang Chonggu frowned and said, "It seems that it doesn't ignite every time?"

Zhu Yijun hummed and explained, "The spark of flint is unstable. Sometimes it takes three or four pulls of the trigger to ignite it."

"And it's just as afraid of moisture, even more so than tinder."

Wang Chonggu nodded.

An expected question.

He even thought of more flaws in a blink of an eye.

This simple method of activation is likely to cause an accidental discharge, as one might not know when the trigger is pulled while holding the gun in one's hand.

Training is also a problem. The operation is simple, but after adding mechanisms, it becomes more difficult for soldiers to understand.

Of course, these are minor problems that can be overcome, and at least they are much more advanced than the ignition cord.

Wang Chonggu stretched out his fingers and dug into the gun, and asked casually, "The cost should not be low, right?"

Everyone looked towards the eunuch from the Armory Bureau.

Wei Zhongde paused, glanced at the emperor, and then replied cautiously: "Lord Wang, flintlock rifles are better than bird guns, so they are naturally more expensive."

He paused and said, "About four taels of silver a handful."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Chonggu frowned.

Four taels, a bit too expensive.

Common firearms, such as quick-firing rifles and target-clamping rifles, cost between seven cents and one ounce and nine cents.

The bird gun is a little more expensive, costing two taels and one cent each, so it is difficult for border troops to use it.

The cost of this flintlock rifle has doubled again, to 4 taels per rifle. It will probably be even more difficult for the border troops to equip them on a large scale.

"Why is it so much more expensive?" Wang Chonggu asked.

Just as Master Qian was about to explain, Wei Zhongde pulled him and interrupted him, saying, "Let Lord Wang know. The most important thing is the hours of work."

"Lord Wang, don't be fooled by the exquisite mechanism of the flintlock. It is actually worthless. The materials such as the iron, the auger, the screw seal, the charcoal, and the wooden stock, a gun only costs nine cents and seven cents."

"But the labor and time required to file the gun barrel, chisel the inlay, drill, and make hinges cost only three ounces of silver, one cent, and one cent. I didn't charge you a cent more."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chonggu couldn't help but suck his teeth.

He hesitated for a moment and said softly, "How about asking the Ministry of War to send another batch first to try?"

New technologies are most expensive when they are first released. Once they are developed on a large scale and the craftsmen become more skilled, the silver price per hour will naturally go down. This is the mature result of the game between giving profits to craftsmen and controlling costs over the years.

Of course, the Armory Bureau and the Ministry of War share the same responsibilities. Orders should be placed when necessary, and money should be paid when necessary.

Even if the Ministry of Industry's Military Equipment Bureau wanted it, it had to save money and buy technology from the inner court.

Qi Jiguang nodded in agreement and said, "Your Majesty, if we can equip a batch of them for the New Year's Day parade, it will be a great help in boosting our morale."

In the past, it was inconvenient to ignite with a matchlock. If there was only a simple action of pulling the trigger, then galloping on horseback and firing guns into the sky, wouldn't this sound be just right for a military parade? Zhu Yijun naturally agreed: "Tomorrow, I will report this to the Ministry of War and make a batch first."

As for the New Year's Day military parade, of course they will have as many as possible. At least a hundred or so will be enough to show off their might.

After saying that, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but touch his nose: "Spending money is like water flowing."

It can be predicted that the national defense expenditure in recent years will continue to rise.

I don't know when I can sell off my outdated equipment and recover some blood.

"In addition to the improvements to the muskets, the Armament Bureau has also made some additions and subtractions to the cannons. Your Majesty and the others, please move over."

Wei Zhongde extended his hand as a gesture of invitation and was about to lead the way.

Wang Chonggu and Qi Jiguang looked at each other, and a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes at the same time: "Cannons and guns also have new shapes?"

The power of a hand cannon is just so-so, about the same as a crossbow.

Cannons are different though. A salvo of shells, if fired well, can turn the tide of a battle.

Any further improvement in this kind of important military weapon would be of great benefit to the war.

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhongde couldn't help but smile bitterly: "There are only a few military craftsmen in the Armory, how can they make progress so fast?"

"I have only made some progress in assistive devices."

"I have heard that the Red Hair Barbarians have made some innovations in cannons and guns in recent years. I wanted to buy a batch of imitations, but I don't have much contact with the Red Hair Barbarians. I asked some merchants but they were vague about it."

After hearing this, Wang Chonggu, Qi Jiguang and others couldn't help but secretly feel it was a pity.

While a few people were talking to each other, Wei Zhongde had already led the emperor and a group of civil and military officials to a large French gun.

He asked someone to take out a few more things.

All the ministers stopped and watched.

"We have been working hard over the past few years to improve the accuracy of our cannons, but there has been little progress."

“It was not until the year before last that Liu, a scholar, tried to introduce geometry into the calculation of artillery shell trajectories.”

"Let's not talk about the achievements of Liu the Scholar. The Arms Bureau took advantage of the east wind and made gun gauges, gun squares, and gun rulers to assist in cannon shooting."

After that, he asked people to start demonstrating the application of several objects.

After all the trouble, he still kept talking.

What are the methods of measuring the muzzle elevation angle, shooting range, parabolic trajectory, ammunition ratio and so on.

The civil and military officials were so frightened that they were stunned.

boom!
boom!
Generals kept coming forward and trying to use auxiliary tools to set off cannons, which blew up the training ground into pieces and turned it into a mess.

Zhu Yijun watched coldly and felt quite emotional in his heart.

This matter was not really initiated by him. It was simply a matter of knowing the right people for the right positions and offering a generous reward.

The imperial court had its own artillery science, and various martial arts books provided very practical guidance on the use of cannons. For example, the vertical firing method was only used for Feibiao guns, which could be set to 82.5 degrees (90°) or 7.5 degrees (30°) for siege warfare; the inverted firing method was only suitable for defensive guns, which could be inverted by one degree (°) to four degrees (°) to attack enemies under the city walls; the horizontal firing method was most suitable for use in battle formations, and it was foolproof and always accurate.

There are many such examples, but they are all too singular and unsystematic.

It was not until the genius Liu Dunkai emerged that someone tried to systematically study geometry, and at the same time unify these things into rules and create corresponding tools - by-products that could be used in the military, so naturally Xu Jie sold them to the academy at a good price.

No matter what, compared with the ingenious mechanical ideas, the technological spillover after the solidification of basic disciplines is more gratifying.

If you lay a solid foundation, what red cannon can't you have?
On the contrary, if we see anyone who thinks that “it is better to buy than to make”, he or she should be dismissed from office!
A firearms test at the Armament Bureau lasted a whole afternoon.

Of course, in addition to the things that can be used, there are also some attempts that waste money.

For example, Tao Chengdao’s semi-finished project “riding a rocket into space” was improved by the Armory Bureau using a kite - two rabbits were killed on the spot, one was burned through the kite and fell to death, and only two survived and landed safely.

It's ridiculous.

It is said that there were craftsmen who studied the proportion of gunpowder, but their results were minimal and were not brought to the table.

The battle was in full swing all afternoon, and it was not until the evening that the emperor and his accompanying civil and military officials returned home.

Of course, Zhu Yijun had to follow Qi Jiguang back to the military camp.

During this period, the emperor and his minister were inseparable.

It might be a bit of an exaggeration to say that they slept with their feet touching each other, but the fact that they talked late into the night every day was unmistakable.

At midnight that day, the central army tent was still as bright as day.

From time to time, voices such as "training", "selection", "Qi Family Army", and "lectures in the General Staff Office" were heard.

It was not until the eunuchs rushed into the tent without regard for etiquette and forcibly separated the two on the grounds that the emperor should take care of his health.

……

The third day of the twelfth lunar month.

Today is the sixth day that the emperor has stayed in the military camp, which seems to be longer than the one-month emperor's tour of Shuntian Prefecture - there is always a difference between going out on official business and staying out overnight.

The Forbidden City seemed to have lost its backbone.

There was a lot of discussion in Wenhua Hall, and everyone hoped that Shen Shixing could come forward and persuade the emperor to return to the palace to recuperate.

However, even though the emperor did not attend court, all matters of state, big and small, continued to proceed smoothly.

Whether it is Liu Shiyan's hand or not

Liu Shiyan, the Right Commander-in-Chief of the Rear Army Commandery, was repeatedly impeached and imprisoned three times. He slandered the emperor's ancestors and committed many evil deeds. He made false claims about the stars, forged orders to close the army, made weapons without authorization, and claimed to be loyal to the king. He did not change his ways even after being pardoned and eventually plotted treason and assassination. Although he had a certificate of exemption from two deaths, his crimes were more than two, and it would be difficult to redeem himself even if he was sentenced to ten deaths. So his three clans were exterminated to set things right.

The accomplices, including Jiao Mengzhao, the brother of the Earl of Dongning, and Liu Maoxun, the brother of the Marquis of Anyuan, were sentenced to crucifixion.

Shi Maohua, the former Minister of War, was wanted for treason and collusion with the enemy.

Luo Fengxiang, the former assistant minister of the Ministry of War, was found guilty and sentenced to death in prison, etc.

It is still the reform of the Five Military Commanderies.

The Right Deputy Censor-in-Chief and Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi Yin Zhengmao had served in various vassal states and performed his duties conscientiously. He killed all the whales and salamanders, pacified the local areas, and was later promoted to the Minister of War.

The Minister of War Yin Zhengmao and the Vice Minister of War Chen Jingbang, together with a group of doctors and officials, reported on various matters of the Ministry of War and requested the reduction of the duties of military system, expedition, military deployment, and dispatch.

Even the matter of issuing an imperial decree to invite Prince Shunyi and Lady Zhongshun to come to the capital for a pilgrimage was only debated for a quarter of an hour in the Wenhua Hall and was quickly passed by the court.

But even so, the emperor still refused to return to the palace today.

"Qi Jiguang's southern soldiers used the excuse that they didn't know me and wouldn't even let me into the barracks." The Secretary of the Central Secretariat gasped in the middle of winter, with white smoke coming out of his forehead.

He looked as if he had been turned away.

Chen Wude was displeased: "How can this be! I will go there myself!"

After saying that, he was about to walk out of the Wenhua Hall.

Shen Shixing took a breath of cold air and quickly grabbed Chen Wude.

"Don't worry, Lord Chen. Now that the New Year is coming to an end, it is better to ask the two palaces to invite His Majesty back to the palace. It is just the right time. I believe His Majesty will be more receptive to advice."

Chen Wude was angry, but after thinking about it, he realized that it was indeed true, so he nodded reluctantly.

Before the Secretary of the Central Secretariat could catch his breath, he was ordered by these ministers to pass a message to the two palaces. He had no choice but to nod to the eunuchs, and they left the Wenhua Hall and headed straight for the West Garden.

As soon as people go out.

The Secretary of the Central Secretariat actually returned to the Wenhua Palace again.

The court officials looked at him in confusion.

The secretary of the Central Secretariat quickly explained, "As soon as I went out, I saw Eunuch Sun coming out of the West Garden. He said he was ordered by the two palaces to invite His Majesty back to the palace."

Chen Wude's face looked better now, and it was all thanks to the two palaces still being there.

The Zhongshu Sheren put his hands on his waist, took a deep breath, and looked at Wang Zongyi: "Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, the two palaces also said that the Imperial Clan Director should also be invited to the Western Garden. They need to be summoned now."

Wang Zongyi was stunned when he heard this.

He frowned. "What happened?"

Zhongshu Sheren finally calmed down and said, "Good news, very good news."

……

The Zhongshu Sheren was not a prominent figure, so Zhu Yijun sent him back without having to show up.

But the eunuch came on the orders of the two palaces, and he didn't want to offend his mother, so he had to let Sun Long in.

As soon as Sun Long walked into the parade ground, he saw a dark mass.

The infantrymen whispered to each other and looked forward to it.

The lids of several large boxes were opened, revealing piles of white silver coins, which were quietly placed on the general's platform.

The Military Affairs Department, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Science and Technology divided up several departments and distributed reward silver to the military generals one by one.

Oh, it seems that His Majesty will personally distribute the salaries today.

Sun Long thought to himself and looked up at the general's platform.

The emperor on the high platform also took off his military uniform and put on his imperial robe again.

The emperor would come out in person from time to time, handing out silver, shaking hands, patting shoulders, and encouraging people with ease.

"You all must remember my appearance! If anyone dares to deduct the money I give out today, come and tell me!"

Even the most rogue soldier would find it difficult to ignore the gap in status and identity.

Everyone was filled with gratitude and shouted words of loyalty to the emperor.

Seeing this scene, even Sun Long, a close minister of the emperor, felt awe in his heart.

Anyone with a little common sense knows what the soldiers’ attitude is toward their superiors who pay them.

The emperor personally pays the salaries...Even Emperor Wuzong didn't do this back then.

It's really daunting!

Sun Long took a deep breath, gathered his thoughts, and hurriedly stepped onto the general's platform.

"Wait two more days. Once I have inspected the military camp's treasury, I will return to the palace immediately."

Before the eunuch could speak, Zhu Yijun took the initiative to bargain with the two palaces from a distance.

The guard was about to step forward to see the guest off.

Sun Long quickly pushed away the irrelevant people and moved closer to the emperor under his suspicious look.

He stood beside the emperor and said respectfully and excitedly, "Your Majesty, please return to the palace as soon as possible. Concubine Wu is pregnant with a dragon seed!"

(End of this chapter)